INTERESTING LESSONS FROM ILE-IFE: DELE MOMODU TALKS RUBBISH

I do not know where to begin this write-up; but I will like to say that when I saw this comment: ‘Mr. Dele Momodu,
I read your article in ThisDay Newspaper, I cannot but shake my head. Because you are fortunate to have a few millions to your name, you think you are now in a position to influence the process of choosing an Ooni, I don’t blame you, you are not a Yorubaman. If you were a Yorubaman, you will know tradition. The fact that your father worked in the palace does not qualify you as one. The most pathetic side of it all is you putting it down in writing, naming all and sundry as part of your plot.
The only sensible part of your article is in the last paragraph “An Ooni-elect has emerged, Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II. We sincerely offer our congratulations and wish him, the traditional chiefs and the whole of Ife, well.” But who is ‘we’? Sultan of Sokoto, El Rufai and all those non-Yorubas you mentioned? Sir, a publisher of an international magazine should not be seeking cheap attention. E je ki eru mo ara e leru, ki iwofa mo ara e ni iwofa.’ by a good friend of mine Adekunle Al Muftau Adeite on Dele Momodu, I refused to make a comment, reason been that I’m yet to read Dele Momodu’s article.
I then asked my friend to send the link of the article to me, so that I can read what prompted such harsh criticism!
In the first paragraph of Momodu’s article, he wrote ‘If Nigeria had grown out of the cocoon of ethnic discrimination and attained the assimilative tendencies of the United States of America; I would be handsomely qualified to dream of actualising anything I wanted to achieve in that community.’ Yes you’re  right, but you cannot become an American President if you’re not born in American soil, hence it will be a taboo to aspire to be an Ooni of Ife if you’re not from a particular royal family.

Furthermore you wrote that ‘It was the existence of a nebulous Chieftaincy Declaration which the government of the day had been sold on as a Testament. As I write this, it is still subject to litigation seeking interpretation and adjudication. The Declaration is one powerful and invincible document that has made it possible for one of the aspirants to the throne of Oduduwa…’ I will like to say that if your candidate have been selected as the Ooni, am so sure that you will not call this declaration ‘a nebulous Chieftaincy Declaration’!

The most annoying part of your write-up is when you wrote ‘We were reasonably assured that Prince Adedamola has got all it takes to move Ife in the right direction.’ Now who are the ‘we’ if I may ask?  Were they Sultan of Sokoto, El Rufai, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Rotimi Amaechi, The Emir of Kano Lamido Sanusi. Prince Nduka “The Duke” Obaigbena, Sir Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, Prof Ibrahim Gambari,  Prince Arthur Eze etc.?

As Dayo Olokodana sum it up ‘Dele Momodu was just trying his hands on the buttons of those he knew for his friend who happened to be a prince of Ife too. We will be deceiving ourselves if we refuse to accept that politics plays a role in the appointments of new Obas in Yorubaland.’

Moving forward, choosing an Oba in Yorubaland is not about how many PhDs you have or how much you have in your bank accounts, the first criteria is that you must come from a royal family. Secondly, your royal family will present you to the Afobajes who were the king makers etc.

I will like to tell Dele Momodu that no matter how extensive networks, contacts, strategies and decision you took to sell your candidate to the larger public, Ori to maa d’Ade, inu ikoko ide lo tin’wa. Ooni-elect has emerged, in person of Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II. Kaabiesi Oba tooto.
Bellow is the said article by Dele Momodu:

”PENDULUM BY DELE MOMODU, Email:  dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

“To stay cheerful when involved in a gloomy and exceedingly responsible business is no inconsiderable art: yet what could be more necessary than cheerfulness? Nothing succeeds in which high spirits play no part…”

– Friedrich Nietzsche, TWILIGHT OF THE IDOLS/THE ANTI-CHRIST

Fellow Nigerians, it is no longer news that I was born and bred in the ancient town of Ile-Ife, the spiritual home of the Yoruba people of South West Nigeria. That great city prepared me for the incredible journey of life. It was where I spent about 26 out of 28 years of my earliest sojourn on earth. If Nigeria had grown out of the cocoon of ethnic discrimination and attained the assimilative tendencies of the United States of America, I would be handsomely qualified to dream of actualising anything I wanted to achieve in that community.  But that is a story for the gods.

The big news out of Ife started months ago when The Ooni of Ife Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II took ill and then joined his ancestors. This sudden development threw Ile-Ife into some confusion and conundrum of sorts. The reason was simple. The news of His Imperial Majesty’s demise had filtered out of London. Eewo, taboo, the traditionalists screamed! The departure of such a spectacular monarch demanded a monumental drama to it. Ordinary mortals with feet of clay could not open their mouths wide and spew out such profanity. The king did not die. A king does not die here. He can only retire to the ceiling or loft, which I interpreted in modern parlance to be the equivalence of a penthouse. So the Ife Chiefs sent death back to wherever it came from and pronounced our dear king alive and kicking. In fact one Chief said matter-of-factly that he had just spoken on phone with the influential monarch who had been supposedly killed repeatedly by bloggers on social media.

Anyway, the king eventually left us on earth. I won’t know what day, or the appointed time, the doctors and nurses, recorded in their death register in far-away London. The theatrics would not just go away like that. When would the king return or arrive home? It was a long suspense. We held an interdenominational funeral service for our royal father but we had no knowledge of his presence anywhere near the palace.

As this went on, other things were cooking and brewing tempestuously away from prying eyes. Who becomes the next Ooni of Ife? It was a question no one could answer with certainty. But it soon became obvious that a motley crowd had more than casual interest in filling the gaping vacancy. As always, all the Ruling Houses of Ife expressed interest including that of the immediate past Ooni. Most of them did not bargain for a festering propaganda that would soon explode and consume and exterminate whatever ambition they harboured. It was the existence of a nebulous Chieftaincy Declaration which the government of the day had been sold on as a Testament. As I write this, it is still subject to litigation seeking interpretation and adjudication. The Declaration is one powerful and invincible document that has made it possible for one of the aspirants to the throne of Oduduwa from the Giesi Royal Family to be declared the brand new Ooni of Ife today.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge. My most wonderful friend, Prince Adedamola Aderemi, had thrown his hat in the ring and I had taken a kamikaze dive with him. Trust me, we gave it everything we had. We are not ones to do things in half measures. And we are not ones to hide behind one finger as many obviously wanted us to. From the outset, we had decided to do everything in the open. We took a decision to sell our candidate to the larger public because The Ooni Stool is not a squeamish institution but a very loud and prestigious one which requires courage and boldness. We were reasonably assured that Prince Adedamola has got all it takes to move Ife in the right direction. His combined pedigree is rare to come by anywhere, anytime. Anyone wanting to be The Ooni need not be a Saint but we reckoned he needed to possess the comportment and sagacity of an Angel. Prince Adedamola Aderemi is one such personality.

In terms of education, he is an accomplished scholar. In our childhood days, he had led the way as an exceptional student who graduated with LLB at the age of 19 and was called to the Nigerian Bar at 20. He was a Law teacher at the then University of Ife, after a stint at the Oyo State Ministry of Justice as a State Counsel. He rose to be Head of Department twice and was affectionately known to his students and everyone alike as “Bros Dammy” because of his gentle mien and readiness to help at all times. He never carried his royalty as grandson of The Ooni Sir Adesoji Tadeniawo Aderemi on his head. We’ve remained inseparable through thick and thin. 

Moving forward, we had mapped out our strategy carefully. In every battle, you must prepare for anything and everything including defeat. We were ready. We knew we had to encounter all sorts, particularly the principalities that held and still hold the jugular of our dear nation. We knew the position of a king is now less traditional and more political than it used to be centuries ago. That much was confirmed to us by practically all the elders we consulted or encountered. Ile-Ife is under the direct command and control of The State of Osun and its Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, a gentleman I admire so much as a gutsy character. The Governor himself reports to his principal in Lagos, former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our comrade and indefatigable mentor since the days of the June 12 crusade. The godfather himself is surrounded by some diehard foot-soldiers who inform him on street-talks and try to influence him to act one way or another. A veritable stakeholder in Osun State is our highly respected father, Chief Bisi Akande, former Governor of Osun State. We were fortunate that nationally we could count on the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who has been a long standing friend, brother and in-law of Prince Adedamola Aderemi going back to the days when they were both University lecturers. We simply reached out to all.

Yorubaland is also under the avuncular grip of the ubiquitous former President and Nigeria’s biggest brand, General Olusegun Obasanjo. To fulfil all righteousness, we knew we had to tap into his native wisdom. It was not difficult given Prince Adedamola’s maternal families’ relationship with the former President.

It was clear to us that this was a not just a regional but also a national task and we thus reached out to other notable government functionaries and senior politicians.  They include, Governors Akintunde Ambode of Lagos State, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, former Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Kayode Fayemi, Princess Adenrele Adeniran-Ogunsanya, Senator Jide Omoworare, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Gbenga Obadara, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Hon. Niyi Afuye, Hon. Emeka Anohu amongst many more prominent politicians and elder statesmen like Lt. General Alani Akinrinade (rtd) , Chief Olanihun Ajayi and Dr Bode Olajumoke.

We had extensive networks and contacts with practically most of the powerful Yoruba monarchs. We had identified the disunity that ravaged Yorubaland as a scourge and cankerworm that needed to be exterminated. We decided to reach out to our kindred spirits. I will forever remain a great fan of The Awujale of Ijebuland, straight-forward and blunt to a fault, we gained immensely from our interaction with him. He gave us deep insight into what to expect on the thorn-infested path and it was very prophetic. We received prayers from far and near as spiritual fortification on the dangerous mission. The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, was gracious to receive us at such short notice. We spent quality time with the Olowo Eko, Oba Rilwan Akiolu. Although we did not visit other traditional rulers like, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who has been a great admirer of Prince Aderemi since their paths crossed significantly in London many moons ago, the Osile of Oke-Ona Oba AdedapoTejuosho, his Step Father, Oba D V F Olateru-Olagbegi, the Olowo of Owo, who was Prince Adedamola’s teacher and mentor at the Nigerian Law School in 1980-1981 and Oba Adedokun Abolarin, the Orangun of Oke-Ila his great friend and former law student. We knew we could count on their support and prayers.

We did not limit our expedition to Yorubaland. As firm believers in the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria, we stretched our hands of fellowship across the Niger and gained tremendously from the incredible foresight of His Eminence, The Sultan of Sokoto Saa’d Abubakar III, and the boundless energy and entusiasm of His Highness, The Emir of Kano Lamido Sanusi.  Both received us warmly and showed us much affection. They prayed earnestly for us and gave us useful advice to help us cope with success or adversity.

The business community was not left out.  We have many good friends and they were quick to express solidarity with us and to tap into our vision and mission.  The likes of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Olorogun Moses Taiga, Engineer Lanre Sagaya, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Mr Sam Nwajoku, Mr Dapo Abiodun, Mr Tunde Babalola and Mr Ayo Babalola, some of who are not just friends but also clients, in-laws, classmates and business partners, were quite supportive. In this respect we must single out our wonderful friends, Mr Tunde Ayeni, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim and Mr Femi Otedola for their magnanimity, love and unusual support.

We could not have mounted the national drive that we did without the unstinting support of the print, electornic and social media. Prince Nduka “The Duke” Obaigbena towered above all others in tihis respect.  His support was complete and unalloyed. Ms Ijeoma Nwogwugwu Editor of Thisday, and crew of Thisday on Saturday, Mr Edward Dickson of the Tribune, Ben Memuletiwon of National Mirror, Seye Kehinde of City People, Kola Akanji of Osun State Broadcasting Service, Gbenga Adefaye Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard, Punch, The Sun, Kemi Akinyemi, the Ovation International and Ovation Tv team, etc all keyed into our Project.

You cannot of course hope to sit on the throne of your ancestors without enlisting the support of the traditional and city Chiefs of the Community.  We commend the 15 Ife Traditional Chiefs and the Araba of Ife, for the respect and affection they showed to us.  It is impossible to single out anyone of them but we must acknowledge our depth of gratitude to Lowa, Obajio, Jaaran, Obaloran and Arode who were all personally known to us before the quest began. We take this opportunity to pray for the sweet repose of the soul of the Obalufe, Oba Omisakin, who stoutly defended the traditional values of Ife and died in the service of the Community. We must salute the efforts of the Ife Legacy group for providing a powerful platform on WhatsApp for all aspirants.

We thank the other Chiefs and elders of Ife, in particular, the Balogun of Ife, Chief Bisi Omidiora (incidentally an uncle-in-law of Prince Adedamola), the Asiwaju, Chief Alex Duduyemi, the Iyalode, who is from the same Akui compound as Prince Aderemi as well as Sooko Waabodu, Princess Ojuolape Orafidiya, Prince Adedamola’s Aunt, and Prof Adesiyan Olawoyin, his uncle.

Our great friends, too numerous to count or mention played their part through prayers, solidarity calls, visits and even materially. Mrs Olabisi Shuaibu, Bola Olagbaju, Mr Raphael Lewu, Mr Folusho Adeagbo, Ms Nike Oshinowo, Ms Bukola Ayoola, Dr & Mrs Phillip Abiola, Mr Femi Osibanjo, Asmau Yartofa, Folakemi Fatogbe, Tunde Akinleye, The Adedayos, Justice ‘Ladiran Akintola, Wole Adelakun, Femi Kehinde, Prof Tale Omole, Jide Lanlehin, Wole Adenle, Gbolaga Ajayi, Prof Jide Owoeye, Mr Paul Onifade, Mr Sam Akpan, Mr Laitan Eyiowuawi, Dr Tony Akintomide all played major roles.

Our renowned lawyer friends, some of who double as respected religious leaders, gave support in a variety of ways. They include Prof Konyin Ajayi, Femi Atoyebi, Idowu Iluyomade, Akin Olujimi, Rotimi Akeredolu, Dr Wale Olawoyin, Funke Aboyade, Niyi Akintola, Taiwo Taiwo, Dele Oye, Tunde Ajibade amongst a host of others.

Our older friends like Sir Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, Engineer Lanre Sagaya and Prince Arthur Eze were elated by our audacious bid.

We could not have done what we did without the total and unalloyed support of the larger Akui family and the Aderemi family in particularly. The family meetings we held were widely attended and the pledges of support were humbling and uplifting at the same time. Equally the Adegbenro family, the Oyediran family, the Awolowo family and the Sigbeku family were solid in their supoort for their son, Prince Adedamola.

Our Team was fantastic.  We could not have asked for better. Starting from Uncle Wale Adeeyo and Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi to Damola’s brothers and cousins, Yemi, Dayo, Funmi, Debo, Yemi Nla, Sokan, Yanju, and the Ife backbone of Yomi Adenuga and Akin  Ofege supported by the entire Ovation crew of TV presenters, photographers and journalists, we had disciplined, well-heeled and efficient organisation to make anybody proud.

An Ooni-elect has emerged, Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II. We sincerely offer our congratulations and wish him, the traditional chiefs and the whole of Ife, well.  As Prince Adedamola Aderemi has said, the Ooni institution, Ife and the Yoruba race are greater than any of us and we must always recognise this and do nothing to rubbish our glorious heritage. “

WONDERFUL: 144 VIRGINS TO ORGANIZE LAVISH BIRTHDAY FOR OLUMBA OBU !

It was learn that about 144 virgins are warming up to organize a lavish banquet for their father in the lord, Leader Olumba Olumba Obu, to mark his birthday.

Speaking to journalists on the theme for this year’s birthday activity, which a close source to Olumba Obu, said would be centered on “World Peace”, the event comes up in November.at the Headquarters of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star in Calabar.

According to National Mirror, the Chairman Planning Committee, Dr. Goodnews Brown­son, said that this year father’s birthday celebration is earmarked to impact much on the less privileged like orphans and prison inmates, and award scholarships to indigent and intelligent students to pursue undergraduate programmes at the nation`s tertiary institutions.

KING OF SWAZILAND ATTENDS INDIA-AFRICA SUMMIT WITH 15 WIVES-30 YOUNGSTERS AND 100 SERVANTS !!!

I hope Donald Trump is not reading this!  At the on-going India-Africa Summit in India, something spectacular happening there. Mswati III  the present King of Swaziland is at the convention together with his 15 wives, 30 youngsters and tons of servants!

He’s staying at a five-star lodge in capital, around 200 rooms are booked. In order to take precaution, rooms have been booked six days prematurely, and every room prices round Rs 7-15 thousand.

Mswati III is the present King of Swaziland and head of the Swazi Royal Household. King Mswati III is likely one of the world’s wealthiest rulers, in accordance with the listing revealed by Forbes in 2009. He owns 62 luxurious cars, together with a five-million-dollar automotive Malbec

Fast forward, Kings are not made, they are born. However, with the way Africans are spending money recklessly, Africa will still be a poor place to live with this type of ruler.

Long live the king.

AMAZING : DOG FINDS ABANDONDED BABY AND TAKES IT TO WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE IT

Who is an animal? The woman who dumped her baby at the dumping site or the dog that found the baby and took it to where people could see it?

 I don't know where this happened but according to reports, this dog found the newly born baby and took it to where people could see it. The dog carried the baby in its mouth and amazingly didn't hurt the baby. See another picture after the cut….

DONT BLAME YOUR FAILURE ON ME.....CLARK TELLS REUBEN ABATI

Below are excerpts from the open letter, dated October 26, 2015, by Chief Edwin Clark, replying former Special Adviser on Media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Reuben Abati, and other critics over his recent comments on the former president.

ORDINARILY at my age and position in life, I should not have to justify myself in a press controversy on my voluntary decision to quit partisan politics particularly when this personal and well intended act has come under unfair politicization of persons of mediocre temperament. For a couple of days now, I have been more bemused than angry by the not-so-funny, but, predictably, negative ingenuity of Nigerians, aided by an equally incredulous media, to create unpleasant things out of nothing. It has been a circus of those convinced that they have found a peg to hang their own, disloyalty, failure, shallowness and hatred unto, a ball to kick around, over my statement, not for the first time, that I was quitting partisan politics and my statement about former President Goodluck Jonathan, for reasons so obvious that I cannot understand what the orgy of self-flagellation is all about.

I still believe that former President Jonathan performed creditably well in various areas.  I am very proud of him and so are millions of other Nigerians. He was good in so many areas, and did many good things for this nation. He resuscitated the railway system that was comatose for several decades; he engineered a robust economy for this nation; he fought against Polio and Ebola; maternal and child health; he did much for the power sector upon which President Muhammadu Buhari is now building; he tarred more roads than any of his predecessors; he turned agriculture to agro-business, a multibillion dollar business; he built the Almajiri schools in the Northern parts of this country; he established new federal universities across this nation; he allowed for free speech across this nation, and did not mind when he was criticised or, even, abused; people were not arbitrarily locked up in jail or prison, as he truly respected the rule of law; he signed the Freedom of Information Bill into law, which was not done by his predecessors; he modernised the aviation sector; he convoked a National Conference that brought Nigerians together and proffered recommendations on how to better bind Nigerians together as one; he sanitised the electoral system of this country, unlike what we had before him, when elections results were announced without actually voting, when ballot snatching were rampant and common place, he brought transparency into the electoral process, when people could vote and the votes actually  openly counted without violence. Today he stands as the first African president to concede an election to an opponent, even before the final counts. There are many more achievements to his record, but because of time and space let me end here for now. These are all lasting legacies that he has left behind. He has certainly set a precedent for others to follow.

But no human being is perfect; only God is perfect. Therefore, to mention an area of former President Jonathan’s inaction may not be out of place. Every leader in this world has their fault. President Jonathan cannot be an exception. As the late British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan observed in his autobiography, politicians do not regret their mistakes because they can always explain themselves; but they never forgive themselves for opportunities they have lost. For instance, President Barrack Obama of United States of America is frequently attacked for not having the political will to deal with Israel over the Palestinian question.

This does not mean that he lacks the capacity to take action against Israel effectively or to deal with the affairs of the United States of America or that he lacks integrity. Several years ago, the entire Western world was being accused of lacking political will to deal with Apartheid South Africa. This did not mean any inaction of the Western countries by the rest of the world. It only means that President Obama and the statesmen of the western world had other considerations in their minds in the interest of their countries.

In keeping with my character I cannot say in private what I cannot say in the public.  I do not therefore, reject or disown Jonathan as my beloved political son.

