Nigerians Challenge Patience Jonathan To Debate With Soyinka

(Punch) – Some Nigerians on Sunday asked the wife of the President, Patience Jonathan, to make herself available for a debate with Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

The call came on the heels of the diatribe the First Lady launched against Soyinka in which she described the renowned playwright as an “embarrassment’’ for attributing the crisis rocking Rivers State to her and her husband, President Goodluck Jonathan.

But some Nigerians, who took to Twitter and other social networks to voice their concern over the development, called on a Lagos-based private broadcaster, Channels Television, to organise a debate for the two.

According to them, the TV station’s Sunrise Daily, a news and current affairs programme that features prominent Nigerians, who are experts in their areas of specialisation, will provide a level playing ground for the duo to thrash out the knotty issues they were arguing on.

To actualise their dreams, a cross section of them sent messages in a tweet to the handle of the programme @sunrisedailynow as well as the main official handle of the television station, @Channels_TV on Sunday.

A Twitter user, with the name Abdul Slimzy, tweeting via @abdulslimzy said, “It would be really nice to see Patience Jonathan and Wole Soyinka argue on Channels TV @sunrisedailynow in English Language o.”

An anonymous reader on lindaikeji.blogspot.com said, “Kindly call on Channels TV to organise a debate between Prof. Wole Soyinka and Dame Patience Jonathan. I know we go laugh pass ‘Night of a Thousand Laugh.’’’

Another user of the micro-blogging service with the name, Hig-Wayne Cannon, who uses the handle @dosinclair, said he would be looking forward to the debate on national TV as it would be a clash of the titans. Cannon notes, “You can expect a volcanic grammatical literary of freestyles. What a collabo #Titans.”

However, some users of the micro-blogging service boasted that the wife of the President would come out tops after the debate. One of such users of the social network who beat his chest on this was Yakubu Dogara who tweets via @doyakubu.

He says, “I bet it that Dame Patience will win the debate as it will be unwise for the Prof. (Wole Soyinka) to attend much more utter a word.”

Another Nigerian tweeting via @hobalawon said Soyinka, who clocked 79 on Saturday, should simply steer clear of joining issues with the First Lady and save himself from being on the receiving end of public bashing which he described as “lethal weapon’’ emanating from her.

The social network user noted, “Prof, even at 79, we still need you around.”

Meanwhile, the exchange of diatribe between the duo has divided Nigerians on social networks. While a section of Nigerians argue that the First Lady shouldn’t have descended heavily on Soyinka and that the onslaught was unpresidential, others maintained that Soyinka got what he deserved.

On nairaland.com, a Nigerian with the name, My Time, argued, “I still maintain that Patience Jonathan has no moral justification to attack the professor. Her only portfolio is being the wife of the President. Soyinka has achieved a lot and demands respect. He is one of our national icons and a gift to this nation. He commands more respect outside the shores of this country than she does and can ever get.’’

An anonymous visitor on the blog noted, “I see this current government and her (Patience Jonathan) agenda losing their taste of civility and moral standing. I don’t see any reason why the First Lady should talk to an elderly statesman with such verbal brutality, irrespective of what he (Soyinka) said to her. Really, I think it’s quite unpresidential.’’

However, those who believe that Soyinka deserved Patience Jonathan’s onslaught against him said it was wrong for Soyinka to insult another man’s wife in the first place. They noted that since Soyinka had descended into an arena of conflict, he could not avoid such a treatment.

On lindaikeji.blogspot.com, one Abidoh Jonathan said, “Why exactly are people abusing the First Lady? Prof. Wole Soyinka made a derogatory remark about her, and she reacted with an on-point come back. What is the big deal? If you ask me, I think the Prof stooped too low to comment and link the First Lady to the current crisis rocking Rivers State. He is a renowned Prof. but hello, she too is still the First Lady now and she deserves some respect.”

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Sunderland, Fulham Join Race To Sign Osaze

Osaze Odemwingie

Four Premier League clubs Sunderland, West Ham, Hull and Fulham were on Sunday credited with an interest in West Brom frontman Osaze Odemwingie.

According to Skysports, the 31-year-old has been looking to leave the Hawthorns since his proposed January move to QPR fell through.

With little chance of him being offered a clean slate with the Baggies, it is expected that the Nigeria international will be on the move this summer.

As a proven goalscorer at the highest level, it comes as no surprise to find that numerous clubs are readying an approach for his services.

Osaze, who has also been linked with Crystal Palace, could be available for as little as £1.5m.

But it seems unlikely that Sunderland would look to boost their front-line with the Nigerian.

Sunderland’s transfer policy this summer has centred around promising youngsters from abroad, with the potential for re-sale value, or those available for reasonable fees and wages.

Meanwhile, with Osaze is expected to depart after his behaviour last season, West Brom manager Steve Clarke is chasing Tottenham striker Clint Dempsey to add more options to his forward line. Romelu Lukaku has returned to Chelsea after his loan.

West Brom are facing problems to sign Dempsey with Spurs looking to receive at least £6m for the American, his wages are also thought to be too high for the Baggies.

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Davido flaunts his new Versace piece

Omo Baba Olowo doesn't hide the fact that he loves expensive things and ofcourse has the cash to spend. He flaunted his new Versace piece with the caption " My Versace piece finally arrived!#versace #OBO #vacation #Hardwork 

He must have some serious bodyguards because he is a walking bank.. u less ofcourse.. Na GL As someone said..lol

Killers Of Hoteliers Gun Down By Police

Five of the gunmen who stormed the 04 Hotel in Ajah area of Lagos last Sunday have been confirmed dead.

The robbers were killed in the early hours of Sunday (yesterday) in a shoot-out with the Special Anti Robbery Squad Ikeja, Lagos.

Several gunmen had stormed the hotel in a purported reprisal for the arrest of a colleague by SARS operatives at the same hotel. Seven persons including the owner of the hotel, Olarenwaju Subair, were killed in the attack.

Police sources who craved anonymity, told PUNCH Metro that the robbers who were moving in a convoy of an Honda Odyssey and a Jeep on Sunday (yesterday) for another operation, had earlier attacked some policemen at Ajah and later at Ajao Estate before the shoot-out with SARS operatives.

A police source said, “The robbers began their operation around 1am at Ajah but just as they were moving out, they encountered a team of policemen on routine patrol. They opened fire on them and in the ensuing exchange of fire, one policeman was killed in the process and another wounded.

“Immediately, the robbers aborted their mission and drove drown to Ajao Estate. They got to Ajao Estate at about 2am and attacked a major dealer in phones, ipads and other ICT products.

“In the process, a police corporal, attached to the Mobile Police Force was killed. Valuables worth millions of naira were carted away.”

Having received a directive from the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, to apprehend the robbers, SARS operatives led by their leader, SP Abba Kyari, were said to have laid ambush along the Mushin/Ojuelegba areas while two more teams went towards the island to block the robbers escape.

Not long after, the robbers who eventually drove through the Mushin/Ojuelegba road, were said to have opened fire on sighting the SARS teams.

In an intense gunfight that reportedly lasted 30 minutes, the robbers were chased from Stadium in Surulere to Eko Bridge.

The source said, “Some of the robbers had been wounded in the car from the gunfight but that didn’t stop them from driving. It wasn’t until the driver of one of their vehicles sustained a gunshot injury to the neck that the vehicles stopped at Eko Bridge.

“Some were already dead in the car. Several more fled their vehicles and jumped over the Eko Bridge into the ocean below. But some of those who jumped must have been wounded, because there was blood on the rails of the bridge.”

It was learnt that items from Ajao estate were recovered from the vehicles of the robbers. Policemen from the Area A command and the Marine Police later combed the waters, but did not find any corpse.

Manko confirmed the incident to PUNCH Metro.

 He said, “Five robbers were killed in the exchange of gunfire with SARS operatives. They had earlier attacked a major phone dealer at Ajao Estate before they were ambushed by SARS operatives along the Mushin/Ojuelegba areas.”