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Peter Obi’s Appointment as SEC Chairman is his Final Demotion | By: Kinsley Udemezue

There seems to be no imminent break to former Governor Peter Obi’s steady fall. Since leaving office in March last year, Obi has carried on like a man desperate for relevance; retaining his large tribe of ‎media aides, courtiers and jesters and performing functions like the commissioning of projects and flying off to South Africa to see
victims of xenophobia as though he still occupied his former office.
His media aides and jesters (Mazi Odera) have also carried on as if
they are in a war with themselves.
Obi’s desperation seemed to know no limits. Not for him the option of
dignified silence. He failed to read the script left by others before
him. People like former governor Donald Duke of Cross River State,
Orji Uzo Kalu of Abia, Achike Udenwa of Imo and Peter Odili of Rivers State who left political office and jettisoned the limelight that goes with it.
Peter Obi’s could barely wait to hand over power before hankering for the vacant post of Aviation Minister. When he failed in that bid, he blamed it on his not being a member of the ruling party and quickly dumped APGA for PDP. But his hope of becoming a minister went with President Jonathan’s loss of his second term bid. With that loss, Obi has been locked in another desperate effort to define himself.
It was this desperation that made him accept what is obviously a serious demotion. And this why his appointment as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a demotion
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1. Obi’s aspiration has been to become a minister. As the
Chairman of SEC, Obi reports to the Minister of Finance. What this means is that Obi is actually going to be supervised by the Federal Minister of Finance (whoever is finally appointed to that post.)  For someone who has been a powerful governor of a great state like Anambra, SEC Chairmanship is not only a demotion but extremely demeaning. And working under a Minister under the APC regime will not bode well for Obi in view of his prominent role in the last
administration.
2.      Obi is the first governor ever to accept such a demeaning
position in the history of Nigerian democracy. It is rather surprising
that he accepted the position considering his enormous wealth and well known business acumen. The question his friends are beginning to ask is must Obi hold an appointment? Haba!
3.      If current permutations pan out right, erudite Professor and
gifted economist, Chukwuma Soludo might become the Minister of Finance. Soludo is eminently qualified to lead Nigeria out of its
resent economic woes and stands a great chance of succeeding
Okonjo-Iwela at the Finance Ministry with enormous supervisory powers over Obi. Wow! Is it nemesis or just a cruel turn of events? Soludo supervising Obi? I can’t wait to see how that will work.
4.      Peter Obi’s rapid slide into irrelevance one year out of
office is a touching story of what desperation can do to an otherwise
focused man. What it simply tells us is that Obi had no exit plan when
he handed over power. He failed woefully to carve out a future for
himself. And now, he is paying the price.
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Buhari bars AIT from covering his functions.

President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari has barred the African Independent Television, AIT, from covering any of his functions. According to reports, it is not unlikely that his decision came because of the hate documentaries and campaign messages played on the station’s network before the elections.
Buhari’s media aide, Mallam Garba Shehu who confirmed the issue said the the warning may be revoked when some security and ethical issues were resolved with the media organization.
“AIT has been asked to stay aside based on security and family concerns. In addition, Buhari has decided that they will have to resolve some issues relating to issues of standard and ethics.
“We will be talking with them to try and resolve the matter, but for now the station has been asked to stay aside, because like I said there are some family and security concerns. They have been asked to step down their coverage until we resolve the matter with them on ethics and standards.”
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Deductions from the General Elections | By: Olaniyan Olawale

Now that the general elections have come and gone, apparently we learnt several lessons from them, either as a politician or as one who chose to be apolitical, either as a patriotic Nigerian or unconcerned citizens. Series of events that would remain vivid in the memory of Nigerians surrounded the events.
A lot of prophecies were all over the media; print,electronic and social. Some were simply about violence and some went to the extent of apocalypse. I wouldn’t conclude that they were false but that could be at readers’ discretion. That might stand as the first lesson we learnt from the elections.
The fundamental fact one can deduce from the last elections especially for politicians is that the power of incumbency cannot be used to intimidate the masses against their volition. It is very obvious now that the power the people have to choose who they want is superior to the power of 
incumbency. 
The power of incumbency can only be used to complement the natural power of selection the people have.
However, the power of incumbency can actually be used to entice the people. This is by actually doing what the people voted you for initially. A good example is that of Ogun State Governor. 
He worked fervently all through the years of his administration, his government worked industriously to ensure the success of his massive infrastructural projects.
Most of us by now would think I work for the Amosun-led government. I don’t work for him or his government and I don’t even concur with his idea of channelling all his energy and state resources to infrastructual development only. 
There are ways he could have balanced growth and development in the state, he should have taken different palliative measures against poverty in the state.
Unlike justice, change delayed is not change denied, that is another lesson we learnt. Nigerians clamoured for change and they turned out massively for it despite the initial postponement of the elections which was enough to demoralize anyone. If we actually went for change or a case of lesser devil, that would be a topic for another day.
I never knew this country could unite against such a cause despite religious and ethnical biogotry fomented by lazy campaign managers who would not do their assignment right but would rather find a sophistic ways of convincing people.
Do they think Nigerians are still that ignorant and gullible? When they want to loot or share public funds together they don’t care about their religion or tribe. When they go shopping or on vacation in Dubai they don’t remember their religion then but when it comes to campaigning for choice of governance it is then they remember their respective religions.
Please tell them gone are the days of deceit and they should try another form of sophism in 2019. Northerners and southerners voted for the same notion except for our friends from south east and south- south who decided to go with their proverb “the monkey might be ugly but his mother is left with no option than to like him”.
More lessons were learnt during the last elections but I have limit to what I can write here. Lest I forget, there are two ways one can become famous overnight either by orchestrating resources and optimizing them to yield good result or by trying to disrupt a process.
The former can be attributed to the INEC chairman who became popular across the globe after conducting credible elections. You might say it wasn’t totally credible and I tell u that’s why in academics 70% is distinction. The other way of becoming famous can be attributed to the PDP national agent who is also a former minister.
While he was serving as minister nobody knew him, his name didn’t make news headlines. I can tell u today with no iota of doubt that his name is well known across the country, something he couldn’t achieve for years he did in hours. Who says there isn’t any good in bad?
Lastly, it is now a fact that in politics there are no permanent friends or enemies but permanent interests. A lot of transfers took place immediately after the elections. Thank God unlike football you don’t need to wait for any transfer window to open before you catapult yourself to the winning team. We now begin to ask ourselves if any difference exists between political parties in our country.
Parties that don’t have unique mandates, if not members wouldn’t find it extremely easy to leave a party, come back to that party and still leave that party. The only mandate I would assume they have is their common selfish interest. In the United states, once you are a democract I wonder if you will ever become a republican.
 Similarly in the United Kingdom, I wonder if you can just leave the labour party for the conservative party overnight. These are parties that have unique and specific mandates. I hope we get to that level soon.

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Entertainment

Super Falcons' Asisat Oshoala shortlisted for BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award

Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala, has been shortlisted for the maiden edition of the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year. The Liverpool forward was nominated alongside Spain’s Verónica Boquete, Germany’s Nadine Kessler, Kim Little of Scotland and Marta of Brazil.

“The five shortlisted players represent an incredible array of talent and show the growing strength of the women’s game. The vote is now open to fans to choose their favourite player.” Controller of BBC World Service English, Mary Hockaday said.
Voting for the best player has commenced and it is expected to close on May 11. The eventual winner will be announced on May 26.

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Entertainment

Photo: Eden Hazard named PFA player of the year

Belgium international and Chelsea player, Eden Hazard has been named the Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year 2014/15. The 24 year-old’s performances for the Blues this season have been exceedingly impressive and he has been largely instrumental to Chelsea’s title chase.
An elated Hazard said, “I’m very happy. One day I want to be the best and what I did this season is play very well, Chelsea played very well. I don’t know if I deserve to win but it is good for me. It is good, it is better to be voted by the players – they know everything about football. This is good. I’m very happy.”
He added, “I continue like I did last season – I try to be the same. I try to score more goals than last season [when he scored 17]. Personally I have played a good season, I have been there in the big games and I scored a lot of important goals, this is why I’m better this season.
“Jose lets me play, we talk together sometimes and when I’m on the pitch I know what I have to do – this is most important. We are almost there to win the league.”
The attacker who won the award last year edged out the likes of Harry Kane and David de Gea to win the trophy. The young player of the year prize was scooped by Tottenham’s Kane.
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Entertainment

