...PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU FOUNDATION that is not partisan, not political and it will accommodate all and sundry. A platform which will attempt to deal with issues of welfare for the masses, educational upliftment, social development, healthcare, improvement in agriculture and generally improving standard of living of the people.” ALH. MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR AUDU ISSN: 2141-7423 ISSUE 35 NIG. N1000 USA $10.00 UK £5.00 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER, 2016
KOGI AWAKENING: A LOST CASE BUT NOT THE LAST
COURSE
REV. FR. ANTHONY AGBALI C e l e b r a t e
I n s p i r e
C h a l l e n g e
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LATE PRINCE ABUBAKARAUDU A great man in Nigerian politics and a major force in Kogi State. An elder statesman in Igala Kingdom. Seen as a father of politics, an out spoken personality. Prince Abubakar Audu believes in his dreams and stand for his believes. His death was a great loss to Igala Kingdom though untimely, but his lifetime achievements were very great. He has left us with a very big vacuum. How to fill it is now our concern. “Continue to Rest in Peace”, God be with you. As the Igala Kingdom remembers you today, we surely miss your leadership and democratic impact. We pray that your dream for Igala Kingdom and Kogi state will not be abandoned. Some day it will come to stay. Moreso, I pray that God will preserve the life of Igala sons and daughters worldwide, that no one will die untimely again. We also pray for peace in our land and unity of our people. Your contributions and greatness towards the development of our land will forever be remembered.
“Rest On and Rest In Peace Forever” DR. ABU MOSES ALIDU 2
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FROM THE ARCHIVE
Late Dr. Tom Ajayi Miachi (R) receiving ARISE IGALA LIFETIME ACHIEVMENT AWARD at the ARISE IGALA Leadership Awards/Lectures 2015 which took place at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Abuja on Saturday, May 23, 2015. The annual awards and lectures series is an event organised by ARISE IGALA Magazine. Here in this picture, the award is being presented to Dr. Tom Ajayi Miachi by Mr. Apeh on behalf of the organizer.
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KOGI AWAKENING:
A LOST CASE BUT NOT THE LAST
COURSE
REV. FR. ANTHONY AGBALI
CONTENTS
REGULARS INTERVIEWS
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FACE OF INIKPI FROM THE ARCHIVE PUBLISHER’S DESK TRIBUTE
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3 6 9 10 24 26, 30 > >
> >
UPDATE
>
EVENT & PEOPLE
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We invite comments and request that they be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for views. The views in this publication are not sacrosanct. Readers have right to reply. All photographs in ARISE IGALA are copyright of the magazine and may not be reproduced, copied or used in any form without written permission from the publisher.
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Arise Igala-Issue 35
PUBLISHER’S DESK
ONOJA J. OKPANACHI PUBLISHER/CHIEF EDITOR
EDWARD VS BELLO: FACTS MANY IGALA, EBIRA, OTHERS NEED TO ACCEPT There’s hardly a day that passes by without exchange of insults on social media platforms particularly on Facebook (most times) between Ebira and Igala internet surfers since the emergence of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as replacement to the late political icon, Prince Abubakar Audu by the All Progressives Congress (APC). Again, the episodes that played out from the supplementary election through to the judiciary were really interesting to both local, national and international actors and observers. And, after all the episodes, the situation is yet to improve particularly for the ordinary Kogites and supporters even though there seems to be some level of alignment and realignment at the elite cadre. In this political field of play, Honourable Edward Onoja is not an Igala man neither is His Arise Igala-Issue 35
Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello an Ebira man. In this field of play and at the level they now play, they are both interested Kogites speaking one language and that language is neither Igala nor Ebira but that which they both created as team players and so they can code and decode it easily. These duo are not the first and will surely not be the last so long as there is life on earth.
myopic views bring is blindness to truth - the very reality on ground. This problem makes people to keep silent over ills when “their own” is at the helms of affairs and do other wise when it’s “not their own”. These ways of doing and seeing things will never bring development to any society including Kogi state. So, to move forward as a people and as a state we must appreciate that the lifespan of every government comes to an end in every four years as it is in our constitution today. Therefore, there will always be a time the government will need the people same way the people need the government too. On this note, the priority of the people then should be on what the language of the government brings to them - if it brings peace, security, prosperity and development good for all but if the reverse then very bad for the government. Hence, the people should be united and refuse division along any divide.
In fact, the elites have there own language when they play at the top but speak to those at the bottom of the cadre in their natural language. When they speak in the ordinary language of the people, the people then easily align themselves along tribal lines and many other divides. And, this is where the problem rests - when we can not see beyond the language, tribe, ethnicity and religion. The biggest problem this Arise!
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TRIBUTE
DR TOM MIACHI: A CULTURAL REVOLUTIONARY WAS HERE By Emmanuel Nathan Oguche
I
t was on Tuesday, 20th September, 2016. Torrent of anguish surged from the bottomless pit and soaked both the firmament and terrestrial spheres. Kogi state has been drenched in salty tears instead of torrential rain of heavenly bliss. Dr. Tom Ajayi Miachi, one of the strongest voices of African cultural renaissance has bowed to man’s most hostile enemy, death. The lens through which we viewed the depth of our rich cultural heritage has been broken. The news of Dr. Tom Miachi’s death came to me as a rude shock. The last time I spoke with him was on 11th August, 2016. Although his voice was frail, he expressed optimism that he would get out of sick bed soon. How would I know that it would be the last time I would hear his voice. If only I knew, I would have recorded his voice and preserve it for the future generations; I would have told him how much I cherish every moment we spent together in his office at the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Kogi State University. Although my parents and I were in Ajaokuta when Daddy was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, but my first one-on-one encounter with the late Dr. Tom Miachi was on the 21st July 2011 at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, many years after he had left Ajaokuta. It was during a meeting convened by the Society for Self-Support and Development (SSS & D), a non-sectarian, non-political and non-governmental organisation committed to the economic and social development of rural people. Dr. (Mrs) Rekiya Abaji, the Chairperson of the Organisation and the convener of the meeting had invited me to attend and give media coverage to the event. I still recall that Daddy Miachi shared same table with Chief Robert Audu, Air Commodore Achem Okpanachi and Hajiya Halimat Wada, the wife of our erstwhile Governor, Captain Idris Ichalla Wada. I recall also that I offered a copy of the second edition of ARISE IGALA magazine to him. As an avid reader, he cherished the gift. I watched in awe from a distance as he devoured the contents of the magazine, from page to page. Since that day, Daddy took me as his son and treated me as one. Dr. Miachi was a complete gentle man. As a husband, he was reliable, responsible and supportive to Mummy Otini; he treated Mummy with utmost respect both within and outside the home; as a father, he sacrificed his own comfort for his fatherly responsibilities and prepared all his children for adulthood; as a renowned anthropologist, he told stories that had never been told in the past and accentuated his narrations within contemporary realities; as a leader, he was down to earth, accessible and pragmatic in his approach – he inspired others to dream bigger, aim higher and achieve greater; as a teacher, his influence was boundless – he unlocked the potentials of the younger ones, making them better; and as a human, he was not perfect, he had his flaws.
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The last time I set my eyes on this elder statesman and unrepentant promoter of Igala culture, was on Saturday 23rd May, 2015 at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja when ARISE IGALA magazine presented to him the prestigious ARISE IGALA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. The second recipient of the Award was Chief Arc. G.Y Aduku, Amana Ogohi I and former Minister of State for Health. The Award was given to Daddy in recognition of his numerous contributions towards the promotion of Igala culture. On this day, Daddy was full of life. As a man who was always proud of his daughters, he came in company of three of them; Ojonuma, Uyo and Eyikojonwa (OMA Daddy). I believe that if Eleojo and Ufedo (the older children) were in the country at the time, he would have come with them as well. Daddy, I know how much you treasured history. That photograph we took together would forever be preserved; the picture would be a crucial bridge between the past and the future; it would be one of the historical evidences that a great cultural revolutionary was here. Dr. Tom Miachi would be remembered and missed by all and sundry. However, my consolation is that he left so many things behind for the future generations to masticate and ruminate on. The rich historical and cultural books he left behind would be consumed by many generations to come. Copies of those books are clear assurances that he would always be with us. Daddy, those autographed copies of your two great books you generously gave me; The Incarnate Being Phenomenon in African Culture: Anthropological Perspectives on the Igala of North-Central Nigeria and Becoming an Agabaidu, have become eternal incenses. As one of your disciples, I will continue to preserve their fragrances. Yes, I will tell the whole world that Dr. Tom Miachi is not dead; his words and works will continue to reverberate from generations to generations.
