Unions suspended their nationwide strike

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) – Unions suspended their nationwide strike on Monday, hours after Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan partially reinstated subsidies to keep gasoline prices low and deployed soldiers in the streets to halt widening demonstrations.

Union leaders described their decision as a victory for labor, allowing its leaders to guide the country's policy on fuel subsidies in the future while having gas prices drop to about $2.27 a gallon (60 cents a liter).

However, many protesters joined the demonstrations with hopes of seeing gas return to its previous price of about $1.70 per gallon (45 cents per liter), while also speaking out against a culture of government corruption in Africa's most populous nation. Deploying soldiers to the streets stopped demonstrators from gathering on Monday. At one point soldiers fired over the heads of marchers. But Jonathan may still have to deal with populist rage that swept the country in recent days, and the use of the military in a nation with a history of military coups stoked immediate controversy.

"This is a clear case of intolerance and shutting of the democratic space against the people of Nigeria which must be condemned by all democracy-loving people around the world," read a statement from the Save Nigeria Group, which has organized massive demonstrations in Lagos.

The Nigeria Labor Congress and the Trade Union Congress told journalists on Monday in Nigeria's capital Abuja they applauded the government's recent promise to explore corruption in the country's oil sector. They described the six-day strike a success.

"We are sure that no government or institution will take Nigerians for granted again," said Abdulwaheed Omar, the president of the Nigeria Labor Congress.

But while Jonathan offered an olive branch to unions with the gas price relief, he used military power to make sure no one protested against the government Monday. In a rare display of military might, soldiers took over major highways and road junctions throughout Lagos, home to 15 million people, and Kano, Nigeria's second-largest city.

In an early Monday morning address aired on state-run television, Jonathan warned that provocateurs were using the gas-price protest to cause instability.

"It has become clear to government and all well-meaning Nigerians that other interests beyond the implementation of the deregulation policy have hijacked the protest. … These same interests seek to promote discord, anarchy and insecurity to the detriment of public peace," Jonathan said.

Labor organizers had urged workers to stay home on Monday after Jonathan appealed to them over the possibility of insecurity in the country. At the Lagos headquarters of the Nigeria Labor Congress, some 50 protesters gathered anyway. Lawyer Bamidele Aturu led the crowd in chants and cheers, comparing the president to military rulers of the past who used soldiers to suppress dissent.

"It's very clear the revolution has begun!" Aturu shouted. However, those gathered looked warily at passing pickup trucks filled with soldiers.

On Monday, hundreds of people started marching toward Lagos' Ojota neighborhood, where tens of thousands of protesters had gathered in recent days. However, soldiers had already taken positions there overnight, waving away would-be demonstrators. Two military armored personnel carriers were parked near an empty stage.

The crowd passed soldiers who slung their assault rifles over their shoulders, allowing them to pass. But as they drew closer to Ojota, around 20 soldiers arrived in two pickup trucks to cut them off, bayonets affixed to their assault rifles. They told the protesters to go back and some of them began to turn around.

Soldiers fired into the air and tear gassed the crowd to disperse it, leaving protesters running through the stinging gas as gunshots echoed down the highway.

Meanwhile, authorities also targeted some foreign media outlets in Lagos. Officers of the State Security Service, Nigeria's secret police, raided an office compound Monday used by the BBC and CNN, witnesses said. Marilyn Ogar, a secret police spokeswoman, said she had no information about the raid.

The strike began Jan. 9, paralyzing the nation of more than 160 million people. Tens of thousands of people protested in cities across Nigeria. At least 10 people were killed. Red Cross volunteers have treated more than 600 people injured in protests since the strike began, officials said.

Though an oil workers association threatened to cut Nigeria's production of 2.4 million barrels of crude a day, they held off on shutdown onshore and offshore oil fields. Such a shutdown could have shaken oil futures, as Nigeria is the fifth-largest crude supplier to the U.S.

An offshore rig being run for a Chevron Corp. subsidiary near Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta caught fire and officials tried to account for all the workers there, the oil company said. Chevron spokesman Scott Walker said the fire started early Monday morning. There was no indication that the fire was related to Nigeria's unrest.

THE LEKKI-EPE EXPRESSWAY TOLL COLLECTION BROUHAHA

THE LEKKI-EPE EXPRESSWAY TOLL COLLECTION BROUHAHA

Although it was not the first protest against the planned collection of toll on the Admiralty Circle Plaza at Lekki–Eti-Osa Expressway, but the Saturday’s massive protest meant so much for all stakeholders, especially the residents.
To residents, the series of protests they embarked on last year, which eventually resulted in the suspension of the toll, was a motivating factor, for this one, which was originally scheduled for January 3.
But an announcement by the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, last month, to lift the suspension, meant the residents had to pick up their placards, dust their mega phones and return to the streets, to register their displeasure again.
When the Lekki Concession Company (LCC), picked Sunday, December 18, as the start off date, residents intensified their agitation against the introduction of toll, calling on the government to suspend the move.

Vehicles approaching Lekki tollgate

To show their seriousness and the government’s insensitiveness to their call, residents trooped out in their thousands with placards on Saturday, a day before the start of official collection of toll, to show their non-approval of the toll take off.
About 5000 residents had stormed the Admiralty Plaza as early as 7.00 a.m., Saturday morning blocking the dual carriageway, leaving only one lane for vehicular movement through the corridor. In a twinkling of an eye, there was a heavy presence of policemen deployed by the state government to curtail the activities of the protesters.
Their peaceful protest was however brought to an abrupt end when some thugs emerged from nowhere and started throwing sachets of water at the policemen.
In a defensive move, the anti- riot policemen, led by Commander of the state Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Hakeem Odumosu, fired tear gas canisters to disperse the teeming protesters.
The police allegedly threw canisters at the protesters arresting many of them in the process.
Daily Independent gathered that no fewer than 18 people were said to have been arrested by the police and taken to Maroko Police Station before they were later transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos.
Following this development, those that escaped arrest narrated their ugly experiences, saying the police and some unidentified miscreants manhandled and attacked them during the peaceful protest.
Two video cameras belonging to Sunday Alamba of Associated Press (AP) and Maxwell Kupe of Silver-Bird Television (STV); a tape recorder of Richard Edoki of Rhythm 93.7FM, were seized by unidentified miscreants belonging to one of the popular land owners in the area.
Among those arrested were, the Chairman of Lekki Phase I Residents Association, Wole Akala and another resident association Chairman, Martin Eze among other chairmen and residents.
A concerned resident and human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, who had been in the forefront of the protest from last year, vowed that nothing would stop the aggrieved residents from continuing with their peaceful protests.
Adegboruwa also flayed the government for describing the protest as politically motivated challenging the government to come out and name any politician behind the ordeal.
“I am not a politician, neither am I affiliated to any party, I am prosecuting this case with my money, and I make bold to say that those arrested are residents. Government should admit that it is not politically motivated. One person has been confirmed dead and we put his death on the head of Governor Fashola,” Adegboruwa said.
But against all odds, the toll collection officially began on Sunday morning, precisely by 12.00 midnight as Director General Office of Public Private Partnership (PPP), Ayo Gbeleyi, led other state government officials and LCC directors to perform the opening.
Governor Fashola also visited the toll site at about noon on Sunday, driving himself through the traffic to join other motorists to pay the toll.
On Monday, motorists along the Eti-Osa Lekki-Epe Expressway complied with the toll payment. They however lamented the huge traffic at the area since the start of toll collection on Sunday.
Daily Independent observed that the traffic stretched from the 1004 Estate to the toll collection point in the morning for motorists extending to Lekki, but eased gradually towards noon.
As at 3.00 p.m. same day, the traffic had shifted to the exit corridor for motorists going towards Nigerian Law School and Obalende axis.

                                               Vehicles approaching Lekki tollgate
Some motorists, who spoke with Daily Independent, said the traffic situation in the area has worsened since toll collection began on the road, while some also pleaded with the government to consider a reduction in the toll.
A motorist, Emmanuel James, who said he plies the route twice everyday, said the traffic was not helped by the slow pace of the toll collectors to issue change to motorists, saying that it took him over 45 seconds to receive his balance of N380.
“Imagine if every car was to spend that same time for every time he passes that corridor, there will be massive traffic just like it’s the case now. The challenge of issuing change contributes to the traffic.”
Another motorist urged the government to consider a reduction of price of saloon cars from N120 to N100 to ease the challenge of issuing change.
“If the price for salon cars was N100 it would have been easier for the operators to issue a change of either N100, N400 or even N900, but looking for smaller denominations for almost every car that passes the toll will surely cause traffic on the road.
Motorcycle operators, popularly called okada riders also called for a reduction of the price charge from N50 to N20.
An okada operator said, “That N50 is too much because we can enter that place like 20 times every day going and coming, at the end of one day, we may end up paying like N1000. How much do we make in a day? We call on the governor to help us reduce the price to N20 or even nothing.”
For commercial vehicles, the development is likely to result in an increase in fare.
However as at Monday, registered commercial operators still charged N150 from Obalende to Jakande in Lekki.
A commercial bus operator, who gave his name as Subair Muftau, said the N80 charge was rather on the high side saying that N50 would have sufficed.
“The price we are paying may force us to increase our bus fare because we pass this place many times. Like me, I can pass here like eight times every day, so very soon; we might have no choice than to increase the fare,” Muftau said.
Responding to the traffic build-up caused by the toll,  Fashola, who on Sunday led scores of motorists to ply and pay toll on the corridor said, “Really, it is the change. Every time we have had to adapt to something new, there is always some discomfort. The day GSM started, there were so many drop-calls that you could not connect. But within a few days, there were feedbacks which made it easy for the operators to rectify the situation and make it better.”
“We need feedbacks. What is the problem? Feedbacks will help us and the concessionaire to adapt and respond. We are here to serve, that is our job. Anywhere the shoe pinches you, tell us and leave us to solve it and make it better,” Governor Fashola said.
The governor, however, appealed to motorists to use the electronic tag instead of paying cash at the Plaza pointing out that the process of paying cash and obtaining change contributes to the delay and the consequent slow movement of traffic.
“You get a discount for even buying the electronic tag and you get the discount immediately,” Fashola said adding, “I am sure we will all be telling a better story in a few weeks time.”
The governor, who noted that there are some people who are aggrieved by the tolling, declared, “But that is democracy; there must be another side,” adding, however, “This is also employment. The Concessionaire is a Nigerian company with international investments. They are employing our people.”
On the issue of alternative routes, Fashola said the government has indeed provided an alternative route contrary to the accusation by some people that there is no alternative route.
“Of course, there is an alternative road; we are increasing them. The story out there before was that there was no alternative road, but you have seen for yourselves that there is alternative road. We will make it better and increase it as we go on,” the governor said.
So far, residents are complying with the payment of tolls. But their sudden silence should neither be taken for granted. How it will eventually play out, only time will tell.

I IGNORE CHIFETANINCY TITILE BECAUSE OF MUSIC’’

‘‘I IGNORE CHIEFTANCY TITLE BECAUSE OF MUSIC’’

• Fatai Rolling dollar shared his experience with Fatoyinbo Ibrahim on how he started his music career in Lagos and shun chieftancy title for music.

What prompted you into highlife music?

You see if one do something in this life you will start from struggle, I struggle after my school hours to know where I am going because I have had the fore sight that Nigeria will turn to another thing in future, that is why I struggle to be a musician and by following people who understands music who reads music and I work on them and from there I got my inspiration of music.

§  How long have you ventured into highlife music?

Since 1945, I finished in 1944 at st patrick school Lagos and after that I lost my father in the same month December 1944 ,my father was the first driver to driver from Lagos to gold coast(now Ghana)  in 1919,I meet them in that job  and the no. of the vehicle is A 1919.

§  What are other things you ventured into before music?

You know in Lagos you can change your position any time in our time you can live this  house and go there you will  see house to let, room to let, all over Lagos state how much are they renting a room is five shillings , and from there I let Lagos to Mushin in 1962, I learnt a lot of work before I became a musician, I was painting and sign writer, mc. Engineer, and a tailor, but all these work I learnt was not my way because music is in my blood, my blood is music that is why I am still in music till today. And so many encounter in music.

§  Which group did you meet Ebenezer obey?

I have I group  before Ebenezer obey up eye to play music, I was playing ‘Agidigbo’ ,I start from ‘kokoma’ in 1945,the music which bene  people brought to Lagos  around 1945 I was among  them, you every thing between this world is time and there is time for every thing in life, when there own time finished they went away and we start back to ‘Agidigbo’ which is our fore fathers music we call it ‘mambo’, after mambo I join highlife group which I was under somebody else like Ishola  Willy paye  and Jubril Isa he his an Hausa man and an ex-service man I was trained In music way and from there I learn my experience from them an join it with my and make it one.

You know Ebenezer obey when Ambrose Campbell came to Nigeria always taking them all over Lagos .one day I was just playing my gitter along the way he caught me  on he road and he  call me are you fatai rolling dollar and I said yes I mark my recording with one man called J.o Araba, and we collaborate together  and we are four in numbers; I fatai rolling dollar, Olashela Tejuosho, J.o Arabamise Edward fashaye, and the British government like us because in our own time there is no recording in {Nigeria broadcasting commission} NBC now radio Nigeria was NBC by that time, so no recording and you go to the air straight and when you late and they have  some thing they call standby band which I was among when you late to come you late or fail to come we will go to the studio and do your section.

Who Is Your Roll Model

Now!! 

                          

§  No, Before You Venture Into Music Who Was Your Roll Model

I have many roll model some are dead and some are alive, only few are alive most of them are dead.

§  Mention Some Of There Names

I have J.O Araba, Tunji lucky face, Tunde Makind. I meet a band called ‘atariaganoku’ they are the first juju band in Lagos state and Akanbi eje they are all dead.

§  They Are Your Source Of Inspiration

Yes! I am just a sample to the world entirely.

§  Your father being a former king of Ede, osun state, why didn’t you succeeded him has a king?

You know God knows what I want to be that is why even though they call me to come and have chieftaincy in which I ignore my chieftaincy come from God and my chieftaincy is popular that is why I am a prince when I went to my town now people rally around me, has a prince and you see music is in my blood.

How did you meet your German wife?

Its fortunate I went to European tour and you know how the weather Is there ,am just fortunate I stay for 3years,I talk to her and she took me to her father  and her father accept and we do what God said we should do. I have an issue there a baby daughter there she’s now 2 and half years  of age and she will be back to Nigeria when she reach 18years as the law of the country.

§  How can you access the music industry in Nigeria for the past 50yrs?

There is nothing such you can not mention the music industry now to the olden days is different entirely now you will see a room made by somebody and call a studio we cannot get quality, if you want to build a studio build studio and if you wants to build a room build a room studio is different like this size as a studio not a room you can caught it into two put engine here ,but today every thing has change like I have told you earlier on every thing as time, this is time  of a young girl who cannot work hard, who are lazy some of them doesn’t know what there call music, maybe they now how to sing and go to the studio an bal ! bal! bal and what they are singing has no message and if God like them they can be a star within 6 month and before 1 year it as sell away, but not has I clock the stand since 2001  today the record I did is moving people ask for it and ask for more.

§  Do you have any of your children in which would succeed you in your highlife music career?

I have them, but I can’t tell my child to go and learn music, no body tell me to go and learn music, if he likes I will put him through ‘this the way’ ‘this the way’, my own is to have good education and if he as his good education any thing he now want is am okay about music I will let him know about music will let him know the root not half of it.

§  @ 85 you are till smart; what his your secret?

There is no secret only God loves me just like me its power of God and nothing more than that and when we are youth our father and our mother take care of us much.

§  What was your tragedic moment in life?

I cannot forget the day I lost my wife, without sickness, nothing or so ever we sleep together, between 1 mid-night and she has pass on and we eat together In the night before we go to bed together that was a wonderful death since I was born I have never seen such no sickness nothing or so ever that is the day I feel sad, because she left about two children for me before she went away.

§  What was you remarkable day in your life?

my remarkable day was the day I got this house because this house is music house I worked for it and God said yes! and I got it, and I have not seen any musician which the federal government or state government give a type of award, I call it award.

§  Which Administration Did This

It is my good man, merciful man, honesty man, gentle man, chief bola Ahmed Tinubu his the one whom God sent to me and I got the message.

·        My advise for the youth

Advise I have for the youth is that they should be patience, tolerance, obedience, and pray and if you wants to do a job one thing that you most do is to love the job if you don’t love the job you cant move forward, so love their job because it got them some changes, but before you do any job you just love it first and you know where you are going to.