The NewsCastle online

MEET EMEKA NJOKU, BANKER TALKING DRUMMER
KAYODE APONMADE
Emeka Njoku is a unique budding act whose dexterity on Yoruba talking drum is magnificent. His uniqueness is attributed to his talent as an Ibo man playing Yoruba talking drum and other drums. Emeka, a banker, is also a percussionist and musician.
The talking drummer, Emeka looks up to Samuel Bayewu, Akin Falaye, Mega 99 among others as role models.
 Speaking with the NewsCastle Online, he stated that he has played with several bands, including Debola Shammah, Juwon and FDT, Prowess and Engraced bands.
He added that he’s the lead talking drummer at the immaculate Order of Cherubim and Seraphim, 13, Irepodun Street, off Abel Ademola way, Aboru Lagos.
The 26-year old Njoku whose mother and father are Matron and Lawyer respectively hails from Imo State as he holds B.sc in Microbiology from Redeemer’s University in 2016.

KAYODE APONMADE
The coordinator of FEMLSO, Lagos Female Lawyers In Politics, Mrs Abimbola Badia Jack Oladugba, has urged the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu not to relent in his efforts to curtail the incessant increase in Rape and Gender-Base Violence (GBV) particularly Rape.
The woman activist stated that the reasons behind the increase in the criminal behavior are the unimaginable culture of silence for fear of stigmatization and nonchalant attitude of families and close associates of victims of rape.
Oladugba stressed further that the porous security system also contributed to the vulnerability of innocent and discerning women and children in the society.
She added that adequate legal structure should be immediately put in place by governments in a quest to seriously address the activities of the rampaging rapists across the nation.
 Mrs Jack Oladugba also posited that it’s high time the government promulgated laws against rape attracting stiffer penalty like life imprisonment and or death sentence upon conviction to legitimately protect Nigerian women and children.
In the same token, the group General  Secretary, Adefowoke Ayo-Ponle condemned the increasing rate of the perpetration of the heinous crime of rape and defilement.
Describing the spate as alarming, Ayo-Pole said it calls for serious and continuous advocacy from government, organizations and all concerned in breaking the stereotype culture of silence.
“The government should put in place more measures to protect the survivors of the heinous crime for speaking up, and also bring the perpetrators of the crime to book.
It is also important to reiterate that government should put in adequate funding for proper investigation and preservation of evidence, the Nigerian Police Force should be re-orientated through continuous training.
 Survivors of this crime should not be stigmatized by the public, while proper counseling be provided for them”. She advised.

KAYODE APONMADE
International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Lagos, has implored the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take stern steps to promptly and efficiently combat the surge in rape, gender-base violence and other related offences across the State.
The federation urged the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take effective measures to stop the lamentable recent rise in rate of rape and all forms of gender-base violence in the state.
This was contained in the speech recently delivered by the chairperson, Mrs. Phil Nneji during the Associations Campaign Rally and Press Conference at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. Southwest Nigeria.
The need for a strong synergy between the government and the women lawyers group was further stretched by the group P.R.O, Mrs. Abimbola Jack Oladugba.
Condemning the activities rapists and their cohorts, Oladugba called for an open door policy with the first Ladys Office in bid to easily access to assistance from the first Lady in respect of cases relating to the vulnerable, indigents, women and children in the state.

GOV.
OYETOLA MAY FAIL WITH UNPOPULAR PARTY  LEADERSHIP.
OLUWASEUN ASIWAJU
Osun state governor, Gboyega Oyetola appears to the people of Osun as a bridge builder and agent of progress to consolidate the achievements of his predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and amend some of the ideology complaints during the period.
Oyetola, a quiet and prudent manager of human and material resources has been able to perform creditably well within the space of eighteen months without owing salary or applying half Salaries as it was the case in the immediate past.
Some of his giant strides are noticeable in the area of Rehabilitation and revitalization of primary health centers across the state, the continuation of Osogbo East bye pass from Ilesa Motor Park through Oke Bale to stadium area of the state which is enjoying great applause of citizens of the state.
Without noise making, no blame shifting to anyone, the incumbent has also constructed road network of Alekuwodo area of Osogbo, the capital city of the state.
In the areas of environmental sanitation and home affairs, the Osun/ Gbodofon River is being dredged continuously with the plan to plant trees on its bank which is currently ongoing.
The government also provided succor to the vulnerable during the lockdown period occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic that is still ravaging the world.
Education reform of this administration is remarkable and devoid of anti-human face. Same School uniform policy is no more, female students found in boys only school during the Aregbesola's Administration has come to an end among other reforms and reversals.
But looking critically, his cabinet is congested by technocrats and many who do not understand Osun political terrain and lacking in voting strength.
Knowing very well the political acumen of the governor and his deputy, one would quickly conclude they are not professional politicians, thus some notable and valuable politicians in the party and beyond must be called back to  line for political advancement of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Osun state.
Effective cabinet and party restructuring must take place, if the governor wants to come back for second tenure.
Few commissioners, like the commissioner for works and transport, Remi Omowaye, a technocrat and politician whose political wheel and performance have helped the current administration to achieve laudable feat within short period in office.
The education commissioner, Hon. Folorunso Bamisayemi has also done well in restructuring the education policies.  And the commissioner for Finance Bola Oyebamiji, a technocrat who is a strong member of the party with indefatigable capacity to attract votes in lrewole/lsokan Local government areas.
Commissioner for Home Affairs, Tajudeen Lawal is another powerful grassroot politician who is a core politician in Ile ife and its environs with immense contributions to the victory of the incumbent administration in Ife East during the last gubernatorial elections.
Hon. Adebayo Adeleke, commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs is also rooted in politics and he understands Osun politicking and his personality is worthy of retaining in the cabinet.
The governor needs to retain hon. Rufus Oyegbile Adeyemi, S.A, on environment for the good job and his political wheel in his domains. Dr. Olasunkami Isamotu may not be an astute politician like some other cabinet members mentioned above, but he has shown proficiency in handling Covid-19 pandemic cases in the state.
Meanwhile, at the party level, the governor should not hesitate to restructure the working committee of the party and sacrifice the position of the chairman that came from Osun central now the governor is from the same senatorial district as antecedence has revealed that Hon Biyi Adelowo who was the care-taker committee chairman during Aregbesola was removed as a result of separation of power, equity, fairness and spread of responsibility among the stakeholders in the party.
Governor Oyetola should emulate the National leader of their party,  Asiwaju Bola Hammed Tinubus ideology by sacrificing and forfeiting particular political positions to friends and cronies for party to remain at the top.
Governor Oyetola will only remain in Osun politics as a leader and second time governor, if able to manage the political storm in the party APC and install another chairman from the Osun East Senatorial and allow will of the people to prevail.
Oluwaseun Asiwaju is the General Secretary of Osun Youth Amalgamation.

EVALUATING THE PATH TO 2022 GOVERNORSHIP RACE IN OSUN.
According to a popular maxim, journey of a thousand miles starts with a step”. Simply put, what naturally determines successful endpoint of every journey at a desired destination solely rests on the direction and pattern of the first step.
Obviously, a first step must be consciously taken towards the right path and follow with required determination and concentration for quick and successful arrival at a preferred destination.
Talking about political expedition and politicking, ability and chances of any political party to get political machinery and dominate political power will be determined by the quality of strategy and structure, including the strength of characters of those that constitute its commanding height.
The abysmal performance of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2018 gubernatorial election was conditioned not only by presenting a character of lesser sophistication as its flag bearer, but absence of robust party structure, comprising of sound minds and committed foot soldiers.
As it stands now, the ongoing internal strife and bitterness within the PDP continued to create terrible crack in its wall. The controversial indefinite suspension of Hon. Soji Adagunodo as the chairman of the party, and the subsequent emergence of Hon. Akande Atidade, from Ede, to pilot the affairs of the party in acting capacity will continue to expand the scope of imbroglio in the party.
Analysing issues within the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State, one could easily deduce that the party is in for a terrible experience with its present weak leadership.
 It is no more news that the incumbent chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famodun, having being in charge for years, is seemingly fatigued as he always falls asleep at public functions irrespective of the nature and importance of the event.
Famodun was a member of the Caretaker Committee of the party at the time when Alhaji Moshood Adeoti was the interim chairman of the party, he later became the Secretary of the  party when Hon. Biyi Adelowo chaired the party, before becoming substantive Chairman .
Analysts inferred that Prince Famodun lacks requisite interest of the party at heart, by his selfish and parochial move to go for the second term, even after the incumbent governor, Mr Adegboga Oyetola, has emerged from the Central Senatorial District, the same Senatorial district that produced Famodun.
It is a general perception among the people that the only indices of political participation and influence in a democracy are equity and fairness.
The leadership configuration in the state is presently structured in such direction where governorship is being zoned to the Central and the West Senatorial Districts. Going by the places of birth of Mr Gboyega Oyetola and his Deputy, Benedict Alabi, It is therefore illogical and irrational to return a man from the Central Senatorial District as Chairman of the party again.
Moreover, the APC at this time needs a man of huge electoral pedigree to chair the party for the singular purpose of massive mobilization at the home front. Unfortunately, the ancestral home of Famodun at Igbajo remains one of the towns in Osun with least electoral strength and value.
This fact must be taken seriously by Governor Oyetola and his handlers, they must have it at the back of their minds that electoral value of party leadership goes a long way to determine degree of success of the party in any contest.
It now behoves the incumbent governor and other stakeholders to start looking inward and pick a sellable candidate with robust political credentials and clout as replacement for Famodun without delay. Sincerely, such move is non-negotiable and pertinent for the party if truly it desires success in the election of 2022.
Loyal and core party  man,  with nobility is needed for the job, a fellow that is capable of mobilising youth, and settling  pending disagreement and as well strengthening the party.