The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • From INEC to NDDC, Onochie faces fresh scrutiny

    From INEC to NDDC, Onochie faces fresh scrutiny

    The Special Assistant on New Media to the President, Lauretta Onochie is in the news yet again. In that role, she has proven to be a bit controversial.

    No wonder an avalanche of criticism greeted her nomination as chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). It became a matter of debate in the court of public opinion.

    Her initial nomination as INEC Commissioner representing Delta State (and by extension, the South-South) in 2020 triggered widespread outrage because her critics viewed her as glaringly partisan.

    There were concerns that she is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but the presidential aide said she had resigned her membership of the ruling party in 2019. The Senate, however, rejected her nomination. Many heaved a sigh of relief following her rejection.

    Observers have always accused Onochie of employing harsh language against those who aired critical views about the Buhari administration.

    These critics believe some of her errors may deny her this second time.  But the subject of all the fuss is unperturbed.

    While Onochie may likely be confirmed as fifth chairman of the board, some observers are finding it difficult to understand what really is the motive behind the President’s submission of her name for the NDDC position.

    It appears she is in the good books of President Buhari, and apparently appeals to those who are her strong supporters. Apart from Onochie, the president sent the names of 15 other nominees as board members of the commission.

    Ordinarily to some observers, there is nothing intrinsically wrong in the president appointing persons with whom he is comfortable, or those he trusts. Working with persons with whom one has familiar fundamental and rationally grounded interests makes the job relatively easy

    Onochie’s nomination is coming three years after the last chairman of the board, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba was dropped by the president on January 25, 2019. The senator was appointed in 2016.

    To some persons, it is unfathomably strange that Onochie’s nomination for NDDC headship is seen by stakeholders as a sort of political compensation for her travails since was turned down by the Senate for the INEC job.

    The NDDC was established in 2000 by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to fast-track development of the oil rich Niger Delta region.

    Despite the hue and cry, Onochie, who hails from Delta State, is about to make history as the first female chairman of the agency.

  • Benue community where fertile soil turned into nightmare

    Benue community where fertile soil turned into nightmare

    •Loses 5,000 lives, property worth billions in eight years
    •How bandits sacked our settlements, rendered us homeless —Community leader

     

    TOMBO, a community in Logo Local Government Area, Benue State, is reputed for its fertile soil and large population of farmers producing varieties of crops Including rice, soyabeans, groundnut and corn, to mentiona few.

    Before 2014, the Tiv community lived a happy and prosperous life, farming not just enough to eat but also sell to pay their children’s school fees, settle their medical bills and meet up with other life challenges. Divided into two clans of Kyav and Nyough, the inhabitants of the agrarian community ate settled on the bank of River Benue, featuring villages like Adzege, Tse lbor, Tse Dzungwe, Anyibe and Awasua where they carried out their farming activities.

    The people lived happily until March 20, 2014 when the serenity of their settlements was defiled by armed bandits masquerading as cattle rearers, who stormed the communities and sacked them from their ancestral homes.

    A community leader, Faga Uke, told The Nation in an exclusive interview that on the first day of the attack, the invaders did not only sack them from their settlements, they also killed no fewer than 70 of the inhabitants before taking over their land.

    Giving a chilling account of the invasion, Uke who is over 70 years old, said: “I was in my village in Tse Dzungwe when I first heard that some herdsmen were crossing over from the other side of the River Benue with cattle to our village in Tse DzungweTombo ward.

    “By then, many people were running away from our village. We also sent our children and women to Ayilamo, the headquarters of Tombo, for safety while we the young people remained in our various houses. “Before noon on March, 20, 2014, loud sound of guns rented the air and people began to run in different directions.

    “The weapons used were sophisticated and many people were killed, causing the survivors to abandon their homes and run to Ayilamo which was like a safe place while the bandits set houses on fire.

    Uke narrated further that the invaders crossed River Benue from Guma Local Government Area and stormed Anyibe town, a River bank community market, where they began to attack one settlement after another. He recalled that from Anyibe, the invaders, armed with Ak47 rifles and many in number, moved from one house to another, setting houses, foodstuff, crops and property on fire.

    “They also attacked Dzungwe, lbor, Gbeleve, Poovule and Orbaki communities ablaze. As the bandits moved towards Ayilamo, the headquarters of the local government area, which we thought was safe, the attack was massive.

