A seasoned economist, Olugbemiga Olowu is the Rotarian overseeing Rotary clubs all-over Lagos and Ogun states, otherwise known as District 9110. Born in 1949 into the Abeokuta family of Obatolu Olowu of the Ile-Alafin of Owu Kingdom, he is a Rotarian with 30 years experience! Also a multifaceted entrepreneur, Olugbemiga worked with the Mandilas Group for 15 years before co-founding a pharmaceutical business, Lutayo Pharmaceutical Limited, and later, Lutay Nigeria Limited, a joint financial and procurement services company. Seven Prints Limited, a monogramming and printing establishment, is also one of his innovations. In this interview, Olugbemiga debunks the claim that Rotary is a money-making venture and also explains why there are few Rotary clubs in Ogun State.

You don’t just barge into the palace of Omo N’oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa, the 38th Oba of Benin, to see the monarch. The Oba of Benin is unarguably one of Nigeria’s most reverred royal fathers. He superintends over a famous Kingdom-Benin Kingdom. Seeing the Omo N’oba is naturally on appointment – and this may take time. Thus, when a couple of weeks ago the idea of an interview with the revered monarch was mooted, it became incumbent on us to write a letter to seek an appointment. Then a date was picked for the interview with the Omo N’oba. Waiting for the monarch for the interview on the appointed day was understandable given his very tight schedule.

Lt. General Jeremiah Useni needs no introduction. The prominent role he played during the reign of late Head of State, Sani Abacha, as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is well known. However, there are two things about Jeremiah Useni, who was referred to as ‘Jerry Boy’ at the time. He was indeed a Boy, because he joined the Army at the age of 14. Firstly, he was one of the soldiers who fired shots during the coup against General Ironsi in which the General was killed in Ibadan. Mr. Useni was also the closest person to General Abacha up to his last moments.This interview, conducted in Hausa by the Hausa language newspaper, Rariya, and translated to English by PREMIUM TIMES’

BUT we give them all the assistance to make the job easy for them. So as far as I am concerned, the government has done its part, if anything that is lacking, it is certainly not or should not be attributed to the inability of the state government.

SECRETARY to the Delta State Government, Comrade Ovuozorie Macualay, spoke to Vanguard, weekend, in Asaba, on the latest threat to the security of the state by the most wanted kidnapper and armed robbery kingpin in the state, Kelvin.

TONY AFEJUKU is a Professor of English and Literature in University of Benin. A former ASUU leader, Afejuku, in this interview, says he is happy in his “ little world of poverty.” He also speaks on the recent sacking of some Itsekiri villages in Warri North local government area of Delta State, his perception of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the need for President Goodluck Jonathan to do things rightly.

He probably had little reason to take the challenging path of fighting the establishment, given the comport and conditions around the country’s governors. But not Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State who was nurtured in the Aminu Kano political culture of using political power to fight for the masses.

Prof. Jubril Aminu is a founding member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He was also at different times the Minister of Education and Petroleum Resources. He was equally a senator. In this interview, he speaks on the PDP crisis, saying the attempt by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some governors to break away from the mainstream PDP is borne out of the need to remain politically relevant.

Ikenga Ugochinyere Imo is a house-hold name in the Peoples Democratic Party when it comes to controversy. Some label him as a hatchet man when there are turbulent issues in the party. He is the convener of the Stakeholders Forum in the New PDP. In this interview, he explains why Bamanga Tukur should go and why a new convention should be held.

He said the problem of Nigeria is disloyalty, not corruption; Obasanjo lied in his book, ‘My Command’; the first 1966 coup is not an Igbo coup but it ruined Nigeria. A Delta Igbo by paternal lineage but a Yoruba-cum northerner via maternal links, Alabi-Isama said God has destined Nigeria to be one country and those trying to dismember the nation labour in vain. He prayed that Nigerians should not witness another war because people are now very vicious. Excerpts: