The Reason I Left Broadcasting Was to Sell Suya in The UK

Toks Odebunmi, veteran broadcaster, tells ‘NONYE BEN-NWANKWO about growing up and how he set up Obalende Suya, London

Why did you leave your broadcasting job in Nigeria here to go to the UK?

Whilst I was here, I had realised early enough I wasn’t going to last on the job. It wasn’t as if I didn’t like it. After all the razzmatazz that comes with the job – a whole lot of girls running after you, you are so popular – and all the other stuff; but then, the reality is how much was I earning then? I started with the likes of John Momoh and the rest. When I decided to go to the UK, I had had three options and they were either I chose federal (NTA) or I worked in an advertising company or travelled abroad.

So you chose travelling abroad?

Yes. I didn’t really know anybody there though I had a friend. I looked into the future and I felt the job as a broadcaster might not deliver the aspiration I had looked forward to as a kid. I had always wanted to get into advertising. I decided it was the best time for me to travel abroad and study something on advertising. I started a course in advertising but then, I have always been an entrepreneur. I just felt I could set up a suya spot. We always go out to buy Suya in Nigeria. So I decided to get into it and it caught fire.

President Buhari, Loyalty Is Not Enough

President Buhari’s ministerial list do not represent the best and brightest Nigeria has to offer.

The President might be having problem with the issue of trust, thereby looking to appoint only those that will stay loyal to him, but we also want him to look beyond loyalty. No matter how loyal appointees are to the President, they also need to know what to do and how to do it once they get the jobs. The ability to manage, design, and effectively carry out new programmes, implement key legislation, and deliver services should be prominent—indeed primary—criteria for choosing potential appointees.

Those who have cited loyalty as the reason why mostly northerners have been appointed so far into the President’s cabinet should note that there are no systematic data on how loyalty results in effective performance in governance. I can also argue that loyalty or not, political appointees are often not truly loyal to the President because they also have personal agendas, thereby having multiple loyalties.

People against anti-corruption war afraid of Buhari

A Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, Akin Oyebode, in this interview with TUNDE AJAJA, talks about Buhari’s government and the implication of some of the steps he has taken so far

You were optimistic about Muhammadu Buhari’s government before he was sworn in as the president, after 100 days in office, are you satisfied with his performance so far?

He is still revving for take-off, like an airplane, but he’s taken three months already and most people are somewhat agitated about the delay of the take-off. But he has said Nigerians should bear with him and that he met a lot of rot in government which he wanted to clear before he could launch his programme. But I think one thing that nobody can take away from him is his reputation as an incorruptible public officer who is held high in the estimation of the people on the basis of his probity, transparency and anti-corruption stance. These you can’t take away from him, and it seems his persona has impacted positively on all and sundry as people now behave appropriately because of the respect or the fear that they have for him. That for me is a foretaste of good things to come. I think after he announces his ministers and he starts filling the 4,000 odd positions, like the boards, and the whole architecture of his government is put in place, then of course we can expect that he would hit the ground running. Right now, he’s just trying to hit the ground, not to talk of running.

I Have Found Love Again

Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo told Punch in a recent interview that she has found love again.
Iyabo said “I thank God that I have found love and I am very happy with him. He understands me because I am not an easy person to handle. I am always busy but my lover is very understanding. I always make sure I find time for him despite my busy schedule. I cook for him as well as my children. I don’t see cooking for my lover as a big thing because of the way I was brought up. I love cooking.”

I Dont Like Sean Tizzle

Popular Nigerian comedian, Basketmouth has explained why he does not like Sean Tizzle.

In an interview with HipTv’s StreetHop on Tuesday, Basketmouth disclosed why he has decided to cut ties with singer, Sean Tizzle.

When he was asked his favourite Nigerian act and he stated he doesn’t like Sean Tizzle and revealed what really transpired between himself and the ‘Sho le’ hitmaker.