Masterweb Reports

 [ Masterweb Reports ] - Dotun Adebayo is the most successful Nigerian broadcaster ever in Britain. And now, he says, after nearly fifty years in the UK, he's ready to come home. "What ie happening in Nigeria now in terms of the explosion of media is unprecedented anywhere else in the world. In the next couple of years Nigeria will have more television channels than anywhere else in the world and within the next decade will lead the world in terms of television and radio news. So watch out CNN and BBC, Nigeria is where it's at." 52-year-old Dotun revolutionised and conquered the British book publishing industry with his company The X Press in 1992 with the bestseller Yardie,and went on to publish such huge hits ass 'Baby Father' (one million copies sold) 'Cop Killer', Wicked In Bed" and his current smash hit "Prisoner To The Streets", before taking the broadcasting industry by.......Read More
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*Photo Caption - Dotun Adebayo

 [ Masterweb Reports ] - It was not for nothing that African politics in particular has been described as a dirty game. This is as a result of lies, corruption, thievery, insults etc that are associated with it. In Ghana, for instance, the 1992 Republican Constitution never gave room for "Religious Politics" to clean the political mess as enumerated above. Therefore, whoever enters Ghana's political arena takes cognisant of the threats from his political opponents.

 
It is against this backdrop that all political parties select their leaders capable of not only winning their party political power, but also sustaining such power for the benefit of their parties. No two individuals are the same, so does the concept of individual differences teach us. Therefore, in selecting people to manage the affairs of political parties, factors such as experience, competence, demeanour, tribe, gender, educational level etc are taken into serious consideration. Sometimes, a knowledge of the leadership of a party's main opponent forms an integral part of the criteria for Constituency Executives who select their national leaders.

 
Using the current leadership of the NDC as an example, one could see a number of strange characters, yet the leadership was able to win power from an incumbent government in 2008. They have "thieves", "cat killers", "loose talkers", "trainers of special forces", and "propagandists" manning the Presidential Candidacy through to Propaganda Secretariat. I cannot even count the number of "babies with sharp teeth" that also provide emergency response to criticisms from political opponents, not forgetting the ever powerful "Azorka Boys".

 
It was therefore a God-sent to have had Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, aka Sir John as the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) General Secretary. This is the man who has fought the NDC vigorously since 2009. Even though Sir John has taken a heavy flak from NDC's Kobby Acheampong and Co. for taking the Mills-Mahama-Amissah to the cleaners, his determination to keep Asiedu Nketiah in check cannot be simply glossed over. For close to five months in 2009, Asiedu Nketiah never appeared in public when Sir John exposed his palm wine tapping business to Ghanaians. What crime has Sir John committed this time around to deserve this maltreatment from his own party men? That; Dr. Bawumia's accident was an assassination attempt by the NDC? That; President Mills should step down in the nation’s interest because he was unfit to rule? That; the NPP had won the presidential election but victory was being denied the party due to a over a million votes rigged for John Mahama? Is that what the "Popes", True Democrats", "Cleanest Politicians", "Wisest", and "Good Communicators" in the NPP call "unguarded utterances"? Which of the above allegations was false?

 
But if people have lost their sense of hearing, can they honestly tell us that their sense of memory is also lost completely? From "broken ecomini", assassination of Ya Na, strike actions, through to all fraudulent judgement debts, cocaine business, corruption, and rumour of Prof. Mills' and Aliu Mahama's deaths, the NPP has been the brain behind them, yet not a single shred of evidence was provided by the NDC to prove the allegations. How many true NDC members criticised their leaders when such allegations were made against the NPP? And how many of Sir John's critics of today defended our beloved party in this regard? Even the murder of 44 Ghanaians in far away Gambia was blamed on the NPP; the Kulugugu bomb on Nkrumah, serial killings of women, May 9disaster, TOR debt, tribal politics, politics of insults, falling standards of education, energy and water crises have all been blamed on the NPP. Besides, let Amina make a statement on armed robbery, quickly it is NPP making. Let somebody display Nana Konadu's posters, it's nobody barring the NPP. Talk about chaos in computer placement of JHS graduates, implementation of single spine salary structure, and schools under trees, they are all NPP making. So when did the blame game become problematic to the NDC and the NPP self-appointed critics? When did the "holier-than-thous" in the NPP see blame games as "unguarded statements"?

 
If people have nothing to do in the face of all the socio-economic challenges Ghanaians are going through under this visionless government, they should leave Sir John alone. It is the belief of some people in the NPP that the party should conduct itself differently from the NDC and that is all well and good. But we must be careful not to write off or over-criticise those within the party who choose to act or speak based on their convictions that there could be a motive behind certain events. In 2009, there was no official position statement released by the NDC when its Chairman, Kwabena Adjei declared to kill cats. Similarly, Yaw Boateng Gyan had the full backing of the NDC's supporters when he was caught on tape planning to use "Special Forces" to cause trouble in the 2012 general elections. The NDC saw nothing wrong with John Mahama's tribal quote; "It's time for Northerners to rule Ghana", but they still taunt the NPP with "We Akans". Prez Kufuor was described as a "thief" because his son had purchased a hotel, but today, John Mahama is a "Saint" though his brother owns a private jet. If the above are not signs of hypocrisy, what else could we say?

 
For me, Sir John stands out as one of the most combative, intelligent, skilful, and efficient General Secretary of our time, looking at the character and strength of the secretaryship of our main opponent, the NDC. If Asiedu Nketiah was awarded with the Management of John Mahama's 2012 Campaign Activities, it goes to underscore the effectiveness of his role as a General Secretary for his party. But this is the man that had the gut to describe his party's founder as a "Barking Dog", election petitioners as "idiots", and NPP 17 Presidential Aspirants, as "thieves". It has been the argument by a few that the NPP cannot match the NDC on "dirty politicking". Personally, I don't know how such people arrived at that conclusion. Are the NDC members "Special Creatures? You can't sit in opposition and do "perfect politics". The Ghanaian voter has come to accept lies as truths; he prefers GHC5 today to Free SHS tomorrow; and he is even willing and ready to throw acid on his political opponent to win power. When Hon. Martin Amidu began to speak the truth about the NDC, he was eventually kicked out from the party. It also happened to Dr. Sekou Nkrumah, but Alfred Woyome is adored for his GHC51.2m scandal. Could those attacking Sir John for lack of evidence also put the same question before the NDC to prove all their allegations against the NPP? Tit for tat, for me, is a fair play. Nobody should doubt the NDC when it comes to matters of this nature, for they can steal, destroy, lie, and kill at the same time with impunity.

 
We cannot always sit down for the NDC to attack us before we react. Like in modern football, it is always better to attack, if your aim is to defend the goals. As I keep saying, there is no single clear-cut way to win and maintain power. The Pastors in the NPP should continue to pray for us; the Angels should guide and protect us; the writers should continue to write; the talkers should talk, the thinkers should think and formulate policies, the advisors should advise behind the scenes; the foot soldiers should be encouraged to do their work; the financiers should continue to invest in the party; but they should never put impediments on the way of we the activists who are willing and ready to match the NDC boot for boot in this contest. In as much as any NPP member verbally attacks the opposition, there is no need in rushing to condemn the person. We should show comradeship. What we should rather condemn are the pronouncements made against our party by our own members as witnessed recently from Kwame Pianim, and Wireko Brobbey. When Nana Akomea used "stupid fool" against NDC's Agyenim Boateng, when the latter insulted Dr. J.B. Danquah on a political programme, we all supported him. If we were to stick to NDC's request to sack Nana Akomea at the time, P.C. Appiah Ofori for his comment against the Oguaa Paramount Chief, Hon. Ken Agyapong on his numerous comments, Anthony Karbo for his statements, Sir John for his utterances, Ursula Owusu and Kofi Dwumah for their utterances, and even change Akufo-Addo for using "Y3n Akanfuo" in context, what would be the strength of our party leadership? Let's respect the sense of judgement of our party leaders to prove to all our competitors and the Ghanaian populace that discipline and loyalty are the hallmark of the NPP. Sir John only poses a threat to the NDC, hence the frequent verbal attacks and calls for his resignation. Until the NDC's "General Mosquito" refines his language and utterances, the only "Sir" in Ghanaian politics would continue to play by their game.

 
God bless Ghana! God bless the NPP!! God bless Kufuor!!!

 
Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang reports from Enfield, London.

 
*Photo Caption - Map of Ghana

 [ Masterweb Reports ] - Writing on the recent series of demolition of illegal shanties at the bridgehead, Onitsha, Emmanuel Obe of the PUNCH Newspaper (Saturday Punch of January 19, 2013, page 14), among other things, stated thus: “tales of woe and despondency hung in the air as bulldozers deployed by the Anambra State Government roared through all the markets on the River Niger bridgehead end of the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway some days ago”.
 
Yes, there were series of demolition at the bridgehead axis of Onitsha , the commercial nerve centre of Anambra State . That axis is the major entrance to Anambra State . Whatever one sees at this strategic point, as one enters Anambra State , says a lot about the government and people of this State. A visitor or returnee coming from Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo and Delta States or from Abuja or even outside Nigerian shores, forms his or her opinion about the hygiene, sense of aesthetics, and decorum or lack thereof of the people and government of Anambra State based on what he/she sees at the bridgehead.

 
Before now, that is before the demolition, this bridgehead area on both sides, was home to filth – animal dung, birds’ feathers, muddy and oily soil- where decayed tomatoes, onions and other condiments were recklessly displayed to the discomfiture of the residents of and visitors to Onitsha and those on transit to Enugu, Imo, Abia, Cross –River, Rivers, Kogi and the Northern States of our dear country, Nigeria.

 
It is only imperative that such dirty, such unhygienic and such unsightly scenario could not continue to be tolerated by any responsive and responsible government, least of all, one under the watch of a caring, health-conscious Peter Obi, the Governor of Anambra State – a governor who believes that leadership is doing the right things for the people independently of insinuations or appeals to sentiments, recourse to propaganda, innuendoes and the like. He would tell you with relish that governance, unlike the Entertainment and Sports Industries, has nothing to do with popularity. For him, the reason Margaret Thatcher was not popular when she was British Prime Minister was that she took tough decisions to salvage the British economy at a time when her counterparts in her Continent were not courageous to emulate her. But for her tough stature, British Airways and other corporations would not have survived till today. Is it not interesting to note that several years after she held sway as Prime Minister , Thatcher who was once derogatorily referred to as Iron Lady ,is today celebrated in Britain as the woman who saw tomorrow ?

 
Even the venerable Elder Statesman, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo could not agree more with Mr. Peter Obi on leadership and what it entails. In a recent occasion organized in Abeokuta to celebrate him as an international icon, the former Head of State among other things, held that “it is inevitable for a leader who wants to succeed in Nigeria (and I dare add, anywhere on the surface of the Earth) to step on toes”, adding that “those who lack the courage to step on toes for the right reason, should not aspire to any leadership position”(THE NATION Newspaper, Saturday, January 19, 2013, page 57).

 
What is going on in Onitsha and in some other cities and towns in Anambra State under Governor Obi’s watch, are the right things: they are logically defensible; they emanate from a clear conscience and what is more, they serve the interest of the majority of the people.

 
It is on record that for more than five years, Governor Peter Obi’s administration has been appealing to traders at the bridgehead, Onitsha to vacate the area so that it could be worked upon – cleared of refuse and rubbish, asphalted and beautified so that traffic from the Asaba end (in neighbouring Delta State) could flow freely and people entering Anambra State could feel that civilized human beings who eke out decent existence reside there.

 
The Governor had visited the traders, countless times; appealed to them on several occasions to see reasons to relocate to an area in Ogbunike – Umunya axis on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway so that work could commence at the bridgehead. Sensing that some of the traders may be reading tribal meanings into his appeals, the governor had on different occasions taken the heads of different Security agencies in the State - Army Commander at the 301 Artillery Regiment Onitsha, Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, Director of the State Security Service, etc to the new site for them to help in assessing its suitability as an alternative to the rather chaotic, congested and dirty scenario at Onitsha. All the Security heads agreed with the governor that with the proximity of the express road, the Police Post already built, etc, there was no reason why the traders and their clients would insist on staying at the bridgehead.

 
It is important to point out here that some of the traders literally ridiculed His Excellency on some occasions when he spoke to them at the bridgehead. They would engage him in unending argument without even showing due respect to his office. On one occasion, one of them boasted that the Hausa community at Onitsha had petitioned the Sultan of Sokoto and that they were actually waiting for his directive on whether they should vacate the premises or not.

 
And as if that was actually true, the Sultan, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar came to Anambra State . Amazingly, during his courtesy call on His Excellency, at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Awka ,the Sultan shocked all those who had wrongly thought that Governor Peter Obi was a tribalist.

 
Recalling his Military Service days at Nsukka town as an Army Captain (or was it Major) and knowing Mr. Peter Obi as a student at the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in the 1980s, the Sultan announced to the chagrin of some of the people present that he had known citizen Peter Obi for more than 29 years, adding that he (the Governor) could not “hurt a fly”.

 
As if that statement was not enough, Governor Obi later took his guest, the Sultan to the Palace of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe where he was treated to the usual royal ceremonies before the governor accompanied the Sultan to a ceremony in a mosque near Onitsha Main Market. It is important to note that the relationship between Governor Peter Obi and the Muslim/Hausa/Yoruba community in Anambra State has been very cordial. This is because the governor welcomes everyone in open arms regardless of his/her state of origin, religion, ethnic or tribal inclination. During the last Sallah, for instance, the Governor personally worshipped and broke the fast at an Awka mosque to the admiration of everyone. It is therefore surprising to notice that tribal meanings are being read into an action that is basically dictated by the urge to create a decent and civilized environment which will benefit even those shouting condemnation.

 
For the avoidance of doubt, the bridgehead axis of Onitsha is peopled by a variety of persons – Anambra traders, people from Enugu , Ebonyi, Imo, Abia States and a few Hausas and Yorubas. So the argument that the relocation order was handed down to Hausas and Yorubas to the exclusion of Igbo people, does not hold water.

 
Elsewhere at Nkpor, Ogidi, Ekwulobia, Awka, Nnewi and even Otu-Ocha, the headquarters of Anambra East Council Area, to mention just some places, demolition of illegal structures was carried out for the same reason that they were done at the Bridgehead area of Onitsha . In fact, the demolition exercises were in accordance with the decision of Anambra State Executive Council, a decision basically taken with a view to creating order, decency and civility in the State.

 
Needless to add that actions of this nature are also carried out in other States of the Federation for similar reasons. Let no one therefore single out the case of Anambra and ascribe an ulterior motive to it. It will be quite unfair to play politics with everything much in the same way in which it will be both naïve and wicked to give a dog a bad name just to hang it.

 
Mike Udah, Chief Press Secretary to Governor of Anambra State reports from Awka.

 
*Photo Caption – Niger bridgehead

  [ Masterweb Reports ] - My Dear Ndi Anambra, I address you today with a deep sense of gratitude to God and a profound appreciation of your support in 2012. We thank God for seeing all of us through various challenges last year. All our achievements which were recorded within the ambience of peace and political stability last year, were possible because you gave unflinching support to our adopted vision of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, being pursued through the.....Read More.
 
 
 
 
 
 
*Photo Caption - Governor Peter Obi