    “They settled in the abandoned houses, slept, ate our food and the following day continued the burning of houses as no security personnel dared challenge them.”

    According to Uke, after the bandits had set all the houses on the bank of River Benue ablaze, they moved to Ayilamo town, sacked more than 4,000 people and razed the headquarters of Tombo ward.

    He estimated the property, farm produce and houses destroyed to date to worth nothing less than N20 billion while more than 4,000 persons were killed.

    Uke who now lives in Ayilamo, the only safe place in the ward, appealed to the Federal Government to provide security for his people so they could go back to their communities to farm and live their normal life.

    After the 2014 attacks, which occurred during the tenure of then Governor Gabriel Suswam, the people had managed to returned to their ancestral homes. Then Governor Samuel Ortom took over in 2015, and there were still pockets of attacks on farming communities, which this time extended to Guma, Makurdi, Gwer West and other local government areas.

    Attacks have more motives than meet the eye –LG chair

    The Executive Chairman of Logo Local Government Area, Hon. (Mrs) Salome  Shiden Tor-Tsavsar, told The Nation in an exclusive interview in her office, at Ugba, headqauters of Logo Local Government Area, that suspected herdsmen attacks on her subjects have more motives than meet the eye.

    She said: “I don’t think this is about ordinary farmers-herders conflict. It has gone beyond that. Why destroy our farmlands , even prevent farmers from harvesting their crops to go and eat food?”

    The chairman of Logo Local Government where suspected herdsmen have caused more havock than any other place in Sankera geo political bloc, said although the soldiers deployed  to his local government area were doing their best, they were being overwhelmed.

    Tor-Tsavsar said: “We need more troops to secure the life of our farmers because the terrain is bad; no road.

    “And when soldiers are in one community, the hoodlums are in another killing and burning houses.”

    She appealed for deployment of more security personnel to secure farmers  and their property.

    On the humanitarian crisis, Tsavsar said 200 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are living with families as no Tiv farmer likes to be given food but prefers to farm and feed himself.

    She called on public spirited indivduals, non- governmental organisations and humanitarian agencies to provide relief  materials to assist victims of herdsmen attack in the Local Government area.

    On how to further forestall the attacks, the Logo Council boss called on the Federal Government who has the responsibility of securing life and property to live up to it.

     

    Food scarcity

    Tor-Tsavsar believes that since the farming population have been sent packing from their ancestral lands, with able bodied young men either killed or living in IDP camps, there has been food scarcity as could be seen in the sky-rocketing prices of food items.

    She noted that most of the yams, groundnuts and soyabeans are produced in her local government area, and if  effort are not made to provide security for farmers to go back to their ancestral lands, there would be danger not only of food scarcity but youths’ restiveness.

    When The Nation visited Ayilamo town, every one seemed to be living in fear of herdsmen coming to attack them any moment. Although it was market day, only a few people were seen buying and selling.

    Some memmbers of the community, who spoke with our correspondent, said they were living in constant  fear of the unknown.

    “See soldiers,” the okada rider who spoke with me said, pointing in a particular direction. “Even though soldiers are in Ayilamo, the attacks are going on in the interior villages.”

    He said they wished their farmlands were safe so they could go back to farming because hunger could soon kill them.

    Health centre overwhelmed with victims

    At the Primary Health Centre (PHC), where The Nation visited, victims of herdsmen attacks, who sustained various degree of injuries, were on admission. For lack of bed space, some of them were seen sleeping on bare floor.

    This centre’s head, Paul Anande, told  our correspondent that “since the renewed attacks, the PHC has been overwhelmed with victims who sustained bodily injuries from gunshots or machete cuts.

    Anange said they were in serious need of drugs, especially blood tonic, and appealed to the people to donate drugs to the clinic .

    A community leader in Mbakorya, Tombo ward said their fertile lands has become their nightmare.

    The question of the minds of every inhabitant of Tombo ward is when will they return to their ancestral home? Only time will tell.

  • Business owners count losses from Lagos-Ibadan gridlock

    Business owners count losses from Lagos-Ibadan gridlock

    Taiwo Alimi chronicles the challenges faced by SME owners in the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway’s traffic gridlock triggered by the ongoing reconstruction by the federal government. They lament losses in business and revenue, rising cost of production, increased in expenditure, and health challenges, among others.

