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Roforofo fight! Where was your conscience when you gave Wike award, defiant Bwala fires Arise TV
It was a day of hot exchanges between Daniel Bwala, presidential spokesman and Arise Television crew, as guest and hosts, on Monday, practically pulled off their gloves for a hard-knuckle over what seems to be the settlement of a long-standing feud.
On the Morning Show, the breakfast programme of the network, Bwala had engaged Rufai Oseni, one of the prominent voices and Ayo Mairo-Ese, another female anchor, describing part of the programme as “gossip session” to which the crew objected, but which he insisted was his own assessment.
“I’ve never been afraid to appear on Arise TV. I’ve been a friend of this TV station. And like I said when I appeared on Arise in London and here…during your gossip session you call it story trending, the gentle lady here, Ayo insinuated by what he said – let him come here, as if I’m running away from this station.
“It’s for that singular reason I tweeted and said that’s an innuendo – fix a date and time and I’ll be at the Lagos studio to answer your question.”
Regarding the reason for his volte-face in recanting all the lacerating diatribes against President Bola Tinubu, only to turn back and serve in his government, Bwala replied that he said all the things he did because he was in opposition and now he was no longer in that camp after meeting with Tinubu, it was now in his place to defend the government.
Sample of the bitter exchange, went thus:
Bwala: “When I made a decision on the 10th of January after I visited the President, from that day till date, I speak well of the President and I support his activities. Now you ask…”
Rufai: “You said Tinubu’s government was not legitimate, all the things you said, do you still stand by them or you’ve had a change of heart?”
Bwala: “They’re irrelevant!”
Rufai: “They’re irrelevant, so the question is, you’re not a man of convictions, because if you said those things out of your convictions, then, so your convictions changed?”
Bwala: “But here, everyday, Wike, Wike, Wike, Wike Wike and at the end of the day, you people sat and nominated him as the best Minister. So, you’re not a station of conviction?”
Rufai: “So, you’re saying you don’t have convictions?”
Bwala: “You don’t have convictions, but everyday, Wike, Wike, Wike, Wike Wike and then you came together and gave him award.”
Bwala, still maintaining the reason for recanting his earlier position on Tinubu, explained that it came principally by shedding the toga of an opposition and putting on that of an insider in the Tinubu camp, where he was able to see things clearly from that perspective.
Hear him: “When I made the decision to support the President, I decided to pay attention to his policies and the manifesto and further do the research. In doing so, I tried to look at where, for example, there were failure, I tried to know why.
“For example, there was a time there was this food inflation and it was carried all over the places. And then I tried to find out what was the cause of the food inflation. And then I realised there were natural disasters in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, which would have caused it and then we had insecurity in the North-West.
“The research was to find the reason for whatever was behind the policy and where there was for example a misinterpretation of the policy, we come out and we give our perspective. Government is not perfect. Government will never be perfect. Government is a work in progress.
“At every time, government assesses what it does, take it back from Nigerians, improves on them and move forward. There’s nothing magical about what I said before and what I’m saying now. I said it in my capacity as an opposition.
The presidential spokesman, who took exceptions to the insinuation that he was a liar, said for instance he was now clear as to the reason behind Tinubu’s borrowing, which had been heavily criticised in many quarters, stating that it was the only option available for him in the face of the parlous state of resources available to his government.
He also explained that the twin policies of removal of subsidy on petroleum products and floating of the naira, were necessary to stoke the interest of Nigeria’s foreign creditors to do business with the country, adding that it was when he actually met with the President that all the cards were laid on the table to enable him understand.
The exchange has since sparked reactions across social media, with some supporting Oseni’s line of questioning while others criticised Bwala’s response as dismissive.
An X user with @MezieAbi, Mezie Abia, said, “Daniel Bwala is a shameless man who speaks from both sides of the mouth. He’s in the league of Reno Omokri and FFK who can even sing the devil’s praises as long as they’ll have some crumbs to feed on from the devil.
“Daniel Bwala called Tinubu unprintable names on this platform, today, he’s shamelessly defending all the unprintable things he called Tinubu just this yesterday. Reno Omokri called Tinubu a drug lord who must be stopped and even led a protest against Tinubu in London, today, Reno Omokri is defending every single name he called Tinubu just yesterday.
“Femi Kayode called Tinubu names and even mocked Tinubu’s teeth, today, Tinubu is using the same poisonous teeth to cut the National cake for FFK and of course, he still shamelessly swallows the cake. Men with no ounce of integrity.”
In another post directed at Oseni, another user simply identified as Akereyejo (@Palermo_seun) cautioned the Arise broadcaster to uphold professionalism in the discharge of his duties.
He tweeted, “As a journalist, you should be objective in your questions because the goal is to inform the public about government policies. However, he barely gathers any useful information from his interviews, as he is more focused on entertaining his viewers.”
In another post, Sola Ogunlola (@sola_ogunlola) said, “But you know every journalist can’t be slaves to the politicians. Any public office holder that can’t be squeezed is not ready to serve.”
A tweep by AnzehAjose (@anzehnangah) stated that “Bwala’s only response to this was that he was in the opposition, which is why he criticised. He had no conviction in what he said then and has no conviction in what he is saying now. What else do we need to know that these politicians have no principles or ideologies? Selfish people.”
Olanrewaju Michael (@iwologbon) said, “Some things are better left unsaid. The same person he criticised finds him worthy of appointment into an important role, why make it sound like it’s supposed to be a death sentence to take such an appointment? There are other issues to discuss about. Rufai can do better, Fr.”
Obioma Obikeze, an internationally-acclaimed medical doctor will on April 1, assume duties as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive officer (MD-CEO) of Healthnomics HMO Plc, in a move the organisation, said is to tap his huge experience in healthcare policy and financing as well as strategic leadership and expertise in health insurance and managed care operations.
A statement by the organisation, announcing the appointment, cited Obikeze’s background including his transformative roles at the Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa, where he led significant operational enhancements in health insurance and managed care programmes, saying his commitment to excellence in healthcare leadership remained evident from his recent tenure as Acting Head of Clinical Services and Training at his institution.
The statement, signed by Kenneth N. Ozoilo, a Professor and Chairman, Board of Directors, said further relished the quality of the new organisation’s boss, saying with a medical degree from the University of Nigeria, a fellowship of the West African College of Physicians, and a master’s degree in epidemiology and medical statistics from the University of Ibadan, fitted perfectly into the company’s desires and mandate.
“Obikeze was also a World Bank Exchange Scholar at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, Massachusetts, USA, graduating with a master of science (MS) in International Health Policy and Management. He also holds certifications in Health Care Financing for Universal Health Coverage from prestigious institutions like the World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, and Heidelberg University, Germany.
“We are pleased to have Dr. Obioma Obikeze lead our team. His exceptional expertise, track record, and uncommon commitment make him the perfect candidate to guide our organization towards impactful healthcare solutions for our clients,” Ozoilo, said.
On his part, the new MD-CEO, was quoted as saying: “I am thrilled to lead Healthnomics HMO Plc on our mission to redefine healthcare quality through responsible and accountable purchasing arrangements. Our dedicated team is focused on enhancing health outcomes, elevating the patient experience, and fostering positive collaborations and accountability with our stakeholders.”
Ozoilo, who described the company as described as a visionary Health Maintenance Organisation driven by its mission to enhance access to quality and affordable healthcare services to individuals, families, and corporate organisations at affordable costs. We work to improve health outcomes, enhance responsible patient experience, and make a positive impact on our communities.
Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, at the National Assembly, is still talking tough hours after raining expletives on Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education, calling her a thug, an old woman with smelly mouth among others during an engagement in the Senate, on Tuesday.
The ugly encounter took place at the sitting of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions during the commencement of hearing on the petition of sexual harassment brought by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senator representing Kogi Central against Godswill Akpabio, Senate President.
Contrary to the belief in some quarters that he spoke in the heat of the moment and on reflection would be regret the words he used at the former Minister, before then Vice President of the World Bank for Africa, Nwebonyi, palpably still burning with anger, told his host on Politics Today, a public affairs programme on Channels Television on Tuesday evening, that he had no such regrets.
Justifying his obstinate position, he accused the former Minister of bringing the insults on herself deservedly for ordering him to shut up, even when she knew she was speaking to a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, adding that such insult to his person would never be allowed.
Hear him: “It started when she was asked to be an oath because she said she was a witness. She said, ‘no she can’t be on oath, she can’t oath.’ As a person, I said I am willing to be sworn on oath so that I can give my own evidence. I was addressing the presiding office. She turned to me and said, ‘Will you shut up your mouth, you are a hooligan.”
Absolving himself of blame at the choice of his word in which he thundered: “How can I regret the scenario? I gave it to her. Is it fair for her to address me that way? As a former minister of the federal republic and a grandmother, ask her first.”
Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education, on Tuesday, gave further details on the altercation between her and Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, Senator representing Ebonyi North, at the National Assembly, during the commencement of hearing of the sexual harassment case filed against Godswill Akpabio, Senate President by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senator representing Kogi West.
At the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, the two had engaged each other in a shouting match, using unprintable names, with the Senator virtually going overboard to as much as calling the former Vice President of the World Bank, a whore.
A guest at Prime Time, a public affairs programme of ARISE NEWS Network, hours after the incident, the former Minister admitted telling the Senator to shut-up, but explained that it was because the team of Akpoti-Uduaghan, was overly stressing Senate rules over the constitution and giving undue preference to the Akpabio camp.
Giving a detailed account of the encounter, she said: “I was there as the Chair of the global body known as the Women Political Leaders. It is based in Brussels, but it is a global body for all women who have been Presidents or former Presidents, Prime Ministers, parliamentarians and members of cabinet of countries.
“So, it is a global flagship for women political leadership. And so, I was there as a witness on her side on the basis of the expert knowledge that we have over this issue around the world. It is based on data that this is a problem. One out of every three women, has faced one form of sexual-based violence or the other. And so, a lot of countries are paying serious attentions to it, because it is inimical to the society.”
The former Minister who was present at the hearing alongside Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, lawyer to Zubairu Yakubu, who raised the petition on behalf of the Kogi Senator, one in the four females in the 10th Senate, narrated how the petitioners raised the issue of bias against the committee, said she became more displeased, when the committee tried to dismiss the Natasha team as unserious.
“In fact the words they used was that ‘we do serious things here, we don’t have time for unserious things.’ At that time, I had my hand up and I said, ‘I actually think that was a wrong use of words, we are not unserious people, this is a serious matter.’ Many conversations went on. Eventually, the Senate Ethics Committee, decided that based on the fact that the petitioner was saying that he wasn’t going to go into his main petition until they assured him that on the two objections that he had, they said, it meant we were not ready to engage on the matter.
“Then, suddenly, they also said, by the way, this matter is sub-judice because there are two cases in court and they mentioned the case of the wife of the Senate President and that on the basis of that they actually really shouldn’t… it was at that point that Dr. Abiola said, what’s the point, why are we here?
“When all that was going on, then, this Senator, who I would not acknowledge by mentioning his name, he then said if they are not ready about giving any testimony, I am here representing the Senate President as a respondent. I’m prepared to speak because we can’t continue with this. Then I said to him, ‘can you please shut up?’ Because we were just told that we couldn’t speak. And you have been speaking without any form of an equivalent treatment.
“You said we couldn’t speak because we were not ready to go into any conversation without our objections being addressed. Yes I said that. But he was already provoked, by the fact that he felt that we were not serious. Part of what inflamed it was that the petitioner said, by the way, it is this Senator that made a lot of statements about my Senator in words that were not complimentary.”
Obikeze, globally-acclaimed medical doctor, becomes Healthnomics’ MD-CEO
I don’t regret my insult on Oby Ezekwesili, she deserved it – Nwaebonyi
Why I asked Nwaebonyi to shut up – Oby Ezekwesili
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