news
MIKE ADENUGA: 70 TIMES A GENIUS -BY OLABODE OPESEITAN
Published
2 years agoon

MIKE ADENUGA: 70 TIMES A GENIUS -BY OLABODE OPESEITAN
PROLOGUE
This is a celebration of an exceptional African business icon and enigma from an insider perspective.
THE ENIGMA
It was one of those activity-choked days when his meetings lasted till very late in the night. Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. had, a few moments earlier, closed his last meeting for the day with senior managers in his signature style. “Well, everyone to himself, God for us all,” he said with reverence, yet commandingly and reassuringly. With everyone released, he treated the remaining files on his desk, passed them to his secretary and crossed over from his Oval Office at the golden building to his palatial residence, which he fittingly christened ‘Bellissima on the waterfront’. Bellissima is an Italian word coined from bella, which means gorgeous, and issima, an absolute superlative. Bellissima, the name, absolutely complements the gorgeousness of the immaculate white buildings at the Adenuga villas and their coral-coloured roofs. You would think, at that wee hour, he was heading straight to bed once he got home. No Sir!
Dr. Adenuga is genetically fortunate to require only about three to four hours of sleep a day. The influential Wall Street Journal calls his kind the sleep-less elite who need just a few hours of sleep to function normally. In that mold are the likes of Tim Cook of Apple and former American President Donald J. Trump. Sometimes, he would make a few calls to give some follow-up instructions or review some aspects of his last meetings. Then, he would pour himself a glass of one of the smoothest cognacs in the world, relax and journey back to the past couple of hours to dissect his previous day, reflectively.
That, for Dr. Adenuga is a spiritual voyage of sorts where he tries to set matters straight between himself and the people he had encountered. Meditatively, he would ask himself, ‘Was I fair to him? Was she fair to me? Is there any additional value to explore and get a better result beyond the ideas the various teams from Globacom to Conoil Producing, Conoil Plc, Cobblestone Properties & Estate and others presented? How can we optimize our assets?’ He could be at this for up to three or four hours before calling it a day. That is how the genius mindset of Chairman Adenuga works. Upon deep reflection, if in the previous day there was anyone the Chairman felt he was unfair to, he would make amends, often not in an apology but in voluntary compensatory actions. If there was anyone he felt was unfair to him, he would also take corrective measures. As generous as he frequently is, he doesn’t spare the rods when he needs to make people account for their misdeeds. Where he acts the fastest is on any matter that could stimulate business growth. He takes whatever action is required to get results, particularly where the opportunity is hot and fresh, even if it requires a trip to the most distant part of the world. There were people in the Mike Adenuga Group who had travelled to the US, Europe, China and other parts of Africa and had no clue they were travelling as close as four to 24 hours before they boarded their flights. No other business leader I have known can match his mettle when it comes to pulling all the strings to get a difficult result. That perhaps is the strongest staying power of an icon his admirers call the Great Guru.
HOW HE PRESIDES OVER MEETINGS
Dr. Adenuga is a strict disciplinarian who runs his organisations with traits of the command-and-control structure of a military hierarchy. A perfectionist, he expects his officials and consultants to be prompt, organised, adequately prepared and conform to the rules of his office. “You can’t do that here. This is the Office of the Chairman”, he would thunder and remind anyone stepping out of line. He is irritated by tardiness and unintelligent responses. A voracious reader and intellectual explorationist, he ceaselessly brings himself up to speed on the latest trends in the businesses he is involved in, from oil exploration to the downstream, banking to finance, real estate, hospitality, road construction and telecommunications. You cannot pull the wool over his eyes. One moment he is discussing the network configuration management system for Globacom with his technical team, the next moment, he is discussing the result of geological surveys and offshore/onshore drilling of oil with his Conoil Producing management team. The same day, he is getting feedback from his representatives at Julius Berger, where he has controlling shares, and Cobblestone, the multibillion real estate company which has luxurious properties spread across the land. This is just a snippet of his regular undertakings. He probably would have slowed it down by now.
He is also politically and economically savvy. He has unassailable strategies on how to fix the Nigerian economy. I can just imagine how much Nigerian and African leaders can tap from his profound solutions, most of which are a bigger bang for the buck, even without asking to be paid any buck. It’s there just for the asking!
How long or short he spends with every presenting team depends on how much value he gets from or adds to the presentation. He needs only a few slides to decide if a presentation is worth his precious time. Yet, he displays a disarming humility, especially when there are visiting consultants or advisers. He is quick to spot and convert opportunities. He sees the boardroom and an entire organisation like a football team where only the players in good form keep their shirts. “Everyone must fight for his shirt”, he would say. Yet, he shows the milk of human kindness to his people. He gets personal with employees he often interacts with, cares about their welfare over and beyond the benefits they get from the system. Dr. Adenuga is also a powerful storyteller who has shared several aspects of his life relevant to topics under discussion with officials during or after meetings.
HOW HE KEEPS VALUABLE STAFF
Despite his strict regimen and famous quote of, “We may laugh and play together, don’t let the hierarchy be lost on you,” Dr. Adenuga is among the most involved and most caring employers of labour you can ever see. When a valued staff departs voluntarily or is asked to quit over certain developments, the Chairman does not see it as a permanent separation. If there is an opening later and he remembers any of the former staff he rates as ‘livewires’ who can fill the void, he will go after such staff, entice, appeal, incentivize or take any step necessary to bring him/her back. Dr. Adenuga goes as far as speaking directly to the staff or sending emissaries to them to gain their confidence and rekindle their collaboration. Biblical? Perhaps, yes. Leaders can leave a herd and go after a lost or missing sheep. For a business leader who can afford to hire any staff from anywhere in the world, that is a rare act of humility, large-heartedness and pragmatism. About two years after I had left Globacom in 2020, I got a surprise call from the Chairman. “Bode, mo ti’n wa e. Nibo lo wa lat’ojo yi (Bode, I have been looking for you, where have you been all this while)? Then he added, “We shouldn’t be far from each other. I shouldn’t be looking for you when I need you or you, looking for me when you need me. There is no easy way to say goodbye but there can be a pleasant way”. I thanked him for his fatherly admonition, and we have kept in touch ever since. The truth is that the Chairman really does not need me to the point of seeking me out. It is just his nature to be kind to his employees and friends he considered valuable when they were with him.
ROLE IN TURNING WIZ KID, OTHERS INTO GLOBAL STARS
The world today celebrates Wizkid , Burna Boy and other Nigerian music superstars who have become global icons. Dr. Adenuga played a big part in accelerating their journeys into global reckoning. He instructed his management team to engage the fledgling music stars then as brand ambassadors and take them on musical and comedy tours across the country. Many of them had the opportunity to perform in different parts of Nigeria for the first time, courtesy of the Adenuga gesture. Empowerment is one of the core reasons he founded Globacom. He wanted the fish seller in Epe or the yam seller in Aboh Mbaise or the farmer in Dawakin, Kano to be able to reach their customers and boost their trade. When things were tough for comedians, Nollywood stars and musicians, the endorsement and performance fees they got from Globacom helped in no small way to see them through. Many of the beneficiaries are eternally grateful for that deed. His impact was also felt in football across Nigeria, Ghana and at CAF where he pumped millions of dollars to promote and develop African football for almost two decades.
