Sunday, June 21, 2015
Who Says Buhari Has Out-performed His Predecessor?
It is shocking that agents of the administration have started with their
propaganda to deceive Nigerians. Only yesterday, Alhaji Lai Muhammed
came out to praise the government and even stated that it has done a lot
more than his predecessor. I believe that we should all look into the
administration to determine the scector that Buhari performed. Please
forgive me for the "lenghty write-up"
Corruption
It is on record that since President Buhari took over power from Dr Goodluck Jonathan, he is yet to initiate any high profile corruption case nor vigorously pursued those he inherited. Buhari inherited the case against exGov Timpre Sylva, disgraced Adamawa state exGov Muritala Nyako, his son Abdulaziz Nyako. He also inherited the case against exMinister Femi Fani Kayode, exGov Ali Modu Sheriff and immediate past Governor of Jigawa state Sule Lamido(and his sons). The case of Sylva is well publicised. Murtala Nyako was impeached for corruption and fled the country in 2014. He was declared wanted by EFCC in Feb 4, 2015 along with his son Abdulaziz Nyako. The exGov "magestically" returned to Nigeria 24hrs after Buhari took over. He reported himself to EFCC, drank coffee with the commission staffs and came out smiling. He has been granted "administrative bail" by the same commission that declared him wanted 5months ago. His son Abdulaziz was also declared wanted in Feb for N15billion fraud and was arrested in his hiding in Gombe state two weeks later. Funny enough the APC gifted him Adamawa South Senatorial ticket which they won. Nothing is heard of his case since Buhari took over. Modu Sheriff was first invited in April 23 by EFCC. He declined the invitation. The EFCC under Jonathan on May 24 announced that they will declare him wanted. Jonathan left power and Sheriff appeared from nowhere to visit EFCC. He himself went there to drink coffee and walked out. Nothing is heard of his case again. Buhari also inherited the case against FFK which EFCC under Jonathan had been pursuing with vigour. However, Buhari's EFCC failed to show up in court on the day of judgement. In fact, it was FFK's lawyer that was "begging" the judge to pass judgement on Thursday June 18. For the case of Sule Lamido, the EFCC had arrested his two sons for laundering N10billion in Nov 2013 which was linked to their father. Buhari inherited the case but the exGov "surrendered" himself to EFCC under Buhari, drank his own coffee and walked out gallantly. Not a single high profile corruption case that Buhari inherited is being pursued vigorously. The EFCC swooped on Ikedi Ohakim the ex-Imo state Governor few days ago and released him almost immediately. No case was heard about the former governor afterward.
In addition to the above, President Buhari is yet to initiate arrest and prosecution of any low profile case. The interrogation of NNPC officials was as a result of the May 18 directive that the exPetroleum Minister Diezani Madueke sent to EFCC after getting approval of then President Goodluck Jonathan. The 14 foreigners that are being tried for oil theft were arrested on March 8 under Jonathan by the Navy. They were later handed over to EFCC. The case of CBN fraudsters that are being tried for N8billion fraud was actually started in September 2014. The EFCC started their investigation in November 2014 and their arraignment followed after rigorous investigation. All these are under Jonathan. How many corruption cases has Buhari started? How can Buhari spokesperson claim Buhari has achieved more?
Security
Between Feb 13 and May 29, Nigeria recorded huge success against BH terrorists. Since Buhari took over, BH have struck more than 12 times, killing over 600 Nigerians as a result. The case of the Chibok girls is not even being talked of. So in what way has Buhari achieved more than Jonathan in Security?
Economy:
Since May 29, Nigeria's economy has been on the decline. According to The Punch, As of Thursday June 18, three weeks after the inauguration of the President on May 29, the value of equities listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange had declined by N238bn or 2.04 per cent, while the NSE All-Share Index fell by 2.47 per cent or 849.87 basis points.(Punch 19, June 2015). There is no policy framework on the economy as at today. Nigeria is floating on Auto-piloting system. So what has Buhari achieved?
Infrastructure, Education and Political Stability
Since taking over government, Buhari is yet to mix "cement and sand together" not to talk of kick starting infrastructural project. Nothing has even been heard of electrixity so far. Similarly, new policy direction has been heard on Education. The government and the party almost held the country and the National Assembly to ransom all because their preferred candidates lost principal office positions. This almost created a political chaos.
What has Buhari really achieved in these sectors?
Propaganda:
The government and their agents seem to be determined to "rule" the country according to the tenet of propaganda. Earlier this month, APC senior chief Nasir elrufai told the world that officers of past administration have started returning stolen money. Because it is was a lie, he couldn't name any official. He didn't even mention the amount returned, time the money was returned, and the receiving party.
The government is also trying to deceive Nigerians that they are winning the war on terrorism because foreign governments pledged support. However, they failed to tell Nigerians that the rhetoric support of foreign government is not new. In fact on May 14 2014, world powers pledged to Nigeria under Dr Jonathan that they will support the anti-terrorism war http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/missing-nigeria-schoolgirls/nigeria-will-conquer-boko-haram-goodluck-jonathan-says-n100116. It is also hypocritical and "propagandious" for President Buhari to count his "tour" as achievement just to deceive Nigerians.
The NNPC recently announced that the refineries "WILL" start working by next month (in their bid to give Nigerians the false hope that the government is working). However, they failed to tell Nigerians that President Buhari did not have a SINGLE input in the refineries turn around maintenance. In fact, he had no clue about what the contract papers look like. Anyway, the refinery is not working yet, we shall discuss more when it start to work.
In the first week of the administration, to appear transparent, the government tried to play on our intelligence by trying to use the secret Asset Declaration with CCB to equate the Public Asset Declaration. In fact, the spokesman of Buhari even boasted that by "declaring with the CCB, the President and his Vice had fulfilled their pledge". Nigerians resisted and insisted on seeing Buhari and Osinbajo Assets. They(APC) came up with another story that they are waiting for the 30days verification of CCB. Though we know their lies, we are counting on days and we shall remind them at the appropriate time.
I want to use this medium to appeal to the APC administration to forget the propaganda idea because we will not allow them such luxury. Nigerians should be rest assured that we will not stop to put the government to their toes despite the intimidation and verbal assault from some of their supporters.
Ramadan Kareem To All Muslims
God Bless Us All
Corruption
It is on record that since President Buhari took over power from Dr Goodluck Jonathan, he is yet to initiate any high profile corruption case nor vigorously pursued those he inherited. Buhari inherited the case against exGov Timpre Sylva, disgraced Adamawa state exGov Muritala Nyako, his son Abdulaziz Nyako. He also inherited the case against exMinister Femi Fani Kayode, exGov Ali Modu Sheriff and immediate past Governor of Jigawa state Sule Lamido(and his sons). The case of Sylva is well publicised. Murtala Nyako was impeached for corruption and fled the country in 2014. He was declared wanted by EFCC in Feb 4, 2015 along with his son Abdulaziz Nyako. The exGov "magestically" returned to Nigeria 24hrs after Buhari took over. He reported himself to EFCC, drank coffee with the commission staffs and came out smiling. He has been granted "administrative bail" by the same commission that declared him wanted 5months ago. His son Abdulaziz was also declared wanted in Feb for N15billion fraud and was arrested in his hiding in Gombe state two weeks later. Funny enough the APC gifted him Adamawa South Senatorial ticket which they won. Nothing is heard of his case since Buhari took over. Modu Sheriff was first invited in April 23 by EFCC. He declined the invitation. The EFCC under Jonathan on May 24 announced that they will declare him wanted. Jonathan left power and Sheriff appeared from nowhere to visit EFCC. He himself went there to drink coffee and walked out. Nothing is heard of his case again. Buhari also inherited the case against FFK which EFCC under Jonathan had been pursuing with vigour. However, Buhari's EFCC failed to show up in court on the day of judgement. In fact, it was FFK's lawyer that was "begging" the judge to pass judgement on Thursday June 18. For the case of Sule Lamido, the EFCC had arrested his two sons for laundering N10billion in Nov 2013 which was linked to their father. Buhari inherited the case but the exGov "surrendered" himself to EFCC under Buhari, drank his own coffee and walked out gallantly. Not a single high profile corruption case that Buhari inherited is being pursued vigorously. The EFCC swooped on Ikedi Ohakim the ex-Imo state Governor few days ago and released him almost immediately. No case was heard about the former governor afterward.
In addition to the above, President Buhari is yet to initiate arrest and prosecution of any low profile case. The interrogation of NNPC officials was as a result of the May 18 directive that the exPetroleum Minister Diezani Madueke sent to EFCC after getting approval of then President Goodluck Jonathan. The 14 foreigners that are being tried for oil theft were arrested on March 8 under Jonathan by the Navy. They were later handed over to EFCC. The case of CBN fraudsters that are being tried for N8billion fraud was actually started in September 2014. The EFCC started their investigation in November 2014 and their arraignment followed after rigorous investigation. All these are under Jonathan. How many corruption cases has Buhari started? How can Buhari spokesperson claim Buhari has achieved more?
Security
Between Feb 13 and May 29, Nigeria recorded huge success against BH terrorists. Since Buhari took over, BH have struck more than 12 times, killing over 600 Nigerians as a result. The case of the Chibok girls is not even being talked of. So in what way has Buhari achieved more than Jonathan in Security?
Economy:
Since May 29, Nigeria's economy has been on the decline. According to The Punch, As of Thursday June 18, three weeks after the inauguration of the President on May 29, the value of equities listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange had declined by N238bn or 2.04 per cent, while the NSE All-Share Index fell by 2.47 per cent or 849.87 basis points.(Punch 19, June 2015). There is no policy framework on the economy as at today. Nigeria is floating on Auto-piloting system. So what has Buhari achieved?
Infrastructure, Education and Political Stability
Since taking over government, Buhari is yet to mix "cement and sand together" not to talk of kick starting infrastructural project. Nothing has even been heard of electrixity so far. Similarly, new policy direction has been heard on Education. The government and the party almost held the country and the National Assembly to ransom all because their preferred candidates lost principal office positions. This almost created a political chaos.
What has Buhari really achieved in these sectors?
Propaganda:
The government and their agents seem to be determined to "rule" the country according to the tenet of propaganda. Earlier this month, APC senior chief Nasir elrufai told the world that officers of past administration have started returning stolen money. Because it is was a lie, he couldn't name any official. He didn't even mention the amount returned, time the money was returned, and the receiving party.
The government is also trying to deceive Nigerians that they are winning the war on terrorism because foreign governments pledged support. However, they failed to tell Nigerians that the rhetoric support of foreign government is not new. In fact on May 14 2014, world powers pledged to Nigeria under Dr Jonathan that they will support the anti-terrorism war http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/missing-nigeria-schoolgirls/nigeria-will-conquer-boko-haram-goodluck-jonathan-says-n100116. It is also hypocritical and "propagandious" for President Buhari to count his "tour" as achievement just to deceive Nigerians.
The NNPC recently announced that the refineries "WILL" start working by next month (in their bid to give Nigerians the false hope that the government is working). However, they failed to tell Nigerians that President Buhari did not have a SINGLE input in the refineries turn around maintenance. In fact, he had no clue about what the contract papers look like. Anyway, the refinery is not working yet, we shall discuss more when it start to work.
In the first week of the administration, to appear transparent, the government tried to play on our intelligence by trying to use the secret Asset Declaration with CCB to equate the Public Asset Declaration. In fact, the spokesman of Buhari even boasted that by "declaring with the CCB, the President and his Vice had fulfilled their pledge". Nigerians resisted and insisted on seeing Buhari and Osinbajo Assets. They(APC) came up with another story that they are waiting for the 30days verification of CCB. Though we know their lies, we are counting on days and we shall remind them at the appropriate time.
I want to use this medium to appeal to the APC administration to forget the propaganda idea because we will not allow them such luxury. Nigerians should be rest assured that we will not stop to put the government to their toes despite the intimidation and verbal assault from some of their supporters.
Ramadan Kareem To All Muslims
God Bless Us All
Nigeria Conducts Drills To Counter Nuclear Disaster
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has conducted drills to deal with nuclear disaster that may arise in the country.
The NSCDC said Saturday training of officers of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Unit, a specialised unit of the corps, had since begun.
“The specialised unit, established to tackle emergency situations related to chemical poisoning and nuclear explosions, has also carried out a simulation exercise as part of its operational strategy,” the corps said in a statement.
The statement, signed by spokesperson Emmanuel Okeh, said simulation exercise was carried out in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nigeria Nuclear and Regulatory Agency.
He said that the theme of simulation, “Transportation accident involving a radioactive source’’, was meant to prepare officials, especially as Nigeria gears towards the use of nuclear plants to generate electricity.
“The Commandant-General of the Corps, Dr Ade Abolurin, has also stressed the importance of the unit, and called for awareness on the destructive tendencies of nuclear energy if not well managed,” he said.
“We are also doing a lot to sensitise the public on the different dimensions of crime, which now involves the use of chemicals, bombs and other dangerous substances,” the statement added
He quoted, Pablo Jerez of the IAEA, as pledging the support of the agency to the NSCDC, especially as regards provision of operational tools and equipment.
“We are also ready to partner with relevant stakeholders so as to be able to prevent and tackle any form of chemical, radiological and nuclear disaster in the country,” he said.
The NSCDC said Saturday training of officers of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Unit, a specialised unit of the corps, had since begun.
“The specialised unit, established to tackle emergency situations related to chemical poisoning and nuclear explosions, has also carried out a simulation exercise as part of its operational strategy,” the corps said in a statement.
The statement, signed by spokesperson Emmanuel Okeh, said simulation exercise was carried out in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nigeria Nuclear and Regulatory Agency.
He said that the theme of simulation, “Transportation accident involving a radioactive source’’, was meant to prepare officials, especially as Nigeria gears towards the use of nuclear plants to generate electricity.
“The Commandant-General of the Corps, Dr Ade Abolurin, has also stressed the importance of the unit, and called for awareness on the destructive tendencies of nuclear energy if not well managed,” he said.
“We are also doing a lot to sensitise the public on the different dimensions of crime, which now involves the use of chemicals, bombs and other dangerous substances,” the statement added
He quoted, Pablo Jerez of the IAEA, as pledging the support of the agency to the NSCDC, especially as regards provision of operational tools and equipment.
“We are also ready to partner with relevant stakeholders so as to be able to prevent and tackle any form of chemical, radiological and nuclear disaster in the country,” he said.
Akpabio, Udom, Mbang Meet With Obasanjo
Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State and his predecessor, Sen.
Godswill Akpabio, on Saturday paid a visit to former President Olusegun
Obasanjo at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The duo arrived at Obasanjo’s residence at about 2:48 pm in company with a former prelate of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Mbang, and some other state officials.
The team immediately proceeded into a closed-door meeting which ended at about 4.05 pm.
Udom, who addressed journalists after the meeting, said he was in Abeokuta to pay homage and to thank Obasanjo.
According to him, he consulted with Obasanjo shortly before the general elections and that his advice paid off.
“I have come to show gratitude and respect for someone whom I regard as a father and whose advice I regard as invaluable and which also contributed to my victory at the polls,” he said.
The governor acknowledged that his predecessor had laid a solid foundation upon which he would build and move the state to greater heights.
He said the Peoples Democratic Party remained the greatest party in Africa and would provide a credible and formidable opposition to the ruling All Progressive Congress in order to move the nation forward.
Akpabio, who also addressed newsmen, declared support for a reduction in the cost of governance in Nigeria.
The duo arrived at Obasanjo’s residence at about 2:48 pm in company with a former prelate of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Mbang, and some other state officials.
The team immediately proceeded into a closed-door meeting which ended at about 4.05 pm.
Udom, who addressed journalists after the meeting, said he was in Abeokuta to pay homage and to thank Obasanjo.
According to him, he consulted with Obasanjo shortly before the general elections and that his advice paid off.
“I have come to show gratitude and respect for someone whom I regard as a father and whose advice I regard as invaluable and which also contributed to my victory at the polls,” he said.
The governor acknowledged that his predecessor had laid a solid foundation upon which he would build and move the state to greater heights.
He said the Peoples Democratic Party remained the greatest party in Africa and would provide a credible and formidable opposition to the ruling All Progressive Congress in order to move the nation forward.
Akpabio, who also addressed newsmen, declared support for a reduction in the cost of governance in Nigeria.
Enyeama To Appear Before NFF Disciplinary Committee, Onazi Fined
The goalkeeper has been summoned by the NFF to
appear before its disciplinary body before Tuesday for
his comment on the choice of Kaduna for Eagles game
versus Chad
Nigeria international Vincent Enyeama must appear
before the disciplinary committee of the Nigeria Football
Federation on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 or risk being
sanctioned.
The Lille goalkeeper is expected to explain his remark
against the NFF’s choice of Ahmadu Stadium, Kaduna
for Eagles Afcon qualifier against Chad played on June
13,2015.
“You will recall that you were queried by the Nigeria
Football Federation for your uncomplimentary remarks
with regards to safety and security in Kaduna State,
host of the Nations Cup qualifying match between
Nigeria and Chad Republic,” Chris Green wrote
“You received the query letter on June 13th, 2015 and
refused to reply to the query up till now, which is well
over the 48 hours deadline given to you to reply to the
query. Consequently, the NFF has referred the matter
to the Disciplinary Committee for adjudication.
“You are by this, invited to appear before the
Disciplinary Committee of Nigeria Football Federation
sitting on Tuesday, 23rd June, 2015 at the Federation’s
Secretariat in Abuja. The committee sitting will
commence at 11am prompt.
In a related development, midfielder Ogenyi Onazi, who
was sent off against Les Sao has been issued a letter of
reprimand, ordered to produce a written apology and
fined the sum of $5,000.
“The Board of the Nigeria Football Federation has
viewed your behavior and conduct during the Nigeria/
Chad match as tantamount to gross indiscipline and
unprofessional, which undermined the discipline of the
team in its totality and a breach of ethics for players as
well as the Code of Conduct for players and officials,”
a letter signed by Tunde Aderibigbe on behalf of the
General Secretary read.
“Consequently, the NFF having reviewed the situation
hereby impose a fine of $5,000 (Five Thousand
American Dollars Only) on you as well as a written
apology.
“We believe that subsequently you will be of good
behavior and conduct, for a repeat of this behavior shall
earn you even stiffer punishment. We hope that this
action shall serve as a deterrent to others in our future
engagements.”
Nigeria will face Tanzania in their next Africa Cup of
Nations qualifier in September.
appear before its disciplinary body before Tuesday for
his comment on the choice of Kaduna for Eagles game
versus Chad
Nigeria international Vincent Enyeama must appear
before the disciplinary committee of the Nigeria Football
Federation on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 or risk being
sanctioned.
The Lille goalkeeper is expected to explain his remark
against the NFF’s choice of Ahmadu Stadium, Kaduna
for Eagles Afcon qualifier against Chad played on June
13,2015.
“You will recall that you were queried by the Nigeria
Football Federation for your uncomplimentary remarks
with regards to safety and security in Kaduna State,
host of the Nations Cup qualifying match between
Nigeria and Chad Republic,” Chris Green wrote
“You received the query letter on June 13th, 2015 and
refused to reply to the query up till now, which is well
over the 48 hours deadline given to you to reply to the
query. Consequently, the NFF has referred the matter
to the Disciplinary Committee for adjudication.
“You are by this, invited to appear before the
Disciplinary Committee of Nigeria Football Federation
sitting on Tuesday, 23rd June, 2015 at the Federation’s
Secretariat in Abuja. The committee sitting will
commence at 11am prompt.
In a related development, midfielder Ogenyi Onazi, who
was sent off against Les Sao has been issued a letter of
reprimand, ordered to produce a written apology and
fined the sum of $5,000.
“The Board of the Nigeria Football Federation has
viewed your behavior and conduct during the Nigeria/
Chad match as tantamount to gross indiscipline and
unprofessional, which undermined the discipline of the
team in its totality and a breach of ethics for players as
well as the Code of Conduct for players and officials,”
a letter signed by Tunde Aderibigbe on behalf of the
General Secretary read.
“Consequently, the NFF having reviewed the situation
hereby impose a fine of $5,000 (Five Thousand
American Dollars Only) on you as well as a written
apology.
“We believe that subsequently you will be of good
behavior and conduct, for a repeat of this behavior shall
earn you even stiffer punishment. We hope that this
action shall serve as a deterrent to others in our future
engagements.”
Nigeria will face Tanzania in their next Africa Cup of
Nations qualifier in September.
My Advice To Airforce1 And Other Nairaland Upcoming Acts
This is strictly my opinion and I think I have been vindicated over the years in most cases.
I write to you all(upcoming artistes) with good intent and purpose. I write as someone who has been a music lover for so many years,someone who followed Nigerian music from the late 80's down to this very day,someone who listened to pioneering American hip-hop acts from the late 80's,someone who listened to music when we still had music genres like soul and funk,someone who basically likes and has a substantial knowledge of what good music should sound like. Music is a form of art,and good music should sound pleasing to the ears. The melody,lyrics and instrumental should be good and the overall production must be of the higest standard. I don't believe in people doing mediocre jobs and promoting it. Majority of the songs we listen to today on radio,should normally not even get airplay if standards are to be maintained.
I know most people reading this piece,would eventually attack me and say stuffs like "you don't know what it means to go into the studio to record a track cos if you do,you'd know it's not easy". Before you guys slaughter me with that line,listen to this song with the following link:
http://www.datafilehost.com/d/2934af36
The above link was a rough demo I recorded at our studio when I was still neck deep into music production and entertainment years back. I was conducting an interview for an in-house producer we wanted to employ and I asked him to make the beat and produce me as an artiste. I did the entire song myself,and directed the production and we finished the whole song in about 12 or 16 hrs. Despite the fact that it sounds a lil bit appealing to some people,it's still not a standard job that can be played on radio. That being said,let's move on to the main issue(since you now know I've also had studio experience).
I decided to write this article cos over the years,I haven't seen any artiste blow up from nairaland. The only person who has blown up from here(nairaland) that I know,is Dee Tunes. I remember when He sent me his crew's demo several years back and after listening,I told him to stick to his production and shun rap(not like He was terribly bad though) which He did,and has now made a solid career from. He might not remeber me today,but I'm happy He has made a name for himself in production,and now charges 400k per track. Apart from Dee Tunes,all the other artistes who I had the opportunity to talk to and advice here on nairaland,are still where they are. Reason is that when you advice most artistes and you don't tell them they're the next best thing after fried rice,they tend to see you as their enemy. The average upcoming artiste thinks He's the best and when you point out their flaws,they find it difficult to accept. Most people don't like the truth and that's why we have so many trashy sounds on radio. A good song should have good lyrics that makes sense even if it's meant to be a danceable song. The fact that a crappy song like Terry G's "knack you akpako" made waves,doesn't make it the standard for an upcoming artiste to emulate.
Artistes should also know learn to carve a niche for themselves and not just do what every other person is doing. There should be something extra that you're bringing to the table and as such,you need to put a lot of hardwork into your song writing and deliveries.
With the hype airforce1 has been enjoying on nairaland and His assurances to fans that He wouldn't disappoint them,I was expecting something better from him. All I can advice him to do,is to first and foremost,try to discover himself and find out what genre of music He is good at. This His "such a diva" song isn't it at all. That brings me back to a particular artiste who was hyped here some weeks back. The original poster even went as far as comparing him with Cannibus but when I listened up,song was quite wack. The dude can't even make the list of top 50 rappers in naija. Instead of people to tell him the truth,they kept typing "d.ope","drugz",etc.
I can't remember who the artiste is again but I'd say this: "only those who want you to succeed will tell you the truth". There's no point believing sycophants who praise you cos they don't want to bruise your ego. Whatever is worth doing,is worth doing well.
Finally,all I'd say is this: be open to criticisms,learn your art very well,work on your lyrics,carve a niche for yourself and be yourself. Don't try to copy what others are doing;be original.
I hope someday,nairaland would produce it's first music superstar.
I write to you all(upcoming artistes) with good intent and purpose. I write as someone who has been a music lover for so many years,someone who followed Nigerian music from the late 80's down to this very day,someone who listened to pioneering American hip-hop acts from the late 80's,someone who listened to music when we still had music genres like soul and funk,someone who basically likes and has a substantial knowledge of what good music should sound like. Music is a form of art,and good music should sound pleasing to the ears. The melody,lyrics and instrumental should be good and the overall production must be of the higest standard. I don't believe in people doing mediocre jobs and promoting it. Majority of the songs we listen to today on radio,should normally not even get airplay if standards are to be maintained.
I know most people reading this piece,would eventually attack me and say stuffs like "you don't know what it means to go into the studio to record a track cos if you do,you'd know it's not easy". Before you guys slaughter me with that line,listen to this song with the following link:
http://www.datafilehost.com/d/2934af36
The above link was a rough demo I recorded at our studio when I was still neck deep into music production and entertainment years back. I was conducting an interview for an in-house producer we wanted to employ and I asked him to make the beat and produce me as an artiste. I did the entire song myself,and directed the production and we finished the whole song in about 12 or 16 hrs. Despite the fact that it sounds a lil bit appealing to some people,it's still not a standard job that can be played on radio. That being said,let's move on to the main issue(since you now know I've also had studio experience).
I decided to write this article cos over the years,I haven't seen any artiste blow up from nairaland. The only person who has blown up from here(nairaland) that I know,is Dee Tunes. I remember when He sent me his crew's demo several years back and after listening,I told him to stick to his production and shun rap(not like He was terribly bad though) which He did,and has now made a solid career from. He might not remeber me today,but I'm happy He has made a name for himself in production,and now charges 400k per track. Apart from Dee Tunes,all the other artistes who I had the opportunity to talk to and advice here on nairaland,are still where they are. Reason is that when you advice most artistes and you don't tell them they're the next best thing after fried rice,they tend to see you as their enemy. The average upcoming artiste thinks He's the best and when you point out their flaws,they find it difficult to accept. Most people don't like the truth and that's why we have so many trashy sounds on radio. A good song should have good lyrics that makes sense even if it's meant to be a danceable song. The fact that a crappy song like Terry G's "knack you akpako" made waves,doesn't make it the standard for an upcoming artiste to emulate.
Artistes should also know learn to carve a niche for themselves and not just do what every other person is doing. There should be something extra that you're bringing to the table and as such,you need to put a lot of hardwork into your song writing and deliveries.
With the hype airforce1 has been enjoying on nairaland and His assurances to fans that He wouldn't disappoint them,I was expecting something better from him. All I can advice him to do,is to first and foremost,try to discover himself and find out what genre of music He is good at. This His "such a diva" song isn't it at all. That brings me back to a particular artiste who was hyped here some weeks back. The original poster even went as far as comparing him with Cannibus but when I listened up,song was quite wack. The dude can't even make the list of top 50 rappers in naija. Instead of people to tell him the truth,they kept typing "d.ope","drugz",etc.
I can't remember who the artiste is again but I'd say this: "only those who want you to succeed will tell you the truth". There's no point believing sycophants who praise you cos they don't want to bruise your ego. Whatever is worth doing,is worth doing well.
Finally,all I'd say is this: be open to criticisms,learn your art very well,work on your lyrics,carve a niche for yourself and be yourself. Don't try to copy what others are doing;be original.
I hope someday,nairaland would produce it's first music superstar.
APC Crisis: Obasanjo’s Peace Mission Hits Brick Wall
Efforts by the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to nip in the
bud the crisis set off by the recent election of the principal officers
of the National Assembly may have hit a brick wall.
The crisis of confidence which has pitted party leaders of the All Progressives Congress against the new principal officers of the National Assembly may take a turn for the worse this week.
Contrary to the belief in several quarters, President Muhammadu Buhari, who is widely believed to have accepted the election of the principal officers as a fait accompli, is said to be unhappy with the leadership of the National Assembly.
Sources close to the two camps told our correspondents that President Buhari and senior party officials were still peeved that Saraki and other party members defied the party and formed an alliance with the former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party.
The APC senators loyal to Saraki had on June 9 boycotted a peace meeting convened by Buhari and the leadership of the party. The meeting, which was attended by senators loyal to Senator Ahmad Lawan, the APC’s official candidate for the position of the Senate President, was going on when Saraki, with the support of his loyalists in the APC and all the PDP senators, emerged as the senate president unopposed.
Since then, the party has been in crisis, even though the APC had said it would work with Saraki.
During the week, Saraki, paid a well publicised visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. His aim, reports say, was to seek the former president’s intervention in the crisis. Saraki wanted Obasanjo to pacify the APC leaders on his behalf. But Sunday PUNCH gathered that the former president’s intervention has failed to yield the results desired by Saraki and his camp.
It was gathered that shortly after Saraki’s visit to the former president, Obasanjo made a telephone call to Buhari advising him to make up with Saraki. The former president had reportedly told the president to work with Saraki and let the party deal with all the disciplinary issues that the former governor of Kwara State had been accused of. However, the President was said to have been non-committal.
Sources privy to these happenings told our correspondents that the telephone call initiated by Obasanjo was not the first time the former president would intervene in the matter. Sunday PUNCH reliably gathered that Obasanjo had met with Buhari in South Africa, last Sunday, and sought his help in resolving the crisis in the ruling party. Sources said that the former president, who was in Zambia for the 22nd annual general meeting of the African Export-Import Bank, had travelled from there to South Africa to meet with President Buhari.
Speaking over the weekend, some senior party leaders expressed doubts about the viability of Obasanjo’s intervention. They told SUNDAY PUNCH in different interviews that Saraki is an ally of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar whom Obasanjo is not very fond of.
One of them said, “It is not a secret that Atiku is solidly behind Saraki. How the senate president thinks Obasanjo will back any move by Atiku is what we don’t understand. Atiku was the first person that Saraki visited when he emerged as senate president. The ex-president will definitely not turn Saraki back but deep in his heart, he knows which camp he belongs to.”
But a source in the corridors of power told our correspondent on the condition of anonymity that the President’s response to pleas for his intervention had remained the same.
Sources said while Buhari was careful not to make his disappointment with Saraki public, he was very angry that the senate president led a rebellion against his party and also teamed up with the PDP to undermine it. One other reason the crisis has remained intractable, the source added, was the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President.
“The President believes that Saraki earned the support of the PDP because of the deputy senate presidency he conceded to the opposition party. It is a treacherous thing to do to one’s party,” the source said.
Buhari had reportedly shunned all moves by Saraki to meet him before the senate president’s visit to Obasanjo.
However, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said Buhari was not avoiding Saraki. Rather, he said, it was the Senate President who is yet to visit the presidency. When asked specifically when Saraki would be meeting with the President, Shehu said it was left for the President of the Senate to decide.
“There is no truth in the claims that the President does not want to meet with any of the National Assembly leaders. He has said that he respects institutions and that strong men build institutions,” Garba said.
Our correspondents report that Saraki may be reluctant to make an approach because he doesn’t want to be rebuffed. A prominent member of the Like Minds Senators, a group sympathetic to the senate president, confirmed that Saraki had not fixed an appointment with Buhari after meeting Obasanjo.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said, “After the meeting with Obasanjo, there has been no specific move on the part of the senate president to meet with Mr. President. They will meet at the appropriate time.”
A senior APC official, who confided in SUNDAY PUNCH, said, “From all indications, all sides in the crisis are maintaining their hard-line positions on the crisis. It seems Saraki is not ready for reconciliation. His group is insisting on its position. The Lawan group has given its conditions for peace and the President believes that there must be party discipline.”
Meanwhile, in a clear sign that the president may not have a problem with the leadership of the House, Buhari will be granting audience to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, this week.
The meeting, one of our correspondents learnt, is at the instance of Dogara.
Shehu, confirmed Buhari’s meeting with Dogara. He however declined to give details of the specific day on which the meeting would hold.
“I have just gone through the President’s activities for the week and I saw that Dogara is scheduled to meet with him (the President) during the week,” Shehu said.
On his part, the spokesperson for the pro- Saraki group, Senator Dino Melaye, said the senate president had appeared before the party’s reconciliation committee.
He said, “The party set up a reconciliation committee with the APC General Secretary as Chairman and Saraki had appeared before the committee.”ouse, Buhari will be granting audience to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, this week.
The meeting, one of our correspondents learnt, is at the instance of Dogara.
Shehu, confirmed Buhari’s meeting with Dogara. He however declined to give details of the specific day on which the meeting would hold.
“I have just gone through the President’s activities for the week and I saw that Dogara is scheduled to meet with him (the President) during the week,” Shehu said.
On his part, the spokesperson for the pro- Saraki group, Senator Dino Melaye, said the senate president had appeared before the party’s reconciliation committee.
He said, “The party set up a reconciliation committee with the APC General Secretary as Chairman and Saraki had appeared before the committee.”
The crisis of confidence which has pitted party leaders of the All Progressives Congress against the new principal officers of the National Assembly may take a turn for the worse this week.
Contrary to the belief in several quarters, President Muhammadu Buhari, who is widely believed to have accepted the election of the principal officers as a fait accompli, is said to be unhappy with the leadership of the National Assembly.
Sources close to the two camps told our correspondents that President Buhari and senior party officials were still peeved that Saraki and other party members defied the party and formed an alliance with the former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party.
The APC senators loyal to Saraki had on June 9 boycotted a peace meeting convened by Buhari and the leadership of the party. The meeting, which was attended by senators loyal to Senator Ahmad Lawan, the APC’s official candidate for the position of the Senate President, was going on when Saraki, with the support of his loyalists in the APC and all the PDP senators, emerged as the senate president unopposed.
Since then, the party has been in crisis, even though the APC had said it would work with Saraki.
During the week, Saraki, paid a well publicised visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. His aim, reports say, was to seek the former president’s intervention in the crisis. Saraki wanted Obasanjo to pacify the APC leaders on his behalf. But Sunday PUNCH gathered that the former president’s intervention has failed to yield the results desired by Saraki and his camp.
It was gathered that shortly after Saraki’s visit to the former president, Obasanjo made a telephone call to Buhari advising him to make up with Saraki. The former president had reportedly told the president to work with Saraki and let the party deal with all the disciplinary issues that the former governor of Kwara State had been accused of. However, the President was said to have been non-committal.
Sources privy to these happenings told our correspondents that the telephone call initiated by Obasanjo was not the first time the former president would intervene in the matter. Sunday PUNCH reliably gathered that Obasanjo had met with Buhari in South Africa, last Sunday, and sought his help in resolving the crisis in the ruling party. Sources said that the former president, who was in Zambia for the 22nd annual general meeting of the African Export-Import Bank, had travelled from there to South Africa to meet with President Buhari.
Speaking over the weekend, some senior party leaders expressed doubts about the viability of Obasanjo’s intervention. They told SUNDAY PUNCH in different interviews that Saraki is an ally of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar whom Obasanjo is not very fond of.
One of them said, “It is not a secret that Atiku is solidly behind Saraki. How the senate president thinks Obasanjo will back any move by Atiku is what we don’t understand. Atiku was the first person that Saraki visited when he emerged as senate president. The ex-president will definitely not turn Saraki back but deep in his heart, he knows which camp he belongs to.”
But a source in the corridors of power told our correspondent on the condition of anonymity that the President’s response to pleas for his intervention had remained the same.
Sources said while Buhari was careful not to make his disappointment with Saraki public, he was very angry that the senate president led a rebellion against his party and also teamed up with the PDP to undermine it. One other reason the crisis has remained intractable, the source added, was the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President.
“The President believes that Saraki earned the support of the PDP because of the deputy senate presidency he conceded to the opposition party. It is a treacherous thing to do to one’s party,” the source said.
Buhari had reportedly shunned all moves by Saraki to meet him before the senate president’s visit to Obasanjo.
However, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said Buhari was not avoiding Saraki. Rather, he said, it was the Senate President who is yet to visit the presidency. When asked specifically when Saraki would be meeting with the President, Shehu said it was left for the President of the Senate to decide.
“There is no truth in the claims that the President does not want to meet with any of the National Assembly leaders. He has said that he respects institutions and that strong men build institutions,” Garba said.
Our correspondents report that Saraki may be reluctant to make an approach because he doesn’t want to be rebuffed. A prominent member of the Like Minds Senators, a group sympathetic to the senate president, confirmed that Saraki had not fixed an appointment with Buhari after meeting Obasanjo.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said, “After the meeting with Obasanjo, there has been no specific move on the part of the senate president to meet with Mr. President. They will meet at the appropriate time.”
A senior APC official, who confided in SUNDAY PUNCH, said, “From all indications, all sides in the crisis are maintaining their hard-line positions on the crisis. It seems Saraki is not ready for reconciliation. His group is insisting on its position. The Lawan group has given its conditions for peace and the President believes that there must be party discipline.”
Meanwhile, in a clear sign that the president may not have a problem with the leadership of the House, Buhari will be granting audience to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, this week.
The meeting, one of our correspondents learnt, is at the instance of Dogara.
Shehu, confirmed Buhari’s meeting with Dogara. He however declined to give details of the specific day on which the meeting would hold.
“I have just gone through the President’s activities for the week and I saw that Dogara is scheduled to meet with him (the President) during the week,” Shehu said.
On his part, the spokesperson for the pro- Saraki group, Senator Dino Melaye, said the senate president had appeared before the party’s reconciliation committee.
He said, “The party set up a reconciliation committee with the APC General Secretary as Chairman and Saraki had appeared before the committee.”ouse, Buhari will be granting audience to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, this week.
The meeting, one of our correspondents learnt, is at the instance of Dogara.
Shehu, confirmed Buhari’s meeting with Dogara. He however declined to give details of the specific day on which the meeting would hold.
“I have just gone through the President’s activities for the week and I saw that Dogara is scheduled to meet with him (the President) during the week,” Shehu said.
On his part, the spokesperson for the pro- Saraki group, Senator Dino Melaye, said the senate president had appeared before the party’s reconciliation committee.
He said, “The party set up a reconciliation committee with the APC General Secretary as Chairman and Saraki had appeared before the committee.”
Emmanuel Adebayor, Mr Ibu And Asamoah Gyan Hang Out In Ghana. Photo
Tottenham striker, Emmanuel Adebayor continues with
his fun seeking mode as he continues to make most of his vacation. The
Togolese who caused quite a scene yesterday after he stopped to stroll
on a street while on his way to Accra, Ghana - was on Saturday pictured
with top Nigerian comic actor, John Okafor a.k.a Mr Ibu and Ghanian
talented player Asamoah Gyan..
The player seems to have gotten himself after being under public spotlight recently over family issues
The player seems to have gotten himself after being under public spotlight recently over family issues
Wunmi Obey Dance To K-solo's 'yayi' In The Studio
Nigerian A-list producer cum artiste, K-Solo released a new viral single
this weekend titled "Yayi" featuring CDQ. However, a video Wunmi Obe,
one half of singing couple, Tunde and Wunmi Obe dancing to the beautiful
song was released online a while ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs_T1PLkrsg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs_T1PLkrsg
Herbalist: I Sent Kidnappers After Rich Clients
*Says he collected N300,000 on each abduction
victim kept in his custody
By Evelyn Usman
The visit of stern looking policemen in three vans
to Odubotu compound, located in Okesopen area
of Ijebu-Igbo,Ogun state, sent fear down the spine
of members of the sleepy community.
The armed men reportedly jumped out of the
vehicles and positioned themselves strategically
around[quote] the building.
Some of them reportedly stormed into one of the
rooms, where they dragged out a herbalist
identified as MukailaDauda..
Not done, the policemen, discovered to be
operatives from the Special Anti Robbery Squad,
SARS, of the Ogun State Police Command, again,
dashed inside the herbalist’s apartment, taking
him along and conducted a search, in the process
of which they reportedly came out with two AK
47 rifles, a pump action rifle, a barretta pistol, a
cut-to-size locally made short gun and assorted
charms.
The 46-year-old herbalist was subsequently
whisked away in one of the police vans.
The fear stricken neigbours later came out of their
hiding, with expression of confusion and which
needed clarification on their faces. The
explanation was provided, following the allegation
that the herbalist was a member of a kidnaps
gang that had been terrorizing Ogun and
neigbouring states.
Arrested alongside Dauda were four other
suspected members of the syndicate identified as
Ahmed Adebanjo, Tunde Akilo, a popular
commercial motorcyclist, Sunkanmi Dacosta and
Lateef Agboola.
Preliminary investigation, according to the police,
revealed that the suspects may have been
responsible for several cases of kidnapping in
Ijebu axis. One of their victims, the herbalist
allegedly told the police, was one Chief Alakoso, a
prominent businessman, who was kidnapped
three months ago around Emu Eleni area of the
state and released after a ransom of N2 million
was paid.
In this interview with Sunday Vanguard, Dauda, a
father of six, disclosed that his role in the
kidnapping saga was to keep abducted persons
until ransom was paid, adding that he usually
got N300,000 at the end of each operation.
He disclosed that some of the victims were rich
clients who had come to him for spiritual
assistance, while others were abducted in
connivance with their relatives. According to him,
most of the victims were not abducted with
charms, which hypnotized them. The herbalist
explained that rituals were performed on the
kidnappers before embarking on any abduction
trip, to enable them succeed.
Joining syndicate
Dauda explained why he joined the syndicate. “I
am a herbalist. I have been into the profession for
25 years. I specialise in curing strokes and other
ailments which are beyond medical treatment. At
a point, business was no longer moving and
feeding my two wives and six children became
burdensome. It was at this point that I met
Tunde Akilo, a commercial motorcyclist, and
Sunkanmi Dacosta, who introduced me to
kidnapping.
My role is to keep victims in my house, pending
when their families would pay ransom. I never
went out with them but I gave them names of
prominent persons in Ijebu Igbo. Some of these
people have patronized me.
“The first person that was brought to my house
was one Chief Alakoso. He was brought in March,
blindfolded. I got N300,000 after ransom was paid
four days later, for keeping him in my place. This
amount was aside my regular share from the loot
because that was the bargain. Also, two Onipomo
in Ijebu Igbo were kept in my place. I also gave
their contacts to my members.
“I usually prepared charms to fortify members
before they go for any job. This is to enable them
get their catch without trouble. I also prepared
charms that will make victims lose their senses. A
day before they would leave, I would lit fire and
say some incantations into it. The fire will be on
until they arrived. But if it goes off in the process,
that means they have entered into trouble”, said
the herbalist.
Charm disappoints
Members of the kidnap syndicate, some of who
were alleged to be members of separate robbery
gangs and cult groups, reportedly set out last
month for their usual ‘job’. Destination was
Ijebu-Ode /Ikorodu Road, Lagos State and their
victim a herb seller otherwise called Iyaalagbo .
Time was 7pm.
The herb seller was reportedly trailed from her
Odogbolu residence in Ogun State to Itoikin by
the abductors, numbering four. The unsuspecting
trader was about closing for the day when they
arrived, pretending to have come to buy herbs.
Sensing all was not well; the woman reportedly
told the strangers that she did not have what
they requested for. But as she made to leave the
shop, she was reportedly bundled into the
kidnappers car and driven away, amidst sporadic
gun shots, apparently aimed at scaring away
intruders.
Midway into the journey to the herbalist’s house,
the first incident that signaled doom for the
kidnappers occurred, after the two back tyres of
the vehicle punctured.
Explaining how they were arrested, Ahmed
Adesanya, a commercial motorcyclist, from Omu
Eleni town, claimed he only got a telephone call
from one of his colleagues to bring his motorbike
to the spot where the tyres punctured.
The 21-year-old suspect stated: “When I got to
the place, I met one Mama Alagbo, our Okada
unit chairman, Ahmed (Soldier), Yemi Agboola
and Tunde Akilo inside the car. But four of them,
including Mama Alagbo, took off on my
motorcycle, while Yemi Agboola, Tunde Akilo and I
drove in the car. But on reaching Imodi town, we
met some policemen at a checkpoint, who
insisted on checking the vehicle. Agboola and
myself escaped into the bush but we did not see
TundeAkilo. A week later, he (Akilo ) led
policemen to my house and I was arrested”.
Asked what role he played, said, “I used my
Okada to take some passengers to the herbalist’s
house. My targets are usually passengers who do
not know where they are going”.
I also belong to a robbery gang – Akilo
On his part, Akilo, who confessed to be a member
of the Eiye Confraternity, also admitted to be
involved in armed robbery operations within the
Ijebu axis, apart from kidnapping.“He however,
stated that he had only taken part in two
abductions.
“I have only taken part in two kidnap operations.
One was the abduction of Chief Alakoso, after
which I was given N250, 000. The second
operation was that of Mama Alagbo which
unfortunately was unsuccessful. One Yemi
Agboola, a relative to the woman, brought the
deal to us . He said her relatives could provide
N1 million if kidnapped. If I had known, I would
have remained in the robbery gang instead of
joining this syndicate”, he said remorsefully.
38-year-old Dascosta confessed to be a member
of a robbery gang, claiming he was introduced
into kidnapping by the herbalist, Dauda, when he
went to him for spiritual protection. Like his
colleague ,Akilo, he expressed regret for joining
the kidnap syndicate, saying he had only earned
N310,000 since he joined.
I am a victim of circumstance- Dascosta
When approached, Agboola (48) absolved himself
of involvement in the kidnap saga, stating that his
younger brother, Yemi Agboola, drove the
Chevrolet car that was used in the kidnap of
Mama Alagbo.. The brother was said to be on
the run.
“Yemi came to me during the celebration of
Kilajosu festival and said he wanted to use my
car. I gave him the keys without suspecting any
foul play and told him to return it the next day.
He told me he wanted to drive it to Omu-Eleni”,
he narrated.
“But to my shock, some policemen stormed my
house and asked me to follow them to the
station, only to be shown a vehicle which turned
out to be mine. That was how I became a guest
here. I have never robbed all my life, neither have
I been involved in kidnap. I am only a victim of
circumstance. My prayer is for the police to arrest
my brother so that I will be vindicated”.
victim kept in his custody
By Evelyn Usman
The visit of stern looking policemen in three vans
to Odubotu compound, located in Okesopen area
of Ijebu-Igbo,Ogun state, sent fear down the spine
of members of the sleepy community.
The armed men reportedly jumped out of the
vehicles and positioned themselves strategically
around[quote] the building.
Some of them reportedly stormed into one of the
rooms, where they dragged out a herbalist
identified as MukailaDauda..
Not done, the policemen, discovered to be
operatives from the Special Anti Robbery Squad,
SARS, of the Ogun State Police Command, again,
dashed inside the herbalist’s apartment, taking
him along and conducted a search, in the process
of which they reportedly came out with two AK
47 rifles, a pump action rifle, a barretta pistol, a
cut-to-size locally made short gun and assorted
charms.
The 46-year-old herbalist was subsequently
whisked away in one of the police vans.
The fear stricken neigbours later came out of their
hiding, with expression of confusion and which
needed clarification on their faces. The
explanation was provided, following the allegation
that the herbalist was a member of a kidnaps
gang that had been terrorizing Ogun and
neigbouring states.
Arrested alongside Dauda were four other
suspected members of the syndicate identified as
Ahmed Adebanjo, Tunde Akilo, a popular
commercial motorcyclist, Sunkanmi Dacosta and
Lateef Agboola.
Preliminary investigation, according to the police,
revealed that the suspects may have been
responsible for several cases of kidnapping in
Ijebu axis. One of their victims, the herbalist
allegedly told the police, was one Chief Alakoso, a
prominent businessman, who was kidnapped
three months ago around Emu Eleni area of the
state and released after a ransom of N2 million
was paid.
In this interview with Sunday Vanguard, Dauda, a
father of six, disclosed that his role in the
kidnapping saga was to keep abducted persons
until ransom was paid, adding that he usually
got N300,000 at the end of each operation.
He disclosed that some of the victims were rich
clients who had come to him for spiritual
assistance, while others were abducted in
connivance with their relatives. According to him,
most of the victims were not abducted with
charms, which hypnotized them. The herbalist
explained that rituals were performed on the
kidnappers before embarking on any abduction
trip, to enable them succeed.
Joining syndicate
Dauda explained why he joined the syndicate. “I
am a herbalist. I have been into the profession for
25 years. I specialise in curing strokes and other
ailments which are beyond medical treatment. At
a point, business was no longer moving and
feeding my two wives and six children became
burdensome. It was at this point that I met
Tunde Akilo, a commercial motorcyclist, and
Sunkanmi Dacosta, who introduced me to
kidnapping.
My role is to keep victims in my house, pending
when their families would pay ransom. I never
went out with them but I gave them names of
prominent persons in Ijebu Igbo. Some of these
people have patronized me.
“The first person that was brought to my house
was one Chief Alakoso. He was brought in March,
blindfolded. I got N300,000 after ransom was paid
four days later, for keeping him in my place. This
amount was aside my regular share from the loot
because that was the bargain. Also, two Onipomo
in Ijebu Igbo were kept in my place. I also gave
their contacts to my members.
“I usually prepared charms to fortify members
before they go for any job. This is to enable them
get their catch without trouble. I also prepared
charms that will make victims lose their senses. A
day before they would leave, I would lit fire and
say some incantations into it. The fire will be on
until they arrived. But if it goes off in the process,
that means they have entered into trouble”, said
the herbalist.
Charm disappoints
Members of the kidnap syndicate, some of who
were alleged to be members of separate robbery
gangs and cult groups, reportedly set out last
month for their usual ‘job’. Destination was
Ijebu-Ode /Ikorodu Road, Lagos State and their
victim a herb seller otherwise called Iyaalagbo .
Time was 7pm.
The herb seller was reportedly trailed from her
Odogbolu residence in Ogun State to Itoikin by
the abductors, numbering four. The unsuspecting
trader was about closing for the day when they
arrived, pretending to have come to buy herbs.
Sensing all was not well; the woman reportedly
told the strangers that she did not have what
they requested for. But as she made to leave the
shop, she was reportedly bundled into the
kidnappers car and driven away, amidst sporadic
gun shots, apparently aimed at scaring away
intruders.
Midway into the journey to the herbalist’s house,
the first incident that signaled doom for the
kidnappers occurred, after the two back tyres of
the vehicle punctured.
Explaining how they were arrested, Ahmed
Adesanya, a commercial motorcyclist, from Omu
Eleni town, claimed he only got a telephone call
from one of his colleagues to bring his motorbike
to the spot where the tyres punctured.
The 21-year-old suspect stated: “When I got to
the place, I met one Mama Alagbo, our Okada
unit chairman, Ahmed (Soldier), Yemi Agboola
and Tunde Akilo inside the car. But four of them,
including Mama Alagbo, took off on my
motorcycle, while Yemi Agboola, Tunde Akilo and I
drove in the car. But on reaching Imodi town, we
met some policemen at a checkpoint, who
insisted on checking the vehicle. Agboola and
myself escaped into the bush but we did not see
TundeAkilo. A week later, he (Akilo ) led
policemen to my house and I was arrested”.
Asked what role he played, said, “I used my
Okada to take some passengers to the herbalist’s
house. My targets are usually passengers who do
not know where they are going”.
I also belong to a robbery gang – Akilo
On his part, Akilo, who confessed to be a member
of the Eiye Confraternity, also admitted to be
involved in armed robbery operations within the
Ijebu axis, apart from kidnapping.“He however,
stated that he had only taken part in two
abductions.
“I have only taken part in two kidnap operations.
One was the abduction of Chief Alakoso, after
which I was given N250, 000. The second
operation was that of Mama Alagbo which
unfortunately was unsuccessful. One Yemi
Agboola, a relative to the woman, brought the
deal to us . He said her relatives could provide
N1 million if kidnapped. If I had known, I would
have remained in the robbery gang instead of
joining this syndicate”, he said remorsefully.
38-year-old Dascosta confessed to be a member
of a robbery gang, claiming he was introduced
into kidnapping by the herbalist, Dauda, when he
went to him for spiritual protection. Like his
colleague ,Akilo, he expressed regret for joining
the kidnap syndicate, saying he had only earned
N310,000 since he joined.
I am a victim of circumstance- Dascosta
When approached, Agboola (48) absolved himself
of involvement in the kidnap saga, stating that his
younger brother, Yemi Agboola, drove the
Chevrolet car that was used in the kidnap of
Mama Alagbo.. The brother was said to be on
the run.
“Yemi came to me during the celebration of
Kilajosu festival and said he wanted to use my
car. I gave him the keys without suspecting any
foul play and told him to return it the next day.
He told me he wanted to drive it to Omu-Eleni”,
he narrated.
“But to my shock, some policemen stormed my
house and asked me to follow them to the
station, only to be shown a vehicle which turned
out to be mine. That was how I became a guest
here. I have never robbed all my life, neither have
I been involved in kidnap. I am only a victim of
circumstance. My prayer is for the police to arrest
my brother so that I will be vindicated”.
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