By Gabriel Omonhinmin
For a short while now I have been battling with myself whether to, or not to do this article. The reasons for the hesitation, is simply because I do not want to be accused of patronising anybody. I had to keep this article in view, awaiting more developments in the Niger Delta Region.
But now that officer and men of the Nigerian Army are bagging jail terms over illegal arms sales in the Niger Delta region, I thought it safe to go back to my computer for this piece.
The very harsh judgement delivered by the Kaduna based General Court Marshal (GCM) over a three-count charge of illegal possession of prohibited firearm, the unlawful possession of ammunition and the fraudulent misapplication of service property, which resulted in a middle level army officers and some soldiers getting as much as life sentences, has justified my long time opinion that under no circumstances should Governor Rotimi Amaechi or any government official, state or federal negotiate with the militants.
It has always been my conviction, that what is required to bring about a lasting peace in that region is massive infrastructural and human development. Negotiation in any form with militant is a waste of time and energy.
October 26, 2008 it was exactly a year that God in his infinite wisdom, decided to show to all Nigerians, that it is he, who is in charge of world affairs.
The unprecedented judgement delivered by the justices of Nigeria Supreme Court which brought about the Governorship of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was to say the least unexpected at that time, considering the way and manner the immediate past President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the Peoples Democratic Party P.D.P. leadership at that time carried on. Amaechi’s eventual return from Ghana where he went on self-exile to Port Harcourt to assume office is another attestation to the fact, that, the universe cannot exist without God. And that if there is no God in what we do as humans, we are sure to go through days that have no meaning and have no end.
Common sense therefore suggests that Amaechi on assumption of office as Governor would do anything and everything, to defend his mandate, his government and himself from the threats that was so much palpable in Rivers State and in the Niger Delta region as a whole when he was declared the Governor. Amaechi without any apology needed to take this very hard stance, if he has to function in office.
When negotiation with the militant became an issue, some few months after he took his oath of office as Governor, I knew right from inception, that the type of Rotimi Amaechi sitting as a Governor of a State will never ever court a deal with any group that go by the name militant. I told my colleague so, during a heated debate in one of our editorial conferences in Voice of Nigeria. Some of them wondered what would have informed my confidence and prediction of Amaechi.
My prediction of Governor Rotimi Amaechi is based on my knowledge of him some eight years back, when we met and interacted in Abuja, the only such opportunity ever since.
My chance of meeting with Amaechi came during a two week seminar organised by the United States Government in collaboration with the Nigerian Ministry of Defence, in Abuja. That was during the experimental stages of the present democratic practice in the country. The United States Government as expected then was no doubt very apprehensive about Nigeria. The U.S. government therefore, thought it appropriate to educate a selected group of Nigerians made up of very high ranking military and police personnel alongside civilians on what to do to sustain the country’s democratic process. The Niger Delta issue was exhaustively debated at that forum.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi and I were among other few Nigerians who were privileged to participate at these seminars. That was in September of year 2000, barely fifteen months after he had just been elected Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Amaechi and the first speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly actively participated at these seminars cum workshops at the NICON Hilton Hotels Abuja. One seminar that was particularly very interactive and interesting was the “Executive Seminar on Quality Force Management and Civil-Military Relations”.
These seminars were put together for Nigerians by the United States Defence Institute of International Legal Studies and the Centre for Civil-Military Rations Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California. As was expected from a seminar like this, many briefs were given on how to handle the situation that eventually manifested itself in today’s “Niger Delta region”. The seminar also afforded participants the rear opportunity to size up one another and to network. As we sat through the very intensive lectures of Commander Burton J. Waltman, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, United States Navy and his other colleague, my restless eyes occasionally wondered towards Amaechi’s direction. The reasons for this, I still cannot say up till now. But one thing was certain; and most probably it was this quality that made me took special notice of him, he was extraordinarily guarded when he spoke.
Other things I observed is that Amaechi although retiring by nature, dresses immaculately and looks like he could be on the cover of a fashion magazine, “so it’s easy to stereotype him”. But behind this gorgeous and very glamorous person, I later found out, is a very good person. He has a good heart and means well all the time. Amaechi took every topic and lecture very seriously as if we’re going for another degree exam.
Physically, Amaechi is much changed from year 2000. Although never heavy, he has grown much older in looks.
As Governor Amaechi takes on his challenges, the will, courage and ability to deliver service is not lacking in him. At least, this much I know of him, during our short interaction. The question therefore is, to what extent are the people of Rivers State ready to assist Governor Amaechi and the Nigerian government to bring about quality service for people of River State? In the area of security in the region, it is about time, we tell our people in the Niger Delta Region, that what they do not value will not be valued by someone else outside the region, and what they do not make concerted effort to change will never be changed. Governor Amaechi in the past one year has being made to go through a gruelling and intellectually challenging process of convincing the electorate of his preparedness for the office he now occupy, and within this period he has been able to prove that he has what it takes to govern a state like Rivers. But contrary to most people’s expectations, his problem is not just the provision of needed infrastructures, and the social and economic revival of Rivers State, the Governor’s major obstacle now is how to root out what has now become “the peg of materialistic philosophy”. Sadly this is the peg upon which almost everything is hanging in this generation. This problem is particularly very pronounced among the uneducated youths in Rivers and Bayelsa States. This generation is unfortunately hanging its hopes on the wrong peg - materialism. This should be a source of concern not only to the Government of Rivers and Bayelsa States but to the Federal Government.
The crux of the matter is “how prepared are the people in the creeks and the city of Port Harcourt and Yenogua in assisting the government of Rivers and Bayelsa States, in rooting out hoodlums and kidnappers who masquerade as militant crusaders, of a better deal for the people of the Niger Delta?
Once there is a collective resolve by all and sundry, to checkmate criminals in Rivers and Bayelsa states in particular, and the Niger Delta Region in general, Governor Amaechi, evidence has shown, that the tendency to fulfil his electoral promises, such as excellent health care for the poor, protection of civil rights, enforcement of law and order, transmission of values, and the defence of freedom, could be achieved.
A lesson Governor Amaechi must learn now, is that, sometimes we don’t take responsibility because we believe others are more qualified. No, those who make a difference in life don’t do so because they are the best qualified, but simply because they decided to make a try. Please try, and do your very best for the Rivers people. With time, they would come to appreciate you, as they now do with the first Military Governor of that State, Alfred Diete-Spif.
Mr. Omonhinmin is a staff of Voice of Nigeria –Lagos.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
On Emma And David Omonhinmin
BY GABRIEL OMONHINMIN
November 2007, is one of the saddest moments in the Omonhinmin’s family. In quick succession and in an unbelievable manner, two of my immediate elder brothers, Emmanuel and David took their exit from mother earth. Emmanuel, my brother, had before November 6th when he died at the Auchi General Hospital, had been broken-hearted and bedridden, with stroke for eight excruciating years as he was abandoned and forsaken by his wife.
As if it was planned, as the curtain drew on Emmanuel’s life, David Emmanuel’s half brother, who is also his closest friend and confidant in the family, on his way from Benin to Jos in Plateau State had a motor accident which resulted in a spinal cord injury.
Knowing that the two men were much closer, we resolved never to allow David know that Emmanuel had passed on.
On Saturday, November 10, 2007, as I arrived at the Auchi General Hospital Mortuary to prepare Emma’s body for his final passage, one of the most haunting words on death, I have ever read was the description by the one and only Professor Wole Soyinka in his memoirs, “You Must Set Forth at Dawn” on one of the last moments of his friend Femi Johnson.
As the mortuary attendant, threw open the door and pointed to the corpse of Emma, the inimitable words of Soyinka came to my mind. His words: “As I looked down on the stretcher, I received a jolt, rather like an electric shock, a crude intimation of finality. Nothing had prepared me for the plea for help that I encountered when my eyes looked into my brother’s. His, glassy and mud brown eyes rolled upwards to encounter mine, eloquent in their depth or bewilderment. Like Prof Wole Syoyinka, I asked what is happening to me. I pleaded. Help me up out of this pit; just help me emerge from this darkness. Emma’s eyes appeared to dissolve into a deep, endless tunnel; fathomless...I withdrew slowly, chilled to the bone, acknowledging that he had withdrawn himself from the world, even as my hands left his. For I knew, in that moment, that I had left Emma at the very end of the tunnel, within that fathomless space, that my elder brother who laid on that stretcher would not return home to Ehallen-Ewu in the form we knew, and cherished.
After the burial of Emma, frantic efforts were made by the family members to save the life of David. “Another death in the Omonhinmin’s family must not and should not happen; we decided in finality as if we were God who has the ultimate say about life”.
On Monday, November 12th, I left the village for Benin, and went straight to the Emergency Wards of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital to see how David was doing, what I saw at the hospital brought hopelessness to my mind. My brother requires a miracle to stay alive. I went away sucking and praying that David gives us the opportunity to save him.
On Tuesday, November 13 at exactly 5.30 a.m. I left Benin for Lagos a very depressed person to plan the next line of action. It was not a surprise, when I receive the text message from Conrad the youngest child in the family, “Don’t bury him, he is sleeping”.
Emma and David’s passage made me to begin to make critical inquire on the purpose of life and the meaning of death. The questions that came to my mind, was, is there such a thing as eternity or is this life that we know the only reality? The atheists are of the belief, that there is no God and no life beyond this sphere. They believe only in that which they can see, touch, hear, feel and smell. But if there is no life beyond the grave, is the essence of life not meaningless and purposeless? Why strive for goodness of justice or kindness or any other positive virtues if it all ends in the grave? What does it matter then if you kill or maim your neighbour or help yourself to his wife or rape his sister? Experience has shown, that “when there is no God, everything is permitted”. And if we believe that only what we can see and touch or feel physically exists, how come we believe that love exists when we cannot see love? We cannot see hatred. You cannot feel it, nor hear it. Yet it is one of the most powerful forces in the world. You cannot see, nor hear, nor feel thought, but you know it is a reality. You cannot see the imagination, yet it can take pictures of sense, knowledge and throw them upon a canvass, or can translate them into the most beautiful harmony. You cannot see the wind but you can feet its effect. You cannot see gravitation, yet you can feel it effect. You cannot see conscience, the voice of your spirit, but you can feel the effect.”
It is about a year now, since Emma and David decided to take their exit from mother earth. It has been a year of immense pain which has continued to endure unabated. The deaths of my two brothers’ are not in vain. Their death no doubt has helped those of us alive to draw closer to our creator God.
Their death has made me discover God’s purpose for my life. Life without a purpose is meaningless and mere existence.
I now meditate daily on God’s greatness, His grace and His love. From experience, I can say that major problems have become far less significant when measured against the greatness of an omnipotent God. Adieu! Emma. Adieu!! David. Rest in peace, until we meet to part no more.
November 2007, is one of the saddest moments in the Omonhinmin’s family. In quick succession and in an unbelievable manner, two of my immediate elder brothers, Emmanuel and David took their exit from mother earth. Emmanuel, my brother, had before November 6th when he died at the Auchi General Hospital, had been broken-hearted and bedridden, with stroke for eight excruciating years as he was abandoned and forsaken by his wife.
As if it was planned, as the curtain drew on Emmanuel’s life, David Emmanuel’s half brother, who is also his closest friend and confidant in the family, on his way from Benin to Jos in Plateau State had a motor accident which resulted in a spinal cord injury.
Knowing that the two men were much closer, we resolved never to allow David know that Emmanuel had passed on.
On Saturday, November 10, 2007, as I arrived at the Auchi General Hospital Mortuary to prepare Emma’s body for his final passage, one of the most haunting words on death, I have ever read was the description by the one and only Professor Wole Soyinka in his memoirs, “You Must Set Forth at Dawn” on one of the last moments of his friend Femi Johnson.
As the mortuary attendant, threw open the door and pointed to the corpse of Emma, the inimitable words of Soyinka came to my mind. His words: “As I looked down on the stretcher, I received a jolt, rather like an electric shock, a crude intimation of finality. Nothing had prepared me for the plea for help that I encountered when my eyes looked into my brother’s. His, glassy and mud brown eyes rolled upwards to encounter mine, eloquent in their depth or bewilderment. Like Prof Wole Syoyinka, I asked what is happening to me. I pleaded. Help me up out of this pit; just help me emerge from this darkness. Emma’s eyes appeared to dissolve into a deep, endless tunnel; fathomless...I withdrew slowly, chilled to the bone, acknowledging that he had withdrawn himself from the world, even as my hands left his. For I knew, in that moment, that I had left Emma at the very end of the tunnel, within that fathomless space, that my elder brother who laid on that stretcher would not return home to Ehallen-Ewu in the form we knew, and cherished.
After the burial of Emma, frantic efforts were made by the family members to save the life of David. “Another death in the Omonhinmin’s family must not and should not happen; we decided in finality as if we were God who has the ultimate say about life”.
On Monday, November 12th, I left the village for Benin, and went straight to the Emergency Wards of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital to see how David was doing, what I saw at the hospital brought hopelessness to my mind. My brother requires a miracle to stay alive. I went away sucking and praying that David gives us the opportunity to save him.
On Tuesday, November 13 at exactly 5.30 a.m. I left Benin for Lagos a very depressed person to plan the next line of action. It was not a surprise, when I receive the text message from Conrad the youngest child in the family, “Don’t bury him, he is sleeping”.
Emma and David’s passage made me to begin to make critical inquire on the purpose of life and the meaning of death. The questions that came to my mind, was, is there such a thing as eternity or is this life that we know the only reality? The atheists are of the belief, that there is no God and no life beyond this sphere. They believe only in that which they can see, touch, hear, feel and smell. But if there is no life beyond the grave, is the essence of life not meaningless and purposeless? Why strive for goodness of justice or kindness or any other positive virtues if it all ends in the grave? What does it matter then if you kill or maim your neighbour or help yourself to his wife or rape his sister? Experience has shown, that “when there is no God, everything is permitted”. And if we believe that only what we can see and touch or feel physically exists, how come we believe that love exists when we cannot see love? We cannot see hatred. You cannot feel it, nor hear it. Yet it is one of the most powerful forces in the world. You cannot see, nor hear, nor feel thought, but you know it is a reality. You cannot see the imagination, yet it can take pictures of sense, knowledge and throw them upon a canvass, or can translate them into the most beautiful harmony. You cannot see the wind but you can feet its effect. You cannot see gravitation, yet you can feel it effect. You cannot see conscience, the voice of your spirit, but you can feel the effect.”
It is about a year now, since Emma and David decided to take their exit from mother earth. It has been a year of immense pain which has continued to endure unabated. The deaths of my two brothers’ are not in vain. Their death no doubt has helped those of us alive to draw closer to our creator God.
Their death has made me discover God’s purpose for my life. Life without a purpose is meaningless and mere existence.
I now meditate daily on God’s greatness, His grace and His love. From experience, I can say that major problems have become far less significant when measured against the greatness of an omnipotent God. Adieu! Emma. Adieu!! David. Rest in peace, until we meet to part no more.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
CRY MY BELOVED EWU
BY GABRIEL OMONHINMIN.
I was home in Ehallen Ewu, in Esan Central in Edo State, some few months back. I discover to my chagrin that seventy per cent of my childhood school mates were dead and those that I met looked much older than I did.
After a very deep reflection, I realised that the only difference between me and my school mates especially those still living, is the education that I was fortunate enough to have.
The importance of access to education for all cannot therefore be overemphasised.
Since I returned to Lagos my place of work, I have daily sucked and ruminate over the backwardness of my village. And I have continually asked myself without really finding an answer, how do I get together people who feel the way I do about the town, so that we could collectively help find ways of attracting development to the place?
Esan land for the benefit of Nigerians not to familiar with the place is regarded as the heart-beat of Edo State. It occupies a large expanse of land North of Benin city. Esan land has an area of approximately 3,000 kilometres and a population of about zero point eight million people as at 2001.