ADENUGA’S EXTENSIVE CONNECTIONS
The Chairman has an extensive network of connections, and he has kept many of them in his closest circle over the years. In the innermost of the circle are the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who is his older cousin, the Esama of Benin, Sir Cabriel Igbinedion, and his son, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, boardroom guru Mr. Bode Emmanuel, General IBM Haruna, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Dr. Seyi Roberts and Chief Obi Adimora. This list is by no means exhaustive. Another of the elite senior friends is General Ipoola Alani Akinrinade, whom he met as the big brother of his close childhood friend. He has nurtured a sublime friendship with the Akinrinades over the years. He is particularly fond of General Akinrinade, who was kind to them in those days when the youngsters were trying to find their feet. The powerful list also includes past and present heads of state across the world, Governors, Senators, traditional rulers, professionals, friends and associates. Many thought he would be in a dilemma when two of his friends, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, went head-to-head in the last presidential election. They forgot that he is a boardroom virtuoso who understands the dynamics of leadership contests in Nigeria and would never be caught in the crossfire. His strategy over time is to leave politicking to politicians and stay in his comfort zone, the boardroom and business management.
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS CHILDREN
Like every caring and doting father, the Chairman loves his children to bits. He spoils them with gifts and finds time to attend to them despite his extremely busy schedule. He prioritises family dinner which could be at least once a week, often after watching movies together at the family’s luxuriant cinema hall. He also comes hard on them when they get on the wrong side of his strict rules. He once told one of his children whom he had to compel to attend a meeting after requesting to be excused, “Come rain or shine, I’m at this desk, working. If I can do that without giving excuses, then you shouldn’t give excuses. The only thing I owe you is to give you a good education. Afterwards, if you want to stay here, you are welcome, but you must adhere to my instructions”. Surely, he cherishes them and will do anything for them, but he wants to train them in his strict disciplinarian way, believing this will strengthen them in sustaining the huge legacy he is bestowing on them. Everyone close to the Adenugas knows that his scions have also fully embraced the ethos of hard work wholeheartedly and they are adept at what they do. He once told me after a meeting at his Oko-Awo home office, shortly before relocating to the Banana Island home, that his wish was to hand over his flourishing empire to his children.
ADENUGA’S LEGENDARY GENEROSITY
Dr. Adenuga’s generosity is legendary. He gives personal rewards like no other #billionaire, except for probably a few like Oprah Winfrey. “If God has given you this kind of resources, it is not for you and your family alone”, he would say. That is the guiding philosophy influencing the way he reaches out through his wealth.
All year round, he splashes generous gifts on extended family, friends, associates, staff and the less privileged. The gifts could range from exotic brand-new cars to expensive perfumes, designer bags, designer wristwatches and cash. And during every festive season, he has a long list of beneficiaries he touches with life-transforming gifts; some on rotation, others in perpetuity. He is detailed and exquisitely tasteful, not only in the quality of gifts but also in the manner the gifts are presented. His Christmas cards are not only the best designed but the first to arrive. Recipients have treated them as valuables to be proudly displayed. He is unorthodox in living out his precepts. He does things his own way and the Chairman acts and moves when he wants to. He doesn’t like to be over pressurised.
His company, Globacom, recently revamped and furnished the rundown home of a former national football hero, Peter Fregene, who had been in financial distress. That altruism has the imprimatur of Dr. Adenuga written all over it. He feels a deep sense of inexplicable joy when he sends his team to look for and rehabilitate Nigerians whose predicaments caught his attention. Sometimes, he would send his team to go and enquire about the well-being of a friend and associate he had not heard from in a while and ensure such was well taken care of. He also loves enabling empowerment promotions, using his companies to give out jaw-dropping prizes like houses, cars, hefty sums of money and tools of trade such as sewing machines and tricycles, among others.
HOW HE INDULGES SELF
The chairman enjoys the good things of life and pampers himself in remarkable ways. Yet, he believes that if it is not broken, don’t fix it. At his Oko-Awo, VI, Lagos office, he used the same TV sets for over a decade before finally giving the nod for them to be changed. His car preferences include Mercedes Benz G Wagon, Range Rover, sports cars, Toyota Landcruiser and Bentley. For some reason, he keeps his distance from Rolls Royce.
He also has a fleet of private jets, including the recently acquired Dassault Falcon, a quiet, productive, beautiful and luxurious executive jet built to withstand stormy weather. Named Sisi Paris after one of his grandchildren, the Dassault Falcon is a beauty in the air.