NUC unveils list of 55 unaccredited universities in Nigeria

National Universities Commission (NUC) has unveiled a list of unaccredited degree-awarding Universities in Nigeria. Find the list below:
1. University of Accountancy and Management Studies, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
2. Christians of Charity American University of Science and Technology, Nkpor, Anambra State or any of its other campuses.
3. University of Industry, Yaba, Lagos or any of its other campuses.
4. University of Applied Sciences and Management, Port Novo, Republic of Benin or any of its other campuses.
5. Blacksmith University, Awka or any of its other campuses.
6. Volta University College, Ho, Volta Region or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
7. Royal University Izhia, P.O. 800, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State or any of its other campuses.
8. Atlanta University, Anyigba, Kogi State or any of its other campuses.
9. Sunday Adokpela University, Otada Adoka, Otukpo, Benue State or any of its other campuses.
10. United Christian University, Macotis Campus, Imo State or any of its other campuses.
11. United Nigeria University College, Okija, Anambra State or any of its other campuses .
12. Samuel Ahmadu University, Makurdi, Benue State or any of its other campuses.
13. UNESCO University, Ndoni, Rivers State or any of its other campuses.
14. Saint Augustine’s University of Technology, Jos, Plateau State or any of its other campuses.
15. The International University, Missouri, USA, Kano and Lagos study centres or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
16. Collumbus University, UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
17. Tiu International University, UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
18. Pebbles University, UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
19. London External Studies, UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
20. Pilgrims University, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
21. Lobi Business School, Makurdi, Benue State or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
22. West African Christian University operating anywhere in Nigeria .
23. Bolta University College, Aba or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
24. IBC Seminary Inc. (Wukari Jubillee University) Kaduna Illegal Campus.
25. Westlan University, Esie, Kwara State or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
26. St. Andrew’s University College, Abuja or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
27. EC – Council University, USA, Ikeja Lagos study centre.
28. Atlas University, Ikot Udoso Uko, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
29. Concept College/University (London) Ilorin or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
30. Halifax Gateway University, Ikeja or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
31. Kingdom of Christ University, Abuja or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
32. Acada University, Akinlalu, Oyo State or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
33. Fifon University, Mbaise, Imo State or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
34. Houdegbe North American University Campuses in Nigeria.
35. Atlantic International University, Okija, Anambra State.
36. Open International University, Akure.
37. Middle Belt University(North Central University) Otukpo.
38. Leadway University, Ughelli, Delta State.
39. Metro University, Dutse/Bwari, Abuja.
40. Southend University, Ngwuro, Egeru (Afam) Ndoki, Rivers State.
41. Olympic University, Nsukka, Enugu State.
42. Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Abuja.
43. Temple University, Abuja.
44. Irish University Business School London, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
45. National University of Technology, Lafia, Nasarawa State.
46. University of Accountancy and Management Studies, Mowe, Lagos – Ibadan Expressway and its Annex at 41, Ikorodu Road, Lagos.
47. University of Education, Winneba, Ghana operating anywhere in Nigeria.
48. Cape Coast University, Ghana operating anywhere in Nigeria.
49. African University Cooperative Development (AUCD) Cotonou, Benin Republic, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
50. Pacific Western University, Denver, Colorado, Owerri study centre2.
51. Evangel University of America & Chudick Management Academic, Lagos.
52. Enugu State University of Science and Technology (Gboko Campus).
53. Career Light Resources Centre, Jos.
54. University of West Africa, Kwali-Abuja, FCT.
55. Coastal University, Iba-Oku, Ak
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Entertainment

Xenophobia: South Africa lambast Nigeria for recalling her envoy

South Africa Government in a statement issued yesterday by the spokesman of the Department of International Relations and cooperations Mr Clayson Monyela hit out at the Nigerian over its decision to recall her ambassador.
The statement reads, “Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has just returned from Indonesia to attend the Africa-Asia Summit and the 60th Anniversary of the historic Bandung Conference.  At no stage did the Nigerian delegation present at that gathering, expressed its intention to formally raise the issue with the South African side.
“It is only Nigeria that has taken this unfortunate and regrettable step.  If this action is based on the incidents of attacks on foreign nationals in some parts of our country, it would be curious for a sisterly country to want to exploit such a painful episode for whatever agenda.”

The DIRCO spokesman added that “when 84 of our citizens perished on Nigerian soil, we did not blame the Nigerian Government for the deaths and more than nine (9) months delay in the repatriation of the bodies of our fallen compatriots, or for the fact that when these bodies eventually returned, they were in a state that they could not be touched or viewed as required by our burial practice.

“We will raise our concerns through diplomatic channels with the new administration that will assume office in Nigeria next month.
“The South African Government, as well as all political parties, religious organisations, non-governmental organisations, business, sports fraternities, including artists, musicians  and ordinary people of South Africa, have been decisive and unequivocal in condemning and rejecting the attacks on foreign nationals.
“Through our interventions, relative calm and order has been restored. We are encouraged by the solidarity our country continues to receive from other African countries and the international community.
We shall also continue to support and not blame the Nigerian Government as it battles to deal with Boko Haram that continues to kill many innocent civilians. We hope that the more than 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram will someday be reunited with their families”.
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Check out Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon's reaction to the xenophobic attacks in South Africa

Former legislator, Patrick Obaiagbon has also lent his voice to the growing chorus of condemnation against xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
“The attack on foreigners in South Africa (xenophobia) is a miasma of a deprecate apotheosis of a hemorrhaging Pluto crack, cascading oozing into a malodorous excresense of mobocracy. With all termagant ossifying proclivities of a kakistocracy, our knowledge centura is enveloped in a paraphlegic crinkum crankum. Therefore, the lampooning is cest in deja vu, deja vu peret ologomabia”
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