Anenih, Ebute, Clark Clash Again Over G-7 Governors

The festering feud between Chairman of the ruling PDP’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih on one hand and former Senate President, Ameh Ebute as well as Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark on the other has again resurfaced with the exchange of words weekend.

As a result, one of Anenih’s associates and member of the Nigerian Senators’ Forum, Senator Yisa Braimoh, has described as “warped” the explanation given by Ebute, for attacking the position of Anenih, on the grievances of the aggrieved G-7 governors. Chief Anenih had been quoted to have said that some of the grievances of the aggrieved governors were genuine and had assured that the party would come out of the minor crisis stronger as the leadership would work towards resolving them.
But the Congress for Equality and Change (CEC), which is being promoted by Chief Edwin Clark and under the National Chairmanship of Ebute, had slammed Anenih for admitting that some of the grievances of the aggrieved governors were genuine. And for rising in defence of Anenih that the BoT chairman said some and not all the grievances of the G-7 governors were genuine, Senator Braimoh had come under vicious attack by Ebute who, in a rejoinder published online in Vanguard, described him as a failed senator and chorus boy of Anenih.

However, Braimoh (who represented Edo North in the Senate on the platform of the PDP from 2007 to 2011), in a riposte at the weekend, said the clarification by Ameh Ebute for taking on Anenih was distorted and has asked the duo of Clark and Ebute to apologise to Anenih for mischievously taking his (Anenih’s) position out of context.
He said in a statement: “It is sad that Ameh Ebute has tried in vain to justify the unwarranted attack on Chief Anenih. I wonder what is propelling him to embark on this needless voyage. Is he looking for relevance? Does he think that stomping on the name and person of Anenih would give him that? I make bold to say that he is pathetically mistaken.
“In his published reply, including the text of the communiqué by his group, Ebute had mischievously listed opposition to President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid as one of the governors’ grievances in an attempt to portray Anenih’s deliberately twisted position to mean that the governors’ opposition to the president re-election bid is genuine. This is patently warped and bogus.
“I am sure that Ebute and his sponsor, Chief Clark, did not even believe in their deliberately orchestrated gambit, which was devised to put a wedge between President Jonathan and Chief Anenih. That Anenih is supportive and, in fact, promotes Jonathan’s second term bid is common knowledge and no amount of mischief and propaganda can diminish that fact.
“Besides, I had disclosed that Anenih, in his speech at the South-South leaders’ meeting on May 12, 2013 in Asaba with Clark in attendance, as well as in his speech at the May 30, 2013 unity dinner in the Presidential Villa, said that during the BoT delegation’s visits to the states, he had discovered that some of the governors had some genuine complaints against the party leadership just as the party leadership had genuine complaints against some of the governors.

“Anenih, as BoT chairman, has been approaching the efforts at reconciliation impartially. He never said all their grievances were genuine; he said some of their grievances were genuine. This, to me, is how elders should intervene in crisis involving their children, and not the appallingly combative approach that Ebute and his group would want the party and the presidency to adopt.”
Reacting to Ebute’s comment that he (Braimoh) had nothing to offer to his people while he was in the Senate and which was the reason he lost his re-election bid, Braimoh described the comment as unfortunate.
According to him, “Ebute’s comment is unfortunate and does no credit to him as a self-acclaimed former Senate President because he was never a substantive Senate President in 1993 when the June 12, 1993 crisis forced the substantive Senate President, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign. Since that transient opportunism up till date, Ebute’s political relevance has taken a nose dive even in his Benue State and it is sad that he is now looking for that relevance under the leadership of Chief Clark.
“In fact, how does one explain Benue-born Ebute being tied to the apron string of Chief Clark, an Ijaw leader from the South-South zone instead of teaming up with the Senate President, David Mark and Governor Gabriel Suswam to steer the political leadership of Benue? It is a pity that Ebute has suddenly found political solace in the Abuja residence of Chief Clark.”

Kenya offers 46 oil blocs to Nigerian investors

Kenya has offered its 46 newly-discovered oil blocs for interested Nigerian investors in the oil and gas industry to develop.

Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke announced this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Nairobi.

The minister said that the offer was part of the outcome of the dialogue group preceding the Nigeria-Kenya Investment Forum held on Friday in Nairobi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Goodluck Jonathan, who concluded a three-day state visit to Kenya on Saturday, and his host, President Uhuru Kenyatta, presided over the forum.

The forum had in attendance more than 500 prominent investors from both countries.

Among the delegates were influential Nigerian business magnates who flew into Nairobi, aboard a fleet of seven private jets.

The Minister said that beyond giving the opportunity to Nigerian investors to acquire the oil wells, Kenya also sought Nigeria's assistance in the formulation of right policies and framework to manage the sector.

"It is well known now that Kenya had recently discovered hydro-carbon reserves and they are very keen to move quite aggressively in terms of exploration activities.

"They felt as sister African country, Nigeria, having many years of oil exploration and production, that it only makes sense that we exchange agreement in cooperation to hand over knowledge, capabilities and experience learnt.

"They seek various templates that we have formulated including policies, processes and a sort of templates that form Petroleum Industry Bill, among others.

"We also looked at areas surrounding Nigeria's investments possibilities where we think that Nigerian business men and women could come into the oil and gas sector in Kenya.

"They are very keen that Nigerian operators in the upstream, midstream and downstream service sectors of the oil and gas industry look to Kenya as a frontier for investments in the oil and gas sector.

"They are also very keen that we robustly support them in setting up the right framework, policies and processes and technology to help them drive the exploration activities," she said.

The minister said that among the seven MoUs and bilateral Agreements signed by both countries was that on Oil and Gas which spelt out details of the co-operation.

NAN reports that Kenya recently announced that its oil resources met the threshold for commercial exploitation, raising the country's hope of joining the league of oil-producing nations.

Specifically, Africa Oil, a Canadian oil and gas company, together with British explorer, Tullow Oil Plc, had estimated Kenyan oil reserves at 368 million barrels, a level capable of commercial exploitation.

Minister of Trade and Investments Olusegun Aganga said the maiden economic forum between Nigeria and Kenya had recorded a huge success in terms of trade and economic development between both countries.

He said the forum was a door opener to new range of opportunities that would increase the volume of trade and value of investments between Nigeria and Kenya, which had hitherto so low.

Nigerian business mogul and Forbes Magazine richest black person in the world, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who led the Nigerian delegation and chaired the dialogue group, said a number of Nigerian investors would be willing to invest in the oil sector in Kenya.

NAN reports that Dangote, at the forum, announced the decision of his conglomerate to invest 400 million dollars (about N64 billion) in cement production in Kenya

The CEO of Forte Oil and Zenon Oil, Femi Otedola, Forbes Magazine's 26th richest African and Chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, prominent bankers and investors, Jim Ovia and Tony Elumelu were in the Nigerian delegation to the forum.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Edem Duke said more than 70 per cent of interest by the Kenyan business men at the forum was focussed on tourism.

He said the sector, a greenfield and new frontier with low entry barrier, aroused the interest on many Kenyan business men and women.

According to him, the area of focus would be wild life development, horticulture, hospitality, training, leisure and entertainment facilities

Basketmouth rated second best stand-up comedian in Africa

Nigerian comedian Basketmouth has been rated second best stand-up comedian in Africa, according a list complied by Officiallaughs.com.

Basketmouth has added another feather to his many achievements with the recent rating proclaiming him the second best stand-up comedian in Africa.

According to the list compiled by international comedy website, Officiallaughs.com, Basketmouth, 35, only comes second to Trevor Noah, a South African stand-up comedian.

Other Nigerian comedians that made the top 20 list includes Klint the Drunk in fifth place, I Go Dye (8) and veteran comedian, Ali Baba (12).

Also on the list are US based comedian, Foxy P (16), UK based A Dot (18) and Gbenga Adeyinka the 1st in the 20th position.

Only last April, the Glo Ambassador and TV host emerged the first Nigerian to host comedy gig and TV show 'Comedy Central Presents...Live at Parker's'.

President Jonathan lavish 6 billion naira on UN General assembly trip

Africa most wasteful spending President, Goodluck Jonathan has begun another orgy of lavish spending, as sources have told this reporter on his spending of almost 6 billion Naira 68th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The slow performing President arrived at the JFK International Airport in New York early Sunday (today) ahead of the 68th session of the (UNGA). President Jonathan is said to have taken with him his

non elected wife, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, the Minister of State for Works and supervising Minister, National Planning Commission, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Akinwumi Adesina and a ridiculous number of 600 highly influential civil servants drawn from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as team members, two medical personnel. Another set of delegation led by his special adviser on political matter and National coordinator of the fraudulent group, Goodluck Support Group (GSG) had arrived in New York earlier on Friday to make preparations for the trip as well as inaugurate the USA chapter of the group.
the President was received by the supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, the Nigerian Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu and the Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S., Prof. Ade Adefuye will be staying in his favorite hotel, The Pierre Hotel across from New York’s Central Park in a presidential suite that will cost Nigeria tax payers money to the tune of at least $10,000 per night. He is expected to lodge at the 39th floor of the massive hotel.
A newyork Journalist who visited the hotel noted that wasteful spending President Jonathan was booked to stay in the hotel for five days; which means he will be wasting Nigeria money to the tune of 8 million Naira only for accommodation. The booking is said to have been done by Gulak since Friday.
The President it is gathered is excited about the trip and has decided to spend any amount it needs to see to a smooth journey. Another source noted that he fancies the ‘history’ he will be making being the first President in Africa to address the UN General Assembly this session

He will be speaking after the leaders of Brazil, U.S. and Turkey. “Up to 6 billion Naira has b een budgeted for this UN trip”, the source said.
Out of the five days booked by Goodluck Jonathan, he will pay a visit to his political group, the GSG where he will talk to them into supporting his 2015 ambition. Another source told this reporter that the inauguration of the group was purposely delayed till this moment when Jonathan will come for the UNGA, so as to enable him formalize discussion with the group, as well as dole out money to them.
The GSG has Chief Temitope Ajayi aka Mma Diaspora as its USA coordinator. It will be recalled that Mr Goodluck had engaged in this type of spending spree during a UN gathering last year, which drew wild condemnation from Nigerians and the international community. This year delegation will be the highest number of delegates in the history of the UN.

No Deal With Jonathan On 2015 – G7 Govs, New PDP…Say Gov Akpabio Lied On Outcome Of Peace Meeting With President

The Alhaji Abubakar Baraje-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wishes to inform Nigerians to discountenance what it calls “tissue of lies and propaganda” from the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur faction of the party on the outcome of our meeting with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the Presidential Villa last Sunday 15th September, 2013.

The splinter PDP observed that they read various misleading accounts of what transpired at that meeting between the Progressive Governors – Gov Kwankwaso of Kano, Gov. Wamakko of Sokoto, Gov Amaechi of Rivers, Gov Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Gov, Nyako of Adamawa, Gov Ahmed of Kwara and Gov Lamido of Jigawa with President Jonathan on how to resolve the self-inflicted crisis in PDP.

The New PDP in a statement by its spokesperson, Mr Eze Chukwuemeka Eze urged Nigerians and their supporters to ignore the concocted tales of Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom and Chairman of PDP Governors Forum. Akpabio lied by claiming that they accepted that President Jonathan should contest the 2015 presidential election and that most of their demands were being met.

The Baraji led faction of PDP stated that no agreement was reached on any of the issues they tabled before the President “The fact of the case is that no agreement has been reached on any of the issues we tabled

before the President and until we see results, Nigerians should ignore the present efforts by the Tukur camp to deceive them and until we see results, Nigerians should ignore the present efforts by the Tukur camp to deceive them” the breakaway PDP said

On whether President Jonathan should contest the 2015 presidential election or not, the party said PDP has a mechanism and system of electing their standard-bearers for any election and until the time to choose the party’s presidential standard-bearer comes, any speculation on that was just a “mere academic exercise”.

Meanwhile, the baraje led PDP said it has been vindicated in their claim that Alhaji Tukur and his faction were not serious about their purported search for the return of peace in PDP. “Just few hours after Sunday’s meeting between the Progressive Governors and the President, Tukur’s faction once more showed its disdain for peace by unilaterally setting up a Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of our Kano chapter. This was done without recourse to either the Leader of the party in Kano State, Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso, or other stakeholders of the party from Kano. This illegality is a clear violation of our party’s constitution and was hurriedly done just to spite Gov. Kwankwaso, the Party Leader in the state.

“We hereby urge our people in Kano State to ignore this illegality as we have set in motion the machinery to organise a proper election as stipulated by our party’s constitution.

“We are still at a loss why Tukur and his cohorts do not want peace to reign in PDP, but no matter the odds we are very determined to ensure that peace is restored to our party with the prayers of Nigerians.

