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Unraveling the enigmatic Dan Etete at 80 – Toni Kan

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There is a popular Bible story that has fascinated me for years. It is the story of Blind Bartimeus.

 

His encounter with Jesus Christ is recounted in the book of Matthew in Chapter 20 from verses 29 – 30 and subsequently in Luke 18:35-43. It is a simple story that intrigues and fascinates.

 

Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho and as usual they were followed by a large crowd. As Jesus and his disciples proceeded they came across a blind beggar called Bartimeus. When he learnt that it was Jesus passing by, Bartimeus screamed at the top of his lungs , “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”

 

The people attempted to hush him but Bartimeus screamed louder and louder until Jesus called him over and asked him what he wanted. When he said “Master I want to see,” Jesus healed him and restored his sight and Bartimeus went along with Jesus and his disciples in joy.

End of story but is it?

I remember as a 12 year old boy asking my father why the Bible recorded the man’s name as Blind Bartimeus even though he was healed at the end.

“Why is he not called “Healed Bartimeus” or “Formerly Blind Bartimeus”?”

My father had looked at me and laughed before telling me that “People like to dwell on negative things!”

The story of blind Bartimeus came to mind when I read about Senator Dan Etete’s 80th birthday on Friday January 10, 2025.

My first thought was; oh is he still alive? And then as I read tribute after tribute, I realised that for someone who has worked in and written about Nigeria’s oil and gas industry for over 15 years, I knew very little about him.

Search on Google for Dan Etete and you are regaled with stories about an oil deal gone wrong. The impression you get is that Dan Etete‘s life began and ended with Malabu and OPL 245. It was an intriguing thought. How does one condense 80 years into one incident?

In my writings, from novels to biographies, I am keenly interested in dissecting human action and motivation; why do people do the things they do whether in a fictive universe or in business? And the first thing you learn as you go down that path is that you will have to peel off layers upon layers to find the real person because human beings are at their core chameleons.

The tributes saluted Dan Etete, the politician, technocrat and statesman who is “celebrated among the Ijaw nation as the Petroleum Minister who “championed the empowerment of indigenous players in the oil and gas sector, paving the way for greater involvement of Ijaw entrepreneurs in managing our natural resources.”

In the tributes, he is further described as a “visionary leader and one of the pioneers of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.” They go on to note that Etete is “an untiring champion of economic empowerment for the Niger Delta people and whose tenure as oil minister laid the ground work for indigenous participation in the oil and gas sector.”

For someone who writes biographies for a living, the biggest pitfall to avoid is hagiography. Every autobiography or memoir and even an authorized biography has an agenda and the discerning writer must seek a delicate balance in order not to fall prey to the hagiographic bogeyman.

That leads us to the question; who exactly is Dan Etete? How did he emerge to become a figure of national significance? Who is this figure that seems like a conundrum ensconced in an enigma? This man about who reams of newsprint has been expended and who does not even bother to grant interviews to dispel or disprove? What sort of biographical work could emerge from a man like Dan Etete?

The man we know today as Senator Dan Etete, The Ndagbudu Keme Keni of Izon-Ibe was born Etete Dauzia on January 10, 1945. He started school in Ajegunle as a student at Christ the King School between 1955 and 1960. From Ajegunle he proceeded to Bishop Demiare Grammar School, Yenagoa from 1960 to 1964.

His career kicked off with the Nigeria Customs Service from where, after years of meritorious service, he made the leap into business. But it was not a blind leap. To prepare himself for entrepreneurship, Dan Etete took many administrative courses from renowned institutions to equip him for leadership and those would come in handy when he dipped his toe into the murky waters of politics.

He would be elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2nd republic and, recognition of his administrative and business acumen would lead to his emergence as Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum and Energy. He was a member of the National Constitutional conference between 1994 and 1995 before his eventual appointment as Minister of Petroleum Resources. He was in office from 1995–1998.

In their 80th birthday tribute to their son and brother, the Etete Royal Family of Odi described the former minister as “a “shining example of what it means to serve, be loyal and industrious with an unwavering commitment to unity and progress especially for the Ijaw nation.” They also go ahead to remark on what they described as his “detribalized approach to leadership” which they wrote broke “barriers, inspired hope and forged harmony within the family and across cultures.”

To return again to hagiography, is there proof of this? In a long piece published in 2019, on one of the rare occasions in which Dan Etete is quoted in the press, The Africa Report writes on Etete’s celebration of the life of former French leader Jacques Chirac whom Etete interacted with as Nigeria’s emissary during peace negotiations around the Bakassi peninsula.

Etete’s comments to The Africa Report highlight him as a statesman of note whose influence extended beyond Nigeria and whose diplomatic verve was instrumental in avoiding war with Cameroon.

The report in quoting Etete writes that thanks to Chirac’s diplomatic overtures “we avoided the worst in the late 1990s, when Nigeria and Cameroon were fighting over the sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula (peacefully surrendered by the former to the latter in 2008), an area rich in oil and fish. President Chirac, to whom General Abacha, then President of Nigeria, had sent me, used his influence to intervene between the two countries,” he recalls. “He made me contact the Tunisian Ben Ali, the Beninese Mathieu Kérékou, the Togolese Gnassingbé Eyadéma, and the Gabonese Omar Bongo. Informal contacts were also made at the France-Africa summit in Ouagadougou in 1996.”

It is, however, curious that whenever the Bakassi issue comes up, Etete’s name or contribution is never mentioned.

This error of omission was also apparent during his 80th birthday with the loud silence from the oil and gas sector in Nigeria which is the direct beneficiary of his time in office with his vision for indigenous participation in the oil and gas ecosystem.

The Africa Report underlines the fact with “when he was minister, he wanted to entrust marginal blocs to “indigenous” people, and develop a new class of young Nigerians “who have succeeded thanks to him”.

One significant success story, the magazine notes, is Famfa owned by one of Africa’s richest women, Folorunsho Alakija. Now, while we credit Diezani Alison-Madueke with bringing the the Local Content Act into being under Goodluck Jonathan, would we be remiss to say that without Dan Etete’s pioneering vision there would be no Local Content Act?

The marginal field regime was first mooted during Etete’s tenure under The Petroleum Act of Nigeria 1996. Paragraph 16A of the act defined Oil Marginal Fields as “such fields as the president may from time to time identify as marginal”. Eze, C. L et al writing in “Overview On The Emergence Of Marginal Oil Fields In Nigeria and Their Contribution To The Country’s Oil Production” throw some light on what constitutes a marginal field, “some oil fields are considered marginal fields based on the smallness of the reserve; they are considered too small for production to be economically viable by large multinational oil companies” before going ahead to highlight the success of the programme albeit with challenges. “By 2014, nine marginal field operators were contributing about 2.46% of Nigeria total oil production….” That growth has been exponential following subsequent bid rounds that have produced the success stories like Seplat Energy and others.

The dog-eared aphorism that a prophet is without honour in his homeland is upended in the case of Dan Etete evident, as already referenced, in the effusive tributes from his Ijaw community. A tribute signed by Hon Tariye Isaac Lelei, Executive Chairman Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, described Etete as a “passionate advocate for the rights and development of the Niger Delta.”

Another signed by Prof. Benjamin Ogele Okaba of the Ijaw National Congress saluted Dan Etete as a “foremost icon of the Ijaw struggle for self-determination” whose contributions “championed initiatives that fostered local content, paved the way for offshore exploration and advocated for the proper utilization for Nigeria’s vast natural resources.”

For the Ijaw Creek Elites, Dan Etete is a “towering icon of resilience, patriotism and industry” whose “life exemplifies the spirit of determination and excellence that defines the Ijaw people.”

If these testimonials reflect reality, the question that insists on an answer becomes, why has Dan Etete’s life and achievements been circumscribed by one incident? The answer lies in the fact that we have been presented, consistently, with a single story and a biographical exegesis may well be the means of providing a compelling and comprehensive composite of the man, the politician, technocrat and statesman.

 

***Toni Kan is a PR expert, financial analyst and biographer.

Society

Tunde Ayeni Files Petition In Court Against Adaobi Alagwu Over Child Paternity Row

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….Reaffirms earlier rejection of paternity claims by Adaobi, insists all is over with the respondent
…..court adjourns to February 17

An Abuja Customary Court has adjourned until February 17, a suit filed by a businessman, Tunde Ayeni, denying the paternity of a child given birth to by an Abuja-based lady, Miss Adaobi Alagwu.

At the resumed hearing, counsel to Ayeni, Silas Onu, informed the court that he is filing a notice of discontinuance of an earlier petition filed on the ground of improper service.

The court consequently struck out the previous petition.

After this, Onu informed the court that a fresh petition had been filed before the court and properly served on the respondent.

Respondent Counsel, however, confirmed receipt of service of the petition.

He, however, apologized to the court for the absence of the respondent in court.

He further stated that the respondent is still within the time to file her defence.

At this point, the court asked the respondent counsel whether he is denying that the sum paid by Dr Ayeni to Adaobi family has not been refunded to the petitioner.

The lawyer, however, answered that the said money has been refunded but added they are yet to file their defence.

Adjourning the matter, the court stressed that the Respondent should serve all the process of their reply to the petition on the petitioner and that parties should be in court at the next adjourned date for trial .

Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Dr Ayeni, who attended the court session with his wife, said, “The matter is about one rabble rouser girl trying to malign me that she has a child for me. Initially, when I thought it was real, I took some responsible steps. But later I discovered that it was all a set-up, I therefore took immediate steps to reverse those steps.

“The money I paid because of the child has been returned. I just want a clear record to make it convincingly and unambiguously clear that there is no connection between me and the lady. She’s a gold digger but this time, she has met with the wrong person.

“That is why I brought her to court here so that matters are laid to rest once and for all.

“I have records of all the events, and we are ready to prove our case “.

It is recalled that in a move to finally nail the claim of the paternity of Adaobi Alagwu’s love child, businessman Tunde Ayeni, months back, requested and was paid back the money he had earlier paid to the Adaobi’s family when he was led to believe that he was the father of the child.

In a letter dated 23rd January, 2025 from the Chambers of Shield Sword & Consult (Dr Tunde Ayeni’s lawyers to Indemnity Partners (Adaobi’s legal representative) exclusively obtained by a reporter, the businessman’s counsel noted that: “the fact that our client was deceived into thinking that he was the father, does not negate the truth which he later discovered that he isn’t the father of the said child referred to in your letter as “X”.”

Specifically, on the issue of the payment made to the family, which some had initially misconstrued as bride price, the letter stated: “It is our understanding that what you have referred to as a “ceremony of marriage to the mother at some time between conception and birth, in your letter under reference is undoubtedly not only strange, but surreptitious customary hoodwink used to get our client to making some traditional payment which was to enable the child use his family name before the said child was born, which also precedes the uncovering of the truth regarding paternity by our client.”

“It will also interest you to know that upon uncovering the truth, our client demanded for refund of the said money and same was refunded in full, thus ending whatever the design was meant to achieve and thereby terminating the privilege of that child using our client’s family name.”

Debunking the false claim of payment of any bride price, the letter noted further: “It is sad that our client, not being an Igbo man, was unaware that such payment amounted to paying a bride price (dowry). At no point did he ever contemplate the idea of getting married to your client,” the letter asserted.

Dr Ayeni has continually maintained that he had ended any form of relationship with the lady and urged her to move on with her life.

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You belong to Nollywood not politics, LP slams Kenneth Okonkwo

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The leadership of the Labour Party has disowned its former Presidential Campaign Council spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, saying he is no longer a card-carrying member of LP.

The National Secretary of LP, Umar Farouk made the clarification in a recent interview.

Farouk also admonished the legal practitioner to return to Nollywood and embrace his acting career, saying he lacks the attributes of a good politician.

The Labour Party National Secretary was reacting to Tuesday’s press statement by Okonkwo that he had resigned his party membership.

In the statement, the former LP campaign spokesperson said the party was not ready for the 2027 general elections due to internal and leadership crises.

He said, “My entrance to politics is for good governance, and I will continue to work for it to ensure that Nigeria becomes a great country of incorruptible men. This aim can no longer be realised within the Labour Party, as presently constituted.

“Since the party is non-existent as presently constituted, I am constrained to resign my membership of the party. To all Nigerians of goodwill who supported us when we needed them most, I pledge my continued loyalty to the Nigerian people in all I will decide to do in my political future.”

Continuing, the Nollywood actor also said he was open to pitching his political tent elsewhere.

“This resignation takes effect from the 25th of February, 2025, which marks the second anniversary of the presidential election of 2023, after which I will be at liberty to join other well-meaning and like-minded Nigerians in charting a great future of good governance for this great country blessed by God,” he added.

