By Gabriel Omonhinmin
As the saying goes, man proposes God disposes.
I had thought of doing a piece like this, after I would have left the services of Voice of Nigeria, or after the incumbent Director General Mallam Abubakar Jijiwa, would have moved on, assuming higher positions or simply resolving to go home to Fufure in Adamawa State to have a well deserved rest for some time, after an excellent outing in Voice of Nigeria.
But that is not the case now, as I have not yet retired and Mallam Jijiwa is still the Director General of VON.
The desire to do this piece came, during my recent visit to Voice of Nigeria, Lugbe-Abuja Transmitting Station Complex now under construction. I was returning to my base in Lagos from Kaduna where I had gone for the 5th All Nigeiran Editors Conference (ANCE). I decided to spend the few hours I had free in Abuja to visit the place, the amazing work already done at the site, made me change my mind to do this piece.
I was further encouraged by an observation at the Guild of Editors conference, that the media is a critical stakeholder in the realization of Vision 2020, the Seven-point Agenda of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s Administration and the Millennium Development Goals.
One really need to reassure skeptics that Nigeria, in spite of all its short comings, has all it takes to realise the vision 2020 dream.
And to simply say, that Nigeria and the International community would be suprised at the capability of Voice of Nigeria to carry out its mandate when work at the transmiting station complex is completed.
Jijiwa’s deliberate re-branding, re-equipment of studios and general re-orientation of VON staff for the past four years, is a strategy of making voice of Nigeria, more competitive, technologically-challenging and providing an environment where the station would truly become the international radio station of first choice for anyone genuinely interested in Nigeria and Africa.
Exactly six months after Jijiwa was appointed Director General of Voice of Nigeria, he gathered management staff of the organisation, at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), in Topo Badagry, Lagos, for a three-day no-hold back brainstorming in a retreat tagged; “VISION 2005 – 2010”.
The retreat was to set an agenda for VON corporate renewal during his first tenure as Director General.
Four years after, and at the close of each year, Jijiwa like all top news executives around the world await a new professional verdict: How good a job did they do, and how much are they rated in the media industry.
The verdict, however, is no longer simply based on the quality of their journalism, that often makes up half or less of the decision criteria. The bonuses of newsroom executives today are largely based on how much money their organisations make in profit.
Voice of Nigeria, as an external broadcast station, profit is not the station’s prime motivation or taget. The station’s mission therefore, is how best to reflect Nigeria and African perspectives in its broadcasts...winning and sustaining the attention, respect and goodwill of listerners worldwide, particularly Nigerians and Africans in the Diaspora...making Nigeria’s voice to be heard more positively in the shaping of our world.
To realise this dream in a modern day Nigeria is tall order. But with a focused leader like Jijiwa this dream is achievable.
But, the dwindling quality of Nigerian journalism in recent times is stark proof of how difficult it is to meet the true standard of journalism. Nigerian journalism these days thrives sadly on news commentary and opinon. We now have a large army of analysts and social commentators informed or not informed.
For Abubakar Bobboyi Jijiwa, Director General of Voice of Nigeria, the only way to gain acceptability, in the very critical international broadcasting arena, is for VON to be professional. He is a student of good journalism. He tells whosoever cares to listen that, good journalism empowers. Good journalism builds. Good journlalism is the only foundation on which the democratic state can flourish, and as such, VON has no other option than to be professionalised.
He has therefore matched his words with action, by creating an atmosphere of freedom of expression and team spirit, which is what is required to harness the creative potentials of all members of staff.
Regular and sustained training and capacity-building both at home and abroad, has resulted in a large number of staff from all departments and catigories being trained. All this may seem unremarkable. Journalism is a business, and the managers have responsibilities in keeping budgets and attracting more listners. Voice of Nigeria does not make any money outside government subvention. For VON to realise its dream and assist more effectively in the re-branding of Nigeria, government subvention need to be much more higher than what it is now.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
The titanic battle to save NUJ
BY GABRIEL OMONHINMIN
From Thursday 26th to Saturday 28th March 2009, journalists from across Nigeria, would once again gather in the nation’s capital Abuja, for the 3rd triennial delegates conference of our great union. At this gathering which comes up every three years, the union is expected to elect new set officers to run its affairs.
If things had been going well with the union at the national level, one would not have been too worried about the calibre of person or persons that might emerge as our national officials come March.
But saddly for sometimes now, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, seems to be bedeviled with bad leadership. We therefore owe it a duty to help re-focus and re-position the NUJ. This is a duty every journalist in Nigeria retired or serving owe the union, at this particular point in time.
I am worried, because people who had no set of ideas on how to run a union like the NUJ are attempting to take over the union once again. In the past they had used whatever was left of the NUJ’s image to feather their own nest. One is therefore not surprised, that they are at it again. They are despirate to hijack our union. Are we all going to fold our arms and watch them do what they like with the NUJ? I think we should collectively say not to this despiration.
In an open society such as ours, credibility is an essential attribute of a journalistic organization. The credibility of the organization and that of its journalists are inter-linked. Credibility is dependent not only on factors such as accuracy and truthfulness in reporting and presentation but upon avoidance by the journalits of associations or contacts which could reasonably give rise to perceptions of partiality. We are today at cross roads, because the tenet of our profession is easily defiled by our supposed leaders. Any suprise that the society we are expected to serve, no longer takes us seriously in matters affecting our nation. NUJ problem had always been orchestrated by poor leadership. Our union is about to be run aground. We must all do something about it. That is the way forward.
Let me state very clear, that in the one hundred and forty-six years of journalism practice in Nigeria, and the fifty years since the existence of our great union the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the depressing state of affairs in the NUJ is far from what was conceived at inception. And while similar journalists bodies in other countries especially Africa, are still unsatisfied with where they are and are continually pressing forward under immense pressures from members, our union at the national level is moving back or at best at a stand still. This situation must not be allowed to continue.
The Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) just to mention a few, are as relevant in the scheme of things nationally, due to quality leadership. The body of benchers and consultants would not fold their arms and allow their juniors in practice to do what they like with their union. We must take a cue from these bodies.
Walter Lippmann, the American political columnist, once said, “the fate of men will be decided in the long run by restless thinkers who are not afraid to stand up and ask some partinent questions if and when they arise”.
My question therefore is what does distingushed Senator Smart Adeyemi want from the NUJ. Why does he think willy nilly, he must foist a leader on the union, members like it or not? Are Nigerian journalists too docile, no longer intelligent enough to chose whosoever they want as a leader? These and many more questions are begging for answers. I think it is wrong and most unkind to the profession that threw Senator Adeyemi up and gave him the platform to be what he is today, for him to be quoted as saying that he is “the Adedibu of the Nigerian Union of Journalists”. He must now be told that the NUJ is not Ibadan, and that journalists in the country are not ready for any kind of Adedibu. Journalists should simply be allowed this time around to make their choice.
Another question I would want Senator Adeyemi to respond to, is why he is not keeping faith, and tends to pay past favours with unkindness?
I could re-call that in his quest to become the National President of the NUJ, Senator Adeyemi made several trips to the Lagos Council begging the likes of Ladi Lawal and Funke Fadugba to support him. At the Minna delegate conferecne in 1999 when things became really hot up, the then outgoing President of the union Mr. Lanre Ogundipe, forsaw defeat and summoned a meeting where he addressed the “New Trend” a group made up of member of the Lagos Council of the NUJ who had the ace to Adeyemi’s emergence as the NUJ President. At that meeting a very sad Ogundipe said, “I might today not be the candidate you would want to elect as President, but in all honesty, Smart Adeyemi as he was then called, is not a better option for the union, Please if you would not return me as President my deputy Vincent Ake is a better option”.
Before Ogundipe could finish with his statment Mrs. Funke Fadugba, who was then the Chairperson of the Lagos Council of the NUJ got up and told Ogundipe that, “Members of the Lagos Council have made up their mind on who to elect as President of our union. It is Smart Adeyemi” she said. We all assumed then, that Adeyemi was the best among all the other contestants”. Exprience six years after shows to us that Ogundipe was right and we were all wrong. Lanre please forgive us.
