The Nation Newspaper

Category: Discourse

  • Tallen @65: A passion for women development

    Tallen @65: A passion for women development

    By Mark Longyen

    Former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Kedem Tallen, for many reasons, and justifiably so, is widely regarded as a woman of many parts. She’s often described, and rightly so, as one in a million among the womenfolk. Many call her the elegant stallion, the mentor of mentors and champion of women empowerment. Yet, many others prefer to view her from the prism of her nicknames like ‘Mama Plateau’ or ‘Mama For The Girls’. 

    Without a doubt, Tallen is currently Nigeria’s most vociferous and resolutely resilient advocate for gender equality and women involvement in politics under the auspices of the 35 per cent affirmative action. Her passion for women emancipation is indeed second to none across the country.

    Dame Tallen often leverages her strong network with development partners to lobby, influence and render unwavering support for women and young girls, serving as their mentor, while implementing sustainable projects across the nation, which was manifestly taken to an unprecedented highest level when she was women affairs minister under President Muhammadu Buhari.

    For instance, she effectively influenced policies and worked seamlessly with civil society organizations to combat gender-based violence, reduce child marriage, and achieve significant milestones in ways that were never witnessed in the ministry’s history. 

    It is to her credit that within the four years that she served as women affairs minister, she consciously took bold and deliberate steps towards ensuring that many states across the country domesticated various gender equality laws, which prohibit certain archaic discriminatory customary practices that inhibit the rights of the girl-child and women.

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    A down to earth personality, who is endowed with a rare embodiment of natural beauty, brain, sharp wits and humbling humility, Tallen is a trailblazer, who as a serving minister, unprecedentedly openly joined protests in support of Nigerian women and also convinced a sitting First Lady to go to the National Assembly and address lawmakers on issues that border on women.

    Dame Tallen’s strongest conviction and deepest passion is her belief that empowering vulnerable women and girls with multiple skills, starter packs and other forms of women and young girls’ empowerment, is key to achieving national economic development.

    She is also of the political view that women inclusion and participation in governance at all levels, is critical to boosting the nation’s democracy and overall national development, while concomitantly noting that the low number of women in politics and leadership positions sets the nation back developmentally by decades.

    Based on her personal conviction and interest as a defender of womanhood, which she says she imbibed from childhood, Tallen considers the inadequate number of women in decision-making as being responsible for the low investment and slow progress in some of the nation’s crucial sectors of human development.

    She says: “Gender inequality meted out to women and girls is a gross human rights violation, hence the urgent need to abolish all forms of violence and harmful traditional practices endangering the health and dignity of girls and womanhood in Nigeria.

    “We must therefore set out targets and work towards achieving them. We must make history and make indelible marks on the sands of history.

    “Women are the engine of the economy and must be carried along to improve the economy. Once women are empowered, the economy changes.

    “Most of the security problems are because we have out of school children. If we look for ways to engage these children meaningfully, the security situation will change, and then we will have peace.”

    Imbued by such an incredibly strong passion and conviction for a strategic place for women in the nation’s body politic, Tallen, as women affairs minister and APC chieftain, while reacting to the judgment of a Court in Adamawa, which had just nullified the election of Sen Aisha Dahiru Binani, the state’s only female governorship aspirant of the the APC, allegedly described it as a ‘Kangaroo judgment,’ which aim she claimed was the marginalisation of women in Nigerian politics.

    She allegedly said that many women, like Binani, who was the sole female aspirant in the Adamawa APC governorship primary, were not fairly treated during the primaries for the 2023 general elections.

    It is noteworthy that her having the audacity to take the bullets for the womenfolk by such comments did not go down well with some vested political interests and their acolytes in the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which culminated in a pending suit instituted by the NBA demanding an apology from her or seeking to bar her from holding public office henceforth.

    Born on 8 January, 1959 in Shendam, Plateau State, Dame Tallen is a devout Catholic and Papal Dame, mother of 5, and member, board of trustees of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.

    Tallen bagged a first degree in Sociology from the University of Jos in 1982 and later proceeded to Harvard University, USA, for a programme in strategic public sector negotiations, as well as the John F. N. Kennedy School of Government, among others.

    She also attended various Seminars and Conferences, both at National and International levels in the fields of Education, Health, Politics, Science and Technology and Business Administration, across numerous countries like Britain,  Canada, Singapore, Italy, U.S.A., Indonesia, Rome, Pakistan, Iran, Malaysia, France, Ethiopia, South Africa, Israel, Japan,  China, South Korea, Mozambique and Egypt. 

    Her first major political appointment was when she served as the Commissioner for Social Development, Youth, Sports and Culture and later Commissioner for Health in Plateau State, between 1994 to 1999, where she distinguished herself as an astute and shrewd politician cum administrator, which paved the way for her to be considered for higher appointments thereafter.

    At the age of 40, she was appointed as the Minister of State for Science and Technology from 1999 to 2005, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, becoming the first woman to be appointed as a minister in that capacity and later served as Chairman Governing Board, Raw Materials Research and Development Council.

    In 2007, Dame Tallen was elected Deputy Governor of Plateau State under former Gov Jonah Jang on the platform of the PDP, the first woman to become a deputy governor in Northern Nigeria. However, she later decamped to the Labour Party in 2011 and contested the governorship election of that year against her principal, but was allegedly rigged out.

    In 2017, she was named a Nigerian Ambassador by former President Muhammadu Buhari but she rejected it, citing personal reasons. However, two years later in 2019, the President again appointed her as the Minister of Women Affairs during his second tenure and she accepted and served till the end of his tenure in May, 2023.

    Tallen is a recipient of multiple national and international awards and honours. For instance, in 2005, she was decorated with the National Honor of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), by President Olusegun Obasanjo, an official national recognition of her invaluable contribution to national development.

    She was also honoured as Woman Of The Year for her contribution to Nigeria at the 10th African Icon of Our Generation Awards. She has been chairman of the Governing Board of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS since 2017, as well as World Ambassador of Peace, Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace, since 2000. 

    In 2023, Tallen also bagged the United Nations Global Women Foundation Advocacy For Change Award, which was conferred on her at the UN headquarters in New York, U.S. for her lifelong commitment toward building strong reach of service throughout the world.

