PDP G-5 Must Stop Arrogating Powers They Don’t Have To Themselves

 Chief Ebenezer Babatope, a former Minister of Transport and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) marked 80 years of his existence on earth last week. In this exclusive interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, he shares his thoughts on his life and developments in the country ahead of the 2023 general elections. Excerpts: 

Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari and other eminent Nigerians congratulated you on the occasion of your 80th birthday. How do you feel at 80? 

I feel good at 80 and I thank God Almighty because I never knew I will live this long. I am very grateful to God who has kept me this far. My life has been an eventful one because the time I spent with Papa Obafemi Awolowo in the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Papa Awolowo gave leadership and inspired us as youths to lead Nigeria and used our privileged position for the common good and advancement of humanity. That is the legacy that Papa Awolowo left behind for us. That is the path I have followed all my life and I am grateful to God who has kept me this far. I am very happy to have been appointed the National Director of Organisation of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) by Papa Awolowo at that time, and it was a glorious thing to have served under Papa Awolowo because I was lucky that Papa chose me as an official of his party at the time when people who were better than me politically and ideologically were all over the place. And for that, I would ever be grateful to him. So, it was a pleasure to serve the party and to rekindle the energy of Papa Awolowo’s ideological life. Thank God for it, and it was a good reflection, very good memory. I would forever thank my God for making that possible and for making it something I would live with. 

In a country where life expectancy is below 60 years, what is the secret of your longevity?

It is because of the fact that I believe that life is one thing that must be handled with care. You do so by loving the people and doing everything they want as you are enabled to do. The reason why God blessed you is for you to be a blessing to others. That has been my philosophy. The people have the power and that is one of Papa Awolowo’s teachings. 

What are your regrets? 

I have many regrets. The Nigeria Papa left has been compromised; it has been destroyed because Papa taught us all the principles that would make the nation great. We never thought we would have this kind of thing whereby elections would be hopelessly rigged by those who are in power to ensure they have political dominance in power and in government. I never knew, now I know better. If you want to win election in Nigeria, you must pray to God Almighty and you must pray to God to help you solve the problem of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). INEC is a terrible organisation now; they manipulate election at will; they are never afraid of God Almighty and, therefore, the Nigerian people are held at the mercy of those who do not want Nigerians to have their freedom to elect those who would govern them. The best option one can have, Chief Awolowo said, is democracy, that democracy is the last option for mankind. Mankind can only progress if we enthrone proper democracy. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, I will share his view in all my interviews. He gave a proper definition of democracy when he was alive. He said, ‘Democracy is demonstration of craze, crazy demon.’ And he was right. When you have democracy that was not guided by rules, that has estranged government from the people, then you have ‘demon crazy.’ Not democracy, but ‘demon crazy,’ ‘crazy demon.’ Well, we pray to God Almighty that INEC will, one day, change its mind and give the people of Nigeria the right to elect those who would govern them, and when they do that, they would enable Nigeria to stabilise democracy. 

However, my major regret is my unjust dismissal from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) by General Olusegun Obasanjo without any retirement benefit to date. Obasanjo dismissed me from the services of the University of Lagos in 1978 as a result of the “Ali Must Go” demonstrations of Nigerian students in 1978.I was accused of supporting students against the government when the late Segun Okeowo led the students for reforms in Nigeria’s educational system. The Governing Council of the university later met in November of that same year to turn my dismissal to retirement. 

The university later sent my papers to merge my services with the then Ministry of Establishment which was then under the late Brigadier-General Solomon Kikiowo Omojokun. I am not blaming Omojokun but today at 78, I served my country meritoriously as a public servant but today, I have no established mark from the federal government to say this is what I have done. I am still bitter because nobody has paid me a single kobo after my services to the university as retirement benefits. 

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo wrote a letter few days ago where he endorsed Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party. Do you think his endorsement carries any weight? 

Obasanjo can do anything he wants to do but I know people also have the power to also undo things with their votes. Obasanjo can write any letter, in fact, he can endorse anyone he wants. He has freedom and constitutional rights to do that but I know that on election day, Nigerians will decide who they want as their leaders in the next four years. 