Okonkwo said the tenure of the party’s leadership had long elapsed and the caretaker committee set up to salvage the party had been hindered by unnecessary litigation.

He criticised the National Chairman of the LP, Julius Abure, for allegedly prioritising personal interests over the party’s survival.

“The former National Chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure, and his former National Working Committee, having conducted no national convention known to law, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission and the courts having held that the issue of the leadership of a political party is the internal affair of a political party for which the courts do not have the jurisdiction to entertain, there’s no effective leadership of Labour Party at the national level.

“The Senator Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee, which was duly and legally set up by the National Executive Council of the Labour Party, after the non-recognition of Abure-led National Working Committee by INEC, and was given six months to conduct congresses and the convention, was the only viable option towards salvaging the Labour Party.

“Unfortunately, Abure and his colleagues, with the collaboration of outside forces, expectedly, being political jobbers, launched unnecessary legal challenges against this Caretaker Committee that have inhibited it from functioning. It’s more than six months after the inauguration of the committee, and the committee has not even taken off, leading many to conclude that the objective of these politicians of bread and butter with their outside collaborators is to bog down the serious members of Labour Party with frivolous and unnecessary litigation till the 2027 election is over.

“Isn’t it curious that a national executive of a political party whose elected members are defecting everyday to other parties, and who can not wage legal battles to recover these seats for their party, is waging ferocious legal battles to maintain their destructive, choking hold on the party,” Okonkwo said.

However, reacting, Farouk said Okonkwo’s action did not really come to the LP as a surprise because of his famed role as a Nollywood actor.

While recalling that the lawyer left the party last year, the LP chieftain accused him of trying to drag the party in the mud for cheap popularity.

He said, “How many times is he going to resign from the party? Has he forgotten that he resigned about three, four or five months ago? It is only when he wants to find relevance that he opens his mouth to start talking again. I have already addressed that issue with him.

“He just finds joy throwing Abure’s name around. That is why everytime he seeks relevance, he starts talking Labour Party and Abure. Let him go. He has been in APGA, PDP and the APC. So what is he doing in Labour Party?

“Let him carry his bag and return to Nollywood where he came from. He should leave us alone. He doesn’t deserve to be in any political party because he is not a good politician.”

 

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Dubai police issue arrest warrant for Nigerian billionaire jailed for financial crime

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The Dubai police have issued an arrest warrant for Abdulrahman Bashar, a Nigerian oil billionaire recently convicted of financial crimes linked to the issuing of dishonored cheques.

Court papers indicate that the arrest warrant was issued after CE Energy DMCC, a Dubai-based commodities trading company incorporated in the UAE, made a criminal complaint against Mr Bashar following a business dispute.

Between April and August 2024, the Nigerian businessman issued nine cheques to CE Energy, payment for gas oil and Jet A1, which Mr Bashar’s company, Ultimate Oil & Gas DMCC, bought from CE Energy.

However, Mr Bashar’s bank, Emirates Islamic Bank, honoured only one of the cheques. The remaining eight were dishonoured because they bore irregular signatures. Mr Bashar has repeatedly denied that the cheques were irregularly signed. CE Energy says there is more to the matter than Mr Bashar suggests.

Issuing dud cheques constitutes a criminal offence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). CE Energy, therefore, reported the dishonoured cheques to the Dubai police, which immediately launched an investigation and a search for the Nigerian businessman.

“An arrest warrant has been issued against Mr Bashar in the UAE,” Justice Charles Hollander of the High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division, London, said on 8th November 2024, while ruling on applications relating to a worldwide freezing order (WFO) granted ex parte on 29 July 2024 against the Nigerian billionaire and in favour of CE Energy.

It does appear Mr Bashar kept away from the UAE and remained in Nigeria while police investigation and his eventual court trial lasted in Dubai. On 30 January 2025, he was sentenced to one year imprisonment.

“The arrest warrant against him (Abdulrahman Bashar) remains valid,” a source familiar with the matter revealed. “He remains a fugitive, and he has a pending jail term unless he successfully appeals the judgment.”

In a statement on Monday, Mr Bashar said he would take all available steps to challenge the judgment.

Abdulrahman Bashar, 48, is chair of Ultimate Oil and Gas DMCC and managing director and chief executive officer of Rahamaniyya Group of Companies, Nigeria. His companies trade, supply, and distribute African crude and oil products, from which the billionaire has amassed a huge fortune.

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