To further shed light on the type of character our distingushed Senator is made of, I am forced to reproduce a recent text message Mrs. Fadugba sent to Senator Adeyemi. This text was forwarded to my phone by a very senor journalist who got it. Mrs. Fadugba, I was told on enquiry resolved as a mark of respect, to send the text to our distingushed Senator after due consultation with very senior members and stakeholders of our profession. And the text reads as follows: “My dear distingushed Senator. I wish to make this passionate and final plea to you to please remember the very small good things I have done to you. Close your eyes to the countable bad ones. I swear to God that if I emerge as NUJ President, I will do nothing to rubbish my predecessors including you. It is a pledge. Please don’ t stand on my way God will not stand on your way and your children will find favour. Look at me with passion. Thank you. Fadugba”.
Typical of our former President, and in a deliberate effort to score cheap point as usual, our distingushed Senator decided to forward the above text sent to him in strict confidence to some other journalists who are not too familiar with his antics, saying that he was been begged by Mrs. Fadugba as an Adedibu who can make and un-make any candidate who aspires to the presidency of the NUJ. He has easily forgotten that he went round the country begging journalists to vote him as NUJ president before the 1999 Minna convention. I wonder why some men in high offices can betray confidentality.
At the 2nd Triennial National Delegates’ Conference in Port Harcourt, in a speech entitled “Stewardship Report of the out-going National President of NUJ Prince Smart Adeyemi, our distingushed Senator told Nigerian journalists then, that in six years as President of the NUJ, his executive, managed to achieve what he called a) Image Laundering, b) Empowerment, c) Audited Account, and d) Constitutional Amendements, what however, drew my attention in that speech, is the area in which he said, “A major problem we encountered was the take-over of our Secretariat by the Federal Capital Ministry as part of the on-going Reforms”. The National Secretiat which was taken over almost at the end of the Senator’s tenure, was the only source of revenue, for the union at the national level, the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) was also housed within that premises. Mr. Adeyemi left no single vehicle for the Ndagene Aku’s administration which took over from him. He failed to tell journalists the true position of the union’s account when he was leaving office. It was later found that he left behind a whopping debt of about eighty million naira for the union, and a pittance sum of one hundred and twenty thounsand Naira in the National NUJ’s account.
He also told journalists at that delegates’ conference, that “hope is not lost as the proceeds of the N.U.J. Golden Jubilee anniversary organised during his tenure, was to be commited towards a new National Seretariat. Saying, that was why his administration organize the 50th Anniversary Dinner despite all odds”. Hum!, Distingushed Senator where is the proceeds from this Anniversary Dinner and where is the NUJ land your administration left behind in Abuja. Is anybody surprise, as to the reason(s) why the incumbent President of the NUJ Ndegene Akwu who was installed by Senator Adeyemi, no longer see face to face with our most cherished senator? In spite of these mess, our senator made sure he got ten million naira, as part payment of what he said the union was owning him, even though he left office without a hand over note, seven months salary arrears of staff of the National Secretariat which has now been cleared.
Garba Mohammed is a fine gentleman, if he genuinely wishes to lead our union, he should be seen to be a man of his own. I asked him during his recent campaign visit to Lagos Council whether he was a stooge to Senator Adeyemi as now being alleged. He however agreed, that Senator Adeyemi alongside other President of the union were all supporting him.The other ex-leader of the NUJ who is supporting Garba at the moment, is simply an undertaker who is doing any thining and every thing possible to bury the NUJ and Guild of Editors. He holds everybody responsible for his defeat at the Ibadan delegate conference. Well! An Esan axiom say “when two persons are deceiving themselves, there is hadly any query in such relationship”. I wish him luck.
Wahab Oba is my friend. He has a lot of future as far as NUJ politics is concerned, but his sudden interest in the national office of our union, makes lot of members to be surpecious of his exact intentions.
As far as I am concerned this race is between Mrs. Olufuke Fadugba and Ndagene the son of Akwu, the incumbent President of our union, the tenures of either of these candidates would not favour our distingushed Senator hence the bitter fight. My last question, is why does Smart want to be at the National Assembly and at the same time wield considerable influence in NUJ’s matters? The truth we must all tell Senator Adeyemi now, is simple “ It is true that a person who has people is better off than a person who has money. His wish and desire must not succeed.
Gabriel Omonhinmin works with Voice of Nigeria, 08057908494
From Thursday 26th to Saturday 28th March 2009, journalists from across Nigeria, would once again gather in the nation’s capital Abuja, for the 3rd triennial delegates conference of our great union. At this gathering which comes up every three years, the union is expected to elect new set officers to run its affairs.
