An Amputee Performer/Dancer Tells The SGN that being a disable does not kill one's Talent. She strongly advises fellow disables to look inwards in order to fish out their talents. According to her knowing one's Talent will take one places.

Photo : The SGN.
Date : Dec 27, 2009.
Venue of Performance : Nigerian Soldiers' Club.

A Naked Fire Eater/Performer/Dancer showcases his Talents at an event, recently. He admires the fact that Talents abound in Africa.


Photo : The SGN.
2009 Yuletide.

Olorogun Bagostowe, Executive Chairman, SOMOLU LOCAL GOVT. COUNCIL, celebrated the 2009 Xmas with Community Members in the company of his family Members & some of his Cabinet Members. In the coziness of his Somolu Home.

Bagostowe (2nd R); Prince Foster Akinpelu (R) & other Community 

members during the xmas merry-making @ The BAGOSTOWES.

Mrs. Bagostowe, Chairperson, Somolu Community (2nd R) & other Community 

members during the xmas merry-making @ The BAGOSTOWES.

Prince Foster Akinpelu (R), Publisher, SOMOLU GLOBAL NEWS -The SGN & other 

Community members during the xmas merry-making @ The BAGOSTOWES on Xmas day.

'De Gov' a Cabinet Member of the Stowe Admin(L) & other Community 

members during the xmas merry-making @ The BAGOSTOWES.

Bagostowe (M); Uncle Willy Osha, seasoned Politician & Prince Foster Akinpelu 

during the xmas merry-making @ The BAGOSTOWES.

Prince Foster Akinpelu (R); De Gov & a Showcitian from Jand 

during the xmas merry-making @ The BAGOSTOWES.

Community members during the xmas merry-making @ The BAGOSTOWES.

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ADEKUNLE TELUWO FAMILY CELEBRATES THE 11th Edition of "Late Madam Felicia Adejoke Adekunle Teluwo XMAS Remembrance Dancing Competition".

The Adekunle-Teluwos during the event.

The Teluwos during the event.

Uncle Sesan Adekunle (L) & a member of the family in Late Mama 's flat in her house during the remembrance Dance Competition.

Mama 's Children & Grand Children in Mama's Flat during the event. 

* To continually honour Late Mama, Family Members unanimously decided

not to rent mama's flat out for the past 11yrs. 'Mama rere Sun Re o'

The Adekunle Teluwos digging it on the Dance Floor during the event.

The Adekunle Teluwos on the Dance Floor during the event.

Uncle SESSY ADE (2nd L); Chief Teluwo aka Obanta (4th L) during the event.

Obanta (M) & family members catching great fun on the dance floor during the event.

The Winners of the Dancing Competition. 1st Prize - N50,000. 2nd Prize - N40,000; and lots of consolation Prizes in the Adult Category. Lady in Purple top won the Best Dancer of the Competition. She poses with the 2nd Best Dancer Winner.

Little Serena, Winner of the Children's category of the Dance Competition took home N10k.

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68 NIGERIAN ARMY REFERENCE HOSPITAL SOLDIERS' CLUB HONOURS PAST PRESIDENT WHILE USHERING IN A NEW ONE DURING THE CLUB'S 2009 BOXING AWARD NIGHT & NEW YEAR JAMZ.

Cpl Alo Christopher (L)New President, Wine & Dines with the Outgoing President of the Soldiers Club.

Prince Foster Akinpelu(L), honourable Member of the Soldiers Club, appends the Membership Documents while the Secretary (M) of the Club & Cpl Alo Christopher (R), President of the Soldiers Club look on.

The Outgoing President of the Club (R) hands over the Membership Documents to Prince Foster Akinpelu at the event; while Taiwo Daniel (3rd L), Honourable Member of the Soldiers Club & the New President of the Soldiers Club look on.

Rsm Daramola at the event in the Soldiers Club.

* Other New Members of the  68 Nigerian Army Reference  Hospital Soldiers' Club include :

- Mr. Ndubisi Mbah; Mr. Emeh Nnamdi; Mr. Anyamehehi Sunday; Mr. Elijah Samuel; Mr. Dickson Ibeabuchi & others.

THE SOMOLU GLOBAL NEWS' WEB DIARY.

Pix of the Tuesday, 22nd Dec., 2009 (1.30pm to 6:45pm) LOGEMO HOUSE BOMB BLAST, 

Onipanu b/stop, Ikorodu Rd., Lagos, Nigeria, W/ Africa.

Photo : The SGN. Policemen, sympathizers and some members of 

The Press before The PPRO, Lagos Command's address to The Press.

Photo : The SGN. Policemen, Frank Mba, (2nd L, front row) The PPRO, Lagos Command; a member of the Anti Bomb Unit of The Police, Lagos State Command; The Acting DPO, Onipanu Police Station, 3rd Left (back row); after The Logemo House was declared safe for continual business activities by Frank Mba.

Photo : The SGN. Policemen, sympathizers and some members of 

The Press before The PPRO, Lagos Command's address to The Press.

Photo : The SGN. The Floors of the Storey Building where the Bomb Blasts happened in LOGEMO HOUSE 

(from a front view).

Many Pix of the Fire Disaster at N0. 1 Oluwadare St., Somolu, Lagos, Nigeria, W/Africa, on Friday, 11th Dec., 2009. (Photos : The SGN).

THE RED GODDESS AT THE FIRE SCENE. 

Sympathizers at the Scene.

Mr. Pius, Owner of the House (2nd Left) and Mrs. Mohammed, 

of The SGN, at the Fire Scene on the day of the Disaster.

SECURITY OPERATIVES ON GROUND AT THE SCENE.

FIRE FIGHTERS FIGHTING THE FIRE

YORE, FOREMOST COMEDIAN & MC; OKAYS THE ORIGINALITY OF THE SGN.

THE SGN VOL 3, N01. 

EDIT OPINION: IN THE DARK ROOM.

Why should the Government be accountable to the people? The reason is not far-fetched -the Government shoulders the responsibilities of collecting, managing and distributing the people’s money -tax payers’ money. The Institution that takes your money on a promise to alleviate your suffering should responsibly account to you on how it is achieving that promise.

     Nevertheless, when the government fails in the discharge of its responsibilities, it is akin to giving the people the license to be lawless. After all, “do me I do you, God no vex” (literally meaning -one good turn deserves another).

     About a year ago when the power generation/transmission and distribution of the Republic of Benin was a little problematic, the masses in Benin went berserk. Therefore, brouhahas ensued. They(Beninese) were almost mad with their Government. A correspondent of Somolu Global News -The SGN on an official trip, was co-incidentally in that country at that particular point in time. He reportedly assured the Beninese that their own case was synonymous with a man crying over having no shoes until he came across the man without legs. The following day, Boni Yayi reportedly reiterated on live TV while addressing his fellow citizens that he was doing everything possible to arrest the situation and that fellow Beninese should just look out of their windows before they get mad about the Power Supply problem, they will see neighboring Nigerians “dans le Noir” - in darkness. He assured his compatriots that he was just making sure that his country does not get neck deep into such power-outage-mess. “Jakunmo kin rin ‘san, Eni a biire kin rin ’ru” - the dangers of the night/darkness are too multi faceted for any God fearing fellow. The major feature of the night is darkness, which facilitates perpetration of horrendous crime. Therefore, when there is no power supply to actualize the profit making in Economic Activities of the masses as per survival strategies, it is as in a case of virtually extending the horrors of the night to daytime. Imagine the whole 24 hours of the day in total darkness! The negative effect on everything and everyone will be combustible and detrimental to the survival of the citizenry. Matter-of-factly, the multiplier effect of epileptic or 0% power supply in a gigantic Nation as ours echoes a fuss of our claim as giant of Africa.

     This negative effect because of its rather obvious nature cannot be over stressed or emphasized. When recently some of our leaders were tongue lashing Ghana about her size, some international figures almost concluded that Nigeria may degenerate into a big for nothing country.  However, if companies and businesses are rapidly relocating to Ghana, there is fire on the Nigerian proverbial mountain.

     In December, 2009, the Nigerian masses still work hardest to fuel and maintain their generating sets or other alternative power supply systems than feed themselves, their family members or even maintain an organized life towards a better future. That is purely unfair, in all its ramifications. There tend to be no visible difference between the working class and the lazing-around-beggars. Of what essence is it then to work hardest only to buy fuel and maintain generating sets endlessly?

     What is most unfair and adding insult to injury is the current style of the PHCN -power holding company of Nigeria -a metamorphosed version of the failed NEPA -National Electric Power Authority; vis-à-vis their facilities used for power distribution services delivery. Whenever the facilities are faulty, the PHCN officials are very quick to direct the people affected by that faulty transformer, collapsing pole, broken cable, burnt switch etc to put resources together in order to replace or repair such facility. Non- PHCN officials are prohibited by law to tamper with PHCN facilities,alas! they are not prohibited from putting their resources together for repairs.  Some citizens are even of the opinion that these PHCN officials remove at will, the parts of some of their facilities in order to exploit and extort the poor citizens. Cases of PHCN officials openly disconnecting debtors’ connection to power supply only to turn back later to collect bribe from the same debtors to reconnect the power supply even when the bill had not been paid abound. The readers of SOMOLU GLOBAL NEWS -The SGN can verify these claims. The officials of PHCN are always more than willing to exchange phone numbers with any Tom, Dick and Harry as though they were  businessmen.  

      If the PHCN customers try to resist any torment by the greedy PHCN boys, their connection cables are disconnected, seized and taken away for good. What happen to these cables? They are sold again to other customers of the PHCN. Please do your survey to ascertain this statement of facts, if only you are not a victim already. Does it mean that when MTN, Zain, Glo, etc have problems with their facilities, they should request their customers to contribute their hard-earned money to rectify such fault, otherwise these customers risk being cut-off the communication network? Such evolving circumstances prompted and championed by PHCN may be around the corner for Nigerians. Many clients of the PHCN services have had to do without Power Supply for months. Reasons? Transformers were faulty and later taken away by the PHCN boys for good.

     In the area of Power Supply in Nigeria, we have lost the battle completely hands down.

    However, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel after al. The Lagos State government, a government truly of the people by the people and for the people, recently distributed 15-made-in-Nigeria Transformers free-of-charge (FOC) to communities in Lagos State. The State Commissioner for Rural Development while receiving accolades from happy lagosians for this development must be mindful of the ways of some blood sucking boys who do not give a damn at milking the poor masses dry. If it is feasible and protocol permits, EL SEWEDY, makers of the God-sent-made-in-Nigeria Transformers should take its staff members to install the transformers.

     The made-in-Nigeria-transformer Initiative is an exemplary effort that must be ‘giraffed’ by other States Government Administrations around the Country.

     While the Country is now pulling resources together to make good on the Federal Government’s promise of 6,000 megawatts of electricity by December 2009, which is here already, Nigerians are watching and waiting to exhale!

     Over N3billion of tax payers’ money had been expended by the Federal Government “to upgrade power transmission”. Minister of Power, Dr. Lanre Babalola must be reminded that the Rilwan Lukman led Committee of 2007, which came up with the report that the Federal Government is capable of delivering 6,000MW by the end of 2009, and 10,000MW by 2011; had warned that the Government should be ready to expend $5bn to achieve that miracle. That kind of huge financial commitment of taxpayers’ money must be spent with all decorum. Alhaji Hussein Labo, Managing Director of PHCN must manage the largesse, excesses and shenanigans of his boys.

      While all efforts are in top gear to save the Country from an avoidable fall, Nigerians feeding from that rot should come to understand that there is no place like home.

ALARIWO, AFRO - HIP HOP STAR, ENDORSES The SGN.

EDITORIAL OPINION, The SGN Vol. 2 N09.

SYCAAAT 2009 -Panache towards a developmental Social Service.

The SOMOLU YOUTH COUNCIL would not stop at organizing the “HIV / AIDS CAMPAIGN” (for all Secondary Schools in Somolu/Bariga, held between December and January 2007/8 at Somolu Local Government Secretariat) and Launching of “SOMOLU YOUTH FAMILY HOSPITAL CARD” (with and at ADESOLA CLINIC in Bariga on February 14, 2008.) but shall move on to institutionalize, in December 2009, the “SOMOLU YOUTH COUNCIL ACTION AGAINST AIDS TREK -SYCAAAT”, the Chairman of the Planning Committee for SYCAAAT 2009 intimated.

     Agbolade Omowole,  veteran runner of Interpersonal Skills Training for Corporate Organizations, recently furnished the Press with logical steps to tackle the problem of finding life ‘s true purpose. Agbolade wrote a step-by-step formula towards achieving a life’s true purpose. By every standard, the formula should pass for an archival material which should guide youth’s Herculean Task of deciding on what to do in life.  Virtually all the youths of today are obviously indecisive on the right path to follow in life thereby taking wrong steps hence not living a purposeful life at the end of the day.

     Agbolade simplified his formula by touching on such pertinent topics of Life as : “Maturity Comes With Responsibility”; “A Life Without Purpose May Be Worthless”; “Some People Don’t Know Their Purpose”; “Discover Your Purpose”; “Your Purpose Is Why You Are Here”; “Why Are You Here”; “What Problem Are You Solving”; “Live Your Life”; “Let Your Life Come Alive”; “What Is Your Purpose”; “Your True Purpose Brings You Fulfillment”; “Put Purpose In Everything You Do”; and “Choose Your Career Path Wisely”.      Coming up with a Fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in Somolu and beyond, reacts to the salient points of Agbolade ‘s Piece  to achieve a purposeful life. This year’s Fight against HIV/AIDS in Somolu is tagged ‘SYCAAAT 2009’, an initiative of The SGN and The Somolu Youth Council. To that effect, a 5-Man Committee had since been setup to handle the preparatory activities of achieving a success of the Project slated for December 2009 with the theme : “join the youths against HIV/AIDS”. Prince Foster Akinpelu is the Presider of the Planning Committee for SYCAAAT 2009. In a Presentation of that Committee to The SGN, Prince Foster Akinpelu enthused that “the Benue state Government recently signed an MOU with Mchigll University Manitoba of Canada (a University vast in the treatment and management of HIV-AIDS) in order to reverse the spread of HIV-AIDS in Benue State. Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS - NIBUCAA is also in place. So, if SYCAAAT 2009 is coming up at this time, it is a laudable step in the right direction, at the right time and organized by the right set of people, in the right community where such is least expected. It is an initiative of the people by the people and for the people -perfectly inline with a Democratic Setting in a Democratic Dispensation, therefore all well-meaning members of Somolu Federal Constituency should be proudly part of it.” Akinpelu added that “at this point when Governor B. Fashola of Lagos State is impacting positively on virtually every Lagosian ‘s life, SYCAAAT is a welcome approach to compliment the efforts of Mr. Fashola. These are some of the reasons why I approved of being part of the Project when appointed by the SOMOLU YOUTH COUNCIL”.

     Hon. Ridwan Balogun, the Chairman of the Somolu Youth Council, reiterated that the TREK is the first of its kind in Somolu Federal Constituency and it is in line with the World Aids Day which comes up every year’s December 1. In the Chairman’s words, SYCAAAT shall be a yearly event and will also be multi-faceted but mainly, it is aimed at encouraging the Youth to live an HIV-AIDS-Free life as well as knowing their statuses.

     It appears thus that the SOMOLU YOUTH COUNCIL, considering the fact that the Youth is the most hit of HIV/AIDS problematic situation, is somewhat willing to contribute its quota in supporting the “National Response to HIV-AIDS”, in order to “reverse the trend of HIV pandemic in Nigeria”.  Where then there is a will, there should be a way. The SOMOLU YOUTH COUNCIL should begin to mete out the necessary strategies to having a successful TREK against HIV-AIDS so that its spread will be drastically reduced to a manageable state in Somolu. The Council should also be mindful that Somolu being the Community it is, there shall be surmountable but tasking and back-breaking challenges.       It is worthy to note that Access Bank; Ashaka Cem;  British-American Tobacco; Cadbury; Chevron; Chivitaa; Coca-cola; Conocophillips; CWC; Dangote; Diamond Bank; Exxon Mobil; First Bank; Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc; Guiness Nigeria; HYGEIA; Julius Berger Nigeria Plc; Nigeria LNG Limited; MTN; Nestle; Nigerian - American Chamber of Commerce; Nigeria Brewries; Shell; NNPC; Stanbic IBTC; Total E & P Nigeria Ltd; Total Nigeria Plc; UBA; Unilever; and Zain; have since instituted NIBUCAA -Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS.

     It may interest the readers of The SGN to note that it is statistically proven that more than twenty-three banks have established their branches in Somolu; more than twelve Petrol Stations; more than Sixty-two incorporated Printing Press Houses; more than thirty one private schools; more than forty-two other corporate bodies are in Somolu alone. Thus, one can conveniently conclude that SYCAAAT 2009 is a perceived success.  FOSTER ‘S BEAUTYWAYS LTD (and its publication -The SGN) has made available its resources to compliment the efforts of NIBUCAA and facilitate the success of SYCAAAT 2009 in any way possible.

     First Citizens of Somolu Federal Constituency should not at this time sit on the fence while pensively considering that the fight against HIV - AIDS is of all, for all  and not for the Somolu Youth Council alone.  Senator Olorunibe Mamowora, Hon. Oluwole Diya, Hon. Abiru Oluwarotimi, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, Hon. Omogbolahan Bagostowe; Hon. Omoyele Sulaimon -ORIS; Hon. Mike Oikeh and other top citizens of SOMOLU FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY should now ask themselves what their purposes and stances are as per SYCAAAT 2009. Other members of Somolu/Bariga should show their support by contributing to the success of SYCAAAT 2009.

     The map of how the TREK shall go, conducted and managed had been drawn. Supports are being solicited and the Somolu Youth Council is poised, according to the Chairman of the Council -Hon. Ridwan Balogun, to address all other social vices confronting Somolu in due course.

     For record purposes, the Somolu Youth Council is a statutory, non-governmental, not-for-profit Youth Council that is empowered in accordance with the provisions contained in chapter eight of the National Youth Development Policy for Nigeria as the authoritative umbrella Council to represent, promote, and protect the fundamental interest of the entire Youths. The Somolu Youth Council is also, at the same time, the apex body for all voluntary Youth Associations whether faith-based; community-based; or social-based Youth organizations existing in Somolu Community.

     The 5-man Planning Committee  Members of SYCAAAT 2009 are Prince Foster Akinpelu, Chairman; Hon. Francis Sobande, branch secretary, Nigerian Red-Cross, Somolu Division; Comrade Stanley Wale Fatayo, Commander, Man’O’War Association, Somolu Zone; Comrade Adetola Odukoya K., District Scout Leader, Scout Association, Somolu; and Comrade Bimbo Smith, Sectary.

     

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BOXING ALIVE IN SOMOLU. The SGN, caught up with some local Amateurs recently in a Boxing Competition.

CRIME NEWS (COVER STORY). THE SGN VOL.2. NO. 7.

FOUR OPC MEMBERS ARRESTED BY THE POLICE...

Four members of the renowned ethnic militia, Oodua People’s Congress, were on the 16th of September, 2009 brought before a Lagos State Magistrate Court for a 3-count charge. The members are males between the age bracket of 17years and 31years and their names are Wasiu Salami (30yrs); Moshood Olorunkemi Eta (18yrs); Kabiru Rafiu (25yrs); and Toheeb Kolawole (21yrs).

   They have been granted bail and the case is adjourned till 19th October, 2009.    The Prosecutor, from Panti State C.I.D, argued that these alleged criminals “committed an offence contrary to and Punishable  under section 517 of the Criminal Code, Cap 17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003; in the first count of the charge. In the second count, the Prosecutor proceeded to point out that these OPC members were on the 15th of September, 2009 “conducting themselves in such a manner, as to cause persons in the neighbourhood to fear on reasonable grounds that they would tumultuously disturb the peace and thereby committed an offence contrary to and Punishable under section 70 of the criminal code, cap 17, vol. 2, Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003”. While he also proceeded to intimate the Court on the third Count that these men “are members of an unlawful society - Oodua Peoples Congress - OPC”. Thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 62 (2)(h) and Punishable under Section 64 (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003” To all these counts, the men pleaded “not guilty”. Tope Adebie, the IPO, substantiated the claims of the Prosecutor.

   The OPC leader, Otunba Gani Adams, you may recall was arrested on the 22nd of October 2005 and he was detained in Kuje Prisons in Abuja for 14 months allegedly for being in pocession of prohibited fire arms. Adams was also then charged for being a member of an “unlawful association - the OPC, in contradiction to and punishable under section 64 of the criminal code act. Otunba Gani Adams was on 29th December, 2006 quoted in a daily newspaper as saying that during the forceful stay in prison he was “diagnosed as having chronic rhino sinusitis” after he reportedly discovered that, he had a pain in the chest. Gani Adams’ case during the duration of his detention, was adjourned 17times. On December 23,2006. Adams reportedly said : “ I am full of thanks to the President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and indeed all other Nigerians who made my problem, theirs. I mean great people like Prof. Wole Soyinka, Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State and his Ogun Counterpart, Chief Gbenga Daniel, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (of blessed memory), Senator Ogunwale, Ambassador Segun Olusola. The list is endles and I want to thank all of them including my OPC members for their loyality”.

   Section 62 of the Criminal Code Cap “C38” and EFCC (Economic and Financial Crime Commission) Act defined a ‘Society’ as including any combination of ten or more persons whether the society  be known by any name or not. A society is then ‘UNLAWFUL’ according to the same section “if formed for ‘levying war or encouraging or assisting any person to levy war on the Government or the inhabitants of any part of Nigeria or (b) Killing or injuring or encouraging the killing or injuring or encouraging the destruction or injuring of any property or (d) Subverting or promoting the subversion of the Government or of its officials; or (e) Committing or inciting to acts of violence or intimidation; or interfering with or resisting, or encouraging interference with, or resisting, or encouraging interference with or resistance to the administration of law; or (g) Disturbing or encouraging the disturbance of peace and order in any part of Nigeria, or (h) If declared by an order of the President to be a society dangerous to the good government of Nigeria or of any part thereof. “

   Section 63 of the same Criminal Code, under “Managing an Unlawful Society” states that “any person who manages or assists in the management of an unlawful society is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment of seven years.”

   After all the Brouhahas of the legality of OPC, there is the need in 2009 to alert Nigerians of the through legal status of OPC in the Nigerian System of Justice otherwise those influential and well meaning people throwing their weight behind OPC may be found guilty of the Section 63 of the criminal code as explained above.

   In this regard, a call was placed from SOMOLU GLOBAL NEWS -The SGN (0803471-3725) on Sunday 20th September, 2009 at about 5:25pm to the phone number of Otunba Gani Adams. He was said to be in a meeting. The call was later returned from Gani ‘s number to The SGN and his aide advised that on the issue of the four OPC arraigned, we should speak to the Coordinator of that area. As  per the legal status of OPC, he said “we all know that OPC is legal.”     At 5:58pm on the same date, The SGN placed a call through to Arogundade S. Balogun, a CSO of the OPC and when he was requested to speak on the issues, he humbly requested to call back and he did at exactly 6pm. He requested to speak with Prince Foster Akinpelu, the Publisher of SOMOLU GLOBAL NEWS, The SGN; and Prince Akinpelu was handed the telephone. Arogundade explained that “OPC is duely and procedurally lawful”. “An Association with over 5million members” Arogundade stressed that “OPC is legit and that is evident in the way Ministers, Governors, Obas and even Presidents associate and support the Oodua People’s Congress.” Arogundade Sadam Balogun concluded that “even President Barack Obama knows that OPC exists in Nigeria”. When asked to comment on members of the group arrested on the 15th of  September, 2009; Arogundade said he was aware of the development and explained that he was happy that the law is taking its due process and as per those four members of the OPC, Sadam said he had warned the members severally of not going near places where drugs are sold or even smoked and also steer clear of trouble. He said “although the  members arrested were not smoking drugs but they should not have gone any where close to where such was going on thus I am happy because that will sound as a note of warning to all other members of the group not to be found wanting”. Aro Sadam, as he is popularly called, concluded that “the Law is no respecter of anybody”.

A MAD MAN!!!    A RUGGED MATHEMATICIAN!!!   THE SGN MEETS WITH MYSTERY. 

VOL.2. NO.7. SOMOLU GLOBAL NEWS EDITORIAL OPINION.

This is the conviction of mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the one-time EFCC Chairman; of Chief Gani Fawehinmi when the latter passed on recently: “ I have lost a father, a friend and a mentor; but I am grateful to God for having a very inspiring relationship with Chief. He helped to shape my life; he made me to believe in the truth and I just have the courage to stand by these ideals. May his kind soul rest in peace. God will be kind to Gani because he was a kind and good man”.

     Ribadu reportedly poured his conviction on the condolence register when he “sneaked” into his country, his fatherland reportedly on Thursday 10th September, 2009. One week after, our Inspector-General of Police, ONOVO (whose tall profile was one of the basis for SOMOLU GLOBAL NEWS’ belief that we can take his word as his bond in one of our past Editorial Opinion) goofed ‘mass-publicly’ and poured his conviction reportedly as saying : “Honestly, I don’t believe that Ribadu came to Nigeria. How can somebody like that go to Gani’s house on a condolence visit and his photograph will not be published in any Newspaper…”

     The Print Media proved our I.G wrong, the following day. And voila! The photos taken by Ribadu were not only shown to I.G but to the world at large. The I.G did not believe someone sneaked into the country let alone knowing. Is our security system in Nigeria that incompetent?

     While the I.G was still suffering from this ‘knock-out’ from the Media; he thought  of remedying the ‘embarrassments’ and he set up a Committee to look into the issue of Ribadu’s visit reportedly on Wednesday, 30th September, 2009. The Committee was headed by Mr. Ganiyu Dawodu, Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Intelligence. You may recall that Dawodu was a former Commissioner of Police for Osun State Command. The Committee was given seven (7) days to make its report available. In the interim before Dawodu-led-Committee was set up, many waters were passing under the bridge. The one too many for the NUJ, NPAN and Human Rights Activists was the assassination of Mr. Bayo OHU. Bayo, until killed in his place of abode at 9, Oyeniyi Stree Odukoya Estate, Akowonjo; was the assistant News Editor with The Guardian Newspaper. Bayo ‘s life was gruesomely taken in the early hours of September 20, 2009 and he was 45 years old. The ‘Evil-Haramu-Action’ responsible for taking his life lasted not more than 15 minutes according to Omolara OHU, the deceased ‘s daughter. His laptop and phone were taken along with his life.

     Bayo was laid to rest on Friday, September 25, 2009 and Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, who officiated at his burial, asked us “to see his (Ohu’s) death as a blessing from God”. Oh yes! It was a blessing because along with Mr. Fashola Babatunde (Gov. of Lagos State); Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji (speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly); Mrs. Abike DABIRI (member, Federal House of Rep.); Mr. Adegbenro ADEBANJO (Chief Press Sec to Ogun State Gov.); Mr. Emeka Izeze (Managing Director and E in C, The Guardian Newspaper); and other colleagues, friends, family members and well wishers of Bayo present at the burial ceremony; the master-minders of his death would have also commiserated with his family members and possibly even attended his burial. The blessing is that (it is commonly believed that the dead shall be at his burial) Bayo would have seen them that day.

     With heavy heart, we at SOMOLU GLOBAL NEWS sympathize with Ochuko Ohu (Bayo ‘s wife); Ohu’s family members at large; Mr. Emeka Izeze (of the Guardian); all the staff members of the Guardian Newspaper; NUJ; and Print Media Houses for the death of Bayo OHU. A death which further magnifies the dearth of security in Nigeria.

     Another blessing of Bayo ‘s death is that we now are reminded again that in a country where a Minister For Justice and Attorney General of the Federation in the person of Chief Bola IGE was slaughtered even when he had orderlies and guards; a society where the deputy chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights (for that matter) Mr IGWE, physically assaulted a security detail - Mr. Chinalu NWULU because he was doing his job; a Nation where Electricity (Power) is only wished for but virtually never had; nothing can be guaranteed - even the lives of our Leaders.

     On the second chance, we at The SGN would want to take ONOVO’s word again as his bond. He was quoted on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 as saying : “ There will be no tolerance for corrupt practices, overzealousness, unjustified use of firearms and acts capable of further tarnishing the image of the Force”

         The Commissioner of Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Marvel Akyoyibo had reportedly directed all DPOs (Divisional Police Officers) and Area Commanders to timely find a solution to the problem of finding OHU’s killers. In that vein, Area G Command and Egbeda Police Division should surprise Nigerians for the first time and produce the killers of OHU. The killers should not go scot-free, they must also be made to face the Law.

     Also, it is pertinent to remind OGA I.G. ONOVO that we have not forgotten Omololu Falobi and Abayomi Ogundeji, from Punch Newspaper;  Godwin Agboroko of THISDAY; Bagauda Kaltho of THE NEWS; Dele Giwa, then in 1986, of Newswatch Magazine and a host of other Journalists, some who were not even killed but were highly assaulted because they were doing their job.

     It is only when ONOVO and his Men in Black reduce crime to the barest minimum that we Nigerians can begin to be guaranteed that being a Nigerian does not expire soon. 

     The 6 men killers of OHU, remember - ‘he that kills with the sword shall also die by the sword’. Await your time. It is not about ‘creating panic in the State’, it is a matter of fact.

* some Somolu Local Government Environment Dept. Guys at work in one of their usual outings of Thursday.

Somolu Global News, Editorial Opinion. Vol 2, No 6.

‘RED FLAG’ AGAINST BANK CHIEFS BY ‘MEN IN RED’. 

Bold, courageous, straightforward, intelligent, independent, impeccable, amiable and honest are some of the adjectives to the merit of Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor Lamido Sanusi by some quarters as a result of the unfolding saga in the Banking Sector.

Other quarters have submitted that the whole show is about Northernization, Sectionalization, Lamidolization, Sanusitization, Faridalization, Wazirilization, EFCCization and CBNization.

But in our opinion at SOMOLU GLOBAL NEWS,  we are hoping anxiously that those who feel that the saga should be about sanitization and democratization in the best interest of the public are on the right lane.

In the same vein, Senator Nkechi Nwogu had expressed that the CBN’s move is untimely as well as Partial. In her capacity as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking and other Financial Institutions, she made her opinion public by maintaining that the apex bank should have done the financial audit of all the banks before talking about sanctions. In her words, it is only a tree that will hear that it will be cut off in a week and still wait for its assailant, other banks would have learnt lessons and will do as much as possible to put their books in order. Mr. Sanusi, on Wednesday  September 2, 2009 while explaining that the N420bn injected into the five banks (whose CEOs : Mr. Erastus Akingbola, Intercontinental Bank; Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, Oceanic Bank; Mr. Okey Nwosu, FinBank Plc; Mr. Batholomew Ebong, Union Bank; and Mr. Sebastine Adigwe, Afribank Plc; were sacked on August 14, 2009.) was a “loan” and not an “expenditure” pointed out that CBN is the ‘lender of the last resort’ to the five ‘stressed’ banks.

The Menu being served now was from the allegations leveled against  five banks of illegally handling some of their banking activities. The CBN fired the five bank chiefs and gave the debt picture of the banks as thus : Oceanic Bank - N278.2bn. Intercontinental  Bank - N210.96bn; Union Bank N73.6bn; Afribank Plc, N141.9bn; and Finbank, N42.4bn. In addition, Oceanic Bank was even said to have given some underground backdoor loan of N15bn. Over one trillion Naira was classified as non-performing loan (a banking term said to be determined by weighing a lot of indices) by  CBN. To that effect, many debtors have rushed in to pay their debts and some were even said to have turned-in their properties (houses et al) as collateral until they can fully pay up.

The EFCC ‘Commandos’ under the leadership of Mrs. Farida Waziri have temporarily moved to Lagos for ease and affectivity of carrying out operations as per these alleged banking irregularities. They have indeed made the arrests of most Bankers involved in the case. Some of the arrested and arraigned persons connected to this case one way or the other are now either remanded in the EFCC custody situated along Okotie Eboh  close in Ikoyi or the Ikoyi Prisons.

No matter how un-parochial the driving force of Sanusi, Farida Waziri and other Enforcers are in this hitch of the Banking Sector, there is every need to follow due process all the way. Sanusi has an uncommon opportunity now to show not only Nigerians but the world that his driving force  in this issue of intercontinental interest and greatest importance is a YES to the Four Way Test.

This has become sacrosanct and  imperative because all eyes are now watching. Nigeria is indeed in the limelight under a spotlight. Questions are being asked and these questions should be answered correctly and fairly. If at the end of the day the Apex Bank and EFCC are found wanting in any way whatsoever, there shall be no more atom of confidence even in the Federal Government of Nigeria of today. The EFCC reportedly got an order to keep most of the Bank Chiefs in detention beyond the constitutional 48 hours from a Magisterate Court in Lagos. But does the Magisterate Court have the competence to issue such order of such magnitude? Some of the detainees are dying. Mrs. Toyin Phillips reportedly collapsed in detention. Mrs. Cecilia Ibru had been said to be in bad health conditions as well as some others. The embattled Akingbola and Mrs. Cecilia Ibru had to file a challenge legally against their removal and also requested N50bn damages each on Monday 24th August, 2009. The suit was filed against the CBN Governor, Mr. Lamido Sanusi and the CBN at the Federal High Court in Lagos. On Tuesday 25th August, 2009, the legal counsel of Oceanic Bank’s Mrs. Ibru, Ajibola Oluyede  declared that the CBN ’s action against Oceanic Bank is a COUP D’ ETAT. According to him Oceanic Bank has 350 branches in Nigeria, 7 branches in West Africa sub region and a focal point in China. Thus the counsel further explained that Oceanic Bank is not in any danger of insolvency. He also made some laudable, humanitarian, philanthropic, people-oriented projects of Oceanic Bank known publicly.

But our stand at SOMOLU GLOBAL NEWS is that, having more than 350 branches and being a philanthropist are not enough grounds for any bank’s director to give depositor’s money as loan to ghost companies! Whatever height these banks in question have gotten to today, it is largely based on the patronage you and I (whose beliefs are that our monies are in safest hands) have put into the banks.

Now, on Tuesday September 1, 2009, reports got to Somolu Global News that Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, Mr. Okey Nwosu (of Fin Bank Plc); Mr. Sebastine Adigwe (of Afribank Plc); Mr. Bartholomew Ebong (of Union Bank) alongside Mr. Henry Onyeme and Mr. Niyi Opeodu; seven directors of Intercontinental Bank Plc and Chairman Dr. Raymond Obieri were all arraigned before Justice Dan Abutu of the Federal High Court on Monday August 31, 2009. Mr. Erastus Akingbola (of  Intercontinental Bank Plc) is reportedly still at large as at Wednesday, September 9, 2009. They (accused) are all facing a combination of 117-count charge of giving loans in excess of billions of Naira without adequate collateralized security. They have all pleaded Not Guilty.

Ebong, Opeodu, Oyemem, Ibru, Enuha, Alabi, Adegbite, Umar, Dada, Adams, are remanded in EFCC custody, while others are reportedly remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons. Though, their lawyers sought their release on bail with all professionalism, it was to no avail as the lawyers were required to file formally in black and white, and yet on Friday 04, Sept., 2009  when Lawyers numbering about 53 stormed the Court, freedom was still far-fetched.

Mrs. Ibru who had a 25-count charge could not stand on her feet while the charges against her were being read even at that (sitting on the chair) she fell off the chair at a point. This occasioned the court proceedings to be suspended for almost 20 minutes. As a result, the EFCC was advised  to allow her to be properly hospitalized. The ‘Bank Shakeup Show’ will definitely end sooner or later. At the end of it all, ‘Iyan ma di atun gun, obe adi atun se’ - there will be need for proper overhauling of the Banking System. It will then be only fair and just to request of Charles Soludo to explain what had happened during his reign. Up to the point that even when these banks were reportedly falling, Uncle Soludo veiled Nigerians’ faces with an advertorial by CBN under him, published in the Punch Newspaper of Friday March 20, 2009. It read in parts : “the attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been drawn to the BASELESS RUMOURS about Intercontinental Bank Plc’s financial condition…” that “the Central Bank wishes to react as follows : * Intercontinental Bank Plc remains HEALTHY and has been meeting her obligation to her customers …” also that : “ * the general public is hereby advised to ignore any NEGATIVE RUMOURS or FALSE  INFORMATION on Intercontinental Bank Plc or ANY OTHER NIGERIAN BANK as the INFORMATION is FALSE…” and that “The Central Bank of Nigeria reiterates its ASSURANCE that Nigerian Banks are STRONG ENOUGH to manage the shocks and challenges occasioned by the global economic crises”. Even though some of these Bank Chiefs may be found culpable of the charges against them, there is a saying that “everybody is a thief, it is only the ones that are caught in the open  that are the Barawos”. By the time Uncle Soludo tells the world his part of the story, it will  facilitate  ruling out the fact that  he may be an ‘uncaught  barawo’ completely. Then it will be the turn of properly and analytically reconsidering the Vanguard News Story of March 2, 2009 about how a group of people were  planning to take over five Nigerian Banks. The story is now of grave relevance to what is unfolding in the Banking Sector. Mr. Sanusi should be just and fair in his handling of the matter because apart from the fact that no one is a saint, he should not be seen as playing out a selfish plan of action built out of a ‘pre-conceived agenda’.

At the turn of a New Chapter in Nigerian Banking Industry, SOMOLU GLOBAL NEWS wishes to remind the government at all levels that Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Nigeria should be given a chance by Nigerian Banks Loaning System. An average Nigerian already admits his resignation and fate that he has no place on the Bank Loan Queue. He does not even know the yardstick in ascertaining his fitness to obtain a Bank loan. All he hears are some banking jargons cajoling him to deposit his money but not being qualified to take a bank loan. Many golden ideas and futuristic, human, people-oriented projects have been killed owing to no funding. Most developed countries have been said to treat ideas and creative projects as goldmine and they have excelled unbelievably thereof.

Mr. Sanusi and his men can facilitate the process of making public, the conditions of obtaining a bank loan. That way, an individual screens himself before leaving his home in search of a bank loan. That way, not only the few privileged ones will be enjoying the benefits of OPM -other people’s money. Since many of these borrowers have reportedly said that the  banks came virtually to force the loan on them even when they did not want, nor request for such loans in the neighbourhood of billions of Naira. So the need to collateralize such loans was defeated from the onset.

Uncle Sanusi, we must  let you know that we the upcoming high achievers will not even request for loans in the tune of billions of Naira. Just let them provide us with the seven-figured loans and extend same generosity to the SMEs and in the next one year, come and see what Nigerians will become economically.

SMEs are catalysts for economic growth as reiterated by Dr. Uche Nwogwugwu, a lecturer in the Department of Economics at the Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka; while delivering a paper at the 4th Annual Eastern Districts Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria held in Calabar recently. He also challenged the Federal Government of being insensitive to small scale businesses in Nigeria. He was said to have also remarked that The Federal Government wastes huge amount of Public Fund on the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, Iwopin Papermill, Bacita Sugar Company among others.