₦airaland Forum

absoluteSuccess:
He handed over a proposal to Okadigbo at Muson centre. The party endorsed the logo and became instant success. Nobody remember they owe the guy appreciation. Then the guy began to press for it.

saints2:
What do you expect from the party of thieves and rogues?

Change2015

Laid2001:
From VANGUARD on February 07, 2015 / in Features 7:08 pm / Comments

PDP keeps dribbling me, 17 years after designing its umbrella logo – Gbenga Amobonye

BY LEKAN BILESANMI

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, in one of the on-going campaign rallies for this year’s general elections, told on excited crowd that the party will continue to do well if it refrains from the habit of using and dumping its members. To situate this statement in its proper context, until 1998, there was no name like the PDP.

The name became famous, perhaps than other parties, because it was the party of choice when it was founded to usher in the new political dispensation in 1999. The name, however, is not as popular as its logo, the umbrella. The party is so popular that sometimes, only its logo would suffice. The now celebrated logo was designed by a journalist, Gbenga Amobonye.


Gbenga Amobonye
However, Amobonye’s effort to the success of the party today appears an oversight as some have suggested. Thunder does not strike on the same spot twice. If after repeated efforts to get the party’s hierarchy to see the need why this unsung hero should be rewarded and, at every effort, there is a brick wall, one is quick to align with its Chairman’s postulation of use and dump. Amobonye wrote several letters to the party leadership without any response. Well, if the letters did not get to the addressee, the addressee cannot be blocked from reading Amobonye’s thoughts on the pages of newspapers.

He said, in one of the letters,” I proposed umbrella to the party in 1998 as its symbol and it was carried with spontaneous applause and commendation. The proposal for the adoption of the umbrella as symbol of the then emerging political party, PDP, was presented on my behalf by one time President of the Senate, the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, in his capacity as Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the political association, whose responsibility, it was, to consider a name and symbol for the association, in preparation for its registration as a political party with the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC”. His proposed symbol was not only accepted but was approved by the party hierarchy.

However, in year 2000, according to the letter, Okadigbo introduced him to the then party Chairman, Chief Barnabas Gemade, as ‘ the man who gave PDP its logo, and said, please do something for him’. Gemade never did even when Amobonye had to officially write him. His persistent efforts appeared to be paying off when he learnt that the Special Assistant to the then National Secretary, Senator Aniete Okon, signed a letter addressed to some founding fathers of the party on the issue.

It read, “I am directed to forward here the letter dated 27th June,2001 from Mr Gboyega Amobonye, Abuja Bureau Chief, National Concord Press of Nigeria Ltd, to our National Chairman claiming he suggested the umbrella symbol at the foundation stage of our great party, for your kind attention and advice. It will be appreciated if you throw more light on this matter to help the National Working Committee, NWC.”

Segun Adeniyi, the Thisday Editorial Chairman, on December 15, 2002, published an interview with the late Okadigbo where he said, ” The name PDP was suggested by me at the Muson Centre in Lagos, including the symbol. There was a certain Yoruba guy from Concord Newspaper who wrote me a letter which had this symbol of umbrella, I thought it was interesting. So, I read it out and it was adopted”.

Evidence abound to show that indeed Amobonye was the brain behind the symbol through the collaborative claims of important party members.

One-time PDP Publicity Secretary, Gbenga Olawepo, in an interview with the defunct Monitor Newspaper of September 30,2001, corroborated the claim of the late Okadigbo. Olawepo, in the interview, was expressing his view on his suspension and eventual expulsion from the party. He said: ’You, Gbenga Amobonye, even submitted the proposal for our symbol which we adopted at the Muson Centre, Lagos. Was Gemade at the meeting? That was when we were considering the logo and everything, you made a proposal. You know the story of the PDP better. How can any of these people now say they are sacking me from the party?”

Amobonye said he would continue to appeal to the PDP leadership rather than resorting to legal action over the logo issue, hoping that they would have a change of heart.” I think this option I have been pursuing is far better than the legal option you are asking me about. If you believe in a cause, see it to the end, and that is what I intend to do. I will continue to appeal to them, particularly Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the Chairman and President Goodluck Jonathan, the party leader, to see my little contribution to what the party is today and duly acknowledge it .

I have written another letter to the President explaining my stand on the issue. I am yet to get a reply. Yes, it is true that this is an intellectual property issue which ordinarily should resort to litigation. But what do I stand to benefit ultimately if I drag the party to court? If my design, which is my sweat, is appreciated by the party and adopted it as its official symbol, and the same party is now the largest on the continent, apart from being the ruling party since about 16 years now, I should be glad that my effort is what everybody is trying to associate with. So, I will continue to appeal to them, particularly through your widely read medium”.

Amobonye appealed to President Good luck Jonathan to appreciate his foundation effort that has led to the success of the party today.” I, most respectfully, therefore, crave Mr President’s kind indulgence that I may be so recognised, acknowledged and compensated for my intellectual property.

I am appealing to Mr President, in his capacity as the leader of the party and father of the nation, having failed to receive due attention of every Chairman of the party to whom I have been appealing since 1999-from Chief Barnabas Gemade to the incumbent and skilful crises manager, former action governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, whose letter was delivered and acknowledged on April 14, 2014”. Just as the effort of the Nigerian flag designer, Pa Akinwunmi, was eventually acknowledged and appreciated by the Jonathan administration, let us hope that he would also do same for Amobonye.

Source : http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/pdp-keeps-dribbling-17-years-designing-umbrella-logo-gbenga-amobonye/#sthash.hN9LvmoO.dpuf

Iyowuski:
but wait o...wetin d man want na?

babyosisi:
I am trying to figure that out

Iyowuski:
abeg try o..
becos am just seeing a hungry man

jhydebaba:
Na wah oh! so the foundation of the party is not built on solid rock? laughable.

Mrespest2014:
Today, I had less than 1hr of electricity, no hope that my eyes will see light today. I wonder if those who face lightotrauma(a slight mental sickness that results from unavailability/low voltage electricity) like me will vote for GEJ, who said more private jets acquired is a sign of improved economy. He doesn't care about the masses, he doesn't care about 170million people suffering from lightotrauma(not in dictionary).

olajide8:
Shameful things - the political atmosphere would become so tensed* it would taste sour in the mouth* what a useless set of people - security chiefs* wanting to ensure successful rigging* #ekitigate is still their O! Despicable people*

MAYOWAAK:
"SIX WEEKS....SIX EVENTS.... It's no news that the elections have been postponed by six(6) week. What is somewhat lost on Nigerians and which will probably unfold in those six(6) weeks are what I want to go public with.

Here is a list of such events:

1. They will probably get an injuction from a court of competence jurisdiction disqualifying Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for the next elections. Their suit will be given an accelerated hearing at the High Court, but appeal against such judgment won't be given the same priority at the Appeal Court. It will surely not get to the Supreme Court before the new election date.

2. To justify the threat of insecurity some states like Kaduna, Bauchi, Katsina, might be hit by the "sleeper cells" of Boko Haram in those states. Rivers will probably witness a violent clash between supporters of the APC and the PDP. Also a violent clash between LASTMA officials and the FERMA/SURE-P Task Force is envisaged. This is to see the imposition of curfew in those states or some of it.

3. There can also be an attempt on the life of Prof. Jega, or the Presidency might come up with some "indicting" document to either force his resignation or sack.

4. INEC record or data centre might be gutted by fire..

5. Chad will surely rid Nigeria of the insurgents and probably get some part of Borno and Yobe ceded to them which is rich with minerals and oil deposit.

6. The "snipers", DSS and the DMI will move against some civilians and miltary personnel for coup plotting, treason, and complicity in the insurgency plaguing the nation...

After going through this, some might see it as "wild conjecture", my imagination running wide and wild, and it might just turn out to be the events which will unfold in the next six weeks.... It might just be a case of Six weeks, six events..."

jhydebaba:
Na wah oh! so the foundation of the party is not built on solid rock? laughable.

acidtalk:
IF YOU DON'T KICK THEM OUT OF POWER THIS ELECTION THEY ARE LIKELY TO DRIBBLE YOUR NEXT 10 GENERATIONS YET UNBORN.





Fellow compatriots the time has come again to decide our future and the future of our generation even yet unborn.

In about a week from now, we will be taking a decision to determine how things will play out in our lives in the next four years and beyond.

Have you decided on who you want to trust in handling the Security, Economy, Youth Development, Healthcare, Education, and General improvement of the affairs of Nigeria and its citizens? If you haven’t now is the time to realize something.

1) We trusted the last 6years into the hands of a man who people felt his “luck” might bring Luck to the land because of the way he has always risen to power but unfortunately, one man’s favour from God isn’t enough to bring about solution to the land.

2) A man who travels abroad for the slightest flu while ignoring the healthcare system of the entire nation

3) A man whose 6years in power could boast of ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

4) A man whose campaign was based on personal attacks on his opponent about events that too place OVER 30YEARS AGAIN. Whereas can not boast of achieving anything in the last 6years.

5) A man who claims he doesn’t give a DAMN about not declaring his assets and also claims STEALING IS NOT CORRUPTION

6) A man who gallivants with corrupt past and present individuals while ignoring honest and upright individuals in the land.

7) A man who can defend supposed militants in the October 1st Abuja bomb attack only to come several years later to LIE that the same militants he defended years back attempted to kill him just because the militants are not in support of his government.

8 ) A man whose wife controls almost all critical national issues. Fellow Nigerians ask yourself this question and be honest about it; “can Michael Obama debate of political, security, and governance issue in America? But yet we see nothing wrong in Patience Jonathan peddling into national issues.

9) A man whose ONLY achievement in 6years is boasting of some outdated railway construction that 98% of the Nigerian population do not make use of.

10) A man who under his watch Nigeria can’t boast of a National Carrier yet he has 5 presidential jet to his name and has helped all his associated acquire theirs.

11) A country that sells forms to unemployed Nigerians only to DUPE the same JOBLESS youths as neither the government or the agencies have any job for the youths.

12) A country whose Universities were close for over 6 months and polytechnics for over a year.

13) A country whose medical health workers go on strike all year round leading to millions of people’s sudden death.

14) A country whose citizens die in their thousands on a weekly basis without the president saying or doing absolutely nothing yet the same president sends messages to a country who lost JUST 5 citizens.

15) A president who has emptied the countries foreign reserve and yet cooks up report to hide his elicit acts

The list is endless my fellow Nigerians. This is the time to end all religious and ethnic sentiments and vote in an upright man.
A man who has NO TRACE of any corruption activities and whose associates have all performed averagely well as governors in their various states.

LETS BE WISE. OUR FUTURE IS AT STAKE. WE CAN’T AFFORD TO WASTE THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AGAIN.

VOTE OUT JONATHAN EBELE AZIKIWE BECAUSE WE HAVE TESTED HIM AND HE PROVED HE ISN’T A MAN TO GIVE A SECOND CHANCE TO.

Beehshorp:
How much did buhari pay you?

MAYOWAAK:
"SIX WEEKS....SIX EVENTS.... It's no news that the elections have been postponed by six(6) week. What is somewhat lost on Nigerians and which will probably unfold in those six(6) weeks are what I want to go public with.

Here is a list of such events:

1. They will probably get an injuction from a court of competence jurisdiction disqualifying Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for the next elections. Their suit will be given an accelerated hearing at the High Court, but appeal against such judgment won't be given the same priority at the Appeal Court. It will surely not get to the Supreme Court before the new election date.

2. To justify the threat of insecurity some states like Kaduna, Bauchi, Katsina, might be hit by the "sleeper cells" of Boko Haram in those states. Rivers will probably witness a violent clash between supporters of the APC and the PDP. Also a violent clash between LASTMA officials and the FERMA/SURE-P Task Force is envisaged. This is to see the imposition of curfew in those states or some of it.

3. There can also be an attempt on the life of Prof. Jega, or the Presidency might come up with some "indicting" document to either force his resignation or sack.

4. INEC record or data centre might be gutted by fire..

5. Chad will surely rid Nigeria of the insurgents and probably get some part of Borno and Yobe ceded to them which is rich with minerals and oil deposit.

6. The "snipers", DSS and the DMI will move against some civilians and miltary personnel for coup plotting, treason, and complicity in the insurgency plaguing the nation...

After going through this, some might see it as "wild conjecture", my imagination running wide and wild, and it might just turn out to be the events which will unfold in the next six weeks.... It might just be a case of Six weeks, six events..."