    As she clocks the relatively young milestone age of 65 today, with many more decades of service to the nation and humanity still expected from her, Dame Tallen can be said to have lived an accomplished and fulfilled life and career. Given her avalanche of pacesetting achievements in virtually every facet of life in the past 30 years, it is not far-fetched to say that she represents everything that the Nigerian girl-child would want to emulate and dream to become in life.

    • Longyen, a politician, wrote from Jos, capital of Plateau State

  • Adedeji: A man of excellence turns 46

    Adedeji: A man of excellence turns 46

    By Dare Adekanmbi

    The greatest English playwright, William Shakespeare, sketches out three pathways to greatness in his play, Twelfth Night. “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them,” he theorises. 

    To the Bard of Avon, the first pathway is to be born into greatness, to come from a wealthy family. A person so born naturally has high social standing as a result of their parents’ wealth. To the second class belong individuals who are not obviously born great, but who achieve greatness through dint of hard work and diligence. In the last class are those who come to greatness through happenstance or serendipity.

     All things considered, the subject of this piece, Zacch Adedeji, Ph.D., fits into the second category. Zacch, as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS) prefers to be called, is one of the prominent appointees of President Bola Tinubu. This is on account of his immense capacity, knack for diligent execution of given tasks and the content of his character. He is a man shot to limelight by hard work, discipline, and the abundant grace of God.

     But his road to prominence was never smooth. Born into a humble, agrarian family in Iwo Ate, Ogo Oluwa Local Government Area of Oyo State, he resolved early in life not to allow the circumstance of his birth dictate how far he could go. While helping his father out on the farms, precocious Adedeji never joked with his studies, especially realising through examples seen around him that education is the only medication against fatalism.

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      After flying high through his primary and secondary education, his quest for more knowledge took him to the Federal Polytechnic in Ede, Osun State, where he finished his Ordinary National Diploma in Accountancy with distinction. Hungry for more, he enrolled for a higher degree at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, to study management and accounting. Just as he was going to start the journey to Ife, a setback surfaced. His beloved father died. But Adedeji did not allow the tragedy to extinguish his dream of going to Ife and emerging the best. After just two semesters at Ife, his fame as an ‘efiko’ (a brilliant student) had spread beyond his class, earning him the appellation ‘Prof’ from his classmates. ’Prof’ shone brightly, finishing with First-Class honours.

     Everywhere Adedeji has worked after leaving OAU, he has left a mark of excellence and made so much positive impact that they look back at his times in those organisations with admiration and superlative commendations. At the multinational American company, Procter and Gamble (P&G) he started as a General Accounting and Stewardship Manager and rose to the level of Chief Finance Manager for West Africa with enviable performance records. He led a cross-functional team to prepare and report financial statements for the company regionally and globally through consolidated data entry tool. He supervised the day-to-day evaluation and implementation of SAP (Systems Applications and Products) modules and also led a 15-member finance team to develop the internal processes for the roll out of SAP for West Africa.

     While at P&G, he met Senator Abiola Ajimobi. What drew Ajimobi to the high-flying Adedeji was the young man’s reputation as a brilliant finance expert doing so well in an A-List organisation. Ajimobi took Zacch under his wings because he saw in him someone he could mentor and pour himself into. The relationship blossomed and when Ajimobi was elected governor of Oyo State in 2011, he appointed Adedeji, then 33 years, his Finance Commissioner, making him the youngest person to have held that position in the state. The late former governor had this to say about Zacch: “He is a young, brilliant and wise man. I can testify to his unusual creativity, astuteness and uncommon skills in public finance management. I can see his lights shining ever so brightly on the global horizon for many decades ahead.”

     His appointment as the fifth substantive Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council in March 2021 was greeted with loud cheers from stakeholders in the industry. Adedeji immediately set out his priority areas. He emplaced a number of strategies and programmes that drew huge investments into the sector, particularly through the council’s backward integration programme as enshrined in the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan (NSMP). He regarded the sugar sector as one that could be used to solve unemployment if the potential was fully harnessed.  

     From Sugar, he was first appointed Special Adviser on Revenue and then Executive Chairman of FIRS. After more than 100 days in charge, he has not left the staff of the agency in doubt that his administration will be signposted by merit and driven by data. He places a high premium on data because it is only a data-driven system that makes revenue target predictable for the realisation of the fiscal projections of government for economic development. “There is nothing like fiscal discipline except you have accurate revenue prediction. If you say you want to spend N10 and be disciplined with it, that means the N10 must be somewhere,” he once told the staff.  He has equally assured them that their welfare is topmost on his agenda, while also entrenching and maintaining highest standards of accountability and transparency.

     Apart from the journey to make FIRS rediscover itself which has since started under Adedeji, the chairman has been building the confidence of the taxpayers in the service, assuring them of a just, fair and modernized tax administration founded on data and technology. Speaking at a meeting with top 30 taxpayers in the country last year, Adedeji stressed that FIRS under him will be committed to watering and making corporate entities to flourish so that their fruits can be beneficial to oiling the wheels of the economy. “Our plan is simple. We want to grow tax revenue and we only want to tax prosperity and not poverty. Therefore, it is not in our interest to kill the trees that bear the fruits. We will not collect what is not due to us. But we don’t want anyone not to pay what is due to us. Fair engagement is our plan.”

     This is not all there is to say about Adedeji who turns 46years today. Space economy has to factor. Adedeji, like Baltasar Gracian, believes it is not enough to be intelligent, as having the right character is equally as crucial. This belief was vividly captured about Zacch by a former governor of Edo State and currently a Senator in the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole during the screening of Adedeji as FIRS chairman: “I think beyond his compelling CV that we have seen, what is not often captured in CVs are things like character, commitment, patriotism and competence. I have had interactions with this young man and I know he is of good character and he is very competent. What Mr President has done by appointing him is to show that what elders can do, young people can do even better and in a digitised way.”

     If you are looking for a young man so blessed with high native intelligence, who is generous and compassionate, who wipes tears from people’s faces, a human calculator whose root and branch analyses of issues about figures and processes are so spot on, Zacch Adedeji is your ‘one-stop shop.’ I wish ‘Olo’un wa’ a birthday filled with loads of happiness and fulfilled wishes. Bon anniversaire, Chairman.

