Abuja

How Governor Danbaba Suntai’s convoy killed one of my best friends, Kokobili Edward

/ Adeola / 2 Comments

Adeola Aderounmu

I wept uncontrollably. I wept when the news got to me that one of my best friends Kokobili Edward had been killed by the convoy of Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai of Taraba State.

My Friend Kokobili Edward

My Friend Kokobili Edward

The sad incidence occurred along the International Airport Road in Abuja on Monday the 23rd of January 2012.

The last time I saw Eddy alive was around the 27th or 28th of December 2010 when I visited Nigeria. We attended the Festac Grammar School alumni meeting together on the 26th and he invited me and my family to his house at 512 Road in Festac Town.

Even in December 2006 Eddy and I had a swell time together during my visit to Lagos that year. We were together for the entire 2 weeks that I spent in Nigeria and I remember how he drove me to the Murtala International Airport on the night of my departure.

I have several fond memories of Eddy. From the time we had together at Festac Grammar School (1984-1989) until 2010 I cannot recall a day that Eddy was angry or off beat. He was always smiling and very friendly. His laughter was infective and everyone recalls of his good deeds and happy moods.

My late friend Kokobili Edward, killed by the driver of the Taraba State Governor

My late friend Kokobili Edward, killed by the driver of the Taraba State Governor

Eddy was planning to get married this month-February 2012. So he had travelled to Abuja the fateful weekend of week 3 to start his wedding plans. His fiancée, the love of his life, lives in Abuja and he had travelled on Friday the 20th to fulfill the first of the marriage rituals-the Introduction ceremony.

It was a successful ceremony that Saturday and Eddy was in high spirit that weekend. He was able to gather together friends and families in Abuja for the introduction ceremony. He skipped the burden of transporting people from Lagos for the Abuja ceremony.

On his last day on earth Eddy was in a hurry to get back to Lagos and to return to work. He was obviously looking forward to sharing the good news about of the successful introduction ceremony with his other family members in Lagos. He never made it.

According to an eyewitness account, there was heavy traffic on the International Airport Road and the threat caused by the Boko Haram incursions into Abuja was an additional problem. The check points made travelling to the airport cumbersome and the movement of vehicular traffic was slower than normal.

In any case Eddy disembarked from the taxi and was negotiating with an okada rider when he was crushed to death by the car belonging to the Taraba state governor. Eddy had his back to the main traffic so he stood no chance when the overspeeding car went on the pedestrian path. He was killed on the spot.

Eddy became a victim of both the insecurity in Nigeria and the recklessness of government agencies.

The alumni association, friends of Eddy and the Kokobilis are asking question and looking for justice.

Governor Danbaba was already at the airport. Why was his driver in such an extreme haste to pick him up? Why did the reckless driver decide to drive along the pedestrian path? Was that a regular procedure for the governor’s convoy-that is-to drive at high speed and along pedestrian paths? Did the driver ignore a red traffic light which could have spared Eddy’s life?

What is the governor of Taraba State doing to ensure that the families of Eddy Kokobili are comforted in their sorrow? Who will console us-his friends and other acquaintances?

Is Mr. Danbaba planning to visit the family in Festac Town Lagos to express his condolence and sympathy over the recklessness of his official driver? Will this governor pay a personal condolence visit to Eddy’s fiancée and her family in Abuja to express his regret over the irreparable loss?

In general how many more lives are we going to destroy as a result of the carelessness and recklessness of government officials?

The office of Governor Danbaba Suntai or its representatives may have accepted guilt in this case but they must go beyond that. They must demonstrate that they really have human feelings and that the loss is unwarranted and highly regrettable.

They must participate in the burial ceremony and give the Kokobilis the utmost support that they need at this time. By taking adequate responsibilities for this sad loss the Taraba State governor can ensure that a healing process is initiated among the friends and families of Edward Kokobili. We loved him so much and we can’t believe he’s gone forever.

The reckless driver who drove the SUV Nissan that killed Eddy was reportedly arrested by the police. It would be useful to ascertain the mental condition of the driver. The investigation should cover whether he was driving under the influence. More importantly, he should be prosecuted without delay to serve as a deterrent for other reckless drivers in Nigeria.

Edward Kokobili lived a good life. Like the rest of us he struggled to make it in life. He was determined to succeed and he was still on his way up before he met his untimely death. He was the head of a company called Feed Addictives, Agrochemicals & Veterinary Products, Vitacem Nigeria Ltd.

Eddy was a graduate of the University of Benin and an active member of both the Festac Grammar School Alumni Projects Management Group and Festac Grammar School Old Students Association Klass ‘89.

Edward Kokobili will be missed by his brothers, families and friends.

Who will comfort us in our sorrow?

Eddy, you won’t be there the next time I’ll be on 512 Road. I will miss you. Sun re o..!

N10 000 Each for Youths in Bayelsa to Support Subsidy Removal

/ Adeola / 3 Comments

By Adeola Aderounu

The shame of a Nation..!

Anyone can check this fact at Hayalla Hotal in Yenagoa.

This is either the handiwork of G. Jonathan or his servants in Bayelsa State. Tribalism is one of the evils in the Nigerian society.

Money, as much as N10 000 has been given to Bayelsa Youth so that they can carry placards to support the removal of subsidy.

What a shame! Generation of hungry Bayelsans!

They have police protection to collect this money and to stupidly parade themselves in the streets.

Goodluck just ran out of Nigerian..!

Source: Lookman Abolaji Yusuf, and Adesile Obisanya

Nigerians Want Jonathan Tried at ICC

/ Adeola / 2 Comments

By Adeola Aderounmu

Prominent Nigerian writers and public commentators like Pius Adesanmi and Akintokunbo Adejumo want Goodluck Jonathan tried for crimes against humanity.

A protester gunned down by Jonathan's men

A protester gunned down by Jonathan's men

They are asking that all the people killed by the Nigerian security forces under the command of Jonathan should be well documented.

The young man killed in Ilorin has been identified and those who were killed in Lagos are also being identified.

This period is one of the darkest in the history of Nigeria.

The evil reign of Jonathan

The evil reign of Jonathan

Nigerians are under the reign of terror.

The young boy who had no shoes when he was a pupil is now the evil president making sure that innocent citizens are sent to their early graves.

Jonathan keeps murdering innocent Nigerians

Jonathan keeps murdering innocent Nigerians

Under this evil reign of Jonathan, terrorism in Nigeria became well established.

The evil reign of Jonathan

Nigeria is on the brink and the revolution may have finally kicked off.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , Please Resign Now..!

/ Adeola / 2 Comments

By Adeola Aderounmu

Ngozi threatened to resign if Jonathan reverses the fuel subsidy removal. Who wants her in Nigeria in the first place?

This woman and Obasanjo allegedly stole Abacha’s loot that was returned to Nigeria by the Swiss government. She has not given the account of how the money disappeared.

Jonathan brought her back because she is a member of the “chop and clean mouth group” but Nigerians didn’t know that. Many people think she is a good woman.

From the moment the demanded to be paid in dollars rather than naira, Naijas should have known she is no saint.

But we always ignore the signs.

It was the same reasons Nigerians stupidly voted for the PDP in 2011. They claimed to vote for Jonathan and some of us ask them “what is the difference”?

I was quick to tell those who have ears that voting for Jonathan will make 1999-2015 pdp years the worst years of our life. Who needs prophecy in Nigeria when the signs are so glaring? Only we chose to be sentimental and ignore the signs all the time.

Now we all know better.

But we are in the struggle together no matter what.

What is going on in Nigeria today can help us define the future. It is to restructure Nigeria as a true federation or different regions.

If we don’t take power away from the center, all the present struggle will be in vain.

Politics must be made unattractive by ensuring that the politicians follow the same wage pattern as other government workers.

The fight against corruption cannot be over emphasized. It is the greatest single path to the promotion of common wealth among the over 160m people.

Otherwise all these demonstrations and occupations around Nigeria will be in vain. Jonathan can re-instate the subsidy and corruption and politics will continue as usual.

And for Ngozi Okojo Iweala, she can resign and go to hell for all that we care. There are more than 160m Nigerians and surely there are over 20m Nigerians qualified for her job as the finance minister. Who does she think she is?

This woman thinks that Nigeria is under her. What a joke.

It would be more sensible to actually arrest her and let her face prosecution for the mismanagement of the economy and for creating policies that have created public disturbances and instability.

Nigeria is bigger than any individual, no matter where they get their ineffective qualifications.

Please Ngozi, go on exile before the whirlwind consume you or bring you to justice. Shio..!

The Christmas Day Bomb Blasts: The Killing of Mr. Innocent and his five children

/ Adeola / 1 Comment

By Adeola Aderounmu

Some broken hearts will never mend.

On Christmas day of 2011 Islamic militants attacked a sanctuary in Abuja. There were reports that at least 4 other churches were attacked.

When the bombs exploded at St. Theresa Catholic Church at least 40 people died immediately while several others were injured. A safe haven became a crime scene.

Among the dead were Mr. Innocent, his 3 sons and 2 daughters.

Innocent was from Umukabia in Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State. His wife did not die in the blast. She left the church earlier.

According to Okechukwu Okafor, a cousin of Innocent who spoke to me from his base in Germany, Innocent’s wife left the church earlier so she could prepare the food that the entire family will eat later that day.

They never did.

There would be no more family meals for Innocent and his household.

In his village, lips remained sealed as no one has told his mother about the tragic deaths in the family.

Who is going to let the cat out of the bag?

This man will be buried in his village. What are they going to tell his mum? What does she know about Boko Haram?

Who will be there to console Innocent’s mum? She has lost her dependable son.

Who is going to console Innocent’s wife? Her husband and five children are dead.

This is the greatest tragedy that can befall a woman, to lose her husband and her children in one swoop.

She will never understand why her loved ones were taken away from her forever. They paid the ultimate price. It’s a sad situation.

Before the dusts finally settle it will be a great service to country and humanity if the government of the day shows some compassion by visiting the families of the victims killed and the survivors of the senseless bomb blasts.

Maybe the Imo State Governor or the Local Government Chairman in Mbano should step forward to console the bereaved?

Families of victims and survivors have homes and they should be offered the best of psychological and moral supports by the church and the government.

It is hypocritical for Mr. Jonathan to shed tears at the crime scene 7 days after. What was he doing 5 minutes after the blast took place?

It is worrying that no one has been arrested or prosecuted for all the acts of murders that have been perpetrated in the name of terrorism in Nigeria.

It is sad that simple techniques like Google maps and 3G technologies are not available to the Nigerian Security Operatives. That is probably one of the several reasons why terrorists in Nigeria can make phone calls to journalists and the police and still keep hold of their residential areas.

It’s an additional scandal on this lukewarm presidency.

It appears that Mr. Jonathan’s biggest task before the fuel subsidy scandal was how to keep Nigeria one. He lost the plot and presents a classical example of a scalar quantity.

Each day that passes under Mr. Jonathan gives strength to the argument to restructure Nigeria as a true federation. The recent threat from Boko Haram that all southerners should quit the northern region calls for an outright division of the country.

These two options cannot be ignored forever. Nigeria is now too fragile to sustain the present form of governance.

Further negligence of the wave of terrorism and general government lawlessness sustained by systemic corruption and impunity will result to anarchy and the consequences can be Nigeria’s second civil war.

Inscriptions were made on the blood stained walls of St. Theresa Church. One of them was REVOLUTION NOW and the other was NO MORE PEACE IN THE COUNTRY.

These inscriptions are perfect descriptions of the current situation in Nigeria. Who knows where we go from where?

Some tears will never dry.

May the souls of Innocent, his children and all those who paid the supreme price for Nigeria find peace.

May their families find the strength to move on.