₦airaland Forum

Foundation Empowers Men With Exotic Cars

In furtherance of its massive empowerment drive, the train of Omoilu Foundation on Tuesday, 25th October 2016 stormed Ijebu North local government area where it empowered the trio of Mr. Olajire Dada, Mr. Oluwatoyin Adegbuyi-Giwa and Mr.Kayode Idowu with Toyota Camry cars and a Sienna bus.

Presenting the vehicles to the beneficiaries, the State Coordinator of the foundation, Otunba(Comrade) Niyi Osoba said the gesture was to once again demonstrate the love and commitment of the Senator Buruji Kashamu-inspired Omoilu Foundation to plight of the masses.

"These donations clearly show that the Senator Buruji Kashamu-inspired Omoilu Foundation is fully committed to the well-being of the masses and poverty alleviation," he said.

Osoba urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the vehicles and see the gesture as a rare opportunity for breakthrough.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries ,one of the beneficiaries, Mr.Oluwatoyin Adewuyi Giwa , who received a Toyota Camry car, thanked Senator Kashamu on behalf of other beneficiaries for his benevolence.

“We are grateful to Senator Kashamu for his kind gesture. It is very difficult to receive expensive gift of this magnitude with this present economic hardship in the country. Senator Kashamu is a true friend of the masses and God sent, God will continue to bless him and we pray to Allah to keep protecting him and his family.

"We shall remain grateful to him for the rest of our lives.We need more wealthy Nigerians to start helping the less- privileged just as Senator Kashamu has been doing. Once again, we are saying a big thank you to our distinguished senator for this wonderful gifts," he opined.

Be Diligent In Your Duties-Osoba Charges Omoilu Coordinators

The Ogun State Coordinator of Omoilu Foundation, Otunba(Comrade) Niyi Osoba has charged Coordinators of the Foundation in Sagamu, Ikenne and Remo North Local Government Area to be diligent in the discharge of their duties to achieve the Foundation’s set objectives.

He gave this charge on Monday, during a one-day working visit to the Local government Areas as part of the ongoing familiarisation tour of the 20 Local Government Areas of Ogun State.

Osoba advised the Coordinators to put God first in their daily activities and ensure transparency and accountability while advocating the need for peaceful co-existence between them and members.

According to him, ‘’when leaders and followers agree to work together and pursue a common goal at occasion like this, it will continue to bring love, unity and cordiality among members.The founder of Omoilu Foundation, Senator Buruji Kashamu is a friend of the masses and he won't stop committing his hard-earned resources towards the cause of the downtrodden,"

Also in his message, in his words of assurance, Osoba said the founder of the Foundation, Senator Buruji Kashamu will continue to pay priority attention to the well-being of the Coordinators to enhance their performance adding that the Coordinators should reciprocate Senator Kashamu's kind gesture by re-dedicating themselves to their responsibilities and promised to forward issues raised by the Coordinators before the management of the Foundation for necessary actions.

Speaking further, Osoba charged the Local Government and ward Coordinators to work towards holding two meetings in every ward per month and and one general meeting per local government monthly. Senatorial meeting must also hold once in two months and also work on winning more souls for the Foundation.

Minutes of all the meetings are to be forwarded to the office of the state Coordinator through the Local Government Coordinators. He also urged the first set of beneficiaries of the Omoilu Foundation micro-loan scheme to make repayment regularly with the view to make it a revolving loan scheme.

Speaking on the occasion, the Ogun East senatorial Coordinator of the Foundation, Hon.Folarin Akintunde urged the Coordinators to remain steadfast and avoid all acts inimical to their office.

Hon.Folarin also advised the Coordinators to always endure and be patient when dealing with official matters in their respective Local Government Areas.

At the end of the meeting, the beneficiaries of the zero interest micro-loan scheme thanked and extolled the virtues of the founder of the Foundation, Senator Buruji Kashamu, describing him as a great philanthropist and the messiah of the common masses.

OGUN PDP ON THE THRESHOLD OF ALL-INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION

The Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun state, under the leadership of Engr. Adebayo Dayo, yesterday took another giant leap towards its renewed determination to forge a united and progressive party that is strong and capable of reclaiming the reins of governance come 2019.

This is the outcome of the leaders and stakeholders consultative meeting that held today in Ijebu-Igbo and had in attendance, top leaders of the party including serving and former members of the national assembly, all the State House of Assembly members, National officers and Zonal officers of the party.

It must be recalled that the current leadership of the party at its expanded executive committee meeting held on 19th October 2016, resolved that every organ must work assiduously for the progress of the party and all that is needed to achieve this objective will be vigorously pursued. Today's event is therefore one of the reforms and building blocks of a re-energised Ogun PDP. Engr. Adebayo Dayo in his welcome address praised the quality of people that attended the meeting.

He highlighted the chief objective of the meeting as the need to have a party that is collectively administered by everyone devoid of the control of a few persons or one person; especially in the areas of policy formulation and funding.

A pyramid structure was laid for the party where the roles of every organ of the party was clearly spelt out and requisite funding attached to their mandates culminating in a comprehensive monthly budget for the smooth and effective running of the party. The Elders Council, State Executive Committee, Senatorial executives, the Local Government & Ward executives and the State caucus clearly have their work cut out form them in the new dispensation.

The Senator representing Ogun East senatorial district, Prince Buruji Kashamu who also doubles as the financier and mobiliser of the party in Ogun and the entire southwest gave a heart-warming address. Senator Kashamu identified the need to return the party to its state of collective administration both in policy and funding. He decried the situation where detractors accuse him of doing a one man show with the party.

The senator recognised that the party belongs to the people and he is only a passionate member, which informed his decision to spend his personal resources to enhance its development.
Senator Kashamu further encouraged everyone to see the party henceforth as their own, where decisions and funding will be by all. That way, every loyal party faithful who puts his/her dime in the party coffers can legitimately contribute to decisions of the party without fear or intimidation.

In the light of all the above, the party took a decision to let every leader, party officials, public office holders and every lover of the part – make a monthly contribution to the global monthly budget of the party. All the leaders unanimously agreed to the new model and call to responsible participation by immediately pledging their monthly subscription; with Senator Kashamu leading the way with a pledge to meet a substantial percentage of the monthly outlay.

Consequently, a committee was formed to oversee the inflow and outflow of the fund such that it will be well accounted, receipted, monitored and utilised; in conjunction with the State Executive. Chief Fohun Abiola was appointed the Chairman of the ad-hoc finance committee, other members of the committee were Hon. Rasak Odunfa, Hon.Semiu Oganla, Mrs.Wusu Funke ,Hon. Moroof Ajisegiri, Otunba Tola Odulaja, Mr. Rasak Oduntan, Mrs.Lola Bonojo and Alhaji Olaifa Jimoh. Chief Abiola in his acceptance address, promised to work hard in the assignment alongside other members.

Several leaders of the party in their individual remarks commended the new initiatives of the Engr. Adebayo Dayo -led executive. Leaders also reserved huge commendation to Senator Prince Buruji Kashamu for his liberal mindedness and continuous democratization of the party which will now allow more people to participate in its affairs.

Finally, the meeting resolved to re-convene in a fortnight where all eligible stakeholders will be co-opted and the new policy objectives of the party will be reinforced to all. With these development among other initiatives coming up, Ogun PDP is on the threshold of collective participation. A new party is birthed and in coming weeks, we shall have a party that everyone can be proud of. We also use this medium to encourage those sitting on the fence that this is the right time to identify with the party as there will be no chance for people to come in 2019 and begin to fight for party ticket. It is those who labour and commit to this party now that will eat the fruit of their labour.

Signed :
Bolaji Adeniji
State Publicity Secretary, Ogun PDP.

Sahara Reporters lied against me, says Lawyer 


A radical lawyer, Prince Ajibola Oluyede has denied being involved in any unprofessional conduct, contrary to the report of an online publication, Sahara Reporters. 

In a statement he issued today in Lagos, Oluyede said, "Sahara reporters and its Nigerian proprietor, Omoyele Sowore, lack integrity.

"This online bugging rag, feeding on grants it obtains by false pretenses from a US charity, has built a perfidious reputation as a hired character assassin.

"Every publication it produces is based on concocted fiction and is designed only to defame.

"It's recent publication mentioning my name and the matter I handled for Capital Oil is another such sponsored defamation.

"I have responded to it once and now again challenge Sahara Reporters to produce the confidential report it claims to be the source of the falsehood.

"The entire story is evidently concocted and the new attempt to latch it on to the view of the NBA president (that DSS indicted judges should stand down) in order to give it new readers' appeal is patently contrived."

The statement added, "Let me emphasize that Sahara reporters' known Nigerian proprietor will not get away with this unjustifiable, malicious and false attack on my professional reputation.

"I have never offered any judicial officer any bribe nor obtained or passed on bribes to any judge in my entire professional life. 

"All my clients and professional colleagues know that I would reject a brief if it involves having to see a judicial officer let alone passing money on to such a judge or other officer.

"The amount of effort and research I put into my work aided by God's favour is the reason for my continued success and I challenge anyone to provide any evidence of my untoward closeness to any judge that would warrant the accusation that I am a conduit of bribes to any judge.

"I have never and will never be involved in bribing judges.

"I do not even have that personal relationship with Justice Kafarati as the perfidious report suggests. The judge is a hardworking person who I respect from a purely professional perspective.

"I challenge Sahara reporters or any of its cohorts to produce the security report they claim to be their source.

"Knowing the antecedents and proven lack of credibility of Sahara reporters and its Nigerian proprietor I have no doubt that the entire report is false and was paid for by the usual sponsors only to denigrate the victory scored by Capital Oil over the badly managed AMCON.

"I do not expect any right minded person to believe any of Sahara reporters' infamous publications.

"However for the benefit of those that might not yet know that Sahara reporters is a pure bugging rag with no credibility, I will take necessary action to establish that."

OSOBA CHARGES OMOILU COORDINATORS ON DILIGENCE, DEDICATION

The State Coordinator of Omoilu Foundation, Otunba (Comrade)Niyi Osoba, has charged Ogun Waterside Local Government and Ward Coordinators of the Foundation in the Local Government Area to be diligent and be more dedicated to their duties so as to move the Foundation forward.

Osoba gave the charge on Monday when he visited the Local Government Area on a One-day working visit in company of the Ogun East Senatorial Coordinator of the Foundation, Hon.Folarin Akintunde and the Secretary of the Foundation in the zone, Hon.Jigan Taiwo as part of the ongoing tour of the 20 Local Government Areas in Ogun State.

He commended the Local Government and Ward Coordinators for their uprightness, saying that Coordinators play crucial and important roles in the day-to-day running of the Foundation.

“The role of Local Government and ward Coordinators in this Foundation cannot be overemphasized. You play unique and special roles in the running of the Foundation. I want to urge you to keep the flag flying”.

He harped on the need to maintain the core values of the Foundation such as integrity, honesty, dedication to duty, sincerity and also called on the Coordinators to work extensively on winning more souls for the Foundation , pointing out that “as administrators of the Foundation, our relationship with members of the Foundation should be cordial and mutual”.

According to him, “The founder of the Foundation, Senator Buruji Kashamu will continue to commit his hard- earned resources to help the cause of the downtrodden while we provide the expertise, adding that our conduct at all times should be such that members of the Foundation should have confidence and trust in us".

He reiterated his commitment to operating an open door policy and enjoined the Coordinators to feel free to offer their advice, suggestions, ideas and promised to intimate the management of the Foundation with issues raised by the Coordinators, saying that “together we will lift the Foundation high to the glory of God and for the benefit of mankind. All the issues raised here shall be presented to the management of this Foundation for urgent attention".

Earlier, the Coordinator of the Foundation in the Local Government Area, Alhaji Otaniyi Temidire, had on behalf of the Ward Coordinators, welcomed Osoba and his team to the Local Government Area describing his visit as a wake up call.

Man supports Omoilu Foundation with free notebooks

In an effort to support the ongoing philanthropic gesture of the Senator Buruji Kashamu-inspired Omoilu Foundation, a community leader in Oju Olumo, Itoko, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Mr. Nurudeen Matankuje has embarked on massive distribution of notebooks to public primary school pupils in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State to support their education.

Speaking on the initiative while on a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Foundation in Ijebu Igbo at the weekend , Matankuje who was received by the Media Officer of the Foundation, Mr. Sunkanmi Oyejide, on behalf of the State Coordinator of the Foundation, Comrade Niyi Osoba, said the programme is meant to support the good works Senator Buruji Kashamu is doing across the state.

"This is my own little way of supporting Senator Buruji Kashamu in his quest to help the cause of the down-trodden as he alone cannot reach out to everybody at the same time. Education is the best legacy and with the present economic recession it might be difficult for most parents to provide notebooks for their children.

"At the moment, we have visited five public primary schools in Abeokuta where more than 1,000 pieces Omoilu Foundation customised notebooks were distributed to the pupils. I won't list the names of the schools for certain reasons.

"Distributing the notebooks to the pupils proved difficult as the management of the schools visited denied my team access to them when we informed them of our mission, they directed us to the Ministry of Education for approval. Fortunately, the pupils on their own ignored the directives of the schools' management as they scramble for the notebooks.

"My mission is to distribute the notebooks across all the public primary schools in Abeokuta as I am sure it will ease pressure off parents. I would not be unnerved by the difficulties encountered in the process of reaching out to the pupils. I will keep on distributing the notebooks at the slightest opportunity I have.

Matankuje urged other wealthy Nigerians to emulate Senator Kashamu by touching lives.

"I want to appeal to well-meaning Nigerians to follow the path of Senator Kashamu by helping the needy around them. Helping the needy, especially the younger ones, is a trait I inherited from Senator Kashamu and I will keep doing it even if I have to deprive myself and my family at times," he said.

OPEN MEMO TO SIKIRULAI OGUNDELE

My dear Sikirulai Ogundele, it is with a sad heart and deep sobriety that I write you this open memo which, better put, can be called an open admonition. This has become imperative because when an elder- supposedly so, decides to shift from the lofty seat of 'honour and candour', and descends to sit on the floor of 'dishonour and odiom', then such an elder needs be recalled and nudged back to the good path.

It was William Shakespeare who enthused that, "Discretion is the better part of valour". Discretion by definition is the power or right to act according to one's own judgement and choice. The connotative meaning of this is that, every human being acts in a manner that satiates his/her mind; whether such an action is by influence, inducement or self-choice, and whichever one it is, the action of any man predisposes his/her mindset.

From the above one cannot extricate you from your actions. Sikirulai, I have dutifully observed your actions (contributions precisely) on the Ogun PDP WhatsApp loops and have almost come to a conclusion that you have been most undeserving of the honour you so much crave to be attached to your person. The fact that you were once a council Chairman and member of the hallowed legislative chamber (which bequeaths the Honourable title on you) makes it more pathetic.

It would have been understandable if your primary constituency was from transport unions like NURTW and RTEAN or from the Meat butchers associations, but it is not. Maybe your indiscretions could also have been understood if you were an exuberant 18 or 21 year old kid, bit it is not. And lastly, you could have been excused of your shenanigans if you were an illiterate, but it is ironically not so.

Sikirulai, in the midst of the crisis and brickbats between contending camps within your party, and championed mostly by the youths (which is not even good anyways and we're still talking to them), how many elders of your age, social status, or political attainment do you see descend into the mud as you often do to engage young ones on these loops? You shamefully find it so convenient to do a full-scale exchange of abuses and curses with guys, some of who will pass for your children.

You derisively luxuriate in singing malicious tunes like an irritable and scorned housewife anytime you're pricked by one of them. You are quick to reply the smallest Jibe from any youth on the loop who just finished a bottle of Trophy and decides to "whine" you (as they say on the streets). You are quick to jump on the forums to peddle lies and misinformation. To worsen your public display of hubris, your akward punctuations whenever you write is alarmingly disgusting.

Despite not being in the same camp have you ever seen the likes of Gbenga Daniel, Buruji Kashamu, Gboyega Isiaka, Sarafa Ishola, Kayode Amusan, Dimeji Bankole and Segun Seriki talk, act or write like you do? Maybe those listed are made of better material than you, let's even benchmark you against Adebayo Dayo, whom you're trying to rival (deludedly though) in a legitimacy battle for the party chairmanship. Has Engr. Dayo ever denigrated himself like you do? The few times he comes on the loops, he preaches peace and admonishes the youths but you make uncouth and disdainful utterances.

Is this who you are by discretion or you're being induced to act in an indecorous and untamed manner not constant with your original character? Some party men (even in your camp) have silently observed the deviant nature of your public display noting that if not for the sectional war within the party, they possibly wouldn't align to a party under your possible leadership because you lack the candour, temperament, carriage, language, disposition and mental aptitude needed for such an office.

Some have ascribed your uncultured mien to the free cash and filthy liquor you're constantly drenched with, in company of your dandy sponsor; where your modus vivendi bother mainly on bottles of Hennessy whisky, packs of cigarettes and vulnerable Polythecnic girls camped in secluded rooms of Park Inn hotel - your illusory party or better put - "partying" secretariat. Are these freebies worth throwing decorum to the wind and dragging your name in the mud?

Well, I can go on and on but i will opt to finish with reminding you of Shakespeare's admonition about discretion. Face your dwindling business empire. Sikirulai, redeem your sunken image. Stop the repugnant piggy-fight with young men. Think of a tomorrow when the filthy porridge will no longer be available from the table of the lotto merchants. Think of your wife(s) and children who will be utterly alarmed and scandalized at your conduct and the curses you incur for the family.

Discretion is the better part of valour. Think, Sikirulai think!

Yours sincerely,


Elder Jide Oyekunle

Man gets car gift from Omoilu Foundation

For the family of Mr. Oluwafemi Alao of Alagbole-Akute, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, it was the shouts of joy as the Senator Buruji Kashamu-led Omoilu Foundation weekend donated a Toyota Camry car to the head of the family.The event took place in what can best be described as a fun-filled atmosphere radiating with joy and dithyramb on the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the National Assembly,Senator Buruji Kashamu.

Speaking at the occasion ,the State Coordinator of Omoilu Foundation, Comrade Niyi Osoba, told those at the gathering of the cardinal programmes of the foundation. He said they were not limited to donation of vehicles to people but also included health, education, agriculture, employment generation and empowerment. He assured women and youth that the foundation was determined to ameliorate their sufferings and also empower them.

While presenting the car to the beneficiary,Osoba urged Alao, who is from Ifo Local Government in Ogun Central Senatorial District to make good use of the car.

Showing his appreciation, Alao prayed the Almighty Allah to reward Senator Kashamu for his benevolence.

"I am grateful to the people's Senator. He is a blessing to mankind and it is my prayer that Allah will reward him for his consistent show of clemency on the needy. Despite not being from his senatorial district, I am today a proud owner of a Toyota Camry, thanks to the people's senator. May the Almighty Allah continue to bless him and lift him up higher," he said.

Kashamu Empowers Constituent With Vehicle

In continuation of its empowerment programme across Ogun State ,the Senator Buruji Kashamu-inspired Omoilu Foundation on Thursday,September 22,2016 presented a Toyota Camry car to one Mr. Olumide Agoro of Ijebu North Local Government Area.

Presenting the car to the beneficiary on behalf of the State Coordinator of Omoilu Foundation, Comrade Niyi Osoba, a representative of the foundation, Mr. Leke Shitu said it was part of Senator Kashamu's efforts to give back to the society.

"The main job of a senator and other lawmakers is to make laws for the benefit of citizens. That, our distinguished Senator Kashamu has been doing with other colleagues.

"Senator Kashamu has sponsored bills and I am glad to tell you that they are various stages. Senator Kashamu is not only sponsoring bills that will impact the lives of the downtrodden positively, he is also empowering the masses through Omoilu Foundation," he said.

He added that he had facilitated some projects in his district, including scholarship to indigent students in all the nine local government areas in his Senatorial district and beyond.

The beneficiary,Mr. Olumide Agoro, thanked Sen.Buruji Kashamu for the kind gesture and prayed for Allah's guidance over his life.

"The People of Ogun East Senatorial District have never seen anything close to a philanthropist like Senator Kashamu. He is just too kind and generous. Allah will continue to bless and spare his life for us," he said.

The car presentation was witnessed by friends and family of Mr. Olumide Agoro as well as passers by.
In continuation of its empowerment programme across Ogun State ,the Senator Buruji Kashamu-inspired Omoilu Foundation on Thursday,September 22,2016 presented a Toyota Camry car to one Mr. Olumide Agoro of Ijebu North Local Government Area.

Presenting the car to the beneficiary on behalf of the State Coordinator of Omoilu Foundation, Comrade Niyi Osoba, a representative of the foundation, Mr. Leke Shitu said it was part of Senator Kashamu's efforts to give back to the society.

"The main job of a senator and other lawmakers is to make laws for the benefit of citizens. That, our distinguished Senator Kashamu has been doing with other colleagues.

"Senator Kashamu has sponsored bills and I am glad to tell you that they are various stages. Senator Kashamu is not only sponsoring bills that will impact the lives of the downtrodden positively, he is also empowering the masses through Omoilu Foundation," he said.

He added that he had facilitated some projects in his district, including scholarship to indigent students in all the nine local government areas in his Senatorial district and beyond.

The beneficiary,Mr. Olumide Agoro, thanked Sen.Buruji Kashamu for the kind gesture and prayed for Allah's guidance over his life.

"The People of Ogun East Senatorial District have never seen anything close to a philanthropist like Senator Kashamu. He is just too kind and generous. Allah will continue to bless and spare his life for us," he said.

The car presentation was witnessed by friends and family of Mr. Olumide Agoro as well as passers by.

RE: WHEN A MAD DOG BARKS, SANE MINDS IGNORE

Preamble

Yemi Oke, your piece with the above title refers. It is again laughable that despite your sophistry and pretence to scholarship and intellectualism, you belied the very title you gave your piece. If you say your brother is a mad dog that should be ignored and you are a sane mind, why then did you contradict yourself by responding? Would it be right to conclude that you are insane to have responded?
THE ISSUES
1. Now, we are getting somewhere. It is gratifying to know that we have established and you have confirmed meeting Senator Kashamu. I leave reasonable members of this forum to decide whether your explanation on lawyers meeting people across party lines even when they know they belong to the opposing camp as a participant-observer holds water.
2. You said you learnt that a cheque was issued as a show of commitment. But the man, Prince Segun Seriki, who brokered the deal said he gave you the money! And anyone who knows PSS knows he is not frivolous and flippant like you.
3. You said you sued Hon. Tunde Oladunjoye but withdrew the suit when you found out that he did not really have anything against you but OGD as if it was OGD that was said to have collected money! I have been reliably informed that no such court process was served on Oladunjoye. Besides, he accused you of selling out in March 2011, and your "suit" has an April, 2012 date - almost one year after! Did you really file any suit or was it a face-saving gimmick that never went beyond the court registry and your chambers? Is it not incongrous that you filed and withdrew a case even when the allegation against you had neither been retracted nor apology tendered till date?
4. You tried to answer one leg of my questions on whether you told any of your clients of the meeting between you and Senator Kashamu.
5. If you truly did, who is the person? Is he person ready to come here to bear witness that you told him?
6. Besides, by your own admission you only told the person of attempts to compromise you. The question remains: Did you tell the person that you had a meeting with Senator Kashamu in his office?
7. The other questions you did not answer or deliberately ignored are: After the Lagos meeting with Senator Kashamu, did you meet Prince Ajibola Oluyede in Transcorp? If yes, why and for what?
8. Why did you allow Prince Oluyede to prepare "counter-affidavits" for the PPN people which largely confirmed PDP's claims in the suit?
9. While I would not want to further join issues with you on your claim that it was on the basis of your Preliminary Objection that the case was won, suffice it to point out the folly in the fact that it was your arguments on the principle of fair hearing that won the case. The question is: fair hearing to your clients who were in the suit or those who were not your clients and therefore not before the court? Your argument is simply non-sequitor!
10. On the 16+ suits, I ask again: how many cases have you won against the SPBK team since 2011 except the interlocutory order you procured from Justice Mobolaji Ojo and for which he has been queried by the NJC?
Conclusion
Yemi Oke, you have often wondered why we take on you. Let me answer you. I and others will continue to take you up so long as you remain a politician cum charge and bail lawyer! The difference between you and Prince Ajibola Oluyede is that he does not descend into the arena like you do. You described Prince Oluyede as "street smart". The fact is that despite your pretence to scholarship an intellectualism, he knows the law more than you do and he will continue to teach you practical law and legal practice in the court rooms. If you cannot bamboozle me with your "PhD", is it a lawyer with over 35 post-call experience that you think you can? Wake up, guy and smell the coffee. I am not a lawyer but I can tell you for free as you would soon find out in court that you have an incurably bad case, with all the witnesses and pieces of evidence lined up against you. Till then, enjoy your self-delusion and continue to wallow in sycophantic ululations of those who are actually jeering, sneering and grimacing at you! Bye for now.

Austin Oniyokor

WHO WILL SAVE YEMI OKE AGAIN FROM HIMSELF?

Ordinarily, I would have loved to leave Yemi Oke till we meet in court. But, it is important for me to quickly point out some inconsistencies and lies in his latest diatribe.
Let it be loudly and clearly stated that I stand by all my assertions against Yemi Oke: He came to meet my principal in our office on Victoria Island, Lagos. I was to later learn that he came to collect money from my principal, a known PDP chieftain in respect of a case he was handling for his known opponents in PPN! Prince Segun Seriki, who facilitated the meeting has publicly confirmed the meeting and all that transpired. The others who partook in all the activities at various levels are ready and willing to testify at the appropriate time.
Quite typical of an unstable character like Oke, he said I first said N10million and later N5million. Although this is not a denial of his concocted lies, I challenge him to produce where I gave such conflicting figures. All I have said and still maintain is that: you, Yemi Oke, came to our office on VI and my boss told me and I verily believed him that you collected money from him in respect of PDP's case against PPN while you were representing PPN!
Now, let me quickly point out some of the inconsistencies, half truth and outright lies in Oke's latest piece.
1. First, Oke who once said he has never had anything to do with Senator Kashamu has now agreed meeting him.
2. Assuming without conceding that an adult and a lawyer? like Oke never knew where was accompanying PSS to, when he entered Senator Kashamu's office and found out that that was where PSS took him, what did he do?
3. Even when the issue was broached, what did he do beyond the lame tales of his purported refusal? Did he tell any of his clients of the meeting? If yes, who? If no, why?
4. Again, in spite of his purported refusal, he has also admitted knowing that a cheque was issued to PSS in his presence. The questions Oke should answer are: why would a cheque be issued in your presence if you did not consent to the deal? And why was it done in your presence? Of course, no one - neither the payee nor the payer - would have allowed a cheque to be written in your name in such a deal!
5. After the Lagos meeting, did Yemi Oke meet the opposing PDP counsel, Prince Ajibola Oluyede in Transcorp? If yes, why and for what?
6. Like I have consistently said, my very good friend, Hon. Tunde Oladunjoye, was the first to call you a sell-out on the naijapolitics forum in 2011. Even when you put up a bold face in public, you immediately called Senator Kashamu and asked him to save you the embarrassment by calling Oladunjoye to order.
7. If you knew you were innocent of compromising your clients' case, why did you not sue Oladunjoye instead of calling Senator Kashamu behind to rein him in? Till date, Oladunjoye has not retracted the allegation because he, you and everyone involved know it's the truth!
8. In fact, when you got the money from PSS, you called Senator Kashamu to acknowledge receipt of the money and thank him! The telcos can help with the calls logs and history!
9. Why did you allow Oluyede to prepare "counter-affidavits" for the PPN people which largely confirmed PDP's claims in the suit?
10. Yemi Oke, please stop lying barefacedly. While your unsuspecting clients like Adewusi, JOBAF and others may have been misled into thinking that you won the case for them, it is not true.
11. The truth is: their (the PPN candidates') nomination and subsequent elections were nullified by the court as contained in Prayers 1 and 2 of the Originating Summons and court judgment, largely because of the implicating and self-indicting averments you caused the PPN representatives who swore to the affidavit to do after you were "paid". Quite naturally, you had to "roll".
12. The other prayer that the court refused had to do with the nullification of the whole election. And that was due largely to the fact that the court in its wisdom found that granting such a relief that would affect parties not before it to defend themselves or hold them responsible for an action that is not within their control would offend the principle of fair hearing. In effect, it was the non-joinder of the concerned parties that won the suit; not your advocay! In deed, how could you have been the one making such a case when you were not their counsel? They were not before the court. So, is it not incongrous that you would shamelessly say you abandoned the case of your clients and began to plead that of parties not before the court? That, to any sane mind, shows to what extent you had bastardised your clients' case! 13. You said you are involved in over sixteen suits against Senator Kashamu and/or his people. First, you qualify to be among those lawyers the CJN was saying need to sanctioned for multiplicity of suits against the same parties! The other leg of it is: how many have you won since you started filing those frivolous suits? You have on your own admitted by your posts yesterday and today that you lost the suit at the FHC Abeokuta seeking to disqualify Senator Kashamu from contesting the 2015 general election. So, why would a man who has consistently defeated you and doesn't even know if you exit be after a poor soul like you? Until we meet in court, someone should please help Yemi Oke save him from himself! He is further exposing himself and sinking more and more into the cesspool of lies, disgrace and ignominy!

Austin Oniyokor

YEMI OKE DESERVES TO BE PITIED


This boy called Yemi Oke deserves to be pitied and I pray the Almighty Allah to have mercy on him.

It is gratifying that someone who denied ever meeting me has now owned up to following someone to visit a fellow party man!

Yet, in contradicting himself, he said I tried to woo him to my side and promised him a Reps ticket. Thank God, he didn't say I asked him for money. Surprisingly, he didn't say when and where all these conversation took place.

The truth is: If I see Yemi Oke on the street, I cannot recognise him. I have only seen him once. And that was when he and Segun Seriki came to my office over the PPN case.

I don't have any reason to attack him. God has blessed me enough to be able to hire some of the best lawyers around. So, why would I go after him? I can't even remember him winning any case against me. He just cited the one they instituted against my nomination at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, which they lost!

I only called him to ask why he would ask the court's registry not to avail us the processes even when he had addressed the press on the suit. He took offence and began to malign me as if I am his mate. Even if I am not old enough to be his uncle, I should be old enough to be his elder brother!

Anyway, I do not intend to join issues with him any further. When we meet in court and/or at the NBA Disciplinary Committee, all the issues will be thrashed out and water will naturally find its level. Thank you.

~SPBK.

The Hirelings And Their Pay Masters:

Setting the Records Straight
It baffles me how some people just open their mouth and use their hands to either say whatever they want or write anything they feel like writing, however unreasonable. But many of those who know me and have related with me and “our leader” on the other side would readily tell anyone who cares to listen that there is a clear difference between us. I am not the type who will have blood in my mouth and throw out white spittle. I am not deceitful. I do not tell you a thing and go behind to do another. I am not one who set people against themselves. But, we know those who are given to lying, deceit and profanity. Their godfather is known as the originator, founder and master of “ziggy” (deceit). I laugh when some hirelings say tickets were sold or that money was collected from some persons. I wonder why anyone who voluntarily gave money would turn around to blackmail the recipients and peddle all manner of allegations. The question to ask such people is: who is that Nigerian politician and aspirant who does not spend money at various levels, either within or outside the party? Ask anyone who aspired to be anything in politics whether as a local government Chairman, Governor, Senator or Reps member if he had not at one point or the other made some donations either to the platforms they seek to ride on or some key personalities in the structure. In the build up to the 2015 general elections, we heard of how one of the governorship hopefuls parted with N750million in the hope that the senior party official would hand him the governorship ticket. That was one out of several other cases. I say it without any fear of contradiction that it is because of such largesse that some people fight tooth and nail to be members of the NWC of parties. They leave office stupendously rich, acquiring properties all over the place. Of course, we may never know what exactly transpired among them either because the givers are not flippant or by reason of the fact that there isn't any quarrel yet. Make no mistake about it; I do not condone or support such because if anyone had come to me to say he wanted to give me money for a ticket, I would have called his bluff. But if he came and said he was making a donation in support of our activities and efforts at keeping the party afloat, why would I reject such? Like I have said severally, Pa Kessington Adebutu made some donations in support of the Ogun State PDP through me. As a businessman who wants to be in the good books of whichever party comes into office in an election year, he does that across party lines. And the reason is not far-fetched. It was and still glaring even to the blind that I use my God-given resources to keep the party afloat when “our leader” left for PPN and LP. Indeed, at a point he described the Ogun State PDP as a “mere carcass waiting to be engulfed”. On a personal note, when I had an issue last year, Pa Adebutu supported me. He wanted to hire a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to join my team of lawyers, but when I told him those I had assembled, he opted to give me some money.Typical of him, Ladi came behind to ask me for his share of the money. I advised him to desist from doing so because that has always been his style. But, it should be noted that Pa Adebutu is not “a money-miss-road” who spends his money frivolously. He puts his money where his mouth is. If not, he would have made similar donations to his childhood friends who are still struggling to eke out a living in his home town of Iperu-Remo and everywhere.While I may not be able to say if the reason for the support and donations was to give anyone any ticket or support his son’s aspiration, I can say that I am better than those who have collected over N1billion without giving anything of value in return. Till date, they are still extorting Pa. Adebutu.Their modus operandi is to collude with Ladi to extort the father and then he goes back to collect his share of the loot. For every scheme (read scam), they extort the octogenarian. Such schemes (scams) include the hijack of tags at the botched May 21, 2016 National Convention in Port Harcourt because they had collected huge sums of money from the old man with a promise that they will buy their way into the convention. That was also the reason why they were so desperate to partake in the rescheduled National Convention held on the 17th August, 2016. They had collected money from Pa Adebutu and were therefore under pressure to deliver. The order they procured from Hon. Justice Mobolaji Ojo was another of such scams. Everything about it, including their desperate efforts to sustain it and the purported OGSIEC’s recognition, is all about sustaining the huge scam and lifeline. Recently, he was seen on the podium speaking at one of the rallies of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in Edo State. What many do not know was that he and his gang made his father to cough out N500million and ended up donating a mere N25million to the campaign. They sat on the remaining money and shared it. What Ladi usually does is that after colluding with people to extort his father, he would go back to ask for his share of the loot. In my case, after his father rendered the unsolicited support to me, he made his usual demand on me. And because I didn't play ball, he took offence and probably never forgave me till date; hence the blackmail. It beats my imagination how a child will turn himself into a prodigal and wasteful son who will take delight in colluding with people to defraud his father! The end of such a child is better imagined.When well-to-do people like Wesco and others brought money in the build up to the 2015 general elections, I told them to go and spend it on the party and its members. So, when the hirelings run their mouth in a bid to impress their pay masters, they should get their facts right. How much would anyone give me for any ticket that is enough to defray my investment on the party and its members as well as the masses? The Almighty Allah Subhana wata ala has blessed me. I do not need the crumbs from the table of any big man or his son who is still dependent on monthly allowances from his father! Alhamdulilai.
I have also read some question my education. My response to them is that education has levels and types. It could be formal and informal. There are some school certificate holders that are better than degree holders. It is also true that some Professors and Doctorate degree holders are better than the others. Nobody knows it all. That is why you are an illiterate of what you do not know. And learning itself is a continuous process. It is true that I have a Diploma, but I know that I am better than some Professors and Doctorate degree holders. Thankfully, they are human beings like me whom I relate with. I have a good number of them working for me in my companies, both here in Nigeria and beyond, with over 1,500 workforce! What other form of education do I need if I can relate with them in both English and French languages, discuss issues and analyse figures? I consider myself a proof of the saying that "education or literacy is not intelligence". I can hold my own anywhere, any day.
I should also mention that there is no man born of a woman who does not have a cross that he bears. There are those who have been accused of killing many people and shedding innocent blood. Some have chronic ailments that have refused to go. Others were said to have taken to hard drugs which saw them sleeping under the bridge and then became psychiatric patients. Some were accused of pilfering our commonwealth and are now being tried by EFCC. The fact of the matter is that in my case, I was arrested and tried in one of the best judiciary in the whole world, and the court exonerated me. So, what else do the noisemakers want? Given how ferocious they have pursued me and concocted all manner of lies against me, if not for the fact that the Almighty Allah subhana wata ala is with me, they could have succeeded in their evil plans and wishes. But, I will continue to take solace in the Almighty Allah who has continued to be my refuge and stay. The noisemakers can continue their noise; it does not move me. It is like the noise of the market place.

SPBK

QUACKS MUST BE FLUSHED OUT OF TEMPLE OF JUSTICE

The rising level of fake lawyers in Nigeria impugns on the credibility and image of the legal profession in the country.

Fake/quack lawyers are bad commentary on the legal profession in Nigeria, which prides itself in professionalism and good conduct.Nigerians are confident that the present executive of the Nigerian Bar Association is up to the task to nip in the bud activities that could bring the image of  the bar into the mud.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), must as a matter of fact speed up the fine-tuning  of the Stamp and Seal policy to nail quack or fake lawyers, as well as ensures that clients have in-depth knowledge of the counsel they intend to contract for legal services.

The proliferation of quacks in the legal profession in my own opinion has reached an unbearable limit.The likes of Oke must be investigated and flush out of the system if found wanting.

The Nigera Bar Association must cooperate with the multi-sectoral disciplines to get quack like Oke out of the temple of justice in the country, especially now that Nigeria is beginning a new dawn in governance.

The legal structure in Nigeria needs to be reformed especially the rules of practice.The likes of Oke is a misfit and must be investigated.

Oke's series of unprofessional conducts must be investigated as a matter of urgency.

Oyejide Sunkanmi(SUCO)

I took a quick glance at my mobile phone on my way from work last night when the traffic light stopped me and I saw yet another misguided outbursts from Yemi Oke, the most discredited charge and bail lawyer that I have ever seen my entire life. Immediately I got home, I made it a point of duty to string together the lines below:
1. I could not but laugh at Yemi Oke's tomfoolery of seeking to get attention from the Distinguished Senator Buruji "Olanbiwonu" Kashamu.
2. Whereas many people on various platforms have interpreted and commented on last Wednesday's ruling based on how they see it and on which side of the divide they belong, Yemi Oke abrogated to himself a sense of self-importance that he does not have. Otherwise, how could a minion like Yemi Oke dare SPBK to be "bold enough" to mention his name?
3. Yemi Oke, you do not need to ask SPBK to mention your name. He would not help you to get the trust and attention you desperately need by dignifying you with a response!
4. Yemi Oke, it is almost two months since you threatened to sue me (not even Senator Kashamu) over the money you collected from him to sell out your client's case. I dared you to sue me before the whole world. Till date, you have not. I have called you a professional misfit and an embarrassment to the legal profession who should be debarred on account of your professional misconduct.
5. You abuse senior lawyers and judges who could see through your "jankara" practice and think you will go far in the profession. It is only a pipe dream.
6. You abuse the Chief Judge of the FHC, the Hon. Justice I. N. Buba and the Hon. Justice O.E. Abang just because they refused to be bought over by you and your pay masters.
7. You said with a tone of finality that the matter in Abeokuta will continue while the order will remain. Well, I want you to know that the courts and the laws are not meant for any one person. They are meant for all.
8. Yemi Oke you talked about the NJC moving against some judges. But you did not tell your readers that the Hon. Justice Mobolaji Ojo from whom you procured the controversial order has been queried by the NJC!
9. If you and your team were so good and sure that nothing could happen to the order, why did you come to court last Wednesday with a Notice of Appeal and an application to stay proceedings in the suit?
10. The truth is that the court seemingly ruled in your clients' favour not on the strength of your performance but because of the error of judgment of the lawyer employed by the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State PDP Exco in not getting a letter from the National Headquarters of the PDP.
11. You talked about doing a thing to "hang" some suits before Buba J. Why don't you bring the particulars of the case here and tell us exactly what a rabble-rouser like you did!
12. While you continue to gloat and fool yourself and your ilk about OGSIEC's "recognition" of Sikirulai Ogundele, Engr. Adebayo Dayo will continue to enjoy the recognition of INEC and other relevant institutions. Pray, so who should go and hug a transformer between the man holding the shot end of the stick and the one holding the long end?
13. I will give it to you, Yemi Oke, that, for once, you said the truth. And that is to the effect that the judgments given by Buba J. in respect of the Ogun State PDP Exco and the South West PDP Exco have not been reversed. At least, that was why you said, "...they will be reversed on appeal in a matter of days". Can you please enlighten the other semi-literate attention-seeker, so he can stop peddling lies?
14. You talked about the "EDGE" that you have being an academic and a practising lawyer. After being called to the Bar, it is by choice that people decide on what to do. That one is an academic - even a first class material that I am sure you are not - does not make one a good advocate. You could be an academic and be awful on the field or on the job.
15. On the petitions you wrote, it is only normal that when grave allegations, such as threats to life and assassination, are levelled against anyone, the relevant security agencies are expected to investigate the claims in order to establish their veracity or otherwise! But mind you, as a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (chei! some people head dey pound), he will be accorded all the courtesies and respect due to him. SPBK has joined issues with you through his counter-petitions with relevant documents. He does not need to honour any other invitation.
16. You also boasted of your efforts in foreign jurisdictions. Please, Yemi Oke hear me well: Ten (10) million Yemi Okes and his sponsors and grand patrons CANNOT pull a strand of hair from SPBK's body. Nemesis will soon catch up with you and your ilk if you do not desist from this path of destruction and character assassination. Eni Olorun da, ko se fara we. Yemi Oke, you are unmitigated disaster to the legal profession. You represent all that is awful and wrong with the legal profession. A Dodgy character without any modicum of decency. Gormless, tall and thoughtless! Shame on you!

Austin Oniyokor

Omoilu Foundation lifts two with car gifts

The joy of the duo of Messrs A.A.Osinjinrin and Abiodun Oshinkoya knew no bounds when they were empowered with cars by Senator Buruji Kashamu-inspired Omoilu Foundation yesterday at the headquarters of the Omoilu Foundation in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State.

Speaking before the presentation of the cars to the beneficiaries, the State Coordinator of the Foundation,Otunba (Comrade)Niyi Osoba said the gesture was part of Senator Kashamu's commitment towards empowering the people.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr.A.A.Osinjinrin, who became the proud owner of a Toyota Sienna bus praised Senator Kashamu for the gesture.

"Senator Buruji Kashamu is a philanthropist with a difference and his Omoilu unrivaled.It is very difficult to come by a man of his type in the Nigeria of today.God will bless him more.We are grateful to God for using Senator Kashamu to empower the needy. My prayer to God is to continue to reward him abundantly," he said.

Highlights of the occasion included presentation of the keys and documents of the vehicles to the beneficiaries.

As the Muslims across the country join their counterparts the world over to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir, the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has called for love and tolerance among Nigerians.

In a statement issued in Ijebu Igbo on Sunday, Kashamu admonished Muslims to use the period to show love and tolerance towards fellow human beings irrespective of creed, colour or faith.
He said that no community or nation can develop without love and tolerance among the people.

Kashamu also urged Muslims not to consider the celebration as an occasion for merry-making only, but also for sober reflection and rededication to the service of God and humanity.

He appealed to wealthy Muslims to extend their hands of fellowship to the less privileged in the society by assisting them with edibles and other necessities of life.

The lawmaker urged the faithful to use the season to pray for peace, unity and progress among the nation's multi-ethnic groups.

LADI ADEBUTU: THIS IS YOUR LIFE!

It is a notorious fact that Ladi Adebutu enjoys owing people. Most of his workers don't get paid for services rendered. All the landed properties Ladi Adebutu lays claim to were acquired for him by his father. But this character traits were not formed overnight. They had been with him over the years.

When he was in his late and early 30s/ 40s, he usually eat out without paying. He would take public transport and cunningly wave payments. A close look at his teeth will show that he doesn't have the incisors and his teeth are decayed ostensibly because he does not brush his teeth properly. He smokes like chimney and has a terrible eating habit.

A blow to his teeth or any application of the slightest force will show that he is on artificial teeth. He has a foul bowel and mouth odour that irritates and puts off anyone who gets close to him. His life and his master's are full of lies which is commonly known among them as "ziggy". But besides that, they share other things in common. They are full of deceit and have some psychiatric condition.

Impeccable sources say they are both psychiatric patients. While Ladi started his youthful age with trafficking and taking of some prohibited substances - the very reason he was deported from Ireland in the mid 80's, information also has it that Ladi's boss was at some point involved in the prohibited substances. An eyewitness has offered to spill the beans on his activities while he lived on Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos. He even said the man still sniffs the stuff. That is why what looks like a permanent smile is always etched on his face whenever he is high on the substance.

Finally, the compilation of Ladi Adebutu's psychiatric records are ongoing. At the appropriate time, Ladi Adebutu's psychiatric documents, dates and the location will be rolled out. This is not a threat, but a promise that will be fulfilled if they don't desist from maligning SPBK because of their selfish and desperate ambitions.

Kashamu sponsors pilgrims to Hajj

Nine pilgrims from Ogun East Senatorial District of Ogun State have been sponsored to perform this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca by the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District,Senator Buruji Kashamu.

The Ogun State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Engr. Adebayo Dayo disclosed this to journalists at the weekend during a briefing and lecture organised for the pilgrims in Ijebu Igbo at the weekend.

According to Dayo, Senator Kashamu has secured the necessary travelling documents for the pilgrims.
"Senator Kashamu in his usual manner has picked up their bills and secured all necessary documents for the pilgrims. It is an all-expense paid trip. My advice to them is to be good ambassadors of Ogun State when they get there," he said.

On the sponsorship of pilgrims to perform this year's pilgrimage, Dayo said those selected should consider themselves lucky.

His words: “Senator Kashamu is one of the very few individuals who took it upon themselves to continue their charitable gesture of sponsoring pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year.

"The Federal and the state governments could not do so at the moment due to the state of the economy. We are grateful to Allah and we are also grateful to Senator Kashamu for this wonderful gesture.

"We cannot over-emphasise the need to use pilgrimage as a tool for moral and spiritual transformation.I am calling on religious and wealthy individuals to emulate Senator Kashamu's kind gesture."

Speaking on the occasion, the State Coordinator of Omoilu Foundation, Otunba (Comrade) Niyi Osoba reaffirmed Senator Kashamu's commitment to doing good to all manner of people and at all times without any form of discrimination.

“Senator Kashamu sees is as a responsibility for him to continue to render his social and religious obligations. He will continue to invest heavily in the cause of the less-privileged," Osoba said.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Olayinka Abdulateef from Ijebu-East Local Government expressed gratitude to Senator Buruji Kashamu and prayed to Allah to bless him the more so that he can touch many more lives.

"Words are not enough to describe our distinguished Senator Buruji Kashamu. He is a blessing to Ogun State and the entire Southwest.I can't believe my long time dream of performing hajj will come to reality through Senator Kashamu.

"Allah will not only bless him the more,he will also live long so that he can touch other lives. I am a proud landlord. Allah has also blessed me with children; performing the hajj is the only thing I am yet to achieve. And I thank God that is being made possible by Senator Buruji Kashamu," Abdulateef said.

The beneficiaries are Mr.Ebinpejo Saliu, Mr.Otaniyi Tajudeen,Mr.Oduntan Olalekan,Alfa Abdulateef Quasim, Alfa Ibrahim Yekini, Mrs.Akibu Fatimot, Mr. Abdulateef Olayinka Sulaimon, Alfa Ajibola Abduhakeem and Mr.Adejinrin Mutiu.

Groups Condemn Attack On Kashamu

Two Lagos pressure groups, Lagos State Non-Indigenes Coalition (LSNIC) and Coalition of Lagos Students for Good Governance (COLSGG), have condemned the recent media attacks on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Lawmaker representing Ogun East at the red chamber, Buruji Kashamu,describing it as a mere smear campaign aimed at pulling the lawmaker down.

A release jointly signed on behalf of the groups by Awoseni Sunday, and Aderemi Adeniji in Badagry, Lagos State,Tuesday, said it was unfortunate that since Kashamu won the seat in 2015; those who believed it was their birthright to rule over the people of the area have stopped at nothing in a bid to truncate his electoral victory.

“For the first time in the political history of Ogun East, the people refused to be bought, they refused to be intimidated and refused to be hoodwinked with the cheap blackmails of the naysayers.

“We are not in doubt that Senator Kashamu would turn things around in Ogun State and the entire Southwest , going by the way he has started and the people are saying no to those who had misrepresented them in the past.


“We condemn in its totality the continued intimidation and character assassination of Senator Kashamu since he became a lawmaker, they want to pull him down at all costs and the people of Southwest will stoutly oppose this," the groups said.

RE: COURT REFUSES KASHAMU’S APPLICATION TO STOP DSS FROM EXTRADITING HIM TO US



Our attention has been drawn to a report in a section of the media that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja today refused an application by the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Prince Buruji Kashamu, seeking an order to restrain the Department of State Security Service and the Inspector-General of Police from extraditing him to the U.S to face charges.

We wish to state that the case has nothing to do with extradition. The only extradition case that was in Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/479/2015 has been dismissed by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on the 1st of July, 2015.

This extant suit relates to a frivolous petition written against Senator Kashamu by a member of the House of Representatives from Ogun State, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, in which he made all manner of unfounded allegations and requested the security agencies to take certain steps that could inhibit the fundamental human rights of the senator.

It was in a bit to forestall an infringement on his rights to free movement and association that Senator Kashamu filed the Fundamental Human Rights Enforcement suit in court.

When the matter came up today (Tuesday), the court granted Senator Kashamu’s application to be heard during vacation and to serve the processes on one of the defendants outside jurisdiction.

While the court refrained from making any preservatory order as canvassed by, the senator’s counsel, Mr. Godswill Mrakpor, it urged parties to observe the principle of lis pendens  which enjoins parties not to take any steps in respect of a pending action in court. That could not in any way be rightly interpreted to mean refusal of an application to stop anyone’s extradition because there is no such application in the first place.

Signed

Austin Oniyokor

Media Adviser to Senator Buruji Kashamu (30-08-2016)

KASHAMU:HOW I ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT BY FAYOSE, MIMIKO AND OMISORE

The senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Buruji Kashamu has revealed how he escaped an assassination plot allegedly hatched by Governors Ayo Fayose and Segun Mimiko as well as former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Otunba Iyiola Omisore.

Senator Kashamu, who made the revelation today while speaking with some of his close associates in Abuja, said the incident that happened at the Alagbaka Government House in Akure, Ondo State where members of the Makanjuola Ogundipe-led South West Zonal Exco and the delegates from Ogun State were beaten up was targeted at him.

The leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West had called a meeting for Akure, the Ondo State capital, to deliberate on the national offices zoned to the region ahead of the proposed August 17th National Convention.

The Senator said the game-plan, which was hatched by the trio of Fayose, Mimiko and Omisore, "was for their thugs to beat up my people and prevent them from entering the venue of the meeting. They had thought that once they do that, I would be provoked and would want to forcibly lead my people into the hall. Of course, there would be resistance and then a free-for-all would break out. Their evil agenda was to catch in on the situation and shoot me dead."

According to him, "the trio then got a willing tool in a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, whom they told to man the gate, with some thugs that he had armed with machetes and cudgels, and prevent the authentic delegates people from entering the venue of the meeting.
"Of course, Ladi carried out the assignment given to him by personally supervising the blockage and beating up of the authentic delegates from the South West Zonal Exco and Ogun State.

"But unknown to him, they meant to implicate him because Fayose and Omisore had mixed 10 bad and arms-bearing boys from Ekiti and Osun states with the crowd who were to shoot me at the slightest provocation.

"The meeting was scheduled to begin 12 noon on that fateful day. So, the plan was that if I got there and tried to force my way in, Ladi and his people should resist. There would be a bedlam. Then, I could be shot in the ensuing commotion."

The lawmaker revealed that if he had been shot and killed as planned by Fayose, Mimiko and Omisore, the story would be that they had yet to get to the venue of the meeting when the incident occurred and that it was an extension of the internal wrangling within the Ogun State chapter of the PDP.

He noted that, "While Fayose was still in Ekiti monitoring events from there, Omisore was waiting in one of the border communities between Osun and Ondo states. He was waiting for the deed to have been done before he would turn back and return home. Mimiko tucked himself somewhere in the inner recesses of the Government House."

Senator Kashamu said about 48 hours to the meeting, Fayose was talking to him as if all was well while at the same stoking the embers of discord in Ladi Adebutu and encouraging him to fight him and his people at the Akure meeting, with a promise to subtly back him (Ladi Adebutu) up.

The lawmaker added that when he got to the Government House in Akure, party leaders and their supporters who had been beaten and shut out of the meeting became charged and urged him to forcibly lead them into the hall of meeting.

"But I resisted the pressure to do so. I knew that if I did, there could be a clash between my people and the aggressors. So, when I thought of the likely consequences, I persuaded them to leave the Government House in peace. I led them out. That was how what could have been a bloodbath was averted. It was God that saved me and other innocent party leaders and members from being killed over nothing," he said.

Omoilu Foundation Sponsors Establishment Of Healthcare Clinic In Ogun State

In its quest to contribute to healthcare services in Ogun East Senatorial District ,the Senator Buruji Kashamu-inspired Omoilu Foundation on Monday, 22nd August, 2016 made a donation of 1.5 million to Dr.Olabinjo Oladipupo of No 4, Oba Ogunfowora Street,Iperu Remo,Ogun state.

The donation is geared towards sponsoring the establishment of a community healthcare clinic whose primary objective is to offer healthcare services to medically indigent constituents of Ogun East Senatorial District at considerable charges.

Presenting the cheque at the premises of Omoilu Foundation in Ijebu Igbo, the State Coordinator of the Foundation, Otunba(Comrade)Niyi Osoba said the issue of health is an area the Foundation is interested in because it is central to the development of the society.

Osoba explained that the Foundation would continue to do all within its resources to help in the upliftment of healthcare services and education both of which he disclosed that the Foundation had invested heavily in.

“Qualitative healthcare services is key for the sustenance of human existence and the society pointing out that most countries of the world referred to as developed achieved the height because they placed premium on good healthcare services", he noted.

According to him, the Senator Buruji Kashamu-inspired Omoilu Foundation would continue to partner with groups and appropriate health institutions to help medically indigent people not only in Ogun East Senatorial District but across Ogun State.

Osoba said the issue of healthcare services to medically indigent people in the society remain a core responsibility in the discharge of the corporate social responsibility of the Foundation pointing out that “we have a common synergy with Dr. Olabinjo in the area of helping out medically indigent citizens of Ogun East Senatorial District and we hope that our efforts will encourage other well-meaning Nigerians to contribute their own quota to the deteriorating health sector in Nigeria.

Receiving the cheque, Dr.Olabinjo thanked Senator Buruji Kashamu for the gesture saying it only demonstrated the love Senator Kashamu have for the less privileged in the society, especially in the area of health.

Olabinjo said the Omoilu Foundation grant clearly demonstrates the key role well-meaning Nigerians can play working in partnership with government and other health institutions in the health sector to raise the standard of community healthcare services in Nigeria.

Amid applause from the cross section of the masses who witnessed the presentation of the cheque, Dr.Olabinjo promised that he will make judicious use of the fund.

Hmm, they will never succeed. Nigeria is a not a Banana Republic where anything goes.

Why this man is this desperate is what I don't understand? I trust Buhari's admistration sha... Nigeria is now a different country, illegality will never stand again in Nigeria.

THE AUGUST 17TH “NATIONAL CONVENTION” AND ITS REVERBERATIONS
By Senator Buruji Kashamu
PREAMBLE
My esteemed leaders and elders, the ramification of the sundry illegalities and impunity in our dear party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), evoke memories of a conundrum during the reign of King Solomon that almost led to the mutilation of an innocent child. In that legendry tale of two women who shared a common space with their children, one of them had crushed her own child while they slept and the other was dragged into a dispute that put her own child’s life at the mercy of the king’s sword. The mother of the dead child was eager to see the disputed child mutilated because she had nothing to lose while the actual mother would rather go without the child than allow it to be divided by the sword.
The moral here is that it is only those who truly have nothing to lose that are selfishly subversive and destructive; the people undermining the sanctity of the political fraternity in the PDP are those at the twilight of their political journey. They know that they have deficits with posterity, so, they are unscrupulously trying to re-write their destinies at the expense of the collective good of all those who do have viable stakes in our political journey. They are using acts of felony to attain what they cannot win through legitimate political processes. The days of voodoo politics are over; the people know and are willing to stand with only those who by their antecedents have proven that they are indeed in politics to serve their people. Thus, because the electorate has demonstrated its resolve to punish self-serving leaders who fail to deliver the dividends of democracy, these political hyenas whose political fortunes have now been relegated to the bottom of the food chain are threatening to ravage the party to extinction. In the bid to foist their selfish agenda on the whole, illegality and impunity have become the order of day and these acts have been embedded in the fabric of our co-existence like landmines waiting to be exploded.
THE ISSUES
It is on record that I did warn against these landmines in the pathways of the botched May 21st and August 17th National Conventions but little or no attention was given to the fact that a reconciliation process was and still is a pre-requisite for peace and progress in the party.Some of our leaders thought that they could muscle their way past the May 12th and 20th, 2016 court orders forbidding the party from removing the National Chairman, National Secretary and National Auditor on the one hand and from “foisting a fait accompli on the court” on the other hand, carrying on as if their lives depended on the power struggle. The manner in which they chorused “the supremacy of the party” makesone wonder if the clichégives the party superiorityover its own constitution and the Constitution of the land. In flagrant disregard for the rule of law as well as the sanctity of the lives of our party men and women, they orchestrated National Conventions that left our fellow party men and women vulnerable and exposed to dangers. To start with, there was no reason to take the convention to Port Harcourt again when there was no promise of free food, transportation and accommodation; indeed, it seemed as if delegates had been assured of some monetary reward or incentives.
A leader is supposed to be worthy of that highly coveted mount on the pedestal and deserving of the confidence of the people who have entrusted their mandate and lives into his hands. Millions of party members agreed to follow someone whom they see as a leader to Port Harcourt. It was incumbent on such a leader to rise above the fray and not betray the trust reposed in him. Moreover, it was improper for such a leader who could now be said to have betrayed the trust reposed in him to cast aspersions and malign other leaders in the media. How can anyone say that a that Senator Sheriff, a three term senator and a two term governor, who has been in public life for over 20 years, is a nobody in the scheme of things? How can anyone rubbish the experience and reach of Senator Makarfi, who is also a two-term governor and senator? When you have two strong leaders with intimidating credentials such as these disagreeing over an issue, the role of a true leader should be mediatory, conciliatory and consistently in quest of conflict resolution. Thus, I have taken a neutral stand in the middle where I will continue to impress on the leaders, elders and members of our great party on the need for a just and peaceful resolution of the on-going crisis. I have deep regards and love for both leaders who are caught up in the eye of this man-made storm and urge all stakeholders to seek a point of convergence for the political resolution of this conflict.
With his recent activities, Rivers State Governor NyesomWikehas positioned himself as the number one leader and the Commander-in-Chief of the PDP and I personally do not see anything wrong with his desire to serve as the rallying point for the party. But, anyone taking on such an onerous task must be above board and live up to expectations of all; he must be ready to be a consensus builder, law-abiding, consultative and respectfulto other leaders and elders, and also possess himself in patience.Now that things have gone awry, he should allow other leaders and elders to cure the accumulated illegalities towards the eventual reconciliation of all the aggrieved people or parties instead of chasing shadows.
This party is not anybody’s heirloom that must be inherited or possessed by one person or a few. Everybody is legitimately entitled to protect his or her own interest and that of his followers within the overall interest. Our leaders must be altruistic in their passion for the party and not be lawless, constituting an affront to the law. And when those who are covered by immunity encourage people to break the law, they are only preparing the ground for innocent people to commit more illegalities until they find themselves in jail for contempt of court. If they truly love the party and believe in it, I see no reason why they will push the party to the precipice. From my experience and information available to me, I can authoritativelysay that one or two of our governors are the ones tearing the party into pieces.
SOUTH WEST PDP
It isdisgusting to see someone like Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose say one thing but does the exact opposite. He has shown time and again that he is a pathological liar, a traitor, a deceiver and a leopard that cannot change its spots. His frame and sensory organs are an embodiment of dishonesty and reverberate with lies when he talks. Fayose does not have the interest of the people of the South West at heart. He is only after his own selfish interest.He lacks the capacity to manage relationships with people,let alone controlling the party structure in the whole of the South West. At the botched August 17th Convention, Fayose denied delegates of four out of the six states in the South West their tags and would have prevented them from taking part in the convention had it held as planned. In manipulating the whole process to achieve his self-conceited agenda, he wittingly tried to undermine all other leaders of the party in the South West and render them useless. He kept on deceiving people that because he had got his fingers burnt the first time, he did not have any preferred candidate.Such infamy might just be the reason why the Almighty Allah who is the most powerful made everything to collapse on their head. Nobody in the party can believe Fayose and his co-travellers anymore.
It is now clear that anyone who follows Fayose in the South West wants to sink his political career. He equates the whole of the South West to Ekiti State.Indeed what his manipulation of the delegates list has shown is that he has neither clout nor followers outside his state.Worst still, he has been unable to manage his own state.I dare say that at the rate he is going, if elections are held in that state today, he will losebecause of the way he has betrayed and maltreated all those who assisted him during his election.
Fayose went to the South West PDP leaders meeting held on the 8th of August, 2016and purported to be part of the endorsement of Chief Bode George whereas he has another agenda. He wanted to rubbish all the leaders and elders of the party in the zone, but God rubbished him.Fayose and his ilk want to be Alpha and Omega of the party without deference forother well-meaning leaders and elders.
It is a pity that in spiteof his intimidating record of public service, exposure and education, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo Statewould allow Fayose to be manipulating and misleading him;even asthe Chairman of PDP’s Governor’s Forum!It is most unfortunate. Since the two governors of the PDP in the South West have failed us, I wish to implore all our party leaders in the South West to come together and let us speak with one voice.Let us, once and for all, put a stop to their divide and rule tactics.
The respective zonal leadership of the party should be allowed to work with all the respectable leaders in their various zones to work out the modalities for the zoning and nomination of candidates for the positions allotted to thevarious regions without any undue external influence.
The truth be told; as long as those who carry themselves as the Alpha and Omega of the South WestPDP continue to hijack the party structure to perpetuate their illegalities, without respect for the opinion of the leaders of the party in the zone, there will not be peace at the national level.
Everybody politician of note in the South wants to be the Vice-Presidential candidate and because of that they think it is imperative to have full control of the party, sharing positions and commanding the structure of the party. But when it comes to responsibilities towards the party, they dodge. The other time, the National Caretaker Committee needed N120million to do certain things; it was difficult to raise N65million out of the required amount. It was Senator Ahmed Makarfi that raised N50million by himself.
Yet some people have descended to the nonsensical and opportunistic habit of seeing themselves as belonging to Senator Ahmed Makarfi or Senator Ali ModuSheriff. The PDP is one and it has many leaders. Senators Makarfi and Sheriff are two of the many leaders in the party. Let all those who are truly passionate about the party at this trying time stayunbiased in the middle and play mediatory roles, instead of pursuing their selfish interests and power struggles. Obviously, it is those who are power drunk that are dragging the party back by deepening the current crisis. Power taken by force is usually unmanageable.
As long as they continue their illegalities and impunity, some of us will continue to use the law and legality to whip them into lineuntil theyrealize their misdeeds, stop the illegalities and do the right thing.Anyone who blames the APC or the Federal Government for the crisis in the PDP is a liar; such a person is not sincere because the crisis was self-inflicted. The tell-tale signs had always been there. It started from the South West, withsomeone like Governor Fayosewho will say one thing today and do the exact opposite the next day. He and his ilk see themselves as professional politicians whereas they are professional liars and deceivers.
Let us look at the issues dispassionately. This is not about Sheriff or Makarfi per se. It is about having a good sense of judgment and trust. The very people who went to beg Sheriff to become the National Chairman because of his rich credentials and experience are the ones now calling him names, all because they could not use him to serve their selfish interests.Fayose wantsto produce the zonal executive as well as all the national officers from the South Westat all costs even when the term of officeof the current officershas not ended. Governor Wike,on the other hand, wants to produce the first Deputy National Chairman. To be sure, I do not have anything against theirinterests or candidates.
Of course, there is nothing wrong in endorsing pursuing your interestandcandidates, especially when they arealtruistic, noble, experienced and endowed with brand equity that could be leveraged upon for the party. But everything is wrong with the way some leaders went about deceiving people and skewing the process leading to the August 17th botched convention. What they should have done was to engage the leaders and stakeholders, and not to resort to the kind of subterfuge and debauchery that we have seen in Port Harcourt on two occasions. When you add their individual interest with the fact that both Governors Wike and Fayose joined forces to push a particular candidate for the position of the National Chairman, then you would get the whole picture.
I do not think it is safe for us to trust the judgment of those who brought Sheriff, told us he was the best man for the job and then turn around to vilify him when they found he could not be used to achieve their game-plan. They have been the same people opposed to all the agreements reached by well-meaning leaders with Sheriff and Makarfi. Now that we have seen where their intemperance has led us, I think it is high time we charted a new course. This blame game of Sheriff being a tool in the hands of the ruling party and government is ill-conceived and uncalled for, more so when he has offered to quit once an all-embracing National Convention is held.
I do not know why some public office holders think that their positions make them some demi-gods who must be worshipped and grovelled.It is indecent to look down on others because you are in a position of authority; such privileges are transient;no condition is permanent.But they are sadly unmindful of this reality. Otherwise, how could someone just wake up and decide to truncate people’s tenure or term of office? How could a court give an order or judgment and they will boldly come out not only to say that they will disobey it, but to also cast aspersion on the judiciary.
But when it favours them, they will applaud the judiciary. What double-speak! At times, I shudder to think how some of them who are lawyers and have been beneficiary of the judiciary and the rule of law would come out to cast aspersion on the judiciary?Governors, Ministers and politicians who have attained leadership derive legitimacy from the law when they get into office. They use the laws to govern the people and compel them to obey the laws.So, if they trample on the laws or encourage people to do so, how do they want Nigerians to see them and the PDP? Is it as a lawless organization full of lawless people or a law-abiding organization full of law-abiding people? How can some people think that their money can cover illegalities?They should not use their cowardly cowboy character to destroy the party that they do not know how and when it was founded.
CONCLUSION
It is my humble submission that rather than allow some powerful few to hijack the structure of the party, it is better to return it to the people at the grassroots who are the true owners of the party. It is high time the leaders and elders of the party nationwide are allowed to drive and lead the party.I must also reiterate that our leaders and elders should be careful not to allow the few that are power drunk to be dragging them into their lawlessness as they are the only ones we can run to whenever there is any problem. They should position themselves as peacemakers that the party can rely on when conflict sets in.
The two leaders – Sheriff and Makarfi – are brothers. It might be apposite at this time not to allow anyone come in-between them again. They should engage each other and settle the issues amicably in the overall interest of the party. There is no reason why they cannot come together as brothers to resolvethe issues.
It is crucial for both Senator Sheriff and Senator Makarfi to bury the hatchet and coalesce to form an interim National Working Committee that will form the National Convention Planning Committee. The Convention Committee could be headed by a member of the Board of trustees in order to allay the mutual mistrust between the Governors’ Forum and other stakeholders. A Governor or Senator could also be picked as the Deputy Chairman or Secretary of the Committee. It is also my view that in order to ensure a level-playing field the convention should take place in Abuja, as earlier recommended by the Prof. Jerry Gana-led Reconciliation Committee. The financial implications of this process should be made public so that leaders and elders of the party can promptly make their contributions towards a successful hosting of an all-embracing national convention. As someone who believes that nothing happens to men without the Almighty Allah’s approvalandsince we have tried and failed twice to hold the National Convention in Port Harcourt, it is my humble view that a successful convention was not destined to be held in the Garden City, at least for now. So, it is better we look elsewhere, preferably a common ground.
Let it be clearly stated that those who believe that current crisis should be resolved by the Appeal Courts or Supreme Court do not love the party; they want to see it completely destroyed. Generations of Nigerians to come will judge leaders and elders who fail to resolve the conflict in the interest of the survival of the party.It is for this reason that anyone who wants to champion the conflict resolution process must be a mediator and not a dictator to a party that is followed by millions of Nigerians.It should be noted that there are several eminentNigerians who have sympathy for the PDP; some of them are more financially buoyant than some of those strutting our political space with arrogance and impunity.I also know some of our governorsthat are God fearing, humane and courteous. They have not allowed the influence and the paraphernalia of office to get into their heads. They have lived above the fray and conducted themselves with candour, honour and dignity.It is for this reason that I wish to implore our leaders and governors, such as Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, Governor (Prof.) Ben Ayade of Cross River State, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and others,to get more involved in the fresh peace process. They cannot afford to give up or stand aloof. Posterity and history beckon on them.
I wish to also encourage our leaders and elders, such as former Governor Sule Lamido, Professor Jerry Gana, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Senator Jubrin Walid, BoT members and other party stalwartswho have suffered for the party with little or nothing to show for it, torise up to the challenge ofrescuing the party from the precipice and redeem it.They should rise up as the custodians of the party and be solution providers to the leadership crisis rocking the party.
Just as the mother who was willing to let go of her child to save it from being mutilated got justice at the end of the day, all those toiling night and day to preserve the soul of the PDP will be ultimately rewarded with a vibrant, progressive and cohesive party that will become the pride of all.The seemingly intractable crisis rocking our party demands selfless leadership and I am confident that the ranks of this great party are filled with great visionary leaders who are willing and able to do all it takes to save the party from the “sword of the king” and let it flourish once again.

‘For PDP to survive, let’s kill impunity’

The Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Prince Buruji Kashamu has urged the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to kill the impunity within the party if it is to survive.

Kashamu, in a statement on Sunday, said the impunity and illegalities "in our dear party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), evoke memories of a conundrum during the reign of King Solomon that almost led to the mutilation of an innocent child".

He added: "In that legendry tale of two women who shared a common space with their children, one of them had crushed her own child while they slept and the other was dragged into a dispute that put her own child’s life at the mercy of the king’s sword. The mother of the dead child was eager to see the disputed child mutilated because she had nothing to lose while the actual mother would rather go without the child than allow it to be divided by the sword.

"The moral here is that it is only those who truly have nothing to lose that are selfishly subversive and destructive; the people undermining the sanctity of the political fraternity in the PDP are those at the twilight of their political journey. They know that they have deficits with posterity, so, they are unscrupulously trying to re-write their destinies at the expense of the collective good of all those who do have viable stakes in our political journey. They are using acts of felony to attain what they cannot win through legitimate political processes. The days of voodoo politics are over; the people know and are willing to stand with only those who by their antecedents have proven that they are indeed in politics to serve their people. Thus, because the electorate has demonstrated its resolve to punish self-serving leaders who fail to deliver the dividends of democracy, these political hyenas whose political fortunes have now been relegated to the bottom of the food chain are threatening to ravage the party to extinction. In the bid to foist their selfish agenda on the whole, illegality and impunity have become the order of day and these acts have been embedded in the fabric of our co-existence like landmines waiting to be exploded."

Kashamu continued: "A leader is supposed to be worthy of that highly coveted mount on the pedestal and deserving of the confidence of the people who have entrusted their mandate and lives into his hands. Millions of party members agreed to follow someone whom they see as a leader to Port Harcourt. It was incumbent on such a leader to rise above the fray and not betray the trust reposed in him. Moreover, it was improper for such a leader who could now be said to have betrayed the trust reposed in him to cast aspersions and malign other leaders in the media. How can anyone say that a that Senator Sheriff, a three term senator and a two term governor, who has been in public life for over 20 years, is a nobody in the scheme of things? How can anyone rubbish the experience and reach of Senator Makarfi, who is also a two-term governor and senator? When you have two strong leaders with intimidating credentials such as these disagreeing over an issue, the role of a true leader should be mediatory, conciliatory and consistently in quest of conflict resolution. Thus, I have taken a neutral stand in the middle where I will continue to impress on the leaders, elders and members of our great party on the need for a just and peaceful resolution of the on-going crisis. I have deep regards and love for both leaders who are caught up in the eye of this man-made storm and urge all stakeholders to seek a point of convergence for the political resolution of this conflict.

"With his recent activities, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has positioned himself as the number one leader and the Commander-in-Chief of the PDP and I personally do not see anything wrong with his desire to serve as the rallying point for the party. But, anyone taking on such an onerous task must be above board and live up to expectations of all; he must be ready to be a consensus builder, law-abiding, consultative and respectful to other leaders and elders, and also possess himself in patience. Now that things have gone awry, he should allow other leaders and elders to cure the accumulated illegalities towards the eventual reconciliation of all the aggrieved people or parties instead of chasing shadows.

"This party is not anybody’s heirloom that must be inherited or possessed by one person or a few. Everybody is legitimately entitled to protect his or her own interest and that of his followers within the overall interest. Our leaders must be altruistic in their passion for the party and not be lawless, constituting an affront to the law. And when those who are covered by immunity encourage people to break the law, they are only preparing the ground for innocent people to commit more illegalities until they find themselves in jail for contempt of court. If they truly love the party and believe in it, I see no reason why they will push the party to the precipice. From my experience and information available to me, I can authoritativelysay that one or two of our governors are the ones tearing the party into pieces."

On the Southwest PDP, he said: "It is disgusting to see someone like Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose say one thing but does the exact opposite. He has shown time and again that he is a pathological liar, a traitor, a deceiver and a leopard that cannot change its spots. His frame and sensory organs are an embodiment of dishonesty and reverberate with lies when he talks. Fayose does not have the interest of the people of the Southwest at heart. He is only after his own selfish interest.He lacks the capacity to manage relationships with people, let alone controlling the party structure in the whole of the South West. At the botched August 17th Convention, Fayose denied delegates of four out of the six states in the South West their tags and would have prevented them from taking part in the convention had it held as planned. In manipulating the whole process to achieve his self-conceited agenda, he wittingly tried to undermine all other leaders of the party in the South West and render them useless. He kept on deceiving people that because he had got his fingers burnt the first time, he did not have any preferred candidate. Such infamy might just be the reason why the Almighty Allah who is the most powerful made everything to collapse on their head. Nobody in the party can believe Fayose and his co-travellers anymore."

Kashamu urged the leaders and elders of the party to wade into the protracted leadership crisis that has rocked the party and resolve the issues “once and for all”.

His words, “It is for this reason that I wish to implore our leaders and governors, such as Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, Governor (Prof.) Ben Ayade of Cross River State, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and others,to get more involved in the fresh peace process. They cannot afford to give up or stand aloof. Posterity and history beckon on them.

“I wish to also encourage our leaders and elders, such as former Governor Sule Lamido, Professor Jerry Gana, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Senator Jubrin Walid, BoT members and other party stalwarts who have suffered for the party with little or nothing to show for it, to rise up to the challenge of rescuing the party from the precipice and redeem it.They should rise up as the custodians of the party and be solution providers to the leadership crisis rocking the party.

“Just as the mother who was willing to let go of her child to save it from being mutilated got justice at the end of the day, all those toiling night and day to preserve the soul of the PDP will be ultimately rewarded with a vibrant, progressive and cohesive party that will become the pride of all. The seemingly intractable crisis rocking our party demands selfless leadership and I am confident that the ranks of this great party are filled with great visionary leaders who are willing and able to do all it takes to save the party from the ‘sword of the king’ and let it flourish once again.”

ECHOES OF BOTCHED AUGUST 17th 2016 PORTHARCOURT CONVENTION AND THE OGUN STATE PERSPECTIVES

By: Bolaji Adeniji

A second consecutive purported convention of the PDP has come and gone; but again, and just like the first, it was deadlocked and botched. The tell-tale signs were ever present. The warnings came but were ignored. The undertakers of the unfortunate convention were too enamoured with the surreptitious games they had drawn up. To them, it was either they had their way or nothing. The governors became a cult and their collaborators from within and without cheered them on.

Despite the Judgment of Justice Okon Abang, which ordered that no convention should be held because the Ahmed Markarfi caretaker committee was illegal ab initio (and all its action will in like manner be ultra vires), the planners (Wike and the gang) upped the preparation and derisively waived the judgment aside; as a ‘weightless order of no consequential effect’, however, the event of the morning of August 17th proved otherwise. The security agents moved in and gave effect to the spirit and letter of that oreder.

The script was ready, a certain Jimi Agbaje from Lagos, Southwest was designed to emerge the National Chairman as against the popular wish of the majority that would have voted otherwise . However, the tyranny of a few governor was never going to be establushed; and as Chief Bode George later put it, “The police saved the party”. The latest set-back could have been avoided had these intransigent men heeded the advice of the Jibrin- led BOT and a position paper offered by the Senator from Ogun state, Prince Buruji Kashamu which cautions that, the law must be respected and concessions be granted to Sheriff in the interest of peace.

For us in Ogun state, the party will always err on the path of law rather than resort to self help. Even though we anticipatedly participated in last botched process, we were not unmindful of the legal encumberances which still vests the leadership of the party in the hands of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff. We also had to participate so that the dissident group from Ogun state led by the impostor Sikirulai Ogundele and the misguided MHR, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu would not go to Portharcourt and posture to be the legitimate executive and delegates of Ogun PDP; especially as we recall the subterfuge they orchestrated the last time out, highjacking delegates tags and superimposing fake names on the authentic ogun delegates list.

This time around, they boasted that they were going to repeat the charade. They huffed and puffed that it was their names that will be on the convention list. They elevated their tomfoolery, by threatening to beat us up if we dared step our feet in Portharcourt; just like they did in Akure two weeks back. Indeed, Adebutu, Sikirulai, Akinwonmi, Apampa and the rest were confident that they can pull it off a second time but alas, they were embarrass
ed and disgraced in their tracks.

Firstly, they were not accorded any recognition in Portharcourt at least up until the point the convention was halted around 6am by security agencies. Our State Chairman, Engr. Adebayo Dayo alongside other state chairmen was invited to the meeting with the accreditation committee at banquet room 2 of the Presidential Hotel between 9pm and 3am. He was accompanied by the State Organizing Secretary, Koye Ijaduoye, State Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Adeniji and OmoIlu Foundation State Coordinator, Comrade Niyi Osoba. Otunba Akinyemi and Lukmon Ajomale also joined to give support. Sikirulai Ogundele and Ladi Adebutu all through the period roamed aimlessly around the lobby for 30mins before shamefully strolling away like a dog with its tail between its legs.

Furthermore, they were not able to alter and superimpose names this time around as the convention brochure contained the names of the legitimate delegates from Ogun state. Relevant portions of the brochure are already on the media space for veracity. What more, Markarfi recognised our executive as the authentic, because while we were at the accreditation room waiting for the tags after filling the delegates forms, the Secretary of the committee wanted to be funny (acting the Wike/Adebutu script ) by saying Ogun state had issues and he may not release the tags even though we had filled the forms. We swung into action and compelled him to call Sen. Makarfi in our presence on speakerphone to verify.

Indeed he called Makarfi and the chairman said in parts, “Mr accreditation Secretary, please release the tags of Ogun state to the chairman of the party, and from the facts before us, it is one Engr. Dayo; except he is not the one there and if you do not do so, whatever be the consequence, you are on your own...I have had enough troubles for today. Thanks”. Immediately, the man apologised and went into the room to get the tags but came out with a new twist. He said, the chairman of the convention planning committee, Governor Wike, will have to grant the final approval before he could release the tags. What a misnomer! What an aberration! We asked him, “Is Wike superior to the Chairman of the party”?

At about 4am we left him and went back to our hotels. Even Engr. Jide Adeniji (former FERMA MD) from Osun state and Mrs. Kofo Buknor/Salvador from Lagos state could not likewise get their tags from the accreditation Secretary who was hell-bent on frustrating us all having been obviously compromised. Importantly, we got the security information at that point that the convention will be halted, so we opted not to further dissipate energy again and left.

What more, it was the person that threatened others that ended up falling into the pit they dug for others. Upon sighting Sen. Buruji Kashamu at the entrance of the Presidential hotel, Ladi Adebutu took to his heels and Kashamu (amazed) told him to wait and engage him like a man, but Ladi showed the legendary traits of a coward and bolted towards the gate, falling down in the process.
Sikirulai on his part scampered away through the other gate on sensing the imminent danger.

The question to ask them is, where did the bravado they displayed before the convention go to? Why were they not able to utilise the thugs they brought down to Portharcourt? Why did Markarfi abandon them? Why were they not able to enlist the support of Fayose this time around and why could all his “supporters” or is it “choppers” abandon him when he ran like a baby away from the challenge of a real man?

Unfortunately Wike and the gang later gathered at state secretariat of the PDP in Rivers state to amuse themselves in the name of a pseudo convention. Whatever decision taken in that meeting will again go the usual way as being inconsistent with the law and preceding orders; part of which nailed the two conventions. The Adebutu group later got access to the tags during that meeting, displaying it unabashedly and unashamedly; when it had become worthless and useless as the convention was cancelled at 6am. This is laughable and preposterous.

It is the expectation of the PDP in Ogun state that the crisis engulfing the party at the national level is resolved soonest. Luckily, both the Sheriff executive and the Markarfi committee (in their various letters) have fully accepted and recognised the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led executive and this is constant with the Judgment of the Federal High Courts and INEC status reports on Ogun PDP. Ogun PDP is ready to work with any national leadership that is acceptably constituted and lawfully established. This is what we expect the Hon. Ladi Adebutu camp to also do by joining hands with us to move the party forward.

Bolaji Adeniji is the State Publicity Secretary of Ogun PDP

...Orders INEC not to monitor exercise, Police to enforce order

See full court order below:

WHO IS AFTER YEMI OKE'S LIFE?
I have read the false claims by one Yemi Oke who calls himself a lawyer that Senator Buruji Kashamu is after his life.
My first inclination was to ignore him but for the fact that if a lie is left unchecked, the tendency is for it to assume the toga of truth.
There are many reasons why those who know him and Senator Kashamu will never believe his tales- by-moonlight allegation of threat to his life.
Oke resorted to raising the false alarm because he has seen that his behind-the-scene plot and that of his pay master against Senator Kashamu has been exposed.
This guy cannot be trusted as a lawyer. He is treacherous and duplicitous. Recall how he was briefed by ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel as counsel to the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in a case at the Federal High Court, Abuja in 2011 and midway into the suit, he approached Senator Buruji Kashamu who was the arrowhead of the other party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to be given money to compromise his client's case.
He complained of not being adequately paid and sold out his client. What a shame! How can such a discredited person say anything and expects reasonable people to believe him?
Conversely, since Senator Kashamu began his political career, no one, except a depraved mind like Oke, has ever accused him of violence. Senator Kashamu plays politics of intellect using the law, the media and empowerment.
Senator Kashamu does not have any record of violence even in the face of extreme provocation. He would rather avoid any scenario that could pose a threat, not just to his life but others, saying his life is not more precious than the others.
If Oke has not been paid by his latest preys or he has not seen another client to trade off in order for him to fix his barbed wire fence, he should say so, so that he can be helped.
Taking the pictures of a barbed wire fence that was probably damaged by rain storm and claiming that some persons sought to forcibly gain entry into his house through the fence is totally absurd, amateurish and uncalled for. Oke, go back and think deep. This is too shallow and unintelligent!
Austin Oniyokor (8/8/16)

RE: LADI ADEBUTU-YEMI OKE’S CAMPAIGN OF CALUMNY AGAINST ME OVER ADEBUTU’S 2019 GOVERNORSHIP AMBITION

By Senator Buruji Kashamu

INTRODUCTION
My attention has been drawn to yet another campaign of calumny being waged against me by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ladi Adebutu and tactless lawyer called Yemi Oke using the old worn-out tales that are already too familiar, as published in some media reports and advert published on the 4th and 5th of August, 2016 in The Nation and The Punch newspapers respectively.

Since they know that they cannot substantiate the allegations against me, they chose to hide under an amorphous and self-styled Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) known as the Advocacy for Integrity and Economic Development (AIED). I know this is a classic case of the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau.

The reason for the latest onslaught is because Adebutu has declared his interest to be the Governor of Ogun State in 2019 and he strangely believes that I am an obstacle to his gaining total control of the party structure that must be crushed.

Thankfully, Nigeria is well on its way to probity, lawfulness and fairness. There is no remote possibility that we could someday decline to the throes of a Banana republic where monkeys and kangaroos tumble justice. Our democracy is resilient and currently in safe hands that are guided by the rule of law. Thus, despite the scheming and shenanigans of my political opponents, I remain hopeful and confident in our justice system and the commitment of the Federal Government to defend the rights of all Nigerians.

By the grace of the Almighty Allah Subhana wa tala, I am an employer of labour and an empowerer of people from all walks of life. I am visible. Certainly, I am not an outlaw, as the courts, both at home and abroad, have found that I do not have anything to do with the allegation (s). The Nigeria of today is walking the same path with the bastions of democracy, custodians of the rule of law and defenders of human rights like the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Even by its (the group’s) own admission and in their averments, there were two extradition proceedings against me in the United Kingdom, “…both unsuccessful, ending finally in January 2003 when the presiding judge refused to order him extradited”. The law forbids double jeopardy. If they themselves know that I had faced extradition proceedings twice, so which campaign of calumny are they embarking upon?

What is more, the Constitution is the grundnorm of a country and democracy. And Section 36 (9) of the 1999 Constitution says, “No person who shows that he has been tried by any court of competent jurisdiction or tribunal for a criminal offence and either convicted or acquitted shall again be tried for that offence or for a criminal offence having the same ingredients as that offence save upon the order of a superior court.”

THE ISSUE
For the umpteenth time, I want to clearly state that I am not wanted anywhere. I have not committed any offence to warrant such. In life, events happen in ways that are beyond human comprehension. Such events will test our resolve to fight and overcome challenges. But, one thing that is certain is that the truth will always prevail.
I have never lived in or visited the United States all my life. I was wrongly introduced into an indictment and was arrested and tried for it in the United Kingdom at the instance of the Government of the United States. After an extradition trial that lasted four years, the British judiciary – one of the best in the world – ruled in my favour twice and released me.

The British court did not merely find that the evidence did not establish a prima facie case against me; the court positively found that it was another person (not me) that committed the offence and proceeded to describe the person in its judgment. That judgment was not and has not been appealed till date. That is clearly an obstacle to any further proceedings against me. In effect, the British court established that it was a case of mistaken identity.

Having won the extradition proceedings twice in London, it ought not to be brought again. But when the plot to abduct me between the 23rd and 28th of May, 2015 failed, those behind the plot instigated the authorities to file a purported fresh extradition suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

It is a matter of public record that the Court in a judgment delivered on the 1st of July, 2015 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/479/2015 dismissed the suit. A similar case instituted in respect of the same matter was nullified, culminating in the dismissal of the purported extradition proceeding. It is elementary that once a suit is dismissed, it can no longer be filed again. How a so-called lawyer decided to seek to resurrect a dead case beats my imagination. Worse still, he chose to use a fake organization that is not known to law.



THE UNDERCURRENTS

A desperate man, blinded by unbridled ambition, is an extremely dangerous person to deal with. That is the case of Ladi Adebutu. The almighty Allah used me for him to get the ticket into the House of Representatives; a ticket he had sought for twelve (12) years without any luck. Eight of those years, he served under former Governor Gbenga Daniel without being deemed fit to be given a ticket to contest any election.

I accepted him as a brother, especially with the love that his father had shown to me. I supported him through the party structure to win the primary election. But to my greatest surprise, as soon as he won his election, he began to work underground to get the Election Petitions Tribunal to nullify my election, that of the other PDP Reps member and nine (9) House of Assembly members. He wanted to be the ONLY elected PDP official in the state in order to prepare himself for his future ambition. Rather shockingly but true, the Ogun State Election Petitions Tribunal nullified my election, the House Reps member and majority of the House of Assembly members. He tried all within his powers to sack us. We appealed; and thankfully, we won and our mandates were restored.

It was when his plot failed and barely six months into his four-year term that he declared his governorship ambition. And to him, in order to achieve his aim, he must have the party structure, willy-nilly. Ladi Adebutu then began his campaign of calumny, writing all manner of petitions against me and the same State Exco that gave him the ticket to the House of Representatives!


CONCLUSION

This is clearly a campaign of calumny against me by Ladi Adebutu and Yemi Oke who think I am a stumbling block to his (Adebutu’s) governorship ambition.
A man who obstinately carries on like a prodigal son frittering away his father’s hard earned resources for the benefit of an unscrupulous lawyer and accomplice leaves much to be desired. This infamous duo, in their delusion as exemplified in the court process against me, assumes everyone else is as deluded as they are. Otherwise, how else can one explain the fact that in their desperation to make a mountain out of a molehill, they joined the US Embassy as a defendant in the suit?

They sued an Embassy that enjoys special diplomatic immunity and therefore cannot sue or be sued in its name. No individual or organization has the powers to sue a sovereign state or government of any nation, let alone its foreign mission, such as the Embassy.

They also joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Senate in the suit, asking the court to compel them to take certain nebulous and ridiculous actions as if there is a public duty imposed on them that they have failed to discharge in respect of the subject matter. But what they do not know is that the influence and integrity of these institutions cannot and will never allow them to validate such infamy. They do not know that we are in country that is governed by law and order; hence no government or any of its institutions will allow anyone to coerce or coax them to resort to illegalities.

It is however stunning that someone who calls himself a lawyer and a PhD holder in Law does not know this simple principle. It is no wonder that such dysfunctional reasoning underpins the massively defective suits that he has been filing, raising obvious questions about the authenticity of his learnedness. The latest is a suit which, in medical parlance, is referred to as “dead on arrival”.

I am a Nigerian. I am proud of my heritage. I can never run away from the law or due process. I am a firm believer in the rule of law, equity and justice.

Therefore, no amount of blackmail, intimidation and harassment would deter me. I shall continue to commit myself to championing the cause of the masses, impacting lives and empowering the people.

I have never wished evil for any human being. I have never done anything bad to Ladi Adebutu or denied him whatever is due to him. He has been the one doing everything to pull me down, but the Almighty Allah Subhana wa tala has been my stay and strength. The spurious case and sponsored publications against me are some of his latest shenanigans. Despite his evil plots and actions against me, I will continue to wish him well. But he should know and remember the Law of Karma; what goes around comes around because the universe will surely serve him the revenge he deserves!

PDP: SHERIFF VS MAKARFI

POSITION PAPER ON HOW TO RESOLVE PDP LEADERSHIP CRISIS
By
SENATOR BURUJI KASHAMU

Click the link below to read more:

http://thecogitate.info/2016/08/02/position-paper-on-how-to-resolve-pdp-leadership-crisis/#sthash.1tDaw3Pi.dpbs

A LETTER TO THE "TAMED" LION OF THE WEST AND THE SPOILT SON OF OGUN STATE LOTTERY MERCHANT


Those who are shallow and blind may never know or try to understand what has transpired between OGD and I. It is his insincerity to himself and others that has been his greatest undoing. The lilliputians who excite themselves by dabbling into issues they know next to nothing about may never know the kind of games OGD plays daily that makes him to continue to shoot himself in the foot! When someone thinks he is too smart and intelligent, he ends up boxing himself into a corner.
I have NEVER wished for OGD's downfall. He has always been the one plotting his own downfall and not mine. The records are there to prove me right. Those who know him too well and closely too, including respectable leaders and elders of the party have since maintained a safe distance from him.
Some of these boys who are still tied to their parents' apron springs come here to run their mouth. A good number of them do not have anything to show for the several years of servitude and blind loyalty to OGD. Some of them are either jobless or have issues, ranging from lack of accommodation to serious health issues and other deprivations, yet their master and leader cannot lend a hand!
I do not have anything to do with you, Deji Babington-Ashaye. Let this serve as a note of warning to you; indeed my last warning to you. Stop mentioning my name or making any insinuations in your desperate efforts at attention-seeking. Don't ever mention my name or refer to me in anyway, whatsoever in all the wishy-washy nonsense that you write. I repeat: this is my last warning to you. I do not have anything to do with you. The next time you cross the line, you will have yourself to blame, as the law will take its course. I forgave you the last time because of your aged father and Baba Obelu.
You talk of someone being of questionable character. Who could be more of a questionable character than your leader and adopted father? Who could be more of a questionable character than the one who stole public funds and is being tried for it? Who could be more of a questionable character than the one who is always looking for campaign funds to steal? Who could be more of a questionable character than the one who arranges people to visit ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and collects cuts from them? Who could be more of a questionable character than the one who embezzled the PCO funds and turned round to ask for evidence of his embezzlement? Who could be more of a questionable character than the one who colludes with the black sheep son of an old rich man to dupe his father under various guise? Who could be more of a questionable character than the one who tells you one thing and does another? Who could be more of a questionable character than the originator and master of Ziggy himself? Who could be more of a questionable character than the shameless opportunist who jumps from one party to the other? I can go on and on.
Typical of him, he says he is being pressurized to contest for the office of the National Chairman of PDP, yet he has sent over 10 people to me to ask for my support for his ambition.
When he saw that last Thursday's court ruling may thwart his ambition and make a waste of the resources he would expend on the venture, he then decided to hide under High Chief Raymond Dokpesi's visit to say he was "stepping down". What kind of deceit is that? Why can't he just for once come straight with his followers and fellow party members and summon the courage to declare his ambition before announcing a stage-managed stepping down story? OGD knows that I know him too well. Let all the minions like Deji Ashaye and his ilk stay clear of me and the issues they know next to nothing about. As Abraham Lincoln said, "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, and all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.". SPBK