    SMALL and Medium Enterprise (SME) owner, Mrs. Taiwo Ogundipe (50), manages a restaurant in a bottling company in Ikeja. She lives in Arepo, one of the highbrow communities along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and her daily routine is moving an assortment of ready-to-eat food from her home to Ikeja, Monday to Friday. She has five people working for her: a driver, two caterers, and two service girls.

    Her monthly revenue is not bad. When she removes her outflow such as workers’ salary and cost of production every month, she has a sizable profit margin to smile home with. Within two years of handling the eatery, she bought an SUV and was looking forward to expanding her business.

    Her high hopes were, however, shattered in July 2022 when the federal government commenced reconstruction on the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at the OPIC Long Bridge-Kara-Berger axis.

    At first, Ogundipe thought she could cope. After all, she has a driver to take her from Arepo to Ikeja, she thought. Ordinarily, the journey from home to work – a 16.7 kilometres drive- takes 30 minutes at most, but she started spending two hours on the same route.

    She readjusted her routine, leaving her base at 5.30 am, but the gridlock became complicated. Sometimes, she would spend four hours in the traffic jam to the vexation of customers, who had waited endlessly for her services.

    Narrating her frustration, the mother of two said she began by losing income, then her health worsens. “It became problematic going to my restaurant when the road reconstruction started. Sometimes, it would take four hours to get there. I would be tired and frustrated. My customers would have gone elsewhere to buy food.

    “I began to lose income and my overhead cost doubled. This is coupled with the high inflation trend. I could not pay my workers on time. My Blood Pressure (BP) shut up. That was when my husband advised me to shut down to concentrate on my health. I stopped operation in August. I was afraid it could have cost me my life.”

    Mrs. Ogundipe had to lay off her workers, among them a woman with three children, whose husband had recently lost his job. She said she had lost income to the tune of over N1 million in the time she had been at home.

    If the entrepreneur thought she would return to work by December, which is the projected completion date of the project, she may be disappointed as the time is no longer feasible.

    Partial closure

    The partial closure of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway from the OPIC Long Bridge-Kara-Berger axis commenced in July 2022. The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing supervised by the minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola, had announced that the diversion would last for six months with the rehabilitation ending in December.

    The expressway is one of the oldest in Nigeria. It was commissioned in August 1978 during the military era, under the administration of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Due to the diversion, the four-lane road was narrowed to accommodate two vehicles, resulting in traffic congestion and inconvenience to motorists and commuters. Business owners with offices in Lagos and living around Mowe, Ibafo, Arepo, Magboro, and as far as Sagamu, among others, no longer find it amusing to attend to their respective businesses.

    A 20-minute trip from Mowe, Ogun State to Berger, Lagos State is now taking over four hours. Therefore, it has been tales of woe for road users coming into Lagos.

    Six-month completion date not feasible

    A visit to the rehabilitation site during the week revealed a chaotic situation.  Hundreds of motorists were stuck at one spot for hours.

    Findings revealed that on a bad day, the congestion could extend to Magboro, on the Ogun State axis, and end at Lagos Secretariat. On a day like this, motorists could spend four to five hours in the lock-jam.

    What is considered good on the road is a trip of two hours to two and a half hours from the two-kilometre-long corridor.

    It can be worse on a rainy day or when an articulated vehicle breaks down along the strip. It is established that drivers have experienced six hours or more in gridlock.

    Effects on SME owners

    Typically, the effect on SME owners — businessmen and women, one-man business owners, traders, artisans, and commercial motorists — is catastrophic. It has led to job and business losses, revenue loss, health issues, high cost of living, general disorder and chaos in the environment.

    Ademola Kayode, a certified estate valuer, who lives along the expressway in Magboro with his office located at Ikeja, said the gridlock and hours spent on the road was impacting negatively on his work.

    He said: “I missed a lot of scheduled meetings and opportunities to conclude transactions I have with my clients. Going to the office every day is no longer a possibility. I have to resolve to work from home.

    “At times, if I need to go out for inspections, I have to contact a colleague around the area to represent my interest, if not I will get there late.

    “The diversion is not helping any businessman. Some of my friends have had to leave their houses to stay with friends or family members in Lagos because of this problem.”

    The foregoing is the case with Anuoluwa Olusanya, a banker and entrepreneur working on Lagos Island, but lsiving in Magboro.

    He said: “Since the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway started, I have been experiencing avoidable hardship on the road. In the last four months, my experience on the road has been hellish.

    “For me, work resumes at 7.30 am Monday to Friday. To avoid lateness, I leave Magboro at 3.30-4 am, and I don’t get home until 10 pm, which leaves me with about four hours of sleep daily.

    “Meanwhile, leaving that early is not a guarantee that the road would be free. You will still spend between four and five hours to get to work. Most of your productive hours are already spent on the road.”

    Olusanya also spends more money than is necessary.

    He said: “I spend an average of N20,000.00 weekly to fuel my car. My health situation is not better either as weekly medical check-up is compulsory.

    “We have had various incidents of death as a result of residents riding on okada (commercial motorcycle) to work to beat the traffic snarl. Some people have slumped and died as a result of stress on the road.

    “On weekends, I have cancelled all ‘side hustle’ and social activities as a result of the traffic. Once I am at home, I don’t go out until the beginning of a fresh week.”

    Like Kayode and Olusanya, Toyin Oresanwo, a graphic designer and printer (Tastegraphics Computer) with an office located in Somolu-Lagos State, has lost considerable business income and his health has suffered badly. He lives in Magboro and is obligated to go to the office six days a week.

    He said: “First, I think the government can’t control their contractor, Julius Berger, in spite of peoples’ complaints on social media over the slow progress of the reconstruction. They are not working at all.

    “I missed several appointments due to the gridlock. There was a day I couldn’t alight from the bus due to pains in my back and waist, having spent hours in the traffic. I was lifted out of the commercial vehicle by people, as I could not walk unaided.

    “I spend an average of N3,000 to and from work daily on a route that ordinarily goes for N1,500 or less. I don’t take okada. I love my life.”

    Declining income

    Oresanwo considered a decline in his monthly revenue as he cannot function optimally.

    “My work and health are failing. I can’t function at my peak. I’m losing money and spending more. I can’t put a cost to it now, but things are no longer the same,” he said.

    Opeoluwa Feyitimi, a clothing and printing industry businessman, said he has been unable to meet up with several business appointments due to the gridlock.

    “Seeing the difficulty the construction and gridlock have posed to the people in this environment is disheartening. It has caused me business disappointments because of the inability to get to a place of work or business appointments at a given time.

    “Since the unending rehabilitation of the road, hours spent are much more than the normal minutes on the road which also resulted in rise in the cost of transportation and fuel. My coping mechanism is to wake up very early or stay with a friend in Lagos.”

    The implication is that Feyitimi only sees his family of four every two weeks.

    Malik Adeshina, the CEO of Malicomp Computer Limited with an office in Ogba-Lagos State, must leave his house at Magboro and endure the horror road for hours to get to work daily. Sometimes, he leaves his car behind and hops on ‘okada’ to avert the trauma of getting trapped in the gridlock.

    He said: “Spending three hours every day to get to work is not something I can cope with, so I just go once or twice a week as the work demands.

    “It has affected our operations negatively because part of production time is being wasted in traffic, not to talk of the cost of fuelling for a longer journey.

    “I know a friend that has developed hypertension as a result of the everyday gridlock. I hardly attend functions in Lagos now in order to reduce the stress. So social life is zero for now.”

    Health failure

    Iku Maxwell, CEO of Agir Technic Limited, a Dopemu, Lagos-based roofing and fabrication company, said his expenditure has shot into the roof since the road reconstruction commenced.

    “It is affecting my business. Assuming I have to be at work by 8 am, if I leave home at 6 pm, I will end up getting to work at 12 noon.

    “I’m losing both human and financial capital. At one point, I was almost having high blood pressure because of what I passed through on that road.

    Iku lives in Magboro, which is ordinarily one-hour drive to Dopemu.

    “It is really sad, and I will advise that the federal government should do something quickly to make the job move faster. I hear that they have not paid Julius Berger, hence the delay.

    “There are days that they would be away from the site, yet the demarcation is there. Government should mobilise them so that they can finish the job.”

    At the commencement of the project in July, the federal government had put the completion date at December 2022. From assessment, this is no longer feasible, as it took the construction firm four months to complete a portion of the road along the end of the Long Bridge to Kara inbound Lagos.

    As of the time of filing this report, work has not fully commenced on the other half. It is easy to hazard a guess that it will take another four months to complete the second half.

    Aside from income forfeiture, Iku said road users have been robbed in the gridlock and, in the process, lose valuables in cash and materials.

    “There is one day that we were in the traffic and armed robbers came out of nowhere. We had to abandon our vehicles and run for our lives.

    “More motorists now use the one-way with the support of police and other traffic officers. They collect money from them and allow them to go. It has led to accidents and loss of lives.

    “It is very sad. How long are we going to go through this? It is frustrating,” Iku lamented.

    His expenses have also increased. “On a weekly basis, I spend N45,000 to fuel my vehicles, a 300 per cent increase from the N15,000 I expended before now. I go to Lagos every day, even, on Sunday, if we have a job to deliver. I’m losing money daily.”

    Damola Oluwasegun is into hospital services in one of the communities on the Expressway. He said the logjam had affected his practice and patients directly.

    “As a medical practitioner, a lot of times when we have cases that need referral, we find it difficult. Even with an ambulance, they have been unable to get to the place that we have referred them to in Lagos.

    “Eventually, we had to resort to sending them to two hospitals in Sagamu-Ogun State. Sometimes, when some of the specialists concerned are not available in Sagamu, it is really a dilemma.

    “Recently, we experienced a situation where space was no longer available in the Sagamu hospitals, which I can say had never happened before. The reason is that a lot of people from this axis have to resort to going to Sagamu.

    “People have had to change their appointments with their practitioners and specialists. So, in a way, it is affecting the continuity of care and management of patients.

    “You can imagine a patient that needs something and the only place you can get it is in the Lagos area, and you get trapped in that traffic. It has cost a lot of lives.

    “Recently, I was to attend a seminar in Lagos, and another time I had to meet with some pharmaceutical equipment distributors, but I couldn’t make it because the traffic was hectic.

    “Personally, there was somebody that was scheduled to meet on his international flight and I was taking her. The gridlock almost prevented her from going. In fact, she had to alight and use a commercial motorcycle to get to the Airport.

    “She had to leave with only her hand luggage and we had to look for means via courier to send the rest of her luggage to her.  And, that cost us more money.

    “We know that some of those things we are meant to endure, but this is getting too prolonged and it is as if those in authority do not care whether we survive or not, and how it affects businesses and the health of the people.”

    Commercial motorists, commuters lament

    Commercial motorist, Adisa Lukman, who plies the Mile 2 – Mowe route, says he is losing income even though he has jerked up bus fares on several occasions.

    “Before, I used to complete 10 trips (to and fro) Mile 2 to Mowe on a good day, and for each trip, I made between N8,000 and N10,000. If I removed fuel and ticket money, I would still have about N5,000.

    “It is now difficult to complete four trips. I waste hours in the traffic and I have to stay for a longer time in the garages because commuters are looking for a cheap fare.”

    Lukman hinted that motorists are losing a staggering amount of money to the partial closure of some sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    Taoreed Muda, a mechanic, and commuter living in Mowe, said going to Lagos to buy vehicle accessories, which is common in his line of business, has affected him negatively.

    “I spend more now on public transport. There was a time I had to bring a refurbished car engine from Lagos to my workshop in Ibafo. I was charged N40,000 for something I would have paid N15,000. It is affecting our work negatively.”

    Experts speak

    Taiwo Salaam, a former Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Transport, has estimated that if the traffic congestion in the densely populated Nigeria’s commercial capital city of Lagos should continue unaddressed till 2030, the city is estimated to lose as much as $21 billion every month.

    Salaam, now a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Transport Technology and Infrastructure at the School of Transport and Logistics, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, quoting statistics of the socio-economic consequences of traffic congestion across various cities globally, said Lagos is currently growing at between seven and eight per cent yearly, adding that the population growth percentage rate is 10 times faster than those of New York and Los Angeles cities in the United States of America.

    “The city had an average of 224 vehicles per km in 2006 as against the national average of 11 vehicles per km. Nigeria’s national average in 2009 was estimated at 30 vehicles per km, Lagos had moved to 300. In addition, the city has over 1.4 million registered vehicles, and approximately 2.5 million vehicles are on the road daily, weekend inclusive.”

    Similarly, Psychiatrist Dr. Jibril Abdulmalik, said the gