Politics

The Collosus Hits the 85 landmark – A Birthday Tribute To Chief Abdulkareem Adebisi Akande CFR

Published

11 months ago

January 16, 2024

The Collosus Hits the 85 landmark – A Birthday Tribute To Chief Abdulkareem Adebisi Akande CFR.

THE MAN WHOSE CHARACTER AND INTERGRITY BECAME THE POLITICAL CAPITAL AND COLLATERAL FOR A STRUGGLE- The Oasis in the Desert…

Everytime I see Baba Akande these days, I am reminded of the Iroko tree 🌳 in the Forest, and the Oasis in the Desert.

Baba Akande also well known as” Baba awa omo Ke ke ke”i.e [ the father of children” is a man in his own class among human beings and dare I say among political class, though may not be physically tall, but in character, he towers dizzyingly over almost all the modern day politicians .

Baba is a sharp cut and divide , spartan and austere in nature compared to many in the political class today, clearly a distinctive and distinguished representation of the old stock, principled, bold , unwavering, unshaken and unruffled by situations and circumstances. A principled fighter backed by conviction.

I have mental recollections of Baba Akande as a young boy from the days of my budding interest in political affairs, when politics was driven by purity of intentions and purpose as exemplified by the likes of Papa Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Ajibola Ige , Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, Dr Ambrose Ali, all of them were governors of the Unity Party of Nigeria.

Back then these calibre of politicians lived by the unwritten rule of putting the people first, to be obedient if not subservient to the code of conduct that is steeply rooted in a life of modesty and moderation not fanfare and garulity of modern day emperors that some personalities in power now exemplify. That was not what the likes of Baba Akande exemplified while in power.

Indeed they abhorred ostentation and lousy use and display of power. They earned their veneration because the power they wielded was real people driven not imposed, snatched or bought!

In those good old days [ shamefully enough that we refer to those days most affectionately and nostalgically] because of the abuses of today, since today that ordinarily by progression should be better is not, but because power in the hands of those without depth of reason, care and concern has re-interpreted today’s politics and power in many ways that will make the likes of Baba Akande cringe and break out in goose bumps.

It was a typical Baba Akande who in His spartan nature and view of life and subscriber to a life of accountability that would rather choose to be impeached than to “settle” lawmakers to pass budget .. that can only be a Baba Akande.

Only a Baba Akande would leave government and still remain very modest without illicitly acquired possessions, acquired at the expense of the people’s well being but holding aloft the banner of good name, sterling public service record and profile of sparkling accountability and probity.

When will we have more Abdulkareem Adebisi Akandes ?

The stock is greatly depleted and their memories of unblemished public service are fast receding,and fading into distant horizon. 😢, made worse because we are a nation of fleeting emphasis and values.

Growing up much later, I recall clearly the roles played by this ageing man ,physically , but whose convictions have also being strengthened by the age and as the years went by.

Baba Akande was like the spinal chord that strengthened the opposition in the days of our struggles, a contented man not only in terms of material worth but in terms of political adventure.

Left to Baba Akande , the politics of the South west most likely would have remained politics of the South west, in literal sense because Baba Akande is not that politically adventurous, rather would like to prevent Ideological stain and contamination, he believes that undue alliances could come with contagious realities ..

Baba Akande believes that undue alliances would imply a compromise of ideals and ideology that he has subscribed to over the years , so he was ever cautious , but his implicit trust and believe in a younger more politically adventurous, very daring political maestro who also has the means convinced Baba Akande to allow the expansionist vision , driven by no other than the JagabanBorgu, the Asiwaju of Lagos, now literally Asiwaju of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCON .

This is the synoptic trajectory from the fall of Alliance for Democracy controlled states, where all the South west states were lost to the People’s Democratic Party , then portrayed and treated as a party of vermins and undying voracious if not rapacious liberals if not jackals. The attitude of the Alliance for Democracy then was isolationist and puritanical.

So after the reality of the loss of States in the South west by the rage of the tiger, the PDP, driven by President Obasanjo, hit home, it took the resilience of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, today’s President to start the fight-back, it was war like! Not a piece of cheese cake,it was bloody and bloodied, limbs and lives was lost 😢 . Thank God some of us are alive to tell the story , but with deference to all the fallen heroes of those days of struggle.

We soldiered on because it was like movement, the first goal was to get back the states of the South west away from “ultra conservatives party” [PDP] as it was so portrayed then, back to the camp and safe embrace of the ” ultra progressives” this was the political Catholicsm diet that some of us the younger elements were fed and raised on through our chequered political trajectory from AD to AC to ACN and today’s APC!

One of the strongest human fortress and premium value collateral for the struggle in those days was Baba Bisi Akande, whose towering moral standards and reputation became our banner to push our Ideological bent, slant and posturing.

Baba Akande was the National Party Chairman from AC to APC ! He was the leader that we had as the umbrella to push hard . His moral standing and standards kept our struggles well defined and real.

Today, has Baba Akande’s fears of compromise of our political Ideological standard not been compromised and diluted ? Obviously the answer is Yes, the purity of our ideology obviously stained and contaminated, because today nobody knows the difference seemingly so anymore, even some of our taskmasters in Egypt have become our Lords in Cannan! Without let , recourse or circumspection. Because as the Yorubas will say, “Iru ti dapo mo Sapati”

But did the political foray eventually become a success, Yes to the extent that today a Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now the President of Nigeria, which was almost thought to be an impossibility looking at the realities of those times.

The very high premium that is the worth and value placed on the moral and integrity quotient of Baba Bisi Akande cannot be over emphasised in the journey of the “Progressives ” [if that Ideological corner still exists in our political space today ]

The joy of today is that Baba Akande’s involvement in the struggles to this day is very gratifying and moreso because he is still alive and well, with his moral and integrity profile still soaring while he is still a very towering and relevant figure in the journey for national redefinition .

To know more about the man Baba Akande, it will be nice to real his autobiography to see what this man represents, his modest journey through life.

It is therefore with profound reverence that I join millions of “Awa omo ke ke ke” to wish Our Baba a very happy birthday and pray for more years in good health and well being as he takes on his role of instilling the virtues that earned him his medals in the successor generation.

This will be the most important legacy

Happy Birthday Sir.

Congressman Bimbo Daramola
#bimboEkiti.

#nitoriojoolawa

Politics

Namibians elect Nandi-Ndaitwah as first female president

Published

2 days ago

December 5, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Namibians elect Nandi-Ndaitwah as first female president

Namibian Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) party has been elected the first female president of the Southern African country.

Namibia’s electoral commission on Tuesday announced Mrs Nandi-Ndaitwah as the winner of the election that was held on November 27.

The announcement of the result was delayed until Tuesday as voting was extended in some places due to technical glitches and ballot paper shortages.

According to the result by the electoral commission, Ms Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, polled 57 per cent of the votes, surpassing the 50 per cent requirement to win. Her challenger, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) party, came second with roughly 26 per cent of votes.

In the National Assembly election, Mrs Nandi-Ndaitwah-led SWAPO won a majority of seats, 51 of the 96, while the IPC won 20 seats.

“The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability,” Ms Nandi-Ndaitwah said after being declared president-elect on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the IPC has vowed to challenge the election’s outcome in court, describing the process as “deeply flawed.”

Ms Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory now extends SWAPO’s 34-year rule in Namibia since it led the country to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.

Politics

Senate summons Keyamo over flight delays, others

Published

2 days ago

December 5, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Senate summons Keyamo over flight delays, others

The Senate on Wednesday summoned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo; Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Chris Najomo; airline operators and other relevant stakeholders over the incessant flight delays and cancellations by airlines.

Adopting a motion to that effect, sponsored by Senator AbdulFatai Buhari (APC Oyo North) during plenary, the Red Chamber particularly charged its Committee on Aviation to unravel the circumstances behind the incessant flight delays and cancellations to find lasting solutions to the problem.

The PUNCH exclusively reported on Wednesday that about 2,000 air passengers lost 19,274 pieces of luggage between January and June this year, according to data from the Federal.

The report stated that data obtained from the half-year report of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, an agency of the Federal Government that regulates civil aviation, further indicated that 19,250 passengers were delayed for long hours during the review period.

Senator Buhari, while presenting the motion, said the problem which he noted had been on the increase in recent times, is all over the media.

“This development is worrisome as air travel is one of the most reliable, dependable, and quicker means of transportation, often undertaken for business/official purposes and to keep other scheduled appointments, which are usually time-bo,” he said

Therefore, he cautioned that “unwarranted flight delays and cancellations will be counterproductive to the socio-economic growth and development of this country.”

The lawmaker noted that as part of interventionist measures to check unethical and unwholesome practices of the practitioners in the àviation sector, the NCAA is statutory empowered through the enactment of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act, to among other things, provide oversight and guidelines aimed at ensuring that airlines operate within the contemplation of international standards in Nigeria and to ensure that airline customers get value for the services paid for.

Buhari pointed out that “the quest for economic diversification and foreign direct investment, which are parts of the current administration’s policy thrust, will remain an illusion if the country’s aviation industry falls short of the acceptable best practices across the globe.”

“Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Regulations of 2023, makes provisions for consumer protection in the civil aviation industry in Nigeria.”

He added, “However, enforcement has been an issue as most Nigerians are not even aware that they are entitled to compensation for time lost due to unnecessary delay, hence the need for the NCAA to activate this aspect of its regulation so that airline operators will sit up and be alive to their responsibilities.”

Politics

FG protests Nigerian Army’s probe by ICC

Published

4 days ago

December 3, 2024

Sahara Weekly

FG protests Nigerian Army’s probe by ICC

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has asked the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, to stop the prolonged investigation of the Nigerian military.

The AGF stated the country’s position on Monday in a statement made available to the media in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Publicity, Office of the AGF and Minister of Justice, Kamarudeen Ogundele.

According to the statement, the AGF, in his remarks at the 23rd session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC in Hague, stated that Nigeria at the global stage had demonstrated the will to promote justice and end terrorism among other global crimes.

The AGF, while expressing the country’s commitment to confronting impunity, holding perpetrators of heinous crimes accountable, and restoring justice for victims, noted further that the preliminary examination into alleged crimes in Nigeria had lasted 14 years and was demoralising to the service men laying their lives to defend their country against terrorists.

The minister emphasised that Nigeria, as a responsible state party to the Rome Statute, had consistently engaged with the Office of the Prosecutor and demonstrated its military’s adherence to international humanitarian law and ensuring accountability for any personnel found guilty of misconduct.

He said, “While we respect the court’s mandate to intervene when states are unable or unwilling to prosecute such crimes, it is important to emphasise that there must be respect and regard to the principle of complementarity. The ICC is meant to act as a court of last resort, intervening only when national legal systems are unable or unwilling to address grave crimes. I must assert that Nigeria does not fall under any such situation. Our nation has consistently demonstrated both the will and the capacity to investigate and prosecute serious crimes, including those committed by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups. We are proud of the Nigerian military, which has systems and structures in place to ensure their operations are guided by international humanitarian law and human rights principles.

“At the 22nd Session of this Assembly, Nigeria reported the establishment of an independent Special Investigative Panel by the National Human Rights Commission to address allegations against the Nigerian military made by Reuters. After thorough investigations spanning eight months, the panel found no evidence to substantiate these claims. The allegations of killings, torture, and the recruitment of underage fighters have been proven to be false and exaggerated.

“Indeed, the work of the panel and acceptance of its recommendations by the government clearly indicates that Nigeria has the political will to investigate allegations of heinous crimes and hold violators accountable.

“The conduct of military operations during conflict is regulated by international humanitarian law, and we can assure this Assembly that the Nigerian military does not engage in arbitrary killings or inhumane treatment of those no longer directly participating in hostilities. Our military ensures that captured combatants are treated with dignity and respect. While inadvertent mistakes or errors of judgment may occur in the chaos of conflict, these are promptly investigated by impartial commissions and panels. I wish to state that Nigeria has a well-established and functional court martial system for holding erring officers accountable. We also employ restorative justice measures, including compensation, when appropriate.

“In addition, Nigeria’s six-month Demobilization, Deradicalization, and Reintegration programme has successfully reintegrated 4,000 former Boko Haram combatants into society. We continue to prioritise the training and re-training of our armed forces, ensuring that human rights and international humanitarian law remain at the forefront of our military operations, with a focus on the protection of civilian protection.”

The AGF observed further that the country was concerned by the seemingly predetermined stance of the Office of the Prosecutor regarding armed forces and the situation in Nigeria despite these efforts.

“We are also concerned about activities of apologists of terrorist groups, parading as civil society organisations, who are continuously making unsubstantiated allegations in order to undermine legitimate efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces,” he added.

Fagbemi, on behalf of Nigeria, called on all States Parties to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions, as the use of cluster munitions continues to cause widespread suffering and hinders peace-building and humanitarian efforts.

He also congratulated the newly elected members of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims, saying that with their exceptional qualifications, he was confident they would fulfil the Fund’s mandate with integrity and dedication.

“Nigeria stands firm with fellow State Parties in the shared commitment to ending impunity for the world’s most serious crimes. We fully support the work of the ICC and encourage those States Parties yet to accede to the Rome Statute to do so,” he added.