Federal University of Petroleum Resources honours Pastor Omoragbon …As he delivers Lecture

Federal University of Petroleum Resources (Centre for Sustainable Development) Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria, has honoured the Executive President/CEO-Nurses Across the Borders Worldwide, Pastor Peters Osawaru Omoragbon. 

At the event which took place on Friday, April 22, 2022 at Asaba, Delta State, Omoragbon bagged Certificate of Fellow/Partner in recognition of his immense contributions to Sustainable Development Globally. 

In his acceptance speech, Omoragbon said he was dedicating the award to fellow Civil Society colleagues involved in the promotion of a sustainable climate and human development, the nursing profession, and above all his wife, children for their support. “I am dedicating the award to fellow Civil Society Colleagues involved in the promotion of a sustainable climate and human development. This will spurn us to continue more with our efforts.” 

Following the investiture, the team proceeded to the Nelson Mandella Park in the heart of Asaba to plant a commemorative tree to mark the 50th Earth Day. 

The Permanent Representative to the United Nations and First Designated Contact Person from Nigeria to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; President, Diaspora Nurses Association of Nigeria & Director International Liaison, Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association, UK delivered a lecture titled ‘Climate change and healthy environment for sustainable development’. Pastor Omoragbon made some recommendation, calling for Collaboration in organizing a National Health Forum on Climate Change by October 2022 as a Pre-COP 27 activity of the FMOH and the CSOs. The aim, according to him, is to bring together all relevant stakeholders from organized agencies, UN entities, the private sectors, religious bodies and the civil society to help formulate policies that will aid in reviewing and developing an appropriate National Adaptation and Mitigation Plan to be driven by the FMOH and partners; Initiate a National Capacity Building programs for the healthcare professionals as agents of climate change campaign and as First Responders to climate change disasters and risk reductions. He said NAB shall utilize its international networks to provide the needed resources by coordinating the involvement of major stakeholders with the cooperation of the Federal Government through the FMOH. 

Other recommendations include that there is an urgent need for the FMOH to carry out a Vulnerability and Adaptation assessment on climate change and health, adding that NAB shall with its status in the UNFCCC process support the FMOH in mainstreaming health into climate governance, fossil fuel phase out, international financing for climate and health and building a resilient and sustainable low-carbon health systems, among others.

Lasu 82nd Inaugural Lecture: Professor Aina advocates people’s developed constitutional order, political pluralism

Cyriacus Nnaji, 

Lagos Professor of Educational Management, Faculty of Education, Lagos State University (LASU) Professor Olusola David Aina, has advocated people-developed Constitutional order and political pluralism as a critical factor in nation-building. 

Aina took the position while delivering the 82nd Inaugural Lecture of LASU with topic “Management and Leadership in the University: Dilemma or Titillation to Nation Building”. The event took place at the Buba Marwa Auditorium of the institution at Ojo, Lagos State on Tuesday, January 18, 2022. 

 He said “There is the need to anchor nation-building on the historical development and prevailing reality of each society; there is the need for people-developed (not externally-imposed) constitutional order; political pluralism should be encouraged; democratic governance should be embraced; and Quality of leadership should be measured in terms of transparency and accountability.” 

 Aina also recommended that there should be a correlation between organisational democracy and democratic governance and that congruence must be established between the leadership and management of a nation. He also advocated that existing traditional structures of governance through the Council, the Senate and faculties should be sustained. However, there is the need for a well-designed participatory institutional framework. 

While stating that Management is the technique used for dealing with and managing persons of different age groups to work together for achieving common objectives, added that Leadership is the process of influencing the activities of an organized group towards goal setting and goal achievement. With special emphasis on Leadership, he said Leadership is required in every aspect of human endeavour. Effective leaders are needed in the military, in educational institutions, in social organisations, in business enterprises, government circles, and international organisations. He revealed that a leader could be defined as an individual with the ability to motivate or induce others. “A leader is the one who accompanies and guides on a journey and ensures the destination is safely reached.” 

Speaking on types of leadership styles which include Autocratic leadership; Democratic leadership; Laissez faire leadership; Situational leadership; Traditional leadership; Charismatic leadership; Constitutional leadership and Servant Leadership, Aina added that Leadership in any human endeavour should be seen as responsibility, not privilege; strong belief in teamwork; willingness to take risks and not to fear failure; the talent to sometimes reject the logic and take decisions based on instinct and heart; the ability to use power, when necessary, but after thought and always with caution and an understanding that compromises is not a weakness as long as it does not threaten fundamental values and goals of the organisation. 

For Aina, Nation-building can involve building different ethnic groups into one national entity. This, he said, can be especially challenging in countries that colonial powers had typically divided, ruled, and suppressed their social, ethnic, religious, and cultural evolutions. He maintained “Leadership becomes a pandemic when countries gain their independence, ancient tribalism and rivalry between ethnic groups resurfaces, and can sometimes tear the nation apart, especially if their territorial borders place rival groups together or split one down the middle. Examples include Biafra, which in 1970 tried to secede from Nigeria, or the continuing demand of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for total independence.” 

Aina opined that the interplay of leadership, management, and nation-building is intricate and inseparable. He added that Nigeria is a nation born in optimism at independence but has lived in a state of doubt and uncertainty. “All kinds of analysis and conclusions have been made on what has become a Nigerian dilemma over nation-building and national development. This is because all countries compared to Nigeria in 1960 (examples are third world countries in Asia like Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea) have made astronomical progress and developed relatively stable social, political and economic systems while Nigeria is immersed in wars, insurgencies, terrorism, economic crises, financial corruption, famine, diseases and poverty, political instability, to name a few.”  

Aina added that to ensure nation-building, it is often necessary to draw up a charter that will include national harmony, political democracy, economic and social development, social justice, cultural revival, and regional and international cooperation. At the same time, the basic principles are national unity, active participation of the people, the decisive role of the human factor, the struggle for social justice, self-reliance, and a strong relationship between people and leadership. 

Professor Aina whose contributions to knowledge have revolved around human capital development and capacity building, was at the Institute of Training and Organisational Development of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs of the University of Pittsburgh, he was also a Programme Director for over three years. Aina had the responsibility for programme design, implementation and evaluation. Some of the programmes he has directed included Leadership and Organisational Innovation, Advanced Management Programme, and Project Management.

2023: Asiwaju is the best candidate for the presidency, says Honorable Idimogu

Lawmaker representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable (Dr) Jude Chukwuemeka Omobowale Idimogu, has stated that the Former Governor of Lagos, the Asiwaju of Yoruba land and Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is the best candidate for the position of the President in 2023. 

He said among those who have indicated interest in the presidency come 2023, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains in a class of his own. Recall that Tinubu has made his aspiration open and has also formally intimated the president, Muhwmmadu Buhari of his intention. 

In a Telephone conversation, Idimogu argued that any other group or individual jostling for the position of president in Nigeria come 2023 must work extra hard to upstage the strong man of Lagos politics as power is not given for dash. 

Idimogu said “For me, Asiwaju remains the best among all the candidates that have indicated interest in the position. I am an APC man till tomorrow even though I am from the southeast. So my prayer is that my leader should get it.” Answering the question on why Tinubu should aspire for the presidency when he knew the moral implication of such aspiration considering the fact that there is clamour for President of Igbo extraction, 

Idimogu said that there is no moral burden in politics. “There is no morality in politics, politics is a game of numbers. Let me tell you, it doesn’t work that way, nobody gives you power for dash. You must go for it, let the southeast, let them, if they truly want it, they must work hard for it, but you don’t do it with sympathy, morality does not work in politics,” Idimogu maintained. 

 

Commenting on the zoning of the presidency, Idimogu added “I am from the Southeast but in politics it is not served alakat, you have to work for it, lobby for it and do all you can to ensure it is given to you or your zone. But the way I see it personally, you know we have two major political parties, the APC and the PDP and remember the 17 governors of the South clamoured for power to shift to the south, but as it is now, no particular zone within the south has actually been mentioned, and when I said the governors, the governors are mixed up, both APC and PDP, and for me when you look at the way it is going, this is my own personal view, APC is highly dominated in the southwest and because politics is a game of numbers, it is likely APC will zone it to southwest, because they have the strength and number, that is just the truth. 

“However, PDP if they so wish, they can zone the presidency to the Southeast, the south-south has already enjoyed the last presidency, so for me, they are out of the game, so it remains southeast and southwest,” Idimogu said. 

He recommended that APC should zone the presidency to the southwest saying “My recommendation would be for APC to zone the presidency to the southwest while the PDP zones it to the Southeast, then the flag-bearers would face Nigerians who will decide which zone they want to give it to. That is the way I look at it.”

On his New Year message to his constituency, Lagosians and Nigerians, he said “People should be hopeful, let’s have trust in our government, let’s believe in them. One challenge we have as a people is that Nigerians don’t believe in their government and their representatives, but they should have a change of mind. 

“The citizens should turn a new leaf and see Nigeria as one entity that all of us can defend and be proud of and call our own, then things will change for the better,” Idimogu advised.

Omoragbon, NCP Governorship candidate petitions Justice Liman over dereliction of duty

Cyriacus Nnaji

Pastor Peters Osawaru Omoragbon, National Conscience Party (NCP) Governorship Candidate in Edo State in 2016 & 2020, said he has petitioned Justice M. Liman of the Federal High Court Kano Division (formerly of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division).

The petition, according to him, is over what he called misconduct and dereliction of duty by the Honourable Justice of the Federal High Court.

The content of his release to the media read: “A case of misconduct and dereliction of duty against Honourable Justice M. Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano Division (formerly of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division) dated January 3^rd, 2022 by Pastor Peters Omoragbon, Gubernatorial Candidate of the National Conscience Party at the 2020 Edo State Governorship Elections.”

Speaking further, Omoragbon disclosed what transpired “The National Conscience Party instituted an Independent legal dispute against INEC and the AG of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 5, 2020, through Originating Summons with an Affidavit of Urgency. This case was not heard until October 13, 2020, where all the parties adopted their written submissions and judgement reserved till December 18, 2020. Even though the bureaucratic bottlenecks constituted a stumbling block to my aspiration as Governor in the Edo State Elections, I was very hopeful that no matter the undue delay, justice would eventually be served.

“It must be recalled that prior to the Edo State Governorship elections in 2020, INEC had ignominiously deregistered some political parties including the NCP. This led to a series of legal disputes against the INEC and judgement awarded against INEC, some of which are pending rulings at the Supreme Court.”

 “Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, as at today January 3rd, 2022, the ruling that was to be given on December 18, 2020, is yet to be delivered by Justice M. Liman,” Omoragbo lamented.

Omoragbo maintained that Justice Litman’s action was a deliberate act of dereliction of duty “I am constrained by circumstances beyond my control to call this Press Conference over the deliberate act of dereliction of duty by Honourable Justice M. Liman over the legal dispute instituted by our Party, the National Conscience Party against INEC and the Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said it was in the light of the obvious challenge that he directed his legal team to petition the Honourable Justice “It was in the light of this abuse of office that I directed my Legal Team led by Barrister Marcus Eyarhono Esq to formally petition Justice M. Liman to the National Judicial Council for his dereliction of duty.”

Omoragbo said Nigeria is becoming a laughingstock due to what he called lack of transparency “Every day, Nigeria is made a laughingstock by other nations of the world by our lack of transparency and corruption in high places. Whose interest is being served by the inaction of Justice M. Liman if not that of INEC and by extension the Attorney General of the Federation? When will the Nigerian judiciary be separated from the executive branch?” He queried.

While displaying the certified copies of the petition, he urged the press to hold every branch of government accountable “May I end this Press briefing by imploring the Press to please, hold every branch of government accountable, from the Executive, the legislative and the Judiciary.” 

2023: God has not ordained Tinubu for Presidency, says Primate Ayodele …Tips Fashola as one of Buhari’s choices

Success Damian:

Servant of the Most High God and Founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele (JP), has made it clear that God has not ordained the former Governor of Lagos State and Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju of Yoruba land, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be the president of Nigeria.

Primate Ayodele made the disclosure at a Press Briefing to unveil His 2022 and Beyond Divine Revelation and Prophecies which took place at the International Headquarters of the church in Oke-Afa Ejigbo, Lagos on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.

Ayodele therefore begged the APC leader to come out and contest the 2023 Presidential Election so as to receive the defeat of his life. “He will not only lose the election, he stands the risk of losing his control over Lagos “Tinubu should come out and contest the presidency and he will lose in Nigeria and lose Lagos. Let Tinubu come out in 2023. God has not ordained Tinubu for the Presidency.” He added that Nigeria will be worse under Tinubu administration.

“In APC I tell you Tinubu is just jumping up and down, if he gets the presidency, Nigeria will not move forward, so Tinubu as a matter of fact is not in the picture.”

He also advised the incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to up his game by embarking on policies aimed at improving the lives of Lagosians, as he stands the risk of losing his second term bid. “They will battle Sanwo-Olu for Second Term, so he should do more things for Lagos.”

The Servant of the Most High God also made revelations about those who stand a chance to make the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) proud in 2023. He said “In PDP I have people who can become the President, I will start mentioning names, let me put it this way, people that can become President and Vice President in PDP: Bukola Saraki, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, these are the people that can fly the flag in PDP. If Atiku comes out in PDP, it is going to be a mirage.

“In APC Tinubu as a matter of fact is not in the picture. Now the people in APC who can make it, not even Osinbajo, there are a lot of blackmail surrounding him, not even El Rufai. Buhari will surprise a lot of people. Look at Abubakar Malami, people should start looking at him, look at Babatunde Raji Fashola, the current minister of Works and Housing, these are people that are in Buhari’s agenda, these are the people Buhari wanted to give. Kayode Fayemi, Boss Mustapha i.e. Secretary to the Government (SG), the person that is going to take it is within Buhari hand, so don’t look at Tinubu.

“The young man from Kogi State Yahaya Adoza Bello is just trying to be relevant, they will not pick him; his state will not even support him. So he is trying to be a Cowboy, he is not in the picture, he is not there. I am not trying to run down anybody, I am not pulling down anybody. Mai Mala Buni from Yobe, I am talking about president and vice president, Rotimi Amaechi, Godsill Akpabio, among others, these are people that are likely to be president and vice president.”

Speaking on Security issues in Lagos, Primate Ayodele said that the government must make the right choices to ensure security of lives and properties. “There will be new CP in Lagos State next year in January of February or thereabout, and if they don’t bring in a right person, Lagos insecurity will be alarming.”

On security in the nation, he said “Soldiers fighting Boko Haram will go on strike, our police will protest, so what are we talking about insecurity now when the security is not even secured? So the point is that the government has to do the rightful things to put the security in order. As it is now these present service chiefs cannot give it all to what Nigeria needs, because in 2023 insecurity will be so alarming than what we are seeing now,” he revealed.

On Christian Association Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) he said they are only there for their own pockets, “They are in the payroll of the state and federal government, and that is why they are not talking.”

Addressing the journalist, Ayodele who has made a vow and has been giving out two Jeeps to two lucky Journalists every year, disclosed that he will be adding to his generosity and philanthropy towards journalists in 2023 by giving out three plots of land to three lucky journalists in appreciation of what they are doing for the country.

Recall that Ayodele gives out two jeeps to journalists every year, aside other empowerment efforts for the Nigeria media. He said journalists in Nigeria are the ones that fight tooth and nail to make Nigerians not to be corrupt and prayed God that the media will not be contaminated with corruption.

 

Lagos is blessed with quality leaders, says Umenzekwe, commends Sanwo-Olu for excellent performance

Hon (Chief) Modestus Umenzekwe (Onwa Achina) is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC); in this interview with SUCCESS DAMIAN in Lagos, he spoke extensively on Sanwo-Olu’s Administration, and passed a verdict that the development in Lagos State is as a result of quality leadership. Excerpts:   

Can we meet you?

I remain Hon (Chief) Modestus Umenzekwe, my political inclination is the All Progressives Congress (APC); I am a core Igbo man based in Lagos.

In one sentence, how can you describe Lagos for your reading public?

Lagos is centre of excellence, Lagos is mini Nigeria; then Lagos is prime example of peace, opportunities and symbol of Nigerian unity, let me stop there.

You are a chieftain of APC and a prominent one at that, now Sanwo-Olu has been Governor of the state since 2019, do you think he is performing according to your party’s manifesto and programmes?

He is even performing beyond that, he is performing according to our party manifesto and he has even added his own God given natural wisdom, to improve on whatever his predecessors have done. He is doing well and I congratulate him.

Can you point out one or two achievements of the Governor?

You took me by surprise, if I have prepared very well, I would have given you a lot but all I know is that Lagos is very peaceful, businesses are going very well, potholes are being patched up. You have noticed that Lagos is noted for traffic lock jam, new roads are being opened up, then there is incentive for workers, salaries are being paid. And when he came in, he improved the welfare of LASTMA, if I am not mistaking, he doubled their pay.

Then infrastructure is going on, he is cooperating with the federal government; structures are springing up here and there. Security equally improved greatly, people can sleep with their two eyes closed, not that there are not pockets of crimes, but relatively, Lagos has security and that is most important, because if you have security, you can plan, if you have security you can sleep, if you have security you can move, if you have security, all things would come up. He has done very well, and Lagos is always blessed with good and quality governors, all these are coming up as a result of critical thinking by the governor and his team. He has also ensured continuity of projects which were started by his predecessors, go to Agege and see what he did, the light rail project, the Badagry Road project, the lit up Lagos, the Eko Atlantic City project, none was abandoned.

Can you compare Sanwo-Olu and other Lagos State Governors; and what do you think are some of their similarities?

You see in Lagos you don’t compare them, because it is like they have a sort of governance plan that is being followed and let me congratulate the Lagos State governance advisory council, they are doing very well. You see Lagos is very unique; where this person stops the other person continues. And the advisory council is always there monitoring, advising, so it is not a question of comparing, I am saying that they keep improving by the day. In short it even started from the military era, yes when Commodore Ukiwe was Military Administrator of Lagos State when he moved the Government House to Alausa, and from then, I think Commander Ndubisi Kanu was Governor, and the rest of them, then came Marwa when he handled Lagos security wise, then Tinubu came in. After Tinubu then Fashola came in and blossomed everything, because it was during Fashola that an implosive device was first used to bring down a building; that was in Marina. Also bridges were repaired, roads were opened, holdups were taken away, he cleared Oshodi, the Lagos Badagry Express Road started, when he left Ambode came and continued, when Ambode left, Sanwo-Olu came in and continued, so I think it is not a question of comparing them, but congratulating them for continuity, and congratulating APC for holding APC very firm.

I am quite aware that you are a member of the Board of Federal Housing Authority, what advice would you proffer to Lagos State Government, in view of the incessant building collapse in the state?

Well, Proper regulation and close monitoring, recruiting qualified Engineers to handle various building projects, most especially the skyscrapers. Stoppage of changing the building plan half way. I am not saying that is what is happening, but I suspect that such a thing might be a factor. Now when you have a plan for a two storey building, you have a foundation for two storey building, then along the line due to one advice or the other, the developer might say, let’s make it five storey, without going to the structure, the foundation to fortify it, it is likely to collapse. Then monitoring the loads being heaped on any building, the materials used too, not fake materials, when you use sub-standard materials the building is bound to collapse, so everything borders on regulation, monitoring, adequate supervision, then punishing the offenders where necessary, with that the issue of building collapse will be a thing of the past.

Do you think the relationship between the Igbos and the present administration under Governor Sanwo-Olu is as cordial as it should be?

Thank you. You know or you can bear witness, at least in Lagos Markets where Igbos dominate, at least 90% Igbos, there has not been any harassment of any sort, what we do is we pay our statutory fees and all that, trade permits, tax and rest of them, and there is no harassment, nothing. And you can see that during weekends, so to say, Lagos is always filled up. Here in Lagos we have skyscrapers, shopping malls. If the relationship is not cordial, we would not be buying land, building houses, so the relationship has kept improving every day. You see people migrating from Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Delta, Enugu, Abia, even parts of Rivers that are Igbo speaking, you see them migrating to Lagos. I think Lagos has done very well with the Igbos, the relationship is cordial and strong. Not that at times, there may be sort of what I may call little disagreement between the state government and some market areas, there is no doubt about that, but it is normal in any situation, even in your household, you can disagree with your brother, wife or even with your housemaid, so I don’t see that as a problem, there is 90% good relationship, because nothing is 100%, 90% good relationship among the Yoruba, the state government and the Igbo nation.

Do you think the internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the Lagos State under Sanwo-Olu has improved in anyway?

Yes, when he was submitting the 2022 budget, he made mention that the IGR improved, and that is why the budget improved. It has improved and it has been so by each successive government in the state. I don’t know how they do the magic but they try a lot, and it will continue to improve the way I see things. In 2019 when he came in Lagos had N398.73billion in terms of IGR, by 2020 it hit N418.99billion still the highest in the country, by the end of  year 2021 the picture of IGR leading states will emerge, but trust me Lagos is already in the lead in the first half of this year according to report with N267. 2billion, representing 31% out the total IGR in the first half of 2021 throughout the federation, remotely followed by FCT with N69 billion.  

How can you rate Sanwo-Olu’s strategy in fighting the covid-19 pandemic, is there anything you feel he should have done differently to further curtail the spread?

You will equally ask me how I will rate Fashola in containing Ebola. You see my son was admitted in one of the Lagos State colleges, one of the best Lagos State colleges, during Ebola, while he is coming out, there is covid, so that gave me a very good experience to analyse the two governors. Just like what Fashola did in Ebola is what Sanwo-Olu did to covid. I think he tried his best to contain it, despite the population of Lagos, despite the fact that the way covid infect people was so mysterious, but you see isolation centres were erected within few weeks, he started looking for funds, the federal government supported, everybody complied with the lockdown and all that, despite the fact that people still believe that there was no covid, that it is all politics, but when it now down on them that people are dying they agreed, despite the fact that people neglected professional advice, flouted the state government order and guidelines, but still he was very calm enough to handle it , to regulate it, and I want to thank the commissioner for Health, Lagos State. Then EndSARS came in again, and he was able to contain those things. So I give him, you know in university when you get 80% or 90% it is A, so I give him A, he did well. And I want him to step up, despite some people are not heeding to his advice but let him step up. Issue of nose mask, there should be more enlightenment, people should be encouraged to take the vaccine, and go for the test, and find a more subtle way of enforcing it without necessarily inflicting hardship on people, because we have learnt to live with covid, but we must continue to educate people.

I will not subscribe to lockdown but we continue to regulate, you might say without nose mask you cannot enter the bank, without vaccine you can’t do this, those things are polices that would come up to make people to comply because it is a policy aimed at saving life and not to destroy life. Then this issue of campaigning against the vaccine should stop, it is all propaganda, to the best of my knowledge. I have asked some friends who are the best brains in medicine and they confirmed that the vaccines are okay so people should be encouraged to take it in market places, churches, clubs, hotels should be made centres for the vaccine not necessarily hospitals, every nook and cranny of the state, people should be there administering the vaccine, free of charge, but then they must monitor fake, because people will capitalise on that, bring whatever chemical they want, inject on people, when people start dying they will say, government has killed people, so they should decentralize this issue of vaccination all over Lagos, in fact in every street there should be a vaccination centre.

The traffic menace in Lagos is not abetting in anyway, what do you think Lagos State can do to ameliorate it?

Inasmuch as the government is trying, one thing is that potholes on all the roads have been filled up, now new ways must be opened up. Then, there are vehicles, stagnant vehicles all over the streets in Lagos, abandoned vehicles, here and there. The owners must be encouraged to remove them, you are passing a street and you see vehicles packed both sides; there is no way you can maneuver. So streets must be free from stagnant vehicles if we are going to get it right. Then, this issue of taking one way, I am surprised that even commercial vehicles are taking one way and nobody is even talking about it, but when private people like us take one way LASTMA will arrest them, and it is causing a lot of traffic lock jam and even accident. So I begin to ask, these commercial vehicles, do they have something special, so that all of us can go and get it and equally keep taking one way? Again regulation is very important, people must obey traffic rules, people must be made to obey traffic rules.

You see, when Fashiola was here, he stood his ground, that was why Oshodi was cleared, Amuwo-Odofi was cleared and so many areas. And I want the present governor to review that strategy and make sure, in as much as he is opening up areas, let him go back and review it and review it very well, this issue of one-way in Lagos, if it is not stopped we are in trouble. Okada must not take one-way, the same as Danfo, nobody should take one-way, it is really terrible, then all road constructions must be given timeline, and if I may recommend, let all road constructions go on much later in the night so that people can move.

Many people complain that their votes don’t count during elections in Lagos; do you agree or disagree with this claim?

You see, people can come up with all sorts of stories and all that, to the best of my knowledge since I have been voting in Lagos, I am always there to see that my vote would count, I don’t agree, votes in Lagos count, otherwise if it doesn’t count, at times you see in a particular election a particular candidate winning the other with just a slight margin, if it doesn’t count how does it happen that way, I have forgotten the year, APC won PDP or another party with a slight margin, so for somebody to say vote in Lagos doesn’t count, that person is economical with truth.

2023 is fast approaching; do you think Sanwo-Olu deserves second tenure as governor of Lagos?

You know Lagos as a cosmopolitan city, as a mini Nigeria, as centre of excellence, they have a specialised way of handling their own things, which I don’t, I don’t know the arrangement, but I believe that Sanwo-Olu deserves a second term; I don’t know their arrangement but because of his excellent performance, he deserves it.

There have been several calls for Lagos to be given special status given the volume of residents and visitors, infrastructural demand and maintenance, how do you think the state can mount pressure on the FG to realize this special status demand?

That is a very good question. In one of my publications on May 12, 2018, page 12, The Authority Newspaper, I made advocacy for Lagos to be given special status position in Nigeria. Lagos deserves special status. I am not from, Lagos, I am an Anambra man, but taking into consideration the factors we have talked about, with a population of about 20 to 25 million, there is no way we can deny them such, then again on September 11, 2018, the same Authority Newspaper, page 21, I said ‘National Assembly should revisit Lagos State Special Status Bill, and I am using this opportunity to tell the 9^th Assembly led by our revered Senator Ahmed Lawal to, please, reconsider giving Lagos Special status, they deserve it.

All those people in Abuja, you see them weekend, they are all in Lagos. On Monday they are back to Abuja, so the population of Lagos deserves that Lagos should be given special status. Most of the lawmakers sprang up from Lagos, they were in Lagos before they relocated to Abuja no matter their states, as a result of their recent political status; some of them have their families here, so it is the right thing to do.

Do you think Lagos deserve more Local government to be recognized by the constitution?

My own state Anambra deserves more local government and you are talking about Lagos. It is a very clear issue, my own state Anambra we deserve more local governments. Even the one that was given to my area was abolished for reasons I cannot explain now, and then Lagos, the population of Lagos is more, so they deserve to be given more local governments. My advocacy is that the 37 local council development areas, LCDAs should be recognized by the constitution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You’ve demonstrated virtue of service, dedication in patriotism, Nurses Across Borders tells Gambari on his birthday

Success Damian:

Nurses Across the Borders Humanitarian Initiative Nigeria & USA has disclosed that His Excellency, Ambassador (Professor) Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Chief of Staff, Office of the President, has demonstrated the virtue of service and dedication in patriotism and humility.

This was contained in a congratulatory message dedicated to Gambari as he marks his birthday November 24, 2021.

In a press statement released to the media by Pastor Peters Osawaru Omoragbon, Executive President/CEO of the Nurses Across the Borders, part of the message read “From the pinnacle of the United Nations to Motherland, you have demonstrated the virtue of service and dedication in patriotism and humility.”

Quoting the statement “On behalf of the leadership and entire members of Nurses Across the Borders Worldwide, do accept our well wishes, prayers and God’s protection and guidance as you celebrate another developmental milestone-your birthday today.

“For you to have lived this long, still waxing strong and impacting humanity in service is a testimonial of what God is yet to do with you. Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, neither has it come into the imagination of the hearts of men what God will still do with you. You were created for greater achievements, which is why your life has been a life of service,” the statement read.

The group also made it clear that as their Grand Patron, they are proud of him “Your Excellency, as our Grand Patron, we cannot be prouder that today, you serve as the Chief of Staff, to the Leader of the greatest African Nation, Nigeria.”

They also prayed for him saying “The Lord will keep you and uphold you in health and longer life to fulfil destiny and help with building our nation to that enviable height worthy of emulation within the comity of nations.”