PERSPECTIVE - Diplomatic hostage, Alex Saab, returns in triumph

By Owei Lakemfa Venezuelan Special Envoy and Ambassador to the African Union, Alex Nain Saab Morán who, against the established diplomatic practice of immunity, had been illegally detained in Cape Verde for sixteen months and in the United States for two years, was freed on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. He was exchanged for 10 American prisoners in Venezuela who had been imprisoned for various crimes including an armed invasion, terrorism, kidnapping and extortion. The prisoner swap, brokered by Qatar took place in the Caribbean island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Saab was abducted in the American tradition of extraordinary rendition while on a humanitarian mission to buy food and medicines for his country to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. This, with the fact that he is an accredited diplomat with immunity may have been responsible for the inability of the US to proceed with his trial. In contrast, the Americans exchanged including mercenaries and terrorists went through normal court processes. So, when the American White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan twitted that: “All the Americans who were wrongfully detained in Venezuela are now safely back in the United States.” he knew the aspect that they were “wrongfully detained” is false.

For instance, amongst the Americans released were former Green Berets, Luke Denman and Airan Berry, who were captured when mercenaries invaded Venezuela in 2020. While the US claimed that the invasion was a fiction manufactured by the Venezuelan government to divert attention from internal economic problems, the families and colleagues of the men were crying in the US to confirm that the men were not ghosts and that the US should intervene to get them released. The leader of the invasion, Florida-based ex-Green Beret and three-time Bronze Star US combat veteran, Jordan Goudreau, who escaped back to America, confessed to the Associated Press that the invasion truly took place and that it was an attempt to “liberate” Venezuela in a mission called ‘Operation Gideon’. He told the press of his attempts in the US to get his colleagues freed: “I’ve tried to engage everybody I know at every level. Nobody’s returning my calls, It’s a nightmare.” Goudreau had shown the press a copy of an alleged $200m contract he signed with the US-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido to carry out the invasion. He mentioned a captured Venezuelan National Guardsman Captain Antonio Sequea, as a commander working with him inside the country. A total of ten mercenaries were amongst the 114 arrested during the invasion. It is incredible that thirteen years later, the US Security Adviser would claim that these men were “wrongfully detained” In contrast, Saab, neither attacked anyone nor invaded any territory. He was on a humanitarian Special Mission to purchase basic supplies like food and medicines from Iran for his people. However, the US claimed the mission amounted to bursting the sanctions it had imposed on Venezuela and Iran, so the funds Saab was carrying, amounted to money laundering. Therefore, when the diplomat’s aircraft made a stopover to refuel in the West African country of Cape Verde on June 12, 2020, America used its diplomatic and economic might to force the later to detain Saab. Earlier, the US had tried to make Switzerland put Saab on trial for allegedly using the Swiss UBS Bank America for money laundering. But the Geneva Public Prosecutor had declared that it was pointless investigating such a claim. A month after Saab’s detention in Cape Verde, the US had in July, 2020 tried to seize four vessels carrying Iranian fuel to Venezuela on the ridiculous excuse that the Iranian government had stolen the oil from the Iranian people. Ten years earlier, the US had been involved in criminal acts like extraordinary rendition, which is the abduction of persons in various countries, torturing and dehumanising them and throwing them in prison without trial. This was the same tactics it used on Saab, save for two variations. First, it used another country, rather than its own forces to abduct Saab, and secondly, it wanted the diplomat sent to its territory rather than to another country. Ambassador Saab contacted the internationally acclaimed Nigerian Human Rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana to take his abduction case to the regional Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS Court in Abuja. Saab asked the court: “for the enforcement of his human rights to dignity, liberty, fair hearing and freedom of movement guaranteed by Articles 5, 6, 7 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights respectively.” On March 15, 2021, the ECOWAS Court ordered Saab’s release as there was even no INTERPOL Red Notice nor an arrest warrant for him. It also ordered that the US extradition process be terminated immediately and Saab paid $200m for illegal detention. Also, the United Nations Human Rights Commission on June 8, 2021 demanded that Saab be freed. Additionally, the African Bar Association on September 28, 2021 demanded that Cape Verde should obey the ECOWAS Court judgement. Falana also reported that the: ” African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights granted a provisional order to restrain Cape Verde from extraditing him to the United States pending the determination of the complaint of his human rights to dignity, life and freedom of movement. “Tragically, Cape Verde a little country of 4,033 square kilometres and a population of 549,935 could not withstand the bullying of the US even when both countries had no bilateral extradition agreement. It allowed its sovereignty to be raped by yielding to US pressures. So in October 2021, it handed the hapless diplomat to the Americans who flew him to Florida. However in two years, the US in its own court, could not make the alleged case of money laundering to stick. Also, it could not get round the fact that Saab, as a diplomat has diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) which provides for the protection of the diplomat and his or her family from any form of arrest or detention. The US only made a fool of itself when it claimed that Saab is not a true diplomat because he was appointed by President Nicolas Maduro. Who else can appoint a country’s diplomat but its sovereign Head of State? Across the world, ‘Free Alex Saab’ groups emerged demanding his freedom. Here in Nigeria, the Venezuelan Solidarity Campaign in Nigeria, VSCN joined the international campaign for his release. The VSCN reacting to Saab’s release characterised it as a victory for international solidarity grassroots movements. VSCN Coordinator, Dimeji Macaulay, in a statement said: “The release of Mr Alex Saab again shows that if we fight, we can win. If we don’t fight, we’ve already lost.” Ambassador Saab’s release restored some confidence in the diplomatic traditions of humanity.

Oborevwori approves land for Federal Medical Varsity, Kwale

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has approved provision of take off site for the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of the State. The State Commissioner for Lands, Surveys and Urban Development, Chief Emamusi Obiodeh announced the Governor's approval to journalists in Asaba on Friday. According to the Commissioner, the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences take-off site is the place previously used by the School of Marine Technology, Kwale. The Governor has approved 15 hectares of land, including all facilities and infrastructure previously used by the Delta State School Marine Technology, Kwale campus which has moved to their permanent site. The new university will operate from this take-off site pending when they move to their permanent site of 100 hectares at Umuseti-Kwale. The Commissioner said Governor Oborevwori appreciated the Federal Government for the choice of Delta State for this all important specialised university. He expressed the State Government's preparedness to partner with the Federal Government, and any other serious investors with capacity that are ready to invest in the state. The Commissioner said Governor Oborevwori has directed him to provide land to investors who are ready to partner with the state with viable developments that will impact positively on the lives of Deltans and other Nigerians

PERSPECTIVE - Wike, Fubara and the 48 Laws of Power

By ETIM ETIM In words and actions, Gov. Siminalayi Fubara has shown that he is a good student of history and power dynamics. He has surprised and outsmarted his enemies and impressed his admirers with the manner he’s dealt with the political crisis in his state. So far, the governor has maneuvered deftly through Nyesom Wike’s threats, combustive anger and the subtle intimidations of the Presidency. I think we need to pay attention to Mr. Fubara’s strategy in the context of Nigeria’s politics of avarice, corruption and application of power to serve selfish interests. Fubara, we recall, was the state’s accountant-general when Wike was governor, and they worked together in managing and spending the resources of the state.

Last year, the EFCC suspected that there were some unethical practices in the manner they used these monies and so the commission moved to arrest Fubara who went into hiding. He was subsequently declared wanted by the EFCC. But to protect him, Wike made him the PDP governorship candidate and went ahead to get him elected governor. Fubara now has immunity from arrests and prosecution, but Wike, who was Fubara’s boss and knows everything about how Rivers’ funds were managed and mismanaged, has not been not been questioned by the EFCC. We have seen this play out in many states across the land, including my own Akwa Ibom, since 1999. In these arrangements, the outgoing governor would dictate how much he would be paid in cash periodically by his successor as a reward for facilitating his emergence, in addition to other perks and patronages. In return, the governor will take steps to discourage the arrest and prosecution of his predecessor. In addition, the former governor will assume the status of the ‘emperor’ of the land. But all too often, these agreements don’t last. After a few months in office, Fubara repudiated the understanding he had with Wike (some accounts say the former governor was receiving N2 billion monthly) and discontinued the payment. All hell broke loose and there began the crisis that has engulfed the state since October. Two weeks ago, President Tinubu stepped in and invited both men for a peace meeting. The terms of the peace agreement seemed to favour Wike more, prompting many to term it as a Presidential Directive rather than an agreement. Some persons who attended the peace meeting in the Villa actually said in interviews that it was only the President who spoke at the meeting; and that he was essentially directing the parties on what to do, after which they all signed the paper without as little as stating their own sides. Both Wike and Fubara however elected to stay silent until Boxing Day when the governor released a lengthy statement, in which he announced that he would abide by the terms of the proclamation because ‘’the Peace Pact is not as bad as it is being portrayed by those who genuinely opposed it’’, adding that ‘’it is certainly not a death sentence’’. Many persons interpret this to mean that the governor has finally capitulated, having been subtly intimidated by the President at the meeting, and that Wike would soon return to his former status as the emperor of the state. A well-known TV anchor actually told me that the governor ‘’is dumb’’. They are wrong. Unknown to them, Fubara’s motives, implicit in his Christmas message and evident in some of his actions, show that he is smarter than he’s given credit for. He seems to be taking some lessons from The 48 Laws of Power propounded by Robert Greene, the American author of books on strategy, power and seduction, 25 years ago. Gov. Fubara is dealing with this matter with a great deal of political astuteness and clever tactics. He says one thing in public, but is stealthily undermining his enemies in secret. He has shown that he is a good student of history and power. Law 3 of the 48 Laws of Power states: ‘’Conceal your intentions: Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defence. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelop them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late’’. By pledging to abide by the terms of the Peace Pact, when in fact, he does not mean it, Fubara is leading Wike and the President on a wrong path, keeping them guessing, while constantly digging into the trenches and undermining Wike’s moves. While those in Abuja see this as political disagreements, the governor and indeed, the Ijaw people of Rivers of whom Fubara is a scion, have turned it into an ethnic war. Their constant threats to bomb crude oil pipelines if the governor is impeached and removed from office should not be ignored. I am sure that President Tinubu is not taking those threats lightly. Between Wike and crude oil exports, I know whom the President will choose! Fubara also seems to be taking the 12th Law of Power to heart. ‘’Use Selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim. One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones. Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armour, you can deceive and manipulate them at will. A timely gift – a Trojan horse – will serve the same purpose’’. Paragraph 12 of the governor’s speech succinctly captures this selective act of honesty. His words: ‘’I reaffirm my acceptance of the Presidential Peace Pact Proclamation and my commitment to implementing both the spirit and letters of the declaration…without compromising the collective interest of our people and our cherished and shared democratic values’’. Who determines what the interest of Rivers people are and what are the cherished and shared democratic values? Does the interest of Rivers people entail illegal payments of monies to a former governor? Is it part of shared and cherished democratic values for the governor to remain subservient to his predecessor? In other words, only Fubara will determine what constitute the collective interest of his people and their cherished and shared democratic values. The governor is also drawing on the 21st Law which states that: ‘’Play a Sucker to catch a sucker – seem dumber than your mark. No one seem stupider than the next. The trick, then, is to make your victims feel smart – and not just smart, but smarter than you. Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives’’. By constantly calling Wike ‘’my Oga’’ and pretending to be compliant and respectful, Fubara is playing the fool, a tactic well captured in paragraph 14 of his speech: ‘’I have said before, there is no price too much to pay for peace. And with the realization that the worst peace is better than the best war, we will try to make peace with all segments and interest groups without surrendering our freedom or jeopardizing the interest and well-being of the good people of Rivers State who graciously entrusted us with their cherished mandate’’. It is notable that the governor is constantly referring to the ‘’interest of Rivers people’’, and his condition for keeping to the agreement is that ‘’it must not violate the interest of Rivers people’’. And who defines these interests? It is the governor himself! This is similar to what happens when the United States invades another country to protect its own national interest. Only America defines what its national interest is! Law 33 states that: ‘’Discover each man’s thumbscrew. Everyone has a weakness, a gap in the castle wall. That weakness is usually an insecurity, an uncontrollable emotion or need; it can also be a small secret pleasure. Either way, once found, it is a thumbscrew you can turn to your advantage’’. Nyesom Wike’s weakness is his greed and inordinate ambition to control his successor. Fubara realizes this and is misleading the FCT Minister into hoping that he would keep to the agreement. While Wike is hoping against hope that the billions will flow again, the governor is winning more and more supporters, including those who hitherto loathed him, to his side. Sooner than later, Wike’s ‘’structures’’ will collapse like Lagos buildings. Unfortunately, Wike has flouted Law 34: ‘’Be loyal in your own fashion: Act Like a king to be treated like one. The way you carry yourself will often determine how you’re treated: In the long-run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you. A king respects himself and inspires the same sentiments in others. By acting regally and confident of your powers, you make yourself seem destined to wear a crown’’. Frankly, Nyesom Wike has disgraced himself before the country by allowing his covetousness and greed to overwhelm him. By acting comically and desperately, he has exposed himself to ridicule and scorn. Now, compare Wike’s conduct to that of Senator Godswill Akpabio after he fell out with Gov. Udom Emmanuel in 2016. Akpabio simply walked away and later moved to another party in 2018. If Akpabio had not walked away from his successor when their fight started, he would not be senate president today. What of Gov. Umo Eno and his predecessor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel? Although Udom Emmanuel has succeeded in putting Eno in office as governor, the two men seem to be managing the relationship in a fairly decent manner, and so far, the terms of their agreements have not been breached. Surely, Chief Wike has a lot to learn from others while we have a lot to learn from Simi Fubara.

PERSPECTIVE - Killings on the Plateau: The shame of a nation

By Etim Etim The brutal killings of over 160 Nigerians in three LGAs in Plateau State on Christmas eve and Christmas Day by terrorists have once again illustrated the failure of the Nigerian State to protect its citizens. Over 20 villages across Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu LGAs were attacked in what has become a pattern of a failed or a fast-failing state. I am sad, pained and aggrieved by the flagrant failure of the security agencies to thwart the terrorists’ plots or arrest them after their heinous crimes. Many Nigerians, including a retired general who had once served as the Commander of Operation Safe Heaven on the Plateau, Gen. Henry Ayoola, believe that there are elements in the security agencies that collude with the terrorists and are complicit in these killings. Defence Headquarters, the highest authority of the military high command, has stated that although the military did receive over 30 distress calls from the villagers when the attacks were going on, it could not respond soon enough because the terrains to those communities are bad. What an excuse! It sounds like the police telling victims of armed robbery that they had no petrol in their vehicles or the fire service complaining of lack of water in their trucks while a home is burning. How did the terrorists gain access the communities if the terrains are that bad? Excuses like this give credence to speculations that some soldiers and, perhaps, officers may be sympathetic to the agenda and ideology of the killers.

The frequency of the killings and the fact that no single person has ever been arrested and prosecuted also support the theory of collusion by some members of our police and armed forces. It brings a sinking feeling to my stomach. Last June, over 100 villagers were slaughtered by terrorists in Mangu LGA alone. Nigerians of different walks of life and some members of the international community, have been shocked by what is apparently ethnic cleansing of the Christian communities of some parts Northern Nigeria. The Sultan of Sokoto, Middle Belt Forum, PANDEF, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Northern Governors’ Forum, Peter Obi, Shehu Sani are among those who have shown outrage at the carnage. The Pope and Amnesty International (AI) have cried out. AI has a long history of criticizing the military for what it describes as human rights abuses, but in the aftermath of the Christmas killings in Plateau, the Country Director of AI, Isa Sanusi, is going a step further to ask for a probe into the activities of the military. ‘’The Nigerian authorities must investigate the inexcusable security lapses that allowed the horrific killing of over 140 people by gunmen across over 20 villages… Our investigation shows that the gunmen were on rampage of killing and destruction for more than 48 hours, moving from one village to another’’, said Saunusi. A few days after the attacks, Gen. Henry Ayoola (rtd), former Commander of Operation Safe Haven, the very security organization that was put in place to prevent terrorist attacks on the Plateau, was on Arise TV, suggesting that some elements in the military are more loyal to the terrorists than the country. He should know. Ayoola said in the interview that he had submitted a detailed report to the military authorities on this before his retirement a few years ago. The police authorities have also come under severe criticisms for their tardiness and inability to secure the safety of the people. Nigerians are also venting their anger on President Bola Tinubu for hunkering down in his Lagos home, enjoying the holidays and refusing to visit Plateau State to express solidarity and compassion. Although the President has dispatched Vice President Shettima and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to Jos to meet with Plateau leaders, that is not enough to assuage frayed nerves. Some commentators are quick to liken his response to that of President Buhari who only issued sympathy statements and sent Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on countless condolence visits. Why are US Presidents eager to jump into Airforce One to fly to disaster areas, visit with local officials and offer words of comfort to affected communities but our own commanders-in-chief do not care as much when disaster strike? In the last two years, President Biden has visited over half a dozen cities to assess damage and comfort the hurt. In September 2021, he flew down to New York and New Jersey to survey damage from Hurricane Ida. In January 2023, he went to California to the damage from a series of devastating storms that slammed the western part of the country, forcing residents to flee mudslides and rising floodwaters. In May 2023, he was in Utah and offered federal assistance to aid recovery efforts in affected by flooding. In August, the President travelled 13 hours to Hawaii to tour destructions caused by wildfires and the following month, Joe Biden was in Florida to survey destruction from Hurricane Idalia and comfort victims. The essence of these visits is to show compassion and empathy, which is the number one quality of a good leader. Just two months ago, terrorists crossed over from Gaza Strip and killed over 220 people in Israel. Pronto! Prime Minister Netanyahu declared war against the terrorists and today, bombs are falling on Gaza. But in Nigeria, terrorists from the same ancestry and with the same ideological bent, have been killing thousands of people of Plateau, Benue and Southern Kaduna for years now in a well-organized pogrom designed to seize their lands, yet no Nigerian leader has shown any capacity and political will to bring justice to them. On the day of the attacks – October 7 – Netanyahu addressed his nation and promised to dismantle Hamas from power and destroy their military capabilities. The world has been watching with both admiration and anger as Israel Defence Force is pummeling Gaza. Leadership is everything. Those who trenchantly criticized Buhari for appearing soft on terrorists because he is of same ancestry with them will need to come up with new explanations on why the Tinubu administration is not acting differently. The images of Plateau women rolling on the floor, crying and wailing over their misfortunes, and the men fleeing their villages with their mattresses and household items are too heart-wrenching for me. The sufferings of the vulnerable members of our communities cut me to the quick. On December 5, the Nigerian military mistakenly dropped two bombs on the people of Tudun Biri in Kaduna State. Defence Headquarters later explained that the people were mistaken for terrorists. On December 24, terrorists invaded 20 villages in Plateau State and murdered over 150 people. The same Defence Headquarters explained that they couldn’t launch counterattacks to repel the attackers because of bad terrains. What more excuses should we expect? The shame of a country!

Children enjoy bliss at DAO Foundation’s fun-filled Christmas Party, as Doris Ochei urges the rich to show love to less privileged

The sleepy town of Onicha Olona came alive when the Doris Amaka Ochei Foundation (DAO Foundation) on Boxing Day, Thursday December 26,2023, ignited uncommon love for children when it hosted them to a well funded and fun filled Christmas party. The event which was the Foundation's second edition Christmas Party for children was held at Ugba Primary School field, Onicha-Olona, in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. It was attended by over 2,000 children from all the schools and families within and outside Onicha-Olona. It had the esteemed presence of the husband of the Founder and Executive Director of DAO Foundation, Dr. (Mrs) Doris Amaka Ochei, Major General Raymond Ochei who was the Father of the Day. Members of Ezemu Girls Grammar School Old Girls Associations, Ubulu-Uku, Viva Foundation, Lagos and friends of the founder were also at Onicha-Olona to add colour and support to the party. The monarch of Onicha-Olona, His Royal Majesty, Obi Agbogidi Christopher Uzumefune and members of Obi In Council were also with the children at the event.

At the event, the children who came with their teachers and parents were treated to a three course meal, varieties of activities such as dancing competition, drama portraying the humble birth of Jesus Christ, concentration games, Cultural display, Michy Mouse dance and distribution of gifts by Father Christmas The Foundation also distributed over 2000 customized school bags with water bottles, note books, pencils and biros worth millions of Naira to all the children at the party. In his remarks, the Father of the Day, Major General Raymond Nkem Ochei commended the Foundation's activities, which he said had continued to demonstrate love to the less privileged children and women in the society. He appreciated them for putting up the party for the children, pointing out that it has continued to bring together the privileged and less privileged children together to interact in love.

The General urged the Founder and members of the Foundation to remain relentless in their efforts towards bringing out the less privileged from poverty, even as he urged those present to continue to uphold the Foundation in prayers with a view to doing more for the betterment of the society. Earlier in her welcome address, one of the children, Miss Kikachukwu Glory Olunwa said she was excited to welcome guests on behalf of the entire children to their Christmas party. She appreciated the Founder of DAO Foundation, Dr. (Mrs) Doris Ochei for her kindness towards children and prayed to God to continue to bless the Founder and the Foundation. Speaking in an interview with Journalists in her country home after the party, Dr. Doris Amaka Ochei appreciated God for the success of the Second Edition of the Foundation's Christmas Party for Children.

She attributed the Foundation's gesture to the desire to always want to give back to society. She said the motivation came out of the need to carry children along, in the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ by way of making them happy and giving them what they will live to always remember for good. She said when one is blessed, it is not complete if others are not blessed by the one who has been blessed. She maintained that she is blessed of God and she has made it a duty to ensure that others, especially the less privileged are blessed from that which God has blessed her with. Dr. Ochei said: "The reason God blesses us is for us to be a blessing to others. If you come to this world, you are so wealthy and you have not touched lives, then you have not come to the world at all. "Another thing is that for the children, I want to leave a legacy. I want to be able to teach the kids that this is the way to go. Whatever you have, you share. When they grow up they won't depart from it. They would want to do what I am doing", she said. Dr. Ochei revealed that what she was doing was what she learned from people when she was growing up, saying that she admired such gestures and it helped in no small measure in inspiring her in reaching out and giving to the less privileged and the needy in the society.

The highly charismatic woman maintained that she did not establish the DAO Foundation because of politics and that she has never been involved in politics, saying that the Foundation is all about giving back to the society from what God has blessed her with. "DAO was born out of compassion for humanity. It is a Foundation that is to reach out to the downtrodden, a Foundation that is meant to reach out to those who are genuinely in need and we are indeed living to our goals and objectives. We are torching lives in different ways and one of them is the children's Christmas Party," she affirmed. The DAO Foundation boss also revealed that the Foundation has the youth section and hinted that a programme geared towards empowering the Youths has been fixed for Easter next year. "The youth section of our programme comes up by Easter when some of the Youths would be empowered. We are coming up with a unique idea to empower them and teach them how to fish, from there, they can fish for themselves," she said. Doris Amaka Ochei also said her Foundation is focused on Women development, even as she said the DAO Foundation had been able to empower over 140 women who she revealed were given interest free loans to engage in one form of small scale business whereby the loans are put together, return at the end of the year and given back to the women to continue with the business at the beginning of the new year.

"By so doing, they have the capital, year in, year out to continue with their business all the time. "We also have DAO Market Women Empowerment Programme. It is a scheme basically for market women which we have done in Ubulu-Uku and we are ready to replicate in Onicha-Olona in January 2024," she said. While revealing that the Foundation is also involved in infrastructure development for communities such as building and rehabilitation of markets, construction of roads, provision of water bore holes and provision of Solar Street lights, Dr. Doris Amaka reiterated the fact that DAO Foundation remains a Non Governmental Organization being fully funded solely by herself. She said the Foundation did not receive donations from anybody or from any organization, even as she debunked the insinuation that the Foundation was established for money making just like some other NGOs.

She maintained that she remains a business woman, a serial entrepreneur, a stock broker, having a stock brokerage company, a traveling consulting company, a water producing company and other business that gives her the ease to be able to fund her Foundation. Other highlights at the event was the Bible quiz, and cutting of the Christmas cake. Also of significant importance was the presentation by the K'ibedinma Divas, the wives of K'ibedinma Social Club of Enuani, which in collaboration with DAO Foundation made the following presentations to primary six pupils of two schools to help them to enrol for the Common Entrance and first School leaving certificate examinations in 2024. The schools which each were presented with a cheque for N300,000 making it a total of N600, 000 were Iyiogbe Primary School and Ugba Primary School, Onicha-Olona.

Atiku mourns Akeredolu, Na’Abba

It was with a rude shock and sadness that I read about the passing of the Governor of Ondo State, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Gali Umar Na’Abba. Governor Akeredolu was a quintessential gentleman who took the finesse to governance. A two-term elected governor of the Sunshine State, Akeredolu was a politician of class because he was never known for destructive politics. Hon. Na’Abba on the other hand raised the bar of legislative enterprise in Nigeria as it is evident that the 1st Session of the National Assembly where he served with distinction between 1999-2003 remains one of the best in the annals of our legislatures. Both Governor Akeredolu, Aketi, as he was fondly called, and Speaker Na’Abba will be sorely missed for the inestimable roles that they played in our national development. I express deepest condolences to their respective families and pray to God to grant their souls a peaceful repose. I also join the good people and governments of both Ondo and Kano States to mourn the demise of these towering political figures. Signed: Atiku Abubakar Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007 27th December, 2023.

Oborevwori mourns as Governor Akeredolu dies at 67

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has expressed deep sadness on the passing of Ondo State Governor, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, at the age of 67. Governor Oborevwori, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon in Asaba, expressed his condolences to Akeredolu’s wife, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, family members, the government and people of Ondo State on the passing of the renowned senior lawyer. He noted that the late Governor Akeredolu who was Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum, was an urbane and cerebral leader of great value who was progressively committed to the growth and development of Ondo State and Nigeria. “On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I commiserate with the Akeredolu family, the government and people of Ondo State on the painful passing of my brother governor, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN). "As a senior lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akeredolu contributed immensely to the growth and development of the legal profession in the country. "Chief Akeredolu paid his dues and had a fulfilling legal career that culminated in his emergence as President of the Nigerian Bar Association and later as Governor of Ondo State. "It is my firm belief that the achievements of the late Governor in the legal profession and in the governance of Ondo State will continue to inspire many to take to the legal profession and contribute to nation-building," Oborevwori said. The Governor prayed to God to grant the soul of the legal luminary eternal rest.