Buhari Belongs to Nobody

Apparently, it is no longer business as usual for politicians and business moguls who had used their affluence and influence in the past to parade the corridors of power. But this reality is yet to sink into the hearts of many and President Muhammadu Buhari is quick to remind them of his stand in political affairs.

His popular phrase “I belong to everybody and nobody” is slowly coming into reality. His recent visit to the United States of America unveiled the full implication of those words. First, he humiliated the likes of Zenith bank’s Chairman and multibillionaire Jim Ovia, alongside Wale Tinubu at the private dinner party organised the US Chamber of Commerce. The president had verbally expressed surprise at their presence as they were not included in his entourage.

These businessmen reportedly left the dinner party with their heads bowed. Moreover, these men who were good buddies of the past president are yet to warm their way into the hearts of Buhari.

Before assumption of office, Obi was the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services in the Agency. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), member of the International Bar Association (IBA), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators, amongst membership of several other professional associations.

Obi brings along with him over two decades experience in the public sector, law practice and the maritime industry into his new responsibility. He was born on May 1, 1964, and hails from Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. The acting DG studied Law at the University of Nigeria Nsukka and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991 after duly completing the mandatory studies at the Law School. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Obi is yet to know if his role will be temporary or permanent. 

Truth be told, the rumour of their affair was quite unbelievable. No one expected the news making the rounds earlier in the year to be true. Moreso, the couple insisted that they were nothing more than buddies. Even when photos of them being so close and affectionate surfaced on the internet, the two swore that there was nothing between them. It was quickly dismissed as publicity stunt. But it didn’t take long for the two to come out of the closet. At the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) held last weekend in Durban, D’banj and his South African Radio/TV personality girlfriend, Bonang Matheba went full PDA, confirming that they were more than just friends. Matheba was caught on camera kissing D’banj as he was announced the winner of the Evolution award at the event. The Koko master has been linked with many female celebrities in the past, including Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji and the executive director of Polo Avenue, Jennifer Obayuwana. But how long will this romance last? After using a smoke screen of promotion to hoodwink the staff to soft pedal its tough stance against her for alleged financial and procedural impropriety, the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission, NTDC, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo has again attracted the anger of the organized labour, the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress. The workers who have already taken their case against Mbanefo to the DSS are what the DG might have created deep disaffection and acrimony in the work environment due to under-the-table methods employed in some recent recruitment into the NTDC. Mr. Samuel Opunu who leads the workers said they are particularly annoyed that Mbanefo’s appointees are placed above them that they met in service.
Although an official of the NTDC has been grandstanding, saying the workers are telling a lie, the battle line is already drawn.

Monday, July 20 was Maureen Ifeanyi Amenechi Onigbanjo’s 55th birthday. It was a public holiday. Friends and family members were gathered at her home in the Adeniyi Jones-Ikeja, Lagos area from very early in the day. A small canopy was erected outside- with a couple dozens of chairs- as an overflow to accommodate the increasing number of guests, some of who could not be accommodated in the living room or preferred to stay outdoor. A painter was applying a fresh coat of lemon green and white paint on the exterior of the house. Maureen, who many know by her trade name, Maufechi is one of Nigeria’s leading fashion designer and owner of House of Maufechi. It was her birthday, alright. Yes, the house should be given a facelift and her friends and family members should be around her. But this is one birthday Maureen would never forget for long as she lives. She had a reason to celebrate, but there was no gaiety in the air.

Conversation in the Onigbanjo home was carried out in muffled tones. People wore long, sullen faces. It was Maureen’s birthday, alright, but she was not celebrating; for the head of the family, her husband, soul mate, best friend and confidant had been snatched by the cold hands of death, leaving her and their three children in the midstream of life. Olawale Adedeji Latif Onigbanjo had been battling an undisclosed challenge to his health for a while. He had gone for treatment in a London hospital. Unfortunately, he could not make it back alive. His friends and family members who rallied around his wife arranged to have his body back in an Arik flight for burial at the Vaults and Gardens cemetery in Ikoyi-Lagos. This followed social events and a church service at Anglican Church of the Ascension in Opebi-Lagos. He was 56 years old.