There are thirty five clans each of which is headed by a traditional ruler known as “Onojie”.
Western education was introduced to the place at the turn of the century and the first government controlled school was established at Ubiaja in 1904. Schools were established in Uromi another neighbouring clan in 1905, Ekpoma in 1906, Irrua, Opoji, Ewu and Agbede in subsequent years. Despite the proximity of these schools and the relative low school fees at that time, most parents could not afford the school fees require them.
Post-primary schools were opened after a long struggle in Esan Land. In 1942 the first teachers training college was established, that is John Bosco in Ubiaja. Followed by Ishan Grammar School in Uromi in 1948; Annunciation Catholic College in Irrua; Pilgrim Baptist College in Ewhohimi, and Anglican Grammar School in Ekpoma. These schools alongside others such as Our Lady of Lourdes Girls Grammar School in Uromi, Scared Heart Teachers Training College in Ubiaja opened the gate to Western Education in that part of Edo State. The Esan man crowning glory came with the establishment of the Ambrose Ali University in Ekpoma, by the late Professor Ambrose Folorunsho Ali.
In spite of the proximity of these institutions, most Ishan parents could hardly send their wards to school, due to poverty. It been a long practice, that kids get withdrawn from school because parents can’t pay school fees; some become street kinds to make family ends meet. Some school age kids become road side motor mechanic apprentices and teenage traders at a time they should be fighting against illiteracy and preparing for the future. Tertiary institutions are seething. And yet, we want to enter the twenty-first century prepared to compete with the rest of the world.
Years later, the effect of lack of functional education, has become manifest in most Esan towns and villages. The backwardness in Ewu village in particular is worth mentioning.
As one worries about the plight of our people and what to do, to bring about a meaningful change in their lives, one is shocked to read in the Newspapers that the chieftaincy tussle which crated so much disaffection in Ewu land in the past and was considered settled with the court verdict in favour of the present Onojie His Royal Highness Jafaru Ojiefo Esesele II, is once again been reopened in another disguise. My worry therefore is, why have my people failed to realise that everything created by God has its destiny.
Past disagreement over this issue, did more harm than good in Ewu land, the ripple effect of the crisis is there for us all to see. While do we continue to engage in profitless crisis? Anyhow, while this matter was in court, government positions on the Onojie tussle were successfully challenged, hypocrisy by some groups on the matter exposed by the media, their arguments rejected by the courts of law, their repressive tactics resisted by some members of our community.
After years of calm the tide appeared to be turning against this group who meant little or no good for the Ewu people. Hence, the need for them to foment trouble afresh, but should this be allowed to continue? I say no.
The question therefore is, when will my people learn to do what is right and proper for themselves. Trouble at this particular time of our national development, will not help in any way to bring about the much require development in Ewu? I am of the belief, that “If we want to climb out of the hole we are in, it is a job for all the people”.
If Ewu must develop we collectively have a duty to perform, in ensuring accountability in our land.
We must serve as an early warning mechanism.
Act as a check to the excesses of some individual and their groups, government at local and state levels.
Hold whoever becomes our leader responsible for the attainment of agreed goals.
Be a vanguard for sustained fight for justice, fairness and equity.
Diversifier interests sufficiently in areas vital for economic, social and political development of our people, so as to get adequate and sustained attention.
Constantly remind those in government at the local government and state levels their obligations to people of Esan land.
Other areas worth devoting our efforts, if we must grow economically, are the enthronement of the rule of law, as one who had the privilege of watching our juridical system from within the court in the past years, I can say that the courts need the citizen’s keen interest in their effort to consolidate the rule of law and thwart what their detractors regard as the unacceptable face of judicial pronouncement.
The amelioration of poverty in Ewu land is possible if we create a structure that will help our people to have food and shelter alongside improving their economy. Poverty is spreading and does not seem to be prepared to take a flight back into its shell too soon. Food and shelter are becoming scarcer and less affordable. More families are making do with less food. The ranks of the homeless are increasing.
In the current dispensation, the pursuit of happiness is becoming a “battle royale” because the wherewithals for this endeavour are not available to may.
Experience has shown, that the much-touted improvement in the economy is seen more by statisticians and those who deal with figures without relating them to people’s experience.
In spite of this, we could, if we want to, help improve the welfare of our people. This can be done if we make concerted efforts to finance education in Esan land. And as a matter of priority return to values. The challenge of values is what sustained them in years past, this has given way to societal indiscipline: cultism, robbery, lack of consideration, disrespect is now the other of the day in our society. To cap it all, we are told our new politics and succession strategy should have no need for morals, as if leadership is only for the amoral.
The time has come for us to have a rethink. For us to achieve the above mentioned values, we must jettison the following
• Wealth without work.
• Pleasure without conscience.
• Knowledge without character.
• Commerce without morality.
• Science without humanity.
• Worship without sacrifice.
• Politics without principle.
His Highness Jafaru Ojeifo, Esesele II is an uncle to Prince Rasaki this relationship can not be wished away. Well, how long people think they can keep them apart for selfish gains or reasons are left for time to tell.
I believe that as long as our problems remain with us, we have no choice but to continue to re-visit them through analysis, new insight and unrelenting effort to find solutions. There is no viable alternative to either stop thinking them through or simply throwing up our hands in fruition. We cannot give up. Ewu my beloved place of birth can not move forward that way.
Gabriel Omonhinmin is with Voice of Nigeria.
I was home in Ehallen Ewu, in Esan Central in Edo State, some few months back. I discover to my chagrin that seventy per cent of my childhood school mates were dead and those that I met looked much older than I did.
After a very deep reflection, I realised that the only difference between me and my school mates especially those still living, is the education that I was fortunate enough to have.
The importance of access to education for all cannot therefore be overemphasised.
Since I returned to Lagos my place of work, I have daily sucked and ruminate over the backwardness of my village. And I have continually asked myself without really finding an answer, how do I get together people who feel the way I do about the town, so that we could collectively help find ways of attracting development to the place?
Esan land for the benefit of Nigerians not to familiar with the place is regarded as the heart-beat of Edo State. It occupies a large expanse of land North of Benin city. Esan land has an area of approximately 3,000 kilometres and a population of about zero point eight million people as at 2001.
There are thirty five clans each of which is headed by a traditional ruler known as “Onojie”.
Western education was introduced to the place at the turn of the century and the first government controlled school was established at Ubiaja in 1904. Schools were established in Uromi another neighbouring clan in 1905, Ekpoma in 1906, Irrua, Opoji, Ewu and Agbede in subsequent years. Despite the proximity of these schools and the relative low school fees at that time, most parents could not afford the school fees require them.
Post-primary schools were opened after a long struggle in Esan Land. In 1942 the first teachers training college was established, that is John Bosco in Ubiaja. Followed by Ishan Grammar School in Uromi in 1948; Annunciation Catholic College in Irrua; Pilgrim Baptist College in Ewhohimi, and Anglican Grammar School in Ekpoma. These schools alongside others such as Our Lady of Lourdes Girls Grammar School in Uromi, Scared Heart Teachers Training College in Ubiaja opened the gate to Western Education in that part of Edo State. The Esan man crowning glory came with the establishment of the Ambrose Ali University in Ekpoma, by the late Professor Ambrose Folorunsho Ali.
In spite of the proximity of these institutions, most Ishan parents could hardly send their wards to school, due to poverty. It been a long practice, that kids get withdrawn from school because parents can’t pay school fees; some become street kinds to make family ends meet. Some school age kids become road side motor mechanic apprentices and teenage traders at a time they should be fighting against illiteracy and preparing for the future. Tertiary institutions are seething. And yet, we want to enter the twenty-first century prepared to compete with the rest of the world.
Years later, the effect of lack of functional education, has become manifest in most Esan towns and villages. The backwardness in Ewu village in particular is worth mentioning.
As one worries about the plight of our people and what to do, to bring about a meaningful change in their lives, one is shocked to read in the Newspapers that the chieftaincy tussle which crated so much disaffection in Ewu land in the past and was considered settled with the court verdict in favour of the present Onojie His Royal Highness Jafaru Ojiefo Esesele II, is once again been reopened in another disguise. My worry therefore is, why have my people failed to realise that everything created by God has its destiny.
Past disagreement over this issue, did more harm than good in Ewu land, the ripple effect of the crisis is there for us all to see. While do we continue to engage in profitless crisis? Anyhow, while this matter was in court, government positions on the Onojie tussle were successfully challenged, hypocrisy by some groups on the matter exposed by the media, their arguments rejected by the courts of law, their repressive tactics resisted by some members of our community.
After years of calm the tide appeared to be turning against this group who meant little or no good for the Ewu people. Hence, the need for them to foment trouble afresh, but should this be allowed to continue? I say no.
The question therefore is, when will my people learn to do what is right and proper for themselves. Trouble at this particular time of our national development, will not help in any way to bring about the much require development in Ewu? I am of the belief, that “If we want to climb out of the hole we are in, it is a job for all the people”.
If Ewu must develop we collectively have a duty to perform, in ensuring accountability in our land.
We must serve as an early warning mechanism.
Act as a check to the excesses of some individual and their groups, government at local and state levels.
Hold whoever becomes our leader responsible for the attainment of agreed goals.
Be a vanguard for sustained fight for justice, fairness and equity.
Diversifier interests sufficiently in areas vital for economic, social and political development of our people, so as to get adequate and sustained attention.
Constantly remind those in government at the local government and state levels their obligations to people of Esan land.
Other areas worth devoting our efforts, if we must grow economically, are the enthronement of the rule of law, as one who had the privilege of watching our juridical system from within the court in the past years, I can say that the courts need the citizen’s keen interest in their effort to consolidate the rule of law and thwart what their detractors regard as the unacceptable face of judicial pronouncement.
The amelioration of poverty in Ewu land is possible if we create a structure that will help our people to have food and shelter alongside improving their economy. Poverty is spreading and does not seem to be prepared to take a flight back into its shell too soon. Food and shelter are becoming scarcer and less affordable. More families are making do with less food. The ranks of the homeless are increasing.
In the current dispensation, the pursuit of happiness is becoming a “battle royale” because the wherewithals for this endeavour are not available to may.
Experience has shown, that the much-touted improvement in the economy is seen more by statisticians and those who deal with figures without relating them to people’s experience.
In spite of this, we could, if we want to, help improve the welfare of our people. This can be done if we make concerted efforts to finance education in Esan land. And as a matter of priority return to values. The challenge of values is what sustained them in years past, this has given way to societal indiscipline: cultism, robbery, lack of consideration, disrespect is now the other of the day in our society. To cap it all, we are told our new politics and succession strategy should have no need for morals, as if leadership is only for the amoral.
The time has come for us to have a rethink. For us to achieve the above mentioned values, we must jettison the following
• Wealth without work.
• Pleasure without conscience.
• Knowledge without character.
• Commerce without morality.
• Science without humanity.
• Worship without sacrifice.
• Politics without principle.
His Highness Jafaru Ojeifo, Esesele II is an uncle to Prince Rasaki this relationship can not be wished away. Well, how long people think they can keep them apart for selfish gains or reasons are left for time to tell.
I believe that as long as our problems remain with us, we have no choice but to continue to re-visit them through analysis, new insight and unrelenting effort to find solutions. There is no viable alternative to either stop thinking them through or simply throwing up our hands in fruition. We cannot give up. Ewu my beloved place of birth can not move forward that way.
Gabriel Omonhinmin is with Voice of Nigeria.
THE NIGERIA GUILD AND JOURNALISM FOR A NEW AGE
By Gabriel Omonhinmin.
Many years ago, I spent some time covering agriculture. I remember quite a few farmers getting eloquent and a bit emotional talking about the satisfaction they felt in watching the seeds they planted in the spring grow into a mature crop.
Trainers, writing coaches, editors and other newsroom mentors sometimes don’t get that kind of satisfaction. Some of the seeds we plant blossom elsewhere. Or we move on before they do. Or we didn’t even notice where they took root. We may never see or learn what became of our advice or example. Life gets busy for us and the people we help and they or we forget to stay in touch.
This is exactly the case with the founding editors of the Nigerian Guild. They have long stopped showing any interest in the affairs of the guild. This has not only rob the guild of good advice it is also affecting the quality of leadership of the organisation. That’s not how leadership and mentoring and coaching work should be.
Right from the inception of the guild, when our most respected Lateef Kayode Jakande, became its first President, the body then worked to promote fair, principled journalism, defend and protect the Nigerian Constitution, and fight for freedom of information and open government. Throughout this time, the Nigerian Guild members joined together to weather crises, seize opportunities and take action to improve their profession in service of the public good.
About forty-eight years after, the Nigerian Guild of Editors is at a turning point. Challenges to open government, the Freedom of Information Bill, and the principled journalism are stronger than ever. The need for citizen awareness is greater than ever. Digital journalism is creating a future that is far less predictable than ever. To confront these challenges successfully, the Guild must amplify its voice, enlarge its actions and equip its members as agents of change.
The Guild has a singular opportunity to accomplish these goals: “Journalism for a New Age”. On the third or fourth week of June, editors from across the country would gather in Lagos, Nigeria’s Commercial Capital to elect a new set of officers for the guild, as we prepare for this election, our profession journalism is wrestling with many other challenges, which include profit pressures, the rise of new information technologies, and, frankly, some bad journalism habits that have let our readers and listeners distrustful, at times, of our efforts.
The rise of new information technologies is prompting new questions, such as:
· “Who is a journalist?”
· “What is journalism?”
As we are all aware, ordinary citizens have began to participate in the gathering and delivering of news. In some cases they are watchdogging news organizations and reporting stories we got or done wrong. In other cases, they are reporting the news before journalists discover it. And they are also focusing on hyper-local community news that most newspapers and broadcast stations don’t have the resources to cover.
Meanwhile, bad journalism habits have given rise to such initiatives as civic journalism. Civic journalism aims to help return journalism to its core mission to give people the news and information they need to do their job as citizens.
Alexis de Tocqueville,the Frenchman who was a keen observer of American life, said some 170 years ago: “You can’t have real newspapers without democracy, and you can’t have democracy without newspapers.”
It’s no longer enough for journalists themselves to think they are doing a good job. Readers and listeners have to agree that a free press plays an essential role in our democratic society for journalists to merit their special place.
The goal of journalism for a New Age, is among other things, to produce news that citizens need to be educated about issues and current events, to make civic decisions, to engage in civic dialogue and action – and generally to exercise their responsibilities in a democracy.
It is the common belief, that, it is possible for journalists to create news coverage that motivates people to think, and even to act, and not simply entice them to watch, ogle or stare. And, in fact, they believe it’s journalists responsibility to do so.
For journalists to be taken seriously in our present day society the editor has a major role to play, editors are also expected to provide leadership. This is one of the reasons why we most all ensure that credible persons only are voted for in the forthcoming Guild of Editors elections in Lagos.
The leaders the guild needs now, are leaders who will help engender our media’s watchdog role. Leaders who will resolve not only to provide leadership but help in spotlighting corruption and injustice.
We need leaders who will not be part of government of the day at the Federal, State and Local Government Levels. The leadership the guild does not require at this particular point in time are leaders who have no other agenda than to pay courtesy call on officer holders.
The leadership the guild requires are leaders with an agenda, purposeful, clear headed, leaders that will help the Nigeria media, assume the role of a guide dog –that will help the Nigerian people figure out what kind of roles they could play in a democracy beyond simply casting a ballot.
We need leaders who will abandon the attack dog role that seemed to be just creating a lot of noise in a very noisy media environment like Nigeria.
The leader I would vote for at the guild elections, is a leader who would be able to answer convincingly, these ten questions that will help him or her make Good Ethical Decisions:-
a) What do I know? What do I need to know?
b) What is my journalistic purpose?
c) What are my ethical concerns?
d) What organizational policies and professional guidelines should I consider?
e) How can I include other people, with different perspectives and diverse ideas, in the decision-making process?
f) Who are the stakeholders—those affected by my decision? What are their motivations? Which are legitimate?
g) What if the roles were reversed? How would I feel if I were in the shoes of one of the stakeholders?
h) What are the possible consequences of my actions? Short term? Long term?
i) What are my alternatives to maximize my truth telling responsibility and minimize harm?
j) Can I clearly and fully justify my thinking and my decision? To my colleagues? To the stakeholders? To the public?
We hope to have a credible leadership in the Guild later this month, that is, if the elections would hold.
Mr. Omonhinmin works for Voice of Nigeria
Many years ago, I spent some time covering agriculture. I remember quite a few farmers getting eloquent and a bit emotional talking about the satisfaction they felt in watching the seeds they planted in the spring grow into a mature crop.
Trainers, writing coaches, editors and other newsroom mentors sometimes don’t get that kind of satisfaction. Some of the seeds we plant blossom elsewhere. Or we move on before they do. Or we didn’t even notice where they took root. We may never see or learn what became of our advice or example. Life gets busy for us and the people we help and they or we forget to stay in touch.
This is exactly the case with the founding editors of the Nigerian Guild. They have long stopped showing any interest in the affairs of the guild. This has not only rob the guild of good advice it is also affecting the quality of leadership of the organisation. That’s not how leadership and mentoring and coaching work should be.
Right from the inception of the guild, when our most respected Lateef Kayode Jakande, became its first President, the body then worked to promote fair, principled journalism, defend and protect the Nigerian Constitution, and fight for freedom of information and open government. Throughout this time, the Nigerian Guild members joined together to weather crises, seize opportunities and take action to improve their profession in service of the public good.
About forty-eight years after, the Nigerian Guild of Editors is at a turning point. Challenges to open government, the Freedom of Information Bill, and the principled journalism are stronger than ever. The need for citizen awareness is greater than ever. Digital journalism is creating a future that is far less predictable than ever. To confront these challenges successfully, the Guild must amplify its voice, enlarge its actions and equip its members as agents of change.
The Guild has a singular opportunity to accomplish these goals: “Journalism for a New Age”. On the third or fourth week of June, editors from across the country would gather in Lagos, Nigeria’s Commercial Capital to elect a new set of officers for the guild, as we prepare for this election, our profession journalism is wrestling with many other challenges, which include profit pressures, the rise of new information technologies, and, frankly, some bad journalism habits that have let our readers and listeners distrustful, at times, of our efforts.
The rise of new information technologies is prompting new questions, such as:
· “Who is a journalist?”
· “What is journalism?”
As we are all aware, ordinary citizens have began to participate in the gathering and delivering of news. In some cases they are watchdogging news organizations and reporting stories we got or done wrong. In other cases, they are reporting the news before journalists discover it. And they are also focusing on hyper-local community news that most newspapers and broadcast stations don’t have the resources to cover.
Meanwhile, bad journalism habits have given rise to such initiatives as civic journalism. Civic journalism aims to help return journalism to its core mission to give people the news and information they need to do their job as citizens.
Alexis de Tocqueville,the Frenchman who was a keen observer of American life, said some 170 years ago: “You can’t have real newspapers without democracy, and you can’t have democracy without newspapers.”
It’s no longer enough for journalists themselves to think they are doing a good job. Readers and listeners have to agree that a free press plays an essential role in our democratic society for journalists to merit their special place.
The goal of journalism for a New Age, is among other things, to produce news that citizens need to be educated about issues and current events, to make civic decisions, to engage in civic dialogue and action – and generally to exercise their responsibilities in a democracy.
It is the common belief, that, it is possible for journalists to create news coverage that motivates people to think, and even to act, and not simply entice them to watch, ogle or stare. And, in fact, they believe it’s journalists responsibility to do so.
For journalists to be taken seriously in our present day society the editor has a major role to play, editors are also expected to provide leadership. This is one of the reasons why we most all ensure that credible persons only are voted for in the forthcoming Guild of Editors elections in Lagos.
The leaders the guild needs now, are leaders who will help engender our media’s watchdog role. Leaders who will resolve not only to provide leadership but help in spotlighting corruption and injustice.
We need leaders who will not be part of government of the day at the Federal, State and Local Government Levels. The leadership the guild does not require at this particular point in time are leaders who have no other agenda than to pay courtesy call on officer holders.
The leadership the guild requires are leaders with an agenda, purposeful, clear headed, leaders that will help the Nigeria media, assume the role of a guide dog –that will help the Nigerian people figure out what kind of roles they could play in a democracy beyond simply casting a ballot.
We need leaders who will abandon the attack dog role that seemed to be just creating a lot of noise in a very noisy media environment like Nigeria.
The leader I would vote for at the guild elections, is a leader who would be able to answer convincingly, these ten questions that will help him or her make Good Ethical Decisions:-
a) What do I know? What do I need to know?
b) What is my journalistic purpose?
c) What are my ethical concerns?
d) What organizational policies and professional guidelines should I consider?
e) How can I include other people, with different perspectives and diverse ideas, in the decision-making process?
f) Who are the stakeholders—those affected by my decision? What are their motivations? Which are legitimate?
g) What if the roles were reversed? How would I feel if I were in the shoes of one of the stakeholders?
h) What are the possible consequences of my actions? Short term? Long term?
i) What are my alternatives to maximize my truth telling responsibility and minimize harm?
j) Can I clearly and fully justify my thinking and my decision? To my colleagues? To the stakeholders? To the public?
We hope to have a credible leadership in the Guild later this month, that is, if the elections would hold.
Mr. Omonhinmin works for Voice of Nigeria
THE SONNY OKOSUNS THAT I KNOW
BY GABRIEL OMONHINMIN
ON Sunday, May 25, 2008 at exactly 11.15 a.m. at the residence of the late music maestro turned an evangelist, 92-year old Pa Duke Akaire Okosuns, was his usual ebullient self.
From the cheerful excitement on the face of Pa Okosuns it was obvious that he had not yet been informed about the death of the breadwinner in the Okosuns’ family.
I observed with keen interest as Baba, as he is fondly called, bubbled vigorously around his room.
At 92, Pa Okosuns can still do so many things, which people in his age group con not do. For instance, he still reads almost all the Nigerian Newspapers without the aid of any medicated eye glasses. He is also an ardent listener to news on the electronic media.
On that particular day, he was sitting quietly in a chair placed by the side of his large bed, reading one of the day’s papers. After some minutes of silence, the following dialogue ensued between two of us.
He asked “Who this is” And I replied, “Baba, it’s me Gabriel”.
Ooh! Is it you, How is your family? I replied, “Baba, we are all fine”.
He continued, your brother and friend has just gone back to the U.S. Did you see him during his brief stay in Lagos? I replied again, “Yes Baba, we met”.
Have you been able to reach him on phone, since he returned back to the U.S.? I replied this time in a subdued tone, “Yes Baba, as a matter of fact I spoke with him on phone, on Friday, May 23 at about 2 P.M Nigerian time”.
Baba said, “I hope he is O.K?” I just managed to nod my head and reply inaudibly.
We both again went in a long silence, while he now concentrated on his newspapers.
At this juncture, I quietly sneaked out of his room, saying to myself “how cruel life could at times be”.
Sonny was not just a brother; he was my friend and a very close confidant.
Since his long and protracted battle to stay alive, especially since he made his first trip to the U.S. for medical treatment, I had made it a habit to call him on phone every other day to ask about the state of his health and general wellbeing.
At times, during and after his operations, if he could not personally answer my call, his lovely wife Omono, who was always by his bed side, would pick up the phone and say “You brother is well”. She would then give me the exact time to call Sonny so that he could speak with me.
You can trust the undying spirit of Sonny, as soon as I called at the appointed time, he would receive the call and say almost in a whisper, “De Gabby, I am O.K. It is well”.
Sometimes in early April, he called me at about 5.30 a.m. Nigerian time, to inform me about his plan to visit Nigeria for the Easter celebrations.
On Monday, April 7th 2008, Charles Okosuns, called me very early in the morning of that day, to inform me that Sonny had arrived in Nigeria, and that he wanted us to meet in a hotel very close to his residence at Aguda-Ogba where he was having his rest.
At exactly 10 a.m. I joined Sonny in the said hotel. He was so excited to see me. Omono his wife, Charles his brother, Osegahale and John his children, were with us. As usual, I asked about his state of health, I could see that he had undergone several operations, but his legs were still swollen. Sonny sprang up from his bed, and brought out two sets of wrist watches. He said this is for you and your wife. I thanked him for the gift, while I was still quietly observing him closely, as if to convince me that he was well, He told Osegahale to get prepared as he was to take him to the U.S. Embassy in Lagos to regularise his papers.
While still in the hotel room, he complained about a newspaper, which had reported that he was restricted to a wheel chair and could not eat. He was particularly bitter over the rumour which he said was making the rounds in his village, Ibore, in Esan Central of Edo State, alleging that he was no longer in a position to pay his medical bills. A statement he said was wicked, untrue and malicious.
During the conversation, he told me that the Edo State Governor, Senator (Professor) Oserheimen Osunbor, sent him the sum of three million Naira, as part of the state government contribution toward his treatment. While the immediate past Governor of Edo State Chief Lucky Igbinedion, also sent him the sum of ten thousand U.S. dollars.
Even though Sonny was now walking in measured steps, we resolved that he visit the Editor of the Newspaper which carried the false story, at least if not for anything, just to prove that he was not on wheel chair. He also insisted that he would visit Ibore his village, to pray at his mother’s grave side.
While Sonny undertook his trip home, I began a two-week course at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, (ASCON) in Topo Badagry. As it had become the habit, we spoke every other day.
Sunday, 27th April, 2008, was the last time I sat with Sonny for two hours in his bedroom at his home in Aguda-Ogba, Ikeja. On that day he looked deeply into my eyes, and said, “De Gabby, take this Bible; you need it for your spiritual guide. It was a Life Recovery Bible – New Living Translation. After the presentation he managed to nib at the plate of rice brought to him by his wife Omono. While he ate the food, he complained generally about the shoddy manner Nigeria treats her heroes. He asked from me, what is the essence of the National Honours, Officer of the Order of the Niger (O.O.N.) bestowed on him, when the Nigerian government could not come to his assistance at his most trying period. He said several efforts to reach the Secretary to the Federal Government, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, who had always been a good friend, was frustrated by some of his personal aides. At this juncture, He said “I wish my country Nigeria well; I, Sonny Okosuns have played my part very well in uplifting the image of this country. He concluded, I am an “African Soldier” like Nelson Mandela, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and Ahamadu Bello just to mention a few”.
Justifying his target of being an African Soldier, he said, “I have had a command performance in my musical carrier that spanned thirty five years on stage for about twenty eight Heads of States and Government in Africa. I have performed with International Artistes such as Toots and the Matals, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Dr. Victor Uwaifo, Little Richard and Harry Belafonte just to mention a few”. He concluded by saying, “Music has been fair to me, as I have travelled the entire world, playing music”.
Yes indeed, Sonny made his mark in music, in those very eventful years of his musical career, he released three singles albums entitled “Ohomi/Sound of the Forest, God of Abraham/Rice and Beans and Help Don’t Cry.” These were the musical albums that kick-started his musical fame. Other multiple albums like O’Jesu, Riots, Ozidizm, Living Music, Ozzidi For Sale, Papa’s Land, Fire in Soweto, Holy Wars, Power to the People, and Give Peace A Chance, gave my brother and a friend, the international exposure.
Albums like Song of Praise 1 and 11, Great Change, Revival, Glory of God, Save our Soul, Great Story and The Crown, showed that the Fire of God was still burning in him.
Sonny produced great artistes like Onyeka Onwenu – Endless Life, Yvonne Maha’s – Child For Sale, Charly Akaa’s – Poor Charlie and Chuks Ejelonu’s – Let Make a Memory.
On Friday, May 23rd 2008, when I last had a telephone conversation with my brother and friend in the U.S., there was nothing in his voice to betray that he was matching home to meet the Lord. “De Gabby” he said on the other side of the phone, “have you forgotten me so soon?” I said no! And I asked why he asked such question? He said “you were very late in calling me”. Immediately I apologised for not calling him for some days.
On Sunday May 25th 2008 morning, at exactly 5.30 a.m. I put a call through to the U.S. the two lines of Sunny rang several time, no reply. I again tried, at the other end, Sonny’s wife Omono voice came across. I asked Omono “how is Sonny doing, is he well?” Omono calmly said “It is not well”. Then it dawned on me that he had finally lost the long and torturous battle to stay alive.
Sonny rest in perfect peace until we meet to part no more. You were truly an “African Soldier”.
ON Sunday, May 25, 2008 at exactly 11.15 a.m. at the residence of the late music maestro turned an evangelist, 92-year old Pa Duke Akaire Okosuns, was his usual ebullient self.
From the cheerful excitement on the face of Pa Okosuns it was obvious that he had not yet been informed about the death of the breadwinner in the Okosuns’ family.
I observed with keen interest as Baba, as he is fondly called, bubbled vigorously around his room.
At 92, Pa Okosuns can still do so many things, which people in his age group con not do. For instance, he still reads almost all the Nigerian Newspapers without the aid of any medicated eye glasses. He is also an ardent listener to news on the electronic media.
On that particular day, he was sitting quietly in a chair placed by the side of his large bed, reading one of the day’s papers. After some minutes of silence, the following dialogue ensued between two of us.
He asked “Who this is” And I replied, “Baba, it’s me Gabriel”.
Ooh! Is it you, How is your family? I replied, “Baba, we are all fine”.
He continued, your brother and friend has just gone back to the U.S. Did you see him during his brief stay in Lagos? I replied again, “Yes Baba, we met”.
Have you been able to reach him on phone, since he returned back to the U.S.? I replied this time in a subdued tone, “Yes Baba, as a matter of fact I spoke with him on phone, on Friday, May 23 at about 2 P.M Nigerian time”.
Baba said, “I hope he is O.K?” I just managed to nod my head and reply inaudibly.
We both again went in a long silence, while he now concentrated on his newspapers.
At this juncture, I quietly sneaked out of his room, saying to myself “how cruel life could at times be”.
Sonny was not just a brother; he was my friend and a very close confidant.
Since his long and protracted battle to stay alive, especially since he made his first trip to the U.S. for medical treatment, I had made it a habit to call him on phone every other day to ask about the state of his health and general wellbeing.
At times, during and after his operations, if he could not personally answer my call, his lovely wife Omono, who was always by his bed side, would pick up the phone and say “You brother is well”. She would then give me the exact time to call Sonny so that he could speak with me.
You can trust the undying spirit of Sonny, as soon as I called at the appointed time, he would receive the call and say almost in a whisper, “De Gabby, I am O.K. It is well”.
Sometimes in early April, he called me at about 5.30 a.m. Nigerian time, to inform me about his plan to visit Nigeria for the Easter celebrations.
On Monday, April 7th 2008, Charles Okosuns, called me very early in the morning of that day, to inform me that Sonny had arrived in Nigeria, and that he wanted us to meet in a hotel very close to his residence at Aguda-Ogba where he was having his rest.
At exactly 10 a.m. I joined Sonny in the said hotel. He was so excited to see me. Omono his wife, Charles his brother, Osegahale and John his children, were with us. As usual, I asked about his state of health, I could see that he had undergone several operations, but his legs were still swollen. Sonny sprang up from his bed, and brought out two sets of wrist watches. He said this is for you and your wife. I thanked him for the gift, while I was still quietly observing him closely, as if to convince me that he was well, He told Osegahale to get prepared as he was to take him to the U.S. Embassy in Lagos to regularise his papers.
While still in the hotel room, he complained about a newspaper, which had reported that he was restricted to a wheel chair and could not eat. He was particularly bitter over the rumour which he said was making the rounds in his village, Ibore, in Esan Central of Edo State, alleging that he was no longer in a position to pay his medical bills. A statement he said was wicked, untrue and malicious.
During the conversation, he told me that the Edo State Governor, Senator (Professor) Oserheimen Osunbor, sent him the sum of three million Naira, as part of the state government contribution toward his treatment. While the immediate past Governor of Edo State Chief Lucky Igbinedion, also sent him the sum of ten thousand U.S. dollars.
Even though Sonny was now walking in measured steps, we resolved that he visit the Editor of the Newspaper which carried the false story, at least if not for anything, just to prove that he was not on wheel chair. He also insisted that he would visit Ibore his village, to pray at his mother’s grave side.
While Sonny undertook his trip home, I began a two-week course at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, (ASCON) in Topo Badagry. As it had become the habit, we spoke every other day.
Sunday, 27th April, 2008, was the last time I sat with Sonny for two hours in his bedroom at his home in Aguda-Ogba, Ikeja. On that day he looked deeply into my eyes, and said, “De Gabby, take this Bible; you need it for your spiritual guide. It was a Life Recovery Bible – New Living Translation. After the presentation he managed to nib at the plate of rice brought to him by his wife Omono. While he ate the food, he complained generally about the shoddy manner Nigeria treats her heroes. He asked from me, what is the essence of the National Honours, Officer of the Order of the Niger (O.O.N.) bestowed on him, when the Nigerian government could not come to his assistance at his most trying period. He said several efforts to reach the Secretary to the Federal Government, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, who had always been a good friend, was frustrated by some of his personal aides. At this juncture, He said “I wish my country Nigeria well; I, Sonny Okosuns have played my part very well in uplifting the image of this country. He concluded, I am an “African Soldier” like Nelson Mandela, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and Ahamadu Bello just to mention a few”.
Justifying his target of being an African Soldier, he said, “I have had a command performance in my musical carrier that spanned thirty five years on stage for about twenty eight Heads of States and Government in Africa. I have performed with International Artistes such as Toots and the Matals, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Dr. Victor Uwaifo, Little Richard and Harry Belafonte just to mention a few”. He concluded by saying, “Music has been fair to me, as I have travelled the entire world, playing music”.
Yes indeed, Sonny made his mark in music, in those very eventful years of his musical career, he released three singles albums entitled “Ohomi/Sound of the Forest, God of Abraham/Rice and Beans and Help Don’t Cry.” These were the musical albums that kick-started his musical fame. Other multiple albums like O’Jesu, Riots, Ozidizm, Living Music, Ozzidi For Sale, Papa’s Land, Fire in Soweto, Holy Wars, Power to the People, and Give Peace A Chance, gave my brother and a friend, the international exposure.
Albums like Song of Praise 1 and 11, Great Change, Revival, Glory of God, Save our Soul, Great Story and The Crown, showed that the Fire of God was still burning in him.
Sonny produced great artistes like Onyeka Onwenu – Endless Life, Yvonne Maha’s – Child For Sale, Charly Akaa’s – Poor Charlie and Chuks Ejelonu’s – Let Make a Memory.
On Friday, May 23rd 2008, when I last had a telephone conversation with my brother and friend in the U.S., there was nothing in his voice to betray that he was matching home to meet the Lord. “De Gabby” he said on the other side of the phone, “have you forgotten me so soon?” I said no! And I asked why he asked such question? He said “you were very late in calling me”. Immediately I apologised for not calling him for some days.
On Sunday May 25th 2008 morning, at exactly 5.30 a.m. I put a call through to the U.S. the two lines of Sunny rang several time, no reply. I again tried, at the other end, Sonny’s wife Omono voice came across. I asked Omono “how is Sonny doing, is he well?” Omono calmly said “It is not well”. Then it dawned on me that he had finally lost the long and torturous battle to stay alive.
Sonny rest in perfect peace until we meet to part no more. You were truly an “African Soldier”.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
THE NIGERIAN GUILD OF EDITORS IN A PENALTY BOK
THE NIGERIAN GUILD OF EDITORS IN A PENALTY BOX
BY GABRIEL OMONHINMIN
The biennial convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors which took place on July 28, 2008 in Lagos has come and gone. The ripple effect of the election of new members of the Standing Committee would for a long time to come reverberate in the country’s media circle.
The Guild since its inception in the 60’s has suffered three deaths. The present crises of leadership bedevilling the body could have been avoided if not for the regrettable act of indiscretion on the part of some individual members whose reputation could be better described as a mixture of sawdust and sand. These persons have suddenly assumed position of “god-mothers among other things” in the guild, thus playing the unenviable role of an “Adedibu” in a body made up of the finest minds in the country’s media.
The action of these very negligible members of the guild, unfortunately, has boxed it into a penalty spot. The penalty kicks that would be taken by the Gbenga Adefaye’s executive in days or months to come will no doubt determine whether or not the Nigerian Guild of Editors would be able to move back on to the field of play as one indivisible body.
Since the conclusion of the election, I have read with great amusement comments, opinions and editorials about matters arising from the biennial conference. My point however is that most of these articles failed to address the crux of the matter which is the outright violation of the Guild’s constitution. I am also of the belief that we cannot justify freedom of the press by assertion but only by day-to-day demonstration of integrity in whatever we do.
Messes Adefaye and Akiotu are gentlemen and good journalists. The election of any of the two candidates would ordinarily not have brought about any rancour if the proper thing was done. The present disagreement in the Guild is neither the making of Akiotu nor Adefaye. The crisis was contrived by just four persons who believe that they are now the only people in a position to dictate the future of the guild which they have been using to feather their own nests. To them any opposition must not be tolerated, as this will dislodge them from continuing to hold on to the liver of power in the guild. It is to this style of leadership we on the opposing side say no. Courage to challenge evil is one crucial element lacking in the way and manner journalists conduct their own affairs in Nigeria. This attitude is what has brought the Nigerian Union of Journalists to its knees and made the union almost irrelevant at the national level.
Campaign, for instance, is connected with a set of actions intended to obtain a particular result, especially in politics or business. If the immediate past executive of the guild was not interested in attracting new entrants into the guild, one wonder what was the reason(s) or rationale for calling on contestants in the just concluded election to cris-cross the country campaigning for votes and appealing to qualified persons to register with the body. Why did the guild not say abinito that people registering with it would not be allowed to vote in the biannual conference? Is it proper morally and in law, to collect the money of prospective members and deny such a person the right to participate fully in the activities of the guild where they are expected to be legitimate members?
Before the Lagos biannual conference this has never been the rule. Why explore the weakness of the constitution of the guild to set a very dangerous precedent?
Such conduct if allowed to go un-challenged would later become the norm. This is unhealthy and would do the guild more harm than good. We have seen life-long relationships destroyed with unrealistic expectations, infidelity and broken promises. Our question therefore is: if Prince Tony Momoh, Chief Ugochukwu Onyema and few other decent elements who have been privileged to hold the presidency of the guild had behaved the way and manner some individuals are presently conducting themselves, would the guild before now, not have long broken up?
This crisis contrary to the speculation by some funny individuals is not at all a fight between electronic and print media editors. Electronic media for instance, does not only mean radio and television, it refers to any media providing electronic, interactive communications, such as the internet, online services, and/or electronic and communication networks, including telephone. From all indications this sector of the media cannot but attract the very best. According to the late Dele Giwa, any serious –minded journalist must be a university graduate, a good thinker and a man or woman who has a way with words. These calibres of persons abound in both the electronic and print media. Our resolve to free the guild from the stronghold of some individuals who failed to realise that power should always be used with wisdom is also not based on ethnic or any other primitive sentiments or consideration. We have as a matter of principle resolved not to stand akimbo and laugh while Gbenga Adefaye is going to be held hostage by some idle minded persons who do not believe in making any meaningful contribution to the advancement of the guild. Their sole interest as has always been is to explore the guild for their own selfish interests. This can no longer be allowed.
The Adefaye led executive as presently constituted, in the exception of one or two persons is made up of some men and women who were planted in the executive by these same interest groups. Will anything good come out of this calibre of persons? Let,s wait and see.
I must put on record that no right thinking editor or journalist would be interested in the death of the guild this time around. Our only concern is for things to be done properly.
For instance, why would a man be denied the right to hold any position in a body like the guild because he is seen to be a very principled person. Mr. Akiotu is said to be disliked because he is regarded “as a maverick, too independent to be relied on, not a joiner”.
What were the reason(s) for the sudden phobia about the guild’s biennial General Meeting, in the just concluded Lagos Conference? In December 2003, when Remi Oyo was to rubber stamp Baba Dantiye as President of the guild, they had no problem holding a biennial general meeting.
Another question begging for answer is who appointed Mr. Bonnie Iwouha as the Chairman, Convention Planning Committee of the Lagos Biennial Conference?
I must be quick to point out, that this minor disagreement is not personal. Rather all we want is for things at the guild level to be done with some sense of decorum and decency.
As a matter of urgency, the guild’s constitution must be re-worked to foreclose the loopholes that have just been recently exploited by the immediate past president of the guild. All past executive members of the guild should henceforth be allowed to contest any office if they so desire. It should no longer be the exclusive right of members of the standing committee only to aspire to such offices as presently contained in the guild constitution. The gate for the presidency of the body should be thrown open to allow quality persons who have proven track records as editors. This is the only way to prevent the inept leadership which have for some time now been the lot of the guild.
Healing we all know is a process, not an event. Wounds of the heart heal slowly. We all know how people protect an injured limb against knocks and bumps. It is a natural instinctive reaction. The fact is that the one who caused the pain may be ready for business as usual but for the injured, he or she takes his time.
Common sense has however shown that when one violates his partner’s trust, you send your ‘relationship account’ into deficit! Intimacy is replaced by painful emotional and physical distance. As the offender, it is your responsibility to show repentance. Once this is done, one must be seen to be making genuine reconciliatory moves, as it is only through this process the present crises in the guild can be resolve.
BY GABRIEL OMONHINMIN
The biennial convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors which took place on July 28, 2008 in Lagos has come and gone. The ripple effect of the election of new members of the Standing Committee would for a long time to come reverberate in the country’s media circle.
The Guild since its inception in the 60’s has suffered three deaths. The present crises of leadership bedevilling the body could have been avoided if not for the regrettable act of indiscretion on the part of some individual members whose reputation could be better described as a mixture of sawdust and sand. These persons have suddenly assumed position of “god-mothers among other things” in the guild, thus playing the unenviable role of an “Adedibu” in a body made up of the finest minds in the country’s media.
The action of these very negligible members of the guild, unfortunately, has boxed it into a penalty spot. The penalty kicks that would be taken by the Gbenga Adefaye’s executive in days or months to come will no doubt determine whether or not the Nigerian Guild of Editors would be able to move back on to the field of play as one indivisible body.
Since the conclusion of the election, I have read with great amusement comments, opinions and editorials about matters arising from the biennial conference. My point however is that most of these articles failed to address the crux of the matter which is the outright violation of the Guild’s constitution. I am also of the belief that we cannot justify freedom of the press by assertion but only by day-to-day demonstration of integrity in whatever we do.
Messes Adefaye and Akiotu are gentlemen and good journalists. The election of any of the two candidates would ordinarily not have brought about any rancour if the proper thing was done. The present disagreement in the Guild is neither the making of Akiotu nor Adefaye. The crisis was contrived by just four persons who believe that they are now the only people in a position to dictate the future of the guild which they have been using to feather their own nests. To them any opposition must not be tolerated, as this will dislodge them from continuing to hold on to the liver of power in the guild. It is to this style of leadership we on the opposing side say no. Courage to challenge evil is one crucial element lacking in the way and manner journalists conduct their own affairs in Nigeria. This attitude is what has brought the Nigerian Union of Journalists to its knees and made the union almost irrelevant at the national level.
Campaign, for instance, is connected with a set of actions intended to obtain a particular result, especially in politics or business. If the immediate past executive of the guild was not interested in attracting new entrants into the guild, one wonder what was the reason(s) or rationale for calling on contestants in the just concluded election to cris-cross the country campaigning for votes and appealing to qualified persons to register with the body. Why did the guild not say abinito that people registering with it would not be allowed to vote in the biannual conference? Is it proper morally and in law, to collect the money of prospective members and deny such a person the right to participate fully in the activities of the guild where they are expected to be legitimate members?
Before the Lagos biannual conference this has never been the rule. Why explore the weakness of the constitution of the guild to set a very dangerous precedent?
Such conduct if allowed to go un-challenged would later become the norm. This is unhealthy and would do the guild more harm than good. We have seen life-long relationships destroyed with unrealistic expectations, infidelity and broken promises. Our question therefore is: if Prince Tony Momoh, Chief Ugochukwu Onyema and few other decent elements who have been privileged to hold the presidency of the guild had behaved the way and manner some individuals are presently conducting themselves, would the guild before now, not have long broken up?
This crisis contrary to the speculation by some funny individuals is not at all a fight between electronic and print media editors. Electronic media for instance, does not only mean radio and television, it refers to any media providing electronic, interactive communications, such as the internet, online services, and/or electronic and communication networks, including telephone. From all indications this sector of the media cannot but attract the very best. According to the late Dele Giwa, any serious –minded journalist must be a university graduate, a good thinker and a man or woman who has a way with words. These calibres of persons abound in both the electronic and print media. Our resolve to free the guild from the stronghold of some individuals who failed to realise that power should always be used with wisdom is also not based on ethnic or any other primitive sentiments or consideration. We have as a matter of principle resolved not to stand akimbo and laugh while Gbenga Adefaye is going to be held hostage by some idle minded persons who do not believe in making any meaningful contribution to the advancement of the guild. Their sole interest as has always been is to explore the guild for their own selfish interests. This can no longer be allowed.
The Adefaye led executive as presently constituted, in the exception of one or two persons is made up of some men and women who were planted in the executive by these same interest groups. Will anything good come out of this calibre of persons? Let,s wait and see.
I must put on record that no right thinking editor or journalist would be interested in the death of the guild this time around. Our only concern is for things to be done properly.
For instance, why would a man be denied the right to hold any position in a body like the guild because he is seen to be a very principled person. Mr. Akiotu is said to be disliked because he is regarded “as a maverick, too independent to be relied on, not a joiner”.
What were the reason(s) for the sudden phobia about the guild’s biennial General Meeting, in the just concluded Lagos Conference? In December 2003, when Remi Oyo was to rubber stamp Baba Dantiye as President of the guild, they had no problem holding a biennial general meeting.
Another question begging for answer is who appointed Mr. Bonnie Iwouha as the Chairman, Convention Planning Committee of the Lagos Biennial Conference?
I must be quick to point out, that this minor disagreement is not personal. Rather all we want is for things at the guild level to be done with some sense of decorum and decency.
As a matter of urgency, the guild’s constitution must be re-worked to foreclose the loopholes that have just been recently exploited by the immediate past president of the guild. All past executive members of the guild should henceforth be allowed to contest any office if they so desire. It should no longer be the exclusive right of members of the standing committee only to aspire to such offices as presently contained in the guild constitution. The gate for the presidency of the body should be thrown open to allow quality persons who have proven track records as editors. This is the only way to prevent the inept leadership which have for some time now been the lot of the guild.
Healing we all know is a process, not an event. Wounds of the heart heal slowly. We all know how people protect an injured limb against knocks and bumps. It is a natural instinctive reaction. The fact is that the one who caused the pain may be ready for business as usual but for the injured, he or she takes his time.
Common sense has however shown that when one violates his partner’s trust, you send your ‘relationship account’ into deficit! Intimacy is replaced by painful emotional and physical distance. As the offender, it is your responsibility to show repentance. Once this is done, one must be seen to be making genuine reconciliatory moves, as it is only through this process the present crises in the guild can be resolve.
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