Jega: I didn’t ask for INEC, but I will do my best

Vice Chancellor of the Bayero University, Kano (BUK) Professor Attahiru Jega, whose name has been forwarded to the National Assembly for confirmation as Chairman of the In Professor Attahiru Jega,dependent National Electoral Commission [INEC] following his nomination by President Goodluck Jonathan last week, says he did not ask for the country’s top electoral job.

Speaking at a magazine launch and public lecture organized by the BUK chapter of the National Union of Kebbi State Students in Kano at the weekend,   Professor Jega however called for prayers for him to succeed. He said, “God knows that I did not ask for this job. But I will give my best and our best will always be positive. And I want to urge Nigerians to continue to pray for us.”

Jega, who was among the illustrious sons from Kebbi State honoured at the occasion, also said if he eventually becomes chairman of INEC, he would do his best to serve the nation to the best of his ability, given the confidence Nigerians have reposed in him since the announcement of his nomination.

He said he hopes to succeed in the assignment given the tremendous goodwill displayed by Nigerians following his endorsement by the National Council of State, and he expressed confidence that Nigerians would give him all the necessary support to succeed.

Danmasanin Yauri Alhaji Abdullahi Lamba, who is the  Special Adviser to the Kebbi State governor on UBE, said that based on the recommendations of a committee raised by the Kebbi State government, chaired by Professor Jega, on the resuscitation of education in the state, all public servants including the governor would soon take all their wards to public schools.

He said the Dakingari administration would give every support to public schools to further encourage educational development in the state. More money, according to him, would be pumped into the sector in line with the committee’s recommendations.

Guest speaker at the occasion Dr Hussaini Mango of Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto said no private school  should measure up to the quality of free public schools.

In a paper entitled “Free Education by States: Benefits and Strategies”, Mango said all stakeholders must be made to put their children in the public schools.

Funding, he said, was the heart of free education while the stumbling block was economic, social and political misbehaviour, saying emphasis on free education should be placed on the intrinsic value of education before extrinsic value.

EFCC compiles cases against governors

 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has started compiling cases against some serving governors who would be interrogated at the end of their tenures when they lose constitutional immunity, Daily Trust learnt.
Indications that some governors have allegations of financial misappropriation to answer before the anti-graft body emerged yesterday when the spokesman of the EFCC Femi Babafemi told Daily Trust the reinvigorated investigation of local government chairmen in states showed complicity on the part of state executives.               
The president, vice-president, governors and their deputies enjoy immunity according to Section 308 of the 1999 constitution which says that they can only be investigated but not prosecuted till their tenure in office expires. Already, EFCC operatives have been detailed to Ogun, Kano, Benue, Enugu, Oyo, Kogi, Edo, Imo, Osun, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa among others collating evidence against local government chairmen who allegedly pilfered the Excess Crude Fund and Federation Account allocations meant to execute projects in their councils.

In 2008, EFCC Chairman Mrs. Farida Waziri launched an investigation of all 774 local governments in Nigeria supported by findings that dividends of democracy was not been enjoyed by those at the grassroots.

Babafemi said, “Based on recent intelligence reports we have found that some state officials are conniving with council chairmen to divert funds. This has made us realise that the third tier of government is not actually performing in terms of infrastructural development. For example In Oyo, all 33 local government chairmen have been interrogated along with state government officials, In Kano we are investigating all 44 local council bosses with state executives. There is hardly any part of the country we have not been to.”

He said, “This is a signal that governors in those states would have cases to answer at the end of their tenures.”

In Benue, 10 LG chairmen were quizzed for allegedly misappropriating over N900 million excess crude fund. EFCC is investigating a corruption case of N44 billion by all the local governments and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of local government affairs Alhaji Abdulmalik Yakubu alongside five others grilled last Thursday.

The commission is also probing alleged diversion and mismanagement of N30 billion out of the Excess Crude Funds allocated to 28 local government areas in Ogun state. The case against 23 local government chairmen in Oyo involves an alleged N8.3 billion fraud and Secretary to the state government has been quizzed.



 

Senate directs IGP to fish-out Saraki's attackers

The Senate yesterday directed the Inspector General of Police Mr. Ogbonnaya Onovo to fish out those behind the alleged attempted murder of Senator Gbemisola Saraki.

A statement by the Chairman Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze (PDP, Enugu North) said there was an attempt on the life of Senator Saraki by yet to be identified persons at her home. The Senate condemned the act, saying, “We received with shock, news of the attempt on the life of Senator Gbemisola Saraki. Politics of violence and brigandage belong to our regrettable past and any attempt to return us to that inglorious era is unfortunate and completely unacceptable.”

Senator Ayogu said political differences should be resolved through dialogue and consensus building and not by recourse to thuggery and arm-twisting.

“We condemn the violation of the sanctity of Sen. Saraki’s household and the abuse of the constitutional rights of her relations and domestic staff”, the Senate said, adding,  “We call on the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to step into this matter and fish out the master-minds and the culprits in this heinous act.”

Contract awards by FEC illegal — Makarfi

 The weekly award of contracts by the Federal Executive Council is in violation of the public procurement law which provides that the National Council on Public Procurement is the approving authority for all federal contracts, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance Senator Ahmed Makarfi has said. Based on the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007, the council should be headed by the Minister of Finance, with the following members: Minister of Justice, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Service of the Federation, Economic Adviser to the President, six part-time members to represent the Nigeria


Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management, Nigeria Bar Association, Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Nigeria Society of Engineers, civil society and the media.

But the council is yet to be constituted three years after the procurement law was signed into law.

All the while, the Federal Executive Council has been considering and approving federal contracts during its weekly meetings.

Makarfi, who was speaking to Daily Trust at the weekend, said, “It is true that the Public Procurement Act provides for a council that should be dealing with all the issues that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has been actually dealing with and that is a constant breach of the act.”

The late President Umaru Yar’adua signed the Public Procurement Act into law on June 4, 2007 but did not constitute the National Council on Public Procurement up to the time he died last month. Makarfi said the failure of government to constitute the council has adversely affected the process of awarding contracts, adding “Not only is it a constant breach of the act, I believe it is an introduction of inefficiency because a lot of executive time is wasted in council meetings that ordinarily should focus on allowing ministers and heads of MDAs to be on their feet or inspecting ongoing projects and the programmes thereby enhancing efficiency and the level of performance of government.”

Makarfi said FEC has many other important roles to play in the business of governance. “The thing is that FEC should not constitute itself into a contract awarding body; it has a role in reviewing threshold and other things, but that is occasional discharge of functions. Some members of FEC would be in the Public Procurement Council, not all of them.”

He said the present arrangement lacks transparency as the people and other stakeholders have no say in the process of expending public funds. “No NGO or the media or other groups  sits in the Executive Council, it is only at the end of the meetings that people come and say ABCD has happened. But in this one, they would be part and parcel of the council as a watchdog, not to prevent executive function but to bring public participation and observance of the activities.”

He added, “It doesn’t involve the judiciary because it has its arm; it doesn’t

involve the legislature because it has its own role as an arm of government. The civil societies are to be in the council, the media and other bodies are in the council all in order to bring openness to government activities so that Nigerians get directly involved in how public funds are utilised through the processes of appraisal and award of contracts. It is to ensure that we get value for money in every kobo spent, through the award of contracts.”

He also said the National Assembly would soon draw the attention of President Goodluck Jonathan to the matter. “There is no way President Jonathan’s attention will be drawn by the relevant principal officers of government to this that he will not comply with provision of the

law. I am absolutely sure that his attention has not been drawn to it.”

The Public Procurement Act has been partially implemented with setting up of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) which evaluates and certifies payment for contracts while the council that should actually award the contracts is yet to be constituted.

N5.5bn fraud: EFCC files more evidence against Nyame

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed an additional proof of evidence before an FCT High Court in Gudu against the former Taraba State governor Rev. Jolly Nyame who is standing trial over an alleged N5.5billion fraud.
Barr Rotimi Jacobs filed the additional affidavit on behalf of the anti-graft body. It is the second since the commencement of the trial in 2007 and has about 71 pages with voluntary testimonies from about ten witnesses.

The EFCC arraigned Nyame in July 2007 on a 41-count charge over the
alleged award of fictitious contracts to the tune of an initial sum of N1.6 billion during his tenure as Taraba State governor between 1999 and 2007.

The offences are punishable under sections 315 and 532 of the Penal Code. 

But counsel to Nyame, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), countered the affidavit by filing a preliminary objection urging the court to dismiss the additional proof of evidence on the grounds that it was not obtained through leave of the court.

Fagbemi inquired whether the case is that of “prosecution or persecution,” adding that the prosecution has deliberately infringed on the accused person’s right to fair hearing by filing different proofs of evidence while matter is pending in court.

The case, presided over by Justice Adebukola I. Banjoko, will determine the preliminary objection today.

