Former Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Commander, General Adetunji Idowu Olurin yesterday revealed why the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha banished him for four years.
Olurin, a leading Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant from Ogun West Senatorial District, spoke during his endorsement and presentation by the Yewa/Awori Elders to the Olu-in-Council, in Ilaro, the political headquarters of Yewa-Awori.

According to the former ECOMOG commander, he was banished against his wish for four years by  Abacha because of his fear that I had enough troop to topple  his government.
His words: “I was banished from Lagos to Ebute Igboro, near Ojo Odan for years because he (Abacha) feared that as a returnee ECOMOG Commander, I had enough troop to topple his government. I thank God today that I am alive to narrate this story.

“It is good to allow the will of God to prevail on certain issues. As a military man, I had no option than to accept the banishment as an act of fate.”
He described the soldiers as the best politicians saying: “We understand the nitty-gritty of politics and we are usually meticulous about it. However, the dexterity of a tiger is never an act of cowardice,” he stated.
Olurin, who restated his determination to lead his people as well as the entire Ogun State during the forthcoming election, promised to run a transparent government.
“Let me tell you, my fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers and others, with your co-operation and assistance, I shall run a transparent government where social amenities will be provided.

“The experience is there for me to turn our dear state around. Together, we shall take Ogun State to another greatness.”
He cautioned those he said were fanning embers of religious crisis to desist from such a thing saying: “The issue at stake is not about religion. It is not about name calling or dropping. It is about the reality that experience matters in who governs our dear state in the forthcoming political dispensation.
“Let us be wary of those people who sit somewhere and attempt to fan the embers of religious crisis. We should not associate with them so that they will not bring crisis into our peaceful state.

He recalled his tenure as a military governor in the old Oyo State during which the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade were at loggerheads. “It took the grace of God to resolve the crisis which taught me a lot of lesson. We must not allow them to make the governorship race a religion matter. Neither Christians, Muslim or even traditionalist can do it alone without the co-operation of others.”

On his relationship with Governor Gbenga Daniel, Olurin said: “I have no problem with Daniel. He is aware of my gubernatorial ambition and let me tell you, there is nothing I do without his backing. This is a project that I can assure you that I will not abandon you mid-way. There is no going back on this, by God’s grace.”
The leader of the Yewa/Awori Elders Forum, Chief Ishola Olateju, who spoke on behalf of other elders, urged Olurin to remain steadfast in his desire to rule the state. “We are solidly behind you, nothing harmful shall come your way,” he stated, assuring him that his emergence had the blessings of the paramount rulers of Egba, Ijebu and Remo respectively.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/nov/03/national-03-11-2010-0022.htm

The annoying thing is the two of them are eying the post of Governor. A rogue is leaving new rogues want to come in. This definitely means d state is in disarray!!! No wonda Babangida said youths are not matured enough to rule. May GOD SAVE my state

•Aminu, ministers, Okebukola, Guobadia honour Akinkugbe

A mild drama ensued yesterday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello snubbed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, at a function.

The scene of the drama was the auditorium of the National University Commission, (NUC), Abuja, where a book entitled: “Footprints and Footnotes”, an autobiography of Professor Oladapo Akinkugbe, a renowned medical doctor and former Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, was presented to the public.

Among those who witnessed the drama was: Alhaji Ahmed Joda; Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Prof. Akinkugbe and his wife, Folashade; Dr. Abel Guobadia, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Senator Jubril Aminu.

Senator Obasanjo-Bello, who arrived at the venue of the book presentation late, was immediately ushered to the high table, where Bankole, Joda, and Prof. (Mrs.) Akinkugbe, as well as Dr. Idi-Hong were already seated.

The Senator, who is widely believed to be eyeing the governorship seat of Ogun State in the 2011 elections, subsequently moved round to exchange greetings with others on the high table with the exception of the Speaker, and on her way back to her seat, she equally snubbed Bankole.

Frantic efforts by the Speaker to exchange greetings with the Senator were rebuffed.

When those on the high table were also invited to join Bankole to unveil the book, Senator Obasanjo-Bello, chose, instead, to go to where other invited guests were seated to greet some of them.

She however did not wait till the end of the programme before leaving.

While speaking after unveiling the 366-page book, Bankole described the author, Prof. Akinkugbe as a unique and eminent Nigerian who has laid down a legacy of honesty for Nigerians yet unborn.

The Speaker, however, noted with regrets that most Nigerians do not read again, stressing that the development has consequently led to a culture of mediocrity in the country.

He, however, recommended the book to politicians, lawmakers and policy makers, among others.

Aminu, who is equally a Professor of Medicine, said at the presentation that Akinkugbe had done much for the country as well as help tremendously to promote Nigerians.

He further described the author as “a very straight person”, adding: “We should pray that God should give Nigeria more people like him.”

While the Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, saw Prof. Akinkugbe as someone who is firm and always stand on his grounds, another former Minister of Health, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, pointed out that he (Akinkugbe) is an embodiment of excellence and humility.

While reviewing the book earlier, former Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Peter Okebukola, said that it had literary merits, stressing that its plot would help to teach people how to live their lives to the fullest.

Others dignitaries at the book presentation were: Dr. Guobadia, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede; the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Lambo, Mrs Rosemary David-Mark, Prof. Jide Ajayi, Mrs Judith Attah, former Minister of Women Affairs, Dr. Haliru Yahaya, the Emir of Songa and Alhaji Bashir Tukur.

By Lateef Ibrahim & Julius Toba, Abuja

http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65888:iyabo-obasanjo-snubs-bankole-at-book-launch&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794

I love this guy!!! He is a real strategist! I'm sure he will still reduce his demands but he want to make a case to make people see that we can go over the moon for foreign coaches by paying them ridiculous fees while our indigenous coaches are given peanuts. Amodu was paid the sum of 2m naira while Nigeria made Ras Largerasback (Pheeew) the fourth highest paid coach in the world with his $200k/Month

Akingbola returns to Nigeria
August 4, 2010 07:09AM
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The embattled former chief executive officer of Intercontinental Bank, Erastus Akingbola, has returned to the country, months after he was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Mr. Akingbola arrived in Nigeria yesterday and may be meeting with agents of the anti-graft commission today.

The former bank executive is being investigated by the commission over allegations of fraudulent abuse of credit process, insider trading, capital market manipulation, and money laundering running into billions of naira.

Last year, the Central Bank of Nigeria sacked some bank chiefs, including Mr. Akingbola, in a move to cleanse the banking sector. While his colleagues were arrested and are standing trial in some cases, Mr. Akingbola was abroad and decided to stay away from Nigeria.

In July this year, the Federal Government sent a formal request to the government of the United Kingdom for his arrest and extradition to Nigeria.

As of press time, it was unclear if the request was responsible for his decision to return to the country.

It was also not immediately known if the EFCC would arrest him.



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