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INTERVIEW INTERVIEW
Alh. Mohammed Audu
“... I AM DUTY BOUND TO LOOK AFTER THE PEOPLE SAME WAY MY FATHER DID” Let’s meet you My name is Mohammed Abubakar Audu. Am a businessman and an entrepreneur at the same time. I grow businesses from small scales to large scales. What are the key lessons one in your opinion from your late father’s life and even afterlife? Well, let me me start from the family life. He raised his children in a very disciplined manner. We the children were very privileged to have a very comfortable background that can naturally passed to be classified as being raised “with silver spoon” but however, with my father the reverse was the case, you must show the essence as Arise Igala-Issue 35
hard work; you are rewarded for hard work and reprimanded for laziness and complacency. He instilled discipline in the family and even after he became a politician, he made distinctively clear that his life as a politician and family man are two different things. While compromises has to be made in politics, he remained very strict in the family and so today you can see that his children are established as businessmen in real estates, oil & gas, banking, engineering et al. So, even while he was alive, his children were independent already and so to me the great lesson from him is never to pamper your children (unnecessarily), make them to understand the essence of life. This made us to take after him easily. 11
INTERVIEW
Again, if you look at his life, he rose through the ranks. When he joined First Bank in the 1960s till he left, all his promotions he got on merits as a hard working man. In all his endeavours, he build strong relationships with people he met on the way up and most of his political allies were people he once served as a banker. So, the modesty with which my father grew is a great lesson for me. Looking at his political life, the most admirable thing is that while other people in business cadre have gone into politics for what they can get, his was the reverse - People get into politics and ignore
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service to the people, they forget the essence of getting into political office. Interestingly, while people have God-Father all over the country, I realized that my father’s God-Father was his own people. I remember an instance when a seating president in this country asked him to go and contest for Senate so that he can be made the Senate President, but he requested that he go and consult with his people first and when the people said no that his services were still needed at home, he humbly declined the offer. So, you can see that in all his political journey he was always been pitched against the political elites but the masses had always believed in him and you can
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INTERVIEW see after his demise, Kogi people were badly shaken and touched. Then it became very obvious to me that my father’s constituency is his people and he never took them for granted. It is a very big lesson for me - while his contemporary of the same experience worried about higher positions, vying for presidency and so on he stayed with his people; he worried about their education, you can see what he did with the university - am glad to know that the university is growing bigger. You can see what he did with industrialization - he is the reason for Obajana Cement (even though the success is ascribed to Dangote). In fact, it was the American Nexim Bank that was to build the project before the September 11 incidence which took America to an emergency mood and thereafter, other investors were sought for which brought Dangote on board. He (Prince Abubakar Audu) was always about fulfilling his campaign promises to his people. Let’s not forget the polytechnic too, he built it among many other outstanding projects across the state. He built many schools and hospitals. He was all about his people welfare all the way. He took steps that enhanced the better living standard of his people and even though at the end of his political endeavour, he knew was getting old but he had a mission of doing it in a way that an agenda will be set for the younger generation and generations after. And, it was in the course of setting this agenda that he died. The reaction of the masses and love shown after his death endeared more to them and the same way my father took them so will I. Honestly, I appreciate them from the deepest part of my heart. Would you say these reasons were also responsible for why the people stood by you and the Audu Political Family all through to the Supreme Court? Well, I believe absolutely that the people did all they did out of respect for my late father and quest for true democracy. For instance, I have not been tested - am just sitting on my late father’s goodwill. The people didn’t follow me or respect me because I am the oldest, most enterprising or intelligent person in Kogi state but because of what my father had done in his lifetime. And, so, it is now my own responsibility that he lives on and that his dreams are delivered to his people even in death. I do not stand for myself, I still stand for him.
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Shortly before the Supreme Court’s judgment, you were arrested. What was the arrest all about? Well, to be honest with you I have also been asking myself this same question, “why am I under arrest?”. “why are the police looking for me?”. Except that, there was an award ceremony - the state governor was celebrating the state’s twenty five years and there was a lady who was my father’s ex-wife who went there to collect award in company of one of my uncles who is also a bit distant from the family (I think after the 40th day prayers of my late father I haven’t set my eyes on this my uncle till today). Okay, this several weeks after the arrest, still I haven’t seen him. Now, it was rumoured that after he went to collect the award along with the estranged exwife of my late father, they said that I was upset, that I threatened him. Now, in the family, I am not the oldest. I have elders who can handle any issue (if there is one). This is not my place in the family to deal with my seniour - this not how our father brought us up. Well, this is what was rumoured. What I heard transpired was after receiving the award, he went to the village and he got caught up with the community - they were not happy with his action. He was supposed to be with us when we had case with the same exwife of my late father that he went with to the award ceremony but we didn’t see him may be that was why he didn’t show up - well, he may have his own reasons. So, on the day of the day of that court case we heard of what happened in the village and the Oregon who represents the family was also in Abuja so they all said they were going back to the village to ascertain what has happened and if there is need to bring him to Abuja for treatment. They went back and didn’t find him and couldn’t reach his phone as well, he became incommunicado, nobody could talk to him. A few days later, my uncle was picked up to go and write a statement surrounding the complications concerning what transpired. And, I thought that was embarrassing enough. Again, another was also picked up to write a statement. Then few days later, I was in Abuja and some men came that they were looking for me from the Police’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that I needed to answer some questions in Lokoja so they have come to pick me. And, I asked them why do you need to come and pick me but just 13
INTERVIEW call me and inform me and I will be there. In any case, I told them I will be coming tomorrow so I cancelled all my appointments and I was there. So, I went there and I was told to write a statement about the incident and I told them I heard about it but I know nothing more than the things I heard. After the statement, they said I can’t leave and I began to wonder why. Then I asked them, how come you are keeping me here? Few days ago you apprehended some of my uncles, they wrote statements they left so why are you keeping me here, I asked them again. They said I was the prime suspect then I asked them to call my uncle (“the complainant”) to come and point at me, his own son as the prime suspect and they said they can’t reach, that he is incommunicado. So, that was how I was in their custody till the following morning when I was charged to court. At the court, I was surprised when I charged for armed robbery, mischief and attempted culpable homicide and then I looked at myself and I was wondering if I was still in this same world. See, I have been a businessman for the past twenty five years and I believe I have achieve remarkable success in the things I do, armed robbery is for people who are struggling or those who leave in underworld so how do you attribute this thing to me. Culpable homicide, I don’t have the need to kill anybody - we have the Police, there is law, I have elders. In the first place if someone has gone to misrepresent the family, it is not my duty to take any action against him because I have elders in the family. I may be the family spokesman but I am not the eldest. The elders are there. In the past, we have had issues in the family and the elders always resolved them so I don’t know this has to go this way. The truth is that I am alien to the whole drama but may be for political interests I may have been chosen as the prime suspect. So, I went to court with my lawyers and they asked for bail and I think the court considering the way the case look in her own wisdom granted me bail almost under self recognition because it was N100,000 in like sum, a surety in like sum. I was so surprised that in the morning it was all over in the news that I was arrested for armed robbery then I know it was just an attempt to slander my person. Just to disgrace me. Well, whosoever is behind it or whoever has special interest in the case, I know one thing that in today’s political scenario, I do 14
not represent myself. If I am out to do something on my own and you attack me then I can not take all that but I represent a much bigger figure far more than myself so I said to myself if he (my late father) was alive today what would he have done? He would ignore things that are inconsequential. He would not worry himself over such issues. So, I choose to forgive and forget and not to worry myself about it. I also told my people the same thing. In the struggle to ensure succeed, we must have downtimes and I think no matter how long or short there’s an end. Mandela was put in prison for twenty seven years and so many others. So, at least I was afforded the opportunity to let my people know that I was also struggling for them. What will be your message to the people? Well, at this stage the people have been devastated by the recent happenings politically, socially, economically and so on and so forth. I know they were also quite devastated by the death of my father and it has affected them in a very negative way. In my entire life, the most devastating thing that has ever happened to me is the death of my father which I never envisaged - I remember when I came out to tell the people, they brought somebody to pray and insisted I take the person inside and I said no because I know he is no more alive. The people almost beat me up telling me that with the death of this man is the death of our children’s school fees, the death of our farms, the death of our businesses, the death of our hope and so I should get out of the way so that they go and revive this man because they can’t afford such death at that point. I went on my kneels to plead with these people but they wouldn’t listen so we have to find a way to resolve that situation because despite the aggression I knew how heartbroken they were. This motivated me a great deal to take up the responsibility to look into the plight of the people and accept to step into my father’s shoes to stabilize the feelings of this people. A task which I feel is a duty, I do not want to be rewarded with money, with governorship, with presidency because I am looking after the people the way my father did even if there is no reward for it. It is an obligation to me the way they have honoured my father even in death. And, I am going to continue. It on this note that we have decided to set up PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU FOUNDATION that is not partisan, not political and it will accommodate all and sundry. A platform which will attempt Arise Igala-Issue 35
INTERVIEW to deal with issues of welfare for the masses, educational upliftment, social development, healthcare, improvement in agriculture and generally improving standard of living of the people. With this foundation, we want to set an agenda so that going forward the people will know what to demand and expect of their leaders in the state because they are educated This we will attribute to the memory of Prince Abubakar Audu and we hope that it will out leave us and our children by the special grace of God. So, finally, there’s hope for Audu Political Family? Well, Audu Political Family is different from Prince Abubakar Audu Foundation - The Audu Political Family has been there before his death and even after his death the family continue to exist. And the family was strengthen more after his death because the unity I see in Igalaland today and Kogi state is one of a kind politically. I hear from people that were there before me that it has never been like that. I hear that the cohesion in Kogi state has never been like that before. This now throws to the leaders of the Audu Political Family the responsibility to bring these people out of the lone synoptic squalor; these people must given jobs because they are the primary constituency of the Audu Political Family; these people must have their children educated; these people must have freedom of choice; these people must eliminate violence from their existence; these people must learn to co-exist; we want a future, a state where the Igala, Okun, Ebira, Nupe, Kankanda, Oworo, Hausa, Bassa, Ogori and all must have equal opportunity not minding you have the numerical disadvantage. They will look more at the quality of your service offerings and offer you the opportunity. These are the kind of things that the Audu Political Family will focus on at all cost. Where an Igala man, Okun man and Ebira man will have the same agenda. So, the Audu Political Family will promote the scenario of “one for all, all for one” to the memory of late Prince Abubakar Audu.
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COVER
Rev. Fr. Anthony Agbali delivering paper at the ARISE IGALA LEADERSHIP AWARDS-LECTURES 2016 at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Abuja
Kogi Awakening: A Lost Case not the Last Course
The Kogi Political Saga, The Mavericks in the Market Square
O
n September 20th, 2016, the Nigerian Supreme Court adjudicated on the appeals regarding the Kogi State governorship elections. The electoral tribunal had begun with the first instance tribunal that ruled in favour of the election of Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello (aka FairPlus) in May. That ruling was appealed at the electoral appeals court and its ruling once again imperiously favoured Alhaji Bello. The Supreme Court ruling marked the last and final stage of the legal process that equally ended in favour of Bello. From ab initio, it was clear that Yahaya Bello’s emergence as governor of Kogi State was mired in crass controversies and that numerous emergent litigations would occur. In spite of the Supreme Court’s determination, the issues concerning Yahaya Bello as governor remain highly contentious and polarizing. It’s indeed so because of the many issues that evolved out of the electioneering process especially in the aftermath of the death of the late Prince Abubakar Audu, the pre-eminent APC governorship candidate who was on the initial ticket, on the verge of winning, before his sudden death. Thereafter, insane politicking detoured the entire process as the election was declared by the electoral body as inconclusive. This inconclusive piece was another huge chunk of
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legal tissues presented before the tribunal to unravel and reach a determinative conclusion, as that unilateral decision, presumably reached with an “invisible hand behind the clock” was epifocal making it impossible for James Faleke, Audu’s running mate and deputygovernor candidate on the ticket, to step-up into Audu’s stead. Two major contentious broad strokes for legal unravelling emanated from the two major political parties and their candidates in that elections. In between there also exist other arguments. Some blended, aligned or were outright somewhat significantly altered arguments than those of the two major titans were equally presented to the tribunal by the other parties - though with lesser votes and public validation in the governorship race refused to be left behind. Most parties wanted the nullification of the election and a fresh election instantiated all over. The first significant broad argument emanated intriguingly from within the APC itself and its sidelined candidate, James Faleke. It pertains to probing the merit of the arbitrary emergence of Yahaya Bello in sidestepping James Faleke originally on ticket with the late Audu from his demised principal’s natural successor—stepping up from the deputy-governorship
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COVER candidacy into becoming the governor of the state. He argued that Bello was not qualified to run for the office of governor, given that he was an ineligible voter at the time of the primaries and actual elections given his lack of possessing a voter’s card (PVC) in the state. Accordingly, disqualifying Bello from even being considered, and rendering all subsequent actions— the primaries and his “superimposed” elevation into the office of governor as invalid, and a political farce, given the nation’s electoral laws. He also alleged that declaring the elections inconclusive was a treacherous, conniving, and intentionally motivated political act; amounting to an overt coup instantiated by certain interests within the national APC. The national APC had substituted Bello to replace Audu, while Faleke would have retained his deputygovernorship position, a position that was unacceptable to Faleke and Audu’s supporters. He refused to demure and went to the electoral tribunal seeking justice. Judging that the elections held in the wake of Audu’s death merely produced about 6,000 votes to ensure Bello’s win, Faleke had argued that the November 21ist, 2015 elections was in fact definitively concluded as the argument declaring it inconclusive was uncalled for and inappropriate. The other—second broadside, derived from the argument put forward by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) governorship and erstwhile governor, Idris Wada. Wada alleges that given the death of Audu that the votes died with him, and that the 6,000 votes acquired by Bello in the later posthumous Audu era on December 2nd, 2015 was not enough to make Bello a governor. Therefore, he was requesting declaring Bello’s candidacy null and void, as his relief seeking a fresh governorship elections in Kogi State. Subsequently, after drooling and doodling the first instance electoral tribunal dismissed the cases as lacking merit. However, the core issues that would have been determinative was sketched over and was left untouched. At the time, while some jubilated as foot-grounding Yahaya Bello, others were not happy. Others saw in this ruling another betrayal, another skillfully orchestrated political manipulation. The case further was appealed, where it meet similar fate, dismissed much like a waive of the hand as lacking merits. Notably, one of the judges objected in his minority ruling. Incidences of Corruption within the Nigerian Judiciary: A Relative Historical Antecedence: This is not surprising given the corrupt antecedents of the Nigerian judiciary, not just at the lower rungs but even within its upper echelons-- a fact that has been well chronicled, even controversially. Antecedents matters and so invoking the ghosts of the past is not out of place. During the military regime of General Muhammadu Buhari (now the elected incumbent Nigerian President), it was discovered that his regime had arbitrarily and inordinately coerced and armtwisted the judiciary into sentencing and incarcerating the late Afro-beat stellar musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, for his assumingly annoying offensive and anti-military dictatorship antics. The mode of such top-down manipulation of justice, a military era charade and hand-me-down form of
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justice came into view following the sentencing and incarceration of the Afro-beat popular musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in 1984 under the military regime of General Muhammed Buhari (the now democratically elected incumbent president). At the time there was a popular uproar regarding the nature of that sentencing and incarceration. As Fela’s person and music seemed critically offensive to the military dictatorship they used a semblance of due process to helm him in, throwing him into jail. This initiated cosmetic justice, was presided over by Justice Gregory Okoro-Idogu. Justice Okoro-Idogu’s conscience would not rest, at least so it seems. During that incarceration, in 1987, while Fela was hospitalized at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the eminent Justice Okoro-Idogu visited Fela, confessing his misdeed and judicial infamy. Fela was later freed following this discovery relative to a miscarriage of justice, whereas Justice Okoro-Idogu was promptly relieved of his judicial duties by the military dictatorship of General Ibrahim Babangida, who had earlier overthrown Buhari in a military coup. Another instance of military undue influence upon the fair administration of justice was also expressed during the trials of the Ogoni nine—the Ogoni environmental and social activists, headed by the writer and ebullient Ken Saro-Wiwa) and their eventual death at the gallow. This charade and miscarriage of justice was carried out by the military tribunal headed by Justice Ibrahim Auta. Evidently, the mode of operations and trials of that tribunal was internationally and publicly condemned and ridiculed as a tool-in-the-hand of the late General Sani Abacha’s dictatorship. Ibrahim Auta has since had his name written in ignominy. While he barely survived the Ogoni nine outrage, he much later became enmeshed in other not so honourable affairs in the administration of justice, and was notably indicted over his ethics as a judicial official. While, it is well known that the executive powers, especially during the military era often unduly interfered with the appropriate demand and execution of justice, under the “new” democracy that evolved since 1999 many incidences of judicial corruption has surfaced, enraging and publicly calling into question the very character and ethics of judicial impartiality, and the judiciary’s assumed competent independence. Public misgivings and suspicions have- and rightly so occasioned hysteria regarding the assuming biased judicial determination of cases involving the executive branches both at the Federal and States levels. It is often suspected that the judiciary seems to either lives in morbid fear of the executive branch or are so easily swayed, cheaply bought over by the executive, and at times the legislative branch of government. Budgetary restraints and direct stonewalling, of deriding and not abiding with judicial rulings, seemingly have stampeded the judiciary out of their hypothetical constitutional autonomy in practice. The case of Justice Wilson Egbo-Egbo represents another example of judicial nettlesome behaviour. Justice Egbo Egbo intentionally short-cut justice by unnecessarily wading into, and thus abusing constitutionality in assuming a case beyond his competence relative to the then Anambra governorship
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COVER crises (Ngige versus Uba). Such pesky behaviour did not end with Justice Egbo Egbo. Another worrisome instance emerged with the lurid accusations made by the now late Justice Ayo Salami, President of the Appeals Courts of Nigeria against the then Chief Justice of the Nigerian Federation, Chief Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu. Justice Salami, accusation deriving from a very high ranking jurist, alleges that Chief Justice Katsina-Alu unduly interfered in trying to corruptly determine the outcome of the election petition from Sokoto State then before the Supreme Court using his high ranking influence. That cranky disclosure caused enormous upheaval both within the judiciary and the political scenery. In predictable and even unimaginable ways it dented the public view of the Supreme Court and the Nigerian Judiciary as an institution calling into question its ethics and autonomy. While such sternutation possess crass implications in diminishing the crackerjack imagery of the Nigerian judicial officials, it must be stated that there are still some excellent and respectable judges and justices within the Nigerian judiciary whose professional and judicial ethics beyond reproach. Yet the spotty natures of such eructation has already enormously damaged the institutional and ethical integrity of the Nigerian judiciary- as a spotless legal and social institution. Such perspectives further allows for unnecessary doubts and unwarranted questions regarding how the Nigerian public adjudge the competence and autonomy of judicial decisions, even those by the Supreme Court. These darkened judicial spotted markings furthers public misgivings. To the extent that the Nigerian public assert the judiciary as decadently and ethically impoverished to that extent does the institutional esteem of the once hallowed Nigerian judiciary equally dims effectively limiting its spheres of social relevance and structural strictures. While the temptation at corrupting the judiciary from without may not be new, and probably led D. Olu Olagoke to pen his once-upon-a-time famous African [Nigerian] play: The Incorruptible Judge, the judiciary must salvage itself by giving good account of their acting and performances. Thus, it is pertinently necessary that the Nigerian judiciary redress and redeem itself by ensuring transparency and astute accountability within its rank through qualitatively excellent legal decisions and manifest ethical stature in maintaining global gold standards that mark their decisions and actions as devoid of bias but based upon facts and jurisprudence. I believe this will reassure and reignite the public confidence in the judiciary as an institution. For instance, I am personally appalled that the eminent court and justices could not present their full judgement already written, having had the time to hear the legal arguments on the day judgement was rendered in the Kogi State elections’ appeal before her. To me, this is exhibitory of a typical Nigerian mindset of mediocrity. While, I am sure that the Supreme Court justices are eminently busy, I wonder having sat through the legal hearings and setting a judgement delivery day that they could not present their full judgement, for the public and legal minds to fully discern their legal decisions and conclusions. I find this, in this age objectionable. I am sure that there are
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legal clerks and others at the disposal of the eminent justices in making this aspect of their work easier and on schedule. I want to believe that their judgment is sound. Yet holding the Supreme Court and her legal decisions to scrutiny is part of what our democracy is about. Hopefully, such efforts will assist us in continuously refining our peculiar democracy to acceptable standards emanating from our mutual and specific experiences. However, that habit of not fully delivering judgement and presenting the full legal reasons behind that decision is giving rise to certain theories— conspiratorial, imaginary, surreal, “fictitiously” clouded or revealingly actual-real. This becomes interesting given the assertion prior to the Supreme Court ruling with the Yahaya Bello administration claiming any ruling against him will lead to ethnic chaos in the state. Along those lines, the Supreme Court must realize that her actions matter in maintaining the peace and forestalling undue anarchy. As the saying goes: where there is no justice, there cannot be peace. For many within the state, the integrity of the Supreme Court were at stake, and the fact that the eminent jurists could not even as much come up with the summary of their ruling and posted on their institutional website in this day and age, reflects anachronism and nonparlance toward how the public image and imagine the Supreme Court. Therefore, one cannot fully blame the popular imagination when it sets the grape vine mill rolling and conspiracy theorist ago. Certainly, there is the insinuation real or imagined that the Kogi State Government of Governor Bello dispensed over 4 billion naira to the panelists to assure this judgment. Such insinuations—true or false- is very harmful, for whatever it is worth to the institutional identity of the Supreme Court, and the Nigerian judiciary as a whole. Such popular rendition reels may not be true but the incalculable damage it does to the institutional identity of the Supreme Court is enormous. The Supreme Court justices may not care but it does matter overall. The Court must do all within its power to assist in dispelling such public imaginations. As earlier pointed out, past antecedents arising from even judicial officials’ allegations make this a very touchy matter. Whether this is true or not, I cannot tell for sure the value of such emergent population allegation of judicial “palm oiling.” But that is out there, and interestingly the Court should muster the courage to address such matters both internally and externally because it minimizes her forceful appeal as a democratic, neutral, unbiased, and significant institution. It cannot be ascertained for sure that the fact that there was no judgement delivered in full helped fuelled such reasoning in some quarters as a probable proof of the court’s judgement slant, but the very fact that some assume that some smoggy but sordid “invisible hand” was involved in the court’s determination and final judgement outcome is troubling. The Court need to be equally troubled. While, Governor Yahaya Bello’s adherents hail the judgement and readily concludes that “God is Involved,” many of Bello’s opponents gleefully assert: “This is Nigeria anything is Possible,” “Money was involved,” “4 Billion Naira was Involved.” Nigerians don’t
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COVER trust their institutions and even their fellow Nigerians, hence they are swift at outsourcing and adducing other factors as responsible for how and why things are the way they are. Sounds simplistic but within these framings is the heart of the problems riling and riddling Nigeria—outsource to God, distrust all and any Nigerian institution as incompetent and corrupt. No nation exists without solid institutions, and it is humans who build and invest trusts and ethics into any workable and sound institution that ever exists, dealing with breaches and blemishes as they arise. Hopefully, I hope that this ruling will lead to a re-jigging of our democratic institutions in serving us better. Judicial Action: Integrity, Mediocrity, and Betrayal and the Nigerian Public Perception of the Courts: The judicial ruling from the election tribunal of first instance seemed sloppily determined by side-lining and refusing to contend with the major issues that came up during its sittings and trials. This became almost all too suspicious given that it was alleged that shortly prior to that ruling the state government had received from the Federal Government a bailout fund initially estimated at 48 billion naira but later reduced by the same government to 20 billion naira. In spite of such bailout payment the state government has hugely withheld paying workers’ salaries. Also at about the same time an enormous amount of over 400 million naira was alleged to have been improperly withdrew from the Ecological Funds’ state’s deposit. In the typical Nigerian imagination, certain correlations were made regarding the timing of the Federal Government payout of the bailout funds, the ecological funds withdrawal, and the ruling. Such imagination references a presumptive conspiratorial plot that money had inevitably exchanged hands between the governor/his agents and presumably some of the legal officials. While, such rile sentiments are often considered spooky, a lingering history of judicial collaborations with the executives either at the Federal or State levels to scuttle justice and fairness is
not unknown. Nigerians typically have a distrust for state actors and government functionaries as highly corrupt and given to juicy trade-offs in the execution of their duties. Such ring tones are appalling and stenches the democratic process and order. The fact that the judiciary that should ordinarily be perceived as beyond reproach is reproved by many Nigerians as odiously corrupt and incompetently perverse in administering justice is a bad omen for Nigerian democracy. If such perceptions, are indeed true, it makes judicial seriousness and judiciousness a huge joke rather than its ideal perception as a pivotal institution at the core of the democratic agenda and process. The hallmark of any effective and efficient democracy is that the judiciary is equally competent, socially respected, and institutionally perceived as impervious to the manipulations of social classes and interests. The judiciary structure that anchors any progressive democracy must incorporate public trust and the sense and reality of independence, rather than as an appendage institution teleguided by other branches of government and social interests. Lack of seeming bias and autonomy marks the independence of the judiciary. The judiciary is not just an avant garde social order but it is itself the epitome of ethics. It riled the democratic ambience gleefully reducing it to a specter. Without any intentions at prejudicing the Nigerian judiciary, it however, seems that the Nigerian judiciary remains engraved in a militarized consciousness that seemingly ridicules their astute independence. While awaiting the full judgment informing today’s Supreme court decision regarding the Yahaya Bello election, and while continuing to respect the eminent jurists of the supreme court ( in spite of the rupturing awareness that there exist a certain depth of profound corruption within the Nigerian judiciary), one needs to swiftly assert that any citizen within a democracy possess the full rights and competence to sue against the acts and actions of government within any competent court and jurisdiction. Democracy
Fr. Anthony on the Red Carpet of ARISE IGALA LEADERSHIP AWARDS-LECTURES 2016