My open support for former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

My support for President Goodluck Jonathan predates his presidency. It dates back to the period when he was the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State. So for people who are thinking that I only knew Dr. Jonathan when he became the President or that I was one of his hangers on, I think there will be need to give them a little information. My relevance and leadership of my people as an elder statesman and a critical stakeholder in this Nigeria project far pre-dates Dr. Jonathan’s public life and presidency. I have been relevant in politics and I have served my people honestly and creditably well.  I became very close to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan when he was Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State. I was present in London when the late former Governor of Bayelsa State, the Governor General of the Ijaw Nation, Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha (may his soul rest in perfect peace), was arrested in London on the prompting of the Nigerian government under President Olusegun Obasanjo because of his hatred for Chief Alamieyeseigha.  I had to cancel my flight to Nigeria at the London Airport when the news of the arrest of Chief Alamieyeseigha was conveyed to me by Ambassador Pereware from Paris. I went with a few well-meaning Nigerians to Essex where we had been informed that he was kept, but could not find him. We went to a few other places before we were able to locate where he was. I remained in London for one week with him to put in place machineries for his bail. I recall the large-heartedness of Lady Ann Iyoha who brought out the title deed of her property in London to secure his bail and also the magnanimity of another woman from Amasoma, the home town of Chief Alamiyeseigha in Bayelsa State.

When I returned to Nigeria, I went to Bayelsa State to meet with stakeholders to see that a peaceful transition of power take place whereby Dr. Jonathan who was the then Deputy Governor became the governor. Ambassador Godknows Igali became the Secretary to the State Government.

Of course, I openly supported President Jonathan not only as my son but also as the first person to emerge from the minorities of the Niger Delta as the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I had no choice but to support him and I have no regrets. My support is total and unyielding. If most of President Jonathan’s close associates and political leaders exhibited such support, by espousing all his achievements, rather than the pretence and betrayal they were engaged in, the story today would have been different.

It will be recalled that I had on several occasions openly criticised the former President in the press and in my statements for actions or inactions which were damaging to the President’s image while he was in office. When the President failed to check the excesses of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, which included his undue interference with the activities of the EFCC, I did not fail to speak my mind openly in opposition to the President. When the President did not deliver on his promise to complete the construction of the East-West Road, I did not fail to speak my mind openly.

I even told him publicly that he should not leave the South South people poorer than he met them. When the Governors Forum appeared to arrogate to itself powers that infringed upon those of the President in the Constitution of Nigeria with impunity, I did not fail to criticise. The press conferences and open letters I wrote which were carried and published by the various media houses are there to confirm this claim. However, with all these, my support for him was and still is total and unshakeable.

My relationship with Jonathan was not based on material gains

It is indeed most disingenuous to insinuate that my relationship with former President Jonathan was based on what benefits accrued to me. Far from the truth as I never benefited any material thing from President Jonathan in all his six years of President. With all modesty, I am at this age contented. I state publicly therefore, that I never sought nor obtained any contract, oil block, oil lifting allocation or financial gratification from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) during his years of administration.

Similarly, I never solicited for appointments or special placements for any of my children or relations in any government or private concern on account of my relationship with President Jonathan. It is, therefore, ludicrous and totally ill-motived for these wicked and mischievous persons to sell to the public that my decision portends a plan to seek any special favours from President Muhammadu Buhari and his government, or to protect those gains which I acquired from President Jonathan’s government which never existed.

On the contrary, my public service in this country which spans over 60 years had given me the opportunity to seek the political, social and economic development of my people and Nigeria in general. I remain committed more than ever before to the economic, political and social emancipation of the people of the Niger Delta, South South, the entire minorities and the development and unity of this great nation. This was even contained in the congratulatory letter which I wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari, dated 3rd April, 2015.

My retirement from partisan politics

I am fast approaching 90 years and had been in active politics for over 60 years.  It came to me as a shock that misguided persons are trying to lose their senses over my decision to quit active partisan politics.

I was in the Niger Delta Congress (NDC), with the late sage Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye and late His Excellency, Chief Melford Okilo between 1955 and 1959. I was in Mid West Front (MWF). I was in the National Congress for Nigerian Citizens, NCNC. I was Secretary of the Zikist Vanguard, London in 1962.  I served in General Yakubu Gowon’s cabinet as Minister of Information with late General Murtala Mohammed as Minister of Commerce, General Olusegun Obasanjo as Minister of Works, Alhaji Shehu Shagari as Minister of Finance. Today, three of these persons have become Presidents of Nigeria. Apart from Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the others are no longer in active politics.

