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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take its toll on businesses and lives in general, His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, Emugoriade 1, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, assured his people that it is a phase that will pass.

In a message to mark his fourth anniversary as ruler of Igbogbo Kingdom, Oba Semiudeen, stated that in order to stem the COVID-19 pandemic, people need to be united in adhering to the laid down directives by the government and the health bodies.

According to the monarch, beyond the effort of the government, the people need to observe social distancing, proper hygiene practices, abstain from public gathering, and other such regulations.

“The palace understands the toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on businesses, and the way of life of people, that is why we are with them during this time of dire need.”

“It is at a time like this I urge all Nigerians to remain united in their day-to-day dealings with one another, irrespective of tribe or religion. Together we can defeat this pandemic and have things return to normalcy,” he said.

Kabiyesi seized the opportunity to commiserate with families of Late  Sen. Adebayo Sikiru Osinowo, Senator, Lagos East Senatorial District and other people that might have lost their beloved ones during this trying period.

The Oba also called on the Federal Government, Lagos State Government and appropriate agencies to take the security of lives and property serious, especially as it relates to his community.

According to him, there is no better time to come together to stem the prevailing incidents of cult related violence and other forms of insecurity than now. The cultists must be treated as ‘common enemies’ to themselves and the future of our great Igbogbo Kingdom.

He further drew the plight of the government to the state of roads in the community, stating that adequate infrastructure is necessary in ensuring a viable economy and  discourage urban migration.

“Other issues I would like to draw the attention of the government to include that of flooding and how it threatens the lives of my people, as well as the delay in compensating people of Igbogbo Kingdom whose houses were demolished to pave ways for road construction.”

“It is enough pain to lose ones ancestral home(s) for the development of our kingdom. It is more disheartening to wait endlessly for compensation that is meant to resettle the heroes/heroines of this noble sacrifice.”

While thanking the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Olufemi Hamzat for their unalloyed support, Oba Semiudeen also used the opportunity to remind Mr Governor of the compensation for his people.

“My sincere appreciation goes to the Ijaolu family, the council of Obas, my traditional and honourary Chiefs, Baales of communities, iyaloja/babaloja, religious bodies, as well as the Chairman and great staff of Igbogbo Bayeku Local Government for the support they have shown me these past four years.”

“My gratitude will lack substance if I don’t specially recognize the elected representatives, political actors and community developers that have been of immense support to the throne.”

“I would also like to call on the sons and daughters of Igbogbo as well as the Lagos State Government to come together to ensure the rapid development of the Kingdom,” he added.

While appealing to religious bodies to continue praying for the defeat of the pandemic which has prevented believers from observing prayers in different places of worship, Adeboruwa also commended frontline health workers.

“It is also of great importance that I acknowledge sacrifices made by religious leaders and their congregants that have been unable to worship since the breakout of the COVID 19 pandemic. Also, the Olombas.

“These people have been unable to celebrate important festivals due to the physical distance measure as stipulated by COVID 19 protocols. I enjoin them to keep praying for the world to overcome the challenges.”

“I also want to identify with our frontline workers in the State ably led by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi. Their commitments and dedication to duty made it possible for the state to effectively manage the pandemic at great risk to their own health” Kabiyesi said.

“As we gradually approach Ileya celebration, I wish Muslim community a happy celebration and enjoin them to observe the sallah in peace and harmony.”

“They should reflect on the importance of the celebration and pray for the country and its leaders. It is also important that they should adhere strictly to whatever directive that may be issued by the government in this regard.” he said.

Born October 20, 1968, in Lagos, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali studied Law at the University of Ibadan and graduated in 1997. He thereafter proceeded to the Nigerian Law School and was among the last batch in Lagos, before the opening of the Abuja campus. He equally bagged his LLM from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife.

He joined the Pinheiro & Oguntade Law Firm between 1999 and 2000.

Oba Semiudeen took personal interest in International Relations and Politics and  was very much in love with Political Science and International Relations.

The ruling house, Ijaolu, presented him as its candidate for the stool of Igbogbo Kingdom in June 2015 amongst the three applicants who made the final list.

Oba Semiudeen voluntarily retired his appointment in the Lagos State Civil Service, Ministry of Justice as a Chief State Counsel, Level14 Officer with work experience spanning fifteen years of selfless and meritorious service.

He is married to Olori Sekinat Omolara Kasali and Olori Kafayat Omobolanle Kasali and is blessed with children.

There are eerie similarities between Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and Icarus, the son of Daedalus, the famous craftsman in Greek mythology. As the story goes, Icarus and his father attempted to escape from prison using wings that the older man constructed from feathers and wax.

Icarus’ father warned him about complacency and hubris and asked that he flew neither too low nor too high so that the sea’s dampness would not clog his wings or the sun’s heat melt them. Icarus ignored his father’s instructions and flew very close to the sun, then, the wax in his wings melted and he fell into the sea. The moral of the myth is the need for personal ambitions to be guided by knowledge, balance and self-discipline.

The absence of these qualities in personal, professional or political dealings is now globally known as the Icarus Complex, which many, who know say, Obaseki is suffering acutely from.

This was first made public by the governor’s first cousin and acclaimed filmmaker, Dr Don-Pedro Obaseki, who on the eve of the 2016 election said Obaseki is an accustomed traitor, who could not be trusted with power and, therefore, undeserving of the people’s votes.

However, the people were swayed by the robust and rousing promises of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, a leader they had implicit confidence in and who vowed and assured the people that Obaseki would continue with his legacy and take the state further than he did.

That, of course, was all that the people needed to trust him with their mandate.
What Obaseki met on the ground was a feasible and functional template, which he only needed to build upon. Alas, he came with a different agenda that is self-serving at best and hideous at worst and which has, unfortunately, plunged the state into a quicksand.
Obaseki has come full circle. He has unravelled as a patently retrogressive and power-drunk, who cannot be trusted with public office and the people’s common patrimony. He is now sold on his faux invincibility and has crossed into the age of hubris during which he started fighting many avoidable battles. He also wilfully weaned himself of those who could steer him aright.

Things are so bad for him right now that that at no time in recent memory had a people unanimously and openly made it known that they were better off with a pre-schooler than him as a governor.
Without a doubt, his desire for a second term is legitimate but his wanton mismanagement of the state and the people, as well as his massive ego, which is a kind of deformity akin to virulent cancer that is constantly metastasising to the point of self-consummation, has turned him into an anathema in the state.

No government or society can survive without the private sector yet, Obaseki’s blasé intolerance and scant regard for the rule of law with the consequent inability to attract investments, has almost driven the private sector in the state into extinction. It is the same intolerance that has seen him engage in several confrontations with many Edo elders notably Oshiomhole and one of Edo State’s most illustrious sons, Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo.

Despite several rebuttals that he has no interest in the governorship of the state, Obaseki has been using every available means to throw mud at the successful businessman and philanthropist. But, instead of rolling in the mud with him, Capt Hosa, as he is fondly called, has maintained an avuncular and dignified stance.

A businessman, who has conquered the air, land and sea and with honours from all over the world, Capt. Hosa is not just an epitome of integrity and incorruptibility; he is a straightforward individual, who does not shy away from taking responsibility for his actions.
Capt Hosa has told whoever cares to listen that the only thing close to his heart now is giving back to humanity from the abundance of what God has blessed him with, not a political office.
Still, Obaseki paid no heed to this admonition as he continued to denigrate and deride a man whose ingenuity birthed among other economic concerns, the $750m Wells Hosa Green House Farm in Ovia North-East area of the state, which stands on 27 hectares of land and has the capacity for 28 hydroponic greenhouses, projected in the first instance to generate 25,000 direct jobs and 60,000 indirect jobs.

That’s just one out of many things he does for his people. Captain Hosa’s philanthropic activities are the stuff of legends. It is this selfless man that Obaseki wanted to get rid of. What a joke of a governor!

Well, the governorship election is just a few weeks away and the mood in the state is already upbeat. Many cannot wait for September 19 to come so they can lawfully replace him with Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC. And it is not hard to see why there are so much expectation and enthusiasm towards Ize-Iyamu’s expected electoral victory.
Pastor Ize-Iyamu is a thoroughbred Edo son and lawyer, whose political experience is peerless. With the return of Nigeria to democratic rule in 1999, he was appointed as Chief of Staff to former Governor Lucky Igbinedion. When Igbinedion was re-elected for a second term, he elevated Ize-Iyamu to the position of Secretary to the State Government.

He went on to serve as Director-General of Oshiomhole’s second term campaign organisation. Beyond all these, the people have come to embrace his SIMPLE Agenda to rejuvenate and rebuild the state. The SIMPLE agenda, therefore, is centred on Security and Social Welfare, Infrastructure Development and Urban Renewal, Manpower Development, Public-Private Partnership, Leadership by Example, as well as Employment and Empowerment Scheme.

“The summary of the SIMPLE agenda with its deep intentions and objectives, are unified in purpose and conception, showcasing a deliberateness that is vital for progress and development. As you all know, unfortunately, these are traits missing in the Edo leadership as presently constituted, where the scarce resources rather being used for the betterment of its citizens, are channelled to promote violence and thuggery, victimisation and plunder,” he said.

It is yet to be seen how Obaseki, with his current political misadventures, intends to beat the September 19 defeat. Certainly, not with the odds increasingly stacked against him. He’s picked too many but wrong political battles and definitely set to stew in his own juice, come September 19.

*Thomas wrote from Benin, Edo State

The New Nigeria Collective (NNC) group has dismissed the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, as an incurable liar for failing to own up to his acts of ingratitude and cruelty to Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo.

This followed his recent outright denial of everything accused him of in his reply to Captain Okunbo’s letter to President Muhammadu Buhari and the people of Edo State on the state of the state preparatory to the September 19 governorship election.

In a press release signed by its chairman, Adeola Adewunmi, the group, which described Obaseki as an incurable and habitual liar, said Captain Okunbo’s detailed letter advertised in a majority of the key national dailies on Monday, painted a vivid picture of the governor’s crimes against him, citing places, names, witnesses and dates.

This, the group maintained, was an indication of a man, who came clean to the public with all the facts before him, unlike Obaseki, who only resorted to emotional blackmail and danced round the issues without paying attention to the clearly identified issues.

“We read with absolute shock and its resultant helplessness, albeit momentarily, all the lies put together by Governor Godwin Obaseki, in an attempt to look good before the public against the well documented grouses of one of Benin’s great and illustrious sons, Captain Idahosa Okunbo.

“We are quick to note that your reply is a cocktail of lies and an afterthought, which is of no consequence. Where were you when your men, armed with falsehood and deceit, were throwing stones at Captain Hosa? If truly he was your brother or friend as you claimed, did you ever reach out to him even after he said at different times that you and your men should leave him alone?

“Why didn’t you also confirm to the whole world that Captain Hosa was your brother and friend by asking your foot soldiers to stop all their attacks against him, at least, after you saw a letter he personally wrote and addressed to the public? But after that, the attacks escalated.

“You are but a very wicked man trying to draw the sympathy of the public. You brought down the hotel of an innocent citizen, who once supported you just, because you couldn’t get his support this time around and sent your agents on a bombing spree of perceived and real political opponents and more,” the group alleged.

According to NNC, the governor also went further, using his libelous claims through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Crusoe Osagie, without any iota of proof and that exposed the modus operandi of the state, which he stated, automatically brought to naught, his reply to Captain Hosa, intended to draw up sympathy

“With Crusoe, Adaze and one Lukeman still on rampage against Captain Hosa for unsubstantiated claims on various social media platforms, the governor must be delusional to have written such a letter just to attract the sympathy of the unsuspecting public. But that’s no more.

“Deep down in his conscience and before God, Obaseki knows that all Captain Hosa stated in his statement were true and if he was actually his friend or brother, he should have also known that the Captain does not tell lies.

“As a major stakeholder in Edo State and your brother and friend as you claimed, did you ever tell him you were interested in a second term and therefore needed his support and vote? Anyway, we can say unequivocally that Captain Hosa is ready and willing to face the consequences of his choice as indicated in your letter.”

The group further noted with disdain, Obaseki’s penchant for calling Oshomhole a godfather and yet was the greatest beneficiary of that status he so conferred on the former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“As the economic adviser to Oshiomhole for eight years, why did you not resign your appointment since you said you did it pro bono, especially if the man was evil as being painted now the same way you are trying to paint Captain Hosa with lies.

“Captain Hosa could only have supported the truth and nothing but the truth, rather than draw him into an ethnic war with Oshiomhole, who is more Benin in mind and actions than yourself, because you had nothing to offer him like the carrots you were throwing at others after making them hungry and creating poverty in the land,” the group posited.

Restraining from mentioning the names of people allegedly at Obaseki’s house the day he made the ‘embarrassing phone call’ that exposed his evil plots against Okunbo, “because of the enormous respect we have for such individuals”, the group said, “But if you strongly contest it, we will be very glad to summon witnesses to court to prove the allegations

“Besides, don’t forget that the receipts of the tickets that captain Hosa bought for you to China are still with him as evidence? Why, therefore, would Oshiomhole even need you to steal Edo’s money, when he already did his eight years?

“We make bold to say Oshiomhole did more infrastructure developments than your propaganda of the last four years, orchestrated by some young men, who need genuine help but whom you have hired to be abusing their elders in the name of politics? Politics has never being played this way before in Edo State. This is the lowest and thanks to you, Governor Obaseki.”

It would, therefore, be delusional for Obaseki to think Captain Hosa would reckon that his poorly written letter was in good faith, when indeed, it was a deceit intended to once again mislead the public and attract undeserving sympathy in his desperation for a re-election, the group claimed.

The Olowu of Kuta in Ayedire Local Government area of Osun state, Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama has asked the Senate to be more creative in finding solutions to the problems of insecurity, insurgency and banditry in the country.

The traditional ruler, who was reacting to Senate’s Tuesday call for the resignation of the service chiefs as solution to the country’s insecurity challenges reminded the lawmakers that the problem the country faced demanded experience which he said the current military leaders have been using effectively against the insurgents.

The oba warned that the senate should stop giving the impression that once the current service chiefs leave the stage, insecurity would disappear stressing that the exit of the service chiefs in the middle of a war would be a major set back for the nation.

“Rather than continue to play politics with this issue of who should be service chiefs, the senate should rather be more actively involved in the search for peace through political means. Every war ultimately ends on a roundtable. Our senators, being representatives of the people in all the 109 senatorial districts in the country should galvanise the nation at this time to back our service chiefs with political solutions to this war going on. The solution does not lie in changing a set of service chiefs for another.

“For instance, there has been a change of the head of our police three times since 2015, what has been our experience with internal security despite the changes? This alone should tell us that the problem is not with the leadership of the military who have continued to give a very good accountof their expertise in combating terrorism and banditry.

“A war is won through a combination of consistent military engagements and formulation of clear headed political policies. I therefore, appeal to our lawmakers to let us look beyond a change of leadership in the military in our search for solutions to the nation’s security problems. Beyond the politics of it, I do not see how a replacement of the military leaders will make a difference.

“We need more of political solution now which the senate must see as its own share of the responsibility of getting peace back into our country,” the oba said.

It was a needless and avoidable friction. But, perhaps, providence had an unsuspecting need for the script. Earlier this month,Hon. Marvelous  Muhizu Zibiri had slandered the highly respected philanthropist, Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, when in a willfully damaging publication, which went viral on the social media, described the illustrious son of Benin as a “drug baron”.

For many reasons, Captain Hosa as he is called, didn’t find such impudence funny neither was he going to let it slide this time. This was a matter that had been resolved some 25 years ago, with a competent court declaring him clean. So, where is this coming from? Who could be behind this, because obviously, it was beyond the man, who was the new face of the attack?

But Captain Hosa made a resolution: that he would though pursue this to the very last, however, in doing so, he would not employ any extra-judicial means or be seen to have abused his power, and influence over a rather younger Zibiri, who was evidently misled. And that was how the journey that eventually culminated in a peaceful denouement, began.

First on June 3, 2020, Captain Okunbo petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, intimating him of what he described as “malicious, vicious and injurious” conduct of Zibiri.

Mindful of the damage that the publication had caused to both his person and business, Okunbo asked the IG “to put a stop to the ongoing criminal falsehood and conduct of Mr. Marvelous Muhizu Zibiri and his cohorts, while we seek other legal remedies for this very dastardly act.”

Acting on the petition, the IG immediately deployed some of his good hands to work and after days of searching for Zibiri, he was arrested and taken to Abuja, where investigations about his destructive publication commenced.

But on June 20, Jimba Chambers, solicitors to Zibiri, wrote to Captain Okunbo, seeking his patience and understanding, especially, having met at different times with their client, who had also owned up to the charges against him.

In the letter signed by Alhaji Yakubu Jimba, the solicitors wrote: “Our client is willing, ready and able to put up and publish a written withdrawal of alleged defamatory publication without prejudice. To this extent, we shall be grateful if you kindly decline to press charges. Our client further undertakes that upon regaining freedom, he shall publish a written apology to you forthwith.”

Replying to Jimba Chambers, solicitors to Captain Okunbo, C.E Atano and Co, in a letter dated June 21, noted amongst others that, “Our client has been and is greatly hurt and embarrassed by your client’s conduct and actions. His slanderous publications not only dented his image, but also caused great damage to his reputation and business for which he is justifiably angry and had initiated legal actions to seek redress.

“Our client is an elder statesman, who has worked so hard to build his image and Business Empire over the years, and his people, especially, the youths look up to him as a role model and beacon of hope in Edo State and the country in general. He is particularly interested in developing the youths and encouraging them to pursue their dreams for which he has greatly invested in Edo State.

“Suffice it to say that your client caused serious damage, but based on his apologies and undertakings as stated in your letter, our client, out of magnanimity and as an elder statesman, may without prejudice decide to forgive ‘IF’ and when your client is able to make wide and copious publications and a handwritten apology as stated in your letter.

“Our client believes he was misled and ill advised, and now that he is remorseful and repentant, our client may overlook his excesses, though the damage has been done.”

Thus, on June 22, Captain Okunbo wrote back to the police, this time through the office of the Assistant Inspector general of Police and intimated the police of the development, which included the proposed apology and other undertakings by Zibiri as part of the understanding that resulted in the final resolution of the matter.

“Being an elder statesman and a person with good interest of the youths and people of Edo State, coupled with several pleas from his people, Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, has decided to forgive and not press charges on the condition that Mr. Marvelous Muhizu keeps to his undertakings as expressed through his lawyer’s letter and reiterated in the response letter by Cyril Atano esq., lawyer to Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo.

“Though serious damage has been caused by Mr. Marvelous Muhizu’s acts and conduct, and though his undertakings, pleas and withdrawals may not adequately redress or compensate for the damage, Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, being a father figure to such youths and out of his magnanimity, has decided to forgive and let go if the conditions aforesaid are met.”

In two separate letters – of apology and undertaking – dated June 23, 2020, Zibiri, while apologising to Captain Okunbo said, “I further hereunder undertake never to be involved in such publications affecting him (Captain Okunbo) in any manner. I hope Captain Idahosa will find a heart to forgive me and withdraw the petition against me in the FIB.”

In that of the undertaking, Zibiri stated also: “I wish to undertake that I shall make wide and copious publications in both Print and Social Media, recanting, withdrawing and disclaiming slanderous publications against Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo.

“I also wish to undertake that I will cease to in any manner defame or undermine Captain Idahosa in whatever guise. Failure to do so shall entail judicial action against me.”

Hopefully, this uncharitable episode to the recurring albeit unfounded allegation puts an end to a matter that died and was buried 25 years ago.

However, there’s a lesson here for both sides. While the timely show of remorse by the accused was smart and commendable, because he would have spent a good time in prison on account of a willful defamation of character, the show of magnanimity by Captain Hosa is worthy of note and mention.

By his action in this matter, Captain Hosa has also lived true to type as a kind, sympathetic and generous son of Benin, who is interested more in mentoring the youths and building a future for them than watching them destroy themselves.

Although many of those close to Captain Okunbo hinted that he was badly damaged by such a weighty allegation, which sadly, was lacking in substance and that he was prepared to go the whole hog to seek justice, the father in him however showed up at a most auspicious time, when it was badly needed. His demeanor said the unspoken: “Marvelous Zibiri, go and sin no more.”

This is a classic case of a deviant son and a large-hearted father doing right from their respective standpoint. Importantly, however, it is hoped that many others in Zibiri shoes, who are susceptible to manipulations by the dregs of the society, would take a cue from his ordeal and ponder a more productive use of their time and gift.

Nigerian twitter is abuzz with news of the appointment of Toni Kan as Spokesperson to the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq.

Wailers are insisting and insinuating that Toni Kan, award winning writer, public relations expert and media entrepreneur is an enemy of the APC and the president.

But nothing could be farther from the truth. An ideas man and committed Nigerian, Toni Kan has never been content to merely criticise. He is actually a firm believer in the fact that those who criricise must also show how the job can be done better.

When he got tired of seeing a lack of professionalism in the Nigerian online media space, he launched sabinews.com (now 1stnews) to provide an ethical and professional example. That site became the first Nigerian news site to be acquired in Nigeria, underlining its success and ethical bonafides.
Sensing a deep need for young Nigerian writers to be published and validated at home instead of abroad, Toni Kan launched thelagosreview.ng to provide a space for young Nigerian writers.

As to charges that Toni Kan is anti-APC and Buhari, many do not realise that when First Lady, Aisha Buhari was being attacked and accused of shutting down the Aso Rock chapel, it was Toni Kan who undertook an investigation and wrote a balanced report which summarily put paid to those attacks and they say he is anti Buhari.

Read the article here where he writes: “Sitting on the chair he has offered me, I take a few more shots and as I rise to leave I wonder where the story about the chapel being turned into a spa came from and what I would do if I was the president and the chapel was sitting that close to my wife’s residence. Knowing myself, I would never allow the chapel or children’s church to sit so close to her bedroom and kitchen and this is a Christian speaking.”

Femi Adeshina once criticized Professor Gambari and today they are playing on the same team.

Garba Shehu used to work as media aide for Atiku Abubakar who is without question President Muhammadu Buhari’s biggest political opponent, but today he is one of the president’s most trusted media aides.

How many people realise that Tolu Ogunlesi, one of the president’s media aides got his start in PR and Communications when Toni Kan hired him at Visafone.

The question to ask is this: is Toni Kan qualified to be media aide or not? The answer is a BIG yes.
M.A and B.A English literature from the universities of Lagos and Jos.
Best graduating student both times.
Magazine editor at 26.

Fellow of the Civitella Ranieri, Heinrich Boll and Yaddo writing fellowships, some of the most prestigious in the world.
Author of 12 books – novels, short story collections, biographies, poetry.
Multi sectoral experience consulting in Banking, Telecoms, Oil and Gas, Energy etc.
NIPR and APCON certified.

Former editor, Nigeria Monthly magazine (his first federal government appointment.)

A federal appointment offers an opportunity to serve one’s country at the highest level. Many ministers were PDP stalwarts just three years ago, but they are still serving in this government. Toni Kan is a man of ideas and action. A change agent, he is never content to just criticize. By taking this job, he means to do good instead of sitting on the sidelines and playing arm chair critic. We all have a stake in Nigeria and whether President Buhari or another, the country comes first.