    • Adekanmbi is the Special Adviser Media to the FIRS chairman.

  • How digital creatives impact Nigeria’s economy

    How digital creatives impact Nigeria’s economy

    Within a few years, the Nigerian digital  creative economy has experienced tremendous growth and prospects. Reason: The COVID-19 lockdown produced many content creators who have become influencers, creating economic fortunes for themselves, their families and the larger society. These individuals have taken content creation as their full-time business, operating what can be termed a “creator economy”.

    Motivated by the barefaced impact of the digital creative economy, Playhouse Communications, a premier digital communications agency passionate about creating digital connections between brands and their audiences, launched an innovative initiative tagged: ‘The StoryStoryHub’. This trail-blazing campaign seeks to explore the impact of the burgeoning digital creative sector on the economy. Essentially, it is intended to emphasise the enormous economic roles of the creator economy and highlight how digital creatives, like skit makers and content creators, have flourished through the instrumentality of digital media.

     Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Playhouse, Mr. Tolu Onile-Ere, explained: “We are embarking on the StoryStoryHub initiative centered on the Digital Creative Economy in Nigeria. We launched this campaign to celebrate everything good about the digital economy in Nigeria. This campaign aims at making Nigerians aware of the tangible benefits of the digital economy in their daily lives. While the use of social media in Nigeria is commonplace, not everyone understands just how important it is to the common man’s life. This campaign is set to change that.”

    The StoryStory Hub campaign featured a renowned name in Nigeria’s skit-making space, Samuel Animashaun Perry, popularly known as Broda Shaggi. Shaggi comes from a humble background but has etched his name in the mind of almost every Nigerian. From the squalid Makoko axis in Lagos, Shaggi leveraged his aptitude for creating humorous content to become a social media sensation, and has now delved into other entertainment areas like acting, as he has featured in many top-grade movies.

    In his StoryStoryHub episode, Shaggi narrated his trajectory as a content creator: “I wasn’t born with a silver spoon. So, when I lost my dad, my mum and I had to relocate to Makoko, a very rugged area in Lagos. I had to rely on my talent- singing, drumming, dancing, acting- just to make ends meet and to finish my programme at the University of Lagos. It wasn’t easy. I said to myself, all these talents can’t go to waste.

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    “So, I started posting my skits on Instagram and Facebook and my following started growing gradually. Now, I have 12 million followers on Instagram and nine million followers on Facebook. Since I joined these platforms, I have been making money. This has impacted not only me, but my family, friends and well-wishers. I urge other young people to do the same- have such an impact for yourself. I want you to know that you have a talent. So, share your talent in the form of content on social media platforms, and with God’s grace, consistency and hard work, you will become a better version of yourself and make impact”.

    Shaggi’s story simply accentuated how powerful social media platforms are, especially when you are consistent. From skit-making, he transitioned into starring in tier-one movies, not forgetting the inroads he has made in brand promotion, ambassadorship deals and job creation, which have an immense positive effect on the larger Nigerian economy.

    Similarly, Tricia Olufemi-Olumide, known as Triciabiz on social media, has grown to become a prominent personage in Africa’s entrepreneurship. Founder of Ziba Beach Resort, a boutique resort in Lagos, Tricia is a marketing strategist, launch expert, business coach and Angel Investor but she started online- creating videos in which she taught people how to build an online business and make money. She said in her beginning years, she was discouraged by several people who told her to get a job, but she persisted with determination and garnered momentum over time, impacting millions of people across the globe through her content. Now, she has invested in other sectors, including tourism, where she also contributes in solving the challenge of unemployment.

    In her StoryStory Hub episode, she relayed: “I moved from being an online teacher to becoming a beach resort owner. You never know how your story will evolve. You just need to use the tools in front of you to get to your destination. I started out as a teacher, sharing my knowledge and experience online, but I knew I wanted to do more, and I eventually used the profits from my knowledge business, among others, to build Ziba Beach Resort. To those who feel online business is a joke, well, look where we are now”.

    In the same vein, Eric Okafor, with the social media handle ‘Knewkeed’, is another content creator whose journey of impact in the Creative Digital Economy is stimulating. Okafor’s tech content creation was inspired by a regular recording of a phone unboxing session which he did with his boss in 2015.

    He narrated: “That video with my boss was my first unboxing video.”

     A year later, I quit my job. In 2017, I decided I was going to do content creation full-time, with a N5000 mat and a mini-tripod. The set-up was N10,000. I relied mostly on sunlight. With consistency, brands started to reach out. I started getting contracts, gigs and retainers from agencies for content creation. I also started travelling around the world, creating content. One good turn deserves another. In my little way, I gave back to my alma mater – King’s College – but what I am most proud of is using my influence to set up a younger creator for life. In record time, my dream is to make younger stars shine”.

    With a cumulative following of 248,000 on Instagram, Facebook and the X app, Knewkeed is leading the charge for young tech content creators and driving growth for businesses through strategic content marketing, which is also helping to develop the Digital Creative Economy.

     Another content creator that was featured in the StoryStoryHub series is Muaz Muh’d, well known as ‘Bushkiddo’. His story: “About nine or 10 years ago when I finished NYSC. One day, I came across an American comedian who does skits in just 15 seconds. I was impressed. That was what propelled me to start creating content. I started alone with my phone and the dedication to create something similar in Hausa. After a while, my videos started gaining traction. Brands started paying me to create content for them. Family and friends came in and we became a team. That’s how we’ve made it this far”. Riding on social media (Facebook, Instagram and the X app) following of over 891,000, Bushkiddo significantly impacted his friends, family and businesses, translating to positive results for the Nigerian economy.

     Also, Jennifer Onyekwelu, famously known as Jenni-frank in the social media community, partook in the StoryStoryHub campaign. Jenni-frank creates entertainment content and has grown her followers from zero to 808,000 on Instagram and over four million on Tiktok. Those numbers speak of consistent diligence! She has monetised what started as a pastime and now connects brands with their audiences through enjoyable, educative content. She stressed how content creation has economically empowered her and the people around, putting her in a position to create jobs for fellow Nigerians.

     An influencer, actor and TV show host, Jenni-frank, shared her story: “Rising from the streets of Onitsha to where I am today is a story I am willing to tell over and over again. I started creating content with just my phone and natural sunlight. Thanks to the impact of social media which has played a huge role in making me grow and impacting me positively. I have been able to bridge the gap between brands and consumers. I have also created a new market. Social media has played a huge role in building community, showcasing talents and connecting people from different parts of the world. And the best part is that it is accessible and the money is there”.

     The StoryStoryHub campaign, initiated by Playhouse as part of its 12th Anniversary is playing up the role and impact of the Creative Digital Economy in Nigeria, with emphatic focus on the stories of digital creatives who have combined their talent and the power of digital media to bring forth great changes in their lives and those of their families, drive commercial growth and rewrite the digital economy narrative of Nigeria.

  • Oyebanji: Celebrating a change agent at 56

    Oyebanji: Celebrating a change agent at 56

    By Yinka Oyebode

    Last week, December 12th to be precise, Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State witnessed an unusual development. Pensioners in the state under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) organised a special prayer session for Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his administration. The sole purpose of the one- day intercessory programme by the senior citizens was to prayerfully support the Governor and his administration. On that day, the pensioners, in their hundreds, thronged the Jibowu Hall, venue of the programme and devoted the entire time praying for the Governor, who on invitation, attended the programme accompanied by his deputy, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye and some members of the state executive council.

    The message being passed by the pensioners was loud and clear. What they were simply saying was that they might not have silver nor gold to give the Governor for his demonstrated commitment to their welfare and wellbeing, through prompt payment of pensions and consistency in defraying outstanding gratuities as well as other policies and programmes that have directly impacted their lives. But what they have- prayers- they would freely offer to God on his behalf. 

    Elder Joel Akinola, the state Chairman of NUP, said the pensioners had never organised such an intercessory programme for any sitting Governor of the state. He said they were moved to do it because of the Governor’s has prioritised their welfare in such an unprecedented manner.

    If the pensioners premised their support for Governor Oyebanji on the new lease of life he has injected into their union through prompt fulfilment of government obligations to them, the three former governors of the state that publicly endorsed Governor Oyebanji some six weeks earlier, hinged their decision on BAO’s performance and exemplary leadership style, which has united various tendencies within the state with concomitant peace, stability and massive development in the state.

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    Former Governors Adeniyi Adebayo,  Kayode Fayemi and Ayodele Fayose as well as the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, gave what is aptly an endorsement that is unprecedented, during the thanksgiving service commemorating Oyebanji administration’s first anniversary on October 22nd.  Former Governor Fayose spoke on behalf of the trio, drawing a thunderous applause from the congregation. Former Governor Segun Oni, who was not present during the thanksgiving service made up for his absence some weeks later when he joined the Governor for a Sunday service at the Government House chapel. 

    How BAO is able to garner the support and cooperation of all his predecessors in office as well as all candidates of other political parties that contested the June 2022 election with him, remains a classical lesson in political maturity and demonstrated leadership capacity.

    Those who have followed Oyebanji’s trajectory right from his student’s days, through the period of pro- democracy movement, the period of agitation for the creation of Ekiti State as well as his foray into public service, would readily admit that his unique approach to governance does not come as a surprise. BAO, as he is fondly called, is guided by the social democratic principle of lifting the weak and supporting the vulnerable in the society as well as the biblical injunction of love your neighbour as yourself. His genuine concerns include how to give a voice to the voiceless; how transformational leadership can replace transactional politics; how to build strong institutions instead of strong men; how to make government wear a human face; how every citizen can feel the impact of government regardless of their social standing; and what mechanism should be put in place for genuine and effective empowerment of the citizens, especially the less privileged, towards the attainment of the good life for all.

    Governor Oyebanji is disarmingly unassuming. Those who have come in contact with him, and, indeed a vast majority of Ekiti people, believe his simplicity has brought a new level of zest to governance and redefined performance with emphasis on excellent service delivery, measureable impact, prudent management of resources, zero distraction, minimal noise and maximum benefit to the people, in line with the shared prosperity agenda of his administration.

    As a change agent, BAO believes it is not enough for a leader to lead the people. He believes a leader must live in the hearts of the people by serving them diligently and sincerely. He believes trust is a public good without which no great thing can be achieved collectively. Hence, he believes trust has to be earned. As a leader, he combines integrity, creativity, character, competence, compassion with passion for excellence and development.

    Many people have tried to explain the uniqueness of BAO’s exemplary leadership style. Some believe it is the “homeboy factor”, while many believe he got the necessary grooming having served two former governors in six different capacities before becoming governor. But while these assertions are correct, Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of World Economic Forum seems to have the right answer. According to him, “there are four ingredients in true leadership: brain, soul, heart and good nerves.” BAO, no doubt, possesses these four attributes, especially when one considers the outcomes of many of his developmental efforts.

    His decision to fix the power issues that had put several communities in about four councils in darkness for over ten years by connecting them to the national grid almost at the same time the state’s Independent Power Project (IPP) was commissioned for use is a game changer that has brought a remarkable boost in the socioeconomic development of the state by people and helped to resuscitate some dying businesses. His huge investment in agriculture as a pathway to industrialisation has also attracted an army of youths into commercial agriculture just as his efforts at making Ekiti a digital hub is already yielding fruits, what with the recent $80 million support from the African Development Bank. His local content policy as well as the inclusion policy are daily redefining government –citizens relationship for the betterment of the state.

    Born on December 21, 1967, in Ikogosi-Ekiti, Oyebanji had his early education in his home state and in institutions such as Baptist Primary School, Ikogosi-Ekiti; Awo Community High School, Awo-Ekiti;  C.A.C. Grammar School, Efon-Alaaye; District Commercial Secondary School, Aramoko-Ekiti; and  Federal School of Arts and Science, Ondo. He bagged a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the Ondo State University (now Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti) in 1989 and  Masters’ degree in Political Science (International Relations and Strategic Studies), from the University of Ibadan in 1992.

    He started his career as a Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti, and worked for four years (1993 – 1997) . He later proceeded to work as Manager, Treasury, and Financial Services at the defunct Omega Bank Plc (now Heritage Bank) till May 1999, when he commenced an illustrious career in politics and governance.

