Elder statesman and chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima has submitted that the presidential election tribunal can’t change the outcome of the 2023 presidential election in which President Bola Tinubu was declared winner.

Though according to him, the election was not free and fair, historically since 1979, the outcome of any presidential election has never been changed by the court.

He added that the NNPP has little confidence in the credibility of the judiciary based on recent happenings in the country.

Naija News reports Galadima stated these on Tuesday during an interview appearance on Channels TV Political Paradigm.

According to him, rather that spend about 10 or 15 billion naira on a wild goose chase at the tribunal, the NNPP would rather use such money to prepare for the 2027 polls.

He said, “Which politician has succeeded in court since 1979 in Nigeria in a presidential petition case?

“Why waste our N10bn or 15bn because we heard some people are spending such billions now on social at the tribunal; if we have such money we would use it to prepare for the 2027 general election.

“The NNPP is strong, we did not do well because the registration of the party came late, if not for INEC targeting us and our candidates names and logo was omitted in some states we could have performed better”.

The Federal Government met with officials of Deposit Money Banks and other related institutions in Abuja, on Tuesday, to plan for the production of functional three-in-one identity cards for older citizens across the country.

Speaking at the Roundtable Meeting with Banks on the Production of Senior Citizens Identity Cards, the Director-General, National Senior Citizens Centre, Emem Omokaro, said the initiative would improve the quality of life of older persons across the country in various ways.

Omokaro called for public-private partnerships in the production of the ID cards.

“This roundtable meeting, we hope, being a joint novel and maiden meeting on funding possibilities for the production of functional and seamless (three-in-one) identity cards for senior citizens, would provide equal opportunity for all present to contribute your perspectives and ideas to the national project.

“The National Senior Citizens Centre’s vision is a multi-purpose card that would serve as a vehicle for financial inclusion, conducive economic and social enterprise empowerment instrument and access to age-friendly physical environment outcomes for Nigeria’s senior citizens – a population most left behind,” she stated.

The Director, Active Ageing and Support Services, NSCC, Kayode Fagbemi, outlined the benefits of the multipurpose ID cards for the senior citizens.

“The ID card is expected to provide unique benefits to the senior citizens in the following ways: The cards will be multipurpose cards as they will serve as both national identity cards, bank cards, and senior citizens cards.

“It contains vital information about the senior citizen. For travel benefits, senior citizens should be able to enjoy concessions on railway tickets. Separate counters or queues should be available for booking tickets.

“Airlines should be able to offer discounts on domestic flights. Separate counters or queues should be available for booking tickets. Public transport in the states should be able to offer discounts for senior citizens,” he stated.

Fagbmi said the objectives of the roundtable include to work out modalities for the printing of identity cards for senior citizens of Nigeria above the age of 60.

“To deliberate and determine the designs of the cards, create awareness, as well as address older persons keying into acquiring the cards and taking part in the benefits that come with the card.

“These benefits include discounts that will be placed for older persons from pharmacies, restaurants and other services such as transport, hospitals and many more,” he stated.

Some Nigerian pastors have expressed mixed reactions on whether the use of ‘Aboru Aboye’ in the viral song by popular gospel singer, Tope Alabi, is proper in a gospel song.

While some of the pastors who spoke with our correspondent saw nothing wrong with Alabi’s choice of lyrics in the viral song, others disagreed, arguing that the singer should not incorporate traditional terminologies into gospel music.

Alabi made headlines last Friday following the release of a song where she was heard singing the words ‘Aboru Aboye,’ terms mostly used by Ifa worshippers when greeting initiates, sometimes referred to as ‘Babalawo’.

Alabi, in the viral video, could be heard singing the lyrics; ‘Emi ni aboru, aboye… abiye ni mi, Oruko mi ni yen. Mo de bo, mo ru, mo ye,” (I am a sacrifice, that’s my name. I am a sacrifice accepted by God, that’s my name).

Her lyrical choices have since gotten many tongues wagging on and off social media.

However, reacting to the viral video, Pastor Lanre Kayode, Senior Pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church, Shibiri branch, Lagos, said the controversy trailing the video could be blamed on the poor understanding of the Yoruba language by some of her critics.

Pastor Kayode said, “It’s a language thing. I see nothing wrong with what she said. She was simply praising God.”

He argued that another gospel act, Dunsin Oyekan, has a song where he used similar words only sung in the English Language and no one raised an eyebrow.

Oyekan, in the song titled ‘More than a Song, sang the words: ”I am more than a song today, I am a sacrifice…” similar words to Alabi’s but conveyed in a different language.

”Why are people not complaining about that? Is it because he sang in English?

“Why do people not have issues with this? Is it because Tope sang in Yoruba?” Pastor Kayode asked.

He stressed that there is nothing wrong with Tope Alabi’s choice of words. “It’s simply a language thing. Not many people understand Yoruba that well and that’s why they are criticising the song,” he said.

Also speaking with our correspondent, Pastor Tunde Afolabi of the Christ Redemption Church, Ogba, Lagos, kicked against the criticism of Tope Alabi over the Aboru Aboye song saying people probably misinterpreted Alabi’s stance on the use of the ‘Aboru Aboye’ and believed it is and can only be used by traditionists.

He said, ”People believe she is referring to Ifa but I feel she is worshipping her God the best way she knows how. We all have the best ways to worship God.”

Prophet Akinyele Timothy of Celestial Church Of Christ, El morijah Olubukun parish, Ikorodu, also backed Alabi’s use of ‘Aboru Aboye’ words in the viral video.

Prophet Timothy said, ”Tope Alabi was simply praising God. Even the Muslims say ‘Oba Ajoke aye, Asake Orun’. They are also simply praising God. Tope was simply acknowledging God’s might, she was not in any way affirming that she is an Ifa worshipper. I do not see anything wrong in the phrases she used.”

However, Pastor (Mrs.) P.S. Otitolaiye of the Mount of Fire Ministries, Ijanikin, was against Alabi’s use of ‘Aboru Aboye’ in a gospel song.

She said Alabi should have refrained from using traditional phrases in her songs, noting that there is no relationship between light and darkness.

In her words, ”Tope Alabi should endeavour not to bring in any traditional phrase into her song because there is no relationship between light and darkness.”

Pastor Otitolaiye, however, added that “the conversation about the intersection of religion and culture in Nigeria is far from over.”

Speaking in the same vein, Pastor Ifeoluwa Fatoki of Divine Grace Baptist Church Ogbomosho, a graduate of African Traditional Religion and World Religion from the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary Ogbomoso, argued against the use of ‘Aboru Aboye’.

He said, ”I do not think those words are appropriate in the worship of God because they are not original to Christianity and they already have roots in the worship of Ifa.

”I think there are better words that can be used. To refer to the believer as a sacrifice is okay. But those three words have different connotations. It’s like saying, Eriwo ya… No matter how we paint it, it is not acceptable.

”More so, hallelujah, which is the Jewish word for ‘praise Yahweh’ as a word is known in Christianity. It’s like saying, Ifa worshippers now also say hallelujah in their worship.”

General Superintendent, Apostle Adeboye Ajakaiye (JP) of Ile Adura Mose Orimolade Tunolase Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Festac Town, said Tope Alabi was only performing to please her fans as a singer.

Apostle Ajakaiye said, ”Romans 12:2 shows that we live out God’s will when we change our thoughts to God’s thoughts, rather than living as the world dictates. The world will always pressure us to live sinfully and selfishly, but to live the good life God wants from us requires changing how we behave—by changing our thoughts.

”Tope Alabi is an entertainer. From my observations over the years, her performances have always been to please her audience, whether intentionally or not I can’t say. She’s also human that can also make mistakes. From the video that I watched, she was trying to use the word, ‘Aboru, Aboye, Abiye’ positively in her way.

”I know the devil twists the things of God for his own use, but should or can we as children of God, in the light of Romans 12:2 do the same? I think you know the answer. Such thinking has made the Church conform to the world. These days, you can’t distinguish a Christian from the world in all ways, from dressing, talking, use of worldly vibes in Christian songs, dancing, etc. I remember in times past, a word of commitment from a Christian was seen as a bond; now, when you call yourself a Pastor, that’s when people become extra careful in dealing with you.