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COVER confer such rights and it cannot be unduly and gleefully be dispossessed without profound foregrounding in rational law warranting such consideration(s). The use of the discarding phrase “lack of merit” or “lacking merit” or those bordering upon citizenry competence to institute legal against any aspect of governmental functioning is disheartening, adjudged arbitrary and nonsensical within a democratic prescient. While one can understand that there is a limit to legal actions in curtailing public chaos, to minimize and conveniently derail or deride such rights is an abuse of both judicial and democratic rationality. Any citizen reserves the right at any time to bring the action of government before the judicial lenses for scrutiny and clarity. Sadly, the intermeshing and almost compromised relationship blurring the boundaries between the judiciary and the executive, and the other branches and government institutions minimize against the sense of the attainability of justice by and for individuals and groups outside the immediate orbit or associated with government and her institutions at whatever level. Such trends are not only imaginary but such public attitudes are dangerous for public peace and security. Citizens of whatever partisan, ethnic, religious affiliations, gender, and whatever or lack of biases should feel that justice is within reach and its execution would be fair. Lack of fairness and the feelings of the unattainability of justice and fair judicial process is a recipe for social anarchy. Overall, if the judiciary is perceived as harbouring shady characters within its ranks; a dumping grounds for mediocrity, and a blemished institution like the rest of the Nigerian structures and arcane systems, then the reactive public action and pejorative shading of the judiciary will continue to shift adversely. While, it is true that not all within the judiciary are obviously nefarious and corrupt, the judiciary will be measured by the Nigerian public through critical lenses as they note the instances of the corrupt officials and rulings that rig them of justice, their encounters of porous judgements, and mediocrity. The Nigerian public will weigh her judgement based more upon sentiments than astute facts, a situation that will further function robustly in amplifying the judiciary’s ridicule, institutional irrelevance, and can cripple its overall social significance. Kogi State Moving Forward - The Realities and the Challenges Ahead: Whatever is involved one thing is lurid and crystal clear: Yahaya Bello now has no more excuses at governing; an act that in the last almost nine months he and his team have found virtually impossible. Beyond the display of an indulgent in glitterati and playboys debauchery culture—indulgent “party boys” adept at frolicking with their glamorous “adult mobile toys [cars]” nothing major inclines one toward any objective performance of the Bello administration. Yet, in spite of this relentless efforts at pleasure-maniac and at-will banal displays using the tax-payers’ funds, Yahaya Bello continues to despise the state workers refusing to pay their remunerations. In spite of having received bailout funds from the Federal Government he remains recalcitrant in paying the workers over eight months of their past and accruing emoluments. The
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bills continue to pile even as the use of the bailout fund for this purpose remains used and its uses suspicious. Additionally, the Kogi State government continues to draw out accruing state’s due of the monthly funds from the central allocation coffers into its treasury for the purposes of meeting her fiscal obligations, including salaries. Some hitherto had excused his lack of performance, and even his excesses, hinging it upon the impending cases. Now, there are no more litigations, I believe that he can now purposefully settle as they say: “to do things.” Now, it has to be seen whether Bello possess the intellectual acumen and the sordid strength of mind to be a true leader of a state with enormous potentials but whose past ruling potentates have hugely emasculated for personal gains. Thus far Bello has engendered a patrimonial and prebendal ethos. He currently represent as an imperious potentate, to whom subordinates griots and praise-singers, and minions looking for mince-meats reclines and resorts. If one decides to be pessimistic, as policy experts tend to assume that the predictive indicators of successful governance are predicated upon starting foundations, then one can say “don’t expect much.” The past nine months representing Bello’s best capabilities and capacities does not offer much hope. Therefore, assuming such mindsets to be absolute, one would by now assumes that all is lost and Kogi is waste. Such assumption forecloses upon the Bello ability to engender and sustain smart governance and drive policy initiatives in ordering transformational politics that will wriggle Kogi State out of its despicable morass. Conclusively, one would reason that beyond Bello’s pubescent political skills and exhibitionist specter of juvenile opulence, there is not much to
Fr. Agbali discussing with Elder Arc. Gabriel Y. Aduku at the award ceremon
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COVER expect. The alternative. Under such scenario then Kogi citizens rather have to buckle their belt toward assuaging the swiftly emergent harsher and harder social and existential realities. Optimistic is a virtue for living beings, so we can cut Bello some slack: to believe he can do better, in spite of missteps and mistakes. Thus, Bello may be capable of exhibiting a new side, only just believing he’s not yet like an old dog set in his ways. Counting on that different side then hope may emerge. As holding on to hope is not hurtful, we can wishfully believe in this until discounted and disproved that our hope is hopeless, and useless. But as the situation currently is, under his watch, Bello has lots of work to do. He needs to be more transparent and accountable. He also has to tame his domineering ego and be a master in outreach and reaching compromises while truly working for the welfare of the state and her citizens. This far, he has antagonized major stakeholders and activists with history of working for Kogi’s greatness. Politics is not the game best played by ideologues as it entails the act of consensus and compromises. The best of politics are heaps of compromises directed at engendering better social conditions for the citizens and credits its suave actors with debits to draw upon. Hitherto, Bello has perceived himself as an imperious invention of a “Deus ex Machina” plot to power. Humanly inconceivable, God enthroned him and gave him what he never had imagined. Good reasoning but in politics, God hang his soccer boots and refused to play favourites. Men and women are the motorized forces behind the drivers of politics, that is why whether it plays out well or not, God is neither voted in, or out, in politics, retaining neutrality and maintaining divine uncorrupted identity. In politics, the converse is the
ny in May, 2016
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case. If policies and politics work well a hero is born and canonized. If it plays out well a Winston Churchill or Ike Eisenhower takes the glory and radiate heroically. If it goes sour and awry you take a beaten, a retreat or even death, as the case maybe. Heroes in politics are not adorned with saintly hallos. Villains in politics unfortunately share the fate similar to the devil and demons, repulsed, despised, rejected, vilified, and presumably hardly celebrated. When it doesn’t work out David Cameroon quits, even while walking elegantly, he is almost all alone. He cannot invoke God in this business, his calculations failed him, and badly. He ought to have known better. It is the nature of the beast. History may never offer him an opportunity for a replay and a repair. In the same way when things get so sour and sore, the world blames the monstrous leader and if possible grisly decapitate them as the cases of Saddam Hussain or Benito Mussolini, and even Hitler historically despised and demonized. A bad leader is a pariah, whose memories reside in ignominy. Hopefully, Yahaya Bello will be able to overcome his already impressed signature imprints as an uncaring and callous leader, now etched upon Kogi citizenry’s memories and public imagination. Luckily, time is on his side, he has time to remake, if he’s willing, some of his tottering steps and missteps. Until then his assuming “New Direction” ideology remains a pivoting toward the infernal stoking of political hell. Right now, they are what they are, mere facetious words altered by a bellowing undiscerning demagogue slowing ingesting the billowing suffocating smoke consuming his political lungs. He should beware, for as far as that goes, he cannot and should not afford such fate. Even, if he can, he deter himself from pulling his own trigger marking his political demise. It is absolutely unnecessary, and at this point a volte face History aids our memories to retrace and be imaginatively instructive. Yahaya Bello came on board with an impressive agenda: to galvanize Kogi citizens of all ethnic and religious persuasions, ages, and gender in working for the great transformation of Kogi State. He understands that Kogi State is plural state of many ethnicities—Igala, Okun/Yagba, Igbirra (Ebira), Oworo, Nupe, Bassa Komo, Bassa Nge, Hausa, and other ethnic communities—and religious affiliations (Muslims, Christians, and Traditional Religious adherents, among some others or none-at-all). Yahaya Bello is Igbirra from Okene, at least so he claims, and that is what many affirm. There are a few who denies him even that claim, that he is descended from Auchi. That too is debatable, and whatever the sources, it might be part of political demagoguery. He is Muslim. His deputy-governor, is Igala from Ibaji, and his assumingly Christian. Bello wants to work for the good of all Kogi citizens. Bello inherited a mandate consisting of an Igala Muslim, and Okun Christian. I believe following the incidence that affected that ticket, leading to his emergence, he ensured that the state legislature’s speaker reflect the changes and balance of political leadership configuration in the state. Good efforts. Unfortunately, there are grumblings along factitious ethnic lines in the state. The Igala are complaining of ethnic disenfranchisement and the Okun of sidelining.
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COVER This much will always be a problem in Nigeria. However, politically any office holder needs to pay astute attention. As for the Igala, many claims that Bello is removing them from earned and attained positions in the state’s civil service replacing them with his ethnic Igbirra folks. I believe each case would be adjudged at its merit. However, there is adduced to be a pattern to this, and a vociferous and offensive tinge to how it is carried out. In looking at the religious composition of some of his appointments, I believe that Yahaya Bello has made strenuous efforts to be equitable. Yahaya Bello’s election as governor follows the trail of another Igbirra, the late Adamu Attah (son of Ohinoyi Attah Ibrahim Ohonnoriza), as elected governor of old Kwara State from 1979-83, under the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). If History has anything to teach us, not long after Governor Attah’s election he fell out of favour with the ethnic Yoruba and Ilorin political core group, largely under the leadership of the late Senator Olushola “Oluoye” Saraki. Governor Attah having burnt his political bridges, discarded public goodwill, and accused of crass ethnic nepotism in state’s appointment was never able to regain astute political capital and goodwill from the majority Yoruba and Ilorin political core group. In 1983, Saraki broke party lines, though at the time the Senate Majority Leader of the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN), and endorsed the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) candidate, Cornelius Adebayo. With Saraki’s endorsement and full political support, in spite of UPN been an opposition party to the NPN, Mr. Adebayo impressively won the election. In politics, coalition building matters. Majority domains in politics need to be pacified and positively engaged in other to win enormous political capital and public goodwill. Those who unnecessarily, against their better judgement, unduly antagonize majority groups must always think twice, except their political career has reached a dead-end. I hope that Yahaya Bello will be open to understanding coalition and consensus building in matters of political relevance. Right now, it seems his logic toward holding up to buy is to merchandize support using stick and carrots, and through monetization as inducement. In spite of Bello having hugely wasted the political capital he initially gained at his election, but by now has seemingly side-swapped he can rejig himself. Kogi can forgive his youthful exuberances and excesses, only if he is honest and determined to work hard and transparently. As things are, right now, that work is not going to be easy in rebuilding confidence. But his consistency and commitment to such ventures will possibly unreel more positive in-roads along his successful political path. However he paves this moment and opportunity for reset is his to determine. Surely, the Nigerian resilience and enormous capacities to endure oddities is unparalleled and in less than four years from now, much will have come and gone embedded in memories, subtly endured and choices will definitely be blithely made—for what does not kill you make you stronger. Democracy and the Weight of Public Perception and Institutional Integrity of the Judiciary: In a democracy, the supreme court must weigh public opinion and sentiments regarding her institutional
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relevance. It would be very odious for the supreme court of any nation to minimize its public policy agenda setting role by merely pondering to the partisan or ruling class interests, and the highest bidders. Citizens feeling of alienation as it pertains to the unattainability of justice and the courts partiality toward government institutions, functionaries, and incumbent actors stand to breach trust and bleach integrity capable of causing irreparable damages to the courts and their legitimacy. The public perception that sound to perjure an imagined judicial subservience, acting almost as unilateral adjutant to the executive branch, rather than embrace her constitutional and institutional independent entities is inimical to sound democratic modes of acting, and make monumental mockery of our democracy. The crucial matter in the cases presented to the tribunals that was hugely sidelined but remains the focal base of any veritable democracy hinges upon the fundamental issue of the eligibility of Yahaya Bello, as a non-registered voter within Kogi State that questions his been qualified in se (in itself) to even be on the ballot. That fact legally moots every other contigent electoral issue. It was related that a star witness for Yahaya Bello at the first instance tribunal--Edward Onoja--acknowledged in evidence that Bello was not a registered voter in Kogi State at the times the primaries and the governorship elections were held--though he was assumingly registered in Abuja and his registration was yet to be transferred to Kogi State. In plain terms, he was not eligible to vote in Kogi State, which he didn’t and could not be voted for by the terms of the Nigerian electoral laws. This was the prima facie bone of fundamental contention. Such evidence in fact and by law should have been very determinant in concluding all these inane rigmarole of judicial oddities. Indeed, while other pertinent issues abound in the election petitioners’ cases against Yahaya Bello--such as the arbitrary mode of the replacement of Hon. Faleke, late Audu’s rightful running mate and for office of Deputy-Governor who was on the ticket, I duly believe that the above remains pivotally and fundamentally relevant in adjudicating the electoral petitions without undue prevarications. Aside such determinations, even a goat can be forcefully imposed, superimposed, and substituted on a ballot the roguery way the national APC arbitrarily acted in the Yahaya Bello incidence, without due process. And that is the danger; the power of the party to thwart the voters choice based upon not just considerations of party but personalities, charm, and other personality appeals as reflected on the ticket. Faleke was apparently cornered unfairly and unjustly treated by the APC power house in a military style dictatorial putsch. Privileging and creating nonsustainable antecedents within the runways of illegal ethos imprints upon the social landscape a disregard for due processes. Unfortunately, the judiciary continues to laughingly sidestep that major rudimentary predicate hinging every other issues rather it funnily made as its prime subject matter the competence of the petitioners going at length in discrediting their merits. I believe that the judiciary skirting of such fundamental constitutional
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COVER issues as prescribed by the electoral laws remain very dangerous and lethal to our democracy marking it as farcical and revealing at heart the hollowness of the unfolding and extended drama. Such theatrics truly threatens the foundational basis of representative democracy and the core norms under-girding the sacredness of the voters mandate. Making mockery of the voters’ democratically sacrosanct role is to factually create a crack in the integrity and relevance of the judiciary. By rigging the roots of its underlining existential façade and rational relevance the judiciary as a branch of government by their observed actions can undo their institutional essence to the extent that they strike at the authorial source of their very existence; the people--those same voters to whom under normal circumstances they owe their responsibility and accountability. The Nigerian judiciary seemingly lacks imagination and prefers maintaining their “power-coop” alliance with the executive branch, somewhat unable to draw cogent lessons from other climes regarding how the people stood with the Pakistani judiciary during the military assault against that body under the erstwhile regime of General Pervez Musharraf. Unfortunately, the perverted legacies of its colonial roots and long militarized years continues to stunt its consciousness regarding validating the derivative true source of her power and legitimacy in all circumstances. In deed to the extent that the judiciary makes mockery of the sacredness of the voters they also accelerate their own social minimization and ultimate functional purposeful essence leading to their structural demise. The Kogi Political Scenery: The Overdrive and the Overkill: Now, as this reality presently exists, the citizens of Kogi State have to duly contend with this anomaly. The realities of the aberrations that emerged in the aftermath of the death of the frontline candidate of the APC governorship election, Prince Abubakar Audu now remains and its subsequent unfolding portrays troubling manifestations. It has further unravelled an abysmal porosity within the nature of Kogi’s political constellation and credence the immense governmental failures at all levels--federal, judiciary, legislature (federal and state) and even the political party--- especially highlighting the lies of the APC establishment regarding fighting corruption. Interestingly, the Kogi context reveals the hollowness of President Muhamadu Buhari’s current pretentious attempts at make-believe governance, fighting corruption, that keeps engendering a sickening sic tune change-mantra more aimed at appealing and appeasing the west, than at addressing the stinking domestic realities on the ground that continues to make mince-meal of the citizenry; badly and proactively decimating them along every social sphere and climes at every turn. The Kogi situation undoubtedly enmasks a corrupt power façade whose consequences the citizens of Kogi State are now not only direly experiencing but whose disordered legacies is very actively inclined toward annihilating their very lives. In this context, the Supreme Court’s ruling unveils the specter of what needs to be collectively done, and urgently, by conscientious citizens and interested
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observers. The ruling opens a new vista and chapter in the history of Kogi State and the collective aspirations of her people toward retaking their destiny in their hands and regenerating their future, by barking at despondent forces and deformed leadership in revamping their fates and reversing their approaching fatal crash. In this task, all Kogi citizens have a role to play: to reject dismal leadership and to use the tools and means available to them to get rid of their incompetent incumbent leaders through appropriate channels and legitimate means. The times are unusual and somewhat frightening but we cannot give in to fear. We cannot cave in as we crave for a reversal in our fortune as a people already standing on the precipice but determined never to slip over the edge. We cannot remain cowardly in the face of the prevailing and nagging decimators whose happiness is aimed at annihilating and exterminating us, and whose joyfulness is to rip from us in reaping the ripe fruits of our ancestors’ labours. It is now time to act collectively else our dimming future is one that leaves little choices as the darkness closes upon us. Can we afford to perish and die? Can we rather stand united; hands interlocking in action in salvaging ourselves from our current predicament, easing ourselves from the present state of squalor, downtrodden and savagery that now stirs at us and steer us, mutilating and sluggishly but forcefully dragging us into a toxic sewage? The journey of 2019 begins today for Bello and the eventual actors. What Bello and his team does and does not do will all count. The race is on. I call on all capable persons to engage this process, whether as voters or running for public offices. Kogi state cannot be left to the caprices and whims of a few. Government does not have a totalizing hold over the lives of all but its actions can determine how individual lives and their social outcomes turn out to be. We must all become interested observers and participants. Many can do it. For so long many have reneged and allowed charlatans and miscreants to dominate the field of politics to our surprise and even our demise. We must no longer stand akimbo, even if we are not running for public offices, we can each do our best ensuring that the right, competent, and must socially imaginative and responsible persons are elected into offices. Time counts and each time gone can never be rebirthed and events within such time can positively or adversely mark our history. Let us do our best. At all levels in communities, associations, clubs, etc we must talk about what our communities need most and what we can do even better for ourselves than any government can ever do for us. We need the collective will to bring on board all, to speak to all in forgiving and honest tones, in reconciliation, to ensure that our present predicament can be salvaged, that we refuse to totter on the edge and our fate be determined on the precipice of desperation and lack of action. To surge we must think and reason hard but no longer as individuals each doing our own thing, but together. A people, a generation’s fate is at stake, and even some of our own are impaling us on the stake to die. We can no longer continue to play dumb and feel numb to the sufferings of our people, especially our younger ones.
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UPDATE
Royal Reception For Ogbanago Mohammed Ibrahim
Ogbanago receives more prayers from Agabaidu, Ata Igala, Dr. Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni
H
is Royal Majesty, Agabaidu, Dr. Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni II, Ata Igala and President, Kogi State Council of Chiefs received Ogbanago Mohammed Ibrahim at the Ata Igala Palace, Idah, Kogi State. The royal reception for Ogbanago is in connection with the honest attitude he displayed at the place of his duty as a security personnel with United Bank for Africa Plc at a Lagos branch where he found and returned the sum of ten thousand pounds to the owner. In the words of HRM, Ata Igala, what Ogbanago did is a clear demonstration of the average Igala man’s attitude - “we do not take what is not ours, we don’t steal and so can not celebrate thieves”. The royal father went further to explain why many businessmen (private ones in particular) feel more comfortable in dealing
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with Igala people and keeping them in charge of their finances in most cases. HRM, Ata Igala called on all Igala sons and daughters, home and abroad to continue in their honest path and be the leading light now that the nation needs change of attitude more than ever before. At the occasion, the Igala Entrepreneurship Development Association (IEDA) donated the sum of One Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Naira (N185,000) to the young man through the Ata Igala Palace to help him purchase a motorcycle for himself. The royal father blessed and assured him of doors opening as help will be coming from different places to encourage him on the righteous path.
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UPDATE
Onoja J. Okpanachi, President of Igala Enterpreneurship Development Association presenting Ogbanago Mohammed Ibrahim to HRM, Ata I
HRM, Agabaidu blessing Ogbanago as members of IEDA witness the noble event
HRM,Agabaidu, Ata Igala presents the sum of N185,000 to Ogbanago Mohammed Ibrahim on behalf of Igala Enterpreneurship Development Association
Representative of the Ogbanago’s family speaking at the Ata Igala palace, Idah
Representative of Ogbanago’s father appreciates Agabaidu and the IEDA Team for celebrating an honest son of the land
Group photograph with HRM, Agabaidu, Ata Igala and family members of Ogbanago and members of IEDA
HRM, Agabaidu (mid), Ogbanago Mohammed Ibrahim (L) and Onoja J. Okpanachi (R) at the Ata Igala Palace, Idah
Ogbanago (mid) with family rep and members of Igala Enterpreneurship Development Association (IEDA)
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EVENT & PEOPLE
Maureen Roberts Steps In With Golden Moonlight, Earns Supports From Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Egwu And Hon. Hassan Omale
I
t was a long walk that eventually landed Maureen Roberts at the public presentation and launching of her maiden film project, Ochu Onwe (The Golden Moonlight). The Nollywood movie which is Igala based is sub-titled in English language and shows great potentials of the young Accountancy graduate of Kogi State University, Anyigba. Inspired by her determination to succeed, the Chief Launcher, Hon. Hassan Omale who is currently representing Ankpa/Omala/ Olamaboro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives threw his weight behind the young lady who has decided to venture into something very profitable instead of making herself a liability.
Also, the Distinguished Guest of Honour, Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Egwu who is representing Idah/ Ofu/Igalamela-Odolu/Ibaji Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives was delighted that Maureen, the young producer is from the constituency he represents and so promised to support so to encourage others into positive engagements instead of the dependency attitude that many have imbibed today. The public presentation and launching which took place at Hotel Blue Bells, Lokoja made Saturday, October 15, 2016 a memorable day Maureen Robert at the launch of for Maureen, family, friends and the film, Golden Moonlight (Ochu Onwe), her maiden film project crew.
L-R; Representative of Hon. Hassan Omale, Maureen and the Representative of Hon. Emmanuel Egwu
Maureen (middle) with dad, mum and sibblings
L-R; Peter, Maureen, Onoja, Publisher of ARISE IGALA Magazine and Mariam
L-R; Emmanuel, Maureen and a special guest
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EVENT & PEOPLE
Maureen with some family members and ctrew at the film launch
Maureen with special guests and friends at the film launch
Watching the screening of the film at the launch which took place at Hotel Blue Bell, Lokoja, Kogi state
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Maureen, the film producer and Lewis, the Director
Maureen and Peter, Publisher of SPLASH Magazine
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INTERVIEW Recently, ARISE IGALA Magazine hooked up with Usman Aguda in Abuja and in a brief chat he shared with us some of his opinion on the way forward out of the current economic challenges that confront us as a nation in general and Igalaland in particular. Below is an excerpt: Can we meet you? Thank you very much Onoja. My names are Usman Aguda. I am from Igalamela/Odolu LGA of Kogi State. I am Igala by tribe. A Christian, albeit with a moslem background. I grew up in Lagos State, (though all through my formative years frequently making short incursions to the homeland), so expectedly, I had all my education in Lagos State. For primary education, I attended Army Children School, Bonny Camp. From where I proceeded to Government College, Maroko for my secondary School education. I attended the Federal School of Arts Science (FSAS) Victoria Island Lagos, for higher school certificate studies. I hold a B.Sc. in Economics from the Lagos State University. My working career spans a period of over 12 years, all in banking. I have had to traverse three banks within these period garnering experience in Operations, Retail, Commercial and Corporate Banking. I left paid employment in 2010 to try my hands in entrepreneurial initiatives. We have in the last five years plus, made steady in roads, with an upwardly inclined sales and marketing curve as an accredited Multichoice Super Dealer. I am married and I have three 28
PEOPLE-CENTRIC LEADERSHIP IS THE SOLUTION children. I love music, especially jazz music. I love to read. Do you think the society (your homeland in particular) has contributed in any way to who you are today? In what ways, how? Yes. The society (The culture and traditions of my homeland inclusive) did contribute immensely to who I am today.
I am a beneficiary of the free education policy, early through the late eighties here in Lagos State. A privilege without which I probably may not have gotten to where I am today seeing that I come from a very humble background of parents who may have found it quite tough sending me to school. I also owe the opportunities I have had to the generosity of
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INTERVIEW my late uncle who brought me to Lagos state then. So growing up and living in Lagos has been good for me. How was the journey in the pursuit of your dreams (easy or hard) and what are the things that keep you going? The journey has been tough. And its still an ongoing journey. But you see, that’s what life is all about. I have God on my side. That’s a divine driving force for me. I also have others experiences to learn from. I have a very supportive family, and wonderful friends who have been my mentors. And of course, the final goal of giving back to my homeland all combine to keep me going. What have been your yearnings and expectations for the people at home and the state in general? I have always dreamed of a better life for my people. You need to live outside of our state, Kogi to fully appreciate the degree of hardship among our people, and Kogi indigenes in general. The living standard is unbelievably poor. No health facilities. Education is in comatose. No infrastructure of any kind… Nothing. My dream is of an Igala land where our people live quality life. Where our children get quality education. An Igala land where our aged parents get quality health care. Where our young ones can compete with there peers anywhere in the world. These are my yearnings and expectations for my people at home and for the Kogi indigenes in general. What is your global vision and what do you think could lead our dear state out of the current economic hardships? I am glad you share the same view with me that there’s serious economic hardship in our state. And its even sad that after 25 years of the creation of Kogi state, we are still at this level of economic development. Its very sad. We have never really had governments in Kogi state that has really reached out to the people. Its like they all believe governance starts and ends in Lokoja. We need a governance that can connect with the people. A government that will formulate and implement sound economic and social policies that will give rise to vibrant entrepreneurs, develop infrastructures and make Kogi State an economically viable state. A state that will attract investors from outside. Many (the youths in particular) are taking politics today as business and not service Arise Igala-Issue 35
to the people - what do you think is the implication of this growing trend? Do you blame them, Onoja? Its what they see the older ones doing. Most of our leaders see government and politics as a means for self enrichment, and not an avenue for service. These are the bad example that the young ones have to copy. That’s why you see the extent of neglect of the people that these leaders are meant to serve. The implication is that they get into politics use the 4-8 years in senselessly enriching themselves at the expense of those that elected them to serve. And they usually get away with it. Coming back to homeland, how do we get out of the academic and economic challenges confronting us today? With the right leadership, a leadership committed to development will get us out of this very sad situation we find ourselves today. Do you think motorbikes and other equipment being donated freely most times by political office holders are the real way out when the beneficiaries are not really trained on how to manage and sustain their businesses? Onoja, how can it be the real way out? It only goes to show how much these political office holders have taken us for granted. Is that the best policy a government can implement to raise the well being of their people? I don’t think so. We have been forced to lower our values back home. So we are quick to rush into accepting anything that’s thrown at us without question. These are not what we need our leaders to do for us. We need good schools for our children. We need good roads to open the state up. We need hospitals. We need the government to encourage and support entrepreneurship, etc. real governance, not what I will call “campaign governance” What could be the way forward for Igala kingdom from the current economic and political quagmire? I have told you, the right people-centric leadership is the solution. A leadership that listens. A leadership that reaches out and connects to its people. A leadership that puts service above self is all we need to get us out of our present sorry state.
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EVENT & PEOPLE
L-R; Pastror Ayo Adun (MCM) and Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo arrives My Father’s House
My Father’s House Celebrates Sixth Anniversary Pastor Ayo Adun, the founding pastor and overseer of The MillenniumChristian Ministry (MCM) is a distinguished recipient of ARISE IGALA Leadership Award 2016. An award he earned in view of his positive contributions to the society. The MCM is an outreach based ministry with a church called “The Father’s House” with headquarters in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital. The ministry celebrates 30
its 6th anniversary in the service of the gospel of change. This change in the vision of Pastor Ayo Adun as set in motion deals with practical needs in the society; feeding outreaches, prison outreaches, prostitute ministration, school children transport, evangelism amongst others. During the one week long celebration, globally respected men of God came in to give their supports to the good works of Pastor Ayo Adun.
Pastor Ayo Adun and wife sharing testomies of God’s goodness through the years
Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, COZA, Abuja ministring at the MCM 6th anniversary
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EVENT & PEOPLE
Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo of KICC ministring at the MCM 6th anniversary
Pastor Adun at the grand finale of the 6th anniversary celebration
Pastor Ayo’s special minitration at the event
Pastor Ayo Adun, Senior Pastor, Milennium Christian Ministry (MCM), Lokoja at the church’s 6th anniversary service
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Chris Morgan at the 6th Anniversary of My Father’s House, Millenium Christian Ministry, Lokoja
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EVENT & PEOPLE
Pastor & Mrs. Ayo Abiodun cutting the anniversary cake
Glory, Honour, Thanks be unto God as the Senior Pastor of MCM praises God for His faithfulness
The men ministering
Welcoming worshippers to My Father’s House are the ushers in their usual happy mood
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Pastor Fatoyinbo giving out the powerful words of God
The women ministering
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EVENT & PEOPLE
Happy congregation at the anniversary
Inside My Father’s House at the anniversary
The celebration goes on inside My Father’s House as congregation demonstrate in songs and dance
The fellowship of men of the MCM ministring in songs as they present their offerings to God at the special ocassion
The MCM Men and Women group join their pastor to celebrate the journey so far
The MCM keep the melody going up to God Almighty at the 6th anniversary
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EVENT & PEOPLE
The joyful songs will keep going up to God
And, the children were not left out as they praise God
Inside My father’s House, MCM
Inside My Father’s House with promising leaders as they are being inspired by the WORDS
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Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo giving deep insight into the words of God
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EVENT & PEOPLE
Rev. Joshua ministring
As Pastor Fatoyinbo ministers the word at the MCM 6th anniversary
Chris Morgan ministring in songs at the 6th anniversary6th anniversary
The choir ministers in songs
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EVENT & PEOPLE
Ajanigo Simeon addressing the contestants on stage at the event
Up and singing the national anthem
Diplaying some of the cultural attires of Nigeria at the event
Up and singing the national anthem At APCON’s Miss Independence 2016, Agi Moran (mid) with some guests on red carpet
APCON Miss Independece 2016
L-R; Miss Igala Nigeria 2016, Miss Exquisite cum organizer of Miss Igala Nigeria Beauty Pageant, Grace Jedie and Miss Igala Culture at the event
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All Press Club of Nigeria (APCON) has been faithfully organizing an annual Independence event for the past six years and the success is on the rise. The annual event features lots of educative activities since its prime target are secondary school students. In organizing the educative and creative activities, the organizers by the way bring in the beauty pageant annually to entertain the students and to also inculcate in them the true spirit of Nigeria as various cultures in the country are displayed. This year’s edition which took place at Professor Francis Idachaba Lecture Theatre, Kogi State University, Anyigba was another success recorded by APCON. The convener, Sunday Attabo is a motivational speaker, film producer and event compère.
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EVENT & PEOPLE
Miss Igala Culture 2016, Salma and the Hon. Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Gabriel Arome Adoji at the event
Some distinguished guests on the VIP side at the event
Sunday Attabo, the convener addressing audience at the event
The audience at the APCON Miss Independence 2016
heading in for the event, L-R; Dee Jay Sa’ed, Maokolo Thomson and Baba JFO
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Energetic cultural perfomance on stage at the event
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EVENT & PEOPLE
L-R; MO’ City’s Boss, Mohammed, Otto Von Paul and Miss Grace Jedie proudly showing the SPLASH Magazine to the world
THE OFFICIAL UNVEILING OF SPLASH MAGAZINE
M
r. Peter, a budding entrepreneur with eyes glued to his goals day and night, is the CEO of Splash Netwokx Interbiz Limited. On Friday, September 30, 2016 he launched his maiden product, SPLASH Magazine, a quarterly publication which is
Baba JFO (L), Peter, friends and Otto Von Paul (2nd right) celebrating the release of SPLASH Magazine
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social, lifestyle and inspiration based. The official unveiling of SPLASH Magazine took place at Saatof Hotel & Suites, Lokoja and it was a glorious start for the young entrepreneur who is a fresh graduate of Philosophy from Kogi State University, Anyigba.
Simeon Ajanigo, Nollywood actress on the Red Carpet at the unveiling of the SPLASH Magazine Saatof Hotel in Lokoja Arise Igala-Issue 35
EVENT & PEOPLE
Peter, the Publisher of SPLASH Magazine (middle) with some friends on the Red Carpet
Peter with family and friends at the launch
Artistes, well wishers and loved ones at the SPLASH Magazine launch
Makolo Thompson keeping things in the right orders at the event as the MC
One of Kogi state leading comedians, Saint Mosco thrills audience at the event
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Hajia Salamatu Baiwa (HSB) through her Representative at the event donates handsomley to support the young publisher’s dream
And, they dab to thank and celebrate HSB’s support for Peter and many other young brains in the land
Finally, SPLASH Magazine is birthed as the publisher show it to the world
Some special guests with Peter (2nd left) at the event
Peter, Thompson Makolo and the Representative of Hajia Salamatu Baiwa (HSB), H at the SPLASH Magazine launch
Special photo with HSB’s representative and Peter, SPLASH Magazine’s publisher
Baba JFO Performing at the SPLASH Magazine launch
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AT JI - DIED E EMAKO AC NUGBA ED IN PE ELDER O GE 106, BURI A
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