INCOMPETENT GOVERNMENT ! Falana to Buhari: If El-Zakzaky dies, new insurgency coming

Femi Falana, Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist has sounded a note of warning to the Buhari government on the implications of detaining Shiite leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, despite court orders for his release.

The legal luminary said the nation risks another insurgency, should El Zakzaky die in detention, just like it happened with Boko Haram after the leader, Mohammed Yusuf was killed by Nigerian policemen, while in detention in Maiduguri in 2009.

“El-Zakzaky must not be allowed to die due to medical neglect as it may provoke a crisis of monumental proportions. Therefore, the federal government should implement the unanimous resolution of the House of Representatives for the release of El-Zakzaky and his wife without any further delay”, Falana warned in a lengthy statement on Tuesday.

He warned the Federal Government of Nigeria against its violent approach to handling members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria who are protesting the detention of their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, despite numerous court orders for his release.

Falana expressed concerns over the method the Federal Government had adopted in a statement on Tuesday. The legal luminary said the continuous detention of El-Zakzaky and killing of peaceful Shiite protesters by security forces could lead the country into another bloody war that it could not afford.

“This nation cannot afford another war of insurgency which is being provoked by the contemptuous conduct of the Federal Government in the handling of the case of the El-Zakzakys,” Falana said.

Speaking on the arrest and detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife Malama Zeinab on December 12, 2015, Falana said over 1,000 Shiites were reportedly massacred by soldiers on the orders of the Nigerian Army high command and given mass burial in an unmarked grave in Mango village, Kaduna State over allegations of attempt to assassinate Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

“Even though the leader of the Shiites, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, was not at the scene of the attack, his residence was invaded by the rampaging troops two days later. The troops set the house ablaze, shot at El-Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeinab El-Zakzaky and killed three of their sons in cold blood in their presence. As if such barbaric assault was not enough, the army arrested and held El-Zakzaky and his wife in custody before handing them over to the Department of State Services. At that stage, the houses of El-Zakzaky and other leaders in Zaria were demolished by the Kaduna state government on the orders of Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

“After the massacre of the Shiites and the demolition of the houses of their leaders, the Kaduna state government instituted a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the violent attack.

“The detained El-Zakzaky was prevented from responding to the allegations made against him and his group at the inquiry. But the judicial commission found that there was no plan by the Shiites to assassinate General Buratai. It was also revealed at the panel that the 347 Shiites were massacred by the army in violations of the Army Rules of Engagement and the Geneva Conventions.

“Apart from condemning the brutal massacre of the Shiites, the judicial commission recommended that the culprits be prosecuted.

“Instead of implementing the recommendation by prosecuting the well-known murderers the Kaduna state government turned round to charge over 300 Shiites with the culpable homicide of a soldier who was killed by his colleagues during the attack. But the defence team convinced the Kaduna state high court to free the Shiites as they were not involved in the commission of the offence.

“Accordingly, the charge was dismissed for want of evidence while the trial court proceeded to discharge and acquit all the defendants. Meanwhile, the suit challenging the illegal detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife was decided in their favour by the federal high court on December 2, 2016.

“The presiding judge, Kolawole J. (as he then was) directed the Federal Government to release the couple from unlawful custody, pay them N50 million reparation and provide them with a temporary house since the army had burnt down their residence. But the Buhari regime has characteristically treated the court orders with arrogant contempt.

Curiously, the Court of Appeal has refused to hear the application to commit the Director-General of the State Security Service for contempt of court! Upon our legal advice, the Shiites approached three separate high courts to challenge the violation of their right to assemble and protect peacefully.”

He added that despite the orderly nature in which the Shiites had conducted themselves, the Federal Government, through the army, was operating with impunity to disrupt the group’s peaceful protests.

“The Shiites won the cases against the Federal Government as the courts upheld their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly. But out of sheer impunity, the army has killed about 50 Shiites at Abuja for protesting against the continued detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife.

“As the federal government could no longer justify the illegal detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife it directed the Kaduna state government to file a charge against them. Hence, they have been charged with culpable homicide at the Kaduna state high court for the death of the same soldiers.

“Pending the trial, the team of local and international physicians who examined El-Zakzaky and his wife on the orders of the trial court confirmed that their health has deteriorated and recommended that they are allowed to travel abroad for urgent medical treatment. In particular, El-Zakzaky has lost an eye while he is the process of losing the other one.

“The wife can no longer walk as a result of the gun wounds inflicted on her during the military attack of December 2015. Without adducing any reason whatsoever the federal government has ignored the recommendation of the physicians.

“The Shiites are currently protesting the refusal of the Buhari regime to release El-Zakzaky and his wife from custody to enable them to travel abroad to receive urgent medical treatment at their own expense.

“El-Zakzaky must not be allowed to die due to medical neglect as it may provoke a crisis of monumental proportions. Therefore, the federal government should implement the unanimous resolution of the House of Representatives for the release of El-Zakzaky and his wife without any further delay.

“Finally, it would be recalled that the Boko Haram sect declared war on the people of Nigeria in 2009 following the cold murder of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf by the Police. Since then the nation has known no peace. This nation cannot afford another war of insurgency which is being provoked by the contemptuous conduct of the federal government in the handling of the case of the El-Zakzaky.”

- PM NEWS

ENOUGH OF EXCUSES !! Buhari reveals why killings, insecurity have spread to other parts of Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari has observed that criminal elements are taking advantage of the focus on the North East to commit crimes in other parts of the country.

He promised that the successes recorded in degrading terrorists in the North East will be extended to other parts of the country experiencing challenges.

Buhari assured Nigerians that security still tops his list of priorities.

According to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President stated this when he received executive members of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, led by the President, Dr Francis Adedayo Faduyile, at the State House on Tuesday.

“If you cannot secure a country or institution, you cannot manage it,’’ he said.

He disclosed that efforts were still ongoing to improve employment level, following the success in getting many into the agricultural sector, stressing that opening up the economy for investments and getting the youths engaged will control crime rate.

On health and education, Buhari urged states and local governments to play stronger roles in complementing the efforts of the Federal Government, especially in getting more children into classrooms.

“The issues of health and education are constitutional. If there are too many almajiris in a state, then the government is not following the constitution.

“The states also have elites who are educated enough to remind their governments about their responsibility to almajiris,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the President of the NMA congratulated Buhari for winning a second term in office, attributing his return to efforts made by the government to reposition the country, especially in health sector, like establishment of a cancer centre in University of Lagos Teaching Hospital.

Dr. Faduyile commended the President for always looking towards the NMA to appoint competent members for positions in the health sector, assuring that the medical association will continue to partner with the government to bring good health services to Nigerians.

He said there was a need to make the National Health Insurance Scheme compulsory for all Nigerians, including those in the informal sector, as some special treatments, like cancer, will require funds that might be beyond the reach of many.

The NMA President urged the Federal Government to further strengthen the primary health care system, institute a health bank where medical professionals can access loans for facilities, remove duties on imported medical equipment and give more attention to security.

He canvassed that the budget on health should be improved from four per cent to 15 per cent.

- DAILY POST 

NLC to NERC: Nigerians can’t afford increase in electricity tariff

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says consumers cannot afford to pay high electricity bills if there is a further increase in energy tariff.

Ayuba Wabba, NLC president, made this statement on Monday while speaking at the public consultation on capping of estimated billing by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja.

Describing the proposed increase in tariff as exploitative billing, he said the current cost of electricity has become unbearable for the rich while low-income earners are mostly affected due to the poverty level in the country.

Wabba condemned the exploitation of consumers through estimated billing by electricity distribution companies (DisCos), adding that the power sector privatisation should be reviewed.

“On our part, anything that will add cost to the consumers at this point in time, certainly, as a consumer and somebody that represents a large constituency, we will not be able to bear the cost,” he said.

“Where we are, the poverty level in Nigeria, I am telling you that many of us cannot afford to pay this exploitative billing.

“A retired DIG called me to say that he used to pay such amount and now this is what he is paying and that he cannot pay it again. Those are people at a higher level. What of those at the lower level, small and medium scale enterprises, like the barbers? Can the cooks pay?

“What is the per capita income in Nigeria? Let us be realistic, if not, we will put laws in place that are violated and nothing will happen.”

In May, the NERC had released guidelines for DisCos to submit their performance improvement plans (PIP) to pave way for a major tariff review by January 2020.

In June, the federal government had said that electricity tariff might be increased to improve the services of DisCos.

- THECABLE

Woman pours hot water on husband for planning second wife

The Police Command in Kano State has confirmed the arrest of a housewife, Aisha Ali, who allegedly poured hot water on the private part of her husband.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, confirmed the arrest of the suspect in a statement in Kano on Tuesday, and said that the incident occurred at Feyen-Fayen village in Danbatta Local Government Area.

Haruna said that the command received a report on Sunday from the Village Head of the community that 35-year-old Aisha poured hot water on the lap and private part of her husband in their home on Friday.

“The husband suffered severe burns on his private part and surroundings. He is presently admitted at Danbatta General Hospital receiving medical care and is responding to treatment,’’ he said.

He said that after the incident the suspect fled the village into neighbouring Jigawa.

Haruna said that on receipt of the report, the police responded promptly, by raising a team of Operation Puff Adder which tracked and arrested the suspect at her hideout at Babura in Jigawa.

He said that preliminary investigation revealed that she committed the act because her husband was planning to marry a second wife.

According to him, the commissioner of police in the state has ordered that the case be transferred to State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department for discreet investigation.

The spokesman said that the suspect would be arraigned as soon as the investigation was completed.

“The command is using this medium to call on law-abiding citizens of the state to always report any incident to the nearest police station without delay.

“This will assist in immediate arrest, investigation and diligent prosecution of the culprit,” he said.

- PM NEWS

MAD MAN !!! Insecurity has been tamed – Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said that insecurity has been tamed across the country by the Nigerian army.

Buratai stated this during a visit to the troops stationed at 1 Division Super Camp in Kuyello, Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Monday.

He said that the efforts of the military in the northeast and northwest as well as other parts of the country had reduced insecurity in the country.

Buratai restated that both the banditry in the northwest and Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast have been tactically defeated.

He warned that those playing politics with the security situations in the country should desist, adding that the army would not hesitate to take action against them.

According to him, there has been no major attacks in the last two tp three weeks because of the new strategy.

“Apart from some isolated remote areas as a result of some other factors, the attacks have drastically reduced.

“That means we are winning and it is a great success which people should be assured.

“All these cries of insecurity which some groups and individuals are taking it as a political game I think they should have a rethink because it is no longer the case.

“Insecurity has been tamed right now in the northeast and in the northwest and even in other areas we are doing so well.

“Our troops are deployed in support of the government, civil police and indeed the civil authorities,” he said.

The army chief commended the troops for the success recorded so far and urged them to remain focused.

- PM NEWS

‘Many trapped’ as building collapses in Jos

A three-story building collapsed in Jos, Plateau state capital, on Monday, leaving many residents trapped.

The building, which houses a pharmacy and a public toilet, is located at Butcher lane, off Dilimi street in Jos north local government area of the state.

At least six persons have reportedly been evacuated from the collapsed building and taken to the Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, for medical treatment.

Rescue operation is being carried out by a combined team of Nigeria Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Red Cross and security agencies

Kefas Yilrwang, acting managing director, Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), said lack of equipment is hampering the rescue operation.

Yilrwang also said absence of the facility had compelled operatives to conduct the rescue work manually.

He also said that the operation was not well organised as many people in the neighborhood were trooping to the scene of the incident to rescue people that were trapped in rubbles.

“Everyone wants to help and the whole place is jam-packed, making it difficult for rescuing agents to perform their duties,” he said.

The acting managing director, however said the operation would continue till the following day.

- THECABLE

Solskjaer includes Brazil star, two others in Man United squad

Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has included Brazil star, Fred, in his side’s 2019 second leg pre-season tour in Singapore.

The Norwegian also included Dean Henderson and Matteo Darmian in his squad.

“After they’ve been given some leave, they’ll come to Singapore,” Solskjaer was quoted by Man United’s official website as telling reporters on Tuesday.

“So, we expect Dean, Fred and Matteo to join us there.”

Solskjaer’s men will tackle Leeds United at the Optus Stadium on Wednesday.

The Red Devils will also tackle Internazionale at the Singapore National Stadium this weekend in an International Champions Cup match.

- DAILY POST 

UNHCR calls for closure of immigrant detention centre in Libya

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) on Monday called for closure of detention centre of illegal immigrants in Libya.

“We continue to call for the closure of all detention centres in Libya. Over 200 people were brought to Tajoura detention centre,’’ the UNHCR tweeted.

According to report by Xinhua, in July, dozens of illegal immigrants were killed or injured in an attack on a detention centre for illegal immigrants in the east of the capital Tripoli.

Both of the east-based army and the UN-backed government have exchanged accusations for the deadly attack.

The army has been leading a military campaign since April to take over Tripoli from the government.

According to the World Health Organization, the fighting has so far killed more than 1,000 people and injured over 5,700 others, while more than 100,000 fled their homes because of the armed conflict.

Libya has been suffering escalating violence and political instability ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011.

- PM NEWS

FOOLS !! Miyetti Allah calls for Obasanjo’s arrest

The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore has called for the arrest of former President Olusegun Obasanjo over comments he made in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

In the letter dated July 15, Obasanjo asked the president to take decisive action on insecurity, saying the situation could degenerate into a full-blown crisis if not tackled appropriately.

Obasanjo said rather than “hammer” the farmer-herder crisis, the impression is that the government of Buhari is treating it with kid gloves.

But in an interview with PUNCH, Alhassan Saleh, national secretary of Miyetti Alla Hore,asked Obasanjo to offer any information he has in order to solve the security crisis.

“The fact that there is insecurity, I don’t think the Fulani are responsible for it. The narrative that we are responsible for the insecurity is even the problem we have with the Nigerian state,” he said.

“When any crime happens, even before there is an investigation, people rush to the press and start accusing Fulani herdsmen. Herdsmen are supposed to be carrying herds of cows but if somebody is a criminal or an armed robber, he should be treated as such.

“But if Obasanjo, in particular, having ruled this country for so many years and with his network of security contacts, both locally and internationally, has information, I think he can volunteer it.”

Asked about a proposed national platform for dialogue, Saleh said, “Which national dialogue? We have a National Assembly. Whatever they have, they should send it to the National Assembly. What is the function of the National Assembly? People lost power and don’t want to agree that in a democracy, you may be in power and another time, you won’t be in power.

“If we have confidence in those we elected, I think whatever issue they have, they can channel it to the National Assembly. They want another talk shop probably to come and reposition themselves and their cronies into another jamboree.

“Where is the Goodluck Jonathan conference report? Where are the other conferences’ reports? They are just pushing an agenda; in fact, they are desperate and very diabolical in their attempt to cause a crisis in this country. My worry is that the government is not decisive in dealing with characters of that nature.

“The earlier they get him (Obasanjo) arrested and dealt with, according to the laws of the land, the better. He doesn’t mean well for the country. We just elected a new government; we have a National Assembly that was just inaugurated. Nobody needs any conference, except they are pushing for something else.”

- THECABLE 

SOUTH WEST WAKE UP ! 3 Fulani herdsmen arrested for allegedly killing 40-year-old farmer

The Ogun State police command has arrested three herdsmen for allegedly killing a 40-year-old farmer, Rafiu Sowemimo.

It was learnt that Sowemimo was hacked to death while he was returning home from his farm in Adao village in Alabata, Odeda local government area of the state on Sunday, July 14th.

The suspects, Muhammed Adamu, Saliu Ismail and Saliu Adamu on the previous day, reportedly had a face-off with the deceased who accused them of allowing their cattle stray into his farm, destroying his crops.

Angered by the confrontation, the suspects allegedly ambushed him and stabbed him to death.

Confirming their arrest, the spokesperson of the state police command, Abimbola Oyeyemi told newsmen in the state that the arrests were made following tips from residents in the community.

“With information from the natives, they were able to arrest the three herders who perpetrated the heinous crime.

“The Commissioner of Police Bashir Makama has been to the village to condole with the family of the victim.

“He ordered the transfer of the suspects to Homicide Section of the SCIID for proper investigation and prosecution’,” Oyeyemi said

- DAILY POST

POINTLESS !! Nigeria Immigration to capture foreign Fulani in migrant e-registration

Cross River State Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Barr. James Okey Ezugwu has disclosed that all non Nigerian Fulani will be captured in the current NIS e-registration exercise going on in the 18 local government areas of the State.

Speaking in Calabar during breakfast meeting with newsmen on Monday, he said, “Fulani who are non-Nigerian and other entities who are not Nigerians, but residing in Nigeria will be captured”.

Ezugwu said the Service began e-registration of all migrants in the entire 18 local government areas of Cross River State, explaining that the e-registration was not to find out “Whether the person has a mission or not but to know that he or she is here”.

The Comptroller said the profiling of migrants was even more imperative because Cross River State, being a border state, was a haven for foreigners.

“We are commencing the registration of migrants in all the eighteen local government areas of the state. Every migrant must be captured and profiled so that we can be held responsible. It helps in planning and enhances our productivity, securitywise.

“Cross River State occupies a strategic place when it comes to boundary issues. Our peculiar situation makes it imperative to account for every foreigner in the state,” the Comptroller said.

Ezugwu however said that: “The essence of profiling is not to find out whether he or she (immigrant) has a mission or not, but to know that such person is here. It is not a medium to find out who has overstayed or find out one’s status, but to know where you are.”

He pointed out that there were two categories of immigrants: those who were required to register and those who were exempted from registering.

“There are two categories of immigrants: those who are expected to register and those who are exempted from registration. Those who are to register include visitors staying for more than ninety days; residents who are non-Nigerians and ECOWAS Nationals.

“Those who are exempted are: persons under the age of 18; persons enjoying diplomatic immunity and immigrants staying in Nigeria for less than ninety days,” he said.

Ezugwu maintained that registration was free and appealed to landlords in the state to assist in identifying foreigners living in their houses in order for the registration to succeed.

- DAILY POST

10 Lagosians Internet Fraudsters jailed

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentencing of 10 internet fraudsters in Lagos.

They are: Wusu Damilare, Salako Oluwasegun Daniel, Odunola Jason, Brian Emeka Ebong, Arinze Princewill, Babajide Mudashiru and Adeshina Afeez Kolawole. They were sentenced to one year imprisonment each before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

The convicts were arraigned by the EFCC for possession of fraudulent documents.

Some of the charges read: “That you, Wusu Damilare, sometime in 2019 in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, had in your possession to wit: pseudo email account, document titled ‘wusubaba@yahoo.com’ and ‘oluwadamilarewusu@gmail.com’, which document you knew contained false pretence.”

“That you, Salako Oluwasegun Daniel, sometime in 2019, in Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, had in your possession a fraudulent document, which document you knew contained false pretence.”

Similarly, Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos has convicted and sentenced the trio of Balogun Sultan, Olalekan Savage and Daniel Ezo to various jail terms for possession of fraudulent documents.

The convicts were arraigned separately by the EFCC for their involvements in internet frauds.

In view of their guilty pleas, the prosecution informed the Justice Mojisola Dada’s court that the defendants had entered into a “plea bargain” with the Commission, adding that they also made confessional statements.

The prosecution, while reviewing the facts of the cases, told the court that the defendants were arrested, following intelligence reports received about their involvements in internet frauds.

The prosecution further stated that some false documents, two cars, iphones, laptops and some amounts of money were recovered from the defendants.

The court admitted in evidence the defendants’ confessional statements, the false documents as well as the funds recovered from the defendants.

Consequently, the prosecution urged the court to convict the defendants.

Justice Dada, after listening to the prayers of both parties, convicted and sentenced the fraudsters to one year imprisonment each.

The Judge further held that the sentencing must commence from the “day of judgment”.

Justice Dada also ordered that items recovered from the convicts be forfeited to Federal Government.

The Judge, however, gave an option of fine of N250, 000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) to Ebong, Princewill, Mudashiru and Kolawole.

The convicts were ordered to write an undertaking with the EFCC, promising that they would never return to the crimes.

One of the charges against Balogun who was brought before Justice Sherifat Solebo reads: “That you, Balogun Sultan, sometime in 2019 in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, had in your possession a fraudulent document, which document you knew contained false pretence.”

For Olalekan, the charge reads: “That you, Olalekan Savage sometime in 2019, in Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, had in your possession a fraudulent document, which document you knew contained false pretence.”

The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to them.

In view of their pleas, the prosecution informed the court that the defendants had entered into a plea bargain with the EFCC.

The court admitted in evidence the defendants’ confessional statements and some false documents tendered by the prosecution.

The prosecution also urged the court to convict the fraudsters according to the plea bargain agreement.

Delivering her judgment, Justice Solebo convicted and sentenced Sultan to seven months imprisonment. The Judge also sentenced Savage to one year imprisonment.

The third defendant, Ezo, was convicted and sentenced to eight months imprisonment.

- PM NEWS

Chinese researchers find new gene linked to deafness

Chinese researchers have recently made a breakthrough in discovering a gene responsible for deafness, providing a target for treating hearing impairment, Xinhua reports.

The study published online earlier this month in the international journal Genetics in Medicine described the gene as ABCC1, which has variants associated with hearing loss and plays a key role in maintaining cochlea function.

The cochlea is a spiral tube shaped like a snail shell. It is the auditory area of the inner ear and enables effective hearing.

Using gene screening, sequencing and other genetic analysis method, researchers from Xiangya Hospital affiliated with the Central South University in China’s Hunan Province, found the variants in gene ABCC1 could work as a pump to extrude toxic substance and metabolic waste products from the inner ear.

