Chidinma Ojukwu – What Manner of ‘Suspect’?

Loud Whispers

Chidinma Ojukwu – What Manner of ‘Suspect’?

This one is not appearing like her colleagues used to appear on crime fighters. This one is all glammed up and sitting pretty. I was kinda amazed to watch a recent interview she granted wherein she sat pretty and looking like an Instagram beauty queen, where she relayed a new version of events leading to the gruesome murder of Mr Ataga.
Was I vexed? Kind of. Was I wondering, what the hell is going on? Yes. This person I saw on the report didn’t look like she had a worry in this world. In fact, she was talking like she had just been told that she stood a good chance of winning a lottery rather than be fighting for her life in one of Nigeria’s most celebrated cases. She even smiled, laughed and giggled at some point as she narrated a new version.

The whole thing is confusing: the make-up, the new hair, the new sexy clothes. One is not saying that her rights be taken from her after all last I checked was that you are innocent until proven guilty. But this one was just overboard. What else can we do but to be watching na? Truth no dey hide, it can be playing hide and seek most of the time, but eventually, it will come out, and at that time, all eyes will be opened. For now, na to dey siddon look we dey. Na wa.

BENIN ARTEFACTS – MY CANDID OPINION

I have been watching with very keen interest the disagreement between the highly respected Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare and the very respected Governor of Edo, Mr Godwin Obaseki, who should retain custody of the expected Benin artefacts.

Please note for those of us who did not attend history classes in school, the Benin artefacts were said to have been looted by various European people around 1897 and have been on display in various European museums since then.
After decades of discussions, the German authorities have finally announced that the artefacts would be returned to Benin from 2022 and na that one come start fight between our people.

If we don’t fight we are not Nigerians. So Oba Ewuare has stated that he wants to build a Royal Museum within the confines of his palace for the artefacts. I have been in that palace during my Play Emotan, and there is space there. If you drive in and turn right, you will see one big field where boys will play football. That land can house artefacts.

But my brother Obaseki say no. He has better plans. He wants to build a separate institution outside of the palace to house the artefacts for so many reasons, I no get time to mention here.
Oba Ewuare has written to the Federal Government not to allow Obaseki take custody before he sell them use pay minimum wage while Obaseki has also stated in very strong terms that he needs the Artefacts or his second term will be of no consequence.

But Obaseki did one marvellous thing. Showing his deep respect for the traditional stool and the person of His Oba, he has released a statement saying that he will not join words with the Oba and admonished his people never to try to ‘yab’ the Oba because if they do anything they see is for them and their family o.

Well, I have said a lot about this issue in past writings. I am a well-regarded historian if I must before some of you will start asking wetin concern me or if this is afang. If you go check my WAEC results, you will see that History was A -please wait, let me confirm before una come do me Kemi Adeosun. Well, the issue here is very simple. Where we keep the artefacts is not my problem, but what we intend to achieve with them should be the real issue.

For me, the whole thing is looking like an ego-driven campaign that will not augur well for the Benin people and their heritage. The artefacts are not just to be kept so that every morning someone will wake up and go and pour libation or be taking a picture or be using it as part of achievement in government.

Both sides, to me, are not getting it. Those artefacts are the glory of the people, their culture, their heritage and their traditions. The artefacts should tour the world. They should be seen by millions all over the world. They should generate revenues that would be used to strengthen the traditional institutions at home and shore up dwindling Government revenues while boosting both inbound and local tourism.

We never get these things. Keeping them in Benin, whether inside the Benin moat or in the backyard of Government House in my mind’s eye, will not generate the needed attention it requires. Have you gone to the Nigerian Museum at Onikan recently? You will cry. Up until recently, they used to use the place to host Owambe party at weekends and also used as a car park during the week. Cobwebs have invaded the artefacts, and the place just looks tacky.

I think both sides should come together and put heads together to fashion out a much more concise approach to this very simple matter. For me, the artefacts should tour the world while the revenues and attention it generates should be better milked and maximized by both sides. There is nothing they are coming to do in Benin.
Wey the road sef to drive to see them if kidnappers and bandits go even let you reach the place? I just tire.

LORRETTA ONOCHIE – A DOOMED NOMINATION

Me, I no really like madam o. I have followed her positioning and utterances very keenly over the last few years and must say that her interventions have really been lacking in standards and depth. You see, at times when you have this kind of job they have given her, there is a way you will carry out the tasks that even your opponents will look at you and say- yes, that is a brilliant one.

This one used to just ram into issues like Jankara person and further complicate matters with her interjections.
So when she was nominated for the INEC thing, she sef should have known that this thing cannot work. It was a PR bomb for those who nominated her because, from time immemorial, her image was very far from the neutrality that was needed for the job.

In fact, her nomination could be termed as very insensitive, especially when the government should be looking at the legacy it will be leaving behind as it cruises into the last few months of its tenure.

So carrying yourself with big lipstick to the Senate to justify the nomination smirked of a major detachment from reality. Thankfully, the Senate, after being barraged by a series of petitions, did the rightful thing. We cannot continue to weaken our institutions with these moves and expect that society will be safeguarded. The continuous erosion of the levers of society that we have witnessed all of these years is what we are suffering today with the increased criminality at all levels and the seeming helplessness at pulling society back from the brink by authorities.

It is, however, never too late to do the right thing. The government should move past this fiasco and throw up a much more credible candidate for the position. Even if that one sef get k-leg, at least sha respect us small by sending someone that would at least pretend to be neutral until he enter. Not madam, make she go do something else, work plenty for ground. She can be welfare officer for the Falcons na. Not this one.

DR. (MRS.) AWOLOWO-DOSUNMU MY SINCERE GRATITUDE

If it were possible to kneel down and be writing this piece, I would have done so. That is the level of reverence that I reserve for this wonderful amazon. Let me throw this out there first.

When she was still in the public eye, I used to admire her a lot and must say that my choice of the Duchess fresh from secondary school had a lot to do with her uncanny resemblance to mummy. So you can imagine how I must have felt about 30 years after, I now come to have a sit down with mummy on the back of my new Play – Awo.

The play Awo, which has received the backing and support of some very strong institutions like First Bank, Wema Bank and the LIRS, plus the Lagos government, remains one of my most significant outings as a theatre producer.
So in making sure that the integrity of the story remains assured, I reached out to mummy. She was kind and patient as she listened to my story. She asked if the script was ready, and we said we were working on it. She came on a zoom session to work the scripts with us twice.

She gave some very instructive contributions as she guided us towards telling a more compelling story that will see Awo further positioned as one of Nigeria’s most enigmatic leaders.

Then last week, she called and asked if we wanted the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation Logo. To me, this was the final endorsement. She had earlier sent in a letter of endorsement but sending us the official Logo of the Foundation in my mind’s eye was like saying – we are very confident that the legacy of Papa in your hands will be well safeguarded.

Mummy, I thank you so very much. God will keep you alive for us and you can be sure that when you see the Play, this risk you have taken on me will be well rewarded. On behalf of the cast and crew, especially Makinde Adeniran, who wrote this play, thank you so much. Awo will be showing at the Glover Memorial Hall this September in Lagos immediately after a beautiful run of my other play Aremu a depiction of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s life and times and written by Prof Ahmed Yerima. Will you be there? Call me.

FSDH MERCHANT BANK – MY QUICK ADVICE

During the week, I started hearing some disturbing news. You see, let me first say why I am commenting because it is really not my business. FSDH was one of the places I always told myself as an Investment Banker and Asset manager that I would have loved to work. I used to like their professionalism and the niche they had carved for themselves in the market.

Although I failed to interview there twice, I just looked at them and said, you people don’t know what you are missing. This is going to be the most powerful marketer in this industry and you will be giving me yeye GMAT exam to do. That time I can fail the GMAT.

So after doing it twice, I gave up and left them to their wahala and went to resume at Unex Securities limited who I don’t know how they did their own GMAT, but I passed.

Well, anyway, I have heard of an issue, and I have listened to both sides. I am deducing here that there was a market move against positions taken and that, in my mind’s eye, is a normal thing in the markets.

Markets move up and down, and traders, especially portfolio managers like pilots, must at all times be able to be in control and be at the neck of trends to ensure better direction.

I cannot go into details for obvious reasons, but I will only seek to advise that we move very cautiously as we engage all stakeholders in this matter. It is a normal thing in the markets, and I should know, having been in it for over 20 years. I have seen worse, barring any under the table deals.

But let me say this: I am very happy at the appointment of the new Managing Director Mrs Smith. She too is from FCMB, where I worked and I am very confident in her abilities as a manager of men and resources, which makes me very confident that the firm is in pole position for better days ahead. My brother Tosa Ogboma, one of the most brilliant investment bankers that I have ever had the good fortune of having as a client, is also on board and my egbon, the legendary Tolu Osunibi, makes that place a dream to be. Any young investment banker who has the good luck of working with this trio would be better for it.

So guys, let’s flatten this out and move forward very fast. I have implicit confidence in your abilities. The markets must be conquered, and I stand by your corner as you move steadily. Well done, guys.

ABUBAKAR SULEIMAN – MADE OF STERLING QUALITIES

So that is how I went for the service of songs of one of my ogas’ late mothers in Lekki. That one if I mention his name here now, he will not buy a ticket to see Aremu again o. So let’s just say Oga A. so Oga A was giving his sweet mother a befitting farewell, and I was there to pay my last respects. As I sat down, my friend and brother Wale Oyedeji walked in.

When I say people are brilliant, na this type them Oyedeji I am referring to. Ex-Executive Director at GTB and my man from primary school remain to me a symbol of gentlemanliness in brilliance. I tell you. Anytime you see him, stop him and ask him any question. If he no answer, come and slap me here.

Well, as I sat in the church, it dawned on me that I had forgotten all the songs since I had not been to church since my days as Sunday school teacher in my father’s church in Shomolu. No that na lie. I was in church recently when they ordained me elder but that was just 30 minutes. I take my appointment; I clap and sing and I walk away.

So as not to embarrass myself in this beautiful Lekki church, I decided to just walk away and I saw him. Abu sat there in one corner, very humble and gentle. I did not want to disturb him in church before he now thought that I wanted him to buy something from me, so I left him but made a mental note of reaching out later.

I remember my first meeting with Abu. He was a senior officer at Sterling then, and my other egbon Segun Oluyori, wanted to employ me at the Asset management side of their business. So he sent me to Abu for a discussion. When a brilliant man is talking, you keep quiet o. He spoke very eloquently and asked the right questions, and assured me that he would put in a good recommendation for me. I thank God I did not resign oh because almost 10 years now I am still waiting for Segun’s appointment letter. Lol Anyways, Abu made it to the peak and he is now the Managing Director at Sterling Bank. I hear the reform that is happening there is novel. I hear at Sterling Bank you can open a business as a staff and as long as the account is in the bank, the bank will support you with soft loans and other such type support.

They even allow you one day in a workweek to go and tend to your business fully paid, and you can choose which branch nearest to you to work out from, which means that like someone in their corporate communications living in Ijeshatedo, you can just walk into the nearest branch and do your work instead of trudging in Lagos traffic to their Marina Head office.

Sterling Bank under Abu is really making waves with strong lieutenants like my Tunde Adeola and the rest of the team. And as an alumnus – I worked in two of their legacy banks, Nal and Magnum – I can only but say, I remain very proud. Well done, guys.

TOPE FASUA – THE DRUMMER BOY

It was my friend Kabiyesi Jacob Esan who introduced me to Tope. He had said: Edgar, there is someone you should meet, and he is running for the Presidency. Prior to this, I had heard that Tope had built a political party with structures almost all over the country. We met, and we clicked.

I listened to him and was astounded at his depth. The man understands the Nigerian economy to a tee. During the week, he dropped an article in thealvinreport.com that went viral. He titled it ‘The Largest Bank Robbery in History – About to Happen in Nigeria.’ The article quickly went viral, with people sending it across the world.

The article, in my estimation, is the best thing he has ever done in his life. He was so lucid and engaging and showed his capacity as a quick and deep banking operations guru.

He opened up the downside of the banking system showing just how easy people of shady character can take advantage like, in this case, Nigeria, if not careful, could be taken for as much as billions in pounds.
I enjoyed the article so much that I have read it over twelve times. People like Tope should be serenaded; hence this is my shoutout. Well done, bro.

CREDIBLE ELECTION? – THE SENATE HAS JUST KNIFED IT!

As the news filtered out on their position on the electronic transmission of election results, I began to just hold my head in utter disgust. They voted against it o. They actually voted against it. This is a new low and I must say that I cannot be ashamed cos this particular bunch of senators is just something else.

What is playing out is very obvious – that we must stick to the baggage of the inept style. Simply because of its ease of manipulation. Do these people really think about their legacy, their place in history? Do they sit at home and wonder how history will judge them?

We are saying that people must find their voices through democratic means. They must eschew violence and take advantage of the democratic processes to seek national validation and you now stifle even that gateway with this kind of voting? I just weak as we say it in Shomolu. I just tire for una. I have an Ibibio name for you all – ‘ekpu’.