The powdery substance Oba Adeshina poured on me is still peeling my skin

Bolanle, estranged wife

Bolanle, the estranged wife of the Deji of Akure, Oba Oluwadamilare Adeshina, in this interview with SUNDAY ABORISADE on the telephone from her hospital bed, explains why the monarch and his thugs attacked her in public on Sunday. Why could have made your husband, the Deji of Akure, to come to your father’s house to attack you? He told me sometime in October last year that he wanted to take another wife. He said the woman was a former wife of the late Chief MKO Abiola and that she is rich, but I tried to discourage him from doing so. I asked him what else he wanted, because if he wanted money, his position as the Oba was enough to fetch him wealth. You don’t need to marry a wife simply because of her money. That was how it started. He started castigating me that I was too violent. The day he wanted to drive me out of the palace, we had no quarrel. He just sent me on an errand, before I came back, he had changed all the keys to my room. I had to sit outside. Since then, people have been pleading for me but he refused to take me back. That was how I started living in my father’s house. His new wife said I am a witch, and that each time she saw me, it would appear as if she saw a lion coming. She said she didn’t want to live with me again; that Kabiyesi (Oba Adeshina) should find something to do about it. That was how he sent me out of the palace So what happened on that Sunday evening? Kabiyesi came to my parents’ residence at 141 Hospital Road, Akure around 5.30 pm. When I saw him and those that came with him, I knew that there was a problem. My daughter rushed to tell me that her father, the king, was coming with some people. I decided to hide in my room. But I had to come out when he was threatening that he would burn down the house if I failed to come out and meet him. He climbed the stairs to my room with his wife, Remi Abiola, and the four hefty thugs that came along with him. He just ordered that those boys should be beating me, but my friends that were around prevented them. The next thing, I saw was that kabiyesi himself slapped me while his wife wanted to hit me with a big stick but my friends collected the stick from her. That was how they all started beating me. He also brought out that powder and wanted to pour it on my face but I blocked him with my hands, so it poured on my hands. Since then, my hands have been peeling. But the Oba has said he did not come to your house on that day... That is a blatant lie. Even you also know. Everybody, including journalists, saw him because my brother called some press men to draw their attention to the situation. The incident led to a serious traffic congestion, being a major road and people packed their cars to catch a glimpse of a first class traditional ruler in Yorubaland fighting with his wife on the street. It was even at that stage that some sympathisers pleaded with him to stop, When he continued to display his arrogance, the people chased him away. I had to use my own vehicle to block his vehicles so that he would not be able to run away. The police came moments after and restored normalcy. They also took the king and his new wife away in one of their jeeps. Have the doctors been able to identify the composition of the powdery substance poured on you by the king? The doctors have not told me the substance, but I believe that the so called ash was mixed with some traditional medicine, because it is peeling off my skin already. One of the men he brought to my house that day took a local cock from his car, pulled out its head and sprinkled the blood all over the place chanting some incantation. I don’t know the implication. The whole world should please save me for the sake of my children. Is it true that the king was angry with you because you were dating a governor? It is a lie. Just take it as the cry of a drowning man. He knows that he has disgraced himself with his action, so he is looking for public sympathy. He wanted to paint me black before everybody, but he won’t achieve that. I was made to pass through every necessary traditional rites required of a queen before I got married to him. No man in his right senses would want to have an affair with the wife of a king because they know the repercussion. It is like dating an Orisa deity. But it was alleged that you have been travelling to visit the said governor I only went to the wedding ceremony organised by the governor for one of his daughters and I was there to represent the king and I greeted him openly before everybody. I did not visit him again after that. This is the eighth month after he drove me away from the palace. Why is it now that he is accusing me of infidelity? God will surely judge him. How did you meet the King before you got married? He met me in Akure during one of his visits to Nigeria from overseas where he was based long before he became the king. The affair continued until he became the Oba and we got married.

I didn’t have sex with Emeka Ike in the bathroom – Muma Gee

Muma Gee was one of the female contestants in the just concluded celebrities’ edition of the reality TV programme, Gulder Ultimate Search. She speaks to ‘NONYE BEN-NWANKWO about life in the jungle where the competition was staged, as well as her relationship with Chioma Chukwuka and Emeka Ike.

Did you expect to be evicted as at the time you were? Yes, I actually did. So you never expected to be the winner?

Never. I knew I wasn‘t going to win. I knew I wasn‘t going to stand the test of time performing those rigorous tasks. I love myself a lot. I don‘t like to task myself too much, because I know I have a very sensitive skin and body system. So, I am very careful with the things I do. I knew that if they came up with tasks that were very difficult, I would work myself into eviction.

Would you have had a chance if the tasks were mainly intellectual?

Why not? What did my family spend all the school fees on?

Given the chance, would you be a part of GUS again?

No! If the setting is outside the bush, I would consider it. If we were kept in a house, I would have preferred it. But in the bush, I had series of emotional trauma each time I saw millipedes and all that. That was why I made sure I always swept the floor so that the environment would be clean. But that wasn‘t the only reason I wouldn‘t want to be a part of it again.

What are the other reasons?

I would not want to be a part of it again because it is not easy at all. But trust me, it was very nice. It was an enjoyable scene. It was fun having to be brought into a platform where you were able to mingle with other colleagues. We don‘t usually see all the time. Even when we see, it is usually on professional grounds, and it ends there. It was nice to live together in that condition. But then, it was very stressful.

How much of you did you take to the jungle? Or were you just acting?

Oh, I took my whole self. Acting is a re-enactment of life. If we say that was a reality show, then I was being compelled from my body, my soul and my spirit to put in all my best to ensure that all I did was real, otherwise, I would have been a liar. I couldn‘t have gone into a reality show and pretend or even say that all I was going to do in the show was pretence. Acting is not pretence. Acting is a re-enactment of a particular scenario so as to teach people a lesson. It was the real me that you saw in that show.

How come you didn‘t flow well with the ladies in the house?

It might have been the situation there or because of the individuals involved. I really do not know. But I know that there are some human beings who flow better with the opposite sex. Some men fell freer with women while some women feel freer with men than with their fellow women. I grew up as an only female, even though I had an elder sister who was more like a mum to me. I was an only girl among guys, so I am always a bit more comfortable among males. I love my fellow women, but I feel emotionally stable when I am around guys.

But at the jungle, you singled out Emeka Ike as the only guy you were so close to...

I had known Emeka Ike before GUS. But in the jungle, I got so emotionally attached to him. It was nothing personal. It was just the way I felt. This was a reality show and my family were not there. I was just alone with other people. Who wouldn‘t fall in love?

Oh, you fell in love with him?

Not that kind of love, please. But he took care of me. Who wouldn‘t fall in love with somebody who made your tents and had your back at any time? People shouldn‘t misunderstand that kind of love for something else. We don‘t see. I have known Emeka for so long.

You even wrote a love letter to him in the jungle, which the camera caught him reading aloud.

I am a realist. If I write a letter, it can be read in a court of law; it can be read anywhere. It can be read privately as well. I wasn‘t bothered about where he read the letter. The letter simply said how much I felt emotionally. I was only being real, I was being myself. When I was writing the letter, I was crying. I was just being myself.

You didn‘t care if his wife saw the letter or watched the episode where he read the letter?

I have been privileged to meet Emeka‘s wife. There was a time we were given the privilege to make a single phone call. Every other participant called their family members, but I refused to call because I am very emotional. I would have burst into tears or I would have been driven to come back home. So, I decided to speak to Emeka‘s wife. Emeka was always talking to me about his wife. She was so nice on the phone. She wished us luck and told us to be careful. She said we should be careful and try to support each other. I am not joking. That was the first and only time I spoke to Emeka‘s wife.

There was a story that you guys had sex in the bathroom…

People just misunderstood that scene without asking questions. I apologise to Emeka‘s wife for the embarrassment the story might have caused her. The media blew the whole thing beyond proportion. It became an object of ridicule and it shouldn‘t have been so. I respect Emeka‘s wife. From my note, you would have known that the same love I gave to Emeka was accorded his wife and children. I respect him as a married man. After the phone call with his wife, I went to the bathroom area and Emeka followed me there. we were discussing about the phone call but people now misunderstood it.

Would you have dated him if he weren‘t married?

No! I had an emotional attachment to him. I don‘t know if you will call that love. I might call it God‘s love. I don‘t really have a definition for what I felt for him, but I knew I had a special feeling for him. I knew my eyes were clear the way I felt.

Funke Akndele said she didn‘t know who you were before you entered the house. Did you know who she was?

It would be disrespectful for me to say I did not know who Funke was. I have never really been opportune to watch any of her movies. I knew I was out of the country when Jenifa was released. When I came back, my friends were calling me ‘bigs girls‘. I didn‘t understand what they were saying until they told me about the movie. But then again, before we got into the house, I ‘googled‘ all my fellow contestants. I had to do a research on their personalities and who they are to be able to relate to them and know them a little bit more. If any contestant said he/she didn‘t know me, it is the person‘s intellectual fault. Even if you do not know me, you should have tried to find out who I was since we were going to be together for some time, so that you would know the angle from which you would tackle me.

One person you had so many misunderstandings with was Chioma Chukwuka,,.

I didn‘t quarrel with her. I noticed that she hated me. I tried to make sure she was okay. I tried to advise her that she didn‘t need to like me, but she should just live with it for a while.

She said most of the stuff she did with you were mere pretence.

Hmmm. If she said so, I don‘t concur with that. If she had sent me a signal that it was pretence, we would have flowed more. I wasn‘t pretending. She was sending a message that she didn‘t like me, and that she hated me. I am glamorous and it is not my fault. I may not be beautiful, but I take care of myself, and it is not my fault. I wear the kind of hair style I want, and it is not my fault. It is not my fault that you don‘t like me. I don‘t force people to like me. People don‘t have to like me. I like myself so much to cover for every other person‘s hatred. I knew vividly what was going on and how she was treating me. I don‘t have the energy to victimise anybody, but if I get victimised, I try to take it. I swallowed a whole lot and I took it as one of those things you see in life. I have gone through a lot of hurdles in life to accommodate any other. I can take anything; any difficulty in life. That period was very difficult in my life. I was really pained. It will wear off in time, but I am deeply heartbroken the way I was treated in the jungle. This is life.

Was that why you called her a demon and said she behaved like an animal towards you in one article I read?

Every human being is an animal. I am an animal as well. We are advanced animals. But trust me, I would not use such a word against somebody. I cannot say somebody is an animal. That would be daft of me. I have a right to feel hurt because it is blood that runs through my veins. I have the right to bare my mind. The pressure I went through was so much. I am a human being. We are not at war. She can be forgiven. I have moved on. I don‘t dwell in the past. I have my album to concentrate on. I have loads of things to do. I have a very busy schedule.

Now that everything is over, could she be your friend?

She has never been my friend. I don‘t have to pretend about it. Something has to bring people together to become friends. Before GUS, we were never friends. May be that would have been a lovely platform for us to become friends, but she travelled from being non-existent to being bad. I will not go out of my way to call her my friend. Don‘t get me wrong; she is not my enemy. I am indifferent the way I feel about her. But I just didn‘t enjoy what she did to me. They were so painful.

What particular incident pained you most?

Flinging my things out of the tent was the most dehumanising thing she did. It was very painful. The marriage issue was no issue at all. If I wanted to be married, I would have been married.

Princess and Chioma said you said something that was unprintable. What was it?

I said so many things. They also said so many things. I can‘t remember what it was I said. Maybe you guys should ask them. They should remind me.

You were routing for Emeka Ike to win...

I wished all of them luck. They are all my colleagues. I respect Darey. I respect Showkey.

Do you wish you were the last girl standing?

How? I don‘t pretend. How would it have been possible for me to be the last girl standing? I am very protective of my legs. If you give me a task that will ruin my legs, I will chicken out. Don‘t you get it? If you give me a task that will scratch my skin, I will chicken out. I just went into the jungle to get an experience, and I thank the organisers for giving me the platform to get that experience.

You were not supposed to get into the house with makeup, but we learnt you came with a bag filled with makeup.

I was nominated to go in there as one of the celebrities. It was a celebrity show, I hope you remember? I am a celebrity. Part of my life style, as a celebrity, is to look good all the time. Why should I fall short of the glory of God because I am in GUS? Please! It was not possible. In all honesty, nobody told me not to bring makeup. I wear high heels and suddenly, somebody is telling me not to wear high heels again. How possible do you think it will be? I can stop eating to make sure I take care of myself. I wasn‘t making up because I wanted to look good in front of the camera. I love to make up. I love to feel good. I love to make up and be okay.

I learnt there was a time you called a conference because somebody used your disinfectant.

When you are conscious of your person and your things, you will be protective of them. I don‘t like my things being abused. I have no problem with somebody using my things, but return it the way it was. I was the only one who came complete. How can you take a fashionista like me into the jungle and you think I will not come with my gear? Wake up, please!

Cocaine Trafficking: Edo Politician Gets Bails

                                                                    Eme Zuru Ayortor
Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court Ikoyi Lagos has granted bail to Edo State House of Assembly 2011 hopeful, Eme Zuru Ayortor a.k.a. Paul Osimele Shegee who pleaded not guilty to a one count charge of unlawful exportation of 2.120kg of cocaine brought against him on Wednesday June 2, 2010 by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). His bail application was granted in the sum of one million naira and two sureties with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court. The case had been adjourned to July 21, 2010 for trial.

The 52 year old pharmacist Eme Zuru Ayortor was intercepted at the centre screening area of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos with the aid of scanning machine while attempting to export 2.120kg of cocaine in his stomach to Frankfurt. Eme who was to board a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt is one of the high profile suspects nabbed by anti-narcotic officials at the airport in recent times.

After undergoing observation, the pharmacist turned politician excreted 100 pieces of powdery substance that tested positive to cocaine weighing 2.120kg. The quantity also makes him the highest drug ingesting suspect since January 2010. He claimed to have relied on his physique and social status to evade arrest but the stratagem was not successful. Preliminary check on him revealed that he was preparing himself financially for the forthcoming election into the Edo State House of Assembly.

Meanwhile, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA Ahmadu Giade in his reaction to the judgement on his bail application assured Nigerians that the bail is not the end of the case. “This is one of our celebrated cases and getting bail is not the end. What is important is that justice will be clearly seen by all stakeholders to have been done” Giade assured.

Eme taught at Baptist High School Benin City before going to the United States where he studied pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin. He returned to Nigeria in 2006 and the following year he contested for a seat at the Edo State House of Assembly but he lost. NDLEA Airport commander Alhaji Hamza Umar said that the case is under investigation and that follow-up operation on the case has been positive. “A follow-up operation into the case is yielding very positive result and at the appropriate time more facts shall be released to the public” Hamza stated.

According to the suspect, “I contested the 2007 House of Assembly election in Edo State and lost. I also lost all my savings as a practising pharmacist in that election. Now, the coast is clear and I am being favoured to run in 2011 in my party. That was how I got involved in this mess. I needed to reposition myself for the 2011 election financially. I thought that with my position and appearance, there will be no problem at the screening. I do not know where to start from here” Eme who hails from Orhionmhon Local Government Area of the State lamented.

It will be recalled that the NDLEA had arrested a doctorate degree holder, an ex-counsellor and a family at the Lagos airport. The suspect will soon be charged to court.

I am a designer freak – Goldie

he stormed the Nigerian music scene with glamour and panache a few years ago and ever since, Goldie is fast turning into a style icon in the industry. In this interview with SUNKANMI OGUNADE, she speaks on the secrets of her fashion and style sense as well as her foray into music.

What’s been happening to Goldie?

Goldie has been very busy working on her forthcoming Duchess album and a new clothing line.

You once resided in the UK. Why did you decide to return home?

UK was a place for me to study and experience life outside the shores of this country. It was a good experience and I felt I could come back to Nigeria to bring a bit of that knowledge and experience and put it to good use here, making money while impacting people’s lives positively of course.

Why music?

Music is a passion for me. The fact that you can express yourself while still creating sounds that can evoke all sorts of emotion in people is still a marvel to me. Music, like football can end all wars and create world peace. I would like to be around when that happens.

How did you get into music?

I started by forming a mini-band with a couple of my girls in the UK whilst in school and I developed a passion for it. I am into song writing and music production, and when I got back to Lagos, I hooked up with a local producer for a laugh, ended up doing a couple of demo tracks which eventually wound up on OJB’s plate and the rest as they say, is history.

What kind of music do you do?

I am a pop artiste. My sound is very Euro-Pop’

Any album yet?

I had a limited edition album release in 2007 November, which was just a compilation of disposable pop works that I had worked on up till that point. Nothing really major; but my full album will be out by third quarter of the year, God willing.

Who are your musical influences?

I listen to all kind of music. I don’t limit myself to just one genre. Reggae, hip-hop, country, rock, juju, fuji, R ‘n’ B, soul, etc. If music is good, it is good. That being said though, I will say Michael Jackson, Kylie and the one and only material girl, Madonna, influences me more than the rest; though these days I have kind of taken to Jay Z a lot too.

You are thought to be very rich. Aside music, do you do any other business?

Ehhhmmm!!! Right now, it’s all about the music for me. It is a 24 hour job that leaves little room for much. Even personal relationships suffer when you are trying to build a musical career. I used to be into mini events though and gift packaging. I laugh out loud at the notion that I am very rich. Oprah is rich, Bill Gates is rich. I am just trying to make a buck. Hopefully one day, we will get there with hard work and perseverance.

What was growing up like?

I had a fairly strict upbringing. I wasn’t allowed to wear jeans, shorts or make my hair till I finished secondary school. I wasn’t allowed to make friends or attend parties, and also being the first child of my parents, they ensured that all the discipline was thrust upon me, so I could be a good example to my younger ones. So I will have to say, from a childhood kind of perspective, it wasn’t much fun till I got into the university but I have started having my fun now.

Your educational background?

Greensprings Montessori School, Anthony Village, St. Johns College, Palmgrove, and University of Sunderland UK. I have a BA in Business Management.

Your memorable campus experiences.

Everyday was a marvel you know. Meeting with different students from diverse cultures kind of taught me how to relate with people better, plus you learnt something new everyday. There is this particular night that will always stick in my memory. It was a student get-together party, for the “newbies”. It was snowing that night and we ended up going out in the snow in groups and trying to see what ‘team’ could build the bigger snow man in the shortest possible time. Looking back now, I realize it didn’t make any sense, but it was a lot of fun and I will gladly go back in time just to re-live that moment; that night.

What is style to you?

Style should be effortless. It doesn’t have to come from the pages of a magazine. It should be unique to self. Understated yet glamorous, classic yet modern, sexy yet comfortable.

Your beauty routine.

Facial scrubs everyday; facial mask once a week; exfoliating body gels every other day; a light foundation for my face; bronzer if necessary; a light eye shadow and lip gloss when not working or during the day. Cleansing wipes and toner at night before I go to bed.

Your favourite beauty products.

Channel Body Mist, Dior Liquid Foundation, Garnier Cleansing Wipes, L’oreal Duo Mascara, Helena Rubenstein, Bronzing Powder, La Senza Eye Glitter Gel and any Lancome Lip Gloss will do.

Your favourite fashion items and accessories.

I love ruffles, pearls, satin and anything with lace. I am very victorian at heart, but my favourite accessories are shoes. God, I don’t joke with shoes. I could absolutely perish in a shoe shop - shoes and rings. Rings with coloured precious stones.

What are the beauty products you can’t do without?

My Femfresh Intimate Spray, my Channel Body Mist, my Dior Foundation and my Exfoliating Gels... I smell good, my skin is smooth, my skin tone is evened out. I am good to go.

What about your signature perfumes?

My Channel No5 and Hermes scents. The undertones work well with my natural skin smell to give off a nice pleasant smell that lasts and lasts on my skin. Many other scents I have tried don’t seem to last as long; I think. I also recently started taking to Victor and Rolf too.

Fashion item you can never be caught dead in?

Ehhhmmm!!! Not sure really. I like to be comfortable, so maybe a too tight pair of skinny jeans won’t work. You would never catch me dead in a gown or dress that doesn’t accentuate one curve or the other, and YES!!! Horrible looking boots that only go halfway up your legs. YUCK!!!

Are you into labels and who are your favourite designers?

I like Prada shoes, Dolce and Gabbana Jeans, Gucci and Fendi belts and as for bags, anything that can hold all my junk. There are these shoes by this designer; he’s late now, Alexander Mcqueen Armadillo, I think they are called? I would like to get myself a pair of them oh! And yes, I love Karen Millen dresses, most of my dresses are by Karen.

How do you unwind, and what are your hobbies?

I love cooking, cooking and cooking. Walking round the estate with my poodles; sitting down and having a chat with friends over a cocktail or a glass of wine; chilling to watch a movie either at home or at the cinema and just generally catching up with the latest gist. You know, what’s up with family and so on. Oh! And I enjoy walking in the rain, very exhilarating.

Favourite colours.

I love warm colours. Green, red, gold, some shades of blue, purple and black on days I feel particularly fat.

So how did you come about the name, Goldie?

It is a nickname given to me by friends when I was in the UK because of my skin. I am actually an albino with red hair, but I like to think it’s because I have a heart of gold.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by our relationships with each other as human beings. How our culture and upbringing define us and who we eventually become. Love, life, passion, emotion and feelings.

My life with Abacha and why I didn’t succeed him

UseniLieutenant General Jeremiah Useni,

Twelve years after former Head of State, the late General Sani Abacha died, his bosom friend and associate, Lieutenant General Jeremiah Useni, has said that what he was alleged to have looted from the treasure is not close to what ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s aides took from the national treasury.

According to Useni, who was the Minister of Federal Capital territory in the Abacha government, “I don’t think Abacha looted the treasury the way they have painted it.

Abacha had money before he even became head of state. His father was a businessman and he (Abacha) was very careful with money. I worked with him and I know how stingy he was when it comes to spending money. He held on to money properly. Despite all the things they say about Abacha, nobody has ever said that this is the money Abacha took and this was where he took the money.

“They will be talking about the children or some associates of the children. Every time, Abacha family, Abacha family, Abacha family and now we are seeing that what they said of Abacha family cannot be compared to even some aides that worked under Obasanjo. These are aides, not even head of state, not even ministers.”
Useni defended Abacha, who died on June 8, 1998, saying that he was a good leader. “Abacha was never a dictator. I think people are just trying to rubbish him. If he were a dictator, what will you say of Obasanjo?”
Speaking on the nation’s development, Useni said: “Obasanjo brought misery to many people and spoilt democracy. Obasanjo moved the nation backward at a very high speed. Yar’Adua slowed the speed and now, Goodluck has been able to stop it and trying to move forward now.”
He spoke on these and many other thought-provoking issues.
How was your experience in the Nigerian Army and most importantly, during the regime of the late General Sani Abacha, where you occupied the office of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory?
Well, it was very exciting and full of life. The comradeship was there and the situation in the army at that time was such that things were done properly. Only an unhealthy officer could have found things tough. When you are up and doing, and did your job properly; you continued to get your promotion. You didn’t have to lobby to get promoted. So, I enjoyed my life as a military officer.
Your intimacy with General Abacha was second to none. How would you describe the man who, on several occasions, dissolved his cabinet and left you and two other ministers untouched?
Abacha and I knew each other when we were Lieutenants. It was not when he became head of state and I became minister. No. Our friendship was such that many people wondered how it happened, but I believe it was the work of God because I am not from Kano; neither was Abacha from Plateau. I am not a Muslim and Abacha was not a Christian, but somehow, we happened to be very good friends. In fact, we were three: myself, Abacha and General Garba Duba. We were known as triplets in the Nigerian Army and around, but it was just that General Garba Duba left us earlier due to ill-health. He had to leave, but we continued and today, we are still friends. Now that Abacha is gone, the two of us are still friends.

I cannot go to Kaduna without visiting Garba Duba or he comes to Abuja without visiting me. I would say it was God’s doing. If you look at what is happening today, everybody tries to clinch to his kinsman, tribe man or somebody they speak the same language or come from the same place with. It wasn’t so in our case. General Garba Duba is from Niger. I am from Plateau and General Abacha from Kano. So, you can see the triangle; yet we moved on.
What where those qualities that endeared you to General Abacha?
Well, he was straightforward. I like straightforward people. We all studied our likes and dislikes; we tried to avoid such. When he spoke, if he was serious about something, you would know. If he was joking, you would know. But by and large, he was a straightforward man and didn’t care where you came from. For him, that is your property. I would say he was an economist, even though he didn’t go to school of economics. You also know that during his time, we never borrowed money from the World Bank.

In fact, it was during our time that the World Bank folded up all its offices in Nigeria because the loan they gave us that they used in setting up offices and directed how such loans should be used was no longer there. When we refused to take loan, those offices became useless and they had to close them down. It was when Obasanjo came and started taking loan that Nigeria started owing. Throughout the regime of General Abacha, we never took any loan from anywhere and yet, we were paying salaries, meeting our obligations and we stabilised the Naira. We just believed in ourselves. We never believed in loans.
Then how were you able to generate funds at that time to manage the economy properly, as you are now claiming that the economy was better during General Abacha’s regime?
We managed the economy well. We have a lot of money now, but are we managing it? Have you ever heard of any military regime, except during the Obasanjo civilian government, where a governor was be accused of stealing three billion Naira? I think during our time, we were not more than three states that could announce a budget of N150 million. That is: FCT, Kano and Lagos. But today, even some local governments get billions. If the money were properly utilized, Nigeria would be far ahead.

What I mean is that General Abacha was a fine, fantastic economist, even though he didn’t go to school of economics. The little we generated; the little we got from oil, which was about 10 to 11 dollars per barrel, was properly utilised and that was why we were able to do what we did. So, it is not the amount of money that matters; the important thing is to utilize it well. If you cannot use it, you will just squander it and people would not see anything to show for it. And yet, if you are utilising the money, do it in such a way that people would see the result.
So, how can the Nigerian people hold their leaders accountable?
It is by continuing to point out to the government that what they are doing now bad. When the government is doing well, praise it. When the government is doing badly, we should be bold and courageous enough to say that what they are doing is wrong. And we should also come out during election to stop them. These people who steal money, use the money fight for election. They take advantage of poverty in the land, which they created, to get people do what they want, illegally of course. We just have to be courageous enough to say no to all these malpractices and drive out those who are causing trouble. We should not allow them to be in the corridors of power. That is the best we can do.
You so much believed in General Abacha, who people believed was a dictator. Why?
I think people are just trying to rubbish him. If he were a dictator, what will you say of Obasanjo? You see, some people don’t want to be corrected; some people don’t want to be told that what they are doing is wrong. Once you do that, they take exception and start saying all sorts of things. Despite the things they say about Abacha, nobody has ever said that this is the money Abacha took and this was where he took the money from? They will be talking about the children. They will be talking about the children or some associates of the children. Every time, Abacha family, Abacha family, Abacha family and now we are seeing that what they said of Abacha family, cannot even be compared to what some aides that worked under Obasanjo did. These are aides, not even head of state, not even ministers.
Are you saying Abacha never looted the treasury?
I don’t think he looted the treasury the way they have painted it. Abacha had money before he even became head of state. His father was a businessman and he (Abacha) was very careful with money. I worked with him. I know how stingy he was when it comes to spending money. He held on to money properly. I remember when (General Oladipo) Diya, who was the second-in-command, said that our government was going to conserve money because the head of state was from Kano and the second-in-command is an Ijebu man. He said that people from Kano and Ijebu don’t like to spend money. He said that we were going to use money in government to work (laughs). So that was what happened. All those talks were just exaggerations, just to nail the man or to paint the man black. But I believe even those who were at the forefront of such campaigns are now singing different tunes.
Could you tell us what happened when General Abacha died?
It was bad because even if your enemy dies, you will feel bad, how much more somebody very close to you. I was shocked.
We learnt that you were supposed to head the government after Abacha’s death and that you actually aspired to replace him. What happened that you could not become head of state?
There was nothing like ‘I was one of those…’ It was just that being the most senior military officer, it was expected that I should take over. But don’t forget about another angle again: there was the protocol side of the issue, which worked for people, like Abdulsalami, though junior to me in rank. Protocol wise, he was my senior in that aspect. So, it was a matter of which one do you choose and since the majority wanted to choose the other way, there was no problem.
So you had to follow the wish of the people?
Yes.
And you took it humbly?
I took it humbly. I didn’t cause any trouble.
How is life without General Abacha?
Life must continue, but definitely, I miss him.
Al-Mustapha and others are anguishing in jail. How would you react to that?
I feel bad. Whatever offence they might have committed shouldn’t warrant their continued detention. I don’t know what type of court we have in this country and what type of investigation. They were arrested long before Obasanjo became president. Obasanjo came and concretised the arrest. He was in government for eight years. Yar’Adua came in and was in government for three years. If you add these, it is almost 11 to 12 years. What type of investigation are they carrying out? What type of court proceedings? So, it is annoying, even to ordinary mind. Even if they had killed thousands of people, look at the period, it doesn’t warrant it at all.
In your thinking, why are they delaying the investigation or refusing to release them?
Well, I don’t know. I think somebody is hiding some information somewhere because I know there are some things that are yet to be disclosed.
Some people say they are paying back General Abacha through them?
Since I am not them, I don’t know. All I know is that many Nigerians are saying they should be released. If you have nothing against them, then release them.

What would you want President Goodluck Jonathan to do about them?
That is my big appeal to Jonathan because I believe he doesn’t belong to those people that wanted Abacha family’s dead. Now that apart from his name, which is ‘Goodluck,’ God has also given him luck, I think he should see to the immediate release of Al-Mustapha and co because their continued stay in prison is absolutely unacceptable. There is no reason for it. Whoever is behind it might be devilish.
Since the inception of this present political dispensation, many Nigerians have been expecting you to present yourself for elective position. That has not been the case, except being in the opposition parties, which most Nigerians believe cannot pose a formidable resistance to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). What is responsible for this?
I am not after the personal things. I am after the truth. Normally, I don’t join a group that I believe is not doing the right thing. I could have joined the PDP. I knew when it started. I knew all the plans to hand over government to the PDP. I knew the plan also to bring out Obasanjo and make him head of state because at that time he was under lock and key. I just looked at the gathering and said no. Don’t forget that when the All Peoples Party (APP) started, people went around and said this is ‘Abacha’s Peoples Party.’ I mean naturally, anybody close to Abacha should be there. I am there and I am still there. When it became All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), they still said Abacha Nigeria Peoples Party and all sorts of things. Anything that has to do with Abacha, I am there and anything that has to do with bad people, I don’t go there. You can see what we are suffering now under the so-called PDP.
In 2011, where is General Useni heading? Senate or presidency?
I have not made up my mind, just like the previous ones. Since I retired, elections have taken place and people have been asking me questions and I said I had not made up my mind. I leave everything to God, but if I were the ambitious type, I would have gone in there since 2003. I didn’t. Instead, I was sponsoring some people. So, I have not made up my mind. I leave everything to God because I am not the ambitious type. I want God to direct me.
What is your assessment of the current political dispensation?
It is good now. The atmosphere is good now, since President Goodluck Jonathan took over. Right from the time he was Acting President, we started seeing the light and the light is becoming brighter. So, I think the atmosphere is good now.
How would you assess the Obasanjo years in government?
I can’t assess him. I am not saying there is nothing good in the things he did, but on the average. I don’t think I can assess him because he brought misery to many people and spoilt democracy, if we have anything at all. He doesn’t deserve to be in governance.
Would you say Yar’Adua did better than Obasanjo?
Yar’Adua had a different style, as I always told people. Though he was slow, he it was for a reason. One, when he came in, you know how the nation was. Obasanjo just put him there. He admitted that the elections were fraud and that was why he set up the electoral reforms. He had a court case. So, anybody with a court case would not know if he would go today or tomorrow. They limit your speed and after that, he became sick. I would say he calmed the atmosphere, compared to Obasanjo. He ought to have done more but ill health did not allow him.
Would you support President Goodluck Jonathan if he decides to contest for the 2011 presidential election?
Why not? He is a Nigerian.
Then how do you see the much talked about zoning by the PDP?
That is PDP. I don’t belong to PDP. So, there should be nothing like zoning. There is no zoning in my party. Any Nigerian is capable of getting there, provided Nigerians vote for the person and not rigged. In any case, power comes from God. So, what is all this nonsense about zoning? I don’t support zoning at all. If Jonathan decides to contest today, then let him go.
Electoral reforms
The reforms have not been done yet. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are still discussing. They have been fighting over whether we should have two parties or not. I am not saying it should be two parties, three parties or not but definitely, 57 parties is nonsense. They should be reduced drastically. Even if they are 10 parties, I don’t mind, but anything more than 10 at this stage of our movement, I think they would retard us backward.
Professor Maurice Iwu was recently removed as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Would you say Iwu performed well or acted in bad fate?
If one wants to be sincere about Iwu, one would say that he didn’t work alone. They say it takes two to tango. The government that appointed him never gave him a breathing space. The only thing I would blame him for was that he never had the guts to throw in the towel. If he had done that, honestly he would have been seen as a hero today, but because he remained there, people thought probably, he was enjoying; that he had personal interest in that office. But definitely, he was living under pressure. Anybody you bring, if those people are still holding on to the way they do things, they can still put pressure on the man to do their bidding.
As we approach the 2011 general elections, what is your party doing to ensure that it takes over power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party?
We are doing everything possible, reaching out to other opposition parties to see how we can put our heads together to form a mammoth party to fight the PDP. All these discussions are going on and very shortly, you would hear the result because some of the people we are discussing with are senior members of the PDP who are fed up with what is going on there. They are all coming to speak to us. As I said, very shortly, you would hear the result of our various meetings.