”Why? It is because we have refused to conform to the instructions of the Lord by allowing such little compromises in the body of Christ. It’s sad, but it’s the current reality. The Church needs to wake up. Luke 18:8 says, however, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? The choice is yours.”

The Chairman/Founder of The Address Homes Limited, Dr Bisi Onasanya, has donated a completed multi-million naira block of classrooms to Ilara community in Epe, Lagos State in furtherance of his vision to support education through his philanthropic works.

The donation of a block of six classrooms with a fully-equipped library at Ilara Model Primary School, Ilara, Epe, was made by Onasanya in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Lagos, Bowen College and Bank of Industry and was commissioned by His Royal Majesty Oba Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, the Alara of Ilara-Epe Kingdom on Monday.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Onasanya, a former Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of First Bank Plc, said the gesture formed part of his efforts to support the underprivileged and contribute his quota in bridging the infrastructural deficit in Nigeria's education sector.

Onasanya, whose company, The Address Homes Limited, leads the luxury homes market of the property industry, reckoned that the figure of children without access to education in Nigeria is still alarmingly high, a development that should trigger an alignment between the government, private sector and well-meaning Nigerians to address the gap.

"I have always believed that as individuals we should always remember where we are coming from. Society has been kind to some of us and we should give thanks to God; in addition to that, we must give back to that society.

"There is an event that I never shared but remains indelible in my memory. I attended St. Paul Primary School in Idi Oro, Mushin, Lagos, a public school, I remember that on my very first day in school, there was a very rowdy session because people were struggling to get enlisted. I am not sure my mum will remember this incident, the head of the school then, because of the rowdiness and the first come, first serve arrangement, actually slapped my mother. I was six years old, that was in 1967, I can never forget and it made me resolute that no child should be made to go through a situation like that to access education and no child should be disadvantaged as a result of the status of his parents.

"The UNICEF standardization report showed that only 61 percent of children between ages 6 and 11 are in school; this is a dangerous situation and I just thought that no child should be denied basic and quality education, no child should be made to walk up to a mile before he or she could access quality education and I think this is a big opportunity to achieve what I have always wanted to do which is making education easy and accessible to every child," said Onasanya who recently bagged an honourary doctorate degree in finance from the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti.

Meanwhile, the outgoing President of the Rotary Club of Lagos, Joseph Aikhigbe, recalled how Onasanya promptly acceded to their request for the construction of the classrooms which underlined the property mogul's commitment to the upliftment of education in Nigeria.

"Education is a powerful agent of change, it stabilises lives and livelihood and drives long-term economic growth. It is every child's right to have access to quality and basic education. We thank Dr Bisi Onasanya; we approached him on this laudable project and he showed his commitment and kept his word. It is difficult to find people like him, he only told us it is done, and today we are commissioning the project. We laid the foundation on September 29, 2022, and today the edifice is standing before us," he said.

An elated Oba Ogunsanwo said he immediately approved the land for the construction of the project because it aligned with his vision for the kingdom. He said Dr Onasanya's kind gestures would go a long way in solidifying education in his domain.

"When I ascended the throne, I said attention to education will be one of the bedrock of what we do and my three years of ascension have been dedicated to educating our children because they are not only our tomorrow, they are our today, if you train a child, you are educating a nation. We thank God to have bestowed this edifice on the people of Ilara Kingdom through Dr Bisi Onasanya. We also thank Bowen College for providing the furniture and the Bank of Industry for the e-library as well as the physical library. We can't thank you enough and may God reward you," said Oba Ogunsanwo, who is the Vice Chairman of Lagos State Council of Obas.

One of the major highlights of the event was the bestowment of the chieftaincy title of Akinrogun and Yeye Akinrogun of Ilara Kingdom on Dr Onasanya and his wife, Helen, by Oba Ogunsanwo.

Many royal fathers within Lagos and beyond graced the well-attended event. Other dignitaries at the ceremony include the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Abayomi Abolaji; the Chairman of Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Wahab Olawale Alawiye-King and property merchant, Otunba Yemi Lawal, among others.

L-R: Olori Yetunde Ogunsanwo, HRM Oba (Dr) Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, (Telade IV) The Alara of llora Kingdom, Dr. Bisi Onasanya, Chairman/Founder, The Address Homes Ltd, Rrn. Omorunde Lawson, District Governor, 2022-2023 and Rtn. Joseph O. Akhigbe, President, Rotary Club of Lagos and students of Dowen College during the commissioning of block of 6 classrooms with fully equipped library donated by Dr. Onasanya for Ilara Model Primary School, Along Igbonla Road, Igboku-Kekere llara, Eredo LCDA, Epe Division, Lagos State, on Monday June 26, 2023

L-R: Olori Yetunde Ogunsanwo, HRM Oba (Dr) Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, (Telade IV) The Alara of llora Kingdom, Dr. Bisi Onasanya, Chairman/Founder, The Address Homes Ltd and Otunba Yemi Lawal during the commissioning of block of 6 classrooms with fully equipped library donated by Dr. Onasanya for Ilara Model Primary School, Along Igbonla Road, Igboku-Kekere llara, Eredo LCDA, Epe Division, Lagos State, on Monday June 26, 2023

If you have a different interpretation or political reaction to these facts, I respect that. 

But if you deny facts — don’t care about facts — such as Donald Trump and the roughly 30 percent of his supporters who deny that Joe Biden was elected president in 2020 despite there being literally no evidence of any significant voter fraud — then stop reading. 

Let’s keep it simple about President Biden’s son, Hunter’s, prosecution (i.e., he pled guilty to misdemeanors relating to two years filings of late tax returns and gun purchase probation violations): 

Fact one: Less than one-10,000th of a percent of individual taxpayers who are guilty of intentional tax evasion (not counting criminal syndicates in drug dealing etc.) are ever criminally prosecuted. Rather, they are sued civilly and forced to return illegally evaded taxes plus interest and penalties.

Don’t believe me? I’m just a Washington country lawyer. Believe the most famous tax preparation company of all time — H&R Block — which wrote in 2017: 

“Many people are afraid of IRS audits — and maybe even going to jail if they make a major mistake. In fact, fear of an IRS audit is one of the main reasons that people strive to file timely and accurate tax returns each year. But here’s the reality: Very few taxpayers go to jail for tax evasion. In 2015, the IRS indicted only 1,330 taxpayers out of 150 million for legal-source tax evasion….” 

That means — this is my opinion, not a fact — that Hunter Biden was prosecuted criminally because his father is the president. He was not given lighter treatment because of his father is president. In other words, in my opinion, Republicans have the truth exactly upside down when they accuse Hunter Biden of receiving special treatment. 

Leading to fact two: The decision to prosecute Biden and force him to plead guilty to two crimes (misdemeanors, but still crimes) was made by David Weiss, a U.S. attorney appointed by President Trump.

There has been a lot written about the motives and background of Weiss, who made the decisions to criminally prosecute Hunter Biden and the appropriate sanctions given the facts available to be proven in court. But not one GOP congressional leader has offered any facts to undermine his sincerity — only rumors. 

There is also not a single fact to support the speculations and innuendo of Republican congressional leaders and talk show guests that Attorney General Merrick Garland (or anyone else at the Justice Department) had any influence on Weiss.  

Fact three: The comparison not to prosecute Hillary Clinton’s handling of emails was made on the merits, without political influence. 

Anyone who doubts that cannot deny the following supporting indisputable facts: The decision not to criminally prosecute Clinton for her handling of the emails was confirmed by Trump administration and Republican congressional leaders, including Trump’s attorney general, Trump’s secretary of State, the Republican-controlled Senate Intelligence Committee and the Republican leaders on the House committee that investigated Clinton’s emails.  

Fact four: Maybe the most important one because I challenge even one Republican House leader to challenge this fact: 

Hunter Biden took advantage of his last name and his father’s reputation to get a job and benefitted by that association.  

Yes, that is so. Do I blame Hunter? No, I don’t. Some people do, and that is their right. But is it unusual in politics for children of elected officials, especially famous ones, to benefit from their parents’ political positions? No, it is not. 

On Tuesday, June 27, former Super Eagles player Ogenyi Onazi hosted Victor Osimhen and Asiwaju Lerry.

Super Eagles veteran Ogenyi Onazi was seen hosting Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and media personality Asiwaju Lerry in his villa in Lagos in a viral video that has surfaced on social media.

Osimhen came to Nigeria to spend his vacation after a fantastic season in Serie A in which Napoli won the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years.

After representing the Green and White over the international break, the 24-year-old Napoli target man is now back in his home country.

Osimhen scored twice as the Super Eagles defeated Sierra Leone 3-2 on the road to earn a spot in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

Osimhen came to Nigeria to spend his vacation after a fantastic season in Serie A in which Napoli won the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years.

Osimhen also went to his childhood home in Olusosun and the elementary school he attended, where he received a massive reception.

In a video on the official Twitter page of Asiwaju Lerry, Osimhen was seen praising the former Lazio player for the support he has been giving him ever since his move to the Italian Serie A.

In the video, Osimhen said, “I am here to thank you for all you have been doing for me and I pray that God Almighty will bless you and you will never fall.

“Many don’t know what you have been doing, but me that you are doing it for knows.”

In the photos, Osimhen is seen playing the Whot card game with Onazi.

Onazi also thanked Osimhen for his visit, along with photos on his official social media platform that said, “It was really great to have you at my place last night, so much fun..

“Oboy na dis picture make me know say I tall.??❤️??@victorosimhen9.” he wrote

Osimhen took to his official Instagram account to post photos of his meeting with Onazi.

The Alaba Amalgamated Council has called on the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to probe the demolition exercise carried out by the Lagos State Building Control Agency at Alaba International Market, Ojo Local Government Area of the state.

A statement signed by the council, and made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday, revealed that over 30 properties worth billions of naira were demolished.

President-General of Alaba Amalgamated Council of Sectional Heads, Mr Geofrey Mbonu, revealed that some buildings that were not initially marked and with no sign of defects were demolished during the exercise.

He narrated that prior to the demolition, there was no notice given to them by the agency.

He said, “We were not given time to even evacuate our goods. On Friday, June 16, 2023, officials of the LASBCA and armed policemen were seen in the market and on Sunday, traders’ properties were brought down.

“We the leaders of Alaba International Amalgamated Association want to show our displeasure in the way and manner this exercise was carried out.

“The leaders of the market were never carried along neither were the property owners given enough time to evacuate their goods and this led to the unmitigated loss of wares and properties. The demolition has brought hardship and loss of livelihood.

“We call on the Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to come and inspect what is going on in the Alaba International Market.”

The President, Alaba International Market Association, Electronics Section, Mr Camillus Amajuoyi, said the demolition took place suddenly and the extent of damage was enormous.

Amajuoyi said they had written several petitions to the Lagos State Government on the exploitative activities of miscreants in the market, adding that the state government did not pay attention to their needs.

Owerri the capital of Imo state, which prides itself as the “Heartland of the South East” of Nigeria, was taken up by the cream of the Nigerian media from Thursday, June 15 to Saturday, June 17, 2023. It was the second time in eight months that the topmost professional deck of the media will be guests of the state. Whereas the November 2022 event was the traditional annual converge of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, (NGE), the more recent event was the biennial convention of the body. It holds every two years to produce new leadership for the guild.

This year’s edition was simultaneously deployed for the reappraisal of issues critical to popular governance. The event, therefore, had as its theme ‘Post 2023 Election: Promoting Professionalism for Enhancement of Democracy and Good Governance’. Hope Uzodinma, governor of the state, was the chief host.

Aircraft after airplane landed on Thursday, November 15, 2023, at the Sam Mbakwe Airport, located in Umuene Obiangwu in the Ngor-Okpala local government area of the state. They mostly conveyed enthusiastic delegates to the programme from across the country. The quality, diversity and mammoth attendance at the event belied the dreadful profiling of Imo state in particular, and the southeast. The exploits of criminal perverts masquerading as unknown gunmen and militias of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), have collaborated to paint the southeast of the country black in national consciousness.

That very critical segment of the country has unwittingly been dubbed the axis of bone-chilling killings, needless bloodletting, and even barbaric savagery. The ride from the airport into the belly of Owerri cosmopolis was pretty smooth and uneventful. I engaged my driver in a conversation about developments in the state. The airport is a whistling ride of just about 20 minutes to Owerri and I grilled him about why that short distance cost N15,000. He attributed it to the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.

I missed the last conference of the guild in that city, which doesn’t translate to my being a stranger to Owerri and indeed Imo state. I underwent the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps in the city between 1985 and 1986. The Owerri airport was still in gestation within the period and the singular occasion I accessed the city by air was through the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa. I concluded my trip by riding in an airport cabby which took me through Obinze which hosts the 32 Field Artillery Brigade, into Owerri. My one-year stint in Imo state, left me with sweet-savouring experiences and perfumed memories, as different from worrying contemporary realities. Apart from demystifying stereotypes about subsisting post-civil war cannibalism and similar stories in our time, I met some of my best friends to date, from that NYSC year. I was quite adventurous too, never missing opportunities to visit Oguta and board the ferry across to Awomama, inhaling the soothing breeze of the lake.

Owerri had moulted considerably as I would find out on this trip, away from what it was almost 40 years ago. I had to rely on my mental compass to identify sections of the Imo state capital with which I was hitherto very familiar. We had our four-week pre-primary assignment orientation at Alvan Ikoku College of Education on Amakohia Road. I was subsequently deployed to teach “Use of English” at the College of Technology, Nekede. Both institutions have been taken over by the federal government and summarily rechristened. I lived at Ikenegbu Layout, MCC Road, something of a highbrow section of the fledgling city and frequented the Iwuanyanwu Stadium being a soccer aficionado. With friends, notably Tony Olofu, now an assistant inspector-general, (AIG), I watched the games of the foremost football club in the state at the time, Iwuanyanwu Nationale.

That an election was in the air was evident as you stepped into the delegates’ accreditation venue of the event at the host facility, Rockview Hotel, Owerri. Back in time, the hotel used to be known as Modotels, a part of a hospitality chain reportedly owned by Nigeria’s Second Republic Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, before the change of ownership and its concomitant change of name. Delegates were handed flyers marketing aspirants to the various offices, even as contenders made last-ditch efforts to appeal to the convictions of prospective voters. It was instructive that the polls into leadership positions in the Guild of Editors were being taken so seriously.

Immediate past president of the guild, Mustapha Isah welcomed delegates to the convention. He noted that Imo state has made history by becoming the first state to host the annual conference and the biennial convention within months of each other. He expressed the collective gratitude of the guild to Governor Hope Uzodinma who he noted is an authentic friend of the body. Justifying the theme of the convention, Isah noted that it was auspicious to appraise the performance of the media during the recent general elections. It is equally important, he said, for the media to gird its loins to hold public officers to account, vis-a-vis their electoral pledges and promises during the electioneering.

Isah highlighted the myriad of tempests plaguing the media within the context of an underperforming economy. His words: “This convention is holding at a time the media in Nigeria is facing enormous challenges. The cost of newsprint and broadcast equipment is prohibitive. The economy is underperforming making it impossible for media organisations to generate enough revenue from adverts and sales. I don’t even want to delve into the challenge posed by online media”. Isah alluded to federal government bailouts to some sectors of the economy which has not been extended to the media. He submitted that the media as a realm empowered to serve as a watchdog to the establishment cannot be the best of allies with the state. He enjoined the press to push back attempts at its asphyxiation and continue to perform its assigned responsibilities.

Host Governor Uzodinma expressed the gratitude of the state to a preeminent body like the Nigerian Guild of Editors for preferring Imo state to other options, by scheduling two major events back to back, in Imo state. Owerri, he noted is the “hospitality capital of the southeast”. He commended the guild for courageously choosing a subject of common interest to all Nigerians such as the interrogation of reportage of the last elections. Said Uzodinma: “I’m impressed that you have chosen this path of self-examination which I consider germane in our collective bid to enhance good governance and strengthen our democracy”. According to Uzodinma, “while the media has the responsibility of holding public officers to account, they should, in addition, encourage government through constructive criticism and well-intentioned suggestions on how things could be done differently to achieve better results”.

