alike, both within and outside the country but the Wednesday’s session was the longest so far.
Still in the spirit of the change mantra, the President’s handlers decided to move the session from the Tea Room of the Council Chambers, where previous ones under former President Goodluck Jonathan were held, to the new Banquet Hall.
The change mantra also resonated in the manner in which the broadcast of the session was democratised. Before now, the Nigerian Television Authority and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria would record the session while other television and radio stations in the country would hook up to them to relay the programme to their viewers and listeners.
That monopoly was broken on Wednesday as two private televisions jostled for space with the almighty NTA. As early as 1pm, engineers of the three stations were already on ground, battling to set up their equipment in a manner that will give them an edge in the coverage. The Outside Broadcasting Van of the NTA conveyed in a long truck attempted to intimidate others, but of course, it is the output that matters in a situation like that.
On the panel that interviewed the President were Kayode Akintemi; Ngozi Anyaegbulam; Munir Dan Ali and Ibanga Isine. They fired from all cylinders. The session saw Buhari sighing deeply before answering some questions. I am not out to discuss the ones he answered correctly or wrongly.
I am also not out to assess the performance of the journalists on the panel. But since I have been monitoring media chats, journalists who asked questions that gave me good story angles have always remained my favourites.
My position therefore is that those who asked Buhari the questions that elicited story pegs such as his government not having a clue on the whereabouts of the abducted Chibok girls; that he would not sit like a lame duck and allow the Shiites to continue to operate like a state within a state; that he would be ready to show any corrupt minister the red card and that as far as he is concerned, Sambo Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu should not be talking of freedom, are the heroes of the session. Without mentioning names, they know themselves and those who watched keenly know them too.
Overall, it was not a bad outing for the President who almost lost calm at some points, especially when the issue of Dasuki and Kanu getting bail but not tasting freedom was raised. I am sure that by the time Akintemi was signing off to indicate the end of the chat, Buhari would have sighed deeply again and utter the word, “Alhmadulilahi!”
When photojournalist enjoyed Amaechi’s ministerial ride
Shortly before the 36 ministers appointed by the President were inaugurated and assigned portfolios last year, I promised that I will be putting all of them under the lens as they go about their duties. I have been keeping the promise.
In promising to put the ministers under scrutiny however, I did not intend to focus on their shortcomings alone. While I will not shy away from making their shortcomings known, I will also not shut my eyes to their positive sides.
That informed my decision to feature the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, in this first edition of the year. The former Rivers State governor gave a septuagenarian his “gift”of the year on the last Wednesday of 2015, albeit unknowingly.
The beneficiary is Mr. Ladan Abubakar. Abubakar who is fondly called Baba Ladan is a photojournalist attached to the Villa. He has been covering the Villa for many years. He started since the military era.
On Wednesday, Baba Ladan was making his way into the Villa through the Supreme Court Gate. He stood at the bridge leading to the Villa and was waiting for a Good Samaritan who would give him a ride into the premises. Many people drove pass him without offering to help.
He was still contemplating trekking the long distance when he sighted a convoy of vehicles. With his years of experience inside the villa, he knew that the convoy belonged to a big man, probably a minister. He stepped back a bit since he would not expect a free ride from such a top government official.
Baba Ladan was however shocked to the marrow when the driver of the first Sports Utility Vehicle in the convoy applied the brake and brought it to a halt in front of him. Expectedly, other vehicles in the convoy stopped and queued behind the first one.
The side windshield came down and Baba Ladan identified the person behind the wheel as Amaechi. The Minister asked him to come in. An unidentified man was sitting beside the minister in the front while sitting directly behind Amaechi at the back seat was the newly-appointed acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mrs. Ibim Seminitari. So Baba Ladan found himself sitting on a seat popularly called “owner’s corner” and was given a ministerial ride into the Villa.
He was so impressed by the minister’s gesture that he narrated his experience to all that cared to listen. When he saw Amaechi and Seminitari coming out from the President’s office a few minutes after, Baba Ladan appealed to us to help him thank the minister for the gesture.
I took up the task and told the minister how I was surprised that he could stop his convoy to give Baba Ladan a ride. He asked me if I would not have done the same thing if I was in his shoes. In order to propel him to talk more, I replied him in the negative and he said, “that means you are a bad man.” We all laughed over it.
I resolved to utilise that opportunity of engaging a minister in an informal talk to the fullest. I quickly asked him a question that had been bothering me about him. Since his days as state governor, I had observed that Amaechi had always been driving himself to the Villa. I therefore asked him why he likes driving his cars himself. Before he answered, I quickly added that whether that is an indication that he cannot entrust his life into the hands of drivers.
He smiled and said sarcastically that he decided to be driving because he is a poor man and he wants to enjoy the feel of the cars of a minister. I quickly reminded him that he was also driving as a governor. Amaechi replied that he was also poor at that time and wanted to feel the cars of a governor. He surely has answers for every question.
Whichever way, the minister made Baba Ladan’s day with his gesture and one can only hope that more government officials can be coming down from their high horses to be identified with the common man who they claim they are serving.
This year shall surely be a better one for us all. Let us celebrate with moderation. Happy New Year.
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