My Spouse And I: Why I won’t write a Will —Agbakoba

 

By Linus Obogo, Assistant Editor

 

It all began way back in 1974 at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, during what was then famous as ‘October Drive’, when the coy, militaristic and young Olisa Agbakoba was literally cajoled into what would later morph into an enviable union with the then youthful Miss Lillian Harlem. For a young man who was weaned on the strict diet of discipline and who was just smarting from the experience as a child-soldier fighting on the side of Biafra, during the Nigerian Civil war, romance was considered more as a frivolity for Agbakoba, now a frontline lawyer, an activist and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

2015: Jonathan should honour the agreement he allegedly had with governors, if there is any-Ex-Kwara Governor Bola Latinwo

                                                         By Linus Obogo, Assistant Editor
                                                         November 2, 2013

Retired Group Captain Salaudeen Adebola Latinwo is former military governor of Kwara State, in the short-lived regime of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) between 1984 and 1985. A native of Offa, Kwara State, Latinwo is an aviation technology and management specialist. He is also a public affairs analyst. In this interview with Deputy Editor, VINCENT AKANMODE and Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, Latinwo recalls his travails in the military which culminated in his early retirement from the Nigerian Airforce. He also laments the crippling corruption bedevilling the country, ditto the aviation sector and shares his perspective on the proposed national conference, even as he accuses President Goodluck Jonathan of suffering credibility deficit on account of his several failed accomplishments. Exercepts:

Senators don’t earn bigger salaries than ministers and judges –Senate’s spokesman Abaribe

 

By Linus Obogo, Assistant Editor

 

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe is the Senate Committee Chairman on Information. He was also the deputy to former Governor Orji Uzo Kalu in Abia State from 1999 to 2002. He had a frosty working relationship with Kalu and survived three impeachment attempts. In 2007, he was elected the Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District. He was a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant for Abia State in 2011. In this interview with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, Abaribe relives his trying times as deputy governor, saying that he was naïve at the time. He also speaks about the Nigerian project, insisting that the Igbo nation has not been fairly treated in the national scheme of things. Excerpts:

Jonathan has been ambushed by non-politicians – Mantu

By Linus Obogo, Assistant Editor

 

Senator Nasiru Ibrahim Mantu was Deputy Senate President from 2003 to 2007. He was Director-General, defunct National Republican Convention Presidential Campaign, 1993; National Chairman of the defunct Peoples Democratic Alliance and National Publicity Secretary, defunct United Nigerian Congress Party, UNCP. He was also Chairman, National Assembly Committee on Constitution Review. Senator Mantu, in this interview with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, went down memory lane on his alleged role in former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s botched third term project and expressed his views on President Goodluck Jonathan, among other issues. Excerpts:

How Femi Fani Kayode’s Wife and Daughters Slept with Atiku, Obasanjo, Shama And Others Under Femi’s Nose – By Shama Maliga

This article was written by one Mr. Shama Maliga and culled  from 247UREPORTS

Femi has finally displayed his wealth of Idio-stupidity…hence his immoral house hood chapter is hereby opened.

His Daughter

1. I have been in dispute with Femi since September 2011 over personal issues.
2. I worked with ObJ between, 2004 to 2007 (Second term) as private in house Agent before leaving to back to Canada in late 2007.
3. I have known Femi since 2002; we first met during an evening Private meeting, on a Sunday at Otta (OBJ’s Parlor).
4. Femi never hide his sexual taste on women (both single and Married. And in many occasions with OBJ, OBJ stylishly joke over Femi’s unending libido on women who rush for assistance, favor or help in Abuja.
5. OBJ calls him “Woman Rapper” and usually warn him to be careful.
6. Many of us including his Aides and OBJ’s Aides knew that Femi is usually on drugs.

I know my bounds at home as a soldier’s wife –Mrs. Olufunke Adekoya (SAN)

Mrs. Olufunke Adekoya is head, Dispute Resolution Practice Group at AELEX, a firm of Legal Practitioners and Arbitrators. she was appointed Notary Public in 1986 and elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2001 (only the 5th woman to be so elevated).

She has been a member of the Body of Benchers since 1999 and elevated to Life Bencher in March 2007.

In the field of arbitration, Mrs. Adekoya represents both local and transnational parties as counsel in both domestic and international arbitration proceedings within Nigeria and abroad and has acted in numerous disputes as either- party appointed Arbitrator, Sole Arbitrator and Presiding Arbitrator. She is a member of the LCIA African Users Council and the Nigeria’s ICC National Committee; and is listed on the ICDR Energy Arbitrators List, the panel of neutrals of the Lagos Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration.

In this interview with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, the wife of Air Vice Marshall Oluwole Adekoya (rtd), spoke on the rise of women on the Bench, corruption in the judiciary, as well as the balance between her role as a lawyer and wife to a soldier. Excerpts:

James Eze's Ode to a fallen pal, Douglas Ude

As I stretch my mind across the years that I have known Douglas Ude, a central image dominates the universe of my thoughts – the image of a shooting star, blazing across the evening sky, releasing a burst of glorious sparkles that fade into the distance after their job of lighting up the horizon is done. The remains of the Big Doug will be interred tomorrow, July 26, 2013, in his home town of Mgbowo in Augwu, Enugu State. Farewell Dude!

PDP crisis is exaggerated -Senate Majority Leader Ndoma-Egba

Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) is the Senate Majority Leader and a three-term Senator representing Cross River State Central Senatorial Zone in the upper chamber. Senator Ndoma-Egba was at various times a member of Senate Committees on Upstream Petroleum Resources, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Information and Media, as well as Deputy Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the Senate. In this interview with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, in his office, he spoke on state creation, crisis in the PDP, zero allocation to SEC saga and sundry issues. Excerpts:

It’s sad to see Port-Harcourt turned into war theatre –Ex-SSS boss AK Horsfall

Chief Albert Korubo Horsfall is a former Nigerian security chief and prominent Ijaw leader. The pioneer member of the National Security Organisation (NSO) was also the first Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the fifth Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS) and the pioneer Chairman of the Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) now known as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

In this interview with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, Chief Horsfall, currently the Chairman of the Rivers State Social Rehabilitation Committee, charged with the rehabilitation of ex-militants from Rivers State, laments the insecurity that has been foisted on the state and the nation at large by the Boko Haram sect and the political crisis in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).       
As former head of an arm of the nation’s security services, how would you assess the state of the nation in terms of politics and security?

Where is my husband?

By LINUS OBOGO

Pregnant wife of 40-yr-old Friday Akpandara, who got missing after hanging out with friend, cries out

Where is my husband? Where is my husband? Where is my husband? This is a familiar refrain on the lips of Mrs. Yejide Obidipe Akpandara, wife of 40-yr-old Friday Akpandara, as she stares vacuously but anxiously into the ceiling at 39 Omololu Road, off Randle Avenue, Surulere, Lagos.

With a gush of tears nestling down her protruding tummy, Yejide is overwhelmed by anxiety about her husband’s strange disappearance without a trace since August 24, 2012.

Yejide’s mother-in-law is not spared the torment of a missing son either, as echoes of where is my son? Where is my son ricochet everywhere in their living-room. Indeed, the entire 39 Omololu Road residence of his parents is wholly encased in a pall of gloom with the unexplained whereabouts of Friday Akpandara. The mood is melancholic, even as the ceiling fan swirls woozily in empathy with its aggrieved owners.

A peep into Ojukwu’s love life

Ojukwu with Elizabeth (left); with Bianca right.

By LINUS OBOGO

HE had a tough and oracular mien. The more you tried to understand him, the more difficult and complex he seemed. Not many, especially the men folk, could decode him easily. But beneath those deportments were his charm, élan, oratory.

While his fellow men found him a bit impenetrable, the ladies seemed to know his genetic code and could conveniently decode or deconstruct him. He was

Why we must renegotiate the basis of our corporate existence –Sen. Ehigie Uzamere

Godwin Ehigie Uzamere is a senator of the Federal Republic. He is a two-time senator representing Edo South Senatorial Zone. Uzamere was first elected senator on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in 2007 but in 2011, he was later reelected on the ticket of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Uzamere who is the Senate Committee Chairman on Foreign and Local Debts, in this interview with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, spoke on Nigeria’s spiraling debt profile, barely six years after it met her debt obligations to the Paris and London Clubs. He also spoke on the need for a national dialogue in the light of the raging insurgency in the North , Edo politics and sundry issues Excerpts:

‘State of emergency timely, but not sweeping enough’

By Linus Obogo, Assistant Editor

Professor Jubril Aminu was Minister of Education and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources respectively, from 1989 to 1999. A professor of Cardiology and one-time Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Aminu was elected, senator of the Federal Republic, representing Adamawa Central between 2003 and 2011. He was also Nigerian Ambassador to the USA from 1999 to 2003.  In this bare – knuckle interview with LINUS OBOGO, Assistant Editor, Aminu speaks on the political crisis in his home state, Adamawa, his regrets, the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, and sundry issues.

Jonathan’s undoing is his bad advisers and tribesmen –Ex-Presidential candidate Bashir Tofa

By Linus Obogo, Assistant Editor

 

Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa is a businessman and politician. He was the National Republican Convention presidential candidate in the botched June 12, 1993 presidential election. Ahead of June 12 anniversary next Wednesday, Tofa spoke with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO and reflected on the date, May 29 and October 1, and concluded that he would rather that Nigeria sticks with the Independence Day as Democracy Day. He also faulted President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, arguing that his decision was rather hasty, among other issues.

Excerpts:

How I’m tortured by telephone -Sen. Chris Anyanwu

By Linus Obogo, Assistant Editor

Senator Chris Anyanwu is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy. She represents Imo East Senatorial Zone of Imo State on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). An advocate of effective representation, she is of the view that no representation is worth it when the doors are shut out on those who elected you. In this interview with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, in Abuja, Anyanwu spoke on APGA, politics of Imo State as well as the secrets of her youthful looks. Excerpts:

Our battles with the virus, by Benue people living with HIV/AIDS

 

Written by Linus Obogo, assistant Editor

 

Posted by: Linus Obogo, in Special Report April 27, 2013

 

The sea of heads, with women constituting a preponderance at the vast concourse of the AIDS Preventive Initiative of Nigeria (APIN) complex, Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Benue State, tells a glum story, a story of a state ambushed by a debilitating scourge.
A conjectural estimate put the figure at well over 800 persons- men, women and children. On this day, April 9th, this gathering reportedly paled significantly against the previous days’ figure put at about 1,000 of People Living With HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), who daily throng the complex from Monday to Friday, for counselling and treatment.

Nothing can Stop the Merger – Senator Hanga

"In case I die, I have told my Son to give the CPC Certificate to Tinubu-Senator Hanga (CPC). “In Nigeria today, we know that the strongest opposition party is the ACN, which is why I told my son that if I die any moment, he should give the certificate to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to surrender to INEC for the purpose of forming a merger. The merger is already a reality and nobody can stop it now, not even the PDP” – Senator Hanga

Senator Rufai Hanga was pioneer National Chairman of the Congress for Progress Change (CPC). He represented Kano Central Senatorial Zone from 2003 to 2007. A businessman and administrator with over 25 years in the corporate world, Hanga talks of the commitment and determination of his party to ensure that the proposed merger plan with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), among other parties, becomes a reality ahead of 2015. In this interview with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, he also faults President Goodluck Jonathan’s performance, describing him as ‘Baba Slumber’.

Let’s not allow things to get worse than they are now –Ikimi

By Linus obogo, Assistant Editor

Chief Tom Ikimi is a consummate architect and politician. He was elected first National Chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), one of the two political parties in the botched third republic in 1990. Ikimi was Special Adviser to the late head of state, General Sani Abacha in February 1994 and later Foreign Affairs Minister from 1995 to July 1998. He was also a founding and Board of Trustees member of the then All Peoples Party (APP); and following his de-registeration from the PDP, Ikimi co-founded the Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), a rallying platform on which the alleged third term bid of former President Olusegun Obasanjo was swiftly nipped in the bud. He spoke with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, on the rescue mission of the All Progressives Congress (APC); why INEC Chairman, Professor Atahiru Jega, must steer clear of the obvious minefield being laid in his path ahead of 2015. Excerpts:

Jonathan’s government’s failure has provided an ideology for APC –Senator Kanti Bello

By Linus Obogo, Assistant

Senator Mahmud Kanti Bello represented Katsina North Senatorial Zone from 2003 to 2011. Known for his bluntness, he had caused a stir in the senate during the ministerial screening when he accused former Information Minister Dora Akunyili of cooking for ex-First Lady Hajia Turai Yar’Adua. Recently, he had sensationally debunked the claims of the Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu of a purported pact President Goodluck Jonathan signed with the governors of the PDP over 2015 presidency.

In this interview with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, Kanti Bello spoke on what he described as Jonathan’s leadership ineptitude, why Nigerians should rally round the emerging All Progressive Congress to get the country out of the woods.

Excerpts:

Genocide: Fireworks over Achebe’s There was a country…

Written by Linus Obogo, Assistant Editor

The Nigerian Civil War may have ended about 43 years ago, but the ghost of the three-year-old conflict resurfaced, strangely in October, following the release of a book, There was a country: A personal history of Biafra, written by renowned novelist, Prof. Chinua Achebe.

In what was conceived as Achebe’s personal recollection of what went down during the war, turned out, ironically, a re-opening of old wounds.

While the conflict which formed the raw material for Achebe’s memoir was between Nigeria and the Igbo, the alleged genocide controversy as captured by the world celebrated story teller in his latest work ended up pitching not just a few of the disciples of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, one of the alleged perpetrators of genocide, but also some participants in the war from other zones of the country.

There is a dark cloud hovering over Nigeria, but we won’t break up

Pastor Ayodele Oritsejafor is the General Overseer of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Delta State. He is also the President of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), the first to hold the two offices simultaneously. Pastor Oritsejafor is a man of God known for his bluntness and blistering comments on national and religious issues. He is usually not given to yearly predictions, but this seems to have changed in 2013, as he has reeled out predictions about the nation. In this interview with Assistant Editors, LINUS OBOGO and GBENGA ADERANTI, Pastor Oritsejafor spoke on sundry issues and at a point, wept over the anguish brought on the Christian North by Boko Haram Islamic sect. Excerpts: