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Mallam Nasir el-Rufai: The Unguarded Utterances of Mr. I know it all
Published
1 year agoon
![Nasir El-rufai Is A Threat To National Peace, Represents Taliban’’ – Primate Ayodele Fumes](https://saharaweeklyng.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/WhatsApp-Image-2022-07-04-at-4.05.36-PM.webp)
Mallam Nasir el-Rufai: The Unguarded Utterances of Mr. I know it all.
In his book, The Accidental Civil Servant, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai said former President Olusegun Obasanjo told him that he was going to easily make enemies and be hated because he looked too smart and intelligent. The letter writer was mistaken because there was nothing unusual about el-Rufai’s petite physique that could intimidate anyone, only his loudmouth. Mallam el-Rufai has a way with words, and regardless of who you are, if you hear him talk for five minutes on any subject matter, you will either applaud, loathe, or hate him. He is smart, very articulate, and bold in all his arguments, opinions, and expressions.
I am compelled to write this article because I no longer believe that Mallam el-Rufai’s vituperations and postulations are those of a statesman or a true leader. Furthermore, the way and manner in which he talks about the president and his party is sickening. In fact, el-Rufai wants us to believe that he was single handedly responsible for the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the presidential flagbearer of the APC. As far as the Kaduna state governor is concerned, he was the most critical factor that led to the emergence of Tinubu as the flagbearer of the APC, and he will not rest on his oars until the jagaban becomes the president. That way, the jagaban will be indebted to el-Rufai, the new power broker and leader of the new cabal. I reckon that el-Rufai is working very hard to emerge as our next Mamman Daura.
Recently, el-Rufai was on his Channels to castigate the president as an indecisive leader who is incapable of identifying a successor, and also accuse some people in the Aso villa of working for the defeat of the APC. He stated that those forces in the villa were enraged that their preferred candidate had been defeated in the APC presidential primaries. Before you could say, Jack Robinson, the so called most intelligent and fearless governor in Nigeria was on TVC and BBC Hausa, where he not only expounds on his Channels interview but also says that there are no more elders in the north. He said he is an elder because he is a grandfather and he was twice elected governor, and that those so-called elders in the north don’t deserve to be called elders because they were never elected into political office, as if all that it takes to be an elder is winning an election. Unfortunately for el-Rufai, many Nigerians don’t see him as an elder, and had it been that he was standing for an elective office in this general election, Nigerians would have shown him the red card.
I’m told el-Rufai is a fox who doesn’t care about the APC or even Nigeria as a country. What he is concerned about is his interests and ego. Three years ago, the news was rife that el-Rufai would be paired with Rotimi Ameachi as vice president and president, respectively. The two were like Siamese twins, and as of that time, el-Rufai was always in Abuja meddling with the duties of the vice president just to show that if he ends up becoming vice president, he will be a better one. He did all he could to get Buhari to name him and Amaechi as successors, but the president kept mum. He continued with Ameachi until when he realized that Ameachi was planning to take a former Army chief as his running mate. That was all that el-Rufai needed to change his direction and look for another presidential aspirant who could take him on as a running mate. The fact that el-Rufai refused to contest for any post was because he was eyeing the vice president slot. Since Rotimi Ameachi was planning to take his running mate from the northeast, el-Rufai manipulated and advised the northwest governors to opt for Tunubu as flagbearer of the APC. He did so because he believed Tinubu would choose him as his running mate if he became the APC’s flagbearer. He did that knowing fully well that the president preferred either Yemi Osibanjo or Ameachi to succeed him because of their age, guts, and clean records. But since neither of the two wants to take him as a running mate, they will not get the ticket. He worked tirelessly and encouraged the APC flagbearer to make use of money to win the APC primaries. But alas, Tinubu, despite all the shenanigans and manipulations mounted against him, refused to take the most intelligent governor as his running mate but instead went for Kashim Shettima.
The PDP’s flagbearer is a dangerous man—very dangerous in el-Rufai’s estimation. Life will be hell under an Atiku presidency. Mr. Atiku identified and recommended el-Ruafi to Chief Obasanjo, but el-Rufai betrayed him when Obasanjo gave him the impression that he was going to make him president. There is no love lost between el-Rufai and Atiku, and el-Rufai knows that. For that reason, Tinubu must succeed and become president. No, not because el-Rufai believes in Tinubu but because the flagbearer of the PDP is a sworn enemy. Therefore, when he wrongly thought that some people inside the villa were working for Atiku, he became mad and lost control. He went berserk and began to say things that he could not verify. All I can say here is that no one forced the president to redesign the Naira and give a date for changing it; the president did it on his own. To be fair to el-Rufai, the timing of the idea was wrong. As we can see, the enchilada has become counterproductive simply because the criminals are always a step ahead of the president. At a time when the APC needs the goodwill of Nigerians through their votes, this scarcity of the Naira notes made them frown at the party and even stone the president in Kano when he went for a state visit. The Naira scarcity is a national disgrace because it has dragged the government into fortuitous terrain that they never imagined they would find themselves in. We are now selling our own currency; both APC and PDP stalwarts unleashed their goons to scout and buy new Naira notes for them to the tune of hundreds of millions at a commission. The scarcity had crippled the business of the ordinary man on the street. It has made the APC very unpopular, and el-Rufai like every other Nigerian, has to be worried.
This is not the time for the APC to come out to the public and wash their very dirty linen, which many Nigerians already know. What they need to do is exercise caution, refrain from all unguarded utterances, and work together to see how the APC can win the February 25th elections. I say this because the stakes are high, and the APC cannot afford to treat this election lightly. This is because it will be difficult to rig this election, not just because of the BVAS but also because Nigerians are ready to see that their votes count. But I think what the APC should be worried about is the conspicuous silence and absence of major northern Christian APC stalwarts in the Tinubu campaign train. I am worried about the posturing and indifference of Boss Mustapha, the SGF. I think he is on the same bandwagon as Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Babachir Lawal. Not only that, I also believe that VP Yemi Osinbajo is also against his own party because of his stand against the Christian-Christian ticket. In fact, Tinubu compounded the matter when he picked someone who castigated him as an ice cream seller. Same with Ameachi and a host of others. Regardless of whatever their present position is, the APC must do everything to win them over and make sure that they work for the party. Even though Kashim Shettima hurriedly ran to go and see Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi in the company of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, it is public knowledge that both Sheikh Bauchi and Ibrahim Saleh al-Hussain had endorsed Atiku, and this is something the APC should also worry about.
Why did I ignore Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi, some readers of this post may ask? This is Nigeria, a very distinctive nation with its own distinct quirks. For an Obi presidency, the moment is still not right. The man still doesn’t have widespread appeal. Sen. Kwankwaso would have performed better, but he began his campaign later than expected, and his party’s influence is only in Kano and a few northern states. The upcoming elections in Nigeria will still be heavily influenced by money because Nigerians haven’t learned their lesson, just like when the big boys traveled to Abuja as party delegates to choose the presidential flagbearers, but instead of casting their votes for the candidates who would best serve their moral convictions, they opted to amass money instead.
Given the current political climate, it is essential for all APC leaders to show restraint and abide by the rules of their party and show decorum. Any overzealousness from a party leader, such as the recent statements from el-Rufai, could potentially rock the boat and destabilize the APC. It is therefore important that el-Rufai be cautioned and be advised to work harmoniously with other APC leaders to ensure that their party succeeds. APC leaders as well as PDP leaders strive to remain united and committed to the fundamental principles of democracy in order to ensure a stable and secure nation.
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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact [email protected]
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celebrity radar - gossips
RE NATIONWIDE HARDSHIP PROTEST: A TIMELY WARNING
Published
12 hours agoon
July 26, 2024![THE ISRAEL OF SHAITAN](https://saharaweeklyng.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/femi-fani-kayode.jpg)
RE NATIONWIDE HARDSHIP PROTEST: A TIMELY WARNING.
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Billionaire kidnapper: Untold story of Henry Odenigbo’s exploits as Nollywood actor, producer
Published
14 hours agoon
July 26, 2024![Billionaire kidnapper: Untold story of Henry Odenigbo’s exploits as Nollywood actor, producer](https://saharaweeklyng.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Henry-Odenigbo-.webp)
Billionaire kidnapper: Untold story of Henry Odenigbo’s exploits as Nollywood actor, producer
Being a kidnapper was something that never crossed our minds – Rivers AGN Chairman
•Odenigbo featured only in his own movies, never harassed or owned actors
•I’m scared, says Kelvin Ikeduba who acted in one of his movies ‘Born in the Ghetto’
Fear, shock, and disbelief are the words to describe the reactions of many filmmakers and movie stars in Rivers State where the slain billionaire kidnapper, Henry Odenigbo, held sway as an actor and film producer before he met his Waterloo on July 4 in Lagos.
Ode, as he was popularly called, was the ring leader of a gang of nine kidnappers who targeted wealthy individuals in Lagos. They were killed after a shootout with the police at Ladipo, Mushin area of Lagos.
While he was alive, the late kidnapper who was seen as one of the biggest financiers of movie productions in Rivers, was the owner of Port-Harcourt-based Aso-Rich Production.
But unknown to movie makers in the state, Ode was a kidnap kingpin who was using the production outfit as a camouflage to carry out his nefarious activities.
Fortunately, actors were not his main target.
Narrating how the late billionaire kidnapper, who hailed from Imo State came to be known as an actor and film producer, the Chairman of Actors Guild of Nigeria,AGN, Rivers State chapter, Dr. Ken Osunwa, in a chat with Vanguard, said the late Ode was never close to anybody in the industry, adding that he only featured in his own-sponsored movies.
According to him, the late kidnapper was never a member of AGN, Rivers State, nor a member of Association of Movie Producers, AMP, Rivers State chapter.
Speaking further, Osunwa, who noted that Odenigbo never attended any of their meetings or events, said: “He hailed from Imo State and came to set up a movie production outfit in PH. I’ve already done a disclaimer when the news got to me and people were talking about him as an actor.
“Yes, he was acting in his own-sponsored movies and not practising in Nollywood, Rivers State, in the sense that he never featured in other people’s productions.
“To the best of my knowledge, Ode never had an issue with other practitioners in the state. I was never called to settle issues with him and others.’’
He, however, acknowledged the fact that the late billionaire kidnapper never owed any actor, director or producers who worked for him.
“He was bringing different actors, producers and directors to work for him and at the end of it, he paid off everyone.
“He invested in the Nollywood industry like any other investor. Nobody knew his source of wealth and when I received the news of his killing by the police in Lagos, I was very surprised. I thank God that all our actors who were working with him are safe and fine. Nobody was missing and from the report from his production, he was not owing anybody.”
Besides producing movies, the late Henry Odenigbo also had a Film Academy, called Ason Rich Movie Academy, where he trained cameramen, scriptwriters, actors, producers and directors, sound mixers, make-up artists, and production managers, among others.
Before his death, Ode was promoting a one-month intensive training opportunity for youths on his Instagram page, which was supposed to kick off on Monday, August 5, and run till August 31, in Rivers. But that dream is gone with his exit.
Recounting how Ode recently completed his last production before his exit, Osunwa said he (Henry Odenigbo) as a kidnapper, was something that never crossed their minds in Rivers State, adding ‘’This is because he was nice to the people that worked for him.”
Meanwhile, as a way of stopping a recurrence of the ugly incident in future, Osunwa said his group had started profiling every production house in Rivers State to know their identities as well and get acquainted with them, to monitor closely whatever they were doing.
“We have also started sensitizing our members on how to identify fake production houses in the state. Like in every sector of our society, there are different kinds of human beings operating with a different mindset. We must fight them to avoid ruining our sector,” Osunwa added.
One of the popular actors, Kelvin Ikeduba, who featured in one of the late kidnapper’s movies, “Born in the Ghetto” which was released early last month, said he was scared when he heard the news of Odenigbo’s death.
He was thankful that nothing happened to him while on the set of the deceased’s movie.
The actor said: “I only featured in one of his movies, ‘Born in the Ghetto.’ They would have killed them before now. I was scared. I went to work in PH, what if there was no job and they came up with a plan? Who knows!
‘’I am very happy with the news of their death. For me, it’s a big testimony. Do you know what it means when someone comes every day to pick you up in the hotel without you knowing what they are doing for a living?’’
He added that the director, Ifeanyi Akanaga, invited him to be part of the production.
However, disassociating Nollywood from the slain kidnapper, the President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria, DGN, Dr Victor Okhai, said what happened was a call for ‘a united Nollywood’, where they would be privileged to know who is who in the industry.
He argued that while bad eggs were also found in other sectors, the slain kidnapper was never a member of any guild in Nollywood.
Similarly, the President of the Association of Movie Practitioners, AMPRAC, Ifeanyi Azodo, said checks on AMPRAC’s database showed that the late kidnapper was never a member of the association, adding that people of questionable character were never admitted into the association
In a disclaimer, Osunwa dissociated the AGN from the filmmaker, Odenigbo alongside three other persons who claimed to be film practitioners.
The guild, in a statement, said the three persons who died in the shootout with the police at Ladipo were not their members.
The statement read: “The Rivers State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria at this moment, disclaims any affiliation with the individuals who tragically lost their lives in a recent kidnap incident in Lagos. Specifically, Prince Henry Asonna (Executive Producer of Aso Rich), Angel Emanuzo (Associate Producer), Chris Ahaneku (Logistics Manager-Aso Rich), and Jerry Eze (Camera Assistant) were not members of our guild. They were not part of our organization.
“They have never been associated with our guild events and are not on our register. They were not affiliated with us, to the best of my knowledge, and we condemn any false associations and news making the rounds that AGN members from Rivers State were involved in the kidnapping.”
Veteran actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, also cautioned the public on his Instagram page against referring to the slain kidnapper as a movie producer.
In the same vein, AGN’s Financial Secretary, Emeka Duru, frowned on associating the slain kidnappers with Nollywood, saying “Because they made a movie is not doing justice to the industry.”
Meanwhile, in 2024 alone, Odenigbo’s outfit, Ason-Rich Movie Production, produced over ten films, including ‘Born in the Ghetto’, ‘Love At The Pool’, ‘My Half’, ‘Little Top Up’, ‘Regards for Love’, “Wild Love”, ‘Clue Girl’, ‘Blind Blood’, ‘To Forgive’, “Sharon’s Fate”, which featured Yul Edochie, and ‘Bethlehem.’
In 2022, he produced such movies as “Royal Ties” among others.
The late kidnapper worked with famous actors, such as Yul Edochie, Kelvin Ikeduba, and Eve Esin. But checks also revealed that he mostly worked with fast-rising actors or relatively unknown faces in the industry.
As an actor who was always posting all his movie jackets on Instagram, the late kidnapper portrayed bad-boy roles and wielded guns in movies, as seen in one of his most recent roles in “Blind Blood” as posted on his Instagram page on April 26. He was also honoured on March 16, 2024, when organizers of Nollywood Indigenous Filmmakers of Nigeria, NIFMON, awarded him the ‘Best Filmmaker in Port Harcourt’.
Weeks later, on March 31, E-flex named him Nolly TV’s Best Grassroot Filmmaker for 2024/2025.
By By Benjamin Njoku
@VANGUARD
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Tinubu Issues Stern Warning Against Protest With Destructive Tendencies
Published
14 hours agoon
July 26, 2024![RE NATIONWIDE HARDSHIP PROTEST: A TIMELY WARNING.](https://saharaweeklyng.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/18606005_tinubu1024x575_webp83946faa8933377acdb7f88ed2005751.webp)
Tinubu Issues Stern Warning Against Protest With Destructive Tendencies
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in Abuja emphasized the importance of sustaining democracy, its norms and institutions, noting that protests are an integral part of democracy but that no government will condone demonstrations that lead to the destruction of lives and property.
The President spoke at the Presidential Villa when he received a Letter of Credence from the newly appointed United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Richard Mills Jr.
”Our relationship with America is rich. We believe in democracy and freedom. Some of your predecessors worked hard during our transition to democracy, and we remember the likes of Ambassador Howard Jeter.
”We look forward to Nigeria and the United States continuously working to expand cooperation on shared goals and democratic values.
”During the military era, we made our voices heard against dictatorship, and I was part of the group that engaged in peaceful protests without resorting to the destruction of property.
”We have worked hard to ensure 25 years of unbroken democracy and I will continue to maintain this democracy.
”In as much as we believe that demonstrations are part of democracy, we will never encourage any protests that lead to the destruction of lives and property,” the President stated.
Welcoming the U.S. State Department’s acknowledgement of Nigeria’s strategic role on the continent as Africa’s largest democracy, President Tinubu called on the U.S. government to pay more attention to Africa.
”Nigeria is ready to play its role as the largest democracy in Africa that is worthy of emulation to other African countries, but we need more U.S. partnership on the continent that is beneficial to both sides.
”We believe in freedom, and we are providing the leadership to make Nigeria’s economy grow,” the President said.
Ambassador Mills affirmed U.S. support for Nigeria’s democracy and pledged support for bigger roles for Nigeria in the international arena.
”Nigeria is crucial to the United States because we share democratic values, and we are ready to give you all the support.
”I am here to make sure that the relationship blossoms both on democracy and the economic side,” Ambassador Mills said.
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