To Nigerians within the country and overseas, Hembelembe, Olololooh, are synonymous to justice and uprightness. Hembelembe is a form of greeting on Brekete Family, a reality radio talk show that most residents are quick to respond to by saying Olololooh.
The trademark of the show has swept across several locations and even the international community as it streams live on the social media. Several residents like Abdullahi Mohammed listen to the programme with rapt attention daily.
The radio programme was blaring from the radio in Abdullahi’s vehicle and would not tune to any other station even at a passenger’s request. “This is our program,” he said in Pidgin English asking the passenger requesting for a change in station to bear with him.
Mohammed, a taxi driver in Abuja, is one of the thousands of residents that are endeared to Brekete Family, the reality radio talk on Human Rights FM. The programme, which fights the cause of the oppressed and downtrodden, is arguably one of the radio programmes with high listenership.
Best Elvis said the programme is “one out of so many radio stations that review the need for equality among us as a nation and as humans at large.”
Elvis, while reviewing the programme, said “it strives to cure the world of its troubles, caused mostly by the ill-meaning mindset of people who think they can mesmerize the poor and the less privileged simply because they are more fortunate than others.”
The programme, usually aired in Pidgin English, appeals to several segments of the populace, especially the masses in the satellite and rural places as it breaks language barrier. People come from within and outside Abuja to air their complaints and seek redress through the programme that started with an hour morning slot on Crowder Radio (Love FM) on Mpape hills, Abuja.
Residents now have more than three hours daily for their grievances to be aired and relevant people involved in the case contacted in several reconciliation moves initiated by Ordinary Ahmad Isah, the executive media strategist and chief executive officer of the human rights radio.
The feat has benefited several people including Reuben Yaro who said the programme tried to assist the masses by helping fight for their rights. Yaro said the move by the station deserved accolades from all and sundry. “I salute them for the hard work they are doing. It is not easy, only God will reward them. They are a wonderful family without injustice and tribalism,” he said.
Some residents, including Bunu Azurfa, have been with the programme from its days on Love FM in 2013 to its debut on Human Rights FM. Azurfa could only say a word of prayer to the initiator. “I really love it so much. May God continue to bless and protect you from the hands of your enemies in Jesus name (Amen).”
The programme has several names to various people; to Charles Nwodo, it is the ‘voice of the masses’; Abubakar Yusuf said the programme fights for the weak, ill-treated and oppressed while to Isa Adamu “it is a programme that will touch your soul except those that do not have one.”
“This is a programme that exploits the emotions of people for a very good cause,” said Waziri Zaiyanu.
Not only is the plight of the common man addressed, others are also empowered. The financial help rendered to the sick and needy are what made Esther Phillip Maina to love the programme.
“They are fighting for justice for those that cannot fight for themselves. Not only that, they empower people in various ways and assist them financially. The programme has blossomed into several arms including Brekete Academy where people are empowered,” she noted.
A woman, identified as Joy on one of the episodes, relocated to Abuja from Port Harcourt having been taught how to produce different types of paint, how to paint, treat wall and pasts three dimensional posters.
“My husband dey abroad. Dem give me the information about the programme,” she said in Pidgin English when asked how she got to know about the programme from Port Harcourt.
“It was a big challenge because the cash was not there and I borrowed money for transport and vowed to sleep under the bridge as long as the training is on,” she added.
One of the training facilitators, Emmanuel Friday Ajegba, said the trainees were taught on paint production, wall screening and treatment, interior decoration and installation of three dimensional board panels.
The chief executive officer of the radio, Ordinary Ahmad Isa, described the station as a dream come true.
In an earlier interview in Daily Trust on Sunday, he said, “We are going to do more of what we are known for. Mediation, justice seeking and dispute resolution are what we know how to do best, and we promise to take it to the next level for the sake of the common man.’’
Isa, Ordinary President, as he is fondly called by Brekete Family, which comprises members of staff and volunteers who help in running the programme, as well as numerous complainants, said the new station would make a difference. “At Love FM, it has always been one hour of Brekete Family, but here, it’s going to be two hours,” he said.
In a world that the oppressed people have been taken advantage of, he said he did not start out to provide a voice for the oppressed because he wanted to make money. “I do what I do out of passion, and I told myself from the beginning that I was not going to make big money from what I do. A good thing will always attract goodwill.
“If money comes along I won’t say no to it, but I am not going to accept your money if you attempt to change my principle and move me away from my passion. I am with the voiceless to give them a voice. I won’t accept money that will take that capacity from me.
“Although 90 per cent of what we do is not paid for, as we don’t take anything from complainants, the remaining 10 per cent from sponsorship or advertisements is enough for me to pay salaries and tax and run the station. We are prudent with resources.”
The man who described himself as an unlettered despite having two honorary doctorate degrees, has given a sense of belonging to lowly people in the society.
“Ordinary Ahmad Isah who has refused a state of origin in his identification, but to be simply known as a detribalised Nigerian, was born in the early 70’s in Idanre, Ondo State to a Dangara village father who speaks the Ganagana language under Kwali Area Council of FCT, Nigeria. Whereas, he had major part of his early years in Nassarawa (Kakuri), useful parts of his middle age was spent in Kaduna,” his profile on the station’s website read.
“His multifaceted expertise is strategically deployed through this Brekete Family reality Radio/TV programme to resolve disputes that have defied conventional approaches; to provide uncommon multi-level support to the vulnerable, the less-privileged and the indigent; and much more, to avail succour and a potent voice to the voiceless victims of human rights violation, social and administrative injustice.
“Ordinary Ahmad Isah has built Brekete to become the greatest platform of our time for people to fight for their rights and obtain justice where the traditional institutions have failed in their duties to the citizens.
“Ordinary Ahmad has stretched the sphere of citizen’s rights advocacy and social justice to the areas that were ordinarily not open to civil interventions,” the website read.
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