₦airaland Forum

Atiku Abubakar, a retired Customs officer and Nigeria’s vice president between 1999 and 2007, has been elected the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

At a PDP national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, held Saturday and Sunday, Mr Abubakar defeated 11 other aspirants to clinch the hotly-contested ticket. His victory sets him as the main challenger to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 general election.

The ruling All Progressives Congress confirmed Mr Buhari as its candidate at a non-competitive convention in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Saturday.

Mr Abubakar, an Adamawa-born politician whose quest for Nigeria’s presidency has seen him vie for the top office since 1992, scored 1,532 votes at this weekend’s convention.

His closest rival, Aminu Tambuwal, scored 693 votes while Senate President Bukola Saraki came third with 317 votes.

Sunday’s PDP 2018 National Convention is one of the most competitive since 1998 when the party chose Olusegun Obasanjo as its candidate. Mr Obasanjo went on to lead Nigeria for eight years starting in 1999, with Mr Abubakar as his vice president.

Mr Abubakar left the PDP in the build up to the 2007 election to be the flag bearer of the then opposition Action Congress. He lost the election to late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

He later joined the PDP again and sought to be the party’s candidate in 2011. He lost the ticket to Goodluck Jonathan who led Nigeria until 2015.

Mr Abubakar, in the build up to the 2015 election again left the PDP for the then newly formed All Progressives Congress. He came third in the APC presidential primary behind Muhammadu Buhari and Rabiu Kwankwaso. Mr Buhari went on to win the general election and is now seeking re-election.

Mr Abubakar left the APC for the PDP last year, accusing the ruling party and President Buhari of failing Nigerians.

CANDIDATE SCORE
Atiku 1,532
Tambuwal 693
Saraki 317
Kwankwaso 158
Dankwambo 111
Lamido 96
Makarfi 74
Bafarawa 48
Turaki 65
Mark 35
Jang 19
Baba-Ahmed 5

The American College football player and coach, Paul Bryant, said “When you make a mistake, there are only three things you should ever do about it: admit it, learn from it, and don’t repeat it.”
Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had admitted it made some mistakes in the way it approached the 2015 presidential election. It paid dearly for it. Has the party learn any lesson? Is the party likely to repeat the same mistake again as it gets set to elect its presidential candidate for the 2019 contest today? It seems only time will tell.
One thing is however certain, and that is, how the 12 presidential aspirants manage their personal ambitions will go a long way to determine the party’s fortune in next year’s presidential contest. And unless the party put its house in order, the fate that will befall it, would certainly be worse than what it suffered in 2015.
Regardless, the stage is now set for its presidential primary. Rivers State is the host. Both the party and the Police in the state have expressed their readiness for the convention.
Though the venue, Amiesimaka Stadium, is on the outskirts of Port Harcourt, the state capital, precisely in Igwuruta-Alli, Ikwerre council of the state, however, some of the popular hotels like Hotel Presidential, Le Meridien, Golden Tulip and Landmark Hotel, all in Port Harcourt city, have since been booked.
Security has also been beefed up in and around these areas, as well as the stadium. As at Thursday, minor work was ongoing at the stadium with security apparatus put in place to check unscrupulous elements.
Special Adviser to the state chairman of the party, Jerry Needam, told Saturday Sun that PDP in the state has made adequate arrangements for a successful national convention. He said the choice of Port Harcourt to host the event was divine and apt, adding that it would afford the delegates the opportunity to see and appreciate the landmark achievements of Governor Nyesom Wike.
“Rivers State is a peaceful and hospitable state. We are ready to host all delegates of the PDP coming for the national convention to elect the presidential candidate of the PDP. Everything has been put in place. It will also afford Nigerians the opportunity to see the good network of roads and other infrastructural development of Governor Nyesom Wike. The choice of Rivers State for the PDP convention is apt and divine. It underscores the peaceful and secure environment of Rivers State. It further underscores the fact that Rivers State is safe and a fertile ground for business.
“It also shows that Rivers State is now competing favourably with Lagos. And in the coming years under Governor Wike, Rivers State will move forward, economically , ahead of Lagos State,” Needam said.
On its part, Police in Rivers State has also expressed its preparedness to make today’s PDP presidential convention a hitch-free one. The Police team, on Thursday, inspected ongoing work at the Amiesimaka Stadium, ahead of the event.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, told Saturday Sun that the Command would deploy its personnel to the venue of the event and hotels where delegates are lodged, adding that “the CP (Zaki Ahmed) and top officers of the Command were at the stadium to inspect ongoing work. We are going to deploy all our personnel to provide security at the venue of the convention and the hotels, where the delegates are lodging”, Omoni said.
In all, there are 12 presidential aspirants. Barring any change of plan, the 12 of them would be competing for votes from 3, 619 votes.
In the history of the party, this is the first time it will be going into a contest of this nature without clear direction of where the party’s leadership was headed, in terms of who may likely pick the ticket.
Up till the time of filing this report, the governors are still divided over who to back. But sources told Saturday Sun that they may harmonise their positions before the contest starts later today. “It is true, no one is sure. Anyone who tells you he knows who will pick the ticket is just deceiving himself. We know some of our leaders have their preferences. But I tell you, no one has been courageous enough to come forward to tell us, go this way.
“However, today is Friday. There is a meeting this morning. There will be another one in the night. Before Saturday morning, we may have direction. By that time, our leaders would have harmonised their positions. But I doubt if we will witness the zone by zone endorsement of a particular aspirant like we were used to in the past. If you ask me, I think it is good for the system. Let all of them go in and compete.”
Like the governors, the lawmakers too, elected on the platform of the PDP and other critical stakeholders are yet to decide in the open who their choice aspirants are. But if the happenings in the country in recent times are anything to go by, the lawmakers may likely back one of their own, Senator Bukola Saraki. Apart from Saraki, others in the race are: former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe); formers governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna); Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto); Jonah Jang (Plateau), former Senate President ,David Mark; Datti Baba-Ahmed and Tanimu Turaki, former Special Duties minister in the then President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

How the aspirants stand
Atiku Abubakar
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had before his defection to the PDP left no one in doubt that he was going to run for the presidency in 2019. This fact was reinforced as early as 2015 shortly after the general election, all through 2016 and even in early 2017, by the Adamawa State governor, Senator Jibrilla Bindow, when he publicly declared that Atiku was the state’s choice in 2019, at a time Atiku was still in the APC.
Atiku is from Adamawa State in the North-East. The zone has been agitating to be given a chance to govern the country after late Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s former Prime Minister. Adamawa State is one of the states in the zone that has been under the control of the PDP since 1999, until 2015. But apart from 1999, when Atiku, then as the party’s governorship candidate won convincingly, intrigues and controversies have always dogged PDP’s victory, ever since.
Ironically, most of those who have always positioned themselves to challenge the party in the state have always been its former members, who became aggrieved and had to leave the party, for one reason or another. Like in all previous elections since after the 1999 poll, the 2015 election was a straight fight between the PDP and the APC.
Incidentally, the APC’s candidate, who is now the governor, only defected to the APC from the PDP. Feelers also have it he may join Atiku later in the PDP before 2019 contest. If he had joined before today, it would certainly have added weight to Atiku’s bid for the ticket. Like Tambuwal, Kwankwaso and Saraki, Atiku is also a returnee.
In fact, this is Atiku’s second time. He had left in the build up to the 2007 contest, ran the race but lost to PDP’s candidate, late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He returned ahead of 2011 election, contested the party’s primary as the north’s consensus candidate, but lost to Jonathan. Again, in the build up to the 2015 contest, he defected to the APC, ran in the primary, but he came a distant third. After this bid, it is unlikely if he would want to try again.
But his campaign spokesperson, Segun Showunmi believes the ticket is theirs for the take. He said” My principal and Nigeria as a nation has never been this ready to initiate a political change that would herald the much desired socioeconomic and political transformation in Nigeria. I wish the primary election of political parties would be like a mini election that would afford all Nigerians the opportunity to participate in selection of the candidates for elections. I would have told you that Atiku Abubakar will win that election landslide. Nevertheless, we have campaigned vigorously and our message of hope and better Nigeria was unambiguous and well received by Nigerians. We met with founders, leaders and members of PDP and they wholeheartedly queued behind our message of hope and new Nigeria. To this end, I can tell you that we are ready for the convention and we look forward to a very transparent process that would afford the party the opportunity to conduct a free, fair and credible primary election. We have confidence and trust in the ability of the people responsible to deliver hitch free convention for members. PDP, undoubtedly, is expected to use the convention as a step to the much expected greatest height that had eluded Nigeria.”

Aminu Tambuwal
Not much was known about the Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, until his sudden emergence as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011. After the 2011 general elections, the PDP had zoned the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the South-West.
However, in a twist of events, Tambuwal, who was deputy minority Whip, in the 6th Assembly, before his defection to the PDP, entered into an alliance with lawmakers from the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to emerge speaker, ahead of PDP’s anointed candidate for the plum seat, Mulikat Akande. That incident was his defining moment in politics, just as it marked the beginning of his ascendancy in national politics. He is from the North-West, a zone with the highest voting population in the country.
Tambuwal, who recently returned to the PDP from the All Progressives Congress (APC), has a lot going for him in the contest for the opposition party’s presidential ticket.

Rabiu Kwankwaso
Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has been around in the political scene in the country for quite some time. He started his politics at the national level in the botched third republic, when he served as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. Like Tambuwal, he is also from the North-west.
Kwankwaso was to later serve as governor of Kano State on the platform of the PDP for two terms. In between his terms, he also served as Minister of Defence in the second tenure of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.
After he left the PDP in the build up to the 2015 general elections, Kwankwaso joined the APC, where he contested for the party’s presidential ticket, and came second in the contest.

Bukola Saraki
He is arguably the most popular politician in the country. His travails in the hands of the ruling APC made him so. He has survived several political landmines placed on his path by the government. Like Tambuwal and Kwankwaso, he is also a returnee to the PDP. He is the current president of the senate. Saraki has always had his eyes on the presidency of the country. He ran in 2011, though he did not go beyond the shadow election conducted by the northern elders, to pick a northern consensus candidate that eventually slugged it out with Jonathan at the time.
He was Kwara State governor twice. He is in his third term as a senator representing Kwara central. In 2015, he was instrumental to APC’s win in Kwara and Kogi, a fact acknowledged by some of the party leaders. But he has what many referred to as” identity crisis.” He is Yoruba from the north; no doubt, his candidature is not likely to sit well with the core northerners who believe that the slot is theirs for the take. But his handlers believe that they do not require many votes from the core north to make their benefactor a president. They supported their position with historical antecedents.
According to them, Alhaji Shehu Shagari won his election in 1979 without much votes from the core north, same with Obasanjo in 1999 and even Jonathan in 2011. They insist that with bloc votes from the North-Central where Saraki comes from, bloc votes from South-South and South-East, and little votes from the core north, are enough to guarantee victory. But it is unlikely if the party leaders are thinking in this direction. The chairman of his Presidential Campaign media committee of, Dr. Doyin Okupe, however expressed optimism that his principal will emerge as PDP presidential standard bearer today.

Ahmed Makarfi
He was a two term governor of Kaduna State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. He was subsequently elected a senator for Kaduna North in April 2007. He ran for re-election on the PDP platform and was re-elected in 2011 as senator. Makarfi had earlier served in the Executive Council of Kaduna State as Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning.
Makarfi had a career with the defunct Nigeria Universal Bank, where he rose to the rank of Assistant General Manager. He had also earlier worked as a part-time Lecturer in the Department of Accounting, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1987 – 1993. He is the immediate past national caretaker Chairman of the PDP. He was appointed at the Port Harcourt Convention. One of the major political achievements of Makarfi was the successful conduct of the elective national convention of the PDP that produced Prince Uche Secondus as the substantive national chairman of the party.

Sule Lamido
One of the founding fathers of the PDP, Lamido can be regarded as an old timer in Nigerian politics. He entered politics as a member of the left-of-center People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in the second republic. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1979. He had gone ahead to become the National Secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the third republic, the party which produced winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola.
He was appointed the nation’s Foreign Affairs Minister by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999 having contested and narrowly lost Jigawa State governorship election. He later contested and won election in 2007. Lamido served two terms as a governor and did his best to transform and reposition the state. Like Makarfi, he has been a consistent party man. He remained in the PDP even in the face of crisis when five governors elected on the platform of the party defected to the then opposition APC in the build up to the 2015 presidential contest.
In 2015, he came under tremendous pressure to run against Jonathan but he declined. He is also from the North-West. His state, Jigawa, like Kaduna, is very vulnerable. The defection of leaders of the APC, led by a serving senator, Ubale Shittu, from the Hadejia axis of the state will further help the PDP reclaim the state. Because Jigawa was carved out of Kano, he has a strong following in Kano State. Till date, he remains the only presidential aspirant that stayed back to receive all the presidential aspirants who visited his state while canvassing for support. The only snag in his bid is his criminal prosecution and that of his sons, for alleged corruption related issue.

Jonah Jang

David Mark
In the politics of the Fourth Republic, there is no doubt that the image of David Mark looms large. Having been in the senate since 1999, he is one of the most experienced politicians in the country and has carved a niche as a national figure. The retired Nigerian Army Brigadier General and politician who represents Benue South senatorial district, was President of the senate from 2007 to 2015.
Many see the former Senate President as a thoroughbred administrator who will bring his wealth of experience to bear on his government in the event that he emerges the PDP presidential candidate and possibly wins the 2019 poll. His eight years as Senate President were remarkable in terms of achievements and cordial relationship between the executive and legislative arms.
Mark was born in Zungeru, Niger State in April 1948 and attended St. Francis Catholic Practicing School before attending the Nigerian Military School. After that, he attended the Nigerian Defence Academy and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1970 and became a Captain in 1971. He was Commandant of Static Communications in 1974, and then later held a political post as Chairman, Abandoned Properties Implementation Committee in the Eastern region in 1976. He was Minister of Communications under former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida.

Ibrahim Dankwambo
Another aspirant to look out for is the Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo. He is considered as a silent achiever and a leader who can change the status quo in leadership. The chartered accountant has won accolades for his frugality and efficient system of governance. His stoppage of sharing money to friends and cronies as the culture in the state left only those who are development-minded and people-oriented in his government.
Dankwambo’s career began from Coopers & Lybrand and hightails to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He was Gombe State Accountant General, and later appointed the Accountant General of the Federation before he contested the governorship seat and won in 2011. Many are of the view that, under his stewardship, Gombe has turned out one of the most developed and transformed states in the North-Eastern region. He is believed to have transformed Gombe into the industrial and agrarian hub of the region, a position that it enviably occupied in the past.
It is said that his achievements in Gombe may have been responsible for the reason his supporters urged him to join the race.

Tanimu Turaki

Attahiru Bafarawa

Atiku Abubakar has described corruption and lack of public sector accountability as a huge scourge in Nigeria.

The PDP presidential front runner said “in our fight against corruption our target will be to beat Botswana which is rated as the most transparent country in Africa. Corruption stunts growth, hobbles development, promotes nepotism, despises merit, enthrones mediocrity, undermines democracy and good governance, subverts formal processes, reduces accountability and fair representation in policy making, undermines the rule of law, results in the unequal provision of services, erodes the institutional capacity and effective functioning of the machinery of government.”

The former Vice President said all these must stop because “as President, I promise a dogged commitment to using all legitimate means to ensure that corruption in both public and private sectors is eradicated. A robust, professional and independent anti-corruption agency is mandatory because in spite of the efforts undertaken since 1999, including the creation of new anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC, ICPC, Code of Conduct Bureau, corruption remains endemic in the Nigerian public and private sectors.

Continuing he said: “Leadership must be accountable, impunity must be deterred, the rule of law must be respected and transparency must be entrenched. We will stop treating symptoms and focus on the root cause(s) of corruption.”

As Nigeria marks another milestone in its post-independence journey, one Bank has demonstrated its faith in the country and her people with the release of an indigenous television production that seeks to rekindle flames of hope in the hearts of the people.

In a marked departure from the average bank advert which will typically focus on marketing the institution’s products and services, Union Bank’s two-minute short film communicates strong themes of introspection, perseverance, healing and hope of a better future for Nigeria.

The production paints vivid scenarios of a society flawed with several problems. It then urges us not to become ‘Uncle Thomas’ aka the ultimate pessimist. Instead, it encourages Nigerians to unite in a passionate purpose to fight against the factors that seek to divide.

Viewers can easily identify themselves in the plot of the commercial; from the aspiring photographer, to the taxi driver battling societal forces that threaten his fledgling business; from the single mother struggling to make ends meet for her young family, to the Youth Corper who stares into a future that is difficult to see.

The commercial shows the daily struggles and disappointments of the average Nigerian and firmly reiterates the Bank’s commitment to support the people in their bid to rise above the odds and live more successful, fulfilling lives.

An entirely indigenous production, the television commercial was co-ordinated by brand agency, Image & Time and Nigerian-owned Lighthouse Television and Filmworks; and was shot in various cities across Nigeria.

Union Bank’s nation-building stance is not out of character. As a financial institution with a rich heritage, the Bank has over the past 100 years, come to be recognised as a trusted partner, helping generations of Nigerian individuals, families and businesses achieve their goals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F36hHdFHoQ

Atiku Abubakar has described Nigerian youth as the future of Nigeria.

The PDP presidential front runner said Nigerian youth “are resilient, resourceful and rearing to do great things but their dreams and aspirations are consistently undermined by a broken educational system, a lack of access to jobs and opportunities as well as difficulty in accessing credit to set up businesses.

The former Vice president in showering encomiums on young Nigerians said “their talents and creativity are Nigeria’s greatest asset, and their hopes and aspirations will shape our nation’s future. Yet they cannot succeed without state support.

Continuing he made a solemn promise “as President, I promise an overhaul of the educational system because our children need schools that teach them to read, write, and calculate that enables them to think critically, creatively, and without fear. They need jobs once they leave school and they need opportunities to move on and up once they enter the workforce. Most of all, they need the confidence that they can make a difference, and they need a say in the direction the country is taking.”

People are tired of Nigeria.

Tired of not having “light”.

Tired of fuel scarcity.

Tired of increased toll fares on bad roads.

Tired of bad education.

Tired of politicians playing “kalokalo” with their destinies.

Religious houses are packed full with people praying for a miracle.

Drive by an embassy and see the number of Nigerians waiting in line to get a visa to check out, not knowing that having a Nigerian passport in a foreign land is like being recognized as a criminal, but they’re waiting for you to commit a crime, so they can throw away the key.

Nigeria is not working. Many people have offered different opinions to how to solve our problems; restructuring, resource control, federal character. The answer is not in all this English.

We need someone who will make us believe in Nigeria again and get us, all of us, to make it work.

We need a New Nigeria.

It is election season again, and every body with a political itch to scratch has come out of the woodwork believing they can be President.

It is a game of musical chairs, swapping one bad person for another, recycling old politicians and packaging them as new.

I don’t know about you. I want someone new, someone who has never been a politician, and someone who has never held public office, but has offered public service. Someone like Fela Durotoye.

In 2006, Fela saw the results of the NECO examinations and discovered it had over 85% failure rate. It wasn’t “his business” but he did something about it.

He created Project RAISE (Revive Academic excellence In Schools & Educational institutions), went to Oyo State and trained 48,150 public secondary school students, over 4000 teachers, gave them books, food, materials & raised volunteer teachers for 2 weeks straight. His project took Oyo State from #29 to #4 in one year and before I forget, Fela did it for free, but it cost him over N170m.

He is not from Oyo State and was not running for office.

This man, as far back as 2009, went to Mushin and got 2000 volunteers to paint 296 houses, the median strip and all the bus stops on Agege Motor road for free! He also took 100 unemployed people from the community and got them trained by Berger Paints so they could become painters and earn a living. He spent over N60M of his money; and he was not running for public office.

If an ordinary Nigerian has been doing what governments should be doing, imagine what he would do if he was in government?

This man has given his life to building a New Nigeria since 2004.

Fela Durotoye has been declared the Candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria party (ANN).

Just like a woman who is unaware of when she first conceives her baby, there is no celebration, but as she nurtures her pregnancy and keeps it to full term, it will definitely be delivered.

The New Nigeria has been conceived with Fela Durotoye, it’s our responsibility to deliver it.

By RUTH ZUBAIRO

Abubakar Atiku says Nigeria has always held enormous potential but that potential has yet to be fulfilled despite it being Africa’s largest economy and a prime investment destination,

According to the PDP presidential front runner “our country is blessed with formidable natural, physical and human resources. A vast domestic market and access to ECOWAS give it more than enough absorptive capacity to sustain a wide range of agricultural, industrial, and service activities. Yet business is tougher than it ought to be, and the economy is stuttering. “

Speaking further, the former Vice President says “we have just exited a recession and Nigeria is ranked a poor 145 out of 189 in the World Bank’s ease of doing business rating. It is also ranked 94 out of 131 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Scale. Opaque ownership and corporate governance structures frustrate due diligence and limit investment opportunities and irrespective of size, sector, and location, businesses face formidable challenges, including prohibitive capital, electricity, and logistics costs; weak and inconsistent laws and regulations; inefficient, incompetent, and predatory bureaucracies; unpredictable courts; clogged Too often, corporate fortunes hinge on political patronage.”

All these, he says, have to stop because as “President, I promise to undertake the following urgent measures: put an end to erratic policy shifts and regulatory changes; ensure the removal of the maze of unnecessary hurdles faced by anyone wanting to set up a business or access a market and eradicate the arbitrary effects and implications of a complex and sometimes deceitful web of taxes, levies, fees, and ad hoc contributions.”

Atiku Abubakar has said Nigeria suffers a huge infrastructure deficit.

According to the PDP presidential front runner: “Poor funding and chronic under investment by successive governments have crippled the state of Nigeria’s infrastructure. Leaving an annual funding gap in excess of N15 trillion (USD 10.5billion) in infrastructure development. Sound infrastructure and adequate power are essential for stimulating economic growth and development in any nation and vital for improving the lives of people.

Commenting on the challenge, the former Vice President said: “Let us look at roads, transportation and power. Only 15.3 % of the 195,200km of the road network in Nigeria is adequately tarred and motor-able. Only 67 % of tarred roads are in good or fair condition compared to other resource-rich nations in Africa. Our transportation services depend on dilapidated roads and the railways is non-existent. Nigeria’s current supply gap in electricity is over 20,000MW as the power sector has struggled to supply reliable power to its citizens and economy.

All these, he says, have to stop because as “President I promise to commit infrastructure spending of about 12% of GDP which will considerably improve infrastructure development without posing any significant risk to overall economic growth. Good infrastructure supports social and cultural advances so it is imperative that a strong infrastructure development drive is pursued in order to stimulate the necessary development.”

Atiku Abubakar, one of the presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says the current administration is the worst to emerge since the civil war.

Abubakar, who was vice president from 1999 to 2007, said this on Sunday at a media chat organised under the aegis of The United Nigeria Group (TUNG) in Abuja.

Listing his achievements in his years as a civil servant and vice president—where he chaired the economic team, he said he is a better and experienced presidential aspirant to solve Nigeria’s problems.

“So I believe this country requires all of these that I enumerated. In fact since the civil war I have not seen Nigeria in such a bad shape,” he said.

Lamenting the unemployment rate, the presidential hopeful said the present administration threw the country into recession and it’s yet to come out of it.

“Our unemployment rate is the highest, over 12 million men and women are unemployed. Our growth is at its lowest, when PDP administration was in power GDP growth rate was about 6%,” he said.

“But they took it over and crashed it; and dragged the nation into recession. We are trying to come out of recession at about 1.6 % growth, but consider the growth of our population.”

Abubakar who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to PDP in 2017 said he is the candidate that can take the country out of crisis.

He said Nigerians can attest to what his administration did in the eight years when they were in power, and if the subsequent government had continued with their policies, Nigeria would have been better for it.

“So, anyone who can come and lift up our economy to a level where our GDP growth will surpass our population growth, I think is the leader we should at this point in time support and give the opportunity to take our country out of this crisis. And that is what I stand for,” he said.

“I assembled the best economic team (as Vice President) with that we did well and Nigerians attested to what we did in those 8 years. We liberalised the economy, we expanded the private sector’s participation and tried to limit government to the necessary issues. If these policies we started were continued, today we will have been in a better country. I believe we need somebody who can come and continue with these policies so that we can bring back our prosperity, create more jobs for our unemployed youths.”

He added that he had reached out to other presidential aspirants in the PDP and he would bring them in to be part of his government.

“There is no single aspirant that I have not been to, to ask for his support and also to work together. Fortunately, each and everyone of them bring something to the table different from the other. And I believe it will not be a problem for me bringing them together to participate with me in government and also in whatever capacity they feel they can support the government,” he said.

The Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, (Winners’ Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, has warned leaders in government against being insensitive to the feelings and sufferings of Nigerian masses.

Oyedepo made this assertion during a special prayer session for the nation at 58.

The cleric while urging leaders to repent and have value for the lives of citizens, said if they do not repent after this warning, they would fall down for the sake of the nation.

He said: “Those in leadership should not allow God to kick them into the forest and if they do not key into this warning of today so many of them will not live to see 2019.

“No agent of the devil will cause problems for this nation any more,” he said.

He, however, stated that Nigeria was set for a turnaround as the hidden treasures of any nation dwell in the hands of the believers.

“God has a plan for a dramatic turn around for Nigeria. The hidden treasure of any nation is in the hands of the believers.

“Nigeria shall be healed and the wounds have been cured because Nigeria is not a private business of anybody but a God’s own nation,” NAN quoted him as saying

Former Lagos state governor, Bola Tinubu, has endorsed Babajide Sanwo-Olu a Lagos governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress as the party’s gubernatorial candidate.

Mr Tinubu, in a statement issued on Sunday, said Sanwo-Olu has the capacity to governor Lagos. Recall that the incumbent, Akinwumi Ambode had said Mr Sanwo-Olu lacks the capacity to govern the state.

Tinubu said Ambode has deviated from the Lagos development blueprint which he started and continued by ex-gov Fashola.

The statement reads in part; “I am encouraged by the emergence of a candidate in this primary who has served the state in senior positions in my administration, the Fashola administration and even in the current one. While possessing a wealth of experience and exposure, he is a young man endowed with superlative vision and commitment.

“Most importantly, he understands the importance of the blueprint for development. He esteems it as a reliable and well-conceived vehicle for the future development of the state. He also knows the value of reaching out and working with others in order to maximize development and provide people the best leadership possible.

“With people like him at the helm, the state will write the proper history for itself.

“When the final word is given let it be said that we want all Lagosians to look to the future with the hope and optimism that our best days remain before us and not behind us.”

READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

Tomorrow, our party and the people of Lagos will have an encounter with destiny. We shall hold our governorship primary.

With the holding of direct primaries to elect governorship candidates in Lagos and other states, the APC takes a groundbreaking step toward greater internal democracy and progressive governance for the benefit of all people. While our party is young, it has grown fast and has travelled far in a short time. This speaks well of the character of you, the party’s rank-and-file members.

What, in other nations, has taken political parties generations to achieve, we have done in a few brief years. No other party in Nigeria dare attempt what we have already dedicated ourselves to do.

I thank and commend all APC members and all Lagosians who have lent their support to this historic and humane mission upon which our party has embarked.

We are democrats in the truest sense of the word. As such, we forever search for what is good and right for the people. With this ideal as our guide, tomorrow’s primary cannot be shaded by selfish ambition or the perceived personal grievance between this or that person. Something much greater waits in the balance. What is at stake is nothing less than the future of the people of this state and how we can best maximise our collective destiny.

By resort to direct primaries, the party places the people’s future soundly in their hands. As democracy would have it, you shall be the authors of the party’s nomination and hopefully our next state government.

I trust in the wisdom of the people and will abide by it. However, as a leader of the party and as a former governor of our beloved and excellent Lagos, I would be remiss if I did not make a few observations regarding the primary.

My goal is and shall always be a better Lagos. To this objective, I have dedicated the greater part of my public life. Roughly 20 years ago, a corps of dedicated and patriotic Lagosians, put aside personal interests and rivalries, to put their minds and best ideas together for the good of the state. Out of this collaborative effort, was born a master plan for economic development that would improve the daily lives of our people.

Bestowed on me was the honour of a lifetime when I was elected to be your governor in 1999. My administration faithfully implemented that plan. The government of my immediate successor, Tunde Fashola, also honoured this enlightened plan.

Where state government remained true to that blueprint, positive things happened. During my tenure and Governor Fashola’s, Lagos state recorded improvements in all aspects of our collective existence, from public health to public sanitation, from education to social services, from the administration of justice to the cleaning of storm and sewage drains. Businesses, large and small, invested, hired millions of workers and thrived.

All Lagosians were to fully participate and justly benefit from the social dividends and improvements wrought by this plan. From the common labourer, to business leaders, to professionals and our industrious civil service. We all were to be partners in a monumental but joint enterprise. None was to be alienated. None was to be left out. And none were to be pushed aside. This is especially true for those who contributed so much to our development, whether as a business leader who has invested heavily in Lagos, the homeowner who struggles to pay his fair share of taxes or as someone employed in the hard work of keeping our streets and byways clean so that others may go about their daily tasks unimpeded.

I make no pretense that the master plan is perfect. It can always be fine-tuned. However, whenever a government departed from this plan without compelling reason, the state and its people have borne the painful consequence of the improper departure.

To ignore this blueprint for progress in order to replace it with ad-hoc schemes of a materially inferior quality contravenes the spirit of progressive governance and of our party. Such narrowness of perspective does not bring us closer to our appointed destination; it takes us farther from that destiny.

For reasons unknown to me and most Lagosians, we have experienced such deviations from enlightened governance recently.

This trend is that which most concerns me as the primary nears. We must arrest this trend before irreparable harm is committed against the people and their future. For the record, let it be known that I shall vote in this primary because I see it as one of extreme importance to our state and our party. Just as I shall vote, I equally urge all party members to do so.

We must vote in a manner that returns Lagos to its better path, the one that promises a just chance for all to enjoy the fruits of our prosperity. We must always pursue our goal of a Lagos energised by creative dynamism, tolerance of others, and guided by a leadership capable of extending a collegial hand to all stakeholders, far and wide.

I am encouraged by the emergence of a candidate in this primary who has served the state in senior positions in my administration, the Fashola administration and even in the current one. While possessing a wealth of experience and exposure, he is a young man endowed with superlative vision and commitment. Most importantly, he understands the importance of the blueprint for development. He esteems it as a reliable and well-conceived vehicle for the future development of the state. He also knows the value of reaching out and working with others in order to maximize development and provide people the best leadership possible.

With people like him at the helm, the state will write the proper history for itself.

When the final word is given let it be said that we want all Lagosians to look to the future with the hope and optimism that our best days remain before us and not behind us.

We walk into this primary strong and confidently believing in the right course we are to take. We shall emerge from this primary even stronger and more confident that we have taken that course by returning Lagos and our party to their finest path.

A pan-Nigerian youth organisation, Lazy Nigerian Youth has expressed support for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid.

In a statement signed by the group’s coordinator, Soji Onyema, the organization said Atiku Abubakar’s campaign and policy documents are pro-Nigerian youth.

The PDP presidential front runner, the group said, has consistently identified Nigerian youth not as lazy but as “resilient, resourceful and rearing to do great things but their dreams and aspirations are consistently undermined by a broken educational system, a lack of access to jobs and opportunities as well as difficulty in accessing credit to set up businesses.”

The group went on to add that the former Vice President has expressed an unequivocal support for young Nigerians of whom he has said their “their talents and creativity are Nigeria’s greatest asset, and their hopes and aspirations will shape our nation’s future.”

Soji Onyema said “Our support for Atiku Abubakar is hinged on two core points. First, he has shown that his campaign is issues based. A visit to his http://atiku.org/policydocument will show you a politician who does not only understand the problem of Nigeria but has taken time to articulate solutions. Secondly, his contextualization of the issues around the youth shows a man who is genuinely interested in helping the Nigerian youth stake a claim in the Nigerian project.”

In a few days, Nigeria celebrates 58 years of its independence. But the question still remains, “are we truly independent”? Are we independent from vested interests who profit from our collective darkness so they can sell us alternative power?

Are we independent from politicians who place their lackeys in office & determine who runs the ship of state and creates mutiny when the figurehead captain tries to swim against the current? Are we truly independent when our “Independent National Electoral Commission” is instructed by “the powers that be” and cannot be an impartial umpire in state elections?

Who will save our nation from imploding into the abyss of failed states? Nigeria needs a hero.

And on Saturday, the 29th of September 2018, we may have found one in Adetokunbo Olufela Durotoye who emerged as the Presidential candidate of ANN (Alliance for New Nigeria); a party of technocrats, passionate and committed to a 180 degree turn from the current narrative in Nigeria.

Fela Durotoye, well known as Mr Nigeria for his relentless passion and pursuit of a New Nigeria for over a decade has been entrusted with his parties mandate as he was elected Presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) to deliver the New Nigeria mandate come 2019.

Fela Durotoye, while new to the political scene has been well equipped as a Management Consultant, Leadership Expert & Nation Builder, over the years is determined to bring the New Nigeria into reality; the most desirable nation to live, work and do business in, a nation that we will all be proud to identify with.

Fela’s candidacy is a breath of fresh air which has galvanized many to support his campaign as they see him as the credible alternative to President Buhari in 2019.

Youth vs. Age.

Expertise vs. Experience

Hope vs. Change

The New Nigeria vs. The Old Nigeria

David vs. Goliath.

It’s the stuff the best epic Hollywood movies are made of.

Fela Durotoye seems like the underdog in an unfair fight, outmuscled financially, the Candidate of a relatively new and unknown party and not beholden to any political Godfather.

But the confidence with which he has stepped into the battlefield to rescue our nation from the vice-like grip of the political Goliaths to deliver a truly independent nation makes me confident that he is the hero Nigeria has been waiting for.

By NATHAN ISAAC
Founder and Social Intelligence Coach
Nigeria

Immediate past Governor of Delta State and Delta South Senatorial hopeful, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan has said that his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) would put to an end the era of the party’s “barrenness” in winning elective positions and also terminate the reign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State.

Uduaghan, while speaking in Koko, the administrative headquarters of Warri North to consult party leaders and members from Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North ahead of the APC senatorial primaries billed for next week, however urged party members to unite to enable the APC kick out the PDP-led government in the state.

“The APC that I have joined is the one that will win election in 2019. But first, for us to win election, we must be united and that is one of my major assignment upon moving to the progressives’ fold.”

The former governor, whose defection to the APC has risen the party chances of defeating Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in the 2019 general elections, added that the crisis rocking the party was almost resolved.

Uduaghan, while stressing on the need for the zone to send their best hands to the National Assembly in 2019 further emphasized that his role as ‘John the Baptist’ include weeding his home LGA, (Warri North) of external influence causing friction in the party.

“I find it embarrassing that someone from another senatorial District would be sponsoring a faction in my LGA. That has stopped today. There is only one APC and so it would be across the state. I can’t be a John the Baptist if I can’t organise my house.”

He alluded that he was one of the major factors APC in the three Warri LGAs and the state at large had not been able to win as low as a councillorship position in previous elections.

Uduaghan, who however promised to turn the tide around in APC’s favour in 2019, added ” I have come with the winning streak. We shall defeat PDP in 2019 in Delta State.

“When I was on the other side, I clipped the wings of the APC. But today, I am here to reposition APC to takeover power from the failing PDP come 2019.”

While pleading with delegates to vote for him in the coming Senatorial Primary, he promised to make good their mandate when he gets to the Red Chamber through their support.

According to him, “This is the time to send someone who has capacity and influence in governance to represent our blessed district. I will focus on laws that will involve our communities in the security architecture of our region, legalization of local refineries otherwise referred to as illegal refineries, five percentage community ownership in companies and environmental laws that will protect our environment from pollution arising from the destruction of “Cotonou boats” carrying confiscated crude. Give me your support and I will not let you down”. Uduaghan concluded.

Meanwhile, the former governor has chided the government of the PDP in Delta State for incapacitating the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

He, therefore, vowed to restore the intervention agency if the All Progressives Congress (APC) is given a chance to take over the affairs of the state come 2019.

Uduaghan, made the declarations when he met with Ijaw APC leaders and delegates at the home of Chief George Timinimi in Effurun.

According to him: “There are a lot of infrastructures we have done through DESOPADEC. I wonder how many people still have contracts in DESOPADEC today.

“I heard it is even difficult to pay salaries. DESOPADEC was active when I was in office as a governor.

“We were funding it and were doing jobs in our various areas that we were all enjoying.

“It is only an APC government that can bring DESOPADEC back so that it can be properly funded the way I was funding it.

“We have the Ayakoromo bridge that we started, but work is no more ongoing there.

“Once we come in, APC will ensure that the bridge is completed for our people through NDCC.

“We must ensure that APC wins all elections in 2019,” he assured.

Uduaghan, who stressed the need for the Ijaw, Itsekiri and other tribes in the Niger Delta to live in harmony, vowed to ensure the Federal Government completes the abandoned Ayakoromo Bridge in Burutu Local Government Area of the state.

Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos state, says Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his opponent in the race to secure the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019, is not fit.

Addressing a press conference at government house, Alausa, Ikeja, on Sunday, Ambode said Sanwo-Olu was arrested for spending fake dollars at a night club in US.

He added that his challenger was mentally unfit to lead the state, saying he had undergone rehabilitation at the Gbagada General Hospital in Lagos.

Although he did not mention Sanwo-Olu’s name, it was clear he was referring to him as Obafemi Hazmat, the third aspirant for the APC ticket, stepped down on Saturday.

Ambode, who has been under pressure to also step down, appealed to the leadership of the party in Lagos to “do the right thing”.

He said his opponent is being pushed to do what he is not capable of.

“We have never responded to the campaign of calumny on social media. We have one family in APC. The aspirant being put up to compete against us is not a fit and proper person to take this job,” he said.

“I have done everything in the last three and half years to serve people selflessly and to serve the poor. This particular aspirant is someone who has been arrested for spending fake dollars in a nightclub in America, and he was detained for months.

“He doesn’t have the competence to do what he is being propelled to do. This is somebody that has gone for rehabilitation before. The records are there at the Gbagada General Hospital. We don’t want to go to far. Our leadership should have a rethink.

“I plead with our leaders to have a rethink, It is not about me, it is about the opportunity that APC has.”

Fidelity Bank CEO, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo has assured the investors and analysts community that the top Nigerian lender will deliver better returns in the 2018 financial year.

Speaking in Lagos, Friday during the Half Year Investors and Analyst Conference Call, Okonkwo said the bank will maintain the disciplined approach to the execution of the medium term strategic initiatives, that have sustained the bank’s strong performance in recent years. “From what we have seen so far and going by our half year results, we are staying with our guidance for the full year” said Okonkwo.

The engagement with investors and analysts, came on the heels of the recently released H1 2018 results which saw the Bank record double-digit growth in key revenue lines and achieving significant traction in its chosen business segments.

Gross profits rose by 27.3 to close at N13bn whilst Profit After Tax (PAT) grew by 31 percent to close at N11.8 billion from N9.03 billion recorded in 2017, a performance that Okonkwo attributed to the “disciplined approach in managing the balance sheet growth of the bank, it’s strategic cost containment initiatives; focused attention to chosen business segments and determined execution of its retail and digital banking strategy”

The bank’s much awaited HI 2018 results have been positively received by the market. Renaissance Capital said “on a sequential basis, PBT was up an impressive 61 percent QoQ, largely driven by much stronger income during the quarter. We like the decent 8 percent QoQ (+3 percent YtD) growth in the bank’s loan book, which was largely driven by the manufacturing, general commerce and transport segments. We find this performance impressive in light of the tepid growth in the sector.”

“The bank’s Return On Equity (RoE) of 12.2 percent is the highest it has been since 2008, driven by a combination of higher Return On Asset (RoA) and leverage – leverage of 7.6x in 1H18 compares with 6.9x in FY17, while RoA of 1.6 percent, compares with 1.4 percent, within the same periods. Contributing to this RoE uplift, is of course the IFRS 9 impact of a lower equity base” Rencap further stated.

Also, analysts at InvestmentOne pointed out that “the Bank’s efforts at driving its digital banking strategy is paying off, having posted a 30.1 percent year-on-year boost in non-interest income to N14.3 billion in H1 2018” According to them, the growth was driven mainly by a 60.9 percent year-on-year increase in net fees and commission.

“The Bank’s digital banking strategy has shown that about 40 percent of its customers have now enrolled on its digital platforms in H1 2018, up 10 percent year-on-year, 80 percent of its total transactions are now done on these platforms. On operations and contact channels, the Bank at the end of Q2 2018 has 4,513 Point of Sale (PoS) terminals, 2 million ATM Cards and 778 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and 1.6 million mobile customers” noted the analyst report.

Lagos State in the past few years has demonstrated rare commitment to the business of tourism and promotion of arts, culture and entertainment as part of its growth strategy. As the World Tourism Day is celebrated today globally, Steve Ayorinde, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture in Lagos says the state is happy to further propel its tourism and creative economy agenda with a brand new Tourism Masterplan, the first of its kind by any state in Nigeria. Excerpts:

Another September 27th is here, does it hold anything significant for Lagos State?
Yes it does. Lagos State government is in tune with the world to mark this day which is celebrated globally as the World Tourism Day. We have always acknowledged this day and this year has Budapest in Hungary as the ‘host celebrant nation’ with technology and digital transformation as its focus. This theme is pleasing to us as it speaks to our current short to medium term plans for Tourism Development.

Are you celebrating the day specially?
We are marking the day with the formal presentation of the Lagos State Tourism Masterplan to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and we are having a roundtable in-house to unveil the Masterplan to our officers because this is the plank upon which the tourism promotions agenda of the state for the next 20 years will be anchored. The formal presentation of the Masterplan to stakeholders and CEOs of 100 top brands and multinationals who are expected to be our key partners in the tourism growth agenda will be done later next month.

Do you really need a Masterplan to turn things around?
We are convinced that we do. In every nation where tourism has thrived, a blueprint is always required. Your vision must be clear and you need a roadmap to drive it. This is what a Masterplan does; it identifies what you need to do and how to do it. This is similar to what Lagos State has achieved in the political-economy space. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu conceived the idea of a Lagos State Development Plan. Governor Fashola berths it in 2012 and handed it over to Governor Ambode. This is what the state is running with till 2025. The tourism Masterplan will work in a similar fashion with one governor handing it over to his successor while the deliverables are attended to in order to diversify the economy and create a good image for the state.

Is the Federal Government part of this document?
As a document, not really. The Masterplan was commissioned directly by Lagos State Government and it is a blueprint that focuses largely on specific areas of need for the state. But in execution, yes it will have a lot to do with Abuja, other states and the private sector. The truth is that you can’t market a state in isolation. You will always be a component of a big, beautiful and diverse country that we really are. Issues of national carriers; ideal airports, visa on arrival and courteous consular officers representing the country all over the world are exclusively within the Federal purview. But we are lucky in Lagos that the two people running tourism at the Federal level – the Honourable Minister and Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation are both Lagos products who have the interest of the state at heart. We enjoy a very cordial relationship with them and we are always happy to key into their efforts at promoting the tourism and cultural landscape of Nigeria as a whole.

What precisely is your vision at the Ministry of Tourism?
To make Lagos State one of the top three tourism destinations in Africa. We are there already as a business and entertainment hub. But as a leisure travel destination, we need to work a lot harder to climb high in ranking for both domestic and international tourists. Which is why our ministry is saddled with the responsibility to formulate, execute and monitor policies relating to the tourism sector and the creative economy in general. The ministry also promotes investments and regulates operations in the Tourism, Hospitality and Entertainment industries in the state.

Tell us areas of significant growth In the last three years under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
First we have adopted the popular buzzword coined by the Governor himself – Tourism Hospitality Entertainment and Sports for Excellence (T.H.E.S.E) as our focus. In three years, the ministry is fulfilling its mandate creditably well; changing the profile of Lagos into that of a city with a vibrant artistic soul. The state’s landscape is being beautified daily with iconic statues and public art installations that have engaged a wide spectrum of Nigeria artists. Six new 500-seater theatres are being built simultaneously across the state to expand the frontiers of opportunity for talented youths; four out of the six will be opened this December; the Onikan-Marina axis is being turned into an arts and culture district with its first major offering, the J.K Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History nearing completion. The Lagos Museum project within the same district will soon commence with a grant from Ford Foundation and strategic partnership from the Musee du quai Branly in Paris and the British museum.
Our ministry conceptualized and has supervised since December 2015 the pooular One Lagos Fiesta which has become arguably the biggest end-of-the-year concert in Africa with its unique template of holding simultaneously across the five divisions of Lagos in the last eight days of the year. If you consider that up till 2014, the Lagos Countdown was a one-day, one venue affair, but in three years, One Lagos Fiesta is fulfilling two major obligations – democratizing and decentralising the idea of fun and entertainment and giving every part of Lagos a sense of belonging you will appreciate why OLF has become a significant part of our socio-economic service to the people. Similarly, more artists are engaged and given the opportunity to perform at Ikeja, Badagry, Epe and Ikorodu in addition to Bar Beach and in the process we are creating a whole new economy around those towns for eight consecutive days. Also, with a Calendar of Arts Events released in January to aid planning and visits around the state, our ministry believes we will always give visitors a reason to spend an extra day or two in exploring this smart megacity that is full of fun, art and cultural enterprise.

How do you tap into the competitive edge that Lagos has in water?
I think aqua tourism has always been an important and recognisable component of the tourism eco-system in Lagos State. And it ought to be so because water constitutes about 22.5% of the land mass of the state. So the state is keenly aware of its God-given gift – the lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. The Prest Boat Cruise for example has promoted water tourism on the lagoon in the last 15 years or so. Several other cruise packages have been added in the last three to five years. And because of the huge awareness and serious commitment of this administeration to everything tourism, several business concerns are adding to the water tourism component of the sector. The Lagos boat club is growing and as you must have heard, the Governor recognises and supports its contribution to the development of the sector. From La Campaigne Tropicana in Ikegun to Ilashe beachfront and Inagbe waterfront resorts, awareness and investments are growing in the area of water tourism. On the part of government too, this adminisration has maintained the annual Boat Regatta carnival among several other initiatives.

What is your Ministry currently doing to facilitate intra-city movement of tourists through the waterways and enhance their experience?
It’s a two-way approach. First is to create the necessary awareness both for tourists that want on-the-water experience and for investors that see great opportunities on the waterways and in the general marine tourism economy. And you will soon see from our Tourism Masterplan that we’ve paid a great deal of attention to our waterways in terms of better utilisation by domestic and international tourists. The other way is in working closely with tour operators and partner-destination stakeholders to make waterways an integral part of the Lagos tourism experience. For example, we are in talks with Apapa Amusement Park’s management on how this fantastic facility can be better accessed via water as an alternative to the Apapa gridlock. We are in tune with La Campagne Tropicana and the Lagos Sports Commission on a possible annual kayaking tournament. The promoters of All Sails Lagos have our endorsement for the kind of water racing fiesta that is being planned. Similarly, F1 boat racing franchise owners in Nigeria are in discussion with us on how this global spectacle can berth in Lagos soon. Getting our waterways busy once the channelisation of the key routes have been completed by next year, therefore, is a priority in our short to medium term plans for the Tourism Masterplan.

Beyond shows and festivals that entertain people, how really does the Tourism industry in the State provides job opportunities for Lagosians?
I am actually excited by a new research this year which suggests that directly or indirectly, tourism and travel-related eco-system provide one out of every ten jobs in Africa. From tour travel component of aviation industry to hotels and hospitality establishments; visual and performing arts and the huge technical support base that keeps all working; not to forget the chefs; cooks, tour guides, tour operators, travel bloggers and journalists; specialised security operatives and even taxis and specialised tour transport operators, there’s just an endless list of opportunities. And marine transport is already benefiting. It can only do better as the sector grows. The more ferries that are put on the lagoon, the more jetties that will be needed to be built and maintained; the more our waterways are channelised and routes expanded the more ferries and luxury boats that will be operated with the full compliments of staff. More technicians and safety officers will be required and engaged as the sector expands. That’s a whole huge job creator and money spinner that we have in this tourism sub-sector. The possibilities are limitless. Imagine by the time we start to have 2 or 3 world-class boat racing that take weeks and months to plan; multi-million dollar sponsorships and hundreds and thousands of direct and ancillary jobs, we shall then begin to see the goldmine that aqua-tourism for example represents for our state.

Is it deliberate that suddenly Lagos is now almost synonymous with tourism in Nigeria?
I think these are just exciting times as far as tourism and the arts are concerned in Lagos State. Tourism has become a buzzword here that a lot of people now take seriously. And I think Lagos is just lucky to have a governor that is so passionate about tourism and the creative economy and as a cerebral accountant, the governor though appreciates the entertainment but he sees the business component too.

If you had the power and authority to change one thing about how art and culture is celebrated in Lagos, what would it be?
I don’t think change is the right word. I believe improvement and enhancement are preferable words for me. And it should start from schools and homes. We need to do a lot more in appreciating and celebrating our own from language to culture, to fashion and dressing to learning about our history. Art and culture will always embrace other influences. But they must never lose sight of their history and it should start from schools and homes. We must instill in our kids and wards the cultural values and essence that define us. Our culture must not only be celebrated as a sidebar. So frankly if it were possible, I would want a situation whereby we consciously promote the idea of #WearLagos; EatLagos; KnowLagos etc. But I also acknowledge that a lot is being done now especially in Lagos State. A calendar of art and culture event is now part of our ministry’s deliverable; published at the beginning of the year; History subject is back in our schools; a credit in Yoruba is a requirement for admission into our schools in the state; the Lagos State House of Assembly devotes one day of the week to conducting legislative affairs in Yoruba. So there’s progress and frankly it’s a thing of job.

Iyiola Omisore, candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has entered into an alliance with the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Osun state governorship rerun election.

The alliance means a setback for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which had been banking on the support of Omisore to take power from the APC.

Omisore, who came a distant third in the inconclusive election, has been under pressure from the PDP and APC because Ife, his stronghold, is among the four local government area where the rerun would hold.

Senate President Bukola Saraki led some PDP leaders to the Ife residence of Omisore on Monday.

Twenty-four hours after, Adams Oshiomhole, chairman of the APC, four governors, a minister and a high-ranking APC legislator met with Omisore.

He had initially failed to endorse any of the leading parties, asking his supporters to go with any party that shares the interest of SDP.

But addressing reporters at his Ife residence on Wednesday, he said his party had decided to endorse APC.

“We have accepted to support the APC for victory in the rerun election tomorrow and thereafter form a coalition government,” he said.

Addressing journalists in Abuja earlier on Wednesday, Eddy Olafeso, PDP national vice-chairman (south-west), said the party was relying on God to secure victory in the rerun.

He said this while responding to a question on the outcome of the meeting with Omisore.

“We met with the leaders but victory is in the hands of God… even if people play around, God will not play around. He’ll determine the outcome of the election,” he had said.

… Says second term needed for stable, robust economy



Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday expressed his readiness to participate in Saturday’s Primary Election where members of the All Progressives Congress across the State are expected to choose the party’s flagbearer through direct primaries.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, the Governor said he is restating his readiness in line with the choice of the party in Lagos State and the validation given to the direct primary preference by the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC).

“As our great party approaches Saturday, September 29th, 2018, earmarked for the direct primary election to choose the candidate to fly our party’s gubernatorial flag at the next general election, I am happy to restate my commitment to participate in that process having procured and submitted my nomination form and having formally declared my intention to seek a second term to continue on the path of unprecedented growth and development that our State has witnessed since 2015”.

The Governor expressed profound gratitude to the National Leader of the Party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; party elders and executives; GAC members; all APC members and every Lagosian “whose support, understanding and prayers have assisted me in no small measure in being used as an instrument through which our State has redefined the concept of greatness”.

