'Olaitan Oyerinde Killed Directly By Armed Robbers & Indirectly By Edo State Government' Abdul Mahmud

Having listened to two witnesses to the killing of Olaitan Oyerinde, I am convinced that my former comrade and friend was killed by armed robbers and by the system he worked for in Edo state. 

According to the widow of Olaitan, the armed men who killed her husband "kept asking for his gun and money". When they asked what she had, "they found only sixty naira in my handbag, which they took with our ipads and mobile phones". And as Rev David pointed out, "don't be deceived Olaitan was killed by the system he worked for". In his words, he said, "when i brought him to the central hospital in Benin, there was no doctor on call and when I ran to fetch one nearby, he told me to get out. 

Recall that two weeks previously I complained on TV of women dying in that hospital because there is no functional theatre, and they complained in govt house that I was attacking the governor. Two weeks later, I brought my friend and employee of the governor who died in my arms without any medical assistance. 

Don't be deceived, Olaitan was killed by the system he worked for". Clearly, as a lawyer, I make one deduction that the tragic incident of 4th May was a robbery gone wrong. 

But, why it was masked as assasination beats me. Did Olaitan's death serve as propaganda for political campaign? Yes.Then, the claim of Edo being Eldorado under Oshiomhole is hot air. Querry: are there functional hospitals in Edo? 

Would Olaitan have lived with doctors having tools to work attending to him promptly? However, our commitment is to cater for his wife and children whilst we find answers to these questions.

Note originally published by former NANS President Abdul Mahmud on Facebook.

Tackling Poverty Is More Important Than Naming Edifice After Heroes. Hafsat Abiola Costello

“What I want to say to President Jonathan is that what we can do to honour the heroes past is to make sure that they do not die in vain. Nigerian people are still poor, majority of them are poor today, even more so than in 1993 when he (MKO Abiola) won his election and I hope that President can apply himself to addressing poverty in Nigeria. That is the most important thing, more than naming school, naming roads. Those things are nice but the true benefit for my father is that Nigeria people should not be poor anymore”." 

 Hafsat Abiola Costello

Much Ado About GEJ! Abiola and UNILAG By Kayode Ogundamisi

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in his ‘democracy day’ broadcast renamed University of Lagos after Late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola . For those who may not know him, Abiola was a pan-African. He was A Nigerian businessman turned politician, whose influence cut across, not just Nigeria, but Africa. He was known as ‘the pillar of sports in Africa’.

Abiola contested the position of President of Nigeria in 1993, and won the election in what is till date referred to as one of the freest and fairest elections ever conducted. He won convincingly in all strategic geo political zones of Nigeria including Kano the home state of his opponent Bashir Tofa. He remained president-elect until he died trying to reclaim his mandate in 1998, his election was annulled by military dictator Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

During my time as secretary General of the Oduduwa People’s Congress, We mandated a delegation led by Rotimi Obadofin under the Coalition of Odua Self Determination Group to meet with then President Olusegun Obasanjo with the mandate to demand the honoring of MKO Abiola by Federal Government of Nigeria for Abiola'a contribution and sacrifice to the Nigerian democratic process as Obasanjo was a key beneficiary of the June 12 struggle. Obasanjo rejected all appeals to name any National asset in Abuja after Abiola. Obasanjo insisted on federal assets in South-West Nigeria. Amongst Obasanjo’s offer was to rename Univeristy of Ibadan or University of Lagos after MKO. We rejected both offers, insisting it was an effort to sectionalise Abiola and that South West AD governors have done quite a lot already to honour Abiola. Today we have MKO ABIOLA FREEDOM Park. Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and a host of others. It is now quite clear that the People’s Democratic Party does not want Abiola immortalized in Abuja, the federal capital territory.

I view President Ebele Jonathan's gesture to rename University of Lagos after Moshood Abiola as an insult to the nationalistic caliber of the 1993 democratically elected president of Nigeria who gave his life for the mandate given to him by the people of Nigeria. It is an attempt to denigrate such a unanimously elected leader to a regional head. This is unacceptable.

We look to this government to rename a more representative edifice, in Abuja something nationalistic e.g the current Abuja National Stadium. Abiola was well known for his contribution to sports in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

It is never too late for Mr. President to change his mind.

Whilst I am certain Yorubas feel renaming UNILAG after this great man is deserving, it is my belief that a national edifice is even more befitting. I therefore ask for the government to immediately rescind its decision and rename a national edifice after the man who was elected by the 6 geo political zones in Nigeria.

Meanwhile our government both at federal, state and local government level can honor this man and his sacrifice by giving us good governance and providing the basic necessities like power supply, functioning health facilities and good roads. It is not enough to spend millions of tax payers’ money on an annual June 12 Jamboree, especially in South West Nigeria when most of the public office holders operate like mini demi gods, with no respect for the basic rights of the people they lead.

We implore this government to stop majoring on the minor and start focusing on its primary responsibilities.

Rejoice! I am a Nigerian Astronaut! I Can See Aso Rock From Space! Kayode Ogundamisi

At first I did not see any sense in Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan’s ambitious plan to send a Nigerian to space before the year 2015. Now it makes sense. We need a Nigerian in orbit so our Astronaut can compare Nigeria with other West African countries.

When you spot a dark country @ night surrounded by glittering star looking electric reflections from Niger/Benin/Chad & Cameroon then U know the DARK spot is Nigeria. As a consolation our Nigerian astronaut may see oil flares from Jonathan’s Niger Delta as oil companies appear to double activities in polluting the environment with a compromised president grinning away in the comforts of Aso Rock

Minister of Finance and failed World Bank Presidency contender also locally known as ‘Angel of Pain’ Ngozi Okonjo Iweala announced to Nigerian ‘Legislootors’ that GEJ will be borrowing another set Of Billions from international financial institutions, yet we have more than enough to send a man to space as bragging rights. No one is telling us the economic benefits, other than yes Nigeria paid millions of dollars either a the Chinese or the Russians for our man to be transported in one of the ‘kabu kabu’ space ships. The Russians and the Chinese need Nigerian funds. Nigerian ruling elites need another elephant project, money spent on space mission would be classified under security and the distractions is a good reward for a Nigerian government struggling to fulfil its financial commitments including paying salaries and capital projects. Nigeria! What a country!

Photo: Nigerian LGBTIs in Diaspora. London Protest against Homophobia and Transphobia

Nigerian LGBTIs in Diaspora against Anti Same Sex Laws held a rally outside Nigerian Embassy in London, on Thursday 17th May 2012 UK to mark the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia.