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Loutish Fouad and the dangerous descent of an unbeliever – Nurudeen ‘Mayor’ Dawodu

Published

6 years ago

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There is a sense of desperation in how Fouad Oki wants to draw attention to himself; and perhaps, in a more subtle way, to his godfathers and apparent financiers.
Until last Saturday’s consensus-driven successful congress of the All Progressives Party in Lagos State removed him from relevance, he was one of the three gadflys superintending over the affairs of the party in the three senatorial districts of the state as a deputy chairman.
But his actual romance with power started with the opportunity to have served as the Director General of the campaign organisation that prosecuted the governorship elections in the last four polls since 2003.
For one whose previous sojourn abroad was less than enviable, having the opportunity to have ‘installed ‘ three governors is an accomplishment, but if allowed to get into his head could be misconstrued as personal wizardry and therefore subject him to delusion of grandeur.
But there’s yet another claim to fame that is perculiar to Ogbeni Oki. His idol worship; Godlessness; his atheistic disbelief in anything God or Godliness and the penchant to attribute personal success and collective achievements to ritualistic submissiveness to dark powers.
It must thus be his fetish belief in powers of dark forces that probably galvanized this self-confessed chief wizard to begin to fancy himself as an enfant terrible who can be a torn in the flesh of our party.
No!
Ebora Oki is only getting high on the smoke of his burnt offerings to small gods that Lagosians have rejected.
If he has been a good student of political history, he ought to know that you can’t assume ownership of a home that you were never part of its foundation, especially when the owners and builders are still alive and kicking.
He should be reminded how his so-called broom revolution failed woefully last year, when he attempted to create a crack on the wall of the party where he and his faceless sponsors have fed fat for nearly two decades.
Watch him carefully and you will see a worse variant of the same type of excesses that he and his cohorts now appear displeased with. There was nothing wrong with the party when they were the favourite beneficiaries. But once new kids on the bloc appear with better management of men and resources, they start to throw tantrums and shout imposition.
His infantile attempt to hold a parallel congress last Saturday was simply what it was: an ‘orita-meta’ ritual dance that was hidden, odious and of no consequence.
And what sort of democracy was at play where Fouad as the sole convener and proxy-financier purportedly emerged as the Party Chairman of an illegal congress?
This joke is no longer funny. It is dark humour that must be consigned to purgatory. It has no place in a smart Lagos.
Thankfully, the national party has rejected any puerile attempt to create undue spasm within the party. No parallel congress will be recognised. Don’t bother to come to Abuja for the national convention of the party if you are a splinter group like Fouad’s.
And like the Constituted Authority said from the city of seven hills, only the genuinely repentant ones should be reabsorbed into the fold of the faithful.
The gods have rejected the soiled offerings of Fouad and his like in the holy month of Ramadan. He probably would require a rebirth through seven astaghfirulla for him to be cleansed of the occultic yoke weighing him down.
Now that his intention is clear by seeking to pronounce himself the chairman of an imaginary faction, Fouad and his paymasters need not reinvent the wheel. They should brave the odds and allow this unholy alliance of their unbelieving few matamorphose into a party and then test their popularity among the God-fearing majority in Lagos who see the hand of the Almighty in how the affairs of government is currently being run in the state.
Maybe the foul reality of losing his constituency at the 2015 poll will now once again confront him with a stench far more debilitating in its intensity.
Ultimately, Lagosians will have to decide for themselves whether they want an idol worshipper as their new “revolutionary” or not.
For us in Surulere who believe in party supremacy and the unchangeable will of Almighty Allah, we can’t wait for the game to begin so as to finally separate the boys from the real men once and for all.

* Dawodu is a Surulere, Lagos-based politician and analyst

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Former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Spends Second Night In EFCC’s Cell Over N1.3 Trillion Alleged Fraud

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13 hours ago

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November 7, 2024

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Immediate past governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, who was arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has spent second night in the custody of the anti-graft commission.

 

Okowa is currently being investigated and detained over the alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion.

 

The N1.3 trillion reportedly represents the 13% derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.

 

According to sources within the commission, Okowa was invited to the EFCC office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he’s subsequently detained by officials.

 

One of the sources stated, “Okowa was at our Port Harcourt office following an invitation from investigators probing the allegations against him. He was then arrested. The commission is investigating him regarding the N1.3 trillion 13% derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.

 

“He is also accused of failing to account for the funds, as well as another N40 billion he allegedly claimed was used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas. He reportedly bought shares worth N40 billion in one of the country’s major banks, representing an 8% equity stake, to support the offshore LNG project. The funds are alleged to have been misappropriated for other purposes.

Investigators are also examining the alleged diversion of funds by the former governor to acquire estates in Abuja and Asaba, Delta State. He is currently being held at the EFCC facility in Port Harcourt.

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Lagos Government Shuts Down Redeemed Church, Celestial Church, Clubs, Event Centres Over Noise Pollution

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1 day ago

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November 6, 2024

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The Lagos State government has shut down a branch of Pastor E. A. Adeboye’s Redeemed Christian Church of God, a Celestial church, nightclubs and event centres over noise pollution.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who made this known on Wednesday, said the churches, clubs and event centres were sealed on Tuesday by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) in the Ogudu, Gbagada, Iyana Ejigbo, Isolo, Ajao Estate, Oshodi, Ilasamaja, and Okota areas of the state.

The sealed establishments include: Redeemed Christian Church of God, Celestial Church of God, OMA Nightclub and Lounge, Lounge & Lodging, Bridge Spot Bar, Okiki Event Center and Hall, Emota Paradise Hotel (Phase 2), CF Hotel & Suites, House 27 Hotel & Suites, Echo Spring Hotel, and Smile T Continental Hotel.

The commissioner in a post on X said, “In a bid to address noise pollution and other environmental violations, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) took action yesterday, closing down several establishments across different parts of the state.

“This enforcement drive, focusing on areas like Ogudu, Gbagada, Iyana Ejigbo, Isolo, Ajao Estate, Oshodi, Ilasamaja, and Okota, is part of LASEPA’s continuous efforts to uphold environmental standards and safeguard public health.

“The affected establishments include Honourable Lounge & Lodging, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Celestial Church of God, OMA Nightclub and Lounge, Bridge Spot Bar, Okiki Event Center and Hall, Emota Paradise Hotel (Phase 2), CF Hotel & Suites, House 27 Hotel & Suites, Echo Spring Hotel, and Smile T Continental Hotel.”

 

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Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja: Tinubu directs flags be flown at half-mast

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1 day ago

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November 6, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu has directed that Nigeria’s national flags be flown at half mast for seven days across the country to mourn the passing of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.

The late Army chief, who was appointed by Tinubu on 19 June 2023, was said to have passed away on Tuesday night after a prolonged illness.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, in a statement on Wednesday by his office Director of Information & Public Relations, Segun Imohiosen, said the president expressed regret over Lagbaja’s death.

Akume said, “President Bola Tinubu has expressed regret following the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, after a brief illness at the age of 56.

“The President has directed that national flags be flown at half mast throughout the country for seven days in honour of the departed Army chief.

“He profoundly appreciates the services of the departed to the nation and wishes the family the fortitude to bear the great loss.”

Meanwhile, the Ministers of Defence, Mohammed Badaru and Bello Matawalle, have commiserated with the president, the military, and Lagbaja’s family over his death.

In a statement by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Henshaw Ogubike, the ministers described Lagbaja’s death as a great loss to his family, the Army, and the nation at large.

“The passing on to eternal glory shocked us at the Ministry of Defence, as our working relationship with him was commendable; he exhibited the spirit of camaraderie and cooperation with us in the discharge of our mandate.

“The late Chief of Army Staff contributed significantly to internal security operations across Nigeria and also exhibited a high level of professionalism.

“He will be greatly missed by the family, the military, and the nation, as he served the nation with commitment and dedication,” the statement added.

 

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