PHOTO SPEAKS: As Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Visits Lagos, Nigeria.

Next stop: Lagos! This is my first trip to sub-Saharan Africa. I'll be meeting with developers and entrepreneurs, and learning about the startup ecosystem in Nigeria. The energy here is amazing and I'm excited to learn as much as I can.

Our first stop is the Co-creation Hub Nigeria (CcHUB) in Yaba. I got to talk to kids at a summer coding camp and entrepreneurs who come to CcHub to build and launch their apps. I'm looking forward to meeting more people here!

1. 
   

"I NEVER SEEK YOUR SUPPORT TO BE ONDO GOVERNOR" TUNJI ABAYOMI RE-WRITE TINUBU

Tonic Of Democracy Is The Right Of The People To Choose Their Leaders

I thank you for your letter dated August 14th, 2016 in response to mine of August 11th, 2016. Although much damage has actually been done to current party’s interest in this serious governorship contest, I am grateful for the assurances (a) that Ondo State Governorship Primary will be FREE and FAIR devoid of UNDUE INFLUENCE.

With this kind assurance, you may now wish, in the interest of FAIRNESS, to re-direct
(i) The APC State Chairman
(ii) The Chairman of the Chairmen of LGAs,
(iii) The Chairman of Ward Chairmen all of who received the directives at the meeting held with you on 31.7.2016 to now focus on fair play at the governorship primary, instead of the candidate you gave them.

Please do note that in keeping with your instruction, they have begun an extensive scheme to ensure that the “Candidate of the Party” that is my brother Mr Segun Abraham whom you directed them to support wins by all means possible. In short contrary to this new assurance, they are exerting much “UNDUE INFLUENCE” on delegates to favour, unfairly the aspirant you presented to them to the detriment of peace, order and good Party process and leadership and especially the just interest of other Aspirants in Ondo state
Now Asiwaju coming to the content of your letter to wit:
“In your pursuit of office, you have sought my support and influence. When you sought that support, you thought it proper and democratic to do so. If I had signaled my support for you, I am sure that you would never have written this letter alleging that I was undermining the democratic will of the people. You would have been pleased with me, I suppose"

I must express great surprise at this representation. While a number of Aspirants as it was their prerogative visited or approached you, in this season of politics, perhaps for support, with public celebration and photo-taking in many cases, I have NEVER done so. Further, I observed in your letter that you neither provided details of any, such visit or representation for support such as time or place, mode or manner or your hallowed response to my search for your support such as time or place, mode or manner or your hallowed response to my search for your support as the leader of our Party.

Since 2007 I have only discussed the issue of Ondo State governorship election with you on ONLY Two (2) occasions. The first was when you invited me to your house Bourdillon through Chief Pius Akinyelere (an Ondo State indigene) to release the news of the selection my friend Rotimi Akeredolu. The second was when I visited you in your freedom House office in 2012 to re-assure you, considering the defeat at the election in spite of all the money you spent.

As I noted in my letter of August 11th, 2016 I unequivocably disagreed with the method of selecting a candidate in the 2012 election as I believed it unfairly and unjustly titled the scale of fairness against all other competitors.
As a matter of fact I remember that immediately I left your house I called Mr. Akeredolu the then candidate selected by you, who is at any rate a close friend, to fully brief him on our discussion. I remember saying to him categorically then “if I were you I would reject this selection and insist on fair primary.” Believe me, if you make me the Party’s candidate before a Primary I will reject such offer. I have never accepted a gain at the detriment of others. I just don’t think it is proper or just to declare one of us in first position among examinees before we all enter the Hall.
While I agree that you are entitled as a matter of right to support who you choose in the governorship contest including me, I hold the view that in your esteemed position as an examiner and considering the delicacy of the adventure in issue, especially the demonstrable consequences of electoral failure because of the character of our people in Ondo State, in the case of candidate imposition and especially when one reviews our party’s poor performance on 2012, I would not expect that your personal preference for an Aspirant should be made the Party’s candidate as you did in the meeting of 31.7.2016.

I maintain, based on the reliable information of attendees that your meeting with the party leaders go beyond mere “purported meeting” or “assembly and talk” as observed in your letter. You told them who the candidate of the Party would be and directed them to work for him assuring them of your financial support. I maintain that considering that all Aspirants had all been subjected to the same processes including serious conditional payments, it would have been expected, that as a National leader of the APC and especially as you have at any rate severally assured many Aspirant who came to you, that the Party would guarantee to all, equal protection in the process, you would have refrained from directing the Party to support and Aspirant. Your summoning of party officials to the 31.7.2016 meeting and your instruction to them to work in support of one Aspirant in my humble view, violated the right to fairness. It amounted to undue influence to unjust favour an Aspirant.

But we are grateful that you have now, happily given assurance in your letter to me to be fair to all Aspirants. Perhaps I need to add that the confusion in APC in Ondo State at the moment, like it was in ACN in 2012, emanated from the unfair directive you gave to the Party on 31.7.2016.

It follows in my humble view, that as a fair minded human rights activist whom you acknowledged, I should not be ponderous but pontifical in my search for the strength of justice in support of the right of our people and that of the Aspirants especially when as in the case, I am involved.

Asiwaju, I am afraid, I see fairness in your personal right to favour anyone you want, including me, but NOT, I regret in moving the Party to do so before a mandatory election Primary established by our Party’s Constitution to raise a candidate among Aspirants.
You will agree with me that since the defeat of the progressives in the 2003 governorship election, no one has consistently dedicated his time, intellect, resources to the growth of the Progressive political partying in Ondo State more than me. For one, I am only one contesting and spending money for the contest for Governor for the third time. What often surprises me, however, is the tendency of leadership to leave us to struggle with the Party and when the time of election comes, they unalterably take-over and dictate to us who will be the candidate.

So it is certainly not correct, am afraid to say as you claim that “your letter to me is an impetuous display unbecoming of a man of your status and a man seeking highest leadership position in his state.”
There is nothing with due respect, impulsive, hasty or rash in my complaints. They were based on facts and reason, they were meant to save the Party and people of Ondo State from yet another electoral failure judged by the character of Ondo State people. They were not at all “impetuous”.

Asiwaju, one important attribute you displayed when you occupied the commission of the Governor of Lagos was the courage to stand up for something. I don’t think it will be fair to me to use intimidating words such as:
“Instead of fighting me who is but one man with no vote, you should be fighting for votes and support. Your letter to me was woefully misplaced and inappropriate.”
I merely raised issues that deeply concern me and others in Ondo State, I mean issues in which you are involved with regard to fair contest in the coming primary. Where is fighting you in all of this? Have you thought it out that with the directive to the party chairmen you have unduly influenced the process and turned the expected primary to mere rituals that has pre-defeated the right of other Aspirants to fair play? I had honestly hoped you will reflect more on the content of my letter before your response.

I believe my letter was within fair comment on an important public issue that touches on the right of many, many citizens of Ondo State. It was not with due respect, in my view, “an impetous display” or as noted in your letter “unbecoming of a man seeking the highest office” in Ondo State.

Now Asiwaju, on the issue of 2015 Presidential election as it concerns President M. Buhari you appear to believe I referred to it to enhance myself. Far from it. First, let us not be too anxious to state how unimportant people are. What separates human being is opportunity. Let us also admit that in human evolutionary progression, often, great ideas come from sources we least expect. Having said that, please, I referred to the 2015 election with regard to President M. Buhari, to affirm a great quality I observe in you which I am afraid I find to be absent in “big men.” This is the quality to listen to a totally different opinion.

Please be assured that I claimed NOT and need no enhancement from that experience. I never need enhancement beyond the rights accorded me by my achievements all of which are often out of stubborn efforts.
I believe history and time have given me the opportunity to live well or poorly, succeed or fail, rise or fall, but in all ramifications I have achieved a high level of contentment through sincere struggle. No wonder I have always been able to take a position. For a human who enters the arena of life at a disadvantage at childhood, from a small community of Okeagbe in Ondo State, to have either served or been rewarded by 4 rated world Presidents, honoured by an ancient American University with world giants such as Prof. Julius Jacobson II (renowned inventor and world father of Microsurgery), Dr. David Liddle (founding father of computer revolution) among 9 world changing leaders in 2005 or enthroned to the Board of major world bodie like Robert Kennedy Center, I should be thankful that I have been beneficially enhanced by time.
Believe me I need no further enhancement through association with anyone, beyond the happiness and well-being of the people of Nigeria and the security of their right against the tempest of pitiless leadership in the land. I do not of course pretend to have influence on you and if I desire it at all, it can only be for the benefit of the people of Nigeria, NEVER, I repeat NEVER for my benefit.
I have NEVER, I repeat NEVER sought relationship for personal interest or benefit even when I was close to a strong Nigerian President in good times. That in fact may explain why I have NEVER, I repeat NEVER come to you for support for the only political office of my interest, which is the commission of Governor of Ondo State.
Well, I have said enough. We are both democrats. We both struggled for the liberty of our people. I believe an essential part of that struggle is their right to use their only political asset i.e. THE RIGHT TO VOTE in a way most conducive to their happiness. It is anti-democratic to promote government of leaders by leaders and for the benefit of leaders or to impose the will of leaders on the helpless masses. Moreover, the grievous pains and torment of development that have literally become the sad lot of the ordinary people in Nigeria since independence, have emerged from the dislocation of the common man’s organic rights to every good and right by leadership. I will continue to stand against such dislocation notwithstanding the tempest of seasons and time. After all, I owe the common Nigerian citizen this duty. I was born by some of them.
Let us be true, beyond influence, beyond money, beyond process control, beyond directives to the ideals for which we both gave up our freedom in the past. Let us re-dedicate ourselves to the right of the people to freely and fairly constitute government over themselves.

Thank you, and may we honor our time and may our time honor us.

Your Friend and Admirer,
OLATUNJI O. ABAYOMI (DR)
Barristers & Solicitors

IN DEFENSE OF OLATUNJI ABAYOMI- "Notwithstanding You May Have Been The Target, I Dare Say The Message Is For Us All " Segun Showunmi.

My Dear Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,

Truly you have let me down. Whereas I respect your right of reply, I dare say this is not the reply I had hoped you will pen. For in the democratic struggle, Tunji  has  played his role and his letter ought to have been situated among the classics that deepen the democratic culture knowing fully well that beyond the specifics his letter, speaks generally to the idea that all Democrats must soberly reflect on.

Never mind that you were the target, I expected you to know that it is also the price you must pay for the elevated position and status you occupy. I hoped that you would have said "Tunji, thank you I got your letter and I assure you that your concern is noted. Be assured that I am the same Bola Tinubu you know and will always know." "I will never endanger democracy. Whatever you may be assuming is not totally correct for you are oblivious of the challenges that my status puts on me. I wish you well in your endeavour.......and so on."

Asiwaju you have a duty to stand firm and demonstrate leadership especially to the patriots that have not had it as good as you have in this democratic journey and you know that Tunji Abayomi is one of them. I am not happy with this effort for you seem to think leadership is without its challenges.

The message I picked from Dr tunji abayomi is that in our democratic journey it is not yet uhuru. I want to say that notwithstanding you may have been the target I dare say the message is for us all and as such you could have been more circumspect in your response.

Be assured of my highest regards.

Tinubu Replies Tunji Abayomi : "As a veteran in the political arena, I do not make important decisions lightly"

My Dear Tunji Abayomi,

It is said that to err is human. By your letter to me, it seems that you seek to remind me that I am human.  Of this I am constantly reminded. I know I have made my share of mistakes. But my progressive inclination remains firmly rooted. However, by your pained and inaccurate letter, you have proven that you are human too.

You have been a friend and will continue to be. Thus, I can dispense with needless formality so that we can get to the crux of the issue. Your career is that of a lawyer and activist. I appreciate all that you have done in the pursuit of a more just and democratic Nigeria. However, your letter to me is an impetuous display unbecoming a man of your status and a man seeking the highest leadership position in his state. And as a lawyer, you well know that one cannot seek equity without having done equity. 

In writing the letter, you appear to have been bitten by a bug that often blinds the objectivity of a man. You have been bitten by an ambition that you fear you shall not be able to realize. In your pursuit of office, you have sought my support and influence. When you sought that support, you thought it proper and democratic to do so. If I had signalled my support for you, I am sure that you would never have written this letter alleging that I was undermining the democratic will of the people. You would have been pleased with me, I suppose.

However, because that support has not been forthcoming, you fear that the support you wanted may now go to a rival candidate. In your judgment, my support for you would have been democratic. Should I support another, then that same support is now to be considered dictatorial and unfair? Frankly, dear friend, I do not see the objectivity in your analysis or the merit in what you claim as your injury. If you seek a person's support, you cannot in good conscience turn around and object that such support should never be given to another person. Your position is more undemocratic and unfair than what you accuse me of. Your words attack me for being undemocratic when in reality your heart attacks me for not giving you what you want. 

I have participated in elections for decades for myself and others. Some have been won. Some lost. Never, however, have I asked a friend for support than condemn for giving the very support I sought of them to another person. To do so is not to stand on principle but on bruised pride.

You said I seek to deny your democratic right. It is you who seeks to grab mine. If not mistaken, I believe I am a member of the APC. I have a right and duty to support the candidate who I believe will best represent the party. What your letter is really saying is that if I don’t support you, I should keep my mouth shut. You complain of a purported meeting I had to discuss the coming primary in Ondo. Do you deny me and other APC members now the right to assembly and talk. Had you heard that the meeting had anointed you, I doubt you would have written the first word of the letter you sent to me.

But here I want to give you and others a clear assurance that you may rest more at ease. I reserve the right to support any candidate I wish because no one has the right to take this away from me. However, I will also do everything in my power to ensure the primaries are free and fair and that there will be no undue influence on the process. The candidate who can garner the most support and votes will win. Since its inception, the APC has run the cleanest and most transparent primaries in the history of this nation. The just-concluded primary in Edo is further evidence of this. My dear friend, I leave you free to run and win the primary. If you do, I shall congratulate you and support you in the general election. However, you must respect my rights as well and leave me to my own conscience to support who I will support. And to show interest in whom I wish.

I also need to correct what appears to be a mistaken impression on your part about the 2015 election. Your letter seems to indicate that it was on your advice that I backed President Buhari. You assume too much credit and should be more guarded in your assertions. As a veteran in the political arena, I do not make important decisions lightly.  I make final political decisions and calculations on my own after deep reflections and consultation with many people from many perspectives.  I can assure you, dear friend, that I trust my own political counsel more than yours and that I have numerous other advisors whose advice I weigh more than yours. After all had you so much influence over me in the presidential election, it would mean you surely should have greater influence over me when it comes to the primary in your state.

I do appreciate your passion and concern for the welfare of the people.

Yet, you are not the only one who feels this. The love of the people is not exclusive to you, Tunji. My entire life has been devoted to the betterment of the people and of this nation. Lagos is a much better place because of what we have tried to do, and I pray that it will be better still.

Many worked hard and long and sacrificed much, even more than you, to bring in the new federal government. We did not do this as a sport but to improve the lives of the people. You need not lecture me about the plight of the people. Their right to a better life is what motivates me. I do not doubt your love for the people and this nation. Yet, you have no right to doubt mine for you do not love these people and this place more than I do. Of that, I can assure you.

I am a democrat. I am ready to for the chips to fall where they may after and open and fair primary in Ondo. Instead of welcoming this, it appears you are afraid of it. Instead of fighting me who is but one man with no vote, you should be fighting for votes and support. Your letter to me was woefully misplaced and inappropriate. Still, I wish you the best and may democracy and the people's will prevail above all else.

THE TONIC OF DEMOCRACY IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO CHOOSE THEIR LEADERS- DR. Olatunji Abayomi To Bola Tinubu

Dear Asiwaju Tinubu,

The ignorant may not actually know our relationship. We share the struggle for democracy which conjured regard for the independent right of our people to vote and to make leaders over themselves. So close it seems, is the relationship that as you once told me you were once approached by yet another old friend President Olusegun Obasanjo to convince me to work for him. Then and for a long time, at least up to 2004, when I decided to join the Political Party AD, I opted to be a go-between the poor masses, poor because they were in truth betrayed by leadership and the powerful few that control the apparatus of power in our land.

I have never hidden my appreciation for your political intelligence, accommodation of a different opinion, a great attribute you demonstrated when you accepted my totally separated and independent view, that in the struggle for the Presidency of Nigeria in 2015, when it came to winability, there was no substitute for President Mohammed Buhari.