He has palatial homes in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Accra, London and Johannesburg. The Lagos villa is the most extensive of them all with numerous mansions, a chapel, a purpose-built auditorium, an office tower, a general office for his private staff and an executive holding bay for visitors, a residence for domestic staff, a gym, an Olympic size swimming pool, a helipad and a boat dock. The Chairman is a connoisseur of excellent wine, champagne and a power dresser who sets his own dressing standards. Occasionally, he invites special friends over to spend the evening with him and can arrange for top-of-the-range entertainers to tickle their fancy, even if they are just a couple. Sometimes, he also arranges to have dinner or lunch with his best performing staff, often at some of the choicest restaurants in town. Always looking out for the comfort of his people, he would scan the room at regular intervals and nudge those who were not relaxed enough to drink or eat more.
A GENIUS LIKE NO OTHER
As a business icon, he reacts to issues in a manner totally different from many other business elites. No matter the storm, he is always calm. Dr. Adenuga has spent a substantial part of the last two and a half decades of his life nurturing Globacom to the giant brand it has become. He built it all from the ground up, spending thousands of painstaking days and nights with his team. In the process, he has been celebrated locally and globally, at times maligned and a few times persecuted. He has stepped on toes; others have stepped on his toes. Sometimes, he would get his team to defend his honour, at other times, he would let it slide. He knew he could not please everyone and he endeavours to fix his shortcomings. In later years, he developed a thick skin to extreme critics. When he sees a profound gesture or publication celebrating his exploits, he reaches out to express his gratitude, sometimes personally. He likes to keep his head under the parapet, as he loves to frame it.
Dr. Adenuga has never confronted any government in power. He would always devise his own ingenious way to co-exist harmoniously with the government of the day. He believes he has too much at stake to take on any government. He uses diplomacy, tact and rapprochement to reconcile differences. He told renowned broadcaster Bisi Olatilo in a rare interview, “Big businesses don’t fight government. They work with government”.
The most vindictive government for Dr. Adenuga remains the Olusegun Obasanjo regime, which even forced him to go into self exile. From various reports, Obasanjo wanted him (Dr. Adenuga) to implicate General Babangida and lie to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the General owns Globacom. ‘Once you confirm that to Nuhu, everything will be fine’, he was instructed. At that time, Nuhu Ribadu was the Chairman of EFCC. Adenuga couldn’t understand why anyone would want him to lie against himself over his own business. Adenuga refused. He was hounded out of town and the rest is now history. For General Babangida, that was a commendable act of courage by Adenuga for refusing to accede to a trumped-up charge to implicate him (Babangida), ruin his reputation and then possibly give his traducers the weapon they need to prosecute him.
HIS LOVE FOR SOYINKA, MAITAMA SULE, OJUKWU
Dr. Adenuga is a master strategist. When he launched Globacom, he chose Glo with Pride as the payoff line. It was a rallying call to the entire nation to be proud of our heritage and accomplishments. To ingrain the brand in the heart of fellow countrymen as a national hero to treasure, he sought out the support of Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka; one of Nigeria’s finest diplomats, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, and the Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. They all had one thing in common. They were elder statesmen who were respected vastly in their spheres of influence. After some convincing, they agreed to do it to support a young man who was making the nation proud. Professor Soyinka was a tough nut to crack. He made it categorically clear that he wouldn’t do brand endorsements. Dr. Adenuga counted on the poet’s closest allies such as Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi to convince him to support the vision on the condition that his (Professor Soyinka’s) message would not be used for product endorsements. When the messages were launched on national television, they became an instant hit across the country. As the first fully owned Nigerian telecommunication brand to be launched after two foreign brands in the same category had enjoyed a two-year head start, Globacom needed such a tremendous intervention to stand a chance. It complemented the Per-Second Billing narrative and propelled Globacom to become the darling of the nation.
LET THE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN
To all fond admirers of Dr. Adenuga worldwide, it is an extraordinary moment of inestimable joy to see an icon of this magnitude clock the ripe age of 70 on April 29, 2023. This is not the moment to nitpick about his life or start documenting his shortcomings. This is a period to soak ourselves in unadulterated joy as we commemorate an exceptional national asset, father, husband, uncle, mentor, visionary, philosopher and juggernaut. Wherever you are on April 29, please fill your glass and let us toast to the good health and longer life of this incredible achiever who holds the highest national honour of three major countries, including the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) in Nigeria, Companion of the Star of Ghana and Commander of the Legion of Honour in France.
Forbes Billionaires.Africa Billionaires Newswire
Emmanuel Macron Goodluck Jonathan Nana Akuffo-Addo John Dramani Mahama Babajide Adenuga Paddy Adenuga
Mike Adenuga
Related
Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

You may like
Politics
UNFOLDING STORY: FAKE NANS PRESIDENT ATIKU ISAH EXPOSED…
Published
1 day agoon
May 3, 2025
UNFOLDING STORY: FAKE NANS PRESIDENT ATIKU ISAH EXPOSED…
SOURCES CONFIRM SEYI TINUBU WILL INITIATE CRIMINAL DEFAMATION PROCEEDINGS.
Seyi Tinubu, son of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, has been falsely accused by a certain Atiku Abubakar Isah – a cleric associated with prominent political opposition figures, who fraudulently claimed to be the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), of leading armed men to disrupt a NANS inauguration event in Abuja and threatening his life.
Seyi Tinubu has categorically denied these allegations, labelling them as baseless and criminally defamatory. He stated, “Enough is enough with these fake stories and defamation of my character.”
Sources close to the event reported no evidence of Seyi Tinubu’s presence at the specific event venue or any prior interaction between the two men, and neither the hotel management nor law enforcement agencies confirmed any incident involving him. The hotel management has also clarified further, stating that there was no booking for a NANS event at their hotel.
Additionally, the legitimacy of Comrade Atiku Abubakar Isah’s claim to the NANS presidency has been questioned by the incumbent and immediate past NANS leadership, with some groups labelling him an impostor and others providing evidence to debunk Atiku Isah’s claims of ever meeting Seyi Tinubu.
The Nigerian President’s son is expected to pursue criminal defamation proceedings in the coming days.
PN Nigeria
Related
society
NANS ZONAL STRUCTURE DISOWNS ATIKU ABUBAKAR ISAH, DECLARES OMOYELE SOWORE AND HIS PLATFORM AS BETRAYAL OF THE STRUGGLE
Published
2 days agoon
May 2, 2025
NANS ZONAL STRUCTURE DISOWNS ATIKU ABUBAKAR ISAH, DECLARES OMOYELE SOWORE AND HIS PLATFORM AS BETRAYAL OF THE STRUGGLE
The attention of the leadership of the zonal structures of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has been drawn to the ignoble actions and utterances of one Comrade Atiku Abubakar Isah, who recently declared himself as the President of NANS-an act which is both illegal and deceitful.
It is utterly disappointing that a senior cadre like Comr. Abubakar Atiku, whose active participation in NANS dates back to between 2000 and 2010, would resort to such desperate antics. More alarming is the fact that this same individual contested the Kogi State governorship election under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the recent off-cycle election, yet today has descended so low as to impersonate the office of NANS President without contesting or even participating in the democratic process of the recently concluded NANS Convention.
We are shocked beyond measure that Comr. Abubakar Atiku, an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the only institution he attended as a student activist, has allowed himself to be used as a political tool to discredit the very structure that made him. His actions are not only embarrassing but constitute a slap on the face of genuine comrades who have continued to uphold the sanctity of the students’ movement.
The Zonal and State structures of NANS hereby dissociate ourselves totally from Comr. Abubakar Atiku and his self-acclaimed presidency. He is neither a candidate in the last election nor constitutionally qualified to contest. It is, therefore, criminal for him to parade himself as the President of NANS.
We understand that his actions may be tied to the ongoing political realignments in the country. However, it is evil and unacceptable for any product of NANS, whether senior or junior cadre, to allow our collective identity to be exploited for political hatchet jobs. We advise Comr. Atiku to reflect deeply and retrace his steps before it is too late. For someone aspiring to become a state chief executive, nothing can be more shameful than engaging in a petty and dirty fight with a legitimately elected student leader.
For the records, we affirm and recognize Comr. Olushola Oladoja is the only legitimate President of NANS, duly elected by Nigerian students. He remains the leader we voted for and continue to stand with.
Furthermore, we express our deep disappointment and sense of betrayal at the continued attacks on NANS by Comr. Omoyele Sowore, former President of the University of Lagos Students’ Union and an active Senator of NANS in the 1990s. Sowore, through his Sahara Reporters platform, has chosen to undermine the image of an organization he once belonged to by continuously publishing false and fabricated stories against NANS.
Let it be known that the spirit and letter of the struggle will one day demand accountability from Sowore, who has since demonstrated nothing but bitterness and frustration against the movement. Since the time NANS respectfully declined to join his visionless #RevolutionNow protest, he has resorted to blackmail and propaganda against the association.
We hereby declare Sahara Reporters as persona non grata in all student events and activities across the federation. We warn strongly that the medium should stay clear of student affairs or be ready to face the wrath of Nigerian students in full measure.
NANS will not allow itself to be hijacked or dragged into self-serving and unpatriotic protests or political distractions. We shall continue to remain an independent and progressive voice of Nigerian students across all institutions.
Signed:
Zone A Coordinator, NANS
Zone B Coordinator, NANS
Zone C Coordinator, NANS
Zone D Coordinator, NANS
Zone E Coordinator, NANS
Zone F Coordinator, NANS
Related
news
Crisis rocks Bayelsa community over Chieftaincy Stool as Court Suspends Amanaowei election
Published
3 days agoon
May 1, 2025
A dangerous drama is playing out in Agbere community of Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State over the election that will lead to the emergence of a new Paramount ruler (Amanaowei) in the area.
Three contestants in the election namely, Chief Reid Arubeingha Aladei, Julius Kinluck Torunariagha and Abidde Ekpodowem have indicated interest to run for the exalted seat.
But the alleged reluctance of the Acting Paramount Ruler Chief Kennedy Odiowei to vacate the throne and The Secretary Agbere Community Council of Chiefs, Chief Don-Felix Alale presiding over a meeting in the Town Hall to present false information to the community is throwing up tension in the community.
The contestants approached a competent court in suit no: BYHC/SHC/CV/32/2025 accusing the Chiefs and the Acting Paramount Ruler, Chief Kennedy Odiowei of attempting to deliberately delay the election and planning to extend his tenure, they sought the court to issue an order compelling the Electoral Committee headed by Dr Tarila Nikade not to postpone the election indefinitely.
According to the Claimants, in the Statement of Claim deposed under oath, in pargraph 19 states thus: “Regretably, the claimants have discovered that a meeting was held on the 8th of April 2025 in Agbere Community by the Defendants where it was discussed and agreed that the said election scheduled to hold on the 26th of April 2025 be cancelled or postponed indefinitely in order to allow the 1st Defendant more time to remain as the Acting Amamanaowei of Agbere Community”
Paragraph 23 of the same statement of claim states that “Claimants aver that they are seriously aggrieved by the action of the defendants and that it is only an order of court that can compel the defendants to conduct the election on the 26th of April 2025 as already scheduled.”
Already, there seems to be delay in the court proceedings Suit No: BYHC/SHC/CV/32/2025 with conflicting appearance of counsel to one of the claiimants (Abidde Ekpodowem) who stated that he was not a party in the suit and requested for his name to be struck out, which the judge obliged and adjourned to next day for continuation of hearing. There was a twist on the following day with the appearance of a counsel to Arc. Dr. Oyinmiebi Bribena, who filed an application to be joined to the suit as an interested party.
He argued that Arc. Dr. Oyinmiebi Bribena had already instituted a motion in Suit No: BYHC/SHC/CV/30/2025 which had already come up on Friday 11th April 2025 seeking for the postponement of the Agbere Amananaowe Election. The application was turned down. The Presiding Judge adjourned the suit till Monday 28th April 2025 (which held on 29th May 2025), to give the defendants opportunity to be heard in the interest of fair hearing. The case has been further adjorned to 9th May 2025 for hearing.
Meanwhile, prominent sons and daughters of Agbere Community are mounting pressure and calling for the removal of the Acting Paramount Ruler over alleged complicity in the rising threat to peace in the community.
According to those calling for the sack of the Acting Paramount Ruler, he has allegedly been unable to defend all allegations levelled against him by the contestants and Indigenes of the community.
According to one of the Indigenes, (names withheld), ” shockingly, the Agbere Electoral Committee Chairman released a statement on on various social media plaforms and whatsapp groups including PH Agbereowei, Agbere Keniwenimo and Agbere Progressive Forum that deliberately lied to Agbere Community and the general public that it was Arc. Dr. Oyinmiebi Bribena and Hon. Jonathan Hamo law suite that caused the judge to give a restraining order to stop the Agbere election.”
In the statement, it reads thus:
“AGBERE AMANANAOWEI ELECO
Greetings to all well-meaning and illustrious sons and daughters of Agbere Community. We are sorry to bring to your notice that the election processes to the stool of the Amananawei of Agbere Community has been put on hold due to certain unforeseen circumstances
The major challenge was our inability to secure approval from the police to cover the election on the election day as that day coincides with the planned mega rally by George Turner and Co.
Also there are some legal issues from Miebi Bribena seeking to suspend the election indefinitely
However, we are studying the situation and consulting with relevant stakeholders on the way forward. We regret the inconveniences this may cause the candidates and the entire community while thanking you for your patience and understanding, a new date will be announced as soon as necessary
Dr Tarila Nikade
Eleco chairman
23.4.2025.”
Already the allegations and counter allegations of wrong doings have thrown up the controversy surrounding the death of Mr Clement Hamo. He was involved in the contest for the Amanaowei of Agbere stool at the time of his death.
According to those holding firm to the claim of suspicion on the death of Clement Hamo, “Most members of the Hamo and Bribena family are of the firm belief until proven otherwise that his abduction and gruesome murder is connected to the contest of the Amanaowei of Agbere stool.”
“It is based on this conviction that the members of the family viewed with disgust the indecent haste with which the Leadership of the community attempted to commence the election of the Amanaowei of Agbere on the 7th of January 2025 less than 10 days after the discovery of the headless and mutilated body of our son Clement Hamo. The family therefore protested to the Amanaowei in Council.”
They claimed that Mr Adagbanya Jonathan Hamo made several efforts to get the Acting Amanaowei and leaders of the community to initiate investigations on the possible cause of death of his younger brother whose abduction and murder took place in the community after attending a community function.
“His overtures to the Acting Amanaowei and Leaders of the community did not yield any positive result. It is unfortunate that the Amanaowei in Council and leaders of the Community have not taken any steps till date to unravel the mystery surrounding his gruesome murder.”
“When it became obvious that the Amanaowei in Council and leaders of the community were more interested in conducting the Amanaowei election in which our late son would have participated instead of unravelling the mystery surrounding his death, Mr Adagbanya Hamo was mandated to Petition the AIG zone 16 to investigate the abduction and gruesome murder of our son.”
” Instead of getting the cooperation of the leaders of the community to aid the investigation, the family has received aggression from certain quarters for reporting the matter to the police.”
“Because of our firm belief until proven otherwise that the death of Mr Clement Hamo was connected to the Amanaowei contest and the hasty and indecent manner in which attempts were being made to fill the vacant Amanaowei stool without investigating the gruesome murder of Clement Hamo in Agbere town and to forestall future occurrences of such dastardly acts, Dr Oyinmiebi Bribena and Mr Adagbanya Hamo took further steps to initiate legal actions necessary to ensure that the family gets justice on the matter.”
They accused the Electoral Committee of exhibiting alleged bias by not informing Agbere community about the real reasons for postponing the elections,” You failed to inform the public that Chief Reid Aladei and Chief Julius Torunarigha sued the Electoral Committee and the Acting Amanaowei in suit No BYHC/SH/CV/32/2025 at the Bayelsa State High Court, Sagbama Judicial Division, complaining that the Acting Amanaowei wanted to extend his tenure in office by forestalling the election of a new Amanaowei.”
” The reasons adduced in the Statement on Oath by Chief Reid Aladei on the matter clearly showed the reason why the matter was instituted. It had nothing to do with the matter initiated by Dr Oyinmiebi Bribena and Mr Adagbanya Hamo( see paragraphs 19 & 23 of the deposition on oath by Chief Reid Aladei on the matter). It is the fall out of this suit initiated by Chief Reid Aladei & 2 others that resulted in a Ruling by the Court to maintain the status-quo.”
“This necessitated the indefinite postponement of the elections. Yet you did not make any reference to the suit initiated by Chief Reid Aladei and 2 others against you and the Acting Amanaowei in your press release on the postponement of the election. Why did you avoid stating this obvious fact in your press release?”
” This grave omission by you in not mentioning the main reason why the election was postponed shows that you cannot be trusted to conduct a credible election for the Amanaowei stool in Agbere.”
” It was insidious of you, to mislead the unsuspecting public and try to cause disaffection against Dr Oyinmiebi Bribena and Mr Adagbanya Hamo in the community by creating the impression in your press release that they were responsible for the postponement of the elections knowing same not to be true.”
” You also disrespected our families, by falsely deposing to an affidavit that Dr Miebi Bribena and Mr Adagbanya Hamo were acting in their personal interest and not the interest of our families in the matter they instituted against the electoral committee and Acting Amanaowei. That is most unfortunate. You are not a member of the Bribena or Hamo family and so had no authority to make such assertion.”
It was gathered by newsmen that there was in another twist to the events during a meeting held at the Agbere Town Hall by the Council of Chiefs on Sunday, 27th of April 2025 and presided by the secretary of the Council of Chiefs, Chief Don-Felix Alale.
Chief Don-Felix Alale reportedly informed members of Agbere Community that the Council of Chiefs, the Electoral Committee and the Contestants of the Amanaowei stool met and allegedly connived together for the Contestants to sue the Amanaowei and ELECO using the funds of the Community for that purpose.
According to those present at the said meeting, the Acting Amanaowei and The Chairman of the Agbere Electoral Commission were conspicuously absent,” This direct admission of alleged conspiracy to commit fraud is very worrisome, scandalous and calls for investigation.”
Chief Don-Felix Alale, we gathered, also attempted to mislead the community on the reason for the postponement of the election.
However, Concerned Citizens of Agbere are also calling for the resignation of The Secretary of Agbere Council of Chiefs, Chief Don-Felix Alale.
According to our source, who is from Agbere community, It also appears that the Agbere Electoral Committee Chairman is allegedly running a one man show probably aided by a sponsor who is interested in influencing the election in favour of a particular candidate.
Related
Trending
-
Business6 months ago
Comprehensive Media Audit Shows Flutterwave, MTN Nigeria, and Bolt Outpacing Competitors in Media Engagement
-
Entertainment5 months ago
Aliu Gafar delivers stellar performance as Esusu in Femi Adebayo’s Seven Doors
-
religion6 months ago
Intimacy 2024 Lagos Crusade with Apostle Johnson Suleman: A Call for 1 Billion Souls for Christ
-
celebrity radar - gossips6 months ago
What You Need To Know About Award-Winning Nigerian Actor, Mustapha Sholagbade