    Since embracing public service in 1999, he has served in various capacities. He started as  Special Assistant to the Governor (Parliamentary Affairs, June 1999 – July 2000); Special Adviser (Parliamentary Affairs, Aug. 2000 – Sept. 2001); Chief of Staff to the Governor (September 2001 – May, 2003); Chairman, Governing Board, Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (June 2009 – December 2010). He served as Commissioner, Ministry of Integration and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Ekiti State ( December 2010 – December 2011); Head, Office of Transformation, Strategy and Delivery (OTSD), Ekiti State (December 2011 – January 2013); Commissioner, Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Service Delivery, Ekiti State (January 2013 – October 2014).

    He also served as Secretary to Ekiti State Government between October 2018 to December 2021, when he resigned his appointment to join the governorship race, which he won on the platform of the All Progressives  Congress (APC) in June 22, 2022.  He was inaugurated Governor of Ekiti State on October 16, 2022.

    Oyebanji is a devout Christian who sees his career in politics and governance as a divine calling. His belief is that he is not only accountable to the people, he is also accountable to God. This philosophy remains his guiding light as he continues to serve God and country diligently as a loyal party man and conscientious public servant. As Governor, Oyebanji runs an inclusive administration and makes the welfare and well -being of the people a top priority. Through a combination of prudent management of resources, aggressive industrialisation drive and infrastructure upgrade, he has been able to reposition the state for economic growth. His strategic deployment of technology to block leakages has also led to a remarkable improvement in internally generated revenue for the state.

    In recognition of his inspirational life journey, BAO has received many awards and recognitions. His most cherished is the Ekiti State Exceptional Achievers (MEEA) Award, granted in recognition of his contributions to the creation of Ekiti State as Secretary, State Creation Committee and Secretary, Ekiti State Development Fund.

    Oyebanji is married to Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, a senior lecturer in the Department of Educational Management, University of Ibadan. They are blessed with three children.

    From the rolling hills of Ekiti comes fifty- six hearty cheers for an enigmatic leader, innovator and change agent- BAO the people’s Governor, as he clocks 56 today.

    • Oyebode, Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor, writes from Ado-Ekiti

  • Tinubu: another hero of June 12 struggle gone

    Tinubu: another hero of June 12 struggle gone

    President Bola Tinubu has mourned the exit of former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori.

    Acknowledging the late activist and oil worker as a thoroughbred activist who surrendered his personal liberty in the fight for truth and justice, President Tinubu also described the deceased as a brother in the June 12 struggle and an exemplary comrade.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President condoled with the Kokori family, the civil society, the government, and the people of Delta State, over the deeply painful loss.

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    President Tinubu described the former Labour leader as a man of conscience; highly principled, courageous, and true.

    The statement reads: “Frank Kokori was a thoroughbred democrat and activist. He fought for democracy at a great personal cost. He surrendered his liberty to fight for truth and justice. He was the finest among reformers and champions of civil rights in Nigeria.

    “He was a brother in the June 12 struggle. He was uncompromising, unbending, and irrepressible. He was an exemplary comrade.”

    Tinubu prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased. He also encouraged those he left behind to take comfort in his peerless legacy.

  • Torrents of tributes pour for Labour leader Kokori

    Torrents of tributes pour for Labour leader Kokori

    • President, governors, NADECO chieftains, unionists, pro-democracy activists mourn
    • Family ‘regrets’ patriarch’s passage

    Torrents of tributes poured in yesterday for former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori.

    The elder statesman, who was a foremost figure in the struggle against the annulment of the June 12, 1983 presidential election, died in the early hours of yesterday. He would have turned 80 yesterday.

    His death at a hospital in Warri, Delta State, was confirmed by his Personal Assistant, Atawada.

    The tributes came from politicians, pro-democracy activists, unionists and human rights crusaders. They all eulogised the virtues of the late unionists who rallied oil sector workers to rise against the abortion of the election widely adjudged as Nigeria’s freest and fairest in 1993.

    They include: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Delta State Governor Sheriff Francis Oborevwori; former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege; Senator Ede Dafinone, and the various unions. 

    Elder statesman and General Secretary of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Chief Ayo Opadokun, described the late Kokori as “a rare ideological specimen in trade unionism and the democratic struggle”.

    In his tribute, Opadokun wrote: “He (Kokori) was a rare nationalist, committed ideologue, genuine patriot who risked even his own career and family comfort as well as possible prospect to speak truth to power on behalf of the down-trodden Nigerians.

    “Comrade Kokori was well educated and well trained in the management of human resources to balance up with capital for productive growth of the state economy.”

    The elder statesman said the late Kokori’s sagacity and courageous leadership came to national limelight much more in 1993-1994 through to 1998.

    Opadokun said: “As the General Secretary of NUPENG, which was registered in 1978, Kokori played a pivotal role in making the organisation to become the most critical trade union in the democratic struggle of Nigerians to restore democracy.”

    He recounted how the late Kokori was enticed with tantalising offers from the administrations of self-styled military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, and the late Gen. Sani Abacha, but he rejected all allurements.

    Read Also: NUPENG mourns ex-secretary, Kokori

    The tribute added: “When the NLC, under Comrade Paschal Bafyau, became unwilling to pressure the military junta to disannul the victory of Basorun MKO Abiola in 1994, Comrade Kokori and his NUPENG President, Comrade W. Kodjo Agamene, mobilised their union along with NUBIFIE and other democratic bodies to organise the most prolonged national strike in post-independence Nigeria.

    “Comrade Kokori and I, as the General Secretary of NADECO, met many times at odd times to fine-tune their strategy and commencement of the strike. When he was arrested through the conspiracy of an insider in Yaba, he was taken eventually to Bama Prison for four years without any charge against him.”

    The elder statesman regretted that although the eventual exit of Kokori may be as ordained by God, the erstwhile unionist could have tarried for awhile more, if he got the required government care, support and welfare when he most needed them.

    Opadokun also said Kokori suffered the painful loss of his wife later on and the Nigerian state did not deem it fit to recognise the selfless and patriotic commitment of the comrade to the nation’s democratic struggle.

