Nigeria should emulate China, Hong Kong to ensure development, says High Chief Nwobodo

High Chief Sunday Nwobodo is the Chairman/CEO of New Planet Resort Limited, a hospitality outfit based in Lagos. In this interview with SUCCESS DAMIAN, he spoke on what he does as a CEO, life experiences, what made him popular, and as Nigeria turns 60 he advised every Nigerian to be dedicated to the Nigerian project. Excerpts:

Let’s meet you, your name and what you do

My name is High Chief Sunday Nwobodo, Akaekpuchionwa 1 of Enugu State; I am from Nkwuoka, Nkanu East Local Government. I am also Akaekpuchionwa of Lagos State, a businessman, and by the grace of God, I am the caretaker, because God owns, the caretaker of New Planet Resort Limited.

As Chairman /CEO, what do you do, after all, ordinarily you should be relaxing at home while your workers bring returns?

Yes, as a CEO of a company it does not mean you will relax and sleep, because God chooses kings, and when God chooses that king, He chooses him to help others. Even if you are successful, you have to make others successful in many ways, if you are working hard others will only learn the way you are working hard, it will help them even to be successful persons also. If you are at home they will never have experience and will never learn from you, but when you are working hard many people can benefit from you directly or indirectly without even giving the person cash. So that is why I try to work, one, to make sure my business is standard, and make sure that other Igbos and Enugu people learn from me and survive and have their own companies.

How many workers are in your payroll?

By the grace of God I have some workers, I have a lot of workers and contract staff, some people are trainees, we train those who want to run hotel business and other things. We train them for free.

There is peace in your company, your workers don’t complain, what is the magic?

The magic there is very simple, when as the CEO of the company; they see that you can do any work, so others will not complain even if you send them to do the same work. It is only when you sit down and fold your hands and send someone, go and clean this table, the person will feel, maybe, it is because I am poor that is why you said I should go and clean that. But when they see that the chairman, CEO can clean table by himself, it means you don’t need to tell them to do it, they will be happy to do. Again they receive their salaries according to your agreement with them.

Let us look at those services you render that make people talk about New Planet Resort

There are a lot of things that make New Planet unique. I will only say a few because they are too many; it is like branches of a tree. And it depends on the angle the person has his own view, but the good thing about it is that everybody is saying good things about New Planet. One there is security, we are doing well; we are not God but we are doing our own and the rest to God. Even me, I am always awake, supervising to ensure everything is safe and since we started this hotel, we have not had any bad record. We have a lot of shows and a lot of activities, which a lot of hotels don’t even have a quarter of it, they will have problem, either you heard that they kill person or fight, we don’t have such here. Immediately someone enters this place, they would obey our rules and regulations.

Most important, the CEO of the company, you must be disciplined; because they say you first respect yourself before people respect you. If they know you as an honest person; that is what will make people to believe you. Even if you tell the person don’t do this, believe me I will do this, that person will keep calm without causing violence. Here they know that if any matter that comes inside this place I will go straight to the truth on it, that is why when I say stop, both customers and staff will believe, so that is it.

Tell us a little about hotel business as a way of mentoring the young ones. It is said that hotel business requires astuteness and business intelligence; is that true in your own case?

Yes. Like when you have a car, there are a lot of things, you service it. You check the engine, the oil, you change it, even big man; they service big man. You must service it and maintain your big man. Many have become big man before; that is how the hotel business is. It requires discipline. That is the first thing that made many hotels to fall. Because in a hotel it is like, you sit pleasure and success sleeping in one place. And normally in human life, this skin will always like to pick pleasure, road to success is always painful, if you see enjoyment and see work, your flesh would always like to pick enjoyment and leave work, and you know work is the road to the success, without work there is no success. So that is how it works.

In a hotel you must make sure you purchase what customers want, repay what need to be repaired, don’t wait until customers complain, The hotel is where you can see people are coming out any minute, people that come yesterday night by 12, early morning, by 4 or 5, they don’t care whether you are awake, they need the same service, and the issue is how would you maintain it. You make sure you supervise the major departments by yourself.

Why did you go into hotel business?

When I travelled abroad I saw the way oyibo people run hotel, I saw that hotel is a place where you will see people , everybody will feel at home, so when I saw it, I said if I come back I will run a hotel and treat human beings like this.

The roads around the hotel are bad, why have the authorities not done the roads and how has it affected your business?

 It affected it too much, three much, because if the roads are not too bad, you will see a lot of people. Before, the whole of FESTAC, Abu-Lado come to gather here, even Cotonu people, weekend they always come here. I have met the local government chairman, but nothing. I fill the road with sand myself. My Honourable House of Assembly member has come, and he has promised to help.

Tell us a little bit about your state, Enugu, and what makes you so popular there.

Let me put it in this form; the business I have in Enugu is when you have good record in your home, in your village especially. As I said earlier, when I was a small boy, we made a good record, good name in our place, then when God started to help us to grow, when they are having meetings, other things, the people will call and say they want to hear from me. All those things made me to grow more popular.

If you go to my community, my name doesn’t hide, once you call my name the okada man will take you to my father’s compound. From childhood people believe God created me special to care for people. When you entered here you saw some Ezes, all of them are from Enugu State, they said they want to come and see me, ordinarily they supposed to invite me; that is that part of respect when people believe in you.

How much time do you give to your family concerning the time you devote to your hotel business?

It is a very big challenge, that is why in marriage when you want to marry, you ask God to give you your own wife, a woman with understanding, a woman who knows you and who knows what you are up to, who knows the purpose of running that business, with that I and my wife have no problem, even if she didn’t see me but heard how I behave, she is not worried.

Other states and parts of Lagos are envious, they are asking when are you going to open New Planet branch in their areas, any such plans?

In my village I have a little Planet, it shows that I valued my village, and my people are happy with it, they didn’t believe somebody could suffer and go to the village to make people to be happy. That is why you can’t say why people like me or talk about me. If God help us, maybe we can get money to expand.

Your advice to Igbos in Lagos

Igbos are created special, and when we are working we should not forget our home. Like as I said, the little second Planet I have is in my village, there is no place like home.

Do you have interest in politics?

I am a businessman, I am not a politician, it is only God that can say my friend, like Jonah and the big fish you may say okay I don’t have interest, but if God say you have work to do for the people, that is why God never neglect anyone created in special way, most people that value people’s lives, you may be there, that is it.

Nigeria at 60, your opinion and advice

My advice is that we should be serious as a nation, like Hong Kong that we got independence with in 1960, if you go there, the difference is more than too much, 100 much, you may think those people existed more that 1million years ago. Nigeria is moving like a country that nobody is driving it. There should be dedication on the part of individuals, organizations and government at all levels.

 You started as a youth, and you are still a youth, your advice to Nigerian youths

You should learn not to depend on government or my father. Some will say my father no give me money; that your father, his father, how much did he give him? I believe if your parents can suffer and give you education, even Primary school, you can give yourself education, self determination makes success. China people, let’s say by year 2000, the condition of China , Nigerian airport was better than China airport, China airport was like Enugu Airport. Now China changed like magic, every day China change, the secret that made China to change is that every individual work hard.

What are some of the things you do for people living around this area, your CSR?

The way they are feeling they are feeling happy. One the security we have, many years ago here is a no go area, but no more one million boys, and everybody is sleeping with their eyes closed. Since New Planet came here, all their properties added much value. We help in cleaning the gutter and grading the road, Planet changed a lot of things. Their children are also employed here. If I want to take the Planet away they will protest, they will not allow me.

When you are not working, how do you relax?

How I relax, you know when you are serving the public and you see they are happy, you feel relaxed; there are moments for relaxation, but when you see that people are happy you are happy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nigeria @ 60: The narrative of Nigeria, we have to revisit it to suit the youths, says Pastor Atayero

Ezekiel Adeleke Atayero, the Senior Pastor of The Cross Christian Centre (TCCC) Ojodu, Lagos, is Gods ordained servant with a clear apostolic mandate of enthroning righteousness and holiness in the 21^st century, in this interview with SUCCESS DAMIAN, he spoke on the Nigeria’s Independence with a fervent prayer that the nation will not remain a fool @ 60. Excerpts:

You said something about the young ones ruling this country, really there must be something behind it, is that our youths are not owning up to come out to contest for elections?

We have brilliant youths in Nigeria but not buoyant youths. There is the difference between being buoyant and being brilliant, you know, any person that is in the place of power would want to remain in that place, and they don’t even want their children to move out of that terrain. So they will not give ^opportunity to anybody that does not belong to them to enter there. When we say we have brilliant youths and not buoyant youths, I am talking in terms of money. Politics in Nigeria is money. It is either by money or by violence, but if we see even the youth organization that can come together, you know, I first talk about disunity in the church, then there must be disunity in the country. The bible says that the government is put on the shoulder of God meaning that the church also have a lot of work to do when it comes to government.

Let me tell you something, the place of power, you know sometimes, is not by age, it is by grace, for now everybody ruling us in Nigeria they are over aged. They should retire, there is what is known as retirement for government employees, but in presidency, I have not seen retirement in that [place. There should be, the narrative of Nigeria, we have to revisit it to suit the youths. They will say can’t youth come, can’t youth come, we need the youth, but the people saying they need the youth are still the ones blocking the youths from entering. My prayer is, after this time God will recreate chances for our youths to come in that government.

Are you against Christians coming into political power like the president?

If anybody should talk about that it could be the ignorant people, people that do not know their right from their wrong, Isaiah 11 verse 1 and 2 says that ‘from the stump of Jesse a shoot will come forth; from his root a branch will grow and bear fruit. The spirit of God will rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding,  a spirit of counsel and power, a spirit of knowledge fear of God’. One of the things we need to know here, every of these spirit is been given to children of God, and I want to say to you that as far as I am concerned, a Christian is supposed to be in the place of leadership throughout the world, so if anybody say, the seat of government is a corrupt seat, it is because the person that will correct it has not come. So I am one of the people that want Christians to be in that place. We need people who love God, born again Christians to be there.

You said you heard some things from God on the matter of the nation could you let us know some of these things?

Sometime ago I said it that if Nigeria didn’t pray very well, the leaders will be running up and down, some of them will be running to their security house, let me stay with you tonight I will pay you, because the bad guys are no longer looking for, according to what God showed me, they are no longer looking for the poor, they are looking for the rich even with the support of their security personnel, when you see the noble running to the house of the one you tell, come here you stupid driver, and you are running to the house of the driver, that is to tell you there is something coming. But I pray the lord will avert it. Wisdom will be given to our leaders. As we clock 60 we will not be a fool forever.

What is your view on CAMA because some pastors are fighting against it?

It would have been a good thing if we have a body of government that care for his citizens. Now there are many churches that are more organized than the seat of power in Nigeria. Talking about palliatives during the Covid-19 outbreak, we as a church The Cross Christian Center we call all our members and street people, we have to give them palliatives, we did it three times in this pandemic, not that there was money somewhere, but we have the things of the people by heart. When you look at government what can they say they have done for the church that is making them to do this, the present situation of Nigeria, I can boldly say that the law cannot work.

Concerning covid-19 what has the church learnt from it, and what has it changed in the church?

I can say a lot, in most churches, one it is for us to prepare, it is also for us to let our members to be empowered. Some members, some Christians are lazy. I used to pray severally many years ago, I tell, mostly teachers in our church look for something you do after school, and when this thing happened all of them said Pastor used to say it. It made several churches that have not been online to be known. As a matter of fact since this covid-19 I have worked so seriously more than ever before in my ministry, because we have to keep the heart of people busy for their heart no to be derailed. We discovered that in so many churches the heart of some people were going away from the lord, even when they said churches should resume, few people want to resume, not because of corona virus but because they enjoy staying at home.

What did the lord tell you concerning Nigeria as it turn 60?

For October 1, I have not received anything from the lord. But what I have in my spirit mind that I have been praying we need to go back to that. When you look at the coat of arm you see the motto, which says Peace and Unity, we need to go back to that, because we had such 50 years ago, so in this country we need a symposium on peace and unity. The prayer I have been praying for Nigeria lately is let there be peace and unity.

What are you telling the youths, to change their mindset and for majority of Nigerians to actually vote right during elections?

Majority of Nigerians, about 75% of Nigerians are well informed when it comes to politics. But the problem is this; it is to find a way of eradicating the issue of money in politics, because they know that some percentage of Nigerians are poor. The only thing to win their heart is to give them money. When you send money to them they will submit to you no matter who they are. One of the things that can make a lot of people to deny even their father in politics is money, what a lot of people are looking for on this earth is money, but the issue is to give a particular lecture on how not to be bought over. It has been a serious issue.

The governorship election in Ondo is coming up in October, what are you telling the people of Ondo?

The only thing I will tell them is, you have to know who you are, many of the people you are dying for they don’t worth it. And also another thing I want everyone to know is this, very important, you don’t know who will die on election day, before election, after election, so you have to be very very careful not to be the scapegoat, when you die your children will suffer for it, if you are married, your wife will suffer for it, or your husband, you don’t need to kill yourself for something that does not worth it. As a matter of fact politics is not to kill people. It is not to waste your life for something that does not matter. Think of the future of your life, so don’t sell your vote, don’t kill yourself, don’t be violent and do not join the bad gangs because you need money, everything is just money, money, money, you should think rightly and you should vote wisely.

Your advice to the youth

There is what is called the youthful age, a lot of youth abuse it. There a lot of youth that are into fraudulent acts, otherwise known as yahoo, but I can tell you that there is no future a gangster or being a cultist, you have to look at yourself and think of a better life God has given to you. There is something you carry as an individual; nobody can be the best than you are.

 

ATCON’S postponed National Dialogue on telecoms, ICT sector holds Thursday October 15 …Discusses Digital Economy in Nigeria, others

Success Damian:

Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has announced a new date for the postponed national dialogue on Telecommunications and ICT sector in Nigeria.

In a press statement signed by Olusola Teniola, President, ATCON, the conference termed national dialogue with a well-researched theme “Harnessing the Digital Resources for the building of our National Economy” will now hold on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at NAF Conference Centre Abuja.

Recall that the national dialogue was postponed as a result of the global pandemic which is widely regarded as Covid-19.

According to ATCON, the conference was designed to grow the entire sector of the Nigerian economy exponentially as thought leaders in the sector are expected to come up with brilliant ideas as to what the public and private sector can do to maximize the benefits inherent in the digital economy such that the recent fall in Nigeria’s GDP can be reversed.

Thought leaders who have confirmed attendance to the conference include Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy; Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Simon Bako Lalong, Executive Governor, Plateau State; Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Mr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Others include Mr Shubham Chaudhuri, Country Director (Nigeria), World Bank; Mr Segun Ogunsanya, Managing Director/CEO, Airtel Networks; Mr Alan Sinfield, Managing Director/CEO, 9mobile; Mr Trevor Liuyan, CEO, Huawei Nigeria and many others.

This National Dialogue on Telecoms and ICT is targeted at changing the structure of the country’s development through the maximum utilization of digital resources such that Federal Government, State Government and other key stakeholders in the Agriculture, Education, Oil & Gas, Health, Industry, Trade and Investment, Security and Defence Sector would leverage on the outcome of this event to improve their contributions to the nation’s GDP.

 

 Underlining strategic objectives of the Dialogue included but not restricted to intentionally channel collaborative positive efforts toward Nigerian Digital Economy with the sole aim of accelerating economy’s performance in relation to other leading African countries; to serve as a forum to discuss the recently launched documents on Digital Economy and take stakeholders’ input for implementation; to optimally X-ray the factors that have worked for and against the telecom and ICT sector in Nigeria; and discuss regulations and policies around AI, IoTS and Blockchain and the rest.

Some of the topics to be discussed by professionals who formed the team of panelists are Digital Economy in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities; Private Public Partnership and Development of Mechanism for the seamless Management of Inter-Ministries and Agencies: an imperative for Broadband Infrastructure Development in Nigeria; National Funding and Investment Strategy for Broadband Infrastructure and Digital Economy: The Importance of Education and Awareness and Regulation on Emerging Technologies (AI, IoT, Robotics, Blockchain, etc): Leveraging on Nigerian Young Population’s Innovation and Creativity for National Development

There will also be a special sectoral discussion tagged “Harnessing Digital Resources for Sectoral Effectiveness and Efficiency for National Development” to be handled by Mallam Adamu Adamu, Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Education; Dr Osagie Ehanire, Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Health; Alhaji Mohammed Sabo Nanono, Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Major GeneralBashir Salihi Magashi (Rtd), Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Defence, among others.

 

Not yet Uhuru for Nigeria @ 60, says Archbishop Martins

Success Damian:

Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has said that the country’s leadership has not done enough to address the underlying issues fanning insecurity and disunity in the country.

In his 60th Independence anniversary message to Nigerians signed by the Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu on Sunday, Archbishop Martins, while acknowledging the need for all to thank God for keeping the country as one despite her numerous challenges, regretted that not enough has been done in practical terms by successive leadership to foster a deep sense of patriotism and oneness amongst the various nationalities that make up country.

He said it was shameful that 60 years after gaining independence from the British, the country was yet to get its acts together; we still lack the quality leadership needed to guide the country in the path of peaceful coexistence, economic prosperity and security of life and property.

Hear him: “We thank God that we are alive to mark the Diamond Jubilee of our country’s independence. We are an independent country still searching for how to become a nation where no one is oppressed, and everyone feels a sense of belonging. In spite of all odds we have survived for 60 years and so we must thank God and praise the resilience of Nigerians. However, this year of our Diamond Jubilee has turned out to be one of the most challenging for most Nigerians. We were still battling with the effects of insecurities in the land when COVID-19 struck and made life impossible for those who lost their jobs and sources of livelihood. To make life even more impossible, there was an increase in the rate of VAT only to be followed by the imposition of stamp duty on house rent and Certificates of Occupancy. The dust raised by that had hardly settled when we were slapped with an increase in electricity tariffs which was followed a couple of weeks later by an increase in the pump price of petrol.

Life is becoming harder and harder for majority of Nigerians and government needs to take radical steps to ease the burdens they are carrying. Everyone, led by Civil Society Organisations and NGOs and the Labour movement, needs to do something in their areas of competences in order to bring the suffering of people home to government. If people must bear the burdens of the day, government must also show good faith by cutting down on the cost of governance.”

The Archbishop also reiterated his call for a major restructuring of the country along the path of true federalism in order to give the various ethnic nationalities a sense of belonging.

The Archbishop continued: “The landmark celebration of 60 years should make us reflect on the reality of our existence as a country. A cursory reflection shows that we are far below where we ought to be if we take into consideration the human and natural resources with which the country is blessed. It would seem that the structure of our country that was distorted with the advent of the military into governance has remained the obstacle to our growth. 

Selfishness and lack of regard for common good that covers all the different nationalities that make up our country has made it impossible for us to be the Federal Republic that we were meant to be at independence.

It Is necessary to continue to harp on the need to return to the original concept of Nigeria as a Federation that recognises the uniqueness of the federating units and gives each its right to govern aspects of its life while we remain one country, united in our diversities.

The current structure, as many have rightly pointed out, has given too much power to the centre that the states and local governments have been reduced to appendages that

go cap in hand to Abuja to seek for their survival from the Federal Government. We must return to a true federalism in order to become the nation that we want to be.”

According to him, agitations for self-determination as being promoted by some groups would continue to grow as long as the nation’s leadership continue to pay lip-service to the genuine needs and desires of the people. The Archbishop said: “Nigerians are indeed a special breed of people blessed by God. That is why we excel in almost all spheres of human endeavors at the international level. What we need here at home is an enabling environment that would bring out the best in us. As it is, our best is yet to come.”

In conclusion, Archbishop Martins called on all citizens to pray for our country and her rulers that we may overcome the present challenges and remain a united country where no person is oppressed and all are proud to serve our sovereign Motherland.

 

LASU refutes allegation of throwing students’ belongings out of hostels

Success Damian:

Lagos State University management has denied allegation which claimed that LASU College Of Medicine Management threw out students’ belongings from hostels.

The online publication by Sahara Reporters titled "LASU College Of Medicine Management Throws Out Students’ Belongings From Hostels", alleged that the management of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) threw out belongings of students in mid and lower classes and left them in the rain. 

But in a press statement by Ademola Adekoya, Coordinator, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations (CIPPR) Lagos State University, the institution’s management refuted the report saying LASUCOM management did not throw out or leave the students' belonging in the rain. “The University Management wishes to state unequivocally that the LASUCOM management did not "throw out" or leave the students' belonging in the rain as stated,” the statement revealed. 

According to the statement, “The picture attached to the publication half tells the true story. For the purpose of clarification, we wish to state as follows, that: The College carries out a routine maintenance and renovation of its facilities, including students’ hostels, to ensure a conducive atmosphere and the best standard of living for its students. To do this, the management uses the window period provided by holidays so that the students are not affected.” 

The statement further added that when the COVID-19 lockdown was announced and students were asked to vacate the hostels, it provided another opportunity to carry out planned renovations, so students were informed, upon leaving, to vacate all their belongings from the hostels. 

It said “When the lockdown was eased, several messages were again sent to the students to vacate all their belongings to allow the College to proceed with the renovations. In all, the vast majority of the students observed total compliance while a few of them picked only what they considered valuable, leaving mostly buckets, stoves and other items. All this while, the College had to delay work to allow the students ample time for full compliance.

“When the government announced the resumption of school, in a bid to ensure that students resume into a much safer and better hostel environment, and to put only ONE student in a room in compliance with COVID-19 regulations, notices were again sent to ALL students to come and move any of their properties left in the hostels as each room was to be emptied to carry out proper renovation and paintings. The notice gave a deadline with the caveat that any item still left in a room is deemed not to be useful or needed by the student. This made it a whole six months notice to the students.

“During the renovation, many of the unpacked items, mostly plastic buckets and stoves and old clothes, were taken out into the hostel compound and covered with trampoline. We believe the students appreciate our effort in providing a neat, safe and welcoming living environment that is conducive for study.

“It appears that the trampoline was removed by some students in a bid to pick their property when the picture posted by Sahara reporters was taken.”

The statement maintained that the Acting Provost of the College had lucidly explained the circumstances behind the pictures to the concerned stakeholders “I wish to state that the Acting Provost of the College, Prof. Abiodun Adewuya, had lucidly explained the circumstances behind the pictures to the concerned stakeholders. 

“The Lagos State University remains committed to the welfare of its students and will continue to strive to provide the best quality education in a condusive atmosphere,: the statement said.

LASU: Vice Chancellor welcomes staff, students, commends them on strides despite Covid-19

Success Damian:

Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun, has welcomed backed students and staff of the institution, while also commending them for putting the institution on world map despite the ravaging effects of the covi-19 pandemic.

In a message from the office of the Vice Chancellor, the erudite Professor averred that the institution has continued to make giant strides in all areas of human endeavours despite the global pandemic.

He said, ”Very distinguished colleagues and our world class students, I am delighted to welcome you back to the university for the resumption of academic activities, after a long period of break.

“I am particularly delighted that during and in spite of the lockdown, our institution continued to make giant strides, evident in the series of research grants won and innovations made by respected Faculty members, successful collaborations with other institutions and agencies, commendable accomplishments by our world-class students in local and international competitions, and ultimately, our global ranking, and as the second Best University in Nigeria by Times Higher Education (THE), he stated.

Fagbohun maintained t that throughout the pandemic every member of the university community continued to play their role for the progress and development of the institution. “All through this period, we did not waver in our support and commitment to the University. More importantly, we all continued to take personal responsibility in the fight against the covid-19 pandemic following guidelines laid down by the NCDC.

“I have also been duly briefed that since our resumption on Monday, 21st September, 2020, staff and students have continued to comply with safety guidelines put in place by the University while displaying a remarkable level of cooperation with the men of the security department,” Fagbohun stated.

Omoragbon blows hot, rejects Edo Governorship Election result over non-inclusion of NCP …Leans on law court for justice

Success Damian:

Pastor Peters Osawaru Omoragbon, the Flag-bearer of National Conscience Party (NCP) in the September 19, 2020 Edo Governorship Election has rejected the outcome of the entire exercise.

Omoragbon made his stand public on Tuesday in a press statement titled ‘Rejoice not Godwin Enogheghase Obaseki-This is but a Pyrrhic Victory’.

Omoragbo also blamed Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for not heeding to the voice of reason to obey court judgement regarding delisting of some political parties in Nigeria.

The NCP candidate also blame the Nigerian public who hailed an election that was based on illegality, falsehood and disenfranchisement of a law-abiding citizen of Edo State from contesting in the Gubernatorial election.

He also maintained that the election was rippled, marred and rubbished by vote buying, ballot box snatching, militarization and compromised by APC, PDP, INEC and security apparatus, and questioned how such an election could be hailed in any sane society.

Omoragbon enjoined his teeming supporters to remain calm as NCP would rely on court process to obtain justice, adding that he has the hope that the court would do the needful by declaring the Edo Election a nullity.

Below is a verbatim report of statement by Omoragbon:

Appreciation

First, let me whole-heartedly express my profound gratitude to all my teeming supporters both in Nigeria and Diaspora ranging from professional colleagues to Ordained Ministers of God and the average Nigerian who believed in the ideals the National Conscience Party represents-as the only Party in Nigeria with the interests of the masses at heart, as a result, supported my aspiration through spiritual, moral and financial support. To the Press who covered every of my activity all over the world without any financial demands but appreciated my involvement as the only alternative to the APC and PDP because they are both two sides of the same coin, I say a big ‘Thank you’.

September 19th 2020 Election: Any lessons learnt?

George Santayana it was who said: “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Those who do not remember their past are condemned to repeat their mistakes”

It is unfortunate that majority across the globe are praising the election as free and fair and very democratic. Such sentiment as far I am concerned begs the truth. How can you acclaim an election that witnessed the greatest monumental financial inducement of the electorates as free and fair?

Prior to (and during) September 19, 2020 Godwin Obaseki turned the Edo State resources to his campaign ‘chest’ where billions of Naira were drawn by both his deputy Shuaibu and himself to buy their way as the candidates of PDP overnight. It will be very interesting to ask Mr Obaseki to provide to the public the accounts for his political expedition by way of income and expenditures, donors and their amount donated. The same request is extended to the APC Candidate-Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu. My nephew who voted at Emotan College opposite my family home, came home with 10k naira as inducement from agents of both APC and PDP. What about the bail of yards of clothes and cash that were brazenly distributed to women by these political parties just to vote for them? All these brazen acts of corruption were all over the social media and yet people would gleefully claim the election was free and fair.

Max Romeo a reggae artist once sang-“stealing in the name of Jah…that his father house of worship has been turned into a den of thieves”. I will rephrase it as Edo State politics have been turned into a den of rogues. Any lesson learnt? None. First, those who collected financial inducement have failed to learn that once they did that, they have sold their consciences and lack any moral compass to demand for accountability from the politicians. The politicians on their part would first want to recoup all their expenses in multiple folds before thinking of embarking on any mass -oriented projects. And by the time you know it, four years are gone and we are back to square one with no meaningful project to show except refurbished edifices.

Godwin Obaseki to be disqualified, removed and jailed:

Section 118 (I)(d) of the 2010 Electoral Act stipulates that: A person who signs a nomination paper or result form as a candidate in more than one constituency at the same election is not only to be disqualified but liable on conviction to a maximum term imprisonment for 2 years.

It is global knowledge that Godwin Obaseki submitted himself for the 2020 governorship election first under the All Progressive Congress and thereafter after being disqualified in APC moved to PDP to buy his way in as their candidate. Meaning, Godwin Obaseki presented himself as candidate in two different political parties in the same election and same year. What are the implications of any such incident in the past? Suffice to mention that a similar infraction occurred in Imo State between the Action Alliance, AA, and its governorship candidate in the 2019 election, Uche Nwosu, should have served as a lesson to Obaseki and his Deputy, Phillip Shaibu. Uche Nwosu was sacked by the Supreme Court because he submitted himself as candidate to two different political parties in the same election. Obaseki should be preparing to go to jail for breaching the Electoral Act.

September 19, 2020 Edo Elections to be annulled

Come October 13, 2020, the Court Case between the National Conscience Party of Nigeria and the Independent Electoral Commission-INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation over the illegal exclusion of my candidacy in the just concluded Edo 2020 governorship elections and unconstitutional deregistration will be heard by Hon. Justice Liman’s Court in Lambo Hall, Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos. In the worst-case scenario, the matter may probably end up at the Supreme Court just as it did in 2002 and we are sure of victory. If and when the Court upholds our argument, INEC will be left with no choice than to conduct a fresh election to include my Party and other political parties that were illegally excluded.

To support the above position are the series of Court rulings against INEC by Courts of competent jurisprudence. For example, on August 10, 2020, the nation was relieved by the bold statement and ruling of the Appellate Court with competent jurisdiction and jurisprudence when it overruled INEC on its illegal deregistration of 74 duly registered political parties in Nigeria-including the National Conscience Party (NCP). In the unanimous ruling as delivered by the President of the Appeal Court in Abuja, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem which was highly commendable demonstrated that Nigeria still have many judges of honour and integrity left in them, ready to keep the last hope of the common man alive. That is the Rule of Law and not the reign of tyranny and authoritarianism. Till date, INEC is yet to appeal the above ruling.

The action of INEC is a reflection of the actions of the ruling class towards obeying court rulings. INEC would again be shooting itself on the legs by going ahead with the September 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo State when there was a subsisting ruling of the appeal court to reinstate the deregistered political parties including the NCP. Just as it ignored the injunction of the High Court when the political parties preempted INEC from deregistration and instead of INEC responding to the injunction, it went ahead to announce the deregistration. That was an abuse of court process and total disregard to the Rule of Law which was why the Appellate Court ruled against it. By not appealing that judgement of August 10, 2020, or asking for a stay of execution and still went ahead with the September 19 2020, INEC is doomed to fail at the Supreme Court. It must be recalled that, it was the same flagrant disregard by Oshiomhole of the High Court ruling when it upheld his suspension by his Ward Executive that led to his political dilemma today. What is good for the goose is equally good for the gander.       

Implications for the Image and Integrity of Nigeria as Nation

From the foregoing, one can only deduce that, INEC do not have the interest of the Nigerian people at heart but to serve its masters in APC and PDP both in the Presidency and the National Assembly that colluded together to insert the fraud called Section 225 into the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended. That was why INEC engaged in the waste of public funds in organizing the September 19 2020 elections characteristic of the APC and PDP government by initiating plans to challenge the ruling and like it was shamed in 2002 under their first chairman, Late Dr Abel Guobadia, so would it be disgraced again this year if it goes to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court knows that it is not about INEC and its paymasters in APC and PDP, but it is about the soul of this nation and democracy. The world is tired of the continuous shameless behaviour and attitudes of our elites and their ‘selected’ members at the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly nationwide.

May I remind INEC and the elites that democracy is not all about elections, ‘Democracy goes beyond opportunity of election. Although, the centrality of elections to democratic process cannot be over-emphasised, democracy is not wholly centred on election. For democracy to evolve good governance, it must be liberal and participatory. In this sense, Liberal democracy entails not only free and fair elections in terms of voting administration, it requires a more comprehensive fairness of political competition embodied in the concept of a just and open competition. In a liberal democracy, the electoral arena is open, and the playing field is reasonably level. Only in a free society with opportunity of free participation and respects for citizens’ rights can good governance be achieved 

True democracy places emphasis on freedom, and open competition, popular and meaningful participation, responsiveness, transparency and accountability. Freedom to organise, freedom to protest anti-people policies and freedom to demand and assert citizens’ rights and interests, freedom of the press to report, investigate and expose government policies and actions without fear or favour. According to Diamond (2005), “Only in a climate of true political and civil freedom can a country achieve the absolute fundamental condition for development: responsible government—that is government that is committed to the advancement of the public good, rather than the private interests of its own officials and their families and their cronies”.

In concluding, I will love to reassure my teeming supporters all over the world and my party members in Edo state that, the LAST is yet to be heard about the Edo State Governorship election. We shall continue with our legitimate pursuit of our goals and aspiration for an egalitarian society by advancing the causes of the common Nigerians on the streets who can barely afford three square meals a day, and yet the insensitivity of the ruling elites have further increased the hardship of the Nigerian masses with the increase in the price of petrol, electricity tariff, taxes when the government is refusing to pay them living wages. Both the PDP and APC governments and agents are not protesting these obnoxious anti-people policies except the National Conscience Party.

The credibility of INEC in the eyes of the Nigerian people and the world at large does not present a position of honour as far as electoral process is concerned. It is sad to recognize that INEC acting as agents of PDP and APC are using public fund to transverse justice of free and fair election in Nigeria.

 

Strict measures in place as LASU’s final year students, selected staff resume

Success Damian

Final year students of the Lagos State University and selected members of staff on Monday, September 21, resumed academic activities after the lockdown enforced break, adhering to strict enforcement of covid-19 guidelines. 

Right from the gates, returning members of the university community were encouraged by the vigilant security team on ground to use their nose masks and wash their hands at designed hand washing points.

ID cards were also checked to ensure their status as final year students in conformity to the University's guidelines.

Staff, students and visitors entering the University campus in personal vehicles were not left out as men of the security team made sure they are among the people permitted to be on campus. 

In all these, social distancing rule was not jettisoned as the university management made efforts to ensure a covid-free university campus. 

It is also worthy of mention that Lagos State University became one of the first public higher institutions to resume academic activities in the country post Covid-19. 

 

 

We are here to treat our guests as kings and queens they are, says GM, Perfecto La Vila

Success Damian:

General Manager, Perfecto La Vila Hotel & Suites, situated in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, Ifeoma Chukwu, has stated that customers of the hospitality home are kings and queens.

Chukwu made the disclosure in her office in a chat with the media on Monday.

She told her customers to come around, because Perfecto has opened for business, “We are here to serve them; we are here to treat our guests as kings and queens they are,” Chukwu said.

Perfecto La Vila Hotel & Suites, an elegant contemporarily designed hospitality place designed with European style and complemented with local flavours offers 24 hour room service, laundry and dry-cleaning, airport transfer services.

Perfecto has other services that include but not restricted to Luxury rooms and suites, restaurant, swimming pool, gymnasium, meeting room, banquet hall, VIP bar, rooftop bar, pool bar, unisex salon, supermarket, etcetera.

According to Ifeoma Chukwu, being a customer care business, the team of well train staff of the hotel is there to ensure the satisfaction of the guests. “We are here to attend to guests, generally it is a customer service thing, we are into accommodation, food and beverages; we are also into gym, swimming, laundering, and other things that come with.”

Chukwu while asserting that the hotel commenced operation in February, 2020, said with the coming of the Covid-19 pandemic, the hotel went on lockdown for two months, April and May, and resumed business on 4^th of June.

On challenges concerning government policies and multiple taxations, she said “You know we just started, when we resumed from the lockdown, some of the tax people, they came around and we have already sorted out, we paid our taxes.”

 She also spoke on Post Covid-19 business plans of Perfecto La Vila  as the pandemic curve is flattening especially in Lagos “What we need to do again is to create awareness to bring back our customers, because, you know due to this covid-19 some of them, they feel that when they come out and you know it is a public place, people come in and go out, they feel that If they come around they would contract the Covid, so for now, as it is observed, everything is coming down.

“Since we started again, you would have noticed it when you were coming in, you see hand sanitizer and also water, without nose mask you don’t come in here, so these are some of the things we have been doing. Now we have already sent messages to our customers that we are back,” Chukwu said.

On the security measures put in place to insure guests enjoy their money in Perfecto, she said “Our hotel is very well secured, because we have security around, we also work with police people to provide security for our guests.”

On some of the challenges encountered since commencement of business, she disclosed that there was no challenge.  “There is no challenge; just that due to this pandemic, some of our facilities, where revenue do come from dropped. Like our hall, due to this pandemic, they limited having parties, weddings, receptions, so our hall revenue dropped because nobody is doing wedding, party, reception, that is the major challenge we are having here, but now that everything is coming down, everything will soon come back to normal.”

On what Perfecto has in place to entertain guest especially at the weekends, Chukwu said “You know we just started, but it is part of what we intend to do, it is in our priority plan of what we intend to do, I am thinking if we can start it by this October 1, the Independent day. I have just put it down on what I intend to do, bring in arties that will come around, I know that day is a public holiday, people will come around, once we start doing the advert on time, it will draw crowd here that day.”

 

 

 

NCC, Digital Encode support NITRA Innovative Tech Forum on Post-COVID-19 Strategies

Success Damian:

The nation’s telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Cybersecurity and Compliance advisory company, Digital Encode have indicated interests to partner with the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), the national umbrella body of ICT reporters, as it organizes a forum that will x-ray the industry’s future plans for ICT growth post pandemic era.

The event, slated to hold on October 15, 2020, will seek to discuss the needs for a fortified ICT sector after the COVID-19 era, and the level of preparedness of ICT stakeholders to embrace the challenge of being pivotal to the stability and growth of all other sectors.

A statement from NITRA National Secretariat in Lagos indicates that due to the pandemic and need to observe the COVID-19 protocol on social distancing, the event will be held via a Webinar.

This year’s theme, “Multi-stakeholder Approach to National Recovery Post-Pandemic”, is in line with the annual event’s generic theme, ‘NITRA Innovative Tech Forum’, a contribution by NITRA to the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) innovations and policies in Nigeria.

Prof. Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman, NCC is expected to deliver the keynote speech at the event and will throw more light on Federal Government’s plans, programmes and policies on post-pandemic strategies using ICT.

Dr. Adewale Obadare and Dr. Seyi Akindeinde, Founders of Digital Encode, while accepting to support the event expressed their readiness to offer their expertise in Cybersecurity for organisations to prepare against cyber- attacks with the new normal. They will also highlight areas that are high risks that need fortification in terms of cybersecurity.

Speaking on the event, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, National Chairman, NITRA, noted that as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to leave its negative trails across the globe, economic reboot for countries will not only depend on how well they readapt to the new normal, but also more on their recovery plans.

According to him: “While the federal government has consistently expressed its willingness to set all policies in place to engender growth, and accelerated implementation of these policies, private sector firms have also shown great hunger for the task ahead in post-COVID-19 era.

However, the question that needs to be answered is whether all stakeholders are ready for the required task ahead,”  Onwuegbuchi queried.

The event will also offer participating companies opportunities to publicize some of their individual efforts at contributing to reacting a soft landing or lifeline for SMEs and other ancillary companies as the pandemic threatens their survival.

Digital Encode is a multi-award winning and leading consulting and integration firm that specializes in the design, management, and security of business-critical networks, telecommunications environments and other Information Technology (IT) infrastructures.

 

Landmark prophecy: Primate Ayodele wins again as Obaseki knocks out Iyamu in Edo Election

Success Damian:

Founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, Primate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele, has scored another first with his landmark prophecy in which he revealed that Current Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, would be returned for second term.

Ayodele said “With free and fair election in Edo State governorship election, Governor Godwin Obaseki will win in the election.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin City on Sunday declared the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) represented by Godwin Obaseki winner of the Gubernatorial Election with a total vote of 307, 955 as against All Progressives Congress (APC) represented by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu which scored 232,619.

Ayodele made the prophecy a month ago during the unveiling of his publication, Warnings to the Nations at Oke-Afa, Ejigbo Headquarters of the Church.

Warnings to the Nations is A Collection of Divine Signals, 2020/2021 Edition wrapped up in 376 pages. He also presented another 608-page masterwork: ‘A Compendium of Ten Thousand & More Fulfilled Prophecies’ between1994 and 2020 which is a compilation of his Warnings to the Nations from 1994 till date.

With the latest prophecy Ayodele has once again proven to the world that he is a true man of God.

Recalled that his prophecy on Kogi State election also came true with the Supreme Court judgement that gave ruling in favour of current governor of the state, Yahaya Adoza Bello.

Honesty gives you integrity, it paves way for you, says Abdul-Azeez Afolabi …Marks birthday Saturday 19

Alhaji (Dr) Abdul-Azeez Afolabi is the President of Cargo Zeal Technologies Limited, a company reputed for worldwide prompt cargo delivery, international business consultant, among others is set to mark his birthday on Saturday, September 19, 2020. In this interview with CYRIACUS NNAJI, he spoke about his business,Hajj,Nigeria @ 60,  his personal life ,ANLCA and other national issues. Excerpts:

Let’s meet you, your name and what you do?

My name is Alhaji (Dr) Abdul-Azeez Afolabi, President of Cargo Zeal Technologies Limited.

How long have you been in this business?

Well, we are going to two decades now; the company will be 20 years by October.

How have you been able to surmount all the difficulties that come around the business?

There is no business that does not have its ups and downs, so far, we don’t have any other thing to do; we have to face it headlong. We have been in it and we are used to whatever comes our way and definitely, it is not a new thing to us and God has been so faithful to us, we give glory to God.

In the area of execution of the business, which area has given you hiccups, that somebody else could emulate in how you are able to surmount it?

Well, perseverance, endurance, sometimes you get to a point that you feel like you wanna give up, when you feel so much difficulties particularly when the government policies set in, sometimes it is not conducive for the kind of business we do, it is fluctuating, there is no standard way of doing things in this country, today another policy, tomorrow another policy, sometimes very frustrating. So nothing basically, but face it headlong. We are talking about how do you surmount a problem, there is no way you surmount a problem in Nigeria than just being happy in the business you are doing and endure, it is as simple as that.

Let’s go into the union matters, from our information, the union has been withheld and an interim government is in place for now, and we know you are vying for the position of vice chairman, why not chairman, why the vice?

For me everybody is very different, my own I want to take things one step after the other, so everything has its own time, when it is time for chairman definitely I will contest for the chairmanship position, but for now I am going for the position of the vice chairman.

 Still on the union there is no union without crisis, God on your side you will definitely win, what are you going to do to bring all the warring factions together so that the union will continue to work as one?

Well let me make a simple correction here, the warring factions you are talking about is the national body, we are just the chapter, so for us to think about bringing the factions together, it may be a tedious work because the job is at national and being the vice chairman, remember I am not the chairman, definitely I am going to work along with the chairman for us to build a very conducive business environment for our members. So our own is to make sure that the welfare of our members is taken to very good consideration, but for us to think of bringing the factions that are having loggerhead at the national level together is gonna be a very tedious work for us. But we can make sure that things work well whenever there is a chance for that, but we cannot tell you here that we have the capacity because we are just at the lower level.

Also let me still make a little correction going forward, it does not really mean that there is so much problem as people portray it in the public, problem of national is union problem, definitely we are getting resolution soonest, we trying to bring all the various factions together, so everything is working well, we are working with the constitution of ANLCA, we have a constitution and we have seen where the problem is, so the elders of the union are making all efforts that everything is back to normal. I promise you very soon the problem of ANLCA will be a thing of the past.

Freight Forwarding in Nigeria today, how can you identify the right person to do business with?

That is a good question. If you are in clearing, let me give you an example, you want to deal with a freight forwarder, the first thing you need to ask is, is the person a customs licensed freight forwarder, that is number one. Does he have a physical office, that is two, thirdly, how long has he been in the business, so it is very easy, the problem is that why a lot of clients or importers are seeing agents as bad is because they are dealing with unregistered companies. On our own that is why we have a very good body, that is Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, if you are not a corporate body, you cannot belong to that group, it is not based on individual basis, it is based on your corporate entity, your registered company, that is how we know that you are a licensed freight forwarder or licensed customs broker.

Going into your personal life, on Saturday is your birthday, you are going to mark and give glory to God, for protecting and preserving you, what do you have to say to God and your clients?

The only thing I have to say to God is one, I have to be very grateful to God, it is very rare to see yourself up to this level, and God is still so faithful with him, you understand, so that is to God, I have to thank Him and be grateful to Him, and to my clients also, they have been very supportive because without them there couldn’t be me or the company, so to say, I give them a very big thank you as well, and I still look forward to much of their patronage.  And to the clients I did not know yet, that are still gonna come my way, I have to pray to God to bring them very early to me so that the business too can continue.

On the state of the economy, in a few weeks Nigeria will turn 60, what do you have to say towards it and the condition we are seeing in Nigeria now, because it is so sympathetic, what do you have to say?

You have just said it, it is so sympathetic, you understand, it is so unfortunate that Nigeria at 60 we are still crawling, so unfortunate you know, because with the amount of wealth God has given to this country, I think by now we should be above the level we are now, God so endowed this country, but the problem is about leadership, we don’t have good leaders, and we pray to God to give us good leadership that will direct us on the right path. In fact I can’t find the right word, it is unfortunate that at 60 we are still crawling, but I pray that God will change our story one day.

You are also involved in coordination of Hajji programmes, tell us how the covid-19 affected that programme or if you still have programmes for the year?

Covid-19 has really disrupted 2020, so to say, it is not even about Hajj pilgrimage, all world business has been affected To your question, you are aware Saudi Authority even stopped pilgrimage for 2020, and business actually collapsed regarding that, it is a global thing, we don’t really have anything to do, it is unexpected. This coming year, which is 2021 we hope that business will stand on its feet again, and indications are that covid-19 is gradually going, so everything will fall back to normal. And according to reports we are getting, Saudi Arabia too may be, by January they are going to lift all the travel ban and open their seaports and airports for business, so we hope 2021 is going to be a great year.

We want you to tell us what you have done and still doing to help humanity especially the less privileged ones?

That is a million dollar question, every day you do what God wants you to do. Actually I do things based on my capacity, I don’t have, say this is the particular thing you have to do, I don’t do that, I do things according to how God directs me. Every day, even when you are going on the road, you see people begging, whatever you get, if it is ordinary N100 you give, it is part of it, so I can’t say this is the particular way I channel it.

Your advice to the younger ones and those not registered

My advice is don’t run faster than your legs, be honest in whatever you want to do, either the freight forward business or any business at all, because honesty pays. You should have good integrity, people should be able to trust you, because an importer wanting your service, it is like giving his trust on you, handle this thing on my behalf, and make sure you do it rightly, don’t have it in mind that you wanna cheat your client, those are the things, those are the things that give you bad name or bad record. So if all those things are put into consideration, honesty gives you good integrity and it paves way for you.

And make sure that the business you wanna do you actually know it, don’t just jump into any business because you wanna do the business, learn from people who are doing it, how do they do it? And if there is need for you to go to school, to learn it because these days, there is no profession that does not need to be studied. You don’t just go into it, study it, know the nitty-gritty of the business before you go into it, and with that you definitely have reason to laugh at the end of the day.

And for those that have not registered, we don’t count them as good business men because number one is that their kind of operation is not to the benefit of those who are doing it rightly, they don’t care if the customer or importer loses, they are there to make sure they spoil the business, there are something you cannot get away with when you are dealing with government, government can only locate you with your registration, with the name of company.