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Students sponsored by the Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the United States have commended the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for sustaining the Amnesty Programme and the peace in the Niger Delta region.
A statement by Jimmy Iwezu, leader of the Amnesty Students in the U.S., obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, also dissociated the group from a planned protest at Washington, D.C., on Saturday.
“We wish to express our appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment and dedication to sustainable peace and development in the Niger-Delta through his support and continuation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“We also wish to commend the able leadership of Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd) for the positive changes that he has brought to bear on the programme through prompt payment of our fees and allowances.
“While it has not been all rosy, we note that despite the economic recession that Nigeria went through, it was still able to sponsor our education abroad and we are very grateful.”
The statement drew the attention of the public to the activities of those it called “a few faceless fraudsters” in the U.S.
It said the group was allegedly using the social media platform to spread “misleading and mischievous information about our welfare as government-sponsored students in different institutions of higher learning in the United States”.
“We wish to disassociate ourselves from any attempt to tarnish the image of Nigeria in the U.S. through outright lies, falsehood and blackmail being peddled in the social media by a faceless group that has called on people to join them on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, for a public demonstration against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari at the White House in Washington DC, USA.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to put it on record that our allowances and tuition fees have been paid up to the month of September, 2017 and the Amnesty Office has promised to pay up to November, 2017 when the next payment is made.”
The students appealed to those they termed “detractors and sponsored saboteurs” to desist from their evil activities of blackmail and distractions against the good job that the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta has done since 2015.
“We also appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria for the sustainability of the programme, which has achieved its mandate of ensuring peace and stability in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria”.
Mr. Boroh had told NAN that the Amnesty Programme was managing no fewer than 30,000 ex-agitators from the Niger-Delta region.
The presidential aide said the programme, which started in 2009, had sponsored the beneficiaries in various skill acquisition, education and entrepreneurship trainings, among others.
He added that well over 5,000 ex-agitators had benefitted within the past two years in critical areas of aviation, maritime, oil and gas and agriculture.
According to him, the programme has helped greatly to stabilise the Niger Delta region, adding the federal government is consolidating on the achievements to buoy the economy.
Mr. Boroh had also said the Buhari administration was committed to a peaceful and developed Niger Delta region, adding that this commitment had encouraged investors’ movement into the region.
“The impact of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the Niger-Delta region has been very satisfactory and encouraging because the ex-agitators have imbibed that culture of ensuring peace.
“This is to allow for growth in the region and they are happy about it because a lot of valuable entrepreneurship programmes are ongoing in the entire Niger-Delta region.
“Their (ex-agitators) morale is high and they are happy. Each time I go to discuss with the ex-agitators and the youth, they pledge their loyalty and support to the present administration.
“This is so that the administration can continue the good things it is doing because of the commitment of Mr President in ensuring peace, stability and development in the region.”
(NAN)
A family of five and two unidentified motorists escaped death by the whiskers yesterday on Ikorodu road as a truck carrying a 20ft Container moving outwards Onipanu suddenly fell on their vehicles, a Lexus GX470 Jeep with registration number AGL 414 CU (Lagos), conveying a family of five, and a Skoda car with registration BDG 482AT (Lagos). A commercial motorcycle a.k.a Okada was also involved in the accident but he leapt off the motorcycle in the nick of time as it went under the container, totally crushing it.
Fortunately all the occupants of the vehicles affected were immediately rescued alive from the wreckage by the LRU team and other emergency responders at the scene and rushed to a hospital. The responders included the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS) and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
Just before the container fell, there was already a multiple vehicle accident, which occurred at about 10.54, a.m at Palm Groove Bus Stop along Ikorodu road and nine people were rescued. According to the General Manager of LASEMA, Adesina Tiamiyu, a Nissan Xterra with registration number XKY 453 EX (Lagos), a Honda CRV with registration number LSR. 748 DG (Lagos) and a Honda City car with registration number KTU 391ES (Lagos) were involved in the multiple accident at Obanikoro inwards Onipanu.
The affected vehicles and container have been removed from the scene of the incidence but resulted in very heavy traffic, which lasted through out the day, leaving commuters stranded at various bus stops.
Following a series of events which included the Premier League trophy visiting media houses, MultiChoice offices, and also being hosted by the Nigerian Minister of Sports, the much acclaimed Trophy Tour came full circle last Saturday, at the Teslim Balogun stadium as lucky DStv and GOtv subscribers gathered to see the famed trophy whilst also watching live screenings of Premier League matches.
The day’s events began in the morning at the National Stadium, Surulere, with the MultiChoice Premier League Trophy Tour legend, erstwhile Bolton FC and Super Eagles Captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha partaking in football matches as part of the MultiChoice ‘Let’s Play’ initiative to promote healthy living amongst children.
The proceedings shifted to the Teslim Balogun Stadium, where under the watchful eyes of the Premier League officials, the trophy was mounted for visitors to take pictures with. A live screening of selected football matches including Manchester United versus Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal versus Swansea followed, with Jay Jay Okocha providing guest commentary alongside the SuperSport hosts.
Speaking at the event, the General Manager, Marketing, for MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. Martin Mabutho, said: “We continue to take pride in providing the very best and exclusive sporting content and experiences to our viewers. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many people to see the Premier League trophy and take pictures up close and personal. Every year we see various clubs fighting to lift this trophy and not many people, even Premier League players, ever get the opportunity to come this close. We are delighted to have brought the trophy to Nigeria and are thrilled to also have none other than Jay Jay Okocha accompanying it on its tour.”
A CHIEFTAIN of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Okey Ezeibe has called on the Anambra State governor, Chief Wille Obiano to put political considerations aside and take responsibility for the treatment of the former vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme who is on admission in an Enugu hospital following a sudden illness.
Speaking in an interview, Ezeibe said the fact that Ekwueme’s daughter, Mrs. Chidi Onyemelukwe, is the deputy governorship candidate of PDP for the November 18 election in Anambra State, should not make the governor see Ekwueme as a political opponent, arguing that it would even be a credit to him should he step in and take the necessary decision as the governor of Ekwueme’s state despite perceived political differences.
He observed that Obiano had done so well, especially in the area of provision of security in the state and in infrastructural development, noting that neglecting Ekwueme at this point in time would not be to his credit.
According to him, Ekwueme had remained a father figure in the state, recalling that even though he is a member of PDP, he had earlier blessed Obiano for his success in the forthcoming governorship election before his daughter was picked as a running mate to the candidate of PDP, Mr. Oseloka Obaze.
Ezeibe said: “Ekwueme is a legend and an elder statesman. He has never been a controversial person and at the age of 85 years, no one should see him as a political opponent.
“I can tell you that Ekwueme was not privy to his daughter becoming a running mate to the PDP candidate as it was the governor’s opponents that dragged his daughter into the race for political reasons. Even at that, we also know that Ekwueme’s son, Ogochukwu, is a special assistant to Governor Obiano.
“Ekwueme cannot even pose as a threat to any of the candidates in the election as he may not even go out to vote on that day because he regards all the candidates as his children.”
He argued that if the governors of Enugu and Abia states could do something for him during his 85th birthday, there was no reason why his own governor should not lead the way, adding that some of the lapses might have been from some of his aides, who appeared not to understand how to play good politics.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Bubari has approved immediate medical treatment of the former Vice-President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, outside the country.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Mr. Garba Shehu, the approval followed a brief the President received Friday on the medical condition of the former Vice-President. The approval covers the immediate charter of an air ambulance for the emergency movement and the cost of treatment. President Buhari prays that God will grant the elder statesman speedy recovery.
Former Nigeria international Taribo West has been appointed as the Vice Chairman of the Technical Study Group of the Nigeria Football Federation.
The NFF had on Monday dissolved its committees but on Friday, the federation in a statement released only the names of the new chairmen and vice chairmen of the committees.
Former AC Milan and Inter Milan defender Taribo was named as vice to Abba Yola in the TSG.
In the Finance Committee, Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande and Ibrahim Gusau were named as chairman and vice chairman respectively while the Internal Audit Committee has Sunday Dele-Ajayi and Mohammed Alkali and Organising Committee has Seyi Akinwunmi as chairman and Shehu Dikko as vice chairman.
The Technical and Development Committee is chaired by Yusuf Ahmed Fresh and he is assisted by Chidi Ofo-Okenwa while the Referees Committee is headed by Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, who is assisted by Fresh.
The Legal Committee has Akinwunmi and Chris Green as the chairman and vice chairman. The Women’s Football Committee consists of Ayo Omidiran and Aisha Falode while the Youth Football Committee has Akinwunmi and Emmanuel Iba as the heads.
The Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee is headed by Felix Anyansi-Agwu, who is assisted by Samson Adamu, the Sports Medicine Committee has Dr. Muazu Abdulkadir and Dr. James Omietimi while the Players Status Committee has Green as chairman and Owoicho Adejo-Ogiri as his vice. The Ethics and Fair Play Committee has former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission chairman Nuhu Ribadu as its head while Felix Awogu will assist him.
The Media and Publicity Committee is chaired by Yahaya-Kwande while Falode is his vice, the Football Committee has Akinwunmi and Dikko and the Strategic Studies Committee is chaired by Dikko while Fresh is the vice chairman.
Protocol and Ceremonial Committee is headed by Musa Duhu and Inuwa, Marketing, Sponsorship and Television Advisory Committee has Dikko and Emeka Inyama while Security Committee is headed by Gusau and Oswald Atuake. The Match Commissioners’ Appointment committee has Babagana Kalli and Dele-Ajayi as chairman and vice chairman.
About 10 million cows belonging to members of the Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria will be moved into Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State from Benue following the enactment of anti-grazing bill by the Benue State Government.
Chairman of MACBAN in the area, Alhaji Musa Muahhed-Mati, who gave this figure in an interview with our correspondent, said two million cows had been moved to Nasarawa as of Friday.
Muahhed-Mati, who expressed worry about the action taken by Benue State government, explained that the association was collaborating with the Nigerian Army, the police and other relevant stakeholders in Nasarawa State to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
He chided Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State for not finding alternative means of grazing for herdsmen before enacting the anti-grazing bill.
He said, “Our major problem is fear of our cows, particularly since farmers have yet to harvest their crops from their farms.
“We are in difficult situation. We are trying our best to ensure that peace reigns between us and the host community in Awe.”
A farmer in Awe, Abigail Bitraus , said she had to quickly rush to her farm to harvest her rice when she heard about the cattle being moved in by the herdsmen; even though, it was not the appropriate time to do so.
She said, “The large number of Fulani herdsmen and their cows scare me. When I learnt that they were relocating from Benue State to Nasarawa State, I had to rush to my farm to harvest my rice.”
In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State said he had already set up a committee in all the local government areas adjoining Benue State to monitor the movement and the migration of the Fulani herdsmen, warning that the destruction of farmlands and attacks on homes would not be tolerated.
The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti KacallaBaru, who led a high-powered delegation from the Corporation to the Governor of Benue State, Mr. Samuel Ortom, disclosed that all was set for seismic data acquisition work to commence in the state.
Dr. Baru also disclosed that apart from oil exploratory work, NNPC was also ready to kick-off its biofuel project located in the Agasha/Guma area of the state.
He explained that the Corporation’s upstream company, Integrated Data Services Ltd (IDSL), would carry out oil exploratory work in Makurdi, Guma, Gwer East, Gwer West and Logo Local Government Areas of the state, adding that work on the Nasarawa end which has commenced would cover the Ondori area (boundary between Benue and Nasarawa States).
“I am convinced that the success of the results from IDSL’s seismic data acquisition will lead to the drilling of exploration wells in these areas, which hopefully, would launch Benue state into the league of oil producing states in the country,” Dr. Baru stated.
He stated that the oil search was in fulfillment of the Presidential mandate of exploring for oil in the nation’s inland basins which was driven by the urgent need to increase Nigeria’s oil and gas reserves, thereby improving revenue streams and creating more business and employment opportunities for Nigerians.
The GMD informed that the NNPC team was in Benue to sensitise the government and people of the state on the mission.
On the biofuel project, Baru disclosed that when completed, Benue state stood to benefit a lot especially the area of employment generation as the project had the capacity to generate about one million direct and indirect jobs.
According to the GMD, other benefits of the biofuels project include the a sugar cane feedstock plantation of about 20,000 hectares; a cane mill and raw/refined sugar plant capable of producing 126,000 tonnes annually as well as a fuel-ethanol processing plant capable of producing 84 million litres annually.
“With the bio-fuels projects, we also hope to establish the Bagasse cogeneration power plant which will generate 64 MW; a carbon dioxide recovery and bottling plant that will produce 2, 000 tonnes annually as well as an animal feed plant that will produce 63, 000 tons annually,” Dr. Baru added.
The GMD also called on the governor to facilitate the release of the Certificate of Occupancy for the 50,000 hectares of land required for the expanded biofuels project in the state.
Responding, Governor Ortom expressed delight over NNPC’s oil exploration and bio-fuels projects in the state, adding that all the people of Benue were behind the two projects.
“I can assure you of our total support for these projects. We will work with our traditional institutions to sensitise our people on the need to massively support you,” Governor Ortom told the GMD.
To show Benue state’s support for the project, Governor Ortom instantly set up a committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu, to work with the NNPC team to ensure seamless execution of the two projects.
It would be recalled that only yesterday, the NNPC, in furtherance of the Federal Government’s biofuel policy, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ondo State Government to establish a 65,000 million litres per annum biofuel plant in Okeluse area of the state.
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In his 27 years as a civil servant in Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode was a quiet, solid achiever of immense gifts and remarkable ethos. With a bachelor’s and master’s in Accounting, he was focused early enough to start his working career from the modest position of Assistant Treasurer, Badagry Local Government in 1988. Nearly three decades later, and after a number of courses within and outside the country, the brilliant and hard working civil servant had risen to the positions of a permanent secretary and accountant-general, even holding both positions at a time. His accomplishments were staggering; but what was even more astonishing was the quiet manner he rose through the ranks and left a lasting impact.
It was, therefore, not surprising that less than three years after he voluntarily retired from the civil service, and with the same quiet dignity and self-effacement that have become his hallmarks, Ambode, 53, was back in government, this time at the highest level in Lagos State as its third Fourth Republic elected governor. It is not certain, despite his hard work and accomplishments, whether he thought that amazing political trajectory possible. It is not even clear, though he has great mentors, whether a year before he assumed office as governor, anyone thought to make a political gladiator of the self-effacing financial and administrative manager.
Twenty-nine years after he first signed up to work for the Lagos State government, through which he rose to be a consummate civil servant and adept financial manager, Ambode had become governor in extraordinary circumstances. He was indisputably sound as an auditor and accountant, even a chartered accountant, but not many, including perhaps some who voted for him in 2015 on trust, were absolutely convinced that the seemingly quiet and unpretentious financial expert and latter-day politician could muster the elan and charisma to lead the boisterous coastal state soon to mark its fifty years of founding.
Ambode had come highly recommended by a past governor, the pacesetting iconoclast, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And having excelled in school, he had acquired the character of showing grit, determination and uncommon brilliance. But he did not seem a natural politician, not to talk of being a lawyer and career rabble-rouser — these were the sort of people believed capable of succeeding as administrators and politicians. Ambode was different, confidently and quietly so. But he was not the usual politician Lagosians had grown accustomed to over the decades. Indeed, shortly after he was sworn into office, the most populous state in Nigeria seemed to experience some stasis, unable to respond to the new governor’s novel methods.
But less than two remarkable and astounding years later, after Ambode had executed dozens and dozens of quality and, in some instances, expansive projects one after another, it was as if the state had been waiting for him all along with bated breath. Both Ambode and Lagos were made for each other, after all. He has not yet forsworn his self-effacement, and is unlikely to, given his quiet and self-confident disposition, yet his achievements have both been recognised and lauded, often very loudly, as if to compensate for his quietude.
Charisma is not usually associated with quiet detachment; but in the case of Ambode, his achievements have illustrated his sometimes impalpable charisma. And as every analyst knows, it is indeed possible to possess charisma without a corresponding or even ethical demonstration of progress. Ambode defies stereotypes and confounds propositions by his relentless and ironically charismatic accomplishments.
Far beyond the number and quality of Ambode’s monumental projects is the scientism of his methods, the integrated network of projects and programmes that blend with one another and create a seamless, impactful whole. Whether road projects or school and health facilities, or whether security or human development programmes, Ambode’s strides in two years possess at once a certain abstractness and concreteness. Abstractness because many of the projects seem enviably and reassuringly futuristic; and concreteness because they are of practical and immediate use as tools for rewing up development and raising living standards.
It would be flattering to suggest that Lagos has a perfect cabinet. It probably doesn’t. However, given the achievements recorded in the past two years, and the peace and cooperation abiding in the cabinet, they are a reflection of the cerebral quality of the governor and his leadership skills as well as an indication that he has a critical mass of commissioners and heads of agencies to help him transform theory into practice. Importantly too, as is the nature of politics generally, the remarkable progress Lagos has made under Ambode reflects excellently on his interpersonal relations and financial management skills.
No matter how brilliant a cabinet, if the leader is not equally or better endowed, there would be no one to set the pace and direction. If Lagos is presenting itself as an example for other states and attracting attention from within and outside the African continent, it is an indication that a vision is in place and is being remoulded and refined, and a leader possessing character and confidence is also running the show.
What is most remarkable about the solid and frenzied pace of development in Lagos today is its spread, both spatially and intrinsically. Spatially, projects are sited in concentric circles in all the senatorial districts of the state, state constituencies, and wards. And in one way or the other there is an engaging interconnectedness in nearly al\ the projects so that they can integrate forward and backward and hum synergetically to make life liveable in the Lagos megacity. Intrinsically, ongoing projects include roads, bridges, hospitals, security apparatuses, and many legacy monuments. The Epe axis is being opened up grandly, Alimosho axis is being transformed into a behemoth, Oshodi is on the way to experiencing one of the most modern renewals ever, Lekki is enjoying a very thoughtful design makeover, and a new security architecture called neighbourhood security watch is already assembled.
All these renewals and re-engineering have been made possible because they were predicated on a masterful re-engineering of the state’s financial infrastructure. It is perhaps fitting that Ambode is in the saddle as the state marks 50, having been created in May 1967. He is fortunate to have predecessors like AsiwajuTinubu who laid the foundation, and Babatunde Raji Fashola who built on that foundation. Ambode has placed himself appropriately to build on the works of his predecessors, and to take the megacity. Project to a dizzying height. As a former civil servant, he knows how to drive the civil service and get the best out of it. As a career financial manager, he has reorganised the state’s finances and put it on an even keel to make it work for the state. As a thinker and scholar, he has designed practical and engaging ways to get things done and make the state and himself respond adequately like a scientist to the challenges of statehood. And like a deep thinker, he has primed himself, standing on the shoulders of his predecessors, to envision an incredibly expansive, surefooted and glorious future for Lagos.
That Ambode is able to achieve these great strides without the accompanying and distractive noisemaking politicians are so often and clearly besotted to is a testimony to his idiosyncratic resolve to leave a mark and legacy in Lagos. He is just half way into his first term. By the end of the first term, and at the rate he is going, not to say the fluidity of hisrhythm, he is expected to accomplish so much more, even as many of the legacy projects begun months back start to manifest in all their splendour. Lekki Expressway has been transformed, including a flyover at Ajah. Epe-Itoikin Expressway is nearing completion, so also the Abule Egba flyover. A number of other flyovers are in the works. More than 600km of roads have been rehabilitated or reconstructed. So too, have bridges been built. What is even more impressive is that it takes a very self-confident politician who will be facing re-election in less than two years to eschew the self-promotion and narcissism many politicians and governors are obsessed with. Under Ambode, Lagos is permanently in the works, aggressively and thoughtfully.
Sometimes, all it takes is a lay-by of not more than half a football field in Oworonshoki or Ketu. But it does wonders for traffic flow. Sometimes, all it needs is erasure of roundabouts, and traffic grid lock is eliminated. The beauty of the Ambode revolution coursing through the state’s sinews is that brain works, after all, and reflectiveness can go a long way in ameliorating the problems of a community. Today, there is no contention about Ambode’s capacity to govern exceptionally well.
If the sometimes querulous leader of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (POP) in Lagos, Bode George, could give Ambode not only a pass mark, but an excellent mark, all that the governor needs is to sustain hisperformance and probably better it in order to pass safely into the legend of Lagos where only a few past governors reside. Imagine the poeticalness of a quiet governor undertaking a quiet but unmistakable revolution. It is called virtuoso.
The clincher for many Lagosians and south-westerners is that far beyond working wonders in Lagos State is that Governor Ambode is also deeply thoughtful, philosophical and deologically expansive. His pursuit of regionalisation, where his predecessor had been fairly isolationist, speaks to his mindset as a true and well-bred son of the soil. He did not wait to be persuaded; and did not ask to be wooed. His instincts told him regionalism was right and did not detract from the state’s independence nor violated the constitution, nor yet flouted the unity and integrity of the nation. More importantly, he selflessly prepared his mind to put the vibrant economy of Lagos at the service of the region, knowing full well that the strength of his people and their security depend on the collective prosperity of the region. No sooner he was sworn in than he asked to be integrated into the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) There is no telling what six more years of Ambode will do for Lagos and the Southwest. He has started well, worked well, thought well, and from all indications, will finish well. The energies he brings to the job, and the organised and orchestrated ideas that undergird his stewardship, not to say the soundness of his visions, will ensure that the projects he has committed himself to, whether Atlantic City, Fifth Mainland Bridge, Dubainisation of Alimosho, renewal of Ikeja Business District and the rapid metamorphosis of the Lekki Axis, among other great developments, will permanently change the landscape of Lagos.
The tender and tough amiability of Governor Ambode is powerful. The extraordinary elements intrinsic to his glorious élan infused the future of Lagos State Government with great promise, and her present with the illumination of commanding graces. But it is his splendid gravitas that sparked simple things as street lights to sparkle, brighten and pulsate, inviting tourist and tempting global investors.
Every dimension of life in Lagos State is now joyous and anchored to the ardour and glamour of internationalist cordiality of vibrant cultures that enliven refreshing and perpetual hope. The peoples of Lagos State, assuredly, tender to the hugely cerebral Governor Akinwunmi Ambode Immeasurable gratitude for his steady, magnetic and winning leadership skills, and his delightful brilliance that has invigorated us all with joy and magnified the global stature of our precious homeland.
Dr. Adewale Adeeyo writes from Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State.
Am a journalist,I love creating news,am also a Human Rights worker,very passionate about people who suffer injustice in the society.
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