Now Asiwaji, friendship must of course be based on mutual respect. You have visited my original house in Okeagbe just as I have often visited your home in Lagos. In 2013 when my son got married, you stood by me. In the same manner on several occasions when men rose against your honour I raised a bastion to defend you. But my character is to stand on truth, offer sincere opinion to my friends unconcerned by the prestige of office or the character of personality. My understanding of friendship is to stand on something instead of falling for everything. And I believe in the many years past some have come to appreciate my preference for respect instead of love.

There is yet another product of conscience which your illustrious rich and exalted life has demonstrated - a non-conformist generosity that has lifted so many people up.

There are, however, certain principles which I believe form elements of democratic government which I think you often violate. Considering that you fought for democracy, I wonder why it has become a normative.

In 2007, I ran for Governor of Ondo State. You would recall that you invited me to your House in Bourdilon to break the news to me that certain leaders of the Party had picked a candidate for us in Ondo State.

You invited me, I think, the only Aspirant for the purpose to appeal for my support  and understanding for your decision. The first question i asked then was who were the leaders who chose a candidate for our people without the input or the breadth of even the deaf and dumb of Ondo State?

Unconvinced by the responses, firm and total in my commitment to the democratic rights of our people, I made it clear then, that I could not and will not support your decision as I considered it wrong in principle and violative of the rights of citizens and that of the people of Ondo State.

In taking my stand against the procedure of picking a friend to represent our Party in the 2012 electoral contest I stood on the principle that I believe will advantage the common citizen’s right, that is the right to constitute government over themselves by their votes.

The sinews of national development, politics and in particular economy, had excluded the common man in Nigeria since 1960. Tormented by the grave denials, wants and ultimate desperation, all of which are symptoms of uncaring poverty foisted on our people by poor leadership, people like us, children of the “MEKUNNU” decided to fight for a most fundamental right, that is, the right of the common man to vote for the construction of leadership.

Now, our people have no houses in Victoria Island or Maitama, no land in Dubai or Johannesburg, no private jets or jetty. They don’t even have the money to sink boreholes to get mere water or to buy good food. They have no passable road from home to farm or from farm to home. Their children have no worthwhile access to basic education or well-being. But if, we thought, we can win for them the right to vote, and through their votes, to raise good government and bring down bad government, then, they can change their misfortune under leadership, that, in our land, has often been corrupt and pitiless, to evolving hope, substitute their despair for possibility and long unrealizable desires for reality. The strength of our abnormal determination to win democracy against the terror of military rule, a determination that led us to multiple jail terms, was actually defined by this organic vision. You were, to some extent, part of that struggle to win for the people their right to vote, to make and create leadership. It was certainly our hope then and now that this right will neither be adulterated nor polluted by abuse of influence or money by leadership. Since 1960 the present Federal Government that you clearly helped to bring about makes the very first time, the votes of our people would effectively count in raising government.

I am greatly disturbed that the political oligarchy in charge of power in our Nation, having taken every wealth of the people for themselves and their offsprings appear determined to buy, with the people’s money already embezzled by them, the only valuable political asset the people have - their voting right.

When we see for example, what is going on in the National Assembly among the constituency of political leaders that make up the Assembly we see how unfortunate our people truly are. A Senator is alleged to make over N29,479,749 per month as against N18000 made by the common man he represents. Thus it will take not less than 1,638 years of hard work for the common man’s labour to acquire the annual worth of a Senator. In once case that came to my attention a Governor spent N1,000,000,000 for the first year anniversary while a woman he governs over begged helplessly for N200 to buy “pure water” for her daughter to go to school the next morning. In spite of these abnormal indifferences, corruption prevails over the land among political leaders to the helpless and hopeless desire of the common man.

As a prominent leader in the past in the struggle for the undiluted and unpolluted right of the people to vote, I had hoped you will ALWAYS allow the due process of voting to control political struggles. Indeed this was the essence of our 3 hour dialogue and disagreement when you and perhaps others placed over the people of Ondo State a candidate that was not chosen by us or for us through our votes in the Governorship Election.

With regard to the present struggle or contest for governorship in Ondo State, whether some of our party leaders came to you to choose for them as some have alleged or you invited our leaders on 31.7.2016 as some have averred, what we expect a democrat to do was to respect the right of the people to choose their leaders through and unduly influenced free and fair primary electoral process. My deepest disagreement with you, which has arisen on many occasions in the past years, inspite of much respect for your contributions to National development, have grown from my perception that in your high station, you are doing too little to honour the end of our struggle for democracy, which, as I see it, hangs on that cardinal right of the ordinary people to vote or be voted for or the need to ensure that government of the people, by the people and for the people, instead for the leaders and actually prevail and triumph in our land.

When votes don’t make decisions in a democracy the masses become victims of their leaders who take advantage of their poverty and despair to exercise illimitable and unlimited power over public wealth. You can see this in the tragedy of wealth and poverty under the last Federal Government. For me, out of stubborn effort in struggle, I became what I am so that I can speak my mind even to my friends. I became what I am so that I can speak my mind even to my friends. As I verily believe that without dutiful regard and respect for the right of our people to make government, change that enhances hope will NEVER triumph in Nigeria.

You have sacrificed much for democracy, committed much of your time, energy, wealth, will and worth to it. You can only be truly honoured when you respect and raise her ideals one of which is the right of our people to choose their leaders. You can only be truly honoured when you respect and raise her ideals one of which is the right of our people to choose their leaders. You can only be diminished when you wrong democratic ideals and due expectations.

I desire, as a friend, that you retrieve or at least reduce your tendency to dictate the end of democratic struggles which is what I see in the diction to the people of Ondo State of a particular candidate before the August 27, 2016 All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Election Primary.

Please kindly do accept assurances of my highest regards.

Yours truly,
OLATUNJI O. ABAYOMI (DR)

Politicians who care only about themselves should quit politics- Goodluck Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has said politicians who care only about themselves should quit politics and go into personal business. According to a statement by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan said this while speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka, Zambia where he is serving as the head of the African Union election observer for the Zambian presidential election.

“Politicians going in for elective positions should be open-minded about the outcome because they can either win or lose. Politicians who want to play meaningful roles in governance should realize that it is not about them."

"Those who care only about themselves should quit politics and begin to manage personal businesses. Our states are not private enterprises. You cannot be interested in governance without sufficient interest in the affairs of the people. So the interest of the country should come first as politicians tick their priority boxes. This also requires politicians to accept the outcome of genuine elections because of the interest of the people."

" You cannot instigate violence and mayhem on the one hand and pretend that you are fighting for the people on the other. It does not make any sense to get involved in bloodshed, destroy properties, frustrate businesses and collapse the economy in order to win elections. Our advice is to put public interest above other expectations by accepting the results of elections”he said

Southern Nigeria PDP zones National Chairmanship to South West

The Southern Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday night formally zoned the National Chairmanship position of the party to the South West geo-political zone.
In a meeting attended by Governors, National Assembly Members and Former Ministers, the Southern Nigeria PDP also zoned the positions of National Treasurer and Deputy National Publicity Secretary to the South West.
The party zoned the position of First Deputy National Chairman to the South-South. The South-South also got the positions of National Legal Adviser, Deputy National Women Leader and Deputy National Auditor.

The South-East got the following positions: National Organising Secretary, National Youth Leader and Deputy National Financial Secretary.

Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu said despite the zoning of the positions, any party member willing to contest any position is free to do.

He, however, advised party members from the Southern Nigeria to respect the zoning formula.

4th August, 2016.

"PRESIDENT BUHARI SHOULD SIT UP" Fr. MBAKA Lashes APC Govt.

Enugu Catholic priest, and Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu State, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigerians will not vote for him in 2019 if he does not address the high level of hunger and suffering  in the country.

Mbaka has been one of Buhari’s most vocal supporters since he asked Nigerians to reject the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party during the 2015 presidential pol and predicted Buhari’s victory.

But, in a surprising turn of events, Mbaka attacked Buhari in a recent message, details of which were obtained by journalists on Tuesday night.

In the message, Mbaka noted that there was too much suffering in the country, and faulted the President for not appointing the right people.

He also accused the President of listening to the wrong advice.

The message partly read, “The issue is that Mbaka is speaking as the Spirit leads him – there is hunger everywhere.  My job is to tell leaders the truth, the landlords are crying, the tenants are lamenting, sellers are crying, buyers are lamenting – there is hunger on the streets.

“I can’t keep quiet when things are going wrong.

“I am telling the President to look around him and know those who are advising him rightly and those who are telling him that there is no trouble.

“The President should know that there is trouble – if things continue like this, in the next election, nobody will vote for him.

“Whether they like it or not, I am speaking the raw truth.

“If the President should have somebody like me and he cannot be talking with me, then there is a problem.

“There is a problem somewhere; somebody who can advise you without asking for anything and he is representing the poor masses in the country and he won’t tell you lies.

“He will praise you when you are doing well and when you are not doing well, he will look at you in the face and tell you.”

Continuing, he said, “I don’t need the President; I need God, I need the Holy Spirit, I need Jesus; there is suffering everywhere, people are suffering.

“To feed is now a problem, and an hungry man is an angry man.

“Hunger and anger will lead to danger.

“So, let him know whether he can do away with some advisers around him and bring in the people who are experts in economic revamp.

“There are people who are experts in that; let them begin to empower people, people are not empowered, they are still walking around in vicious circles, planning and planning and planning.”

Mbaka said there were  no spaces left in mortuaries across the country.

“Hunger is everywhere, many neighbours don’t eat again, many are being attacked by hunger, hunger is becoming a normal thing and there are people responsible for this.

“Mortuary and ambulance business is now thriving because many cannot afford drugs.

“In today’s Nigeria, many are becoming hawkers, who will buy from you, with what?

“Everyday, more pipelines  are being blown, the Avengers are at work and up till now, there is no solution.

“You know when certain things begin to happen, you begin to ask some questions, somebody like me will begin to ask – when will this end?

“If it continues in the next three months, there will be no money to pay salaries – the vicious effect is disastrous and when salaries cannot be paid, teachers will come home, students will stop going to school, there will be more kidnappings, more hooliganism, more armed robbery, more prostitution, immorality will be on the increase.”

He urged Buhari to sit up and stop going after the leadership of the Senate.

Mbaka equally bemoaned the continuous depreciation in the value of the naira.

“So, the President should sit up – there is a red light blinking on the country.

“The issue of Saraki and Ekweremadu, nobody wants to listen to such stories any more, whether Saraki is the President of the Senate or Ekweremadu is not this or that, the countrymen are tired of such stories.

“We need economic experts, gurus, sages that are sincere, who can come in and think about our economic revamp and judicial reformation.”

Credits- The Punch

OPC ATTACKS NIGER DELTA MILITANTS.

Armed members of the Oodua Peoples Congress have engaged suspected Niger Delta militants, who have been terrorising riverside communities, in a fierce gun battle.
The clash at the weekend led to the arrest of four of the militants, who have been terrorizing residents of Igbo Olomu community of Ikorodu in Lagos State.
Mr Femi Atiku, the coordinator of Ogbagba Zone of OPC in Isawo-Ikorodu area under Gani Adams confirmed the incident on Sunday.
Atiku said that they lost one members of their group during exchange of gun fire.
“The OPC members engaged the militants in a fierce gun battle around Yewa community in Igbo-Olomu and facilitated the release of two landlords earlier kidnapped by the gunmen.
“Sadly, an OPC member was killed but other members succeeded in arresting four members of the gang, who were handed over to the Owutu Police Divisional.
“The division later handed them over to the area commander in charge of the area,’’ he said.
Atiku said that their members responded to a distress call that the militants invaded Yewa area of Olainukan, where they kidnapped two persons, including a landlord called Mr Daniel Akpughe.
“The OPC responded and caught up with the militants, who had by then relocated to part of the creek and a serious clash ensued between the two groups.
“The abducted members of the community were rescued. The militants regrouped and waylaid our members on their way back, killing one of them, Tunde Sogunro in another round of gun duel,’’ he said.
The OPC leader also expressed the readiness of the group to tackle the menace of the militants in Lagos state.

Credits- PM NEWS

PHOTO NEWS; Governor Amosun Visit Arepo

Amosun Visits Ibafo, Ogijo

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on Monday, visited Ebute-Ibafo and Ogijo, two of the communities affected by the recent activities of suspected militants in Ogun State.

The governor's visit came on the heels of ongoing military operation against the militants who had recently terrorised the communities. 

In the course of the visit, the governor assured residents of their security while advising them to cooperate with security operatives.

Signed 

Adejuwon Soyinka, 

Senior Special Assistant (Media)

Ogun State Governor.