In experiments done on mice, they found the dysfunction of these variants could lead to hearing loss.

Hearing impairment is the most common sensory deficit, with an incidence of 1 in 500 individuals worldwide.

Aging and chronic exposure to loud noises are the main factors that contribute to hearing loss.

Since the discovery of several genes responsible for deafness in the 1990s, the role of genetic factors has received increasing attention in the scientific community.

Revealing the mechanism of how these single gene variants function can help scientists provide early warning and develop a new treatment for millions of patients who lost their hearing, said lead researcher Feng Yong.

Feng has conducted deafness gene researches for more than two decades.

His team has reported pathogenic mutations of over 20 deafness genes.

The new discovery was inspired by one of Feng’s patient.

The research team visited the patient’s hometown, conducted family surveys and at last identified the new gene, which lasted for more than three years.

“Our data also has implications for future molecular and clinical diagnosis of hearing loss,” Feng said.

The researchers, however, recommended further research to determine the potential contribution of the gene to hearing loss, which will be beneficial for future treatment strategies.

- PM NEWS

Flashback: Day Abiola visited, begged Awo for forgiveness

Chief Obafemi Awolowo was at home one sultry day in the mid-80s when he was informed that an unlikely visitor had come to visit him. When he was told it was Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, his archenemy, so to speak, Awolowo was stunned. It sounded like an April Fools’ Day joke, but he decided to receive the visitor if only to find out his mission. As Abiola spotted the old man coming in his direction, he threw himself flat on the ground in the Yoruba obeisance reserved for an elder.

On getting up, Abiola embraced his old nemesis, apologizing for breezing into the old man’s home without notification. He did not stop at apology; he demanded food. “Baba, I have come to eat lunch in your house today”, Abiola announced. “Eat lunch in my house?” a surprised Awo asked, as if he wasn’t too sure what he heard, adding “As a rule and habit, I don’t eat lunch.” “Baba, I am hungry. I want to eat eba,” Abiola insisted. As arrangement was being made to prepare lunch, Awo sat there bemused. After some waiting, lunch finally arrived and Abiola ate like a truly hungry man. He cleared every morsel on his plate – a sign that he enjoyed the food.

After lunch, Abiola formally explained his mission. He had come for peace. He had come to ask the old man to forgive him of all his political transgressions. Everything, he had done, he informed the old man, was political, not personal. He said that even while playing politics he still respected and admired Awo as a leader whose achievements would forever remain evergreen in history. Awolowo was touched; he agreed to forgive Abiola and even prayed for him. Chief Abiola was a paradox- a man of complex extremes, a man you could love to hate and yet hate to love at the same time. He was a man of destiny. Fate beckoned him to toss hat into the political arena to vie to be Nigeria’s President under the transition programme of the military government of our mutual friend, General Ibrahim Babangida.

A wealthy man, Abiola was also an epitome of generosity, who supported people and causes he believed in. He was a man with a large heart. I had not always been his friend, though I had never regarded him as an enemy. Our relationship had started on a quarrelsome note. March 1986 afforded me the opportunity to appraise him publicly. I was a guest at the New Nigerian Newspaper forum in Kaduna where I was asked a question about him and I bared my mind about this stupendously rich man whose wealth naturally put him under all kinds of pressure and made him behave sometimes inappropriately. I told the New Nigerian in an interview published on April 1,1986. Each time I think of Chief MKO Abiola, rather than hate him in spite of all that he has done to me, I have great sympathy and pity for him. Any human being who stumbles on the kind of money that Chief MKO Abiola stumbled on would naturally go through all kinds of pressures. Extended family pressure will be there, societal pressure will be there, group pressure will be there, ethnic pressure will be there.

On top of all these, you have sycophants putting their pressures, flatterers and flag wavers putting their pressures on such an individual. I suspect that all these pressures are working on Chief MKO Abiola in terms of his attitude to certain people, especially in relation to me. This is why I say I have great sympathy because Chief Abiola doesn’t know me at all. He and I have never had an occasion to sit down like this for any reasonable length of time. I have never been to his house and don’t know the way he lives; he doesn’t know the way I live. I have never been to his office. I have only been to his residence in London once when Dele Giwa and I travelled, and he arranged that I meet Chief MKO Abiola. So you find that Chief Abiola based his approach and attitude towards me on hearsay. On what he has heard from other people, I take my case as an example of how he arrives at some of his attitude to people.

- PM NEWS