I was a member of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN. I recall with heavy heart that most of the people with whom I played politics are either dead or have become politically inactive. Some of them are Makama Bida of Niger State, Maitama Sule of Kano State, K. O. Mbadiwe of Imo State, Fani Kayode, Tanko Yakassai, Dr. Ibrahim Tahil of Bauchi State, Adamu Ciroma of Yobe State, Alhaji Ali Monguno of Borno State, A. M. A. Akinloye, T. O. S. Benson, Dr. Okezie of Imo State, M. T. Mbu of Cross River State, His Royal Majesty the Olubadan of Ibadan, just to mention a few. Not too long ago, I found myself attending a PDP caucus meeting in Warri with young men who are grand children of my political colleagues. Today, I sometimes move in a wheelchair. I had intimated former President Jonathan that once the elections were over and he was sworn into office for the second term, I will leave partisan politics and retire to my village.

Thus, I recalled earlier receiving a request by a group with the rather uplifting name of “Think Nigeria First Initiative” (TNFI), for a courtesy call on me and to make me their Grand Patron. The name alone sent sensations of kindred spirit through me and I readily accepted. I responded, enthusiastically, naturally. It was in that context that I said that myself at the age of nearly 89 years, and having carried my passions of similar ideals with theirs for over 60 years, had decided that my energies needed a paradigm restructuring. This same position I had declared at Akure, Ondo State, on the 24th of August, 2015, at the meeting of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, SNPA, of which, by God’s grace, I am one of the Leaders.

I wish to refer here to the crude and unpolished language used by Dr. Reuben Abati against me that I would have still been a PDP card-carrying member if former President Jonathan had won the election. I do not know the background of Dr. Abati but for him to lie and devilishly imagine that I should have remained a PDP card-carrying member if President Jonathan won the election is satanic.

No reader of The Guardian Newspaper, particularly its Sunday edition, will easily forget the frequently provocative columns by Dr. Reuben Abati. As the Chairman of the Editorial Board of the newspaper and syndicated columnist, Abati had a freehand to write whatever he liked in his column and could also influence other news items.  I do not recall any favourable remark made by Abati all those years when he was the Chairman of the Editorial Board and syndicated columnist about the former President His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and the First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

If I recall correctly, they were always the butt of ridicule by Dr. Reuben Abati. In fact, he became so notorious and a fearless critic of former President Jonathan and his wife in The Guardian Newspaper that I had to draw the attention of my cousin, the proprietor of The Guardian Newspaper to his excesses. These vitriolic attacks on former President Jonathan and his wife only stopped when he was appointed the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity by the former President.

On his appointment, Aso Rock activities and Jonathan’s achievements were not sold to the people of Nigeria. Reuben Abati will recall the number of times when I called his attention to how he was being negligent of his duty as the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity by not defending President Jonathan against some of the scurrilous attacks against him and also by not promoting his image and the well-known achievements of his administration. My advice that a Publicity Committee made up of eminent journalists be put in place in Aso Rock and that media proprietors and senior journalists should be invited to Aso Rock were jettisoned by Abati.

Dr. Reuben Abati has risen to the defence of his last employer too late. He owes the former President apologies for his (Reuben Abati’s) failure to perform while in office. I should not be used as a scapegoat. I love Goodluck Jonathan and Goodluck Jonathan loves me.

I repeat again that I will like Dr. Abati to find out from his former boss whether I did not intimate him of my intention that I will leave active politics sometime in 2015 and return to my village after Dr. Jonathan’s re-election as the President of Nigeria. It would be recalled that only two weeks ago, the former PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, retired from partisan politics while celebrating his 80th Birthday. Although he is much younger than me, Reuben Abati and his likes did not feel offended. I repeat here again that I am very proud of my family background which has produced some of the most illustrious Nigerians and that I do not shift ground or change position. I still regard former President Jonathan as my son. Since the change of government, we have been in close communication on the telephone and Jonathan has visited me over four times.

When I pointed to the former President Jonathan that most of those who surrounded him were not loyal, sincere or patriotic but mere opportunists. It is, therefore, unfair and unjust for Reuben Abati and others to accuse me for saying things against former President Jonathan while he is no longer in office. It is even more shameful that Dr. Abati who claims to be a cultured Yoruba man, a people who have great respect for elders, to go on this wild macabre dance to insinuate and say outright lies against an elder statesman of my age and standing. Unknown to him, more Nigerians know me as a person of strong principles and ideals than he and his likes can imagine. This is why their attacks on me have exposed them to more ridicules in the eyes of most Nigerians, than they would have ever imagined.