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From the choice of the venue and its exquisite interior to the caliber of participants present, the 16th edition of the Annual THISDAYAwards depicted sheer brilliance that has surpassed any other award in Nigeria.
The Award was set to Recognise The Achievements of Notable bodies in Nigeria for their excellence and good governance for this year.
The event, which started at exactly 9 pm, saw the arrival of guests, artistes and dignitaries like award winning Tuface, Ifeoma Williams, former Miss Nigeria, Helen Prest Ajayi, Jim Ovia, chairman of Zenith bank, Gov. Uduaghan of Delta state, Nkiru Anumudu a socialite on the ravishing red carpet of Eko Hotel and Suites, the event venue.
Prior to that there was a VVIP reception with the Special Guests of Honor President Bill Clinton and Governor Arnold Schwazenegger at Eko Hotel and Suites Penthouse.
The Publisher of THISDAY Newspapers as well as the host of the event, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena gave the opening remarks and welcomed the guests present. He also recognised the presence of other important personalities such as Mr. Atedo Peterside, Yemisi Ransome-Kuti etc.
President Bill Clinton took the stage and gave a remarkable speech that earned him a standing ovation. In his words, “Nigeria needs Good Governance” while Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “Don’t Always ask what can our country do for us, ask what can we do for our country”.
Awards presentations took place right after that and were presented by former beauty queen Helen Prest Ajayi and Mr. Jim Ovia, chairman of Zenith bank.
Order of Presentation of Awards.
1st Set of Awards
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Recipients-
Umaru Musa Yar’adua
Hassan Adamu
Adebayo Adedeji
Femi Adeniyi-williams
Bolaji Akinyemi
Jibril Aminu
George S. Coumantaros
Faysal Mohammed El-Khalil
Francesca Yetunde Emmanuel
Ismaila Isa Funtua
Alexander Uruemu Ibru
Shehu Malami
Ben Nwabueze
Abdulsamad Rabiu
Khalifa Isyaku
2nd set of Awards
Young Global Champions
Recipients-
J.K Olusegun Agbaje
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede
Oladele Akinyemi
Kolawole Aluko
Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi
Ladi Balogun
Mofe Boyo
Chief Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuman
Tonye Parker cole
Sola David-Borha
Uzoma Dozie
Cathy Echeozo
U.K Eke
Victor Ezenkwo
Akinola George- Taylor
Phillip Ihenacho
Ade Oluwole Odunsi
Jide Ogundare
Emeka Onwuka
ABC Orjiakor
Titilayo Osuntoki
Abdulsamad Rabiu
Yinka Sanni
Kashim Bukar Shettima
Tope Isiaka Shonubi
Jubril Adewale Tinubu
Hassan Usman
Herbert Wigwe
3rd Set of Awards
New Champions For An Enduring Culture
Recipient-
Chimamanda Adiche
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Innocent Ujah Idibiah
Alex Okosi
Deola Sagoe
Toyin Subair
4th Set of Awards
Change Makers in Social Entrepreneurship
Recipients-
Fola Adeola
Samuel Adesanya Adeyemi
Tony Rapu
5th Set of Awards
Change Makers in Governance
Recipients-
Rotimi Amaechi
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
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Former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, on Sunday endorsed Nuhu Ribadu for President, saying Nigeria needs generational change.
But Ribadu, a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), was received at Babangida's Hilltop Mansion without ACN leader, Bola Tinubu.
Babangida told journalists that because of the generation Ribadu belongs to, it is fair to support him take over the reigns of power, a view he said other Nigerians will understand and respect.
He recalled that, "Somebody asked me recently who my candidate is and I said that we who belong to this generation will like to see young people, in whose hands the future of this country lies, to take over the affairs of Nigeria."
He explained that he supports generational change, "which Nuhu Ribadu and Fola Adeola stand for," and he has strong faith in them and believes they can deliver.
Asked if he has endorsed the candidature of Ribadu, Babangida who had wanted to run for President himself under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said: "For generational change, yes."
He referred to everyone on Ribadus' entourage as his friends, and said he gave them lunch as a sign of acceptance and friendship between him and the ACN family.
"I am close to them, it is only fair that since they are in Minna they decided to visit me personally. I have respect for him (Ribadu)."
Ribadu and his team also visited the Emir of Minna, Umar Bahago, after which they addressed a rally at the city's polo ground.
He told the rally that the ACN stands for the change Nigerians have yearned for in the 12 years of misrule by the PDP administration.
"The change has come and your party, our party, the ACN, is the party to vote for. We are set to provide this much needed change and take the country to higher grounds," he said.
In his own case, President Goodluck Jonathan is not leaving anything to chance despite assurances by his camp that he will win the election by a wide margin.
He has set up 15 committees to scan all parts of the country and firm up agreements that will give his opponents no room for manoeuvre.
Presidential Assistant on Documentation, Research and Strategy, Oronto Douglas, told reporters in Abuja on Sunday that Jonathan cannot afford to be complacent, because doing so will be costly.
He said the committees will dialogue with every stakeholder, to engage with everybody, and "part of this would be to hold town hall meetings. There are some zones where we have not done as much as we would want to do, and those zones will receive more attention.
We still have two solid weeks to do this. So, there is time, especially when we want to win this election in a free, fair, and transparent manner that will leave no one in doubt."
But on a sad political note, one person was killed and several others were injured on Sunday in a violence that broke out in Makurdi between supporters of the PDP and the ACN.
The Makurdi-Otukpo-Enugu Highway was blocked, forcing motorists travelling down South to make a detour through Naka to link Otukpo.
Some residents fled for safety, as police engaged the party thugs in combat to bring the situation under control.
The violence started with the alleged disappearance on Friday of a final year student of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Moses Orngu, who caricatures Governor Gabriel Suswam in cartoons.
ACN supporters believe that Orngu may have been kidnapped by PDP agents.
They blocked the highway, made burn fires, and demanded the release of Orngu, an action which degenerated into the clash with PDP supporters.
Some weeks ago, David Inornem, the Director General of Steve Ugbah Campaign Organisation, told a press conference, that a Tiv bard, Barnabas Aganyi, who composes scathing campaign songs for the ACN, was missing.
Inornem said the ACN also suspected that Aganyi was kidnapped by PDP agents.
Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Mohammed, could not be reached on the telephone for comment. His lines were switched off.
However, the South West zone of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reiterated at the weekend that violence remains the only obstacle to the success of the polls next month.
It expressed fear that the huge funds sunk into the preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties may go down the drain, and urged those concerned to address the matter quickly.
A statement signed by CAN President Joseph Akinfenwa stressed that Nigeria cannot afford to mess up in the ballot because it represents a milestone in its history'.
"We join forces with well-meaning Nigerians to highlight the danger of electoral violence at this point in our national history and to call on all stakeholders, especially our politicians, to esteem national interest above narrow, parochial one, and join hands to ensure peaceful, free, and fair elections in April," he pleaded.
Akinfenwa asked all leaders of political parties to denounce violence and to mandate their followers to desist from it.
"In other words, we ask our politicians to make a covenant with the Nigerian people that they will not instigate or condone violence of any kind; but rather discourage it even in the face of provocation."
He also implored the security agencies to detect, contain, and control violent conduct and to be impartial in providing security for all.
Akinfenwa said the failure of state security leads to private security arrangements which in turn lead to abuse of force.
He stressed that the maintenance of peace and decorum throughout the election period will help ensure a free and fair vote.
He sought a credible and truly representative election, facilitated by the massive participation of citizens who will join hands with the government to leave no stone unturned.
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After 17 years of meritorious service to the nation, former Captain of the Super Eagles, Nwankwo Kanu declared that he was a fulfilled man as he looks forward to his testimonial match in Lagos to officially end his international soccer career.
The testimonial match between Kanu and Friends (a selected World XI) and the Nigerian national team has been slated for June 11, 2011 in Lagos.
Kanu 's friends, mostly his former teammates from Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal, West Brom and Portsmouth along with some selected star players will file out against a Nigerian All Star team dating from the Super Eagles teams of 1993/94, the Olympic Gold medal winning team of 1996, and some players of the current Eagles squad who played with Kanu.
Among the notable soccer stars that would grace the event are Patrick Vieira, the Cole brothers (Joe and Andy), Ronaldo, Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o Fils, Togolese Emmanuel Adebayor and many others.
This will be a special day for him and his charity organization, the Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF) as the proceeds of the event will be used to pursue the objectives of the Foundation which is largely to assist Africans particularly children in the treatment of heart related ailments.
"It is going to be a great day and event, everybody will be there and it's going to be a roll-call of World's best players, a roll-call of 'who is who in world football," he enthused.
Continuing Papilo, as he fondly called by fans said, " I'm a fulfilled man, my story has been a good story and I'm happy for that. When my DVD, the 'Story of Kanu Nwankwo' is out, it'll touch the hearts of the young ones.
Some of them believe that there's a short cut to success.
"Some of my friends are planning to have a testimonial for me in June, Kanu said, adding, "I think after 17 years in the national team, they appreciate what I have done and want to give me a befitting send off."
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Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Sunday condemned the spate of killing in the on-going political campaign rallies of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties in the country.
Soyinka spoke at the formal launch of reclaimnaija.net in Festac, Lagos where he urged Nigerian electorate to reject a directive of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafis Ringim, that citizens should not use cell phones and cameras to record and monitor voting processes.
Also at the launch, the Nobel laureate urged the people of Nigeria to disregard politicians and political parties involved in killing, asking rhetorically that "what is the essence of killing ourselves in order to serve ourselves?"
At another fora, the Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), Professor Pat Utomi, also on Sunday condemned the rising wave of political violence in the country, saying the trend portends danger for the Aprill elections.
Utomi also called on President Goodluck Jonathan the presidential candidate of the ruliing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to as a matter of urgency convene a national security council meeting to be attended by the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and leaders of the political parties to find solutions to this dangerous political development in the country.
In a statement by the spokesman of the Pat Utomi Presidential Campaign Organisation, Reverend Austin Nnorom, Utomi said "This violence which became manifest with the killing of some aspirants in Borno State has now reached a deplorable peak in daily drawn battles all over the country.
"It is condemnable in states like Ebonyi, Oyo, Niger and others where the state governments have shown enormous insensitivity to democratic norms and in fact all over the country. This development have dangerous consequences for the elections and free and fair elections cannot be possible," Utomi said.
The rising political violence, according to Utomi, "is centered towards intimidating both candidates and voters become more worrisome with the evidence that law enforcement agencies seem impotent to this dastardly act and allow it strive with impunity in the face of such wide spread human rights abuses.
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