If things had been going well with the union at the national level, one would not have been too worried about the calibre of person or persons that might emerge as our national officials come March.
But saddly for sometimes now, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, seems to be bedeviled with bad leadership. We therefore owe it a duty to help re-focus and re-position the NUJ. This is a duty every journalist in Nigeria retired or serving owe the union, at this particular point in time.
I am worried, because people who had no set of ideas on how to run a union like the NUJ are attempting to take over the union once again. In the past they had used whatever was left of the NUJ’s image to feather their own nest. One is therefore not surprised, that they are at it again. They are despirate to hijack our union. Are we all going to fold our arms and watch them do what they like with the NUJ? I think we should collectively say not to this despiration.
In an open society such as ours, credibility is an essential attribute of a journalistic organization. The credibility of the organization and that of its journalists are inter-linked. Credibility is dependent not only on factors such as accuracy and truthfulness in reporting and presentation but upon avoidance by the journalits of associations or contacts which could reasonably give rise to perceptions of partiality. We are today at cross roads, because the tenet of our profession is easily defiled by our supposed leaders. Any suprise that the society we are expected to serve, no longer takes us seriously in matters affecting our nation. NUJ problem had always been orchestrated by poor leadership. Our union is about to be run aground. We must all do something about it. That is the way forward.
Let me state very clear, that in the one hundred and forty-six years of journalism practice in Nigeria, and the fifty years since the existence of our great union the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the depressing state of affairs in the NUJ is far from what was conceived at inception. And while similar journalists bodies in other countries especially Africa, are still unsatisfied with where they are and are continually pressing forward under immense pressures from members, our union at the national level is moving back or at best at a stand still. This situation must not be allowed to continue.
The Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) just to mention a few, are as relevant in the scheme of things nationally, due to quality leadership. The body of benchers and consultants would not fold their arms and allow their juniors in practice to do what they like with their union. We must take a cue from these bodies.
Walter Lippmann, the American political columnist, once said, “the fate of men will be decided in the long run by restless thinkers who are not afraid to stand up and ask some partinent questions if and when they arise”.
My question therefore is what does distingushed Senator Smart Adeyemi want from the NUJ. Why does he think willy nilly, he must foist a leader on the union, members like it or not? Are Nigerian journalists too docile, no longer intelligent enough to chose whosoever they want as a leader? These and many more questions are begging for answers. I think it is wrong and most unkind to the profession that threw Senator Adeyemi up and gave him the platform to be what he is today, for him to be quoted as saying that he is “the Adedibu of the Nigerian Union of Journalists”. He must now be told that the NUJ is not Ibadan, and that journalists in the country are not ready for any kind of Adedibu. Journalists should simply be allowed this time around to make their choice.
Another question I would want Senator Adeyemi to respond to, is why he is not keeping faith, and tends to pay past favours with unkindness?
I could re-call that in his quest to become the National President of the NUJ, Senator Adeyemi made several trips to the Lagos Council begging the likes of Ladi Lawal and Funke Fadugba to support him. At the Minna delegate conferecne in 1999 when things became really hot up, the then outgoing President of the union Mr. Lanre Ogundipe, forsaw defeat and summoned a meeting where he addressed the “New Trend” a group made up of member of the Lagos Council of the NUJ who had the ace to Adeyemi’s emergence as the NUJ President. At that meeting a very sad Ogundipe said, “I might today not be the candidate you would want to elect as President, but in all honesty, Smart Adeyemi as he was then called, is not a better option for the union, Please if you would not return me as President my deputy Vincent Ake is a better option”.
Before Ogundipe could finish with his statment Mrs. Funke Fadugba, who was then the Chairperson of the Lagos Council of the NUJ got up and told Ogundipe that, “Members of the Lagos Council have made up their mind on who to elect as President of our union. It is Smart Adeyemi” she said. We all assumed then, that Adeyemi was the best among all the other contestants”. Exprience six years after shows to us that Ogundipe was right and we were all wrong. Lanre please forgive us.
To further shed light on the type of character our distingushed Senator is made of, I am forced to reproduce a recent text message Mrs. Fadugba sent to Senator Adeyemi. This text was forwarded to my phone by a very senor journalist who got it. Mrs. Fadugba, I was told on enquiry resolved as a mark of respect, to send the text to our distingushed Senator after due consultation with very senior members and stakeholders of our profession. And the text reads as follows: “My dear distingushed Senator. I wish to make this passionate and final plea to you to please remember the very small good things I have done to you. Close your eyes to the countable bad ones. I swear to God that if I emerge as NUJ President, I will do nothing to rubbish my predecessors including you. It is a pledge. Please don’ t stand on my way God will not stand on your way and your children will find favour. Look at me with passion. Thank you. Fadugba”.
Typical of our former President, and in a deliberate effort to score cheap point as usual, our distingushed Senator decided to forward the above text sent to him in strict confidence to some other journalists who are not too familiar with his antics, saying that he was been begged by Mrs. Fadugba as an Adedibu who can make and un-make any candidate who aspires to the presidency of the NUJ. He has easily forgotten that he went round the country begging journalists to vote him as NUJ president before the 1999 Minna convention. I wonder why some men in high offices can betray confidentality.
At the 2nd Triennial National Delegates’ Conference in Port Harcourt, in a speech entitled “Stewardship Report of the out-going National President of NUJ Prince Smart Adeyemi, our distingushed Senator told Nigerian journalists then, that in six years as President of the NUJ, his executive, managed to achieve what he called a) Image Laundering, b) Empowerment, c) Audited Account, and d) Constitutional Amendements, what however, drew my attention in that speech, is the area in which he said, “A major problem we encountered was the take-over of our Secretariat by the Federal Capital Ministry as part of the on-going Reforms”. The National Secretiat which was taken over almost at the end of the Senator’s tenure, was the only source of revenue, for the union at the national level, the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) was also housed within that premises. Mr. Adeyemi left no single vehicle for the Ndagene Aku’s administration which took over from him. He failed to tell journalists the true position of the union’s account when he was leaving office. It was later found that he left behind a whopping debt of about eighty million naira for the union, and a pittance sum of one hundred and twenty thounsand Naira in the National NUJ’s account.
He also told journalists at that delegates’ conference, that “hope is not lost as the proceeds of the N.U.J. Golden Jubilee anniversary organised during his tenure, was to be commited towards a new National Seretariat. Saying, that was why his administration organize the 50th Anniversary Dinner despite all odds”. Hum!, Distingushed Senator where is the proceeds from this Anniversary Dinner and where is the NUJ land your administration left behind in Abuja. Is anybody surprise, as to the reason(s) why the incumbent President of the NUJ Ndegene Akwu who was installed by Senator Adeyemi, no longer see face to face with our most cherished senator? In spite of these mess, our senator made sure he got ten million naira, as part payment of what he said the union was owning him, even though he left office without a hand over note, seven months salary arrears of staff of the National Secretariat which has now been cleared.
Garba Mohammed is a fine gentleman, if he genuinely wishes to lead our union, he should be seen to be a man of his own. I asked him during his recent campaign visit to Lagos Council whether he was a stooge to Senator Adeyemi as now being alleged. He however agreed, that Senator Adeyemi alongside other President of the union were all supporting him.The other ex-leader of the NUJ who is supporting Garba at the moment, is simply an undertaker who is doing any thining and every thing possible to bury the NUJ and Guild of Editors. He holds everybody responsible for his defeat at the Ibadan delegate conference. Well! An Esan axiom say “when two persons are deceiving themselves, there is hadly any query in such relationship”. I wish him luck.
Wahab Oba is my friend. He has a lot of future as far as NUJ politics is concerned, but his sudden interest in the national office of our union, makes lot of members to be surpecious of his exact intentions.
As far as I am concerned this race is between Mrs. Olufuke Fadugba and Ndagene the son of Akwu, the incumbent President of our union, the tenures of either of these candidates would not favour our distingushed Senator hence the bitter fight. My last question, is why does Smart want to be at the National Assembly and at the same time wield considerable influence in NUJ’s matters? The truth we must all tell Senator Adeyemi now, is simple “ It is true that a person who has people is better off than a person who has money. His wish and desire must not succeed.
Gabriel Omonhinmin works with Voice of Nigeria, 08057908494
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Governor Amaechi And The Justification Not To Negotiate With Militant
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.
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.
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”.
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