The name Bulgaria, not his real name, I guest, will definitely ring bell in the ears of many senior journalists in Ondo State who have been around up to a period of 15 to 20 years. He was then adjudged the most visible, mobile and roving "reporter" of all-time in the state during this period. But, it won't surprise you that Bulgaria was a fake reporter who was out there for something to eat in the name of journalism.
This was his modus operandi then; Bulgaria was the best fan of radio stations by listening to every announcement made on radio about seminars and programmes of state government and MDAs, any form of ceremonies, both government and private sponsored. He would painstakingly jolt down the venue and time of the programme, and bet you, no matter the distance, Bulgaria would be the first "reporter" to arrival the venue uninvited to
"cover" it.
His main target was not to jolt down any information for publication, but to be the first to be served with anything that goes with the seminar, conference or ceremony, be it snack, drinks or jollof rice, pounded yam and meat or any other meal served for the genuine participants and attendees. And again, after the ceremony, Bulgaria would boldly approached the organisers for his honorarium and 'brown envelope' as a reporter. That was his known trade.
It is the Bulgaria in a faceless group that called itself Coalition of all Civil Society Organizations in Ondo State over a new appointee into the State Board of Procurement, Ifeanyi Odili, that I intend to bring out here in this write up.
When I read through their purported statement, dissociating it fake group from Ifeanyi Odili as member of the coalition, the first thing that came into my mind was Bulgaria, the fake reporter. It came to me like a Bulgaria standing against me at a seminar meant for journalists, claiming that the invitation for the seminar was originally for him, so I am an intruder. What an absurd calm.
In a disclaimer notice signed by some strange and unknown names in the comity of civil society organisations in the state, they were calling the attention of the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and the good people of Ondo State to a case of impersonation by Ifeanyi Odili, calming he has never been a member of the coalition and cannot represent their interest.
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| Odili with former president obasanjo |
And when the jesters and real impostors wanted to publicly displayed their stupidity and selfishness, the first signatory on the statement was the very person they calmed as "our nominee name, Franklin Oloniju for the Ondo State Procurement Board", which clearly give them away as a punch of opportunists who wanted to reap where it has never sow a seed.
For the record, Comrade Pastor Ifeanyi Odili is an international acclaimed civil rights activist and human right campaigner of high repute and integrity. He was the pioneer chairman of Ondo State chapter of Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, (CDHR) in 1991. A position he held for four years before he again, single handedly brought the popular Campaign for Democracy (CD) to the state with full support of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti. He is currently the national Secretary-General of CD and the Convener, Conference of Nigeria Civil Rights Activists, (CNCRA).
No doubt, even as I am not a fan of the governor, I gave him kudos on the composition of the very important State Procurement Board and as chairman of the statutory board, for diligently observing the international known best practices by following the dictate of the law establishing the board, while I use this medium to congratulate all the distinguished personalities that made the list, including Comrade Odili for a well deserved honour.
YEMI AKINTOMIDE wrote from Ireakari Estate 2, Orita-Obele, Akure. 08069204292
yemiakintomide02@gmail.com