Babaloja Tejuosho tasks Ndigbo to disregard call to close all markets in Lagos for two weeks …Says those behind call, faceless, enemies of peace

Babaloja of Tejuosho Ultramodern Market (Phase 2), Yaba, Lagos State, Pastor Okey Anorue, has described as baseless and inconsequential the call for Ndigbo to close down their markets in Lagos for two weeks.

Anorue disclosed that those behind the call are faceless and a people without address, hence have no moral authority to give such directive to Ndigbo in Lagos.

Anorue who is also the Ezesinachi 1, the Eze Ndigbo of Igbogbo Bayerku Local Council Development Area, was speaking to Journalists in his capacity as a market leader and a leader of Ndigbo in Lagos State.

Anorue said “The call is baseless and inconsequential, how can you tell Ndigbo to close down their markets in Lagos for two weeks? We are still looking for a way to heal the wounds emanating from the just concluded election and people are pouring salt on injury again, this is unacceptable.

“For your information, there is no market in Lagos that solely belongs to Ndigbo, a customer who comes to market to buy, does he know Igbo or Yoruba; he is looking for where he can get value for his money.  So we are asking everybody to go back to their business, they shouldn’t bring their political differences to the market to start creating unnecessary fears in people.

“How can people who do not have any address or phone number begin to circulate such information and creating fears? I call them ‘unknown writers’, but we shouldn’t encourage that.”

He stated that the Executive Governor of the state, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is a lover of peace who has shown that he is a detribalized leader and warned trouble makers to desist from disturbing the peace currently enjoyed by residents of Lagos. He described Lagos as the most peaceful state in the country which must not be thrown into chaos by any group or persons.

Anorue who is also the former President of Imo State Towns Development Association Lagos (ISTDAL) stated that Market leaders in Lagos have alerted security agencies to arrest those that insist on disrupting the peace in Lagos markets. “We have alerted the security to deal with anybody that decides to foment trouble in the markets.”

Recalled that a group which described itself as ‘Nzuko Ndi Igbo di na ala Lagos’ recently sent out a circular on the social media calling on Ndigbo to protest the so called injustice and unfair treatment being suffered by the Igbos in Lagos State by closing markets for two weeks.

Part of the letter reads, “For this reason, we Igbos in Lagos have agreed to shut down the whole market for 2 weeks which includes transporters in Lagos State, with effect from 3^rd day of May, 2023.”

Anorue maintained that such call did not originate from any patriotic Igbo group and should not be given any iota of attention.

 

 

Madrid agog for SCOAN Spain Crusade

Ahead of April 28 and 29 SCOAN Crusade in Spain, Madrid, the country's city capital hosting the event is already agog for the much awaited Crusade for which the Spanish people have been longing over the years.

"With the announcement of the crusade in Spain, people have been trooping in from different parts of Europe like Germany, France, Norway, UK, Portugal, and some South American countries like Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay,  Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Guyana among others for the crusade" said Segun Olanipekun one of the Coordinators of the crusade in Madrid.

Hotels such as LCB group, Fuenlabrada, B&B hotel, Raddison Blu, Prado, Madrid Principe Pio, Madrid and NH hotel are currently already overbooked. The hospitality industries are already experiencing an unusual pressure of services with many more still scampering for booking. 

The two-day SCOAN Crusade by Pastor Evelyn TB Joshua will hold at Pabelion Fermando Martin, Fuenibrada Madrid, Spain. 

Speaking on the crusade, Pastor Evelyn TB Joshua stated that the Spain crusade would be holding by God's grace as scheduled and for the glory of God.

 Her words: "This is the Lord's doing and we will continue to give Him all honour, adoration and praise for His marvelous deeds. This is not about Evelyn but SCOAN where God reigns and His mighty hand is visibly in charge and Prophet TB Joshua has remained the General Overseer". 

According to her, there has been a deluge of invitations from several countries all over the world for Crusade of which Prophet TB Joshua to the glory of God was able to attend to some of them before his passing into glory.

"We have continued to receive invitations upon invitations from nations and friends of the Ministry who believe in the God of TB Joshua and know that his spirit is alive as his Master Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour is alive for He never said 'good bye' as He continues in the divine task of blessing, healing, deliverance and salvation for those who trust and look up to Him.

"It is in the veins of these invitations that we have chosen in grace to be in Spain and as soon as God gives us more grace it shall be turn by turn for other countries", the church leader leading the crusade, Evelyn Joshua further stated. 

Clearly, the expectations on this crusade are very high as many all over the world have remained dumbfounded at the great miracles still happening in SCOAN after the passing of the God's General, a personification of love whose Christ's spiritual prowess and philanthropic activities touched the lives of many.

 

Book launch: You can’t isolate youths from governance, they’re stakeholders to development---Ayodeji Akeem Amodu …Says Tinubu believes in youths

Estate Surveyor and Valuer, the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, on Housing, Ayodeji Akeem Amodu, has stated that the youths are so important that nobody can isolate them from governance, as they are stakeholders to development.

Amodu also emphasized that the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, believes in the youths and the youths themselves believe in Tinubu, the Iconic.

Amodu who described Sanwo-Olu as Mr Governor, Mr Salable, Mr Infrastructure and the Incident Commander took the position while addressing the media at the launch of the book titled The Iconic Bola Ahmed Tinubu: An Inspiration to African Youths which was held at the Lagos Oriental Hotel recently.

He said “I am a youth myself, I am just 50 plus now, the youths have been yearning for inclusiveness in governance, and I can say to you that it is high time the youths are put in the right places to actually participate in governance. As a leader, I believe in inclusive governance, there is no way you can isolate youths from governance because they are stakeholders to development, both social, economic, political, we need to bring the youths, we need to hear their view.”

He opined that the reason the youths demonstrated during the EndSARS saga was due to a feeling of exclusion from governance. “If you look back into what happened over two years now, during the EndSARS, what prompted that up was something that was civil initially but it went out of hand because the youths were bottled up with a lot of thought that they were not being carried along, they have not been given their rightful place, so they all joined up and it was a gang-up, and people were brainwashed to actually come out to display what we saw during the EndSARS.”

Amodu brought a message of hope, saying that government has seen the lacuna and has designed roadmap to fill it. “Be that as it may, the government has seen that there has been a lacuna, there has been a vacuum, even before the youths came out to display what happened at the EndSARS, going forward, 2023, as you know, the general elections have just been concluded, and that is one thing our President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will come to fill come May 29, when he will become the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by the grace of God.”

Amodu maintained that as someone who believes in the youth, Asiwaju will appoint about 50% of youths into his cabinet “Asiwaju is someone who believes in the youth, look at his manifesto, he actually went all out to say, there will be about 50% of youths in his cabinet, that he is going to make sure that there is not going to be issues of they are not carried along. If you remember, Asiwaju became a Senator of the Federal Republic when he was a youth himself, and he understood what the youths needed, he understood the tenacity at which the youth need inclusiveness in government, and that was why he performed so much, someone that came after being a senator to become the Governor of Lagos State, when he chose his first cabinet, they were all young people.”

The internationally renowned Estate Surveyor gave instances of youths whom Asiwaju appointed into his cabinet when he was Governor of Lagos, saying that the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) was appointed when he was a youth, adding that even though people were saying that Asiwaju was too old to run for the office of the president, they forgot that he is a man who believes so much in the youth. “He employs the youths, he made sure that a lot of the youths were employed in 2004 in the civil service, most of the parastatals that are existing in government, from the LASMA, LAWMA, Neighborhood Watch, KAI, these were people that were meant to be street urchins before, but the Lagos State Government came all out and employed them en mass. The civil service, during the time of Asiwaju’s first and second term, witnessed the highest number of employment, and what are we talking about? The youth should wait and see what Asiwaju gonna do this first tenure of his, and I know that he is not going to let them down, he is going to make sure he put them in the right places.”

Amodu appreciated the youths whom he said worked assiduously to ensure that Asiwaju garnered votes enough to make him victorious. “During the campaign we saw all what the youths did, just recently the national leader of the youth His Excellency Dayo Israel just had a dinner in form of an Easter, for people to come and celebrate with Asiwaju’s victory at Lagos Continental. So you saw how that young man, at one point he was the One Day Governor in Lagos State, and from there he has been picked, and he has performed, he has been given very strategic positions, and that has even led him to be able to take over that position of a national youth leader, and we saw how he went all out, he travelled wide, all the 36 states, just to campaign for Asiwaju, what else can anybody want from the youth, Asiwaju believes in the youths and the youths themselves believe in Asiwaju, the Icon himself.”

Omoragbon tasks National Assembly on laws banning government officials from medical tourism, sponsoring their children abroad for studies

Pastor Peters Osawaru Omoragbon, the Executive President Nurses Across the Borders International, President Diaspora Nurses Association of Nigeria and Director, International Liaison Nigeria Nurses Charitable Association, UK, has recommended that the National Assembly should enact a law banning any government official from going abroad for Medical purposes and also preventing them from sponsoring their children abroad for studies. 

Pastor Peters Omoragbon who is also a Permanent UN Representative for Nurses Across the Borders and First Nigerian Designated Contact Person to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change made the disclosure while answering questions on a Live TV programme Lagos Talk 91.3 on Thursday, April 14, 2023.

Omoragbon stressed “If that is in place, they will be serious in fixing our medical facilities than going abroad for treatment.  When Nelson Mandela was dying, he was not flown abroad for treatment, he was treated in South Africa. But the reverse is the case in Nigeria.”

Omoragbon also knocked both chambers of the National Assembly over their attempt to stop health professionals from seeking greener pastures abroad until after five years of their training.  

The medical expert was speaking on the implication of placing Nigeria on the Red List by United Kingdom.

Omoragbon took a swipe at the lawmakers whom he reprimanded for obviously not doing due diligence and research work before drafting the bill, stressing that the government lacks justification to restrict freshly trained health workers from leaving the country because they did not train the health workers, adding that the bill in spite of its good intentions is ill timed.

“Without being disrespectful or without being immodest, I will say that the bill, as far as, I am concerned is wrongly timed, it is a good bill to try to moderate the migration of our healthcare practitioners outside of Nigeria in view of the dearth of the practitioners themselves to meet our demands.”

Omoragbon also argued that the lawmakers lack the power to restrict personal liberty “The other negative aspect of the bill is there is no way you can regulate or restrict personal liberty, it is one thing to say all Nigerian doctors and nurses should not go out, you can only make such rule if you are the one who trained them, pay for their training and at the end of the day it is imperative for you to serve me, we will agree for seven years or five years, if after your training you are going to serve me. For instance, I was trained at Aro as a Psychiatric Nurse by the Management of the Psychiatric Hospital and I was placed on level 4, as a student nurse in 1982, so every month I would be paid by the Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba for the three years I was training at Aro. When I came back, I was bonded for three years, I could not leave Yaba until I worked for three years; that was an agreement that was voluntarily entered.”

He informed that medical practitioners in Nigeria pay for their trainings and not the government, hence government cannot stop them from migrating to other countries through legislation.  “Today, every nurse, every doctor, every pharmacist, they pay for their training, their parents pay for them. Now for a government to come out and put up a bill and say yes, once you have finished your training, you must not leave Nigeria, it is not done.

“Even the WHO code of practice, is very clear. That code of practice is only applicable to governments, that means international governments cannot officially go to any country to recruit like they did years back, but it does not, it is very clear, it does not restrict the individual liberty of any nurse or doctor who wants on their own seek employment outside Nigeria. So you see that even the bill, the intent cannot be applicable, it can’t be promoted. One, you don’t have control over these people, you didn’t train them, so you can’t restrict their migration.”

Omoragbon queried the lawmakers for not carrying enough research before coming up with the bill “But the question I have for the Honourable members of Representatives, and Distinguished Senators, one, before initiating the bill, did they take time to carry out a research on reasons Nigerian nurses, and doctors and pharmacists are leaving the country, did they take time to find out, that is one. Two, in both chambers the standing committees on health of both chambers and even at the state chambers, because we have state assemblies, how many of these standing committees have taken time to go round the states, and even the federal government hospitals to ascertain their state and standard, to see the equipment that are there, are they working, how many nurses do they have?, Did they do that?  Number three, to what extent did this chambers interact with Diaspora professional associations  to engage them on emerging practices in these countries because we have the best doctors, the best nurses, the best scientists who are outside Nigeria, and these Nigerian professionals belong to various professional groups. You will recall I am the Director for International Liaison for Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association in Uk, so how many times have these people interacted with diaspora associations, they did not, but they come to these places for holidays or whatever, but they have not come for an official trip to discuss with these groups to come up with ideas on best practices and we can replicate them in Nigeria.

“The other question I have for the lawmakers is, are these lawmakers conversant with the universally accepted and approved ratio of health professionals to the patients as prescribed by WHO, are they aware? If they are aware, if they have taken time to answer these questions, they would have known that, yes, Nigerians are going out because they don’t have what they needed to work with, if they have taken time to answer these questions, they should have known as the second arm of government they would have impressed it on the Executive branch, to say, look, this and this, they come up with bills that can promote, project and improve our healthcare delivery services, that should be their target, they can take up the executive, if the executive refuses to play ball, they know what to do to make sure the executive complies, they can even refuse to approve the budget of the executive, but I don’t know whether there is a conspiracy, between these various arms, they don’t care, if they care so much about the health of the citizens, the nature of our healthcare delivery services, they won’t be paying lip service to it,” Omoragbon fumed.

He further made it clear that the government is not subsidizing training of the health professionals in Nigeria. “I told you as at 1982 when I went for my training, I said, Yaba Psychiatric Hospital sponsored my training, I was placed on level 4 in those days, after some years, the government stopped sponsorship of nurses. Now I don’t know what you mean by subsidy, my twin brother’s daughter is studying Nursing,  do you know that today, she attends a private university because our government universities are regularly on strike in Nigeria, and the tuition fee in this university for nurses is about N1million every session? Minus the fee for hostel and other expenses. Right now we are providing fund for this, and now government is saying they are subsidizing, I do not understand the definition of subsidy. The federal and state universities also pay fees.

“There is no school of nursing in Nigeria that doesn’t pay. The reason I can tell you this is, apart from training and practising in Nigeria before relocating abroad, I interact with Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, colleagues still in service. In fact I am currently in Abuja, I had a meeting with the Registrar two days ago. I interact with the National Association of Nigerian Nurses, which is the national body of nurses, we interact. Then I have colleagues, I know what is happening.  So School of Nursing are not free, they pay their school fees, you can say the school fees may not be as high as what is obtainable in private institutions. If the government is serious and they want the nurses to remain, the doctors to remain, let them put them on salary; they don’t even enjoy bursary. I don’t understand what they mean by Subsidy. It is either you pay them bursary every session or on monthly basis. In UK, to train as a nurse, when I got there I still went back to school. There are two assistance government gives. As a citizen who gets admission to study Nursing, the first one is about 10,000 pounds per annum tuition fees. Government pays it, you now have what is called Maintenance Allowance, given to you as loan, you are given 10 to 15000pounds a year, the government assess your household income to determine what you get aa Maintenance loan and all that, you can get as much as 12 to 15000 pound a year. Even at that they do not tie you down because they pay your tuition fee, or you must work for us. The only time you pay back is when you start working and your annual income is more than 21,000 pounds. You start paying monthly less than 6% of your Maintenance loan.  You don’t pay back the tuition.

 “There is what is called National Insurance, the national insurance records what you earn, the HMRC–Her Royal Majesty Revenue and Customs is the body responsible for tax and all that, you now start paying back the maintenance loan, it is automatic, the government will start taking from what you are earning.

 

 

 

LASU signs Technical affiliation agreement with two private institutions under Sandwich Degree Programme

Lagos State University, on Monday, 17th, April 2023, officially signed a Technical Affiliation Agreement with two private institutions namely, Topmost College Of Education, Ipaja, Agbado, Lagos and Royal College of Education, Ifo, Ogun State, to provide educational services under the Sandwich Degree Programme. 

The agreement signing ceremony took place at the Vice Chancellor's Conference Room, sixth (6th) floor, Babatunde Raji Fashola Senate Building, Main Campus Ojo, Lagos.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji - Bello mni, in her address welcomed representatives of the partnering institutions and also reiterated the commitment of the University to providing not just quality education to students, but, also conducting cutting - edge research and contributing to the development of Society.

Speaking on the collaboration, the 9th Substantive Vice Chancellor of the University said "...This partnership will enable us to provide more opportunities for education and skills acquisition to our students, it will also make education accessible to the common man in line with Goal 4 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on education which is to ensure inclusive and equitable education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all." she stated.

The Deputy Registrar, Legal Unit, Mrs. O. O Boyejo, while detailing the terms of the partnership, explained that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) permits the partnering institutions using the statutory authority the Lagos State University has, to run their Sandwich Degree Programme and also making use of the University Expertise. In her words "This collaboration will allow only Lagos State University Senate - accredited courses in conjunction with the Lagos State University Faculty of Education to run at your institutions, under the collaboration. 

This was followed by the signing of the agreement, while the Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel A. FANU gave the vote of thanks.

The MOU signing had in attendance members of the University Management, Representatives of Topmost College of Education, and Royal College of Education, Director Sandwich Programme, Prof. John Adeogun, Members of the Vice Chancellor's Office and Centre for Information and Public Relations.

The Agreement is for a period of Five (5) years and it is renewable based on performance.

 

LASU gathers 16 heads of Police, DSS divisions to parley on security of staff, students ....As VC canvases for greater synergy with operatives

Sixteen (16) heads of Police and Department for State Services (DSS) Divisions around the University environs converged on the main campus of the Lagos State University, to hold a crucial parley with the University Management on Monday, 17th of April, 2023 with a focus on improving the security of lives and properties of staff and students of the University. 

Divisional Police Officers of Trade-fair division, Igando division, Sèmé division, Isashi division, Ilemba Hausa division, Iba division, Satellite division, Ojo division, Onireke division, Ijanikin division, Okokomaiko division, Badagry division, Festac division, Morogbo division, and the Head, DSS, Ojo were either physically on ground or represented at the first-of-its-kind parley.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji Bello, mni while giving her opening speech at the Council Chambers, Babatunde Raji Fashola Senate Building, main campus, Ojo,  commended the security officers for taking time to be at the meeting as well as the great job done over time in keeping the community safe. 

She said, "The meeting of today was informed by a common purpose which is the safety of lives and properties of staff and students of the Lagos state university and by extension, residents of the environment. We have a duty of care to secure Staff and Students as long as they are within our span of control."

She further stated that "security is everyone's responsibility and it is up to us as stakeholders to adopt the right strategies to forestall issues that can threaten the safety and wellbeing of our staff and students", in a speech that opened the floor for extensive interaction between the officers of the forces, members of the University Security Supervisory Committee and the University Management. 

The meeting deliberated on areas of security concern such as cultism, kidnapping, rape, profiling of students, amongst others as stakeholders agreed on the need for better civility, education and orientation and improved communication among all stakeholders. The security officials also expressed their resolve to continue to look out for the safety of lives and properties of students under their Areas of Responsibility (AOR) in a show of commitment to the partnership with the university.

Some of those who spoke were the Chairman, LASU Security Advisory Committee, Prof. James Kehinde, Chief Security Supervisor, CSP Oluwole Ojo Rtd, DPO Onireke Division, CSP Smith Olanrewaju Kosebinu, Head, DSS Ojo Division, Mr. Ayodele Ogundoro, DPO Satelite Division, CPS Oyin Francess, amongst others. 

The Dean, Students Affairs, Prof. Tajudeen Olumoko and President Lagos State University Students Union, Comrade Moses Adelakun, were also among those who barred their minds at the breakfast parley.

The parley also had in attendance members of the University Management, officials of the Vice Chancellor's Office, the Centre for Information and Public Relations and the University Multimedia Centre.

 

 

Anti-Conflict Peace Keeping Service Commander, Kenneth Garuba, speaks on role of early warning

Commander of the Anti-Conflict Peace Keeping Service, Kenneth Garuba has made it clear that his outfit was designed to give early warning.

Commander Garuba was speaking at the Headquarters of the Anti-Conflict group at Agor-Palace Way, Lagos State recently during the training of the group.

Garuba took the stand while responding to the question on the role his organization will play in the new administration. He said “We will continue to give early warning; that is what we have been signed for under the Ministry of Interior. We continue giving early warning. If the military, paramilitary, civilians, if they love this country, Nigeria, they should get this warning or this advice from Anti- Conflict, they should get it to their office. Nobody should cause any problem if they love the country, but when you hate the country, you can force people who are not qualified to be there to be there, which means you hate the country. But when you like the country, I tell you, you will allow peace to reign, you allow justice to reign, you allow right to reign; that is what I see.”

Commander Garuba also spoke on the plan by the group to organize a seminar in the near future once the new administration comes on board. “In the new administration, what Anti-Conflict Peace Keeping Service will do is very simple, we are not a hidden body, the para-military Anti-Conflict, stands for justice, integrity, all we can do is to make sure we put together some seminar where we will invite other arms of government, like Navy, Army, Air-force, and Police, all the para-military, so that Anti-Conflict will educate them to make sure they learn how to avoid problems.”

He also lent his voice in condemnation of the call for Military takeover or Interim Government in Nigeria, saying that it is wrong “It is wrong, Interim Government, from which angle, military, supported by civilian or who, which area, is it the people that said the military cannot take over again? Why do you want to push them back to the same position they rejected them for, why? So for me Anti-Conflict generally, we want somebody that will do Nigeria well, everyone should learn how to respect justice because such a thing is gone, no more justice again, no more right again, no more truth again, as I know military reach, what we are seeing today in military, that is not what it used to be, everybody worked according to the division of labour, but go to some areas today, you see military officer doing police work, police is doing their own, LASMA, everything, all the people wearing uniform, no one go to what they are trained for, and these are the things Anti-Conflict found out and would not allow it to continue like this.”  

On his advice to Nigerian youths, and what should be their role in the incoming administration, he replied “Enough is enough to the so-called politicians to use them, enough is enough.  Youths of Nigeria should learn how to grow with sense, wisdom and knowledge, if their mother that carry them in the womb fight the time they were in the womb, if their mother were fighting, they won’t bring them out, so they should see it that fight, problems, conflict in Nigeria will not help any of them, rather it will pull them down.”

Ijeshatedo: Lagos Bus-stop where pedestrians die, number of victims increase …As The Lord’s Chosen Church appeals for permission to repair collapsed bridge

“Those black patches you are seeing at the foot of the bridge are the blood of an elderly man who was just crushed by a commercial bus a few hours ago while he was crossing the expressway. This kind of gory sight is a daily occurrence since the collapse of the pedestrian bridge”

That was how the current pathetic prevailing situation at Ijesha Bus stop along Oshodi Apapa Expressway as narrated by Iya Fatai, a fruit seller at the bus stop, when this correspondent visited the area. Her lamentation was the same with sellers of different articles and pedestrians at the bus stop.

Recently, there has been an upsurge in the proportion and absolute number of traffic fatalities at the bus stop as a result of the damaged pedestrian bridge. At the last count, the bus stop has witnessed  an average of three accidents daily, of which most of them were fatal. 

It could be recalled that in the early hours of Wednesday, 16th March, 2022, a truck was coming from Apapa axis at top speed, probably with a faulty bucket and on getting to the bridge with its bucket raised; it hit the bridge and got stuck. In an attempt to pull the truck off the bridge, that resulted in a section of the bridge broke-away, thus rendering the bridge impassable. 

The bridge, which was damaged by a heavy duty moving truck over one year ago, was serving all pedestrians from the densely populated Amuwo/FESTAC axis and Ijesha/Surulere areas of Lagos. Besides, other big churches like TREM, Bride Assembly, Mountain of Fire Ministries, Deeper Life Bible Church etc, with large worshipers, have their branches within the areas. It also has as its tenant a branch of Fidelity Bank, the expansive Akolade shopping complex and the headquarters and revival ground of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, which is one of the most mega ministries in Nigeria with tens of thousands of worshipers cross the road for church activities on daily basis. Given the importance of the bridge to the people, it was expected the damage would have been repaired or reconstructed before now. Thus the people are groaning over the inability of the authorities to fix it till date.

Obviously, accidents don’t just happen, they are caused. It therefore goes to say that every accident in relation to transport is not a mere occurrence but has been instituted as a result of one factor or another. Often, members of one family are wiped out. That is more reason it is expected that shortly after the incident, the authority concerned should have swerved into action to fix the bridge due to the purpose it is serving.

We learned that four days after the incident, the Director, Federal Highways, South West Region, Mr Adedamola Kuti made an announcement that the bridge has been shut down for safety reasons. In that briefing Kuti expressed surprise over the accident as according to him the 30 years old bridge was higher than the normal heights for bridges of its types and that was more reason it could enable all trucks, vis-à-vis containerized vehicles and fuel tanks etc. The director also stated that the truck driver who was responsible has been apprehended, and would soon be prosecuted for deliberate damage to public infrastructure.

Kuti regretted that it was not fair after the Federal Government had spent huge resources to construct and repair roads and other infrastructures, such facilities would get damaged or abused by the users. He however promised that the Ministry would invite their contractor to assess the level of damage in order to advise on what to do. Moreover, he ordered that some of the beams and slabs still hanging dangerously on the facility should be removed immediately to prevent them falling on moving vehicles thereby causing more harm. He therefore appealed to
pedestrians and other road users to bear with the government, while assuring speedy rehabilitation of the bridge.

Kuti assured of the presence of the Police at the spot to ensure safety around the damaged facility. Meanwhile, according to him calls had been placed through to the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to assist pedestrians who now have no other option than to walk across the highway. But despite the promises made by Kuti, the bridge is still in a sorry situation and has not been fixed till date. Also those he said would be at the spot to assist pedestrians crossing the road are nowhere to be found. As a result, many road users have died, while others sustained injuries. Some pedestrians had expressed fear and worries over the danger of dashing across the expressway due to the incessant accidents and number of casualties involved. 

Given the prevailing anxious situation at Ijesha bus stop, one would be wondering if the huge amount invested by the federal, state government and CSOs in the campaign to draw the attention of Nigerians on the need to use the pedestrians’ bridges when crossing highways is in vain. When there is no alternative crossing-aid provided in such a case like ijesha bus stop, what shall the righteous do? Sometimes some overzealous security agents instead of helping, they
extort pedestrians crossing the highway. Furthermore, what is the rationale of asking the security agencies to arrest and sanction persons who cross the highway at the location where the pedestrian bridge is damaged as it is done at ijesha bus-stop.

We were told that one of the civic responsibilities of the government is to save life and properties. But in the case of this strategic bus stop, lot of doubt is being cast upon the government because of its inability to demonstrate empathy when it is most required.
It was the same story of dismay by those interviewed by this writer at the bus stop..
Mrs Tina Akume, a teacher explained that the fear of death by accident has hindered a lot of businesses within the area, as many children and others in the neighborhood had stopped going to school because of the inability to cross the expressway.  According to her, some adults are now compelled to trek a kilometer in order to access another bridge.

Also, one of the pedestrians, Mrs Ogechi Onyenze lamented that due to her health condition, she couldn’t cross the expressway unless assisted by sympathizers. 

The same is applicable to many other people living or doing business around the vicinity. Mr Olatunde Adegbemi on his own narrated his ordeal on the damaged bridge, pointing out that life has not been easy for road users like him. "Crossing the expressway without using the bridge is like one trying to commit suicide. In fact, there had been several accidents at this spot. Most times many spend up to thirty minutes for traffic to ease before embarking on crossing the busy expressway. When I remember how vehicles kill people here regularly, I become afraid of crossing, but due to no alternative means, I decided to take the risk." He said.

Adegbemi called on both Lagos State and Federal Government to treat the damaged bridge as an emergency situation that needs urgent attention. "This Bridge needs urgent attention because many accidents have occurred here. Many have died here, while others sustained serious injuries. So, those concerned should not wait until more people die, before fixing the bridge."

Another pedestrian, Mr.  Ernest Asuquo averred that crossing the expressway has caused a lot of deaths, as some pedestrians do so, without looking properly. He therefore appealed to the Federal Government to speedily fix the bridge so as to save lives”

Reacting to the collapsed bridge, spokesperson of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Pastor Louis Chidi was almost in tears, as he recounted the number of ghastly accidents that had occurred at the bus stop as a result of the damaged bridge. “The rate at which accidents happen at that bus stop is alarming, and may have exceeded about 40% of the total accidents in Lagos state. The essence of pedestrian bridge is to make crossing safer for pedestrians and other users. And now there is no bridge; it implies that death has been declared to those who would have used it to save their lives.

"Many have died in the course of trying to cross the Apapa/Oshodi expressway either on their way going or returning. We are not happy seeing casualties as a result of controllable accidents that are really posing serious concern to us. Could you believe that many families have lost their loved ones at that place? The lives lost at that place cannot be quantified with what it will cost to fix the bridge."

He expressed regrets that people are allowed to die in such a manner, when there are supposed to be preventive measures to be taken.

Emphasizing further Chidi said that the Ijesha bus stop needs a functional bridge that would serve the people, to avert accidents. He appealed to both federal and Lagos State Government to intervene in reconstructing the damaged bridge in order to save lives. “We are deeply touched by the ugly situation at the Ijesha bus stop, and are therefore using this opportunity to call on the Federal and Lagos State Government to help fix the bridge.”

Chidi also stated that if the job cannot be handled within the shortest period of time, those concerned should authorize his church to bear the cost of fixing it, in order to further save the lives of the road users. "We wouldn’t mind bearing the cost of reconstruction of the bridge if the authority could allow us to do so.”

 

 

PIAFo presents platform to x-ray pending NITDA Bill, as experts call for its withdrawal

From Left: CEO, ICT Derivatives, Mr. Ayoola Oke; Managing Partner, Classicus LP Solicitors & Advocates, Mr. Olusola Akinyemi; Managing Partner, Crimson Partners Attorneys & Legislative Consultants, Ben Nwaroh; Lead Executive, Policy Implementation Assisted Forum and Editor, Business Metrics Nigeria,Omobayo Azeez; CEO, Jidaw Systems Limited, Jide Awe; and Kenneth Erikume, Policy Analyst, PwC Nigeria.

Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo), on Thursday, April 13, 2023, gathered industry stakeholders, the media and policy analysts at the Colossus Hotel, Maryland, Lagos to jawjaw as well as air their views on the National Dialogue on the Pending NITDA Bill 2021.

The theme of the day’s event was ‘NITDA Act: Towards the Sustainability of Nigeria’s Digitl Economy Drive’.

While welcoming the discussants and guests, the Convener, Omobayo Azeez, Lead Executive, PIAFo and Editor, Business Metrics Nigeria in his Opening Remarks said lately, his organization has followed with keen interest issues around the proposed NITDA Bill 2021 which seeks to repeal and re-enact the NITDA Act 2007 that established the National Information Technology Development Agency.

According tp PIAFo, the Bill, which is now pending at the National Assembly, is aimed at creating a regulatory framework for the development of the Nigerian IT sector and digital economy.

Azeez stated that while this, on its own, may not be a bad thing, there are fears that if the Bill is passed the way it is, it may exert negative ripples on the ICT sector, adding that NITDA has been a major contributor to the Nigeria ICT development alongside other agencies of the government under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, and beyond.

However, the dusts raised around this pending Bill could not be ignored by the organisers of the forum in the interest of Nigeria’s growing ICT sector and the country’s fast-pacing digital economy drive.

Azeez said “The ICT sector has been an economic enabler and a catalyst for socio-economic development. Its contribution to the economic fortune of the country has been impressive and its impacts, felt across various divides.

“For instance, in the last quarter of 2022, the sector contributed 16.22% to the country’s GDP, rising from 15.35% in the third quarter of the year. In fact, in the preceding second quarter, total ICT contribution to GDP was higher at 18.94%. Similarly, Nigeria’s digital economy is estimated to have attracted over $4.4 billion in investments in the last four years. As impressive as these figures may sound, the sector has not yet reached its full potential and if well-protected from policy missteps, its future contributions will be higher. This is why this forum becomes imperative – to ensure the sustainability of the ICT sector and sustain Nigeria’s digital economy growth through effective dialogue among stakeholders,” he said.

Azeez added that PIAFo is not taking positions but only providing the platform for the experts to discuss. “We only hope that our efforts in putting this event together will help the industry to aggregate perspectives, clear grey areas, harmonise thoughts and prevent any controversial overlapping tendencies likely to disrupt the growth of the digital economy sector,” he concluded.

Ayoola Oke, a Legal Practitioner specializing in Information and Communication Technology Law and Policy also lent his voice saying “Apparently, there is a NITDA law and the organization itself is championing that the law be reviewed and reenacted with some changes, however it seems that not much consultation was done from everything we can see. And it was presented as an executive Bill coming from NITDA,  it doesn’t look as if the Attorney General’s office and the Ministry of Justice have vetted it, because it replicates what is in other laws, it gives powers to NITDA that are already given to other agencies, so that is the problem.

“NITDA specifically supposed to be a developmental agency, that was how it was conceived, and that is how most of the original law is, but in its new incarnation, the first five sections of the function of NITDA were not in the old law and all of them have to do with regulatory powers in the ICT sector, and most of these powers are already powers that are given to organisations like Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for technical regulation and NBC for content regulation, both within the ICT sector. So now all of a sudden, the bill seeks to appropriate the powers to NITDA, and that is going to create more confusion in the industry, it will bring about multiple regulation as some people have said, multiple taxation.

“Then there is no clear discernment of what the bill is seeking to do, what is it that has become different, maybe that made the old law obsolete that the bill is trying to improve or correct? The bottom line anyway is that if they cannot establish why you are changing a law, then why tamper with it? To change a law you must know, okay, this is what is wrong, in law we say, what is the mischief that has necessitated you trying to change, what is wrong? What are the new situations arising that makes you want to change the provisions.”

He said NITDA is a developmental agency and should stick to its responsibility. “So generally, NITDA is a developmental agency, but with the regulatory powers they are trying to give to NITDA, it means they are changing the whole essence of NITDA from being a developmental agency into a regulatory agency, and that is not enough reason to review the law.”

Jide Awe, Managing Director, Jidaw Systems, a Policy Advisor on Science, Technology and Innovation is of the conviction that the bill should not go forward as inputs of stakeholders in the industry is lacking in the bill “The bill should not go forward as it is, because there are certain issues that are raised here today, the major issue noticed was the lack of stakeholders inputs into the bill, sufficient collaboration in developing the bill. You know whenever you develop any policy or something like that, let the people who will be affected, let them tell you their needs, and if you have some ideas interact with them, engage with them so that we will know the impact of what you are trying to propose.”

On the insinuations that the essence of the bill was to increase profitability and gag social media, he said “I cannot say that is the essence of the bill, but it would be wrong if that is the essence of the bill. If you listen to my presentation, we are in the era of communication and disruption that should encourage openness, sharing of ideas, you don’t have to agree with my ideas but let’s share ideas, listen to feedback, and when you have ideas you can put innovation, you have new knowledge, new opportunities, so I don’t believe in  gagging idea, we have left that era of somebody, there is somebody that knows it all, now we are in era of collaboration, ideas can come from anywhere, it can come from a startup, from a young person, it doesn’t necessarily have to come from the head of the ministry or head of an organistaion.”

He concludes that there is a need to do more to advance the sustainability of the Nigeria’s digital economy, but should be done by carrying people and stakeholders along.

According to Olusola Akinyemi, Managing Partner, Classicus Law Practice, Solicitors and Advocates, Lagos State, in his contribution spoke on what he called the structure of the bill, adding that before creating a law there is need to define your strategy and not creating a law before finding a purpose for it, which appears to be the case with the NITDA bill. He said “Every form of engagement that should have been had before this bill was introduced was bypassed, and that is why almost everybody is against it even the so-called people that are supposed to be beneficiaries of this development initiative, they are concerned; everybody is at alert. Now some are talking about the funds that is being raised from the bill, what is the purpose? And it is known from history, government can’t really be trusted with funds, so my own position, will rather be that they take the route of CSR for players in the industry. Let them engage in CSR and have a report, you know, with budget to match up with that 1%, and not the agencies or organisations remitting 1% of their gross profit to NITDA, that is unnecessary, and also the bill creates a kind of fear in the system in terms of the penalties for non-adherence. It is highly susceptible to abuse, if an agency should target an organization, it is so easy, what we usually have is substantial compliance, I don’t think there is any organization anywhere in the world that complies 100%, so if you have 0.1% non-compliance, that can bring you down, according to the NITDA law, an organisation can be fined N30million and or the MD go to jail for two years, that is very frightening for any one that wants to do business. So you want safety, you want profit not settling scores on issues with government.”

Other discussants include, Mr Nwora, a Legal Practitioner and Consultant, Peculiar Showale, C-Suite Executive Assistant, Paradigm Initiative; while goodwill came from Tony Emoekpere. President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and Engineer Gbenga Adebayo, National, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON). Who were represented by their Executive Secretaries, Ajibola Olude and Gbolahan Awonuga in that order.

I’m not into politics, my business is winning souls for Christ--Pastor Muoka

General Overseer of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, has made it abundantly clear that he is not a politician, saying that his only business is winning souls for Christ.

Pator Muoka made the disclosure on Sunday, April 9, 2023 at The Lord’s Chosen two-day International Crusade code named God’s Covenant of Peace and Blessings which took place at the Revival Ground of the mega church at Ijesha, Lagos State.

The General Overseer stressed that he has no business with politics and that anybody who uses his name for politics is on his own.

He disclosed that at no time did the church insinuate, request, or plead for polling booths be brought in the church, stressing that people who peddle such rumour or allegation are wicked and evil.

He added that he has never sided any politician or political party, before and he will never do that 

“Another one is politics, I have not sided any political party. They want to create the impression that I am supporting them. I can't leave the church for political purposes, I can't. 

“Anywhere you see on social media that say we say, they are thieves, I am here standing for Jesus. Anybody who come here and say you should bring polling booth here, I don't say something like that, you can only come here, we pray for you and we say let the will of the Lord be done.

“I am not in the business of telling you who will win, my business is to prepare you for heaven and ensure you gain heaven at last,” he stated.

Pastor Muoka also condemned the action of those who use his name to appeal for funds from the public, stating that such actions do not emanate from him.

Muoka who maintained that he does not collect money for praying for people, made it clear that the church only solicits for fund when the church has a project and it is done only in the church, and therefore stressed that the church does not appeal for fund via the social media. “I don't collect money for prayer, is not from me, we don’t appeal for fund except when we are doing something here for a purpose 

“Some people go to social media, place my picture and put account number, they are thieves, they go to internet, Facebook, WhatsApp asking people for money, such actions do not emanate from me or the church,” he stated.

Speaking on the theme of the programme which was God’s Covenant of Peace and Blessings, Muoka said that God is faithful and cannot lie.

He said “Even if you are a first timer, whatever you are looking for God will grant them, even if you are in doubt my faith is greater than your doubt.”

On the need to repent and receive the covenant of peace and blessings from God, he said “As you make amendment and turn from your wicked ways God will forgive and heal you. It can never be minus you, everybody will be remembered. Whatever God said, he will fulfill, he has the power; nobody can hinder it.”

Muoka called on the congregants to repent, because a Christian is not a sinner and a sinner is not a Christian. 

Immediately the pastor mounted the podium, he commanded the sick to get healing, paralysis and stroke, those in wheelchair where healed, afflictions that have defied solutions were all rolled away; and powers and their throne we're quashed, the bind saw, the deaf heard and the dumb spoke and principalities and powers were silenced, according to testimonies.

The two days service did not go without amazing miracles, deliverances, healings, and Holy Ghost baptism as testimonies of God’s wonderful works ruled the air. Spirit of poverty, rising and falling were rolled away, terrible stomach pain, HBP was kicked out, women who were not seeing their period received healing, breast cancer was commanded to go, those having terrible cough received freedom, while those hearing strange voices were delivered.

Glaucoma, cataract, five years of arthritis rolled away, one year swollen leg healed, stooling for 20 years miraculously healed, 4 years broken bones joined together, 13 years deaf and dumb rolled away, 20 years epilepsy gone, breast like that of man was sent to normal size as 2 weeks knee pain was also healed. 

Brother Onwudiegeu testified how God delivered him from affliction of the enemies after the burial of his mother, which was done in a befitting way. A Brother received permanent visa to Canada after six years of application only to be invited after Pastor prayed. He also had the privilege to be called to the Bar in Canada. 

Sister Blessing from Bolade, Oshodi testified how God used her to end untimely death in her family, while Sister Joy said her constant urinating for four years has been rolled away. 

Brother Chinenye Chukwuma who lives in United Arab Emirate (UME) came down for God's Covenant of Peace and Blessings. He said he followed the GO’s teachings on cable and God miracle; he was given employment Visa and employed in the UAE airport, a Sister testified how God blessed the family with a duplex on Agor Palace.

 

Stop ethnic profiling, Archbishop Martins cautions Nigerians, saying we are one before God

His Grace, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, the Catholic  Archbishop of Lagos, has urged Nigerians to stop ethnic profiling, insisting that everybody is the same before God.

Archbishop Martins took the position at the 2023 Chrism Mass celebration which took place at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos Island, Lagos State on Thursday, April 6, 2023.

The highly revered Archbishop condemned all forms of ethnic rancor, divisive comments either online or offline, divisive behavior, particularly of ethnic kind, stressing that such negative conducts are not conducive for good neighborliness and peaceful coexistence. He called on Lagosians not to allow politics and politicians to disrupt their lives and means of livelihood.

He said “I want to use this opportunity to call on every one of us to pay attention to the fact that in these last few months or thereabout, there has been all sorts of ethnic profiling and all kinds of tension that has arisen because of elections and politics, and politicians and the rest of them. I want to use this opportunity to call everyone to put a stop to the spread of ethnic profiling of all forms, put a stop to all forms of ethnic rancor, divisive comments either online or offline, divisive behavior, particularly of ethnic kind, it is not conducive to good neighborliness or peaceful coexistence.  We the people of God and indeed all of us in Lagos must not allow politics or politicians to disrupt our lives and our means of livelihood.”

He maintained that every Nigerian is a child of God and are equal in dignity before God “Let us remind ourselves that we are all children of God, we are equal in dignity before God, wherever we may come from. The only man made distinction is between the poor and the rich, the privileged and the under-privileged, and this must not be allowed to do anything to the way we have been, intermarriage have been there for all time, living together, interaction of all kinds; we must not allow this to come to an end, rather let us emphasize all that is good for unity, for friendship, and for the good and growth of our land, and our nation.”

Speaking on Chrism Mass and how it can impact growth and development of the country, Archbishop Martins said “We are celebrating the gift of the priesthood to the church and we can only ask that the people will continue to pray for their priests and support them, and encourage ourselves as priests to be faithful to the calling that we have been given, and to constantly be aware who we are under Christ, so that we can make that message of Christ to be alive through the way we behave at the pulpit.

“The day is part and parcel of what we called the Thursday when Jesus Christ instituted the sacrament of the priesthood as well as the Eucharist, both are demonstrations of God’s love for humanity, and whereby God also calls us to serve one another in an unselfish manner, and that says a lot as a nation and as individuals within the nation. We see so much selfishness in our world, in our country, people looking towards their own and the goodness of the people who are related to them, so this is an opportunity to call on those who have the possibility of leadership, those who are given the opportunity to lead to really show that love, you show that love only when you are serving people without counting the cost and without ordering anything towards oneself rather for the common good,” he stated.

The Archbishop called on those given the mandate to serve to do so selflessly “And so as elections have happened, our leaders need to continue to remind themselves that people have elected them in order to serve them, not for the people to serve the politicians and those who have opportunity to rule, rather in a selfless way give your best for the service of the nation. Our nation is in a very difficult time with regard to insecurity, with regards to terrible state of the economy which has been impacting on people’s lives, and so we expect that those that have been elected will use the opportunity to make life better for Nigerians.”

He asked the leaders to appoint those with capacity and knowledge to be part of decision-making bodies, saying such appointments should be above political considerations “Bring those who have knowledge, capacity to take decisions, decisions that will help the economy to grow, let it not be a political thing, but rather going out for the best wherever they can be found in order that the lives of people can become better as I said in terms of insecurity, in terms of hardship people are facing at this time.”

According to Reverend Fr. Paul Ariole, who explained the significance of Chrism Mass said “The Chrism Mass is one of the most solemn and important celebrations of the liturgical year. Ordinarily, its celebration ushers the church into the Tridium. The Chrism Mass ‘should be, as it were, a manifestation of the priests’ communion with their bishop or Archbishop. The renewal of priestly commitments and the blessing and consecration of sacred oils are the hallmarks of the celebration. At the Chrism Mass, along with the blessings of sacred oils is the celebration of the institution of the priesthood.

The Bishop used the opportunity of Chrism Mass to bless the oils to be used in one year throughout the diocese from today till April in 2024. The oils are the oil of catechumens which is for the celebration of  Baptism, Oil of the Sick, and the Sacred Chrism which is for the celebration of Holy Orders, baptism, and confirmation.

 

In this era of our nascent democracy, it’s abnormal, absurd to call for interim government, military takeover--Umenzekwe

Onwa Achina, Hon (Chief) Modestus Umenzekwe, Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Member, Federal Housing Authority, in this interview summarizes his impression and assessment of the just Conducted General Election in Nigeria, makes appeals to both winners and losers in the election and also set agenda for the President-elect. Except:

The 2023 General Election is over, what is your general impression or assessment of the just conducted general elections?

As far as I am concerned the election went well. But before I comment on the election generally, we must as human beings created by God give the almighty God all glory for his infinite mercies upon us, upon Nigerians, upon politicians, because without him we couldn’t have conducted that election, we couldn’t have even participated, let us thank him at all times, because he is the finisher of all things, he is Alfa and Omega, so glory be to God.

Then I must congratulate Nigerians, wherever they are, even those in the Diaspora for coming up to air their views, to participate in the election, that means the voter education is permeating, that means we have started to know the importance of participating in governance, speaking our mind through the ballot. While congratulating Nigerians, let me congratulate in a special way President Muhammadu Buhari for making sure that our democracy is deepened, he gave INEC unfettered hand to conduct this election, he never interfered in any way, even when people were accusing him of supporting Mr A or B or being against Mr A or B. he kept quiet, and made the election go freely. Then INEC, they are now in the receiving end, so many people said so many things, both the ones that are true and those that are not true. It is not easy to conduct election in a country where you have more than 200million people, I must congratulate INEC, I must congratulate Professor Mahmood Yakubu for a job well done, because everything must not be perfect, but when you get near perfect, you are already there, when you score 70% in an examination, you are already making A, so I congratulate INEC for a job well done.

Yes there may be some irregularities here and there, but that is human nature, we are in a learning process. You see, some people will come and tell you in America, in London, in France, forgetting that those Super Powers passed through our present stage for hundreds of years, and Nigeria is just about 60 years plus, and democracy just started 1999, and you see people saying all manner of things. Incidentally this social media something, where everybody has turned to be a journalist, has created a very big problem in this country. Yes, I don’t rely on it, and there is need for proper regulation of our social media conduct. It has created a lot of problems, people configure whatever they like and push out. Nobody is querying them, nobody is asking them questions and they get away with that, and that ushered in rancor, ushered in unwarranted enmity among brothers, political parties, among ethnic groups, among religious groups, things that are not supposed to involve in our politics are brought in as a result of activities of unprofessional journalists.

And I want to use this opportunity to call on the federal government, state governments, local governments, and town unions to please, step in and regulate our social media conducts. I know people will say press is being gagged, let us regulate and filter whatever we push out so that this country can be in peace.

Let us dwell a little on this social media, the government also uses social media to disseminate information because it is one of the easiest means of getting information across, especially the youths. Talking about regulation, most of the time government simply select what they want and others they term hate speech or fake news, your take

All I know is that government uses professionals, it is different from myself sitting here, I configure something and push out, I am not a journalist. Somebody will be at newspaper stand and configure something and push out, someone will be at the comfort of his mansion, configure something and push out and he is not informed, somebody will be in his farm, stop farming, configure something and push out, but government doesn’t do that, government always use professionals, so let us allow professionals to handle the social media activities.

So let’s get back to the issue of election. Do you think Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves the victory he got at the polls?

You that is asking me, what do you think, answer me?

That is why I am here, I cannot be a judge in my own case

Well as far as I know, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a politician of note, he is a political giant, he knows when to strike, he is a master strategist; he has paid his dues in deepening our democracy. He put in his life to make sure that we have unbroken democracy; he fought for it and I think he deserves to win, and I believe that he won the election.

Looking at the election itself, a lot of things were thought to be wrong, especially the opposition felt that the BVAS, against all the promises of the electoral empire, did not go the way it was promised, election results were not uploaded real time, all these tended to bring about suspicion. Do you think otherwisw?

In this country everything is politicized and it is very unfortunate. I am not holding brief for INEC or for anybody, but the way I see it as a person, the BVAS is man-made and it is part of our learning process, Technology is not sacrosanct, Professor of Medicine does not know it all, Professor of Economics does not know it all, anything made by hand can have error.  I don’t see, with the level of preparations we made in this election, I don’t see anybody intentionally or whatever trying to do such thing, after all the whole results are there now, anybody complaining would now compare what he has with what is in the portal there. So whether it was uploaded that day or a day later, the most important thing now is that the whole results are there and everybody, all political parties, winners, oppositions, the government in power too, they should compare what they have with what is there. If it is not the same, then they have the right to contest, but in doing that contest, you follow the legitimate way, not all these inflammatory statements coming from here and there. It can make me very uncomfortable, and it is heating the political space of this country and it should not be. I want to call on party supporters, those supporting Asiwaju, those supporting other candidates to tread with caution, allow the candidates to fight for themselves through the legitimate way, because each and every one of them put up a very good fight. Yes Asiwaju won, as declared by INEC, I congratulate other candidates, because they made the political space very hot, everybody was on their toes, even the electorates, the party supporters, so this 2023 election was one of the most serious, and at the same time freest elections ever conducted in this country. It is similar to 1993 election which was annulled and that drew us back and such a thing should not be allowed in this present election.

Do you think it is right for the opposition to go to court or are you advising them to withdraw their casess and join hand in moving the nation forward?

Before talking about what is their right and what is not their right, I must congratulate them too, more especially the two main oppositions, the PDP and Labor, and more especially the Labour, because nobody knew about Labour before, so they have done very well. Then to answer your question, the constitution is there, they have the right to go to court, it is their right and nobody should harass them or vilify them because they are going to court. And that is why I am saying, the supporters and the electorate should allow them to fight for themselves or adjust to retrace. You know, at times you might not want to do something, but people behind you will be nudging you until you make a mistake. But if I should advise them, I will advise them to retrace so that this country can move forward, because God knows everything. If we believe in God, that is my attitude to life, if we really believe in God, we must allow God to take decision for us; they have tried, they really tried, I must commend them, there is no two words about it, more especially the Labour Party, within the short time they came into the contest, the whole arena charged, everybody was running helter-skelter and they proved that they can do something, and it is good for our democracy. But then let emotions, sentiments not becloud the sense of reasoning.

What happened in the election was that a lot of unwarranted emotions and sentiments crept in, and some people are taking some steps that might blow ill wind for everybody. We need peace, we have had a lot of distractions in this country. Ebola distracted us, Covid distracted us, endSARS distracted us, cash swap distracted us, then election 2023 is about to distract us again. And we forget that if anything happens in Nigeria it will affect the whole of Africa, and as a giant of Africa, we shouldn’t allow such a thing to happen, and that is why I must commend the President Muhammadu Buhari who said, that election have come and gone, he will not stay a day beyond 29^th May, 2023, he is going to hand over while other legitimate agitations can go on in line with the law. I must commend him for saying so.

Many are said to be calling for Interim National Government, some others are said to be calling for Military Takeover. Do you think they are justified in anyway? 

Those calling for interim government and military takeover, are they candidates in the just concluded election? I am asking you.

I am sure it is a rhetorical question, tell the public

Who are those calling for interim government?

The DSS said they are misguided individuals

Who misguided them? Anyway, at the other day I was on Television Continental (TVC) and I addressed this issue. In this era of our nascent democracy, it is abnormal, it is absurd for anybody, for whatever reason, to call for interim government or called for military takeover. We have passed that stage long ago. Other countries in Africa where military took over, Nigeria went there and stopped them, then somebody is calling for military takeover in Nigeria, the giant of Africa. It doesn’t sound normal. And that is why I keep congratulating all the candidates for taking the legal way to address their feelings.

You said they are misguided, who misguided them? They misguided themselves. And I want to thank the DSS for sending words of warning to them to stop, otherwise, the long arm of the law will catch up with them.

Many people are of the opinion that the call for interim government and military takeover is coming from government party supporters to distract attention the court  case against them, or even to rope in some politicians

Those that said it should be called to substantiate, I don’t know about it.

We want you to set agenda for the incoming president as we await his swearing-in come May 29, 2023. What are those things you would want him to tackle immediately he assumes office?

The President elect is a Nigerian, he knows the problems of this country; he knows the problem of each geopolitical zone that made up this country, he knows the problems in our economy, he knows that we have serious security issue which started since 1999, he knows that there are so many agitations here and there. The most important thing he is going to do is to try and unite this country, he has to do everything possible to make sure we live in peace, number one thing, then in governance he should not look at the opposition as lesser human beings, he has to bring them into governance, everybody, both those that voted him and those that did not vote for him, after all he got vote from every part of the country. We have been talking about the number of votes, he got votes from every part of the country, and therefore the onus is on him to recognize all of them. And he has said it, he has extended hands of fellowship to everybody, he called it government of national unity and I congratulate him for doing so, and I believe he will do that. If he doesn’t do that we shout, we talk, we address the press, but I know Asiwaju, he has a large heart, he is focused. If he was able to rejig Lagos for better, because any person that handled Lagos can handle Nigeria, if Lagos collapses the country will collapse, so I believe he will do well, having done so in Lagos. So the primary thing is to unite the country, let everybody have sense of belonging, let there be peace. Once we achieve peace everything will be a work-over.

There is a bit of worry in the polity, immediately after the election, the president elect’s whereabouts is unknown so to say, he is not talking, and no public appearances, given room for the opposition to wag their tongues. What is actually happening?

You called him president elect, what do you want him to do? President elect, he will talk when he is sworn in, right now, he is still strategizing, gathering information, gathering opinions, do you want him to start fighting with the opposition?

Even during the celebration of his birthday, he was conspicuously absent which was unusual…

But he called for prayers which is part of what I am talking about, because anything you are doing without praying to God is a nullity. His absence is it creating problem? After the Primary he went out to rest, and people started talking, saying he has died, he has done this, and I keep warning Nigerians to stop using health issues to castigate anybody. They did it to Buhari, and Buhari has successfully completed eight years, very energetic, very elegant, much younger, they are now doing it to Tinubu, people should be very careful. After all this rigorous movement in the election, he can’t rest? Because people are talking, no, he will talk at an appropriate time, after all his Aids are talking, and when his Aids talk, he is the one talking. That is the way I see it and that is the way it is. Let somebody prove me wrong.

After the Presidential Election and what transpired in Lagos where Labour Party took the day, the Governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu appeared to be anxious, but thank God he won, what is your agenda for him too?

About two years ago I granted interview that Snwo-Olu would win second term, I said it and it has come to pass because he deserved it, he is working hard seriously. So let him continue with his agenda, development agenda that he has for Lagos. Let him be father of all, the role he has been playing to accommodate everybody, to make Lagos a smart city, to be a good listener which he has been, and do the work of governance, the way it supposed to be. The number of people in Lagos is much, and it is not easy for anyone handling such population, and that is why I have been calling on the national assembly to give Lagos special status in the national budget, I said it during the 8^th Assembly, I said it during the 9^th Assembly and in the coming 10^th Assembly I am still repeating it. There was a time Senator Oluremi Tinubu sponsored that bll but they turned it down, I wrote that time supporting her and I am granting an interview now supporting that motion to come up again so that it will be easy for the governor to do the enormous work that is waiting for him in Lagos State.

Over the weekend Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate decried the violence meted out to Ndigbo during and after the election and threatened to bring IPOB to Lagos to defend his people, your take.

Did you listen to the president of Ohanaeze Lagos, Chief Aguene, he has taken care of that, he has made statement that that statement didn’t emanate from Ndigbo. But what I am saying is that whatever the case maybe, whatever that Eze may have done, let them temper justice with mercy. But that statement didn’t emanate from Ndigbo and as far as Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos has made statement, there is no point talking on that because that is the apex Igbo body in Lagos and on that statement I stand.

Chief how would you assess the impact of Labour party in the just concluded election?

Well the Labour Party, I must say, changed the whole political situation of the whole country. As I said before I must congratulate Labour Party, they made the campaign very robust, all the parties were strategizing, working hard for them to win. So I think their participation in the election brought in a lot of vigour, a lot of more seriousness, a lot of crossing the Ts and dotting the Is. So I think they did well.

Your message to Nigerians

Let us live in peace, not in pieces, let us control what we say and push out, let us avoid inflammatory statements, whether you are Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba. The moment we are able to control our tongues, we will flow very well. Let us be our brother’s keeper, let us see Nigeria as our kindred, if you see Nigeria community as your kindred there won’t be mistakes, we are one, and we have to remain one, so that we can keep the vision of our forefathers who made sure that this nation came together as one, the likes of Dr Nnanmdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, at least three of them, let us build on their legacies to keep this country as one.

Do you think Asiwaju should continue with Buhari’s programmes?

You see each incoming government, whether you like it or not builds on the past government, and building on the past government is changing the ones you can change, continue the good ones you can continue, it is not because of Buhari, even if it is another person that wins, you cannot come in and say, ahh, this Buhari did well, let me cancel it, you must continue, this place he did bad, let me continue it, no. so it is a process, whether it is Asiwaju or anybody, all the things that Buhari did that are good must be continued, if there are areas he didn’t do well, he has to improve on them, and I think that is why he called his agenda, Renewed Hope.