What is your take on the concept of Emilokan in Nigerian politics? 

Emilokan is Bola Tinubu’s style. When I hear him say that, I began to laugh because he is just wasting his bloody time. I don’t know the conception of Emilokan in the minds of Tinubu but all I know is that Emilokan which literally means ‘It is my turn’ is all about self-interest. Emilokan does not take cognizance of the fact that the people have the power to do things for themselves and choose the leaders they want. Nigerians must choose their leaders and they must be given the opportunity and freedom to do so in an unfettered manner. Emilokan can only become meaningful when you grant the rights and freedom to the people to elect the leaders they want to govern them. 

Do you think the controversy trailing the redesigning of the Naira should be addressed by the FG? 

I think we should give the government the chance to succeed. The government has a motive on why it keeps insisting that we must redesign the naira notes and vowed not to extend the January 31st deadline for usage of the old notes. We should respect the decision of the government because the moneybags want to use the Naira. They have stored to frustrate the wishes of Nigerians. So, let’s give them a chance to succeed. By the grace of God, we are going to see the back of the money marauders. 

The Osun State Election Petition Tribunal has sacked Ademola Adeleke as the state governor and declared Gboyega Oyetola as the winner of the governorship election. As a chieftain of the PDP, were you shocked at the outcome of the ruling? 

It is a very funny judgment. I know that by the grace of God, the will of the people of Osun who freely gave their mandate to Governor Ademola Adeleke will prevail. The tribunal is not the last, we still have the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. I am confident that they will reverse the ruling of the tribunal and uphold the wishes of the people. The Osun people rejected the APC and chose Ademola Adeleke as their governor and nobody can in a cavalier manner make nonsense of that wish. Those who gave the judgment will be very sorry for themselves because the people have shown to them that they are irrelevant when it comes to who really have the power to determine things for the people of Nigeria. 

The presidential election is just less than a month away and the G-5 governors led by Nyesom Wike are still adamant on not supporting Atiku Abubakar. Do you think any solution is in sight? 

We have tried our best to placate them. At this stage, if they want to go, goodluck to them. If they want to remain in PDP, the better for all of us. Governor Wike and his allies must not arrogate powers that they don’t have to themselves. If they do so, they will make mistakes and may regret it. We all love Wike for his courage but when you arrogate powers to yourself, then you may lose the support of the people.

How I Handle Betrayers – Tinubu

 The All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has revealed how he deals with people who betray him.

This is as he disclosed that disappointment is an energiser for him and he works harder whenever people disappoint him.

Tinubu stated this on Sunday at a town hall meeting in Benin City, the Edo State capital with All Progressives Congresses leaders, trade unions and civil society organisations.

“Disappointment is an energiser for me. You disappoint me, I work harder. You betray me, I don’t get angry, I ignore you.

“The reason is that you are not my God and you are not my creator. My mother taught me that if you are sad, I will share your sorrow with you. If you are happy, I will rejoice with you. If you are poor, I will share the little I have with you,” Tinubu told his audience.

The former Lagos State governor assured the people of Edo that the country stands to reap sufficient revenue from the gas deposits in the state for meaningful development.

He urged the people to recover Edo from the Peoples Democratic Party and return it to the APC.

“Nigeria will make money because Edo has the largest deposit of gas. We will make money for Nigeria. There will be long-term money for long-term projects. We will develop our gas and ship it to Europe and compete with Russia. I am one of the smartest assets in Nigeria.

“Edo, take your state back. First of all, let us forge unity. Let’s find the way where they say there is no way.

“We must rescue Edo state. I am ready to work with you. Take a lantern, go from house to house. Don’t get angry. Anger does not solve problems,” he said.

He urged the voters to reject the PDP, saying the party has nothing to offer.

“You see PDP, they are scattered, they don’t know the road. Atiku does not know how to lie again except to falsify lie upon lie. Atiku cannot hold a serious job in Nigeria. When they were privatising the Aluminium Smelter Company at Ikot Abasi and privatising NITEL, I was negotiating the Free Trade Zone in China. I negotiated Lekki Deep Seaport in Singapore and it is the Deepest Sea Port now in West Africa. Edo people are extremely smart. You can do the job.

“Count on me at the federal level. I will be your listening president. Vote for me. Prosperity is here. When you put down ballot paper in the box say it is for creating a job. I will create jobs for you because you are not lazy.”

On the criticisms of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd)-led APC administration by PDP, Tinubu said the main opposition party should be ignored.

“People who can’t give power to Nigeria say they want to come back. In only 8 years, APC put rail back. We are putting refineries back and we will produce for you. They can abuse Buhari from morning till night, he does not hear their abuse. Abuse him, rail he provided, second Niger Bridge he provided, Lagos-Ibadan expressway he provided. Benin-Ore Port will be done so that you don’t need to come to Lagos to clear your goods,” the former governor said.

Corpse Disappears From Mortuary In Ogun, Hospital Reviews CCTV

 A yet-to-be-identified female corpse slated for burial on Saturday has gone missing from the morgue of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State.

A hospital source said the drama started on Friday when the family of the deceased came to the hospital to take the body for burial only for them to discover that the corpse was no longer in the mortuary.

The source said the body, which was brought to the morgue in October 2022, could not be found among 69 other bodies shown to the family for verification.

PUNCH Metro also learnt that two attendants in charge of the morgue fled the premises.

The source said, “The family members of the deceased came from Ijebu-Ode to Sagamu with undertakers and ambulance on January 27, 2023, to claim their corpse for burial, but were surprised to discover that the corpse was not part of the 69 bodies brought out of the morgue for verification.

“The CMD and other officials of the hospital were in a confused state as to what could have led to the disappearance of the female corpse deposited in the morgue since October last year.

“A Divisional Police Officer and his men, with other security agencies, visited the Morbid Anatomy and Histopathology Department of the hospital over the matter.”

The management of OOUTH, however, described the incident as a mix-up.

The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Oluwabunmi Fatungase, in a statement on Saturday, said the hospital was working with agents to unravel the circumstances behind the incident.

She noted that the footage from the Closed-Circuit Television camera was also being evaluated.

The CMD hinted that the hospital would go as far as conducting a DNA test to identify the corpse.

She said, “Any circumvention of the quality assurance of the hospital will not be taken lightly and necessary consequences in consonance with the public service rules will be applied on whoever is found culpable

“The present administration in Ogun State has upgraded the mortuary with modern freezers and scaled up its amenities. The mortuary services have been a preferred place for many people to keep the remains of their beloved intact until they are ready for burial.

“While apologising to the affected family for the embarrassing situation, we seek their cooperation towards the ongoing investigation. The corpse will be identified and released to them for a befitting burial soon.”

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said he was not aware of the incident, but promised to get back to our correspondent.

He had yet to do so as of the time this report was filled.

Oshoala Scores Second Hat-Trick In 2 Games As Barcelona Beat Tenerife 6-0

 Spanish Iberdola: Oshoala bags hat-trick in Barcelona’s away win at Tenerife

Published on January 29, 2023
By Mike Oyebola

Super Falcons forward, Asisat Oshoala fired a hat-trick as Barcelona Femeni defeated Tenerife 6-0 in their Spanish Iberdola clash on Sunday.

Oshoala has now scored nine goals and recorded one assist in her last four league matches for the Blaugrana.

Clàudia Pina opened scoring for Barcelona in the fourth minute after a good pass into the area.

Oshoala was responsible for the next two goals in the seventh and 11 minutes.

The striker got her third and Barcelona’s fourth of the game in the 26th minute.

Barcelona remain on course to successfully defend their title after another dominant display.

Osimhen scores as Napoli defeat Roma 2-1

 Victor Osimhen and Giovanni Simeone ensured Napoli continued their march towards a first Serie A title in over three decades with the decisive goal in a 2-1 win over Roma which pushed the team 13 points clear of the chasing pack.

Osimhen almost brought the house down in the 17th minute when he brilliantly chested down Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s cross, took another touch with his thigh before lashing in without the ball touching the floor.

His 14th league strike of the campaign was one of the goals of the season and a blistering opener to an enthralling encounter which ended with Napoli taking yet another step towards glory.

Substitute Simeone rifled home a wonderful finish at the end of a long passing move with four minutes remaining at the bouncing Stadio Maradona to see off a spirited Roma team who thought they had escaped with a point when Stephan El Shaarawy levelled in the 75th minute.

However, Luciano Spalletti’s side are now 13 points clear of Inter Milan, the closest challengers after champions AC Milan were humbled 5-2 by Sassuolo to leave their title defence in tatters.

Home fans hoping for an end to their 33-year wait for the Scudetto let out a powerful roar of joy and relief at the final whistle after coming through a hard-fought contest with fierce rivals Roma thanks to Simeone’s fifth goal after coming off the bench this season.

“I tried to give everything I had. I did the best thing possible today which was get the winner. I am so happy,” said Simeone.

Roma can consider themselves unfortunate to leave Naples with nothing after impressing despite the backroom drama involving want-away star Nicolo Zaniolo poisoning their pre-match preparation.

Jose Mourinho’s team sit sixth, a point behind the Champions League positions and Milan who have been dumped down to fifth following their humiliating defeat and Lazio’s 1-1 draw with Fiorentina.

620,000 NNPP Members In Northeast Dump Kwankwaso, Join Atiku In PDP

 No fewer than 620,000 card-carrying members of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP), from the North East subregion yesterday decamped to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The Zonal National Secretary of the party, who is also the leader of the group, Dr Babayo Limandisclosed this Yola said they are leaving along with hundreds of other supporters.
Dr Liman gave the reason for his decamping with his supporters in the zone owing to NNPP,s lack of structures.

According to Dr Liman, he had earlier stepped down as a presidential candidate of the NNPP, adding that he did for the progress of the party, but unfortunately, the party has no single structure on the ground to call its own.

He stressed that since he got elected as National Secretary North-East zone, he has never been invited to a meeting hence their movement to the PDP.

Liman boasted that he is decamping to the PDP with 620,000 people from the zone and assured that with the calibre of supporters defected, the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is sure of victory.

Dr Liman said they planned to ensure the victory of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri as President and Governor respectively.

He accused the Presidential candidate of the party Alhaji Kwankwaso of “failing to resolve the internal crisis rocking the party even after visiting him five times about the crisis”.

He also alleged “that most officials of the NNPP in the North East are just ghosts and so could not be seen or found.

New Notes: CBN To Monitor Banks' Vaults

 The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it will monitor bank’s strong rooms in Rivers State as a way to checkmate banks that hoard the new naira notes and make it difficult for Nigerians to access.

The Rivers State Branch Controller of CBN , Mr Maxwell Okafor , disclosed this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, after monitoring the CBN cash swap in Port Harcourt and Igwurita in Ikwerre local government area of Rivers State, on Sunday.

Mr Okafor said many residents, especially the POS operators, are finding it difficult to access the new naira notes, thereby making it hard for the money to get to the areas where banks do not exist.

He said POS operators were passing through difficulty to get the new notes, saying many get discouraged from going to the banks because of the stress of staying for several hours.

He said monitoring of bank’s strong room will put an end to hoarding of the notes ny defaulting banks.

“It took us lots of time for us to enter bank hall to assist POS operators get the new naira notes. If Nigerians can experience this type of thing in our presence how much more when we are not around. Banks should make the process of cashing money easier for Nigerians so that they can access the new naira notes, especially the POS operators”

[b]“The POS operators takes money to many of the places where banks do not exist as they can push the money to every nooks and cranny of the state. As for hoarding of the new naira notes, we have to do further exercise as to ensure that money is distributed to the people . It means we have to get to their strong rooms. We will check how they disburse what they have , what they have in the ATM,” [/b]he said.

He said the apex bank will visit other banks outside Port Harcourt to ensure compliance with the disbursement of the new naira note and appealed to banks to assist CBN make the process easy.