AUDIO: UK Caller phoned 999 to tell police his prostitute was ugly

We Are Not A Terrorist Organization. Oodua Peoples Congress

It has come to the notice of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) that some prominent people from the Northern part of the country who are not happy with the determination of the Federal Government to put a stop to the wanton killings in the north have decided to cast aspersion on the OPC by equating it with the Boko Haram sect.

We have decided to remain neutral and maintain our peace since the orgy of killings started. But we have taken note of statements credited to some prominent Northern leaders, especially since the crack down on the Boko Haram sect.
In the Thursday, 6 June, 2013 edition of The Punch newspaper, former commissioner of police in Lagos State, Abubakar Tsav, while condemning Federal Government’s all-out attack on Boko Haram, wondered why the president failed to ban other groups, including the OPC, because, according to him, the groups are involved in acts of terrorism.

We state here as a matter of fact that the OPC is a visible organisation, with known addresses all over the country. Its leaders are also known and accessible to all Nigerians, including security agencies. We draw our strength from our membership of more than seven million. It is also on record that we don’t engage in clandestine activities, since our activities are known to all and recorded for history by the vibrant and courageous Nigerian media, and therefore in no way a security threat to the country.

Our travails

Let us recall here that our leaders, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, Otunba Gani Adams and four other leaders were arrested and detained by the Obasanjo administration in 2002 and 2005.

It may interest you to know that we were taken to court and discharged and acquitted of all the charges, including belonging to unlawful organization and unlawful association.
The first was time was at the Federal High Court, Lagos, where Justice Dan Abutu struck out the matter and discharged and acquitted us of all the charges. The second case was at the State High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State, where Justice Charles Oluremi Jacobs (OFR) also struck out the case, discharged and acquitted us.

The government still took us before Justice Sybil Nwaka of the Lagos High Court. The honourable justice also struck out the case, discharged and acquitted us.
But surprisingly, we were taken before Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja. On 19th of December, 2006, the honourable judge ruled in our favour, while discharging and acquitting us.

You will agree with us that these four rulings are enough proof that the OPC is not an unlawful organization or a threat to national security.

Setting the records straight

But for the purpose of setting the records straight, it has become necessary for us to come out and speak on this very serious and controversial issue, since our silence may be interpreted to mean admission of guilt.
To most discerning Nigerians, nothing can be further from the truth than this statement credited to the former police boss. The activities of the OPC in the last ten years in the south-west of the country speak volume of the peaceful nature of our group.

Our activities

It would be interesting to educate these people on our activities. As we speak, the OPC is in the fore-front of the promotion and propagation of the cultural values, ideals and rich history of the Yoruba race, even beyond the shores of Nigeria.


At this juncture, let me list some of the prominent Yoruba festivals that our organization has put on the global cultural map with our involvement. They include the popular Osun Oshogbo festival in Osun State, Oke Ibadan festival in Oyo State, Okota festival in Ondo State, Olumo and Lisabi festivals in Ogun State, Oranmiyan festival in Oyo State and Oya festival in Kwara State, among several others.

But perhaps the most interesting aspect of our cultural drive is the popular Olokun festival in Lagos State. It may interest you to know that Olokun festival was started in 2002 as part of our efforts to bring the world attention to our rich cultural values. In 2005, we took another step by registering this festival which holds in Badagry, Lagos State.
Since then, we have received kudos and encouragements from several groups, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for our efforts to promote culture.


Providing security for the people

It is a known fact among residents of Lagos State and other major towns across the south west that the OPC has played and will continue to play prominent roles in the security of lives and properties of the people.

Also, as part of our efforts to engender peace through quality leadership, the OPC has consistently organized leadership training programmes for its leaders both at home and in the Diaspora.

Aside these laudable programmes, we are committed to creating wealth and lifting our people out of poverty with our poverty alleviation programmes, targeted at widows and the less-privileged, through the Gani Adams Foundation. It is also on record that our organization has contributed to intellectual discourse in the country with our lectures, which aim to eradicate ignorance among the people.

Relationship with other ethnic groups

It is also a known fact that the OPC has and continues to maintain a solid peaceful relationship with other ethnic groups spread all over the south west region of the country. For instance, the National Coordinator of the OPC, Otunba Gani Adams, was the chairman recently at the Turban ceremony of the Seriki Hausa of Oshodi in Lagos. Activities like this are common, and speak volumes of the activities of our group.

Participation in Govt’s peace initiatives

It will also be recalled that the Otunba Gani Adams was a participant at the National Peace Forum, organized by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-party Relations, in 2004. The OPC leader was later appointed as a state Peace Envoy.

In the same vein, the OPC also participated at the African First Ladies Peace Mission meeting, organized in Abuja by the office of the First Lady in 2012.

You will recall that the OPC is Yoruba organization, formed with the basic aim of promoting the cultural values of our forefathers and also to protect the interest of our people. In this regard, nobody can fault our activities. Rather, unlike the acts of violence raging in other parts of the country, the south west has been very peaceful, with no single act of terrorism recorded on our soil.

Advice for Tsav

It is surprising that Mr. Abubakar Tsav, a former police boss, will choose to attack the OPC. While the OPC continues to contribute its quota to the development of the country, with activities like the donation of books that will assist indigent students to public libraries, Mr. Tsav, while seeking to remake himself, has become a critic of anything that catches his fancy.

Let him borrow a leaf from other retired police officers with sterling qualities to turn his efforts towards activities that will bring about peace among the diverse religions and the ethnic nationalities that make up the country.

Conclusion

Lets us remind Nigerians that the OPC remains committed to the promotion of the rich cultural values of the Yoruba people, with a view to a peaceful co-existence with other ethnic groups in the country. Therefore, let nobody make attempt to drag us into an unnecessary conflict in order to make a scapegoat of the OPC. As leaders, those seeking to drag the OPC into their conflict should direct their energies at efforts that will bring to an end the killings, hostage taking and kidnappings in the north and other parts of the country.

National Coordinator,
Oodua People’s Congress
Otunba Gani Adams

Goodluck Jonathan got it right again! Kayode Ogundamisi

Goodluck Jonathan got it right again! Last week I supported President Jonathan's declaration of State of Emergency and the blitz on the affected state. I am not of the opinion that the opposition got it right in opposing the Presidents move.

I am glad some ACN lawmakers agreed with my opinion and voted against the party in support of the state of emergency. Today GEJ made another wise move, he'sordered the immediate release of all WOMEN held by JTF for being associated with Boko Harram and also ordered the release of suspects held for months without trial.

The president got that right, no Nigerian should be held indefinitely without being charged to court. What Jonathan is proving in the last one week is that he can be a Commander in Chief and also listen to the voice of reason by respecting the rights of those unlawfully detained. It is also pleasing that we've not heard of a repeat of the Baga incident and that the military seems to be threading with care. If the current trend continues GEJ would have made a huge turn around on National Security at least in the short term. In the long term the duty to bring about permanent peace would have to include stakeholders from all sides. I do not have to overemphasise that I am not a fan of the President but I cant but help to say it loud that GEJ GOT IT RIGHT AGAIN!

'Profesor Tam David West is a Pig and a Bastard' Asari Dokubo (Ijaw Warlord)

Ijaw Militant Asari Dokubo

Chidiadi Harry (AKA) Tamunoemi David West is the first son of my Maternal grandfather....His mother Omualaowiba was the third daughter of Opu Wari Dabo Kio Idoniboye-Obu(Alabo Dick Harry)....While my mother Bekinwari M.D Goodhead,Iya Erebo,wife of my father,Hon.Justice Melford Dokubo 
Goodhead was the last daughter.His mother Omualaowiba claimed she had him with Mr Sokari David West a celebrated bank of his time...Sokari had some marital problems with my Aunty and rejected the paternity of Chidiadi....Our grandfather Alabo Dick Harry in anger and great sorrow took the child and named him Chidiadi meaning God is alive or witness....Our grand father sent him to school as he did with all his over fifty children and other relations.After the demise of our grandfather in 1943 the responsibility of training Chidiadi fell on the shoulders of Stanley Dick Harry our Uncle....Omualaowiba's full brother.

All this while, Mr Sokari kept his distance from Chidiadi who did well at school....Chidiadi became a nuisance in the family and outside....his certificates
became his ego crutches with which he wants to dwarf all of us....A family populated by men and women who are at the top of their careers.....He became the bastard of the family....in all family gatherings aspersions and innuendos were directed at him...suddenly Mr Sokari appeared without a DNA investigation to claim Chidiadi as his son....His named changed from Chidiadi Harry to Tamunoemi David West....Tamunoemi is literal translation of Chidiadi from Igbo to Ijaw....But our Chi is not sleeping he knows the hidden and the revealed....we can fool and deceive men but can we do that to our Chi?

It was a great affront on the family when Chidiadi decided he wants to become our Wari Dabo....there was consternation and anger....many family members asked does this man not know his blood group....they forced his younger cousin...the son of uncle Stanley, Kio Idonoboye to retire from his top post in the NNPC to come and head the family....on the appointed day for the selection of the Wari Dabo Chidiadi did not turn up....the family against tradition and custom voted 221 for Kio Idoniboye against 3 for Chidiadi....He dragged the family to court.....We are still in court.

How on earth will i descend to the level of Chidiadi ?...I am an Alabo in Kio Idoniboye-Obu household,Obu,Idonibo,Obuama,Ombo group of War Canoe Houses,Soku and Alabo Edi Abali of Kalabari.Ala is the highest position a man can attain in Kalabari....Which Kalabari family will present Chidiadi as an Alabo without ridicule from other families?....That is why he needs to sell our people to be recognized by the Gambaris....The Gambari have tried to wash him clean.....like the pig he will never be clean before us.He has fought me severally in court and other arenas.....but victory Insha Allah had always been mine. Mujahid Asari Dokubo

Wish I could do more for Nigeria a random rant by Kayode Ogundamisi

I've heard reasons to give up my liberty, my comforts, my personal childhood dreams for Nigeria, but I still think I have not done enough, for every time I blame those in power for what is wrong with Nigeria. Deep inside I still believe a different cause of action on my part would have made a greater impact. Permit me to assume that is how every other Nigerian with the desire for social justice and equality should feel.

No matter our political, ideological, religious divide, if only we as individuals acknowledge that we have not done enough, not just for our beloved country, but for our community, if only we can take a step further, strive to do something positively different, try another route, another model, a new coalition, a compromise based on justice for ALL, if only people do not see the need to do good as just a charity and fulfilment of the holy grail, but a duty they we owe humanity, a privilege to serve in ANY and every capacity, if only we recognise, that street sweeper, that petty trader, that truck driver, that bus conductor as a great contributor to what makes a great society, if we could just commit class suicide at every opportunity and not just hurry and run over the under-privileded, with the look of contempt and disgust, like they are not deserving of our majestic upper, middle class status, just if only,  just maybe we can bridge the gap, just maybe we can build rather than burn bridges, just maybe a BokoHarram victim irrespective of his/her tribe, race, gender or religion would be seen first as a human victim and a Nigerian deserving of our honour, protection and sympathy, than "our tribal brother" or "our tribal sister".

If only we could just be UNITED against a common threat to our very existence. Be it as Muslims, Christians, Animist Atheist, if only we could just ask that question WHAT WILL GOD want us to DO? If only we could do more than enough by getting over our bigotry, our disdain for those who look different, speak a different language or share a different heritage. just that could be MORE THAN ENOUGH.