    “The most painful part of the national neglect of those who lost their sweat, blood, possessions, liberties and even lives in order to birth the Fourth Republic is their wanton abandonment to their fates while the fair weather elements who remain surrogates, loyalists, sympathisers, acolytes and supporters of the military agenda to stay in power are the beneficiaries of the gains of the activists,” the former NADECO chieftain said.

    Exist of a bastion of inspiration Governor Oborevwori described late Kokori as “a bastion of inspiration, Labour icon and a man of great political depth and insight”.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Festus Ahon, the governor noted Kokori’s immense contribution to the development of the state and country at large.

    Oborevwori said: “As a government, we were committed to ensuring that the now late elder statesman got back to his feet, but unfortunately, against the grain of our expectation, he couldn’t make it back from the hospital.

    “On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, I mourn the exit of a great elder statesman, Kokori, whose contributions to the June 12 struggle and Nigeria’s democracy remain an inspiration to many.

    “As the nation mourns him, I enjoin the Kokori family, friends and associates to honour his memory by continually upholding the values and principles which he lived for and never stopped fighting for till his death.”

    Keyamo mourns ‘father-in-struggle’

    Aviation/Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo also mourned “the passing away of my father-in-the-struggle, my mentor and my guide.”

    He recalled that when the late Kokori was in solitary confinement in Bama Prison for his struggle for the restoration of the June 12 mandate nearly 30 years ago, “I personally represented him in various courts, fighting for his freedom.”

    The minister said he became an adopted ‘son’ of his (Kokori’s) family.

    “His late wife and children were constantly in court with me and I would spend time in their home in Surulere.

    “I would team up with him years later in the APC family in Delta State to struggle to liberate our state. He lived in the struggle and died in the struggle. This is definitely the end of an era,” Keyamo said.

    For the Coalition of Pro-Democracy for A Better Nigeria, the country has lost democracy’s live wire and June 12 activist with the demise of Kokori.

    The National Coordinator of the Coalition, Mr. Awa Bamiji, in a statement in Lagos, said the late Kokori would be remembered for his contributions in the June 12, 1993 struggle.

    The activist said the coalition would not easily forget the impact of Kokori in the struggle for democracy in the country.

    Awa said: “Chief Kokori, who hails from Ovu in Agbin Kingdom, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, shall be remembered for union activism.

    “He will be remembered for his enviable roles in the struggle for the actualisation of June 12 presidential election, believed to have been won by late Chief M.K.O Abiola.”

    Also, the President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Mr. Tommy Okon, said Kokori’s death was very painful, especially at the present time of the labour movement when his wise counsel on labour issues were most needed.

    Okon, who doubles as the Deputy President of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), said: “The trade union movement will miss him seriously, but his contributions to the growth and development of the trade union movement in the country can never be forgotten.”

    The Programme Manager, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, a civil society organisation (CSO), Mr. Okeke Anya, also described Kokori’s death as very sad.

    “Chief Frank Kokori was not only a great labour leader but also a great patriot who fought for the entrenchment of democracy in the country. We console the family and pray that his soul rests with the Almighty,” Anya said.

    He lived a life of sacrifice, says NUPENG

    NUPENG President William Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale also mourned the late elder statesman, saying the ex-Labour leader spent his life in the struggle and sacrifice for workers’ emancipation.

    It’s a great loss to Nigeria, says Gani Adams

    The Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Chief Gani Adams, said Kokori would be remembered for being part of the struggle for democracy.

    He described the death of the NADECO chieftain as a great loss to Nigerians, saying the late activist would be remembered for his struggle for the enthronement of Nigeria’s democracy.

    Aare Adams’ tribute on the late Kokori was contained in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi.

    The immediate past Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Sunny Areh, noted that Nigeria’s “democracy owes a lot to Kokori’s indefatigable spirit”.

    Senator Omo-Agege also eulogised Kokori as an advocate for the people and for accountable governance. He urged the current generation of Labour leaders to imbibe the inspiring and principled stand of their predecessors.

  • Family regrets passage of patriarch

    Family regrets passage of patriarch

    The death of former National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) Secretary-General, Chief Frank Kokori, threw Ovu community, Agbon Kingdom, in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State into mourning yesterday.

    The elder statesman died around  1:30 a.m, a statement by his son, Kive Kokori, said. Kive expressed regret over the passing of the one he called ‘patriarch’.

    He expressed the hope that recognition would come for the Labour leader from government at various levels.

    Read Also: I remember Frank Kokori

    Kive said: “The children and grandchildren regret to announce the passing of their daddy, Chief Frank Kokori, who died at around 1:30 a.m on December 7, a day that also doubles as his birthdate. Chief Frank Kokori was 80 years old.

    “Chief Frank Kokori was one of the arrowheads of the June 12 struggle and the enthronement of democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria. He was a Labour leader per excellence, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and an elder statesman. His love for Nigeria was unparalleled.

    “Daddy, as I and others fondly called him, was a man of justice: principled, dogged, and a lover of human rights and justice for all.

    “He may not have been accorded the level of accolades that he deserved during his life time but I pray that in death he gets all the accolades he deserved for the sacrifices he made for Nigeria and Nigerians.

    “I celebrate you on behalf of the family, Delta State and Nigeria.”

  • Amb. Ossai Ifeanyi: Innovator shaping Africa’s destiny

    Amb. Ossai Ifeanyi: Innovator shaping Africa’s destiny

    A New Epoch Begins: Cairo’s ancient soul greets modern visionary

    As the golden hues of dawn caress the Nile and the Pyramids cast their eternal shadows over Cairo, an electrifying sense of change sweeps across the ancient landscape. This transformation is not of ordinary magnitude—it is epochal, heralded by the arrival of HRH Ambassador Ossai Ifeanyi. A renowned diplomat, health-tech innovator, and a linchpin of modern leadership, he arrives in Cairo marking an inflection point in​ Africa‘s unfolding story.

    Summiting the Future: Ideational Crucibles Await

    On the horizon are pivotal gatherings—the Africa Trade Summit and the Sub-Sovereign Summit—each a cauldron of future-shaping ideas. These forums are primed for a seismic shift with the entry of HRH Ambassador Ossai Ifeanyi, a living synthesis of business acumen, diplomatic savoir-faire, and an extraordinary record in both public and private sectors.

    Fusing Heritage and Tomorrow: The Ossai Doctrine

    HRH Ambassador Ossai does not arrive merely to participate; he brings with him a profound doctrine that seeks to harmonize ancient African philosophies with contemporary models of governance. He aspires to imbue modern strategies with time-honored wisdom. “Africa’s rich heritage is a treasure trove of untapped insights, and our future relies on the judicious amalgamation of the old and the new,” HRH Ambassador Ossai inspires.

    The Polymath behind the Phenomenon: A Master of Multi-Disciplinary Expertise

    From steering a $300M supply chain at Neotech, to democratically transforming healthcare through CribMD, and pioneering construction innovation via Indigeneex, HRH Ambassador Ossai is a wellspring of multi-disciplinary wisdom. His extensive portfolio makes him a uniquely qualified custodian of Africa’s future. “The roles are myriad, and the challenges are diverse, but they all converge at the juncture of a brighter future for Africa,” he elaborates.

    Presidential Whispers: A Foreshadowing of Things to Come? As Cairo opens its arms to this remarkable leader, the whispering winds carry a burgeoning question: “Is this Africa’s next President?” While the query remains open to interpretation, what’s unequivocal is the spellbinding presidential essence that HRH Ambassador Ossai emanates—a force neither Africa nor the global stage can afford to overlook.

    About HRH Ambassador Ossai Ifeanyi: HIGH-IMPACT STRATEGIC LEADER

    HRH Ambassador Ossai Ifeanyi’s life journey is nothing short of exemplary, a tapestry woven from threads of entrepreneurial ingenuity, diplomatic tact, and ceaseless innovation.

    Role as an Innovator with the UN Sustainable Solutions Network: Committed to actionable change, HRH Ossai has been a linchpin in driving sustainable development initiatives globally.

    Role as an Ambassador with the Institute for Economics and Peace: His work here amplifies his reputation as a leader intensely focused on sustainable peace and economic stability.

    Role as an Innovator at UNDP Nigeria Impact Program: HRH Ossai’s participation in this initiative underlines his commitment to localized solutions that drive universal impact.

    His humanitarian zeal is further evident through philanthropic undertakings that have changed countless lives for the better.

  • It’s clean-up time in Lagos

    It’s clean-up time in Lagos

    By James Agbekorode

    Among Nigerian states, Lagos is the beautiful bride. That it uniquely bubbles with life and commerce is the attraction. Many in Africa know that it is one place where big things happen. And in terms of diversity and a strong economy, it also goes without saying that Lagos is a global envy. 

    However, bogged largely by an uncontrolled rural-urban drift and the negatives of a high population density, some parts of the state have become environmentally unfriendly. While some haters of Lagos poke fingers at the filth, shanties and other environmental nuisances as evidence of a failing Lagos, they neglect the positives Lagos offer and even shy away from the challenges unique only to the state as it threatens to burst at its seams.

    Thankfully, the Lagos State government is set to attack this environmental menace. Beginning in September, the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration went into overdrive in a bid to reclaim the beauty and orderliness of the state. And focusing on the environmental aspect of his THEMES (Transportation and Traffic Management; Health and Environment; Making Lagos a 21st Century Megacity; Entertainment and Tourism; and Security and Governance) agenda, the governor took the sledge-hammer to attack infractions. Illegal squatters, dirty markets and clogged drains would become history and a renewed orientation to a cleaner environment is to be in place. 

    In less than three weeks, the governor gave a warning to illegal squatters in different areas of the state including Dodan Barracks and Lekki Phase 2. He ordered the demolition of Jankara and Bombata markets as part of measures targeted at the regeneration and deflooding of Lagos Island. The hammer also fell on some markets notorious for environmental indiscipline, especially filth. Ladipo Market, Oke-Odo Market, Oyingbo Market and Alayabiagba Market were shut for environmental nuisance. 

    According to reports, the closure of the markets came after serial warnings. The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed that the environmental offences included indiscriminate waste disposal, unhygienic premises and non-payment of waste bills, among others. It is sad that the traders at these markets have continuously refused to abide by environmental regulations to ensure a beautiful environment. 

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    Speaking in reference to the popular Ladipo auto-parts market, Wahab said: “Ladipo Market, a prominent hub for automotive spare parts and related services, has been a focal point for environmental concerns due to various activities that contravene established regulations.”

    Anyone familiar with Ladipo Market would know that Wahab is correct. A similar scenario obtains in all the other markets that have been closed for environmental infractions. A megacity like Lagos should not have dirty markets. I mean, markets in places like Cairo, New York, Tokyo, and other major cities are not known to be dirty. Lagos’ case should not be otherwise. In this way, I commend the move by the Lagos State government.

    And as if in an all-out attack, the agency responsible for refuse collection and waste disposal in the state, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), is also wielding the big stick, as it sealed some plazas around Tejuosho Market, Yaba, for environmental offences.

    “Under our policy of zero tolerance for environmental infractions, LAWMA is totally committed to maintaining high environmental standards across the state,” said Muyiwa Gbadegesin, LAWMA Managing Director.

    “The ongoing enforcement actions are part of our broader efforts to sanitise markets, highways, and public spaces, to acceptable standards.” 

    In an ancillary move, the government embarked on clearing the canals and drains across the state. The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources said the government would chase away squatters who have built over the canals and drains and prevented flood water from flowing into primary drains. So far, it has implemented this in Agege, Surulere, Lagos Island and other areas. This action is needed to revamp Lagos. 

    Also, the ban on street trading has been re-sounded. These would include traders on roads, rail tracks, under bridges, culverts, pavements and other public spaces. This move is welcome because it would protect residents from accidents and also serve to guide against the use of vulnerable children to be exploited for labour. It would also ensure the streets are cleaner as it would reduce the quantity of wastes that would be generated and indiscriminately disposed of. This is a win-win for society. 

    Though a civil society group, The Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), in a recent press conference, urged Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reopen the sealed markets citing the need for the traders to earn as reason. While this is a valid reason, it should also be noted that the traders owe themselves and the society the responsibility to keep the markets clean. But it is very surprising that the same group is advocating for street trading. 

    “The latest ban on street trading by the Lagos State Government raises more questions than answers,” Alex Omotehinse, the CHSR president said. 

    “There is no alternative means of livelihoods being considered by the government to support the overwhelming majority of the masses, who engage in menial trading and hawking activities for survival.

    “We are concerned about the implementation of the directive without the necessary engagement with stakeholders, either at the local government or community/grassroots level.” 

    In case Mr Omotehinse does not know what obtains in decent cities across the world, street trading is largely organised and regulated. It is not done on busy roads, culverts, pedestrian bridges, lay-bys. In those climes, street traders do not take over the roads or public spaces with their goods like the way it has become in some parts of Lagos. Pedestrians should not be forced to jostle with vehicular traffic just because some traders want to hawk on the streets. That is not how any decent city is run.

    And while the state government is going about sanitising the markets as well as clearing the drains, it behoves on residents to play their part too. The era of indiscriminate refuse disposal should be a thing of the past. Drivers and passengers should learn not to fling empty PET bottles or biscuit wrappers after consumption as well as other kinds of thrash on the streets but keep it in their vehicles to dispose of properly at the nearest dustbin. Also, to ensure efficient refuse collection and disposal, residents should endeavour to always pay their LAWMA bills promptly. The way some residents of streets like Ago Palace Way dump their refuse on the road medians must be discouraged. They should be made to procure proper refuse bins and these should be placed in appropriate corners and not to be displayed. 

    As the Lagos State government goes about these measures of beautifying the environment, I think it’s also time for law enforcement agencies like the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and Neighbourhood Watch officers to begin enforcement of the appropriate laws to check these environmental nuisances. The officers should be made to realise that the laws should not only be enforced during daytime on weekdays but also at night time and on weekends and public holidays. Offenders should be punished to serve as deterrence. 

    Lagos State can only do so much in the task to make our environment beautiful. The onus lies with all of us. If everyone tries to ensure their immediate space is clean, everywhere would be cleaner.

    • Agbekorede, a social commentator writes from Lagos

  • Respite beckons for users of Ota-Abeokuta road

    Respite beckons for users of Ota-Abeokuta road

    By Lekan Adeniran

    The handing over of the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway to the Ogun State Government by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government was long in coming. The entire stretch of the 77kilometer road has collapsed, with few good portions still wearing semblance of a tarred road. The handover, as announced by the new Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi in Abuja on Monday, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting means that the long drawn battle by Governor Dapo Abiodun to take over the road has finally paid off.

    The road has been in deplorable condition for more than 10 years. In September 2021, then Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, announced the intention of the Federal Government to review the contract for the reconstruction of the road. Fashola said that the road project, which was inherited from the previous administration, was initially awarded in 2000 at the contract sum of N6 billion. At the time of Fashola’s announcement, N56 billion was required to complete the project.

    But the road was never completed, despite the Federal Government insisting that it was under contract. The failure to complete the road means hardship for motorists who ply the road daily. Due to its complete failure and total collapse, motorists go through harrowing experiences manoeuvring gullies and craters deep enough to swallow trailers. One-way driving is common on the road, with the attendant risk of head-on collision.

    The highway is one of the most important federal roads in Ogun State. It is a link to the Agbara/Ota industry hub, which harbours the highest number of industries in the country. It is the fastest route to Abeokuta from Lagos, the nation’s economic capital. It also serves as a link to Ibadan in Oyo State and other states in the South West and the North and the South East/South South through Sagamu Interchange in case of any gridlock on the ever busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    The poor dilapidated condition of the road has been a source of concern to the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun since 2019. Despite it being a federal road, the administration has always shown concern over the plight of travellers on the road. Various interventions were made in the form of palliative measures. Prince Abiodun was also very consistent in demanding that Ogun State should be allowed to reconstruct the road. Various representations were made to the federal government to that effect. At one point, both Ogun and Lagos states jointly approached the Federal Government for the same purpose, and again, the efforts were rejected, even when a detailed and comprehensive proposal, including funding, was presented.

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    The new administration of President Tinubu presented another opportunity for Governor Abiodun to continue his drive and determination to persuade the Federal Government to relinquish the reconstruction of the road to the state government. On August 31, when Engr. Umahi visited him in his office, Prince Abiodun recalled his efforts, including with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in getting the Federal Government’s permission to take over the reconstruction of the road. The efforts never yielded any positive results.

    He said: “I would like to highlight the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta road. Ota is a city that has earned us the prestigious title of being the industrial capital of Nigeria. It is a city where we share boundaries with Lagos State, and you can hardly tell the difference between Ota and Lagos State. That road, I think the contract must have been awarded maybe in 2012 or 2010 under the administration of President Jonathan. Since then, the contract has been subjected to so many reviews. When I assumed office, Governor Sanwo-Olu and I went to see President Buhari, and we wrote one letter on a joint letterhead requesting for that road to be transferred to us. We brought a letter from our bankers. At that point in time, it was probably about N70 billion that we wanted to put into the reconstruction of the road.

    “Then, there was no minister. We were told that because the road was under contract, what they would like to do was to partner with the states and we said okay, let us sit down, and discuss on the basis of the partnership. That road is about 77 kilometres. Let us discuss the basis of that partnership, Your Excellency, we made no progress.” The no progress means further deterioration of the road.

    Penultimate Saturday, at the grand finale of the Yewa Cultural festival in Ilaro, the governor seized on the presence of the leadership of the Senate, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to appeal to the Federal Government once again to transfer the reconstruction of the road to the state because of its importance to the socio-economic development of the state. An elated Governor Abiodun was full of joy and was effusive in praising President Tinubu for the gesture. He said: “Approximately a month ago, the Minister of Works, Engineer David Umahi, paid us a visit to inspect the Federal Government’s road infrastructure in Ogun State. During this visit, we had the opportunity to express our concerns and aspirations for the improvement of these roads, which we believe would greatly contribute to the socioeconomic development of our state.

    “Today, I am pleased to inform you that the Federal Government has entrusted our administration with the reconstruction of the Abeokuta/Sango Ota Tollgate Road. This decision brings us great joy as it signifies a commendable step towards alleviating the challenges faced by road users on this particular route. I would like to express my utmost gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu – GCFR for granting us this longstanding request.