News & Press Releases Supreme Court verdict on Ngige vindicates Ogbeh, says Soyinka By Clifford Ndujihe NOBEL Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has hailed the Supreme Court judgment affirming Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige as the Governor of Anambra State. In an interview with The Guardian at the weekend, Soyinka, who adopted a wait-and-see attitude on the impeachment move against the President by the House of Representatives, said the apex court ruling was a vindication that the Federal Government has been acting outside the law. To the international community, Soyinka said that the government's role in the Anambra saga was deplorable and a disgrace to the nation. "For me, the judgment is a vindication of what we have been saying that this regime has been acting outside the law and this is one of it. I made a statement after Chief Audu Ogbeh's letter to the President on the Anambra matter for which he was forced to resign. What he said was correct. As I am speaking to you now, there is a Radio station in the United States (U.S.), which devotes a programme (Courtyard) on the Anambra matter. It is a public debate programme. "The point Ogbeh made," he continued, "was patriotic. With this verdict what we have been saying all along has been vindicated just as it is illegal for the Obasanjo's government to continue to withhold Lagos State local councils' funds. He continues to flout the law on that." The literary giant expressed the hope that the government would learn from the verdict and desist from acting above the law. "We wait to see what will happen from here. We hope the Federal Government will learn from this decision and not continue to flout the law," he stated. On the impeachment plot, Soyinka said he was going to wait for a few days before making his views known because "I want to make sure that the people (lawmakers) are not jiving as usual." Pressed further and asked whether or not the allegations of the legislators were frivolous, Soyinka said any organisation or group of individuals has the right to seek redress whenever it feels its rights have been trespassed. Recalling the U.S. lawmakers' impeachment proceedings against former President Bill Clinton, which was based on moral grounds, he said clearly, the Nigerian legislators feel they were at issue in their impeachment crusade. In his estimation, the lawmakers have a duty to challenge any action by an elected leader, especially where the leader to act above the law and bring him within the law. But, Dr. Ime Umanah, who contested against Governor Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State in the 2003 governorship election with his petition still at the tribunal to claim the seat, opposed the impeachment move against the President. He urged the legislators to stop the exercise and assist President Olusegun Obasanjo in his anti-graft war. Umanah said the citizenry should not forget the kind of system that used to operate, from the local to the state and Federal Government, before the advent of the regime's anti-corruption war. His words: "At the local council level, the chairmen, with their treasurers and works officers would take the councils' allocations to hidden locations to share among themselves and cover their tracks with all kinds of documents. It is on record that President Obasanjo is doing everything to tackle corruption with the assistance of institutions like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) with many corrupt functionaries in the executive and legislature being brought to book. What the system needs is this kind of action and discipline at all stages of our national life. "The National Assembly should concentrate on assisting the President in this crusade. They should also dissipate energy on expunging Section 308 (immunity clause) that makes it possible for 74 Nigerians - the President, his deputy, 36 governors and their deputies to do whatever they like with impunity. If the Section 308 is expunged, the leaders will be more careful and the money meant for the people will eventually get to them," he said. © 2003 - 2004 @ Guardian Newspapers Limited (All Rights Reserved).   Powered by dnetsystems.net d n e t ®       "A Beautiful Life" Congratulations to Allen Maldonado, aka, MALCOLM, on a great presentation in "A BEAUTIFUL LIFE". Click here for more info!   Another one? You bet! July 18, 2004, 7pm - 9pm "The Courtyard" & "Middle East in Focus" presents Due to overwhelming response to our collaboration with Middle East in Focus, we are doing it once again: AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY  GUESTS:  Ambassador Joe Wilson (Niger-Iraqi Uranium scandal) and Professor Nadav Morag of the University of Judaism (subbbing for Israeli Consul General) February , 2004 Up Close & Personal An Intimate Evening with congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. We invite you to join us and the family of KPFK for an intimate dinner with congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. Call us during the showtime to reserve your seat (818)985-5735. Act fast because seatings are limited! Click here for more information about this event! the Courtyard needs your help! We are having a fund drive starting this Saturday at February 21, 2004. Call the Courtyard at (818) 985-5735 to show your support! November 26 , 2003 Happy Thanksgiving! Raging Fire at The Courtyard! Due to popular demands, The Courtyard will be re-broadcasting it's 5th episode (the raging fire disaster) on a special time on Friday, 11/28/03, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Special thanks to Armando Gudino, the Program Director at KPFK for making this possible. Tune in to KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles and 98.7 in Santa Barbara. Or you can listen live at www.KPFK.org! October 25, 2003 Get the first four episodes of The Courtyard! Help The Courtyard and KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles and 98.7 FM in Santa Barbara public radio. With only $100 pledge, you will be able to add the first four episodes of The Courtyard to your collection. Call KPFK at (818) 985-5735 and support KPFK and The Courtyard! October 21, 2003 What is The Courtyard? Be among the first ones to listen to The Courtyard's promotional ad! Missed the Courtyard? Due to popular demand, KPFK will be re-broadcasting the first four episodes of The Courtyard starting Saturday, November 1, 2003 at 1:00 PM PST. Tune in to KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles and 98.7 in Santa Barbara. You can listen live at www.KPFK.org! October 18, 2003 Missed The Courtyard? Due to popular demand, KPFK will be rebroadcasting the first four episodes of The Courtyard starting on Saturday, November 1, 2003 at 1:00PM PST. Listen live at www.KPFK.org! October 15, 2003 See the cast in action! See pictures cast of The Courtyard during their recording! Thank you very much for CafeAfricana.com for taking the photos! Check out their website at www.cafeafricana.com. October 10, 2003 The Courtyard hits the media!  Read the Pasadena Star-News article here! Read the our own archived version here. September 27, 2003 The Courtyard airs at KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles, and 98.7 FM in Santa Barbara at 1:00 PM Labalaba Media's website is officially launched. September 9, 2003 - Press Release Labalaba Rediffusion Thearter presents: "The Courtyard". TENANTS GATHER IN COURTYARD TO SOLVE WORLD'S PROBLEMS. Every Saturday, beginning September 27, 2003, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., a multi-cultural gathering of global citizens will express their points of view on a wide range of relevant issues. These citizens, most of whom are recent immigrants from other countries, reside in a fictional bungalow-style apartment complex in Arcadia, California.  The complex is the setting for the COURTYARD, a new radio dramedy premiering on KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles, and 98.7 FM in Santa Barbara. As the characters interact with one another, their provincial accents still intact, the audience is allowed to eavesdrop on their conversation, and witness the absurdity of their conflicts, while being exposed to an international mindset and thus gaining an understanding of the characters' world views. The hour-long program is split into two: the first 1/2 hour will be the dramatization while the second 1/2 hour will be a listener call-in session.  It is anticipated that the listeners, through the Q&A session with the writer/producer and other, will be able to create a lively and instructive dialogue about the subject matter of the program, as well as offer suggestions for future programs. Every week, THE COURTYARD will endeavor to solve various seemingly benign family/personal problems, which are often a reflection of larger global conflicts.  THE COURTYARD is a production of Labalaba Rediffusion Theater. Executive Producer/Writer is an award winning author, Debo Kotun.  Director is Mitchell Dahood. August 22, 2003 - Press Release Labalaba Media auditioned 24 voice actors on Sunday, August 10, 2003.  The second and final audition took place on Sunday, August 17, 2003.  It is envisaged that the five actors selected will bring a unique improvisational style that will add color and depth to the script. The taping of the first show is planned for Sunday, September 7, 2003.  It is hoped that the program will debut in mid/late-September. There will be at least two taped shows available ahead of schedule. The success of this original program at KPFK, 90.7 FM, will revolutionize radio programming across the United States and quite possibly the world.