Uzodinma used the opportunity to showcase the successes of his administration. A booklet titled ‘Imo State Is Looking Up In All Sectors’ which contained his address, highlights the high points of his administration. These include prompt payment of salaries and pensions, and the prosecution of a “prosperity agenda encapsulated in a three-dimensional pursuit of reconstruction, rehabilitation and recovery” of the state”. He alluded to the massive dualisation of roads in the state capital and across the three senatorial zones. Uzodinma also alluded to the ongoing dredging of the Oguta Lake-Orashi River-Degema-Atlantic Ocean mega project, which includes a river port. He noted that upon completion, the project will re-energise the economy of the southeast.

It was dark when the day’s itinerary wound down. It was too late to begin to attempt a nighttime quest for our street-side ugba, nkwobi, okporoko and angharan joints of old. A feast of isi-ewu typically required “Bretton Woods stakeholder’s collaboration” between interested parties to fund, so it was an occasional indulgence. My accommodation was reserved at the Immaculate Hotel on Owerri-Port Harcourt Road. I could still remember the direction of Orlu Road which now spots an impressive shopping centre, Market Square, where I picked up some analgesics. To our left on a slight elevation as we drove towards the hotel, was a monument from Nigeria’s civil war past, called Control Post those fiesty years. The name has stuck ever since even as the landmark is now host to Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, a huge Catholic facility. “Oga’m, you be ama’ala o, di way you still sabi this places,” my driver smiled, saluting my geographical currency.

The Owerri convention was a veritable forum for a reunion amongst several generations and tendencies in the profession. An estimated 400 financial members of the guild attended the Owerri convention. Elder statesmen at the event included Olusegun Osoba, FNGE, CON, former managing director of the Daily Times of Nigeria and two-time governor of Ogun state, who was “Father of the Day”. Onyema Ugochukwu, FNGE, CON, a former executive director of the same organisation and pioneer chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), equally graced the event.

Canice Nwachukwu and Akarachi Amadi, both members of the House of Representatives, honoured the convention. Tunde Awobiyi, Eluem Emeka-Izeze; Atah Manyan of Ossomala, Anambra State, Igwe Victor Awaogu; Baba Dantiye, mni; John Araka; Lanre Idowu; John Ndukauba; Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo; Isaac Ighure; Gbenga Adefaye; James Akpandem; Taiwo Obe; Eniola Bello; Bayo Onanuga; Gbemiga Ogunleye; Hakeem Bello, all fellows of the guild, were present. There were also Funke Egbemode, (former president of the guild and immediate past commissioner in Osun state); Gbenga Oni-Olusola; Raheem Adedoyin, Martins Oloja; Tunde Rahman, Lanre Ogundipe, Kenneth Ugbechie and Lanre Arogundade. Steve Omanufeme, Gbenga Onayiga, Gbenga Adesina, Uju Ejeye, Jide Ajani, Angela Agoawike, Funke Atohengbe, Steve Nwosu, Gbenga Aruleba, Yemisi Fadairo, Eddy Odivwri, Soni Daniel, Tony Iyare, Kelly Elisha, equally attended the Owerri converge.

Eze Anaba, Editor of the Vanguard daily newspaper, emerged as the new president of the guild. Husseina Bangshika of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN), was returned as deputy president while Sheddy Ozoene was elected vice president, (east); Kabir Alabi Garba, vice president (west) and Umoru Ibrahim became vice president (north). Iyobosa Uwugiaren was re-elected general secretary; Gabriel Akinadewo as assistant secretary; Charles Kalu, Social/Publicity Secretary and Steve Nwosu is the treasurer. The standing committee members are Dom Isute (East); Chinedu Egere, Onuoha Ukeh, Rose Moses and Wole Sogunle, all members of the standing committee for the west. Paulyn Ugbodaga and Mohammed Sanusi emerged as members of the standing committee for the north. The newly emplaced Eze Anaba-led national executive of the Nigerian Guild of Editors is expected to impact the body within the next two years, before the next biennial convention.

Olusunle, PhD, poet, journalist, scholar and author is a Member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE)