Wednesday, 8 April 2015

PDP Queries Buhari’s Indifference To Burning National Issues


Press statement from the PDP. Read below..


The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed deep concerns over the apparent indifference of the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari to burning national issues threatening the unity and stability of the country.





PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement on Wednesday said “while well-meaning Nigerians and the international community are celebrating the peace fostered by the patriotic action of President Goodluck Jonathan in conceding defeat, General Buhari and his party, the APC have been moving around the country instigating division, engineering crisis and heightening tension in the polity”.








“Whereas General Buhari had assured Nigerians that he would be the President of the entire nation and not of a political party, his actions in the last one week show otherwise as he has continued to display sectionalism and insensitivity to matters inimical to the survival of our democracy and wellbeing of Nigerians.







“Instead of settling down to plan a smooth transition and design ways of deepening democracy in appreciation of the mandate given to him, General Buhari has tacitly encouraged his men to foment crisis and cause panic in the bid to muzzle personal freedom and impose a reign of terror in the land.







“For instance, Gen. Buhari has remained indifferent to the crisis in Ekiti where outgoing APC lawmakers who are supposed to be campaigning for the renewal of their mandates on Saturday have been mobilized to Oshogbo in Osun state by the APC to perfect an ignoble plot to remove a democratically elected government in the state.







“APC’s ambition in Ekiti coupled with its odious triumphalism in the aftermath of the Presidential election have led to avoidable confrontations and near breakdown of law and order in the state as the people rise to defend the mandate freely given to the PDP.







“In continuation of this display of arrogance in victory, Buhari’s men in Lagos have dragged the revered traditional institution into the political fray with the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu threatening death to supporters of the PDP, an action that has brought outrage from Nigerians with General Buhari playing the ostrich.







“It is indeed unfortunate that while his men are causing crisis and threating Nigerians, General Buhari, instead of calling them to order displays his insensitivity by jetting around the country campaigning for his party.







“If this sort of insensitivity and arrogance of victory are foretaste of what to expect in a Buhari presidency, then our dear nation and its people are headed for a long trek in the wilderness”, the statement said.







Meanwhile, the PDP in reaction to reports of defection from its fold described the defectors as political Trojans, who from within have ceaselessly worked against the interest of the party and now fear that they would face sanctions for their actions.







Stating that it would not miss such fair weather members, the party commended the courage and steadfastness of all its supporters and members who have remained committed to the course and urged them to go a step further by emulating Senate President David Mark and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu in speaking out publicity in favour of the PDP, its ideals and visions of the founding fathers.







The PDP said adequate machinery is already in motion to reorganize and to reposition itself to regain power in the next four years since it is obvious that the APC lacks what it takes to effectively lead the nation.







It therefore called on Nigerians to use the Saturday’s election to demonstrate their commitment to democracy by voting enmasse for the PDP bearing in mind that a vote the party is a vote for the unity and stability of the country.










Signed:



Olisa Metuh

National Publicity Secretary


DSTV Subscription: Court Stops Dstv From Increasing Fees

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered Multi Choice Nigeria Limited, operator of the Digital Satellite Television, popularly known as DStv, to hold action on its planned subscription fee increment.



Justice C.J. Aneke, who made the interim order last week, held that it would subsist till the determination of a lawsuit contesting the legality of DStv’s newly introduced rates and increase in tariffs payable by all its subscribers in the country.



Two legal practitioners in Lagos, Osasuyi Adebayo and Oluyinka Oyeniji, had approached the court challenging what they described as arbitrary increment in DStv subscription rates imposed on its customers.



The action, they said, followed an announcement by Multi Choice in March that it was increasing DStv subscription fees by 20 per cent on all viewing plans effective from April 1, 2015.



The company had reportedly explained that the price increase was necessary for it to be able to continue to offer the best in local and international entertainment to its subscribers.



But the plaintiffs, who considered the move as illegal, filed the suit marked FHC/L/CS/404/2015, joining Multi Choice Nigeria Limited and the National Broadcasting Commission as the first and second defendants respectively.



The plaintiffs, who sued for themselves and on behalf of all DStv subscribers across the country, had asked for an order, compelling NBC to enforce the pay-per-view scheme, whereby subscribers would only pay for programmes watched, as was being done in other parts of the world.



They also asked for an order of the court restraining any other individual or corporate entitity from filing any other action on the subject matter to avoid multiplicity of the lawsuit.



Aneke, having granted the interim injunction as prayed by the plaintiffs, directed that the order be made public through newspapers publications.



The judge adjourned the case till April 16, 2015.



Aneke held, “That an order of interim injunction is hereby granted to the parties to maintain the status quo restraining the 1st defendant (Multichoice/DStv) from giving effect or enforcing its planned increase in cost of the different classes of viewing or programmes bouquet, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.



“That an order is hereby granted certifying the plaintiffs’ claim as a class action for themselves as individual subscribers, other corporate subscribers, distributors and retailers of the 1st defendants’ services.



“That an order is hereby granted restraining any other person whether individual or corporate from instituting any other action as may be related to the action against the defendant to prevent multiplicity of lawsuits pursuant to the appointment of the plaintiffs in the class action but may instead opt in or out of this action.”



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Oba Is Right, APC Can Make Life Unbearable For Igbos In Lagos - Okorocha

**APC is the party that has protected Igbo people's lives and properties over these years. - Okorocha.

**Lagos APC government has the power to make life unbearable for all Igbo traders and resident in Lagos if they so wish.



The Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has thrown his support for the Oba of Lagos, who threatened Igbos residing in Lagos of Death inside Lagoon if they fail to vote the APC Lagos Governorship candidate, Ambode, whom he claimed he hand picked for the position.



Okorocha speaking to the press in Imo state capital, Owerri, after Buhari's visit defended the Oba of Lagos and pointed out that the Oba of Lagos was not totally wrong in insisting that Igbos must vote Ambode .



He went further to echo that "Igbos should not portray themselves as ungrateful people, the only way they can show appreciation is by massively voting for APC the party that has protected their lives and properties over these years.



"The Lagos state government led by APC has the capacity to make life unbearable for all Igbo traders and resident in Lagos if they so wish. So you see, the Oba was figurative in his speech not necessarily that Igbos will be drowned in Lagoons" the governor added.



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Photos: President Jonathan visits Gen T. Danjuma at his home


President Jonathan paid a private visit to former Defence Minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma at his home in Abuja today April 8th. The purpose of the meeting was not made known but according to presidential media aide, Reuben Abati who shared the pics, Danjuma praised President Jonathan for conceding defeat after results of the Presidential elections was announced in favor of his opponent. "The manner in which Pres. Jonathan conceded victory is totally unAfrican, it's very important for Africa" Danjuma said. Another photo after the cut...











Ini Edo covers April issue of Genevieve magazine...


This month, Genevieve magazine cover features Nollywood actress and producer, Ini Edo, who recently premiered her latest movie, “While You Slept”. In a very rare interview with Genevieve, the actress sheds more light on her new movie, her recent separation and future plans.



Photography: Yetunde Baba Eko. Make-up: Bimpe Onakoya...


Some Historical Facts About The Ilorin And Kwara Yoruba

After reading the memorandum sent by the leaders of the Yoruba people of Kwara State to the National Conference, I must repeat much of what I once wrote in this column about the history of the Yoruba of Ilorin and of Kwara. The Fulani never conquered Ilorin nor invaded Yorubaland. These historical facts need to be emphasized and re-emphasized.



Ilorin was a small town in the Oyo Empire by the beginning of the 19th century. Afonja, Baale of Ilorin, who also held the title of Are Ona Kakanfo of the Oyo Empire, rebelled against his king, the Alafin of Oyo, in 1817. (There is no space here for the reasons for his rebellion). In order to sustain his rebellion, he was desperate to build a large and powerful army. To that end, he did a number of desperate things.



First, he invited the people of nearby villages to move to Ilorin and turn Ilorin into a large town. Many people so moved, but most refused.



Secondly, he reached out to many prominent friends all over the Oyo country, and invited them to come and live in Ilorin. Some accepted his invitation and came. Among these was a rich trader named Solagberu from Kuwo. Another was a man named Alimi, a Fulani man who had long lived in the Oyo country peddling charms from town to town. Afonja employed Alimi to make charms for him and his army.



Thirdly, Afonja decided to exploit a religious situation that was causing trouble in the country at the time. A Jihad movement had started in Hausaland in the north in 1804, generating wars and stormy Islamic evangelism there. It was started and led by an immigrant people called Fulani. The Fulani immigrants were few among the large Hausa nation, but very many of the Hausa who were already Muslims sided with the Fulani – and thus made it possible for the Fulani to defeat the ancient Hausa kings and make themselves rulers over Hausaland.



Some of the violent Jihadist preachers trickled south into the Oyo country. Everywhere they came, they were causing a lot of commotion by preaching violent and disrespectful sermons against the Oyo kings and chiefs, and against Yoruba culture in general. Yoruba people, with their tradition of religious tolerance, were alarmed; and angry crowds began to attack the preachers. Afonja decided to exploit the situation by issuing a general invitation to the Muslims to flee to him in Ilorin, promising to give them protection there. Thousands of frightened Muslims fled to Ilorin, and Afonja trained many of them for his army. (Afonja himself did not intend to convert to Islam, and he never did).



Fourthly, most rich Oyo families had Hausa, Nupe and Fulani slaves - used mostly in farming, trading, livestock rearing, etc. Most were Muslims.



Afonja decided to exploit this also. He issued a proclamation saying that if any slaves ran away from their owners and came to him in Ilorin, he would give them freedom and protection there. Large numbers of slaves, mostly Hausa, fled to Afonja, and he trained some of them for his army.



Afonja thus had his large town and large army. Most of his army’s commanders and soldiers were Oyo Muslims. A few of the soldiers were Muslim Hausa – all slaves recently set free by Afonja. But many of his Hausa soldiers were unruly. He warned or threatened them repeatedly, but with no result. When he at last decided to discipline them, they mutinied. Afonja was killed in the mutiny - in 1823.



Meanwhile, while Alimi had been making charms for the army, he had become a friend to many of the Oyo commanders who were Muslims, and these hadmade him Imam (Islamic teacher and preacher) for the Muslim community in the army. After Afonja›s death, the same friends gradually made their Imam the ruler of Ilorin. They also created some officers among the Hausa soldiers - for instance, Balogun Gambari. The powerful men doing all these things were Oyo.



That then is how Oyo people made a Fulani man the ruler of Ilorin. When Alimi died, his elder son, Abdulsalam, was elevated to his father’s position by his father›s powerful Oyo Muslim friends. Adulsalam had lived in the Jihad in Hausaland and had only recently come to live with his father in Ilorin. He knew that the Jihad had made the Fulani the rulers of Ilorin - with a Fulani Sultanate based in Sokoto and quasi-independent Fulani Emirs in the separate Hausa kingdoms. So, after he was made ruler of Ilorin, he sent to Hausaland to announce that he had established an Emirate in Ilorin and to ask that his Emirate should be accepted as part of the Fulani Sultanate.



In this way, Ilorin became a Fulani Emirate, ruled by a Fulani family.