Nigerian Newspapers
What’s new with My Oga At The Top?
Ever since Shem Obafaye, former Lagos State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, featured on Sunrise, a live interview programme on Channels Televisions that fateful Tuesday morning, his life has been an interesting mix of pain and joy. Saturday Mirror went on Obafaye’s trail to find out how he is faring in his new place of work in Ibadan, a city generally believed to be less ‘juicy’ than Lagos as far as postings and appointments are concerned. How is he doing away from family, friends and associates… far from the maddening crowd of Lagos and its ‘busy-body’ journalists?
Until sometime in March this year when the former Lagos State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Shem Obafaye, featured on a Channels Television interview programme, “Sunrise”, the phrase, My Oga at the Top, did not mean much to Nigerians.
It simply passed as the description of a boss in Pidgin English. However, the circumstance in which the phrase was used and the forum gave it and its “exponent” as instant fame.
Obafaye, who was asked to give the website of the NSCDC had faltered, insisting that only “My Oga At The Top” could give the right website. And even when he finally decided to give one, he could not complete it.
The celebrity that the NSCDC boss became was almost immediate. The fame did spread like wild fire and many cashed in on it to enrich themselves. Before one could say Jack Robinson, some smart individuals had gone to town, emblazoning t-shirts with the latest phrase in town – My Oga at the Top- and making good money from it.
It was also a topic for the dance hall too as disc jockeys remixed it, creating some interesting tunes with it. In offices, almost everybody henceforth referred to their bosses as “My Oga at the Top.”
To say that the interview from which the phrase emanated was an embarrassment to the NSCDC is an understatement. May be if the said interview was not a live programme of a visual media, the damage wouldn’t have been that severe.
Many were not just shocked by the outing but expected the end of the road for the security boss. But the para- military agent was not only smart about the ordeal, they were equally considerate, hence, his transfer to the Oyo State command of the security agency.
“He was not redeployed as a form of punishment.” NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Okeh had said. Even if there was no official statement that Shem was punished, it was obvious that his transfer was a face-saving exercise.
Shem swapped position with his Oyo State counterpart, Mr Adesuyi Clement. Like the brave soldier that he is meant to be, Obafaye rose promptly to the newest demand of his job and resumed work at Ibadan, his new duty post.
And waxing stoic, he told a daily newspaper in a telephone conversation: “I am determined to serve in Oyo State and I know God will help me.”
Ever since he was posted to Oyo State, however, Obafaye has been quiet. At least, no word has since come from him, either over the “My Oga at the top” issue or any other.
This leaves many to wonder what is happening to the now very popular NSCDC boss. Countless questions beg for answers. How did he take the instant fame that he has got?
Has he settled down since he resumed in Oyo State and did he feel good about his posting? How was the issue taken by his bosses and the command he headed?
How was the issue taken in the new command he heads? Indeed, many are certainly still dying to know what manner of man “My Oga at the Top” is.
With the same amount of curiosity taking the better part of this reporter, getting answers to the questions became irresistible, hence a trip down to Ibadan where “My Oga at the Top” works. But how do you get to answer some of these questions without the knowledge of the subject is one task.
Getting him to talk at the end of the day is another. Locating the office of “My Oga at the top” at Iyaganku area adjacent to the Police Command in Ibadan, on Thursday, July 18, 2013 wasn’t an arduous task. Entering the office, however, seemed not as easy as envisaged.
Right at the main entrance were about five to six officers of the command in their blue and red uniforms standing with the firm and serious appearance that is commonly identified with military officials. There were no visible arms but no one dared enter without being quizzed.
The environment throbbed with excitement. On both sides of the roads were shopping complexes occupied by men and women in all kinds of businesses and directly opposite the office is an untarred road that leads to an area called Alalubosa Estate.
The road in front of the office, currently under construction, also took its toll on road users, especially with the rain that was said to have been falling heavily for about 16 days.
Although most of the traders around were yet to have full information of the kind of person the new boss of the security agency is, as he is still very new, they were quick to speak about the orderliness of the officers in recent times.
One woman who sells house wares in one of the shopping complexes said “I do not know the new boss physically as he has barely arrived, but I can tell you the man is a disciplined man.
Ever since he came, we have seen that the officers are regularly at the entrance more than how it used to be. They also appear more up and doing. May be this is because they now have a new boss and they are yet to understand him.”
Another man, who simply wanted to be known as Bayo said he hadn’t noticed any negative thing from the agency in recent time. “I would say they have all been working well together. Why would they want to work against their boss if they would not want to lose their jobs?
And from the way we see them from afar, everyone is buckling down to work because they do not know the kind of person the man is. Forget about My Oga at the Top, as far as I am concerned, tightening their belt is just normal.
The man would not want any laxity at this delicate time. So, all of them are working more than before. Even if they will relax, I am sure it won’t be now,” Bayo pointed out. The officers at the gate were not hostile but discharged their duties as strictly as expected. None was however ready to discuss their new boss.
When at the end this reporter got two to speak, they did so under anonymity and resentment: “I don’t know what you people want us to say or what you want the poor man to do again. Just because he forgot something, you are jubilating and spreading it all around. Who cannot make mistakes? Are you saying you people are perfect? No one is perfect except God.
You should be considerate whenever you are discharging your duties. I am sure these Channels people have forgotten that they don’t need to rubbish anyone to get popular themselves and they cannot think of coming to the man again. What if this had cost him his job, will they have been happy?
“I am always surprised at the way you people are excited about negative stories. Of the entire lengthy interview that they had with him, it was only where he erred that they put on the internet.
It is unfair. What do you want me to say now? The man is new and what would you want me to do to my superior? We all give our due respect to him and our duties.
“He is a good person and I tell you he has not even transferred any pain to us should he have any. He is an officer and I tell you, he is going about his duties as bravely and diligently as it is expected of him.
We are all giving all the support he deserves. Story or no story, an officer is an officer and a superior is a superior any day,” he said.
Another officer who also spoke under anonymity said: “I must tell you the truth that Oga is very respectful, up and doing and keeps an open office. He may be new here but I have followed him quite closely even before now.
He keeps an open office and like I said, he is nice to everyone. It is because of his openness to everyone that he was able to fall into the hands of people who would capitalise on his mistake now.
Before, he wouldn’t keep any strict routine where the media was concerned. If you wanted to speak with him, he is free. Why? Because had no skeleton in his cupboard. But it is unfortunate that it has to be like this.
All the same, that has not affected him in any way. He is going about his duties as expected and we have no problems with him,” he said too.
But while Obafaye may not be having it tough with his staff, a trader around his office who identified himself simply as Alhaji Teru saw it from another angle.
According to him, the whole show might have a political undertone afterall. “I smell a rat in all of these. You know that his position as the Lagos Commandant can never be the same as the position in Ibadan.
It definitely must have attracted better benefits than whatever this new one will come with. I want to think some people might have set him up because I don’t see any big deal in someone forgetting a website. It may just be the work of his enemies.
Somebody may want him out of the office in Lagos and the person might have achieved his aim. But thank God, his error did not finally get him out of the job.
It is just a personal opinion. This is Nigeria, anything can happen. It is just unfortunate that he played into their hands,” he said.
For Olu, a receptionist at a nearby hotel, Nigerians should learn a lesson or two from the whole episode. “There is a lesson for everyone in all of these. The man is a good guy but he is not tactical enough.
May be he should have just told them to move to the next question since he wasn’t sure of his answers. But the lesson here is everyone should seek knowledge of what he is doing and what is hot or currently going on. We should not just be laid back or be contented with the little we know.
We should aspire to know more because we don’t know when it will be needed. For those who put it on the internet, I want to say it is not good enough.
The image of the nation, I can assure you, is negatively projected. We are like telling people out there that our top officials are not right to be there.
This is not fair, we shouldn’t celebrate people’s down fall,” he advised. With the much gathered about “My oga at the top”, this reporter went into one of the offices in the building to see him, but was directed to the office of the corps Public Relations Officer situated in one of the one-story buildings within the compound.
Both the boss and the publicist were not around. But the Assistant PRO, Mr Segun Odedina, was on seat. Upon request to see the Commandant, Odedina who asked for the identity of the reporter later disclosed that Obafaye was not around and would not be around till the next week.
“Would you drop your contact number for a formal interview soonest?” An agreement was therefore reached and he promised to call the reporter when his boss returns. Saturday Mirror will be waiting for that call.
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Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. A DisNaija.Com network.
Source: National Mirror Newspaper
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•Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group
•Security beefed up at N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.
The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group’s flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT.
Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.
But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn’t the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.
The security of the nation’s airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.
THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.
More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.
THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.
Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.
Security sources told THISDAY: “There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment.”
It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.
The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT.
“I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly,” a source said.
National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.
Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.
The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.
Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.
Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.
Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation’s airports.
A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.
PDP Demands State of Emergency
In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.
He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.
Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.
Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: “We are worried Abuja is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.
“We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.
“There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation. It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let’s keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”
He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.
Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central
“Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.
Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.
He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.
Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.
The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.
Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram
The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.
The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.
“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.
State of Emergency Won’t Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari
Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.
Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.
Sourced From: THISDAYLIVE
Tribune Online
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 165,110. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. “55 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-21, Yobe-19, Ogun-6, Akwa Ibom-3, Kaduna-2, Plateau-2, FCT-1, Rivers-1.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded […]
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Tribune Online
Sourced From: Tribune Online
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The people of the South East region have been urged to explore the power of negotiation and mutual settlement in the face of ongoing killings and security challenges in the zone because the east can not afford another war at present.
Stakeholders from the South-East geo-political zone made the remark on Thursday, at the unveiling of the book, “Igbo, 50 years after Biafra,” written by Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage Services, Joe Igbokwe, held at Ikeja G.R.A.
Speaking at the unveiling of the book, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Cutis Adigba,
urged the people of the South-East to learn to build bridges across the country, so that they can realise their ambition of producing the next president of Nigeria.
Adigba urged leaders from the zone to discourage the move and agitation by some youths in the South East to go to war and secede out of Nigeria.
Also read: Banditry: Disregard viral video, Niger State gov’t urges residents
He said that Igbo have always found it difficult to rule Nigeria because they refused to build bridges across the six geo-political zones that made up Nigeria.
While describing the agitation as uncalled for, Adigba noted that after two decades that Nigeria returned to civil rule, the Igbo has predominantly identified with only one political party.
He maintained that remaining in one party can not advance the cause of the people of South East and cannot make them realise their objective of producing an Igbo man as president.
He maintained that the publisher of the book, Igbokwe played politics outside his state, so that the Igbo race can be integrated with one another race.
Adigba said the failure of the Igbo to reintegrate with other ethnic nationalities politically was responsible for the retrogression of the race in Nigerian politics.
Igbokwe, also addressing guests on the occasion, maintained that the Igbo are not advancing politically because they refused to be integrated into National politics, lamenting that, despite their success in business, they are not successful in playing politics at the national level.
Corroborating Dimgba, Igbokwe noted that there was the need for the Igbo people to stand up and build bridges so that their objective of producing the next president of Nigeria could be realised.
According to him: “I have decided to raise my voice, I hope my people will hear me while trying to quell the effect of the war, our people are spoiling for another war, mayhem is being unleashed in Igbo land, and there is palpable fear.
“Those who could speak have lost their voice, mindful of the consequences of their actions, I am calling on all Igbo leaders to speak up because all actions carry consequences, consequences of the silence will be too dastardly to sustain.
“Those silently supporting the wild wind should be careful or else they hand over to their children,” he said.
Igbokwe urged those spoiling for war to jettison their plan and embrace dialogue, urging them to learn from the South West region that despite the challenges faced after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, they did not go to war, and the region had the opportunity of producing two of her sons for presidential position in 1999.
“You have to build bridges to become president of Nigeria, but it is unfortunate the Igbo are burning bridges.”
Speaking at the event, Chief Uche Dimgba who is the coordinator of Igbo in All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, described Igbokwe as “a Frank, fearless and reliable leader, who based his views on issues and stand by his opinions, and we the Igbo have confidence in him and believe he can lead us aright.”
“He is a leader we Igbo believe in and we will follow him. If he can serve all the governors produced in Lagos State since 1999, he is a better man to follow because he possesses all the experience that can be of benefit to Igbo both at home and in the diaspora.”
The post Attacks on S’East: We must explore all options of negotiation — Stakeholders urge Igbo appeared first on Vanguard News.
Sourced From: Vanguard News
The government said that no worker should stay back beyond 6:00 p.m. within premises of buildings undergoing construction.
The post Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
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Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
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