Timeline Photos

WHAT A WEEK NIGERIA ? (PART II) On the 31st of March 2016 Nigeria's power station generated ZERO MEGAWATT for the first time in history! And this happened under the watch of a government that had once bragged under opposition not too long ago that the first thing any responsible government would do is to fix power problem in 6 months. And it's already 11 months of darkness since they came. This did not only come to increase the nation wide darkness but also compounded the already over bearing worriment of the longest fuel scarcity incident ever in the history of Nigeria. But the petroleum minister had promised that there will be enough fuel for us all within a week's ultimatum and guess what, that week has just ended and more darkness and more fuel-less-ness has been our fate - Another promise unfulfilled. Again, where is our President? Last week he was away just like other weeks. As if our problems in the country aren't enough for us he keeps embarrassing us on his tour episodes. Can you imagine? It's like Nigeria's problems are so much that even our president keeps running away from us. Even when he is outside the shores of the nation he, like the proverbial birds that have learned to fly without perching since the hunters have learned to shoot without missing, makes it his point of duty to keep avoiding anything related to Nigeria perhaps that explains why he was caught the other day on camera (some pix stories ago) sitting on a seat meant for the President of Niger Republic and some said it was the "angle" of the camera but just recently Our Excellency has been caught again avoiding Nigeria by sitting on a table meant for the President of Chile and I'm wondering which "circle" of the camera caught him this time around. Fellow Nigerians! It is no longer funny if at all it ever was because our nation is drowning fast. Alas! "Sai Baba" has again skipped town for China this time. For what? Well, last time he skipped town we hear he went shopping for nuclear weapons now we hear he's amongst other things going to negotiate terms and conditions for borrowing $2b to run Nigeria. And I'm wondering - whatever happened to the much talked about $200b from looted money allegedly starched in Dubai? What about the $6b of former PDP Govs and Ministers that Uncle Sam is helping us repatriate? How about the the returns and refunds by the loads of thieves under GEJ? Where are the trillions of Nairas raked in by the Nigeria Customs Service? O' lest I forget, which millions of dollars do they say TSA has saved? Again, it has been another week of travails and I must commend the suicidal fanaticism of the APC supporters who queue for hours to buy a liter of fuel at the price of a plate of food in a luxury restaurant, power their "I pass my neighbour" to charge their Tecno phones with which they use to tweet how GMB is so much like Obama. Perhaps what they meant is "Osama!" Only God knows who they will compare GMB with this week when he returns with "Chinco" good news- Muhammed or Jesus? Apparently when we clamoured for "Change" we failed to pray as a nation for "Change." and this "Changi" has become an inexpiably majuscule socio-political contretemps. The bible tells us that "faith without work is dead" and I belive we've now seen that "work without faith is worst." Oh, dearly beloved, let us pray for our president and our nation. Happy travails Nigeria! Good luck my country people!!

Timeline Photos

NOT IN DEFENSE OF HON ONOFIOK LUKE BUT THE CONSTITUTION Collective Opinion is one of the greatest active social force in a democracy. But strong as opinion is, it cannot take the place of the law as defined in the constitution. Ever since the rerun election was concluded there have been various opinions about the position of the Speaker of AKHA. What are the issues? 1. Rt. Hon Aniekan Uko was elected Speaker to AKHA at the inception of the Gov Udom Emmanuel's administration. Though his election was a surprised to many considering his background as a first timer to the state assembly, never the less he was given the desired cooperation to do his job. 2. According to some pundits, his choice was to create a balance in terms of power sharing in favor of Uyo Senatorial District. This was sub-particularized to Uyo Federal Constituency. 3. But somewhere during his regime as Speaker, his election to AKHA was annulled by the Appeal Court. 3a. It should be noted that the appeal court did not annul his position as speaker but his election. But why then did he not remain as dpeaker after the annulment of his election? We would look at that later. 3b. The appeal court subsequently ordered for fresh election. 4. A new Speaker was subsequently elected in person of Rt. Hon Onofiok Luke. 5. Rt. Hon Aniefiok Uko was however re-elected during the re-run. 7. Some opinions propose that Rt Hon Aniekan Uko should be returned to the position of Speaker. The question is how? As a people, we should be careful of the foundation we lay today because of posterity. Tomorrow we may not be there to explain the circumstances which necessitated certain actions but let posterity find explanation in the document that we gave to ourselves to regulate our actions - which is the constitution. Firstly we mentioned that the appeal court did not annul Rt. Hon Aniekan Uko's position as speaker. It was never mentioned either in the court proceeding nor in the judgement. In order words the position of speaker wasn't in issue. Yet he lost the position as soon as he lost his membership of the house. This presupposes that you must first of all be a member of the house before you can be speaker. No more, no less. Going by this argument, Rt Hon Onofiok Luke in the opinion of this writer was not elected as a replacement to Rt Hon Aniekan Uko. I would explain. As at the time of Mr. Luke's election as Speaker Mr. Uko was technically not a member of the house. However, we all know that Rt Hon Aniekan Uko was the immediate past Speaker of the house. Of course if you look into the records of the state house of assembly you would see evidence too which confirms that Rt Hon Aniekan Uko was the immediate past speaker. But those are historical records. In the eyes of the law, however, Rt Hon Aniekan Uko was not the immediate past speaker because he wasnt elected to the state house of assembly until after the rerun. I am open to correction please. This is because his first election was nullified by the appeal court; which presupposes that it didn't take place in the first place as far as the law is concerned. That is the law. The safest depository of the ultimate powers of the society is the people themselves; and they have been enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion through the constitution - which is the law of the land. Any society that is ruled with sentiment rather than the law is heading for trouble. Akwa Ibomites are law abiding people. As is often said the law cannot make your neighbor love you but it can stop him from lynching you. Therefore the safest thing to do at all times is to allow the law regulate our activities. The proposal for his return as Speaker therefore is like asking a sitting speaker of the house to vacate his position to a newly elected member of the house who joined the house long after the speaker was elected. This is the picture in the eye of the law. The demand therefore is ultra vires as it finds no place in the law. It might appear to be a political correctness of some sort. But it would be setting a dangerous precedence founded on political correctness rather than legality. And if the citadel of law making (house of assembly) is founded on illegality the society is heading towards collapse. I don't care how many states have returned the former speaker after rerun election; the fact remains that what is not right is not right. After all it is not against the law to be an idiot. So any state that chose to act idiotic is free to do so but those are not values Akwa Ibom State should copy. Some have also argued on the basis of equity. Without ambiguity, Equity concerns the process of appealing to higher principles of fairness when initial measures fell short of ensuring perfect justice. For instance under equity one could appeal to the king to "make good" on a case where the basic application of law had created some measure of injustice. But he who sought equity must do so with clean hands. Accordingly, the basis for appealing to equity must not in itself be illegal. The office of Speaker of AKHA was zoned to Uyo Senatorial District. Hon Onofiok Luke is a son of USD. It is the appeal of this writer that rather than overheat the system USD should cooperate with their son to deliver service to Akwa Ibom people. Rt Hon Aniekan Uko in my opinion is a young man who is already blessed and positioned for abundant blessing. He should not let anyone distract him and make him look selfish in the eyes of the public. To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own. The office of speaker was merely a call to service, not necessarily his for keeps. I believe greater things await him in future. It wasn't Onofiok Luke that replaced him as speaker; it was God and the law. He should accept what God has given him with gratitude and look forward to greater things in future and not allow anyone to use him to overheat the system. After all there are people far older than him, who work harder than him but who are not in the position God has placed him today. His best word should be thank you Jesus. James Abang Writes From Atte Okiuso Village, Urueoffong/Oruko LGA.

Timeline Photos

MR. ESSIEN BASSEY, THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, ATAI UYO CONSCIENCE, NO. 225 ORON ROAD, UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE. Comrades, RE: OPEN LETTER TO ONOFIOK LUKE - "LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD" I have read many politically motivated publications in recent time of which I have found some insightful, some interesting, some annoying, some disconcerting while some are without classification. One of such publications is your open letter to Onofiok Luke titled: "LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD" and my intent here is to LET THAT TRUTH BE TOLD AS IT TRULY IS. Nevertheless, before we proceed with that truth let me start by commending you for your community struggle and solidarity. Now, in telling the truth I must proceed by stating categorically here that by my assessment of your letter, it falls under those without credible pedigree. This is because the subject, tenor and motif of the epistle was just another artless display of pedestal shenanigans on political stage. Thus, if it were intended as a show of amour-propre I must congratulate you for a grand show and nothing pretentious more; reason being that you succeeded in achieving a number of turkeys for yourself. First, you have successfully justified the age long allegation that the Uyo Federal Constituency is the most ungrateful Federal Constituency in the political history of Akwa Ibom State being that no matter how much juicy and sensitive positions are allocated to you, you still intemperately constitute yourself a distraction to the entire system attempting to sabotage the very government you brag of hosting instead of supporting it to succeed. You have again started very well in this direction - your letter is a credible testimony to this. Accordingly, you claim that Etinan Federal Constituency cannot have both the Speaker of the House of Assembly and Party chairmanship but forget to state that Uyo Federal Constituency comprising four Local Government Areas, namely, Uyo, Uruan, Ibesikpo and Nsit Atai has the highest number of elevated offices in the present administration. In fact, on the last count, Ibesikpo LG has about 3 exalted Offices in this state namely: the office of the Commissioner for Lands/Town Planning in the person of Prince Uwem Ita Etuk; the Office of the Chief Judge of the state as occupied by Justice Stephen Okon whose acting capacity was graciously converted to substantive capacity by the Governor despite contending options and pressures and the Office of the State Accountant General in the person of Mr. Lynus Nkan. Uyo LG on the other hand has the office of the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal in the person of Prince Enobong Emmanuel Uwah while Uruan Local Government maintains the office of the Commissioner for Transport in the person of Prince Godwin Ntukude. Hence, Uyo Federal Constituency alone has three Commissioners in a cabinet of twenty Commissioners. The remaining nine Federal Constituencies without complains have settled for the leftover. Still like one Mr. Nduonyi Uweh - a public affairs analyst- in his recently published open letter to Prince Uwem Ita Etuk on similar subject succinctly puts it - "...in your typical Oliver Twist-like nature you're still crying foul..." Truth is, an elevated Office is an elevated office be it political or civil service because if the state government does not intend it so those occupying it would not have been there no matter their qualifications. Secondly, you have succeeded in branding as "FOOLISH" those other Federal Constituencies who in the past did not have so much elevated offices in the Government of Akwa Ibom State yet supported it for the posterity of our common wealth. Oron Federal Constituency- a nation of 5 Local Government Areas which can also hold claim to hosting the economic existence of the state is your victim here. Corollary, this act of yours alone can stir serious bitterness amongst the other nine Federal Constituencies thereby unsettling the present administration. Truth is, there are other Federal Constituencies that have more credible claims of possible marginalization than Uyo Federal Constituency but they choose to move on with the Dakkada project for the good of all of us. Thirdly, you did not economize words in casting aspersions on the person and character of the present speaker of the sixth assembly by your insinuations that he was an ally of the APC gubernatorial candidate and had agreed to rig elections against His Excellency Deac. Udom Emmanuel in event of a rerun. This is too cheap a blackmail to attempt on a good man like Rt. Hon. Barr. Comr. Onofiok Luke. But you still went further to insinuate that he sponsored a barrage of false and negative publications against your kinsman while you failed to furnish examples of such falsehoods published against your golden goose. The truth here is that it was just meant to give a very good dog a bad name to hang it but unfortunately the owner of the dog is God himself. Fourthly, you pathetically exposed your miserable state to the world as being alone on your isonomic delirium. This is made crystal in your publication attesting to the fact that the entirety of the people of Akwa Ibom state were shocked that Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko emerged as Speaker of the Sixth assembly instead of Rt. Hon. Barr. Comr. Onofiok Akpan Luke or Rt. Hon. Barr. Ime Okon who were the true contenders for the office and you also sufficiently collaborated yourself when you also stated that the entire people of Akwa Ibom State regardless of party and tribe divides were amok in celebration when Rt. Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke emerged as speaker. What else do you want from the God and the people of Akwa Ibom State to know whom the cap fits? Perhaps you are ignorant of the axiom "Vox Populi Vox Dei" meaning "The Voice of the People is the Voice of God!" You already bear testament of the political stability of the state with Onofiok Luke as Speaker yet you have opted to cast political sophrosyne to the chinook like a political Judas that you always have been. Yes, a Judas because no matter what is being done in your favour you always find a reason to fight the government of the day if it is not one of your own. You did worse to Sen. Godswil Akpabio during his time as governor of this state despite his transformative legacies yet you celebrate your sons whose performance is in the pedigree of abysmal failure. So it is no surprise that you are now sowing seeds of discord in Gov. Udom's administration. After all, even when Aniekan Uko was Speaker you pitched your tent with Udom's opposition so what assurance do we have that you did not intend to use Aniekan Uko as an instrument to sabotage Udom's administration should he had remained speaker? Truth is, of you truly seek the interest of Uyo Federal Constituency you should be asking for Nsit Atai Local Government to be equally given a juicy office like the other three in your constituency already does instead of asking for more for Ibesikpo. However, I understand that it is not all of Uyo Federal Constituency that is setting this fire in this house because I also read else where as one of your very notable sons (in the person of Imo Udoima) was asking who and/what is "Atai Uyo" to speak for the party and the people of Uyo Federal Constituency but I have chosen to address the whole of the constituency so that the good men among you will not fold their arms and watch you spoil your collective destiny with your evil. From the foregoing, I think it is only meet that courtesies be reciprocated in proportional aggression and yours is long overdue for reprise. So let me as a stakeholder in the common wealth of our collective destiny as a state take the liberty of doing the needful and dutifully so by advising you to stop this madness of yours. Akwa Ibom is on the road to actualizing destiny and cannot afford to be distracted with non issues like this. If you must add more political feathers to your wings I think you should concentrate on negotiating for the position of the Party Leadership because the tenure of the present state party chairman has already come to an end which you are very much aware of but mischievously chose to count it for Etinan Federal Constituency. And if I may ask if Onofiok Luke relinquishes the Office of the Speaker to you in addition to the other 3 Commissioners, Chief Judge and Accountant General that you already have while Obong Paul Ekpo whose tenure has expired as State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hands over what will this Etinan Federal Constituency have then? Now tell us the truth as it truly is - "Who is really greedy and unreasonable...?" Thank you for your anticipated truthfulness. OKPO EWA ESQ. HUMANITY CHAMBERS, 260 IDORO ROAD, UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE. okpoewa2@gmail.com 08029935535

Timeline Photos

APRIL'S VAL. My job doesn't really have a particular routine. In fact, the only routine is to do nothing and that's why it's interesting because something always happens. I don't really know what particular day it is but I'm just coming out to do what I know best to do. Oh, I so enjoy what I love doing. It's what I do for my living. It's simple, I live for a living. Like I said, I'm really not thinking of what day today is. You almost never even bother to think whether it's a day or night when all you do is live. But some days do come in Xmas packages. In fact, I dare say I have the premonition that this day is wrapped in something more than Xmas package without fear of blasphemy. Yeah, I can afford to accommodate such thought flow courtesy of the enlightenment that most things we do in the name of Christian religion are mere policies of catholic led religious politicism in our A.D dispensation! My cabbie has just halted by the expanse garage of the city's grand mall for me to step out for my day's shopping or the pretension of it. Just as I open the door to step out, huh! A devil's chariot pulls in beside my cab in near reckless abandon! I watch in sheer awe as the engine disengages, the door opens and out comes the devil behind the wheels, the she devil herself! The Queen of England in her mid twenties! This must be the myth of calypso I think to myself. A good thing my cabbie is an excellent undercover. A clean and shiny black Peugeot 406 - Prestige whose owner is just making a living with it. The wonders of a capital city. Pronto, I approach her without a single thought. This is neither me nor my character I fear. Is this another script of providence playing itself out in me like Wale Adenuga would say "we are nothing but pencils in the hand of the creator" "Oh I'm so sorry, I almost bashed you, I'm just still trying to get used to the car- i'm so sorry, hope I didn't cause you any harm?" She sings effortlessly as she sees me approach her and it's good sweet music to the heart and ear. Skirts with her features rarely have the luxury of good nature in manners. I didn't expect that from her. I didn't expect anything either. I'm a cyborg at best. "Good morning, miss Jacqueline Summers"... I greet her ignoring her cares. "Sorry?" she puzzles. I soak my hands in my front pant pockets searching for something that I put there, there should be a diary in the left back slide I remember as I feel the pad behind. I bring it out, open it, screen the scribbles and look back at the stunned stunner or "stunneress" as I'd rather have it. Now picking my teeth with the words, " you... Are...mmm...Miss Jacqueline Sum- Summers right?" "Sir, I think u're mistaken, my name is deedee" she protests. "Hmmm, thank you, Miss Deedee, what parent christens a child "Deedee?" I cross examine looking into the crystal blue gems behind her lensless goggle frames. Swagger has raided our society with craze. People now appear like peacocks and some like seahorses in the name of style and trend. Even the most cultured are recultured if not decultured. I once had a sassy girl friend at the law school who accused me of looking down at her in askance. Till date I don't know why she thought so. But now I felt like I really needed that look attitude and do hope that is exactly the frequency I'm sending through my subject's spines right now. " I mean Dodeye. Spelt D-O-D-E-Y-E, Deedee for short and the parents you are talking about here are Sapara" "Dodeye Lambert, well that may be one of your numerous aliases, we know you are Jacqueline summers of number 267 Song Close, Kubwa homes estate, FCT Abuja." I proceed with my interrogation. "Jeez! Where did you get that from I..." "Jeez? Is that your short name for Jesus Christ?" I interject, she chuckles embarrassingly. "Cause you will really need him here" I add and the smile on her face instantly disappears. A more serious and frantic Halloween came on. "Please, how can I be of help to you cause' I don't understand what you are saying, this ain't making any sense to me." she pleads. "Madam, you are a wanted felon, a con lady who go about scamming expatriates, tourists and diplomats. You have been identified as a very high value con." I inform her. "For me I don't particularly have a problem with your choice of victims but the truth is that the days of Robin Hood are long gone and the society must be safe for all especially for those responsible for the state of our polity and my job is to run the good errand for these masters." "No, I think you are mistaken, I am a pharmacist." She wears a smirk with it. "Please I'd like you to know that you have the right to remain silent for now, when we get to the facility you can make a call or two and if you care - have your lawyer around but of course you are not going into detention today, all we need is just some answers and further investigations if it is confirmed that you are the person we are looking for then we shall proceed from there." She watch me talk and talk my talk in disbelieve and palpable ire. Then I touch my earpiece and whisper loud "suspect has been engaged, back up required, set up facility we are coming in, over." She can't believe she's now a suspect to what she doesn't even have an idea about. But in fact she's more than just a suspect to me. "So what do I do now?" The panic mode comes on as she enquires. "Well, you came shopping and shopping you shall do first, I'll lead you in and out thereafter we can proceed to the facility. so if you may I shall indulge you." I wave at the stalls and quietly she leads the way. We step into the exotic mall and nobody is gawping at us more than the usual brief glares and look aways. She proceeds with her shopping as I commandeer a trolley and roll beside her while she makes her purchases from chocolates to deodorants and all sorts of women accessories I'm not interested in knowing. The shopping is awesome, I mean so full of awe. She is picking everything the mind can think of - maybe out of need or out of confusion. She's the one now talking and talking - telling me she's A three year old pharmacist from the University of Lagos, the last child of seven to a first class chief, retired naval rear admiral, her mother is a consultant to the national hospital on padiatrics, her father is now a huge maritime investor, she just got her masters from the UK, not in any reasonable relationship because of her career, her 2015 Chrysler Crossfire packed outside is a gift from her elder brother who happens to be a realtor, she suspects she's being set up by a friend of hers who believes she discouraged her third elder brother from marrying her, of course she did because the girl was a cheat, a brat, a bitch, a drug addict and anything less than a lady. She had to protect her brother after numerous efforts to make the friend change her character. How did they become friends? It was in school. The girl pretended to be a student but never wrote a single examination till graduation. In fact, she never sat for a joint admissions and matriculation board examinations in the first place. It will be a miracle if she even has a secondary school certificate. But for her she doesn't have need to steal not to mention duping people. I tell her it's a flawed presumption with recorded proves. At the payment counter every single item is removed from the trolley, identified, billed and properly packed. The mountain before us convinces me they would need to build a warehouse to put the things my suspect just bought. Not even a newly wedded couple would buy so much for their first home. Of course she requested I took advantage of the spree but that would be inducing an officer of the law into complicity and trust me I turned every benign gesture very down. However, I occasionally tell her how charming she is and that I'm inclined to let her do her shopping as she desires and promise to be very civil with her. She appreciates my understanding. I don't even think I know what I'm doing. The bills are paid. We step out. At the garage the confusion dawns like a blast. Which vehicle are we going with? Her devil's chariot or my Prestige? "Do you really need all these things?" I ask. "Or did you shop for your stay at the facility at once?" I add eyeing the mall boy who's been helping her with the trolley. She's silent but looks at me requesting the next move with her look. "Open your boot for him to help us with the packing." I order her softly. She obliges. The young man takes his time like he's her ally in delaying this arrest. Finally he finishes packing and with a wink she understands and tips the lad so generously I'm tempted to call him back and divide the spoil after all I'm the reason for his luck. No wonder men of God don't joke with their tithes. Come here." I call him back, add some generous change to what he already has and he scurries off to count his blessings. I turn to my suspect. "Look, if you say you're who you are I'll spare you some slacks here. I will follow you to your house now where you'll leave this spaceship of yours and thereafter join me to answer your queries. Ordinarily, I should whisk you with everything with you which could be useful exhibits who knows? But then, we are all humans aren't we? She reacts with gracious nods. The elegance in her has been replaced with humility. Since Dasukigate was opened in this country the wealthy class have learnt to behave themselves before men of the law when they are approached with allegations or for routine questioning like I'm seeing the power of fear now upon her. It's so palpable. She is eager to do whatever I command with gratitude. "Give me your phones" Yes sir. She opens her bag and hands over two machines to me. An iPhone 6 and a Blackberry Porsche P'9983. "What are the numbers?" "0-8-1-..." She reads out the eleven digits for the two while I dial them to confirm. Confirmation is achieved by the sounds that blare from each at each dial. She's obviously a fan of Wiz kid using his "expensive shit" track for the ringtone of her expensive shits. "Are these all?" "N...no, there's one inside the car." She whimpers. I knew it. These expensive phones are always supported with cheaper phones that have longer battery life. Nobody should be foolish enough not to have such common sense insurance policy as far as using phones in this country is concerned. She opens her Chrysler, reclines in and returns with a Samsung Galaxy S7. What? Who supports an expensive phone with another expensive phone? This girl should be really guilty! "Call out the number too." I order. She obliges. "What are your social media contacts?" "What?" "Your social media account tells a lot about you, I like to have them" She hesitates. "Yes, I'm listening." I insist. "Miss Dazzle Queen is my Facebook name." She breaks. "Kindly spell please." I smile knowing she knows what any detective should be thinking right now. Is this the name you use to defraud your marks? "Miss as in M-H-I-Z" she spells what she doesn't pronounce. I thought as much. Girls bear a different name at home, something else out of home and something more else on the online.... "Hmm...?" I gesture for more. "Dazzle queen is spelt as one word 'D-A-Z-Z-L-E-Q-U-I-N.'" "Get into your car Mhiz Dazzlequin Dodeye Lambert a.k.a Deedee and drive please." I tell her. "Sorry..." "Yeah, you heard me right. Get into your car and drive home while I follow behind and please don't try anything funny because I won't hesitate to... You know,..." "Shoot me?" "Do you want to be shot?" "Of course not! She suspires. "Then why are we talking about that? Who wants to shoot you?" "So...?" "There's no 'so', just drive home and I'll follow behind except you want us to move for your interrogation and probably come for your car and etceteras later." I quickly interrupt as she attempts to ask more questions I'm not sure I'd like to hear or answer. Slowly she steps into her car while join my chauffeur speaking into my mouth piece. She revs her engine. We rev ours too. She pulls out from the car park, we join her. In minutes we hit the road she heads for her parents' mansion. I detour back to Shoprite for my little shopping and continue with my day's living. *. *. * "Dream keys...!" My phone ring tone begins to play the new single "Washing" by Dreamkeys featuring Joe El, Sound Sultan, Faze, Rocksteady and Xcel as I approach Yahuza Suya Spot at number 7 Bozomo Close, Fahana Business Complex by Adetokumbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II. My Blackberry screen is displaying the designated cognomen. I smile and pick the call. "Hello?" "Hello..." The voice on the other end of the line bellows to my surprise. I was expecting a sonorous voice not baritone. "Who's this please?" I ask. "I'm Chief Ogbari Lambert Doite, the father of Pharmacist Dodeye Lambert. The young lady you interrogated earlier today oh, sorry I believe I'm speaking with..." He pauses to get my name from the owner of the phone. A futile search. "Hello Sir, hello...," I interrupt the silence his enquiry has brought. "Yes," he responds. "If you don't mind please can I have a brief word with the owner of the this line?" I request. "I'd like to know who I'm speaking with." He insists. "Yes, you shall but first let me have a brief word with Mhiz Dazzlequin." I quip. "Who is that?" "Mhiz Dazzlequin?" "Yes, that." "Oh, it's the owner of the phone your using to speaking with me sir." "What kind of name is that?" Hubbub of question and answers follows and I can hear my suspect demanding for her phone. "Hello, officer..," she takes over. "Hello, Jacquelyn." I indulge her. "Please... Why are you bringing up all this names?" "Do you know how I saved you on my phone?" I ask. "No?" "Would you like to know?" "What has that got to do with this whole thing?" "Everything. Everything my dear." "How?" "In every way Madam." "Hmm...," She suspires. "So should you like to know how you're saved on my phone?" "How?" Finally! She surrenders. "Pardon?" I indulge myself and quickly put the phone on speaker. "How did you save my name on my phone officer...? She gives up. I know she's about to ask for my name also. But her case had jut been closed already. No need. My answer will close it all. "First put your phone on speaker before we proceed so your father can hear this. And please don't try anything funny 'cause I'll hear the beep if you comply." She's silent but sounds like she's explaining to the congregation of listeners on her end of the line. "Okay, we're listening." "APRIL FOOL!" (Ewa Okpo: Culled from my "DAIRY OF A DEBONAIR" presently under editing by publishers. Happy Fool's Day. Y'all)

ULAP. NDUONYI PASCHAL UWEH j.p Public Relations And Policy Expert #23 eyotong road, p.O BOX 112, oron, akwa ibom state. 27th March, 2016 PRINCE UWEM ITA ETUK, HONOURABLE COMMISSIONER, MINISTRY OF LANDS AND URBAN RENEWAL, AKWA IBOM STATE GOVERNMENT, IDONGESIT NKANGA STATE SECRETARIAT, UYO. Sir, I greet you in the spirit of this solemn and holy season of the commemoration of the betrayal, torture, death and resurrection of our lord Jesus Christ. It is indeed a critical reminder of the nature of men towards their fellow men and the grace of God towards us – men. I hope that you have as a leader not been too busy to take advantage of the asomatous climate that this season brings considering how far this God has brought you. I also like to use this medium to congratulate you for delivering Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko aka “Iboro Akam”- your kinsman and protégé in the recently concluded Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Rerun. You will agree with me that we have all seen how precarious it has now become to contest elections against the All Progressives Party led Federal Government in this country. Still worthy of commendation is the political sagacity that has kept you thus far in Akwa Ibom state politics as the most successful former state chairman of the People's Democratic Party alive. Indeed, no other past chairman of the party has the privilege of such rodomontade - remaining relevant for this long and counting. Perhaps you may have to organize consultancy courses for your successors. Be that as it may, let me again premiate you over the recent political developments in the state as the streets are now rife with news of you leading some elements from your Federal Constituency to wage a war against the present administration on the grounds that Uyo Federal Constituency does not occupy any sensitive position in the present administration despite the fact that it hosts the seat of government. My commendation here is in the fact that it is a very noble thing for one to fight for his people. My reason for writing you this letter is also in this very act. Thus, my concern is in the cause itself as it raises serious questions of propriety as well as nobility of your demands. I must confess that I was taken aback by news that you are demanding that the seat of the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly be relinquished to your kinsman Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko because of two reasons 1. That it was formerly occupied by him before he was ousted by the court. 2. That the people of Uyo Federal Constituency do not have any exalted political position in the present administration. Now, without prejudice to your office as the immediate past state party chairman of PDP in Akwa Ibom State, former Special Assistant to Gov. Godswil Obot Akpabio (as he then was) and now the Honorable Commissioner for Lands and Urban Renewal, I hereby state not just my disagreement with your agitations but it's intrinsic political impropriety as well. First, permit me to state as a way of refreshment to your memory without vaccinations here that you seem to have forgotten that the so called Uyo Federal Constituency was never originally in the equation and permutations that led to the emergence of the 10th speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. Remember that On the 8th of June 2015 every stake holder including yourself and the legislators-elect from the Uyo Federal Constituency inclusive of your kinsman and protégé Rt. Hon. Elder Aniekan Uko all went to the gallery and/or chamber of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to witness the swearing in of the new members of the House of Assembly and their principal officers. Why so? It was simply because all the house members elect from Uyo Federal Constituency were first timers which the notorious legislatures’ tradition nay convention barred from contesting for principal offices. Thus, the contest for Speaker of the house was by this very legislature-culture set between two old timers from two other Federal Constituencies being Etinan (Rt. Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke) and Itu/Ibiono (Rt. Hon. Barr. Ime Okon). But by way of some exigent circumstances the proverb that "when two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers" was defied. In this instance, the grass won a jackpot at the expense of two warring elephants. And the notorious tradition was broken without the foreknowledge or plan of any man alive. That is how your kinsman emerged as Speaker of the Sixth Assembly - a child of circumstance by way of compromise between two elephants. You will agree with me that you are yet to even recover from the shock of that June 8 jackpot. But that unexpected happenstance was overtaken by another unexpected event where the Court of Appeal nullified the election of Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko, declaring his seat in the house vacant and his corollary office. This to me is a predicament which you all failed in your capacity and sagacity to prevent either by way of political negotiation or diligent litigation. So you put the house in a precarious situation which they rose up to salvage by unanimously voting in another Speaker whom as you know was the elephant that was originally compromised for your serendipity. As the saying goes, one good turn deserves another. Rt. Hon. Barr. Comr. Onofiok Akpan Luke did not economize his support for your kinsman when the lucky lot fell on him as the first Speaker of the Sixth Assembly, neither was he sparing in supporting Iboro Akam at the rerun. It is therefore only meet that now that he is the Speaker of the Sixth Assembly that you show good sportsmanship and reciprocate the courtesy. But alas! You seriously want the present speaker to handover the position of the speaker of the House of Assembly to the former Speaker because the former Speaker has returned to the house after a successful rerun that the present speaker himself was very much instrumental to. Kudos! You're indeed a political warrior. This now leads me to the second issue of the need to give an exalted office to the people of Uyo Federal Constituency. And I'd like to ask you, please when did all these craze for Uyo Federal Constituency begin? Did it just come to your knowledge now that Uyo Federal Constituency should be given a juicy position? I think that there is more than meets the eyes in this new crusade of yours. Perhaps you are wont to stir unnecessary yet serious trouble within the party so as to cast bad light upon these latter days of your successor as party chairman - Obong Paul Ekpo who is currently being celebrated for the peerless sagacity with which he's been able to captain the internecive crew of the notorious PDP Ship. This is unarguably another of your skulduggeries to make Obong Paul Ekpo's tenure as State Chairman of the PDP end in disarray. This belief is borne from the fact that Akwa Ibom people have so far showed so much good solidarity and goodwill to the Sixth Assembly without complains against the present speaker and members of the Sixth Assembly themselves have not expressed lack of confidence in their present leadership either. So it smacks of otiose meddlesome interloping for you to call for change in leadership of the house all in the bid to gratify some discriminatory conspiracies. Sir, perhaps I should ask when you suddenly received the calling to become an isonomic crusader because I do remember that in your time as state chairman of PDP the people of Oro Federal constituency did not get any juicy office and you did not as a state party chairman do anything to address that injustice being that just as Uyo Federal Constituency claims to host the seat of government, that Federal Constituency which I belong also hosts the economy of this state? Yet no love was lost. We the people of Oro nation rather partnered with that very administration to deliver its uncommon transformation agenda. A virtue that you and your Federal Conspiracy cannot boast of. In fact, I dare challenge you that this Uyo Federal Constituency of yours has been the most ungrateful of Federal Constituencies in Akwa Ibom state such that no matter how much juicy and sensitive positions it gets it still has a penchant for opposition to distract and destroy in lieu of supporting the government it so claims to host. A good example is what you are already doing right now. Uyo Federal Constituency comprises four Local Government Areas, namely, Uyo, Uruan, Ibesikpo and Nsit Atai. The last time I checked Ibesikpo LG has about Three exalted Offices in this state namely: the office of the Commissioner for Lands/Town Planning which you gloriously occupy; the Office of the Chief Judge of the state occupied by Justice Stephen Okon whom the Governor against all pressures showed political magnanimity and upgraded him from acting chief Judge that he was initially and the Office of the State Accountant General filled by Mr. Lynus Nkan. I'm aware that you may be tempted to argue that the other two offices are civil service positions so let me also do you the honest favour of reminding you that the state governor could have jolly well sent your kinsmen home in retirement cargoes to make way for others but chose not to. Uyo LG on the other hand has the office of the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal in the person of Prince Enobong Emmanuel Uwah while Uruan Local Government maintains the office of the Commissioner for Transport in the person of Prince Godwin Ntukude. Imagine! In a cabinet of twenty Commissioners Uyo Federal Constituency alone has three Commissioners leaving the other nine Federal Constituencies to manage the rest. And in your typical Oliver Twist-like nature you're still crying foul. Similarly, this could be another mischief of yours to destabilize the present administration. After all, you have been fingered as one of the little foxes planted in Gov. Udom Emmanuel's cabinet to undermine his administration so that he will not outshine some people's. This is premised by the reports that you not long ago attempted to set the people against the Governor when you were seen and heard telling victims of the recent house demolition exercise conducted by your ministry that it was the Governor himself who approved the said demolitions against your counsel. Now, you're bringing another distraction upon the government as though the protracted plague of electoral tribunal were not enough. My advice to you from the foregoing, if you care to listen, is that the determination of the leadership of the House of Assembly is the exclusive constitutional duty of the members of the house which you're not. Section 92 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) provides that "There shall be a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of a House of Assembly who shall be elected by the members of the house from among themselves." This constitutional provision has been complied with by members of the Sixth Assembly who hitherto have expressed their overwhelming satisfaction with it. Unfortunately for you, you're not a member of that house but as a member of the present state government and as an Akwa Ibom son it is your duty to respect that decision. If however you still insist that Uyo Federal Constituency be given another juicy position in addition to the ones you already have then let me suggest you look for vacancy elsewhere because there's none in the Sixth Assembly at the moment. It is kenspeckle that the office of the State Chairman of the People's Democratic Party is almost vacant being that the tenure of the present state party chairman is at its last turn of weeks. If I were you, I'll be campaigning to fill that vacancy. And I suggest as a former party chair you should not nominate yourself to fill the position as you may be tempted to by the selfish inclination of being the only person to occupy the office twice. Instead, please do show some nobility, nominate an Nsit Atai indigene for the office as the only LG in Uyo Federal Constituency that seem to be left out in your political gourmandism. Nevertheless, whatever you do do bear in mind that the present government of Akwa Ibom state has had enough distractions for the term and cannot afford to be led catawampus by some inordinate political Oliver Twists. Prove yourself not a saboteur of the Dakkada project. Act honorably and promote unity however the sacrifice it may cost you after all it's the dues leaders pay to serve. If others have paid more in the past to bring us where we are today, it won't hurt to pay this little today for a greater future. I hope that my letter regardless meets you well. Once again, let the triumph of love and grace over greed, betrayal, depravation and sufferings as this season themes guide you. Happy Easter. Yours in the Dakkada Vineyard Ulap Nduonyi Paschal Uweh email: nduonyiuweh@yahoo.com

Timeline Photos

THOMAS WAS NOT THERE At first Thomas thought it was April fool He was there when the master was tortured Even if the messiah fainted, still He was there when the master was buried Was three days in grave not enough to die? So Tom came back from his daily business And heard his master's murder's now a lie His friends and colleagues now claim witnesses He knew master said he would rise again Believing what you see is quite simple So they were witnessing from what they'd seen Not Bro. Tom. He too needed his sample So, if I don't believe you forgive me. Like Thomas, I wasn't there, please show me. Okpo Ewa Culled from EWALOGUE (pictured anthology : collection of poems with pictures reflecting the poets mood, tone, themes and messages). On its way to your shelves. (photo by Mr. Stephen Nwane. 27/3/16. @ 6.45 a.m Easter Cheers y'all!!!

Timeline Photos

THE MERCHANT Thirty pieces of silver! Won't you sell? Esau sold himself for very far less For Twenty, Joseph was raised from the well After all, you're guaranteed zero mess Rabi was a man of limitless vim That was the merchant's shrewd little secret After sale and transfer they won't find him Nor refund, even in faraway Crete So they brought cash and took away Rabi Days passed yet no news of Rabi's escape Guised in the crowd he saw his master die That instant he felt the light in him scape If only he'd shared with Rabi his business plan Maybe Rabi would have reminded him God's plan Okpo Ewa Culled from EWALOGUE (pictured anthology : collection of poems with pictures reflecting the poets mood, tone, themes and messages). On its way to your shelves. Have a solemnly Happy Easter y'all!!!

Timeline Photos

I've been uncomfortably silent on a matter I should never be just because I was hoping that some people will be decent enough do the right thing nay speak the truth for once and atleast redeem their souls from the tenebrific grip of pathetic partisanship but they have not surprised me by disappointing that hope. They rather choose to without shame or conscience to take the back seat when indeed they should be the ones revving the wheel of justice for the sake of humanity! My point is simple: So, a teenage girl by name Ese Oruru is allegedly abducted from her family in Bayelsa and taken to Kano, the Emir's Palace precisely where she is allegedly forced into Islam and marriage to the Emir "allegedly" and the security agencies in this country who raided the Akwa Ibom state government house four months ago for no just cause and recently raided uyo attempting to capture a public servant in the state are for days now finding it difficult to carry out same sting operation as a matter of exigency? According to them, the Emir's pilgrimage is what is stopping them from searching the Emir's palace. Obviously, this is not a matter of national security as far as they are concerned but I beg to differ. It is indeed a serious matter of national security. By the time the people of Bayelsa and by extension South-South begin to take it seriously that the lives and safety of their children is not an issue of concern for the federal government the on going movement for the actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra will be child's play compared to what some rascals from Niger-Delta will steal the opportunity to do. For me, I've hoped deep down in my heart that this Ese abduction news were a scam because of its proclivity to brew the unpleasant. But even if it is so it is even the more reason why it should be taken very seriously to nip such mischief in its bud. On the other hand still, if it is true that little Ese is abducted, indoctrinated and forced into marriage to the Emir will the Emir be prosecuted? This same Emir whose mention in the Dasuki Arms Scandal seem to have tacitly truncated the possibility of a successful prosecution because the Emir cannot be interrogated by the EFCC let alone being subpoenaed. Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and President Muhamadu Buhari cannot claim not to have heard about this Ese girl while they wined and prayed in Mecca; Not when the inspector General of Police is already giving us flimsy excuses on their behalf; not when some Buhari Fanatics are already defending the Emir with the lame stupidity of probability of obtaining consent from the teenage bride; not when the fanatics are even trying to inflate her age claiming she is 17 when her elder brother is 16. surprisingly my fellow comrades who were against that infamous PDP arithmetic of 16 being greater than 19 have not come out to display their expertise now that it is once more required. By the way where is the Bring Back Our Girls Group on this? Are we only human rights advocates an political rights activist on election year? #bringbackESE

Rumors are rife that the leadership of the APC and FG met last week to discuss the solution to the numerous unfavourable judgments against them and I'm thinking "why should Saraki be invited to such meeting considering his own case in the court? Will the solution absolve him or APC? If their plans must work the Senate president must be carried along if not well the drama is going to be interesting! Meanwhile, I don't know why whenever I think about 2019 I hear a voice in my head saying "saraki" "saraki" "saraki" Instead of "sai baba"... lmao. I feel like I'm in a cinema watching the movie naija

Timeline Photos

AKWA IBOM INVASION II: ABDUCTION OF MR. IME UWAH AND MATTERS ARISING Barely four months after men of the DSS raided the Akwa Ibom state government house in search of what they are yet to tell the world as justification for their "lawful desecration" of the hilltop mansion, men claiming to be of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) stormed Akwa Ibom State again to the embarrassment of Akwa Ibom state government and people still. This time around the men came like a thief in the night arriving on night of Monday 22nd February, 2016 with a search warrant that ordered them to search any discovered environment or premises owned or connected to Mr. Ime Uwah, the Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Marketing and Brand Management. The officers, who arrived Uyo in a Toyota Hiace bus with a Lagos state registration number EY 527 KJA, were reportedly detailed to arrest the Governor’s aide over allegation by some anonymous petitioner that he owns a property where he stores ammunitions and uniforms of various armed forces which he intends to use during the rerun election in Akwa Ibom. So they proceeded with the search through Uwah’s most popular business centre - Eni Stores and Eni Gardens, his residence and finally his farm along Akwa Ibom Airport Road and found nothing. Trouble, however, began when they refused to release the Governor’s Aide, insisting to take him to Lagos nay some unknown destination for further interrogation. But the Akwa Ibom youths in their ever vigilant nature to always fight for their own especially when they believe their cause a right one resisted the move. The alleged police officers obviously did not envisage such resistance. The people were so determined to stop the police men from Lagos from taking the Governor’s aide to anywhere outside the state that it would have resulted to violence if not for the intervention of the State Police Command through the Deputy Commissioner of Police who rushed down to arrest the situation. It was a situation where a prestigious Uyo son was allegedly abducted by unknown gunmen claiming to be men of SARS from Lagos on arrest and search operation who were in turn equally arrested by Akwa Ibom people. Upon arrival, the police boss chided the men demanding why they wanted to embarrass the state police command by embarking on such an operation without at least putting the state command in the know. That of course is standard security protocol. The local authority must always be involved even in covert operations for ground support. Immediately, the DCP led them to the State Command Headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia where they held meetings behind close doors and thereafter Mr. Uwah was released. Now, there are very serious concerns regarding this incident. First, why did the search warrant, arrest order and operatives of SARS have to come from Lagos instead of Abuja being the national head quarters or Calabar being the Zonal Division over Akwa Ibom State? Assuming without conceding that the SARS being one of the fourteen sections under the Department of Criminal Investigation which is superintended by the Deputy Inspector General - Investigation can take their operation order from anywhere in the country why did they not register their mission at the state head quarters first as standard police protocol demands? As well, why did they insist on whisking the young man at such late hour to Lagos and in a private Toyota Hiace Bus not police vehicle? These concerns are ordinary worries in the mind of every ordinary person present at the scene that night or informed of the incident thereafter. These concerns are inexhaustible, there is even another dimension of these concerns that should disturb the Federal Government and its security agencies as they operate in Akwa Ibom State being as follows: What if the crowd's resistance had gone so awry that the so called SARS were lynched? Perhaps, that would have been the case in more volatile climes like Oro or Anang towns where the people are always happy to lay down their lives to protect their own? What would have been the explanation the Nigeria police force would give to the families of those operatives who would have lost their lives unnecessarily- "Death in active service" right? Truth is, there is more to this than meets the eye and the proportional proclivities abound. Even more disturbing is what the Government of Akwa Ibom state is doing about all these harassments? Last time it was government house, this time it is the Governor's Aide. Who knows who will be the target next time? This, I must say do not portend anything good for our democracy and our security in this country. Those behind this should know that the repercussions could go either or two ways. One being that the people of Akwa Ibom State may begin to lose confidence in the ability of the state government to defend them from unnecessary harassments, human right abuses and extra judiciary operations from security agencies. After all, what can one expect from a government that cannot protect itself. Not everybody will have the capacity to provoke the attention of the masses enough to drag the state police command to address their situation at the scene or thereafter. We have many cases like that already in the Awaiting Trial section at the Nigeria prisons here in Akwa Ibom state. On the other hand, this whole menace may lead the people of Akwa Ibom to begin to see the Federal Government of Nigeria as its mortal enemy merely because they are by political vagaries an opposition state and as such are being persecuted for it. Consequently, this will leave them with no other choice than to resort to self help. And verily, no security agency can survive the hatred and lack of cooperation of a host community let alone an entire state. What this means is that, nobody in the community would dare give information to police or even report crimes against themselves to security agencies. Identifying with security agencies will become a taboo. Police investigations will become impossible and arrests will only be possible at the risk of the life of whoever is ordered to effect such arrests. Presently, before the High Court of Akwa Ibom state - court 9, Fulga- Ikot Ekpene road precisely, is a similar case where some members of a community including the village heads and clan heads are arraigned for killing and battering police officers sent to execute search and arrest warrant in their community. According to the testimony of one of the surviving police officers they (the police) tried in vain to explain to the crowd that they came in peace to do their job. Instead the crowd (which they later discovered was hi-jacked by a vicious mob known as "Nka Mkpotiok"), believed the police were hired by their neighbouring rival community to oppress them attacked the police men so mercilessly that they had no choice but to open fire at them but the shots were ineffective. Then they called for reinforcement but even the reinforcement came and backed away after a protracted gun battle with the mob who had captured one of their officers. By the time a bigger reinforcement returned the mob had dispersed and their colleague was found dead. As one of the defense counsels I cannot go beyond this on a matter that is sub-judice than citing it as a rather minuscule example of what can befall our security agencies should they persist in harassing Akwa Ibom people unnecessarily. No one here is wont to stop the police from doing their job. Nobody is encouraging mob action rather; it is common sense. The people always react when they are pushed to the wall and right now our backs are romancing the walls. At the risk of repetition it is pertinent to re-echo the fact that there is nothing wrong in executing search and arrests but such things should be carried out in civilized manner. It is a reproach on our security agencies in the first place to carry out sting operations on unverified intelligence reports. And it is more degrading of them to do so without civility. In other countries even when a person is under strict surveillance and investigations where his property is searched and nothing is found an apology is tendered. Security service thrives on dignity and integrity. The dignity to do their job with integrity and accept their mistakes as well as the dignity to ensure that the integrity of their actions is sure. When, the police or DSS or Military or Civil Defense begin to carry out storm searches and random arrests without due authentication as to the integrity of their Intel they reduce themselves to mere rumor soldiers and nothing pretentious more. There was a time when life, in the words of Thomas Hobbes, "was a precarious scenerio, brutish and short" because men were laws for themselves until the law assumed responsibility of social engineering - a social contract that still keeps our self-help proclivities at bay. And common wisdom forbids that such times be returned. As for Akwa Ibom state, the state government through the executive and legislature should petition the Presidency, Inspector General of Police, National Assembly and the Police Service Commission and all relevant authorities. The State Government must mob the Federal Government before it is mobbed by the people. It is totally unacceptable that the DSS, Police, Peace Corps and other Military, Paramilitary or Security Agencies cannot enjoy our hospitality and turn around to become hostile against against us. Our nation is on the precipice of the unknown and our state cannot be the sacrificial lamb. Mr. Ime Uwah who is also referred to as the Alico Dangote of Akwa Ibom State is a young entrepreneur of Uyo descent who has possibly a thousand Akwa Ibom People under his employment and a public officer should not be exposed to such threat and no Akwa Ibom person either. This should be the last. Anything of this character again may be disastrous. Culled from INK NEWSPAPER Thursday edition 25/2/16. Also on www.watchoutnaija.blogspot.com

Timeline Photos

Right from the days of President Olusegun Obasanjo I have always told those who cared to listen that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a Para-legal/Para military weapon in political hands. And not for once have they proved me wrong. Most of their operatives are not lawyers, their head is from the police force and they answer to the president in the job of fighting corruption - that is, investigating, arresting and prosecuting those corrupt in the eyes of the presidency. And they go about these duties with reckless abandon for the rule of law, legendary mediocrity in investigation and treasonable sabotage at prosecution. They make so much noise, so much arrests and so so less conviction. But very few cared to address this irrectitude until now that the anti-graft agency picked and locked up Ricky Tarfa SAN on Friday at about 5:00pm outside the premises of the Lagos High Court in Igbosere area of Lagos Island and is yet to be granted bail three days later. According to them his arrest was because of alleged obstruction of justice by the silk who prevented the operatives of the EFCC from arresting his clients, two Beninois nationals, who were being tried by the court for offenses bordering on forgery and conspiracy, Wilson Uwujaren, spokesperson for the agency confirmed. It is gathered from another source that EFCC agents at the court premises in Lagos had laid an ambush for Granhoue Sourou Nazaire with the plan to arresting him for fraud, but Mr. Tarfa shielded and tried to get a judge to issue an order to bar the EFCCC from picking him up. Quickly, the Nigeria Bar Association has risen to condemn the arrest as disregard for rule of law and arrant reproach at the prestigious profession. In fact, a former President of the NBA, Mr. Joseph Bodunrin Daudu, SAN, lamenting at the incident said “Well, you see, this is what we face with the current EFCC. Let’s get the facts straight, all of us who are defending accused persons are now endangered species, all of us are being investigated by the EFCC, so we are all waiting for the day they will come and carry us.” However, Mr. John Olusegun Odubela, reacting for the law firm, Rickey Tarfa &Co. in a statement signed by its Partners and Head of Chambers, said : “It is germane to state that the matter before the court has no bearing with corruption related issue. It is purely between a husband and wife struggling for the control of a manufacturing company they jointly promoted.It is purely a matrimonial issue that went sour.” Well, truth be told. It does not matter whether Ricky was defending an accused person or divorce client. What counts is whether his client had been invited by the EFCC and he refused to oblige thereby necessitating the need to be arrested and Ricky was in the know and tried to prevent his arrest unlawfully. If this is true then he should not just be arrested by prosecuted for obstruction of justice, aiding and abetting crime plus all possible charges. After all, a senior advocate should not just know the law but also lead in its observance. Though the stories surrounding his arrest are disturbing and contradicting my concern is for the sanctity of my profession. I've never spared law enforcement officers when the cross my path but never do I encroach into their path. And these senior lawyers must learn there are Senior in the profession not to the profession. Their seniority is not over the law. Meanwhile, I also wish the NBA will also fight for young lawyers the way they declare war for senior lawyers. Come to think of it, is this not the same Ricky Tarfa SAN that use to win cases for ACN? Now that he seems to share some sympathy for PDP in some cases he is suddenly very touchable. Hehehehe! Anyway I will be senior lawyer someday. Okpo Ewa Esq.

Timeline Photos

Only very few people understood the fact that Nigeria was already broke before Obasanjo became president. We had had all our fortunes squandered from good image to natural resources and finances. It therefore took so much work to recover some of these losses. It was not an easy task convincing people to do business with Nigeria but gradually they started seeing reason to trust us and work with us. This had a whole lot to do with the way our leaders presented us before the world. You know a woman is not pretty but you do not have to tell her so. That is how life is. Packaging. It takes an educated man to understand this. Education is no monopoly of the four walls of academic institutions. It is a way of life. Academic institutions only make it easier. Today, we have lost hundreds of FDI because our president raised a national insolvency alarm! Meanwhile, these corporations knew very well that all was not rosy with us. After all, the world was going broke and Nigeria is not in the moon. But the assurance by our leaders kept them in our bed. President Buhari's claim that Nigeria is broke though made in mixed faith seem to have brought us all the bad faith in the world. His intention was to cast the previous administration in bad lights and to attract financial compassion from bigger countries and international bodies. But the reverse is the case. Nobody wants to lend money so easily again let alone grant aides. They do not even have enough themselves. The Greece - European Union drama tells it all. But it seems our president is yet to grasp the consequences of his first alarm on the nation and has gone further to raise another one "Nigerians Are Criminals!" Who achieves positive feats with negative streaks? How in the world does this president expect good people of Nigeria world over to survive after he has officially declared them wanted to the government of the countries they reside and hustle? Even if he has identified looters and their assessors what percentage are they in our population of over 150 million to warrant generalizing us all as criminals? Things like this makes one begin to question the usefulness of a cleric and lawyer as Vice President. Those who never see anything wrong in what president Buhari does will not escape this one when it begins to yield results. Fatuously, they think they are insulated from His Excellency's buffoonery. Thank God, the man who made it possible for Buhari to be President, Prof. Attahiru Jega has come out to counter His Excellency on this one. Meanwhile, I am sure Goodluck Jonathan will be somewhere regaling himself with all these. Especially, the recent harangues from the man who tore his PDP card for Buhari now telling the world that Buhari is not the man they were thinking he would be. But then what do we expect from a president who cannot defend his wealth without controversies or a man who allowed criminals to make him president. Ah, he forgets or perhaps does not even know that one who benefits from crime is also a criminal himself. Come to think of it, what do you call a man who budgets billions for his meals in a broke economy?