The statement added that the Governor in seeking re-election is approaching the founding fathers and teeming members of the party with a “grateful heart, open arms and a pledge to open and deeper attention to the concerns of this one, big family”.

It added that a return of the party’s ticket to Governor Ambode will guarantee the stability of the State’s growing economy; ensure the continuation of the growth and development it has witnessed over time and ensure that the opposition does not take root in the State.

The statement congratulates the Governor’s co-contestants for the courage and commitment to the party and urges party faithfuls to come out en masse and vote peacefully in all the 20 Local Governments and 245 wards where the election will take place.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/breaking-im-ready-for-governorship.html

Iyiola Omisore, candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the Osun State governorship election, has told his supporters to “go with any political party that believes in what we in the SDP stand for”.

Since effectively dropping out of the race for the rerun election, following the very high but close votes of Ademola Candidate, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Isiaka Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Omisore has been courted by both camps in an attempt to swing the votes to a side.

APC was reportedly planning to offer him a ministerial slot. However, according to a statement by Jide Fakorede, his media aide, Omisore had decided he would “not negotiate for personal gains and abandon my people”.

“After over 72 hours of pressure on him by both the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has said that what is paramount to him is the practice of true democracy in Osun State,” read the statement.

“Omisore firmly states that he will never renege on his promise of good governance, accountability and human dignity in Osun state.”

Fakorede quoted Omisore as saying: “Osun state has always been a stellar example of democracy where the people have consistently and freely expressed their franchise to determine who governs them.

“This should remain so. Osun people have shown that it is not business as usual. It is a positive deviation from what was hitherto the norm.

“I am telling my people that they should go with any political party that believes in what we in the SDP stand for: good governance, social justice and accountability. I have already detailed how we planned to restore Osun to the path of good governance through the five thematic pillars in the manifesto I shared during the electioneering. I will not negotiate for personal gains and abandon my people.

“My alliance is with the people of Osun state irrespective of the political party they belong. I want my people to be treated with the dignity they deserve. I desire that they have a government that will be accountable to them. I want them to experience the good governance the founding fathers of this state envisaged. I have told the parties that have solicited for my support to approach the electorates and ask for their mandate as I have assured them that I will not coerce them for political or social power. It is because I have kept my promise that has made me enjoyed their unalloyed support all these years.

“As highlighted in SDP manifestos, the five thematic pillars the SDP had hoped to implement to improve governance, eliminate financial reckless and reposition the economy of Osun state include: economic management and accountability; professionalism and performance; equity in access to service; local content and innovation and security.”

Omisore said these were the centre point of his campaign and “the democracy we both fought for and believe in”.

“It is the right and democratic freedom of people to choose of their own free will. Their votes should not be coerced by money, vote buying, intimidation in form of militarisation, and political and social power,” he added.

“Their voices of demand for good governance, accountability and human dignity should continue to be heard as well as salaries paid. All these are what I stand for and which the SDP had promised the people all through our electioneering campaigns. They are still paramount to me as we collectively chart the way forward for the governorship elections rerun in Osun state.”

Omisore assured his followers and admirers that he would not abandon his campaign promises even as he engaged all stakeholders on the way forward to ensure the progress of Osun State is achieved.

Calling All Models!

Have you got what it takes to strut the runways of Africa’s biggest fashion event? Then, the GTBank Fashion Weekend is looking for you.

In preparation for the upcoming 2018 GTBank Fashion Weekend, there will be an in-person Model Casting Call at Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos on Tuesday, October 2nd, 2018.

Models selected at the Casting Call will showcase the latest fashion designs at the 2018 GTBank Fashion Weekend, holding in November 10th and 11th, 2018.

Requirements: Only female models between the ages of 18 to 27 and from 5’9” and above will be considered

Dress code: Tank top and jeans. Also, bring along a pair of high heels (To Walk In).

Date: Tuesday, October 2nd, 2018 Time: 9AM-2PM

Venue:Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos.

Now in its third year, the GTBank Fashion Weekend has become the premier consumer-focused event that places African fashion on the global stage and helps small businesses in the local fashion industry thrive. The first and second editions of the event, which held in November 2016 and 2017 respectively, brought together over 250,000 people to interact with some of the best minds in the global fashion space and directly patronize more than 200 indigenous small businesses in the local fashion industry.

For enquiries please send an email fashionweekend@gtbank.com

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared the starting of an indefinite warning strike to press the Buhari administration to adopt a new minimum wage for workers.

The strike will start Wednesday morning.

Its sister labour group, the Trade Union Congress, had earlier on Tuesday announced it would begin strike from the early hours of Thursday, following the federal government’s failure to honour its ultimatum on the new minimum wage.

Both unions had earlier said the organised labour’s demand to reconvene a tripartite committee on the national minimum wage for workers was not met, and that the leaders have cautioned the federal government against foot-dragging on the new minimum wage.

Last Thursday, the NLC resolved to commence an indefinite nationwide strike after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum given to the federal government which will elapse Wednesday.

In a press statement Wednesday, signed by the NLC General Secretary, Peter Ozo-Eson, the congress resolved that the strike commence in the midnight of Wednesday.

“Representatives of organized labour, after due consultation and meetings, have therefore agreed that all unions and our Civil society allies should embark on a warning strike from midnight of Wednesday, 26th September, 2018,” the statement said.

“All affiliates and state councils are therefore expected to mobilize their members nationwide to ensure total compliance.”

“The nationwide warning strike will remain in force until further directives are conveyed,” the release read.

The Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Osun State, Sen Iyiola Omisore, has said that he will only pledge his support for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke, in the Thursday’s rerun of the poll if the party satisfies his conditions.

After the collation of all the results from the 30 council areas of the state, Adeleke of the PDP had 254,698 while the candidate of APC, Gboyega Oyetola, polled 254,345.

INEC declared the election inconclusive even as the difference between the two leading parties, the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, was lower than the number of the votes cancelled.

Speaking during the visit of the PDP presidential candidate, Sen Bukola Saraki, to his home in Ile-Ife on Monday, Omisore, said he has given both APC and PDP his conditions to join any party.

He said that as a stakeholder in the state, he was always after a people-centered government.

Omisore said: “I have given my programmes to both the APC and the PDP. My programme is like this; payment of salaries and pensions. Good governance is what is important to me.

“Anyone among the two that will do that will get my support. I am passionate about Osun State and my interest is the welfare of the people of this state.

“I have told those sent to me. At the appropriate time, we will tell you where we are going.”

Meanwhile, Saraki after his meeting with Omisore hinted that he (Omisore) had agreed in principle to support the PDP in the rerun of the election on Thursday.

Re-run Election would take place in seven polling units located in Orolu, Osogbo, Ife North and Ife South council areas on Thursday.

By Yemi Ajayi



Before the advent of the Fashola administration, driving through Oshodi, which I had to do to get to my office then at Fatai Atere Way, was one of the most harrowing experiences I had to go through five days a week.

The two alternative routes to my office, passing through Ikorodu Road to connect Ilupeju By-pass or through the Airport Road to link up Ladipo via Five Star, were to say the least equally unattractive. The traffic on those alternative routes was as hellish as that of Oshodi.

Then, one Sunday after the first New Year of having Fashola as governor, I drove through Oshodi on my way to work and my “flabber was gasted.”

The orderly chaos that was the defining persona of Oshodi was totally absent. I was confronted with a new Oshodi devoid of its characteristic heavy human and vehicular traffic. There were phalanxes of policemen here and there to prevent a breach of the peace after a dawn demolition of illegal structures that also provided habitats for criminals who tormented motorists and passers-by.

That singular act marked the beginning of my romance with Fashola. I became his implacable supporter. He had by restoring order to Oshodi not only reduced my commuting time from home to work, my daily fuel consumption dropped by as much as 55%.

In a nation devoid of a standard metric for measuring performance of public office holders, it also set for me a template in assessing leaders.

It is in that light I’m viewing the ongoing crisis of succession in Lagos State being championed by those trying to deny Fashola’s successor, Akinwunmi Ambode, the conventional right of first refusal.

Many reasons have been pushed into the public space on why Ambode must give way to Jide Sanwo-Olu, the favourite pick of Tinubu’s political machinery, the Mandate Group, and they range from the ridiculous to the sublime.

Unfortunately, none of the reasons I’ve come across so far has much to do with majority of Lagosians on whose votes Ambode is in office.

As someone who has lived in Lagos for almost 40 years, I can say that Ambode has added to the building blocks of the foundation laid by his predecessors. Lagos to me is better now in terms of infrastructure and service delivery in some areas than it was before.

The governor has wormed his ways into my heart, and those of millions of others, with the construction of inner road network especially within the Ifako-Ijaiye Alimosho corridor.

Within my Alakuko neighbourhood, there are at least nine ongoing inner road projects. Some of them are in areas where the residents had lost hope of ever feeling government’s presence.

He has made interventions in other areas such as tackling Lagos perennial traffic congestion through the construction of laybys, flyovers and pedestrian bridges.

I can’t forget my first day of driving through Ojodu-Berger in a bid to access the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. It was a detour I had to grudgingly make as that route is one I avoid like a plague for its notorious traffic.

But on this day, I had to take my chances as all alternative routes to access the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway through Agidingbi to connect Otedola Underpass were choked with traffic.

Surprisingly, the Ojodu-Berger axis was not only uncharacteristically free from traffic, I could’ve missed my way due to the changed landscape that followed the reconstruction of the area. The reconstruction had not only led to the removal of all traffic impediments, but saw to the expansion of the road.

There is no doubt that while Ambode had done well in the area of infrastructure, his performance has been average in other areas, especially in refuse disposal. Many residents are also not happy with his administration with the hike in Land Use charges.

However, as a property owner, I can say that the hike in the Land Use charges isn’t as hurtful as it was made to be, especially after the governor bowed to public outcry and ordered a review.

Although what I paid as Land Use charges is now far higher than what I had been paying in the last eight years, I don’t need to rob a bank or take a loan to pay up.

But his performance notwithstanding, there has been an intense campaign to ensure he doesn’t return in an election that is his to lose.

The governor has been accused of not deserving a second term for not servicing the greed of APC leaders in the state, among others.

But in all this, where stands the interest of the electorate who put in Ambode in office and whose welfare is the purpose of governance?

Unfortunately, the electorate are being railroaded to rally behind his main challenger for the post, Jide Sanwo-Olu.

Certainly the APC leaders are pursuing a selfish agenda which they’re deceitfully dressing as a push for better life for Lagosians.

For what it’s worth, Ambode might not have done well in all areas of governance, but he has performed well enough to earn a second term in office.

Those who’re pushing the argument that he should go and test his popularity at the party’s direct primary are being disingenuous in their advocacy. The direct primary, abinitio, has been rigged for him to lose.

That argument would have had any veneer of credibility if all other elective posts had been thrown opened for contest.

So far, I’m not aware that Senators Remi Tinubu and Adeola (Yayi) have any serious challengers for their tickets. That is so because the party establishment has decreed it be.

If it’s sauce for the senators and others, it should be sauce for Ambode.

There is no doubt that the political fortune of Ambode and President Muhammadu Buhari are tied together, which is the more reason why good reasoning should prevail in this matter. More worrisome to me is the economic impact of this needless impasse when all of us know that instability in Lagos would have spiral effects on the national economy.

It’s therefore morally and political expedient to allow the governor finish the good work he has been doing.

Ajayi, a journalist, writes from Lagos

Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, has alleged that Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, and Magnus Abe, lawmaker representing Rivers south-east at the senate, are conspiring to disparage and defame him.

In a statement on Friday, Amaechi, who governed Rivers between 2007 and 2015, alleged that the duo are plotting to use his former cabinet members to tell fake, concocted and distorted stories in the media.

He said the plot is already far-gone and persons are been coached on what to say and how to say it.

“I am aware that two former commissioners who served in the State Executive Council when I was governor have been procured by Wike and Abe, jointly and collaboratively, to carry out this hatchet job of ‘hack Amaechi down’ campaign. The plan is to throw as much dirt at me as possible and rubbish my image,” he said.

“While one is been coached in Rivers State Government House of what to say to the Press and how to say it, to do maximum damage; the other one is busy distorting, concocting and fabricating fake screenshots, text messages, documents and all sorts in Senator Abe’s Freedom House campaign office in Port Harcourt.

“I want to alert the media and members of the public of the smear plot by these two political collaborators (Wike and Abe), to unjustly discredit and smear me for their selfish political reasons.”

Amaechi vowed not to be distracted by the campaign of calumny against him, urging people of the state to “pay no heed to the desperate attention-seeking duo of Wike and Abe and all of their fabricated lies, but focus on the goal of ensuring that Rivers State gets a better leader that would turn around the fortune of the State and its people for good, come 2019”.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has withdrawn the operating licence of Skye Bank.

Umar Ibrahim, chairman of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), made this known to journalists on Friday.

More to follow…

There has been fear in recent time when the struggling financial institution failed the statutory requirements to file its results and accounts for the period ended June 30, 2018 with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

A top management staff of the bank who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity lamented, “Of a truth, all is not well with the bank. It is really struggling to stay afloat and the new management is doing nothing about it. Though they met the problem on ground, one expects that by now things should have changed. People are resigning every day because of uncertainties showing up in every of its departments.”

Recall that on July 4, 2016, the Central Bank of Nigeria intervened in the management of the bank by reconstituting the board of directors, shoring up the bank with N100bn capital injection, and accordingly, the apex bank gave the board a clear mandate to turn the institution around positively.

Ironically, two years after the CBN intervention into the affairs of the bank, the fortunes of the financial institution have continued to dwindle.

We gathered, is not unconnected with the poor results of the bank due to lack of trust customers now have with the lender triggered by the lack of administrative experience and expertise of the new management led by Mr. Tokunbo Abiru. More so, weak asset quality, rising funding costs and increased customers’ wariness about the safety of their deposits have conspired to squeeze out the bank’s balance sheet and tear profit figures of the lender.

The development became worrisome to shareholders and customers of the bank as the lender last filed its accounts to the NSE in 2014. In a statement to the NSE in March 2017, Skye Bank had attributed the failure to file its 2016 accounts to the CBN’s intervention. Consequently, the Exchange tagged the lender MFR (Missed Regulatory Fillings). This is in contravention of Rule 1.1.4 of The Exchange on Filing of Accounts and Treatment of Default Filing, Rulebook of The Exchange, which requires listed companies to file their AFS.

A visit to the lender’s headquarters located at 3, Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, will tell how its branches operate – in a low-key setting. The once-bubbling branches of the bank have now become a shadow of themselves as many depositors of the bank have started closing their accounts.

It would be recalled that prior to the sack of the Ayeni-led board, Skye Bank used to visit the discount window frequently.

With the current situation, the few depositors left are beginning to wonder if it is not back to square one for them, as they insist that the bank would have filed its account if there were indeed no problems.

A document obtained from the NSE unveiled Skye Bank as one of the financial institutions likely to be penalized by the NSE along with other organisations.

According to the document from the NSE, such default is marked out by the Exchange as a corporate governance failure, which attracts monetary fines, “naming and shaming” tag, suspension of shares from trading and delisting in incurable cases of default.

A source further confirmed that the Exchange “would apply relevant rules” in dealing with the defaulters.
The NSE regulatory deadline was on July 30. Under the rules, a late submission attracts a fine of N100,000 daily for the first 90 calendar days of non-compliance, another N200,000 per day for the next 90 calendar days and a fine of N400,000 per day thereafter until the date of submission.

Though, the CBN recently extended the tenure of Skye Bank directors for an additional two-year term, customers of the bank, financial experts have called for the sack of the bank chief to be replaced by a more competent and experienced hand to manage the financial institution.

A customer of the bank, one Mr. Richard, while speaking with our correspondent said: “I don’t know what exactly is happening to Skye Bank. I have been banking with them for the past 10 years and it has never been this bad. Most of their ATM machines are always out of service; even their USSD banking code *889# is nothing to write home about, the same service which I enjoy seamlessly on my accounts with other banks. Most times, when I try to transact with it, it always fails. It’s either it brings error or no response at all. I have been to their bank several times to complain but still, no way. Their services are now so poor,” he lamented.

A financial expert, Mr. Adebayo Faleti who spoke to our correspondent argued that if no drastic steps are taken by the CBN concerning the bank, the worse may still come.

All efforts to reach the Corporate Affairs Manager of the bank, Mr. Rasheed Bolarinwa for the lender’s angle proved futile as calls and text messages placed to his mobile number were not responded to as at press time.

The 2015 governorship candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Jimi Agbaje has declared his interest to contest in the 2019 election in Lagos State, ending all speculation concerning his interest to contest.

Agbaje made the confirmation his intention on Wednesday in Lagos.

According a statement from Lagos Solidarity Forum, the group believes this is right time to free Lagosians from its 19 years of political plague and kwashiorkor. And the man to do that they believe is Jimi Agbaje.

The statement made available to TheMomentNG was signed by convener, Oladele Martins.

“We, the people of Lagos Solidarity Forum hereby declare our unconditional support for Mr. Jimi Agbaje, the man who has the capacity to heal Lagos State from 19years of political plague and kwashiorkor to the much-desired economic freedom. Our emotions have known no bounds since his declaration to seek election as the Lagos State Governor in 2019.

“Mr. Jimi Agbaje’s in-depth understanding of class issues in Lagos State, as well as his well-known dogged resistance to godfatherism, has drawn him to the voiceless and downtrodden of the state. We believe that he has the sincerity of purpose to free Lagos State from political marauders feasting on its resources for their benefits and cronies alike. We have utmost belief in Mr. Agbaje to revive the hopes of Lagosians health system and services, waste management, education, power, water, roads, drainage, and taxation. We all know that Lagos is vastly blessed and full of opportunities that can better the lives of indigenes and its residents at large.

“Also, we recognize the boundless leadership rectitude displayed by our father, Chief Bode George, who has been relentless at calling the attention of Nigerians to the mindless corruption and milking of Lagos State resources by one man and his stooges since 1999. We join hands with him and people of good conscience to say enough is enough!

“With the recent unfolding political events in Lagos State, the All Progressive Party, APC has exposed itself as a party built on fraud, god-fatherism, corruption and total disregard for internal democracy. The Lagos Solidarity Forum is politically ready to mobilize all active political structures within the state that are committed to collaborate and uproot the entrenched reactionary leadership in Lagos State.

“We call on all visionaries and people of good conscience in the state to rally round and help refocus our Lagos to the path of economic empowerment and development that will benefit all and sundry by supporting Mr. Agbaje in the onerous task of becoming the next Governor of Lagos State by all means legally necessary.”

Another minister serving in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet has been found to have skipped the mandatory national youth service scheme, an offence that may see him lose his position and earn him jail term.

The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, failed to participate in the NYSC scheme despite graduating from the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) at age 25, we authoritatively report.

The revelation about Mr. Shittu, who is currently angling to become Oyo State governor, is coming to light about a week after Kemi Adeosun was compelled to step down from her post as Nigeria’s finance minister after this medium reported that she skipped national service and then procured a fake exemption certificate to cover her tracks.

Months of discreet checks at the NYSC headquarters showed that the communications minister did not present himself for service after graduation and is yet to do so till date.

Contacted Tuesday, Mr. Shittu admitted that he did not serve but claimed he thought his first political post after graduation could suffice as national service, a claim lawyers and NYSC insiders consider as ludicrous and untenable.

Skipping the compulsory national service is an offence under the NYSC law, punishable with up to 12 months imprisonment.

Employers are mandated by law to always request NYSC certificate of national service from employees as part of the conditions for hiring.

Mr Shittu, born on March 23, 1953, studied law at Ife, graduating in 1978. He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, qualifying as a lawyer in 1979.

Having earned a bachelors degree at the age of 25, Section 2 of the NYSC Act expects Mr Shittu to have participated in the year-long national service.

The Minister speaks

Section 2 (1) of the NYSC Act mandates all Nigerians who earn degrees or higher national diplomas from tertiary institutions in Nigerian and abroad (effective 1972/73 session) to participate in the scheme.
Adebayo-Shittu
Those exempted by the law are those who graduated after their 30th birthday, persons with national honours and individuals who serve in the military and intelligence organisations.

Rather than enlist in the national service, Mr Shittu went into politics after graduation, and was, in 1979, elected member of the Oyo State House of Assembly.

The minister said he believed that having been elected lawmaker, he needed not participate in the national service.

He said he deliberatively skipped the NYSC scheme because he was convinced that his membership of the state assembly was itself a “service”.

“The constitution provides for the qualification needed for state assembly members, NYSC is not there,” Mr. Shittu said. “I didn’t need it to become a member of the state assembly, and that is already a service,” he said.

Mr Shittu disagreed with our reporter who laboured to explain to him that the NYSC Act makes participation in the scheme mandatory for all graduates like him and that election or appointment to political office does not qualify as a basis for exemption.

What the Law Says

Mr Shittu’s argument does not appear convincing when placed against the letters of the NYSC law.

NYSC Headquarters
Section 2, subsection 1 of the Act makes it obligatory for “every Nigerian” who graduate at the end of academic year 1972-73 and subsequent years, “to make himself available for service for a continuous period of one year from the date specified in the call-up instrument served upon him”.

Subsection 2 of the same section enumerated instances of exemption from the national service, which did not include holding political office, as Mr Shittu claimed.
The four categories of individuals exempted from the national service, according to the NYSC law, are those who graduated above the age of thirty, and those who have served in the armed forces or the Nigeria Police for a period of more than nine months.

The third category covers staff of four security organisations, namely the Nigerian Security Organisation, the State Security Service, the National Intelligence Agency and the Defence Intelligence Service.

Exemption status is also conferred on individuals who bagged national honours before graduation.

Illegalities?

Despite not possessing certificate of national service, Mr Shittu went on from being a state lawmaker, to occupying important government positions, including his current post as minister.

Mr Shittu is a former attorney general and commissioner for justice in his native Oyo State. He also served as member of the Oyo State Judicial Service Commission from 2004 to 2007.

In 2005, he was nominated minister by President Buhari, and later assigned the communications portfolio upon legislative screening.

It is not clear how he scaled screenings by the Oyo State House of Assembly, the SSS, and the National Assembly, who are all expected to screen commissioner and ministerial nominees before their appointment.

Mr Shittu is now aspiring for governorship of Oyo State.
Section 12 of the NYSC Act mandates all employers to demand the national service certificate of prospective employees before hiring.

Section 12 of the Act reads:

“For the purposes of employment anywhere in the Federation and before employment, it shall be the duty of every prospective employer to demand and obtained from any person who claims to have obtained his first degree at the end of the academic year 1973-74 or, as the case may be, at the end of any subsequent academic year the following:-


a. a copy of the Certificate of National Service of such person issued pursuant to section 11 of this Decree

b. a copy of any exemption certificate issued to such person pursuant to section 17 of this Decree

c. such other particulars relevant there to as may be prescribed by or under this Decree.”

Section 13 of the Act also criminalises skipping the national service as it prescribes 12 months imprisonment or fine of N2,000 or both, for such offenders.

Lawyers speak

Lawyers who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said the minister is in the breach of the NYSC law for skipping the national service.

“His membership of the state assembly is not the same as national service,” said Huwaila Mohammed, a Kano-based practitioner. “He needs to serve, because the section of the law dealing with exemption did not include political office holders like him.”

Another lawyer, Abdul Mahmud, agreed with Ms Mohammed’s position, saying the minister “is a dodger who is in breach of the law”.

He said by the provision of Section 12 of the NYSC Act, Mr Shittu ought to have presented his certificate of national service before he was cleared as minister.

“The provision is clear,” Mr. Mahmud said. “It says (you must serve) before you get any job in the federation.”

Mr Mahmud, who chairs the Abuja-based pressure group, Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL), said Mr Shittu’s “case is worse than that of Kemi Adeosun because he deliberately refused to serve”.

Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun (Photo Credit: adelove.com)
“If we assume as a member of the Oyo House he (Mr Shittu) served, did it not defeat objective 4 (b) stated in Section 1 (4) (b) of the NYSC Act? Members serve in states other than their own,” he said.

The lawyer said Mr Shittu should be arrested immediately by the police and made to face the law.

All positions he has held are illegal and he should return all monies he earned from those posts to government coffers.

The Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property has secured a warrant of arrest against embattled Delta senator, Peter Nwaoboshi, for alleged conspiracy, diversion of public funds and official corruption.

A Wuse Zone 2 Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, issued the warrant dated September 18 and signed by Akanni Olaide, the Chief District Judge II, FCT.

Spokesperson of the panel, Lucie-Ann Laha, made a copy of the warrant available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

The panel is accusing Mr Nwaoboshi of fraudulent acquisition of property and embezzlement of contract sum to the tune of N3.48 billion, among others.

The serving PDP senator, representing Delta North, is alleged to have illegally acquired houses, an estate and a company all worth billions of naira, in Asaba, the Delta capital.

According to the panel, he also used stolen public funds to acquire a house in Apapa, Lagos, and another property in London that had yet to be identified.

Mr Nwaoboshi is said to have committed the alleged offences while serving as a commissioner in Delta State.

The panel disclosed that it launched investigation into the case following a tip-off by a whistle-blower.

It said the decision to seek the arrest warrant followed the “refusal” of the lawmaker and “the other owners” of the identified property to honour its invitation.

When NAN contacted Mr Nwaoboshi on phone for reaction, a male voice answered the call, saying the senator was never invited by the panel.

“Tell the panel to show you evidence of the invitation they claim to have extended to the distinguished senator.

“There has to be something to show that they invited him and he refused to honour them,” the recipient, who refused to identify himself, said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently prosecuting the lawmaker in a Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged N805 million fraud.

Senator representing Orlu Zone, Imo West Senatorial District of Imo State in the Nigerian Senate, Hope Uzodinma, on Wednesday denied an arrest warrant issued against him by a Grade 1 Area Court, Kubwa, Abuja on Tuesday.

Denying the news published by many news outlets, Uzodinma’s Senior Legislative Assistant, Ralph Nwosu, described the story as “fake news masterminded by his political enemies because of his rising gubernatorial chances in Imo State”.

But our correspondent sighted a copy of the arrest warrant with the stamp and signature of the judge, Abdulwahab Muhammad, ordering “All law enforcement agents” to execute the arrest warrant.

The judge had issued the arrest warrant following a criminal complaint filed before the court by Chima Akuzie, and his company, Chitek Ventures Ltd, accusing the senator of issuing N200m dud cheque to them.

Uzodinma and his companies – Smiec Engineering and Chemical construction company‎ and Niger Global Engineering and Technical Company Limited – are named as the defendants the direct complaint marked, CR/358/2018.

The complaint was issued against Uzodinma and his two companies by Chima Akuzie, and his company, Chitek Ventures Ltd, who claimed that the senator issued them a N200m dud cheque of United Bank of Africa.

The complainants alleged that Uzodinma subcontracted to them a shore-line protection contract in Koko, Delta State, which the senator was said to have got from the Niger Delta Development Commission.

They noted that the N200m bounced cheque was meant for the payment of the execution of the project.

But Uzodinma’s aide who queried the authenticity of the news also alleged that “some detractors” were using the complainants who defaulted in the execution of the sub-contract “to twist facts and abuse the judicial process just to dent the soaring political image of the senator”.

He wondered “how a disagreement between two corporate citizens which has been a subject of litigation for some time now and is still pending at the Supreme Court find its way to the Court, if not because some political enemies are behind it.”

Per Mertesacker “deeply regrets” the role that the Arsenal players had in Arsene Wenger’s exit.

The Frenchman left Arsenal at the end of last season after 22 years in charge having only guided them to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League after coming in sixth the previous year.

Wenger was let go a year before his contract expired and was replaced by ex-Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla boss Unai Emery.

Pressure had been building around the veteran manager for years as sections of the club’s support had been calling for him to leave.

But ex-Arsenal defender Mertesacker believes Wenger was failed by his players in the run up to a sad farewell.

“It was a bit surprising for us. He came into the meeting and said that he had decided together with the bosses to leave at the end of the season,” he told ESPN.

“It was a sad moment because I had the feeling I contributed my share to it.

“His farewell was also the players’ fault because we had many chances to get better results. We failed while he backed us all the time.

“I was the first who felt the need to say something and said I deeply regretted it. It was important for him to see that we had something to say as a team and that we stood by his side.”

Although his departure came with a feeling of sadness, Mertesacker believes the renowned coach left at the right time.

“No. Not a second too early or too late. When the news of his departure was finally out, the atmosphere changed,” he said.

“It was said what a great man he was, who changed this club extremely. You could not have had more success with this team. He got a deserved farewell and left this club as a legend.”

Africa’s leading entrepreneurship focused philanthropy, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, is launching the world’s largest digital platform for African entrepreneurs and the African entrepreneurship ecosystem – TEFConnect.

TEFConnect will officially be unveiled at this year’s TEF Forum, taking place on October 25, 2018, at Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria.

Harnessing and building on the success of Africa’s largest entrepreneurship catalyst, the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, which has attracted over 300,000 African entrepreneurs as applicants and trained and funded 4,460 to date, the Foundation is further democratising access to opportunity. TEFConnect is an open source platform, which will provide bespoke tools and content to catalyse business development for millions across the continent, through technology and directly applicable content.

Positioned as the “Facebook for African Entrepreneurs”, the TEFConnect platform is a contemporary, intuitive, informative and user-friendly go-to entrepreneurship space, that provides five specific benefits to its users, among others:

The one-stop digital home for entrepreneurship ecosystem players, including entrepreneurs, incubators, investors, academia and the private sector, providing news, informative resources, entrepreneurship events and opportunities.
Creating the space to allow African entrepreneurs to transact across countries and regions in Africa’s largest digital marketplace, with traffic reaching millions of consumers.
Access to free business tools such as financial planning calculators, business plan generators and marketing templates.
Access to the Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Programme Application Form, Enterprise Toolkit and business mentoring by global business leaders.
Enabling entrepreneurs to promote their businesses to potential investors and other entrepreneurs for cross-border collaboration.
Speaking on the launch of TEFConnect, the CEO of the Foundation, Parminder Vir OBE said: “The Tony Elumelu Foundation is simply about empowering African entrepreneurs. First, we launched the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, to provde 10,000 African entrepreneurs, over a period of 10 years with seed capital, mentorship and training. Next, we convened the full entrepreneurial ecosystem at the TEF Forum to forment engagement and deliberate discussions to change the narrative of Africa. Now, we are scaling our impact by connecting African entrepreneurship ecosystem on a single platform.”

The Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony O. Elumelu, CON also said: “In the four years, since the launch of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, we have shown that entrepreneurship can change a continent – we have invested in people and processes. We have already helped create business successes and brought policy makers into the entrepreneurial dynamic. But in many ways, we are scratching the surface. This year we are broadening our scope, taking the conversation to where interaction is increasingly occurring – the digital realm. By connecting African entrepreneurs globally on TEFConnect, we are further unleashing the true potential of our entrepreneurs and transforming the continent”.

The 4th TEF Forum will convene Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, including the broad investor community, government and policymakers, leading developmental organisations, private sector representatives, the media and partners.

This year’s Forum will also feature an interactive dialogue between the President of Ghana, HE Nana Akufo-Addo and President of Kenya, HE Uhuru Kenyatta, moderated by TEF Founder, Tony Elumelu.

To attend the TEF Forum or watch the unveil of TEFConnect live, click here: www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/tef-forum2018