RIGHT OF REPLY: Law Mefor's Treachery to Truth

A liar begins with making falsehood appear like truth, and ends with making truth itself appear like falsehood

-William Shenstone

Few hours ago, Mr. Law Mefor penned an opinion piece on the decision of the former Governor of Ogun State and erstwhile Director General of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD) to quit politics and in the process erroneously equate that decision to joining the All Progressive Congress, alongside other unchecked assertions that ended up eroding the safe delivery of whatever message that piece could have contained.

As a self acclaimed teacher nay lecturer, Mr. Law Mefor could have perhaps spent a few minutes on something called "Google" before blatantly embarking on a voyage of falsehood.

His first error was the insinuation that OGD was unhappy with the appointment of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki as the Director General of the PDP campaign organization. For reason of information, OGD gracefully supported the appointment of Dr. Saraki and was part of the several meetings that were held before the entire Campaign Council was formed. He maintains over a decade relationship with Dr. Bukola Saraki and the entire Saraki family in general. There was no reason whatsoever to have resentment over a position that was freely given out by him.

Another outright fabrication was the insinuation that Otunba Gbenga Daniel was against the emergence of Dr. Peter Obi (PO) as the Vice Presidential candidate when obvious facts show that OGD was the one who independently issued the statement announcing the candidacy of PO even when other members of the campaign organization were foot dragging; this he won over more enemies for.

For the avoidance of doubt and as a correctional statement, Otunba Gbenga Daniel delivered his polling units, ward, constituency and district to Alhaji Atiku Abuabakar. A bit of online research could have guided Mr. Law Mefor from making such error.

While one would have expected Mr. Law Mefor to stick more to analysis and informed dissection of the outcome of the election, his decision to embark on emotion laden rhetorics and wild conjunction is a betrayal of the intellectual community which Mr. Law Mefor parades to belong to.

After the presidential primary and the appointment of Dr. Bukola Saraki, Otunba Gbenga Daniel's work was done and all decisions, strategy and plan for the election was done solely by the Campaign Council in required isolation. How then does one divulge an information one is not privy to?

At moments like this, emotion runs deep and many, including Otunba Gbenga Daniel who first believed in the Atiku Project before most Nigerians did and made great sacrifice to ensuing it comes to reality will feel a sense of sharp pain and disappointment. Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why he has lost interest in partisan politics and decide to hang his boot.

To create an impression of betrayal to a cause for a man who went round the country and did all within his power to land Atiku the presidential ticket yet still ensured that the Southwest vote counts greatly in spite of the region's party challenges is in itself a betrayal of the cause the campaign stood for.

Otunba Gbenga Daniel has sacrificed greatly for the Peoples Democratic Party for the past 20 years and like every human, he is tired of the entire stress of partisan politics and even made commitment to support the ongoing legal battle in anyway required while still remaining dutifully loyal to Atiku Abubakar. Should we then deny him the right to private life?

I hope Mr. Law Mefor attend the next Contrition in Church. He has sinned before man and God. Otunba Gbenga Daniel has forgiven him, I am sure God will do the same should he ask truthfully. But will his conscience forgive him? That's a burden he may have to carry for the rest of his life.

<em> Ayo Giwa is the media aide to Otunba Gbenga Daniel.</em>

Inter-House sports: At Angels Field school, parents are partners - Oseni

The leading international private school in Iyana Ipaja, Angels Field, would be organising its first ever inter-house sports competition. The event has been marked to be a memorable one as preparations towards its success are in top gear according to proprietress of the school, Omolayo Oseni. "Some days of the week are set aside for practising and preparing for our first inter-house sports competition in order to ensure we have a successful one," she announced at a press conference. 


Omolayo Oseni, Founder/Proprietress, Angels Field Montessori & Royal Angels High School

 When asked on the need for such event, Oseni, who is also the founder of the government recognised Montessori school said, "Aside from the fun derived from such events by the pupils, it is also an important platform to groom younger generations in sports and other areas in order to bring out the seed of greatness in them." On the activities marked down for the day, Oseni said,"There are many sporting events which are projected to help in children mental development that would be taking place on that day." "The pupils are training to entertain the parents and audience on track and field, karate display, and cheerleading."

 

One thing that makes the school unique is the team work between the school management and parents in the individual growth of a child. According to Oseni, "At Angel Field, the whole school works together as a team to ensure every child has a positive, happy and rewarding school experience. Parent and teachers are true partners in the learning process, encouraging pupils to strive and achieve their best.

 

"To know the extent of cooperation and team work that exist between the management and the parents, the four houses that would be participating in the inter-house sports; namely Ojelabi, God's Concordance, Cute Kids and Oyekanmi Houses, are owned by four of our parents." The event would be coming up on April 6, 2019 at Command Secondary School, Command, Lagos promises to be a memorable one, while other information about the school can be gotten on http://angelsfield.com/montessori

 Angels Field School is an early years and basic school, complemented with spacious and well ventilated classes for early years learning.

 

Leave the army alone, Olowu warns politicians

Olowu of Kuta, His Royal Highness, Oba Hammed Adekunle Makama, has warned unscrupulous politicians to stop politicising the army.

Olowu in a statement issued on Tuesday said the report from some states in the south south indicated that military were used to perpetuate violence on the innocent citizens.

He warned desperate politicians to stop dragging our military into politics because of its dire consequence on our stability and national cohesion.

The revered monarch who maintained that the army represents our symbols of unity , said the onus is on them to remain apolitical.

He decried a situation where by some politicians armed their thugs in military fatigues to cause mayhem, saying this is not acceptable.

“In the process of using the army to subvert the will of the people, especially in Rivers state, some of them were attacked and hospitalized.

“We owe our military high regards because of their oath to protect our territorial integrity and if the need arises, lay down their precious lives for the country.

“We believe our military is apolitical and that explains why the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai promised to set a high power investigative panel to unravel the level of culpability of any disgruntled army officer if any, before , during and after the election.

“The international observers commended the army during the presidential and national assembly elections two weeks ago for maintaining the peace and displaying professionalism.

“I also want to sympathize with the traditional rulers in the south south and south east and urge them to continue to be the symbol of peace and unity that the office of traditional institution has conferred on them.” The statement said.

Olowu also canvass for and endowment fund to take care of the families of those who pay the supreme sacrifice while defending Nigeria.

He, however, reiterated his call for better funding that is commensurate to meet the procurement of modern equipment and to motivate the officers and men to give their best.

“Insurgency has become international phenomenon and we must deal with it squarely, otherwise the lives and property of our people will be at risk.

“All hands must be on deck to support our military as this will boost their morale for more efficiency and optimum performance,” he noted.

INEC postpones elections in Kogi LG

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Saturday, postponed the state House of Assembly election across Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi state.

The Electoral Officer, Mopamuro LGA, Mr Opanachi Ojodale, told the News Agency of Nigeria, at the INEC office in Mopa, that the election was postponed to Sunday, March 10, due to wrong ballot papers that were taken to the area.

According to Ojodale, the ballot papers belonging to Akpa LGA in Kogi East, were taken to Mopamuro LGA, development that was discovered in the early hours of Saturday (election day).
He told NAN that the new ballot papers for Mopamuro would arrive at the LG office later in the day, from Abuja

NAN reports that INEC’s office in Mopamuro on Friday night distributed election materials to Registration Area Centres at the ward level across the LGA.

Meanwhile, some youths of Orokere community had earlier on Saturday conducted a peaceful demonstration to the palace of their traditional ruler, to protest against the alleged importation of thugs to their community by suspected opposition party members.

The youths alleged that the thugs were imported by some politicians in the area to cause mayhem and disrupt the electoral process.

Mr Segun Peter, the youth leader, who spoke on behalf of the youths at the palace, urged the monarch to call the politicians to order so as to forestall a breakdown of law and order during the elections.
“The thugs threatened to disrupt the electoral process in the community, and unleash terror on members of opposition parties.

“The thugs also threatened that voters, who have decided not to vote for their candidates should not bother to come out to vote.

“We are peace-loving people, our youths are ready to stand firm and resist any form of intimidation to protect our votes,” Peter said.

I'll Resuscitate OGD's Legacies, APC's Guber Candidate

The Ogun State governorship candidate of the All Progressive. Congress. Prince Dapo Abiodun has promised to return Ogun State to the glorious years as experienced during the reign of Otunba Gbenga Daniel who ran a highly focussed and qualitative administration with the people as the centrepiece.

Prince Abiodun said this as he met teeming followers of former Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel who gathered at the Asoludero residence to declare support for the APC governorship candidate.

Thanking Otunba Daniel for  providing the platform to meet with his people, Abiodun  said he shares many things in common with the former Governor which dwelt on mapping out policies that will turn the fortunes of the State and that of the people around for the better.

According to him: "This is why we have carefully put together a policy plan for a very effective administration that will enhance qualitative governance and create enabling environment to encourage public private partnership which was the hallmark of Otunba Gbenga Daniel's administration between 2003 and 2011".

In his response, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who described the meeting as a moment of history, stated that governance of a State especially a sophisticated one like Ogun is for a matured  mind who cannot be pushed against his will.

Continuing, he said that after consultation with his followers cutting across all political divides and major stakeholders in the People Democratic Party both at the State and national level and weighing the available options, "we have come to the conclusion that to rescue the State from the hands of those who held it down in the past eight years and move it forward, Prince Dapo Abiodun stands the best chance to sustain the progressives policies which were not fully tapped".

This development, Daniel reinstated, "is not about a particular political party or individuals. There comes a time when one must rise up and take a decision. I count it as a disservice to my people and it will be against my conscience if I cannot provide leadership to my people at this crucial period. That is why, we therefore came to the conclusion that  we are going to work together and ensure victory for governorship candidate of the All Progressives Party, APC, Prince Dapo Abiodun on Saturday", he concluded.

You're On Your Own, Ladi's Father Fires Back On Amosun's Endorsement

Recent move by factional governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ogun State, and lawmaker representing the Remo Federal Constituency, Hon. Ladi Adebutu adopting opposition Allied Peoples Movement, APM candidate Abdulkabir Akinlade has drawn the wrath of his (Ladi) biological father who pronounced that he is on his own.

In his reaction to the news which he said he received with a shock, Sir Kessinton stated that he cannot think of any reason whatsoever why his son took such step without informing him.

"I wasn't privy to his meeting with Governor Amosun neither did he inform me. I heard the news like any other individual and wondered what could have gotten over him.

According to Sir Adebutu, who is currently out of the country for his medical check up, he has been inundated with several calls by well meaning Nigerians asking if he knows about the unpopular decision of his son to adopt the candidate of the APM. He maintained that he is not aware and the decision also did not have his blessings and endorsement.

Hon. Ladi Adebutu has been engaged in legal battle with Senator Buruji Kashamu for over two years on who becomes the party's standard bearer which he has lost serially before his decision to adopt incumbent governor Amosun's  candidate.

Ladi Adebutu’s action to support Governor Amosun’s candidate in APM, it was gathered have become the most unpopular popular political decision as several stakeholders in Ogun State have condemned it.

Ogun2019: Opposition Party Disowns 'Traitor' Adebutu

Further crisis has engulfed the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on thursday as party stakeholders have kicked against the move by a Chieftain of party and factional Governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu to support the party of the State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun; the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and it's governorship candidate, Abdulkadir Akinlade.

At an expanded meeting of the PDP leadership at Legacy House, Onikolobo, secretariat of the faction loyal to Adebutu, leaders of his faction kicked against the move and walked out of the meeting.

Some of the leaders it was disclosed confessed that Ladi Adebutu is not the kind of leader the party envisaged and cannot give directive on their political fortune, maintaining that the planned support for Amosun’s APM is only for Adebutu’s personal agenda and cannot be in the collective interest of the people.

According to one of them, “We don’t know what Ladi Adebutu take us for, we are not his boys that he can just reel out directive as he pleases because he got us (PDP) to where we are in the political equation of the State. Adebutu destroyed the political career of many young men and women for his personal agenda and he cannot be allowed to take us through another political misadventure because of his selfish interests.”

On Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, passed a judgment putting paid to Ladi Adebutu’s gubernatorial ambition and confirming the candidacy of Buruji Kashamu.

According to one of the leaders who attended the meeting, "Even attempts to bribe some of us with mouth watering price will not sway us."

Leaders who stormed out of the meeting includes: Hon. Waliu Taiwo, Director General Ladi Adebutu Campaign Organization; Chief Mrs Iyabode Apampa, PDP Apex Chairman; former Deputy Governor, Alhaja Salmot Badru; Alhaji Bisiriyu Popoola, PDP National Ex-Officio; Engineer Seni Ayorinde, Leader PDP Ogun Central; Chief Ogunjobi amongst others.