T H I S D AY, T H e S u n D AY n e w S pA p e r • JANUARY 8, 2017
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HIGHLIFE
Obasanjo vs Awujale...Lessons Learnt
•One monarch, one ex-President, two giant egos and one billionaire •The facts are in the details as two foremost Yoruba elders engage in public spat over incendiary publication and Globacom boss
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s the conflict degenerates and drumbeats of war resound across the nooks and crannies of the Yoruba nation, like the stirrings of medieval blood-fests between warring ethnic giants, Adenuga has painstakingly scorned the limelight like one who understands the silliness and futility of seeking profit from the disagreement. This is no doubt remarkable and worthy of applause, according to pundits. Several men would yield to conceit if they were Dr. Mike Ishola Adenuga right now. Like the proverbial buffoon who sullied his name for a speck of gold dust, they would trudge arrogantly on earth and keep their heads in the clouds. Besides his intimidating wealth and status, two of Nigeria’s most powerful men and elders of the Yoruba nation are currently at loggerheads. As you read, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, are embroiled in a war of words over issues revolving around the Globacom boss. But rather than cash in on the situation like several other billionaires and publicity-huggers would do, Adenuga has cleverly distanced himself from the ongoing fiasco. Indeed, when you are as rich as Adenuga, it is hard to be humble. When you are as influential as he is, there is the tendency to overestimate the extent of your goodwill and social capital. But Adenuga is remarkably different. He won’t set up a situation room or propaganda team to issue statements in his name in respect of Obasanjo and Awujale’s tiff. Findings revealed that he warned his underlings, friends, associates and family members against making any statement in respect of the incident. This has been attributed to his desire to be uninvolved in the ugly war of words between the two elders whose mentorship and superior wisdom remain prime sources of wisdom and inspiration to him. Rather than join in the imbroglio, Adenuga is fervently praying that it comes to an abrupt end soon.
the chairman of Eleganza. What actually caused the fight between father and daughter could not be ascertained. No tangible answer was found even by the closest friends and confidants. It was a bitter quarrel that polarized members of their family. In spite of interventions from different quarters, Alhaji Okoya refused to listen to anybody. For many years, Okoya and his daughter were not on talking terms until Biola decided to visit Olusegun Obasanjo, the former President, to talk to her father. According to Obasanjo, Biola came to him seeking his intervention in a disagreement with her father. Okoya and his daughter have since resolved their differences and are reportedly on very good terms.
BACK FROM THE BRINK... BRITTANIA-U BOSS, UJU IFEJIKA, ENJOYS SECOND CHANCE WITH NEW CRUDE OIL DEAL The truth dawned on Uju Ifejika like a twilight of eternal damnation. The boss of Brittania-U Nigeria Limited, an oil firm, practically lost her wits and drowned in a whirlpool of grief as the Supreme Court ruled against her firm, Brittainia U, which requested earlier
Whatever the heartfelt wishes of the Globacom boss, the ongoing tiff between Obasanjo and the Awujale may continue to fester. But unlike the carnages of old that shaped and malformed the histories of great icons and civilisations, it may incite no bloodbath. Notwithstanding, the former Nigerian President and incumbent monarch of Ijebuland respectively, present an interesting portrait of ego, statesmanship and tolerance as they slug it out against each other in printed words. No thanks to SaharaReporters, the online medium that removed the pin from the grenade of Oba Adetona’s explosive autobiography, ‘Awujale,’ the 17-chapters of lucid introspection has incited an ugly disagreement between two of Yoruba nation’s most prominent and influential figures. There is no gainsaying anyone who had read the book would agree that it was a bomb waiting to explode. In 275 pages, Adetona shares insights of his odyssey to the throne at age 26. In a number of instances, the details were unsparing and controversial. The monarch incites Obasanjo’s angst by giving the impression that the former Head of State, maliciously disliked his cousin and chairman of Globacom, Mike Adenuga; that he has interest in Obajana Cement Factory, and that he sometimes interfered with – or even misused – the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on his watch. More significantly, Oba Adetona opines that his cousin, Adenuga, incited the ire of Obasanjo because he refused to be used as a pawn in the power play between Obasanjo and his former deputy, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar. In Obasanjo’s bid to tame Atiku, he allegedly tried to use Adenuga to cage him. And the opportunity reportedly manifested when Adenuga sought to obtain license to operate his telecoms company, Globacom. Obasanjo allegedly urged Adenuga to implicate Atiku as a corrupt public officer deserving prosecution; Obasanjo, stated
Oba Adetona, tried to force Adenuga to consent to a grand plot to implicate and cage his deputy. But to his chagrin, the Globacom boss refused to play ball. Adenuga refused to be coopted as a pawn in the former president’s plot to destroy his deputy’s political ambitions. This allegedly infuriated the former president and he subsequently sought to punish Adenuga for his defiance. On page 174 of the book, Adetona also described Obasanjo as “a Judas” among the Yoruba, a name he called him twice in the book. But rather than address the issues raised by the paramount monarch, Obasanjo in his four-page reply to the Awujale, resorted to name-calling. According to him, Oba Adetona’s claim
that the apex court granted an interlocutory injunction requesting Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) to stay action on the transfer of assets OML 52, 53 and 55 to Amni, Seplat and Belema oil respectively. While Uju battled Chevron in court over the sale of the OMLs, it crushed her to acknowledge and live with the
hard, cold fact that her friend and confidant, Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke, who was then oil minister, actually granted consent to the bid process and divestment of the disputed oil blocks in favour of Seplat. Prior to the sale of the OMLs to Seplat Plc, Uju had instituted litigation against Chevron, praying the court to
Oba Sikiru Adetona
Olusegun Obasanjo
Uju Ifejika
“in the publication was a tissue of lies and untruths.” Obasanjo responds: “Kabiyesi, the type of hate propaganda you have tried to project in that section of your book against my person is grossly unbecoming of an Oba let alone an Oba of your status and stature. However, I still accord you the respect which I believe an Oba should be accorded and one for that matter who I presume to be a friend. In spite of your unfortunate projection, my position remains the same – respect for you as an Oba and a friend. Kabiyesi, I believe that I should set the record straight for posterity and to caution you from engaging in unedifying rumourmongering and untruth. Accept the assurances of my highest consideration.” No doubt all is not well between the two prominent elders of the Yoruba nation.
stop the company from selling the OMLs to Seplat Plc. Uju had been battling with Chevron and Seplat Plc for almost two years yet Chevron sold the three oil blocks despite pending litigations arising from the disputes in the bid process. Uju’s company, the Brittania-U, reportedly won the bid after due process but Chevron suddenly changed its mind and refused to sell the assets to it and instead sold it to Seplat and two others. The situation wasn’t helped by the fact that Diezani, Uju’s close friend, who was expected to influence the process in her favour, nurtures a soft spot for Seplat Plc; it would be recalled that the then petroleum minister shared a close relationship with Dr. ABC Orjiakor, the boss of Seplat Plc. However, second chance is a treat for the man who had experienced fortune and rank only to lose it. Uju has finally reencountered bliss in trying hours, like the sojourner who discovers a babbling brook in the middle of the Sahara. She has a reason to smile again as her company has been awarded the mouth-watering crude oil contracts by NNPC. Uju is wearing a wide grin anywhere you see her.