“Along this line, we once more appreciate the efforts of our Party Elders to resolve the current crisis bedevilling our party and wish them success irrespective of the evil designs of Tukur’s faction to
elongate the crisis for selfish reasons”.

OBJ, IBB, Anenih Prepare 5-Points Plan For Jonathan

It emerged on Saturday that the Elders Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which met with the warring factions of the party in Abuja on Friday has prepared a five-point action plan for the attention of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The committee, which was led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and included former military leader, General Ibrahim Babangida, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, had, on Saturday, wrapped up the five-point action plan, which it believes would aid President Jonathan in resolving the logjam in the party.

According to Sources the elders’ committee’s recommendation to the president included the reinstatement of the Adamawa State chapter of the party loyal to Governor Murtala Nyako, reinstatement of the executive committee of the Rivers State chapter of the PDP, which is loyal to Governor Amaechi, as well as the re-absorption of Governor Rotimi Amaechi into the party, in line with the party’s constitution.

Sources also said that the elders committee also recommended that President Jonathan should intervene and bring an end to the crisis rocking the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) by calling a heart-to-heart meeting with the Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, and his Rivers State counterpart, Amaechi, to agree on a resolution of the crisis.

Another recommendation of the elders committee, which is to be submitted to the president, is the suggestion that the 31 August mini convention should be reviewed to rectify any anomalies

Listen To Obasanjo And Drop Your 2015 Ambition, Fani-Kayode Warns Jonathan

Controversial former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani Kayode, has warned President Goodluck Jonathan that the only condition he can have peace in the ruling PDP is to listen to the advice of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo that he (Jonathan) should drop his ambition for another term of four years in 2015.

The former Minister was one of Obasanjo’s close aides and a chieftain of the PDP until recently when he decamped to the opposition mega party, the All Progressives Congress. According to him ”The only hope left for the PDP is if President Goodluck Jonathan listens to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and those behind him and drops his 2015 ambition, failing that the fight in the PDP will never end. The truth is that Obasanjo is one of the greatest political strategists that Nigeria has ever known and he is an extremely dangerous adversary.

“I know him well and his ways are deep. Ori Baba le ga ni (Baba’s head is very strong). Go and find out what happened to all those that betrayed him or tried to kill him. Their end is never good.

“Those close to Jonathan, would do well to advise him to get on his knees and beg his political mentor. Only Obasanjo, with the help and support of President Ibrahim Babangida and Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has the power, authority and moral gravitas within the PDP to call the dissidents to order and rally their support. Without that President Goodluck Jonathan is finished and he should just wave goodbye to his 2015 re-election ambition.

While expressing confidence that his new party, the APC will form the next government at the centre, Fani-Kayode said ”That is the way to go. PDP, as we once knew her, has gone forever. The ship has hit the rocks and she has sunk to the bottom of the sea. She is dead and buried and my prayer is that her soul rests in perfect peace

"The Opportunity Cost Of Tompolo’s " Private Jet

For those who haven’t heard, 43 year old ex-militant, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) on Monday 26th August 2013 received his Bombardier SE60 LearJet. The Jet according to aviation sources cost a whopping sum of $13.3 million (N2.12 billion).

The aim of this article is not to rubbish the person of Tompolo, [what is there to rubbish anyway] but to address inter alia; the scenarios that continue to play out in favour of his ilk, institutions and systems that perpetually endeavour to make his likes overnight celebrities. I would also analyse the opportunity cost of his latest toy.

The Man Tompolo
Tompolo was born Government Oweizide Ekpumopolo in 1970 into the family of Chief Thomas Osei Ekpempulo and Mrs Sologha Ekpemupol of Okorenkoko in Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of present Delta State. He attended Edah Primary School, Madagho and Kunpa Primary School, Kunukunuma before later proceeding to National Comprehensive College, Warri where he completed the SSCE in 1993.

After a brief stint as Managing Director of his father's family business, Tompolo Nigeria Limited, his militancy career began in 1997, during the struggle to ‘liberate’ the Ijaws from the dominance of its neighbours -- the Itsekiris. General Sani Abacha had then relocated Warri South Local Government headquarters from Ogbe-Ijoh to Itsekiri’s Ogidiben and thus, an Ijaw ‘Soldier’ was born.

After the struggle, he relocated to Oporoza due to threats to his life and there, he started the struggle against the oil majors and the federal government for what he perceived as injustice against ‘their land’–usually the rhetoric for Niger Delta militants.

True to his name, Government Ekpumopolo was an authority of some sort. Traditional rulers, local council men, lawmakers, governors differ to him. To show the power Tompolo wields, during the visit of then Vice President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to his terrorist headquarters at the notorious Camp 5, he instructed all the Vice President’s entourage, security details, and other officials to stay outside the camp, allowing only Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in for ‘consultation’ (I wonder what they must have agreed in secret).

He led several ‘successful’ guerrilla attacks against Shell, almost crippling their production capacity in the Niger Delta. The company had no choice but to start paying some sort of ‘security fees’ to the warlord.

Tompolo started consulting in security matters for the oil companies, the Federal Government and the Joint Task Force to maintain some level of peace. Things got out of hand after his men beheaded 11 military men comprising of 1 officer and 10 rank and file of the Nigerian Army. That development forced the Chairman of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Brig. Gen. Sarkin Yaki Bello to declare him wanted, dead or alive.

His Entrance Into The Nigerian Billionaires Club
When the late President Musa Yar'adua took oath of Office in May 2007, he promised to bring an end to the Niger Delta insurgency, offering them a state pardon for all their criminal atrocities.

In June 2009 when the implementation of the amnesty programme started, thousands of youth surrendered their arms and ammunitions, with a report stating that Tompolo along with 1,500 militants handed in a cache of weapons that included general purpose machine guns, grenades, rocket propelled grenade launchers, explosives and a large number of assorted weapons.

Unfortunately, President Yar’adua who originated the idea died of some ailment and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the Vice President as it then was, took the reins of power.

In what seemed like an opportunity-comes-but-once-so-lets-seize-it-and-settle-the-boys-bigtime-kind-of-contract, the Goodluck administration through NIMASA, headed by Ziadeke Akpobolokemi (said to be Tompolo’s candidate for the NIMASA job), awarded a contract worth $103.4million (N15billion) maritime surveillance contract to Tompolo’s company--Global West Vessel Specialist Limited (GWVSL). The contract stated that GWVSL will provide security for oil pipelines, repel pirates and oil thieves, guard the nation waterways and also (wait for this), COLLECT LEVIES ON BEHALF OF NIMASA. The agency said about N124billion is expected to be generated by GWVSL for the federal government.

In a memo dated 9 November, 2011 with reference number PRES/99/MT/61 and titled Award Of Contract For The Strategic Concessioning Partnership With NIMASA To Provide Platforms For Tracking Ships And Cargoes, Enforce Regulatory Compliance And Surveillance Of The Entire Nigerian Maritime Domain, President Jonathan approved the contract and it was rubber stamped by the Federal Executive council in one of its weekly contract awarding bazaars on 5 January, 2012.

The contract will run for 10 years, though President Jonathan through NIMASA has promised not to renew the contract after the expiration of its present term. But to show how desperate Jonathan was in securing the contract for his friend and personal confidant – Tompolo – he wrote to the National Assembly, withdrawing an earlier similar proposal submitted by his predecessor which sought to create a coast guard comprising of all the security agencies to man the country’s maritime domain. But why should he not, when NIMASA presently pays Tompolo’s GWVSL N49m weekly for vessel hired by the agency?

The Nigerian Debacle
We have heard over and over how the Nigerian system rewards honest labour with hardship and award criminal endeavours with the juicy contracts and patronage which only feather the nest of cronies.

Fellow militants who didn’t labour (killed) as much as Tompolo weren’t rewarded as much. I pity men of the Nigerian Military who daily sacrifice their lives for nothing. I hope Abubakar Shekau will not be given the same ‘heroic’ welcome whenever he leads his comrades-at-arms to accept the amnesty proposals of the Jonathan-administration.

Nigerians must realize that voting for Jonathan come 2015 is a vote for more money in the hands of those who have wronged and robbed Nigerians of our God-given resources.

Despite the huge amount being paid to Tompolo, Nigeria’s Maritime Domain has been less secure. Crude oil theft has reached an all-time high, threatening Nigeria’s income. Coordinating minister of the economy last July, lamented the alarming rate at which Nigeria’s income from oil was being depleted due to oil theft and bunkering. Tompolo’s militant colleague, Asari Dokubo has threatened to destroy Nigeria and march his opponents’ bullet for bullet, bomb for bomb, and missile for missile if Dr. Goodluck Jonathan isn’t re-elected in 2015, because only his stay in office will guarantee Tompolo's business which will in turn guarantee continued oil bunkering and theft in the Niger-Delta.

This is the right time to revoke the Tompolo’s contract. Only a fool employs a man with a history of dubious character (though forgiven) into a position of trust, he will always stay true to who he is.

The Opportunity Cost Of Bombardier 60SE Learjet
Economist define opportunity cost as the alternative forgone. It is the cost of an alternative that must be forgone in order to pursue a certain action. Put another way, it is the benefit you could have received by taking an alternative action. In layman’s terms, opportunity cost is the other product that would rather have satisfied your want.

An Example: If you need a Plasma Television and an iphone; and you divert your limited resources to purchase the iphone, the opportunity cost (i.e. what it is costing you) is a Plasma Television set.

Investopedia cites this vivid example: if a gardener decides to grow carrots, his or her opportunity cost is the alternative crop that might have been grown instead (potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkins, etc.).

In both cases, a choice between two options must be made.

A bombardier SE60 cost $13.3 million (N2.12 billion), a N2.12 billion we could have invested into other productive ventures had the contract not been awarded to Tompolo in the first instant.

The opportunity cost of Tompolo's private Jet are enormous, I have defined what opportunity cost is, please fill up the comment section with your suggestions of public goods we could have purchased with our collective N2.12 billion in the hands of an ex-militant.

Kikiowo Ileowo is the editor of The Paradigm and a public commentator. Engage him on twitter via @ileowo4ever

No doubt, Dbanj is the Eja Nla

How far did D'banj think he would go blowing that ‘mouth organ’, his harmonica?

Does anyone even still remember the skinny young dude who arrived on the music scene with that funny thing in his mouth, a piece of musical equipment, the story goes, that his late brother gave to him as a gift before he passed?

D'banj must have realised how funny he looked blowing it, because he eventually made that skit in his debut where the choirmaster says to him: “go to the back and blow your head off.”

And blow he did and while we were laughing, he teamed up with Don Jazzy and blew his way to the bank vaults becoming one of Africa’s biggest musical exports of the last decade.

Dapo Daniel Oyebanji aka D'banj aka Skeebanj aka Koko Master aka Banger Lee aka Eja Nla is on a long thing.

Named by Channel O and Forbes as Africa’s fourth most bankable star, he has come a long way from the days of the harmonica, from the days of “If I tell dem the koko” and “Tongolo.”

Today, Dbanj is a bonafide international star, signed to Sony and Kanye West’s G.O.O.D music, and a sought after brand ambassador.

And you realise what all this actually means when you walk into a shop on Oxford Street and his monster chart-topping hit, Oliver Twist, is blasting from the speakers.

How did it all happen?
How did this IJGB (I Just Got Back), who used to hang out with JJC and the 419 Squad take over Nigeria, Africa and the world? How did D'banj become such a big fish, the Eja Nla that he is now?

Put it down to talent, smarts, swagger, sex appeal, charisma and love it or hate it, that chemistry between him and Don Jazzy who cooked the beats that powered D'banj’s vocals.

Theirs was a match made in musical heaven.

D'banj was a star before he was officially one. The dark glasses, the swinging pelvis, the ever silent partner, Don Jazzy who walked around with a cane and played the Don. Their shtick worked.

D'banj is not the best singer there is but put him on stage, set the stage alight, pump up the volume and he will blow the competition away. He is a born entertainer, with the swagger and charisma to charm and schmooze like the very best.

And MoHits was a hit with a cast of young and very interesting artistes who complimented one another. They had a formula that captured the imagination and had us all eating out of their palms.

D'banj was the Justin Timberlake of that crew, the primus inter pares and it was only a matter of time before he would grow too big.

Was it time? Was it the right move? Well, after winning the BET and the MOBO, the KORA and the Headies and after being signed on to G.O.O.D music what else was there to do but aim higher.

Today, he is brand ambassador for the Bank of Industry and headliner for the Hennessy Artistry, he owns DB records and hosts sold out concerts. He is sought after across continents and has played on the biggest stage in Africa, the African Nations cup for which he composed the theme music, and now Chanel O and Forbes have canonized him as the fourth most bankable star in Africa

It doesn't get more A-list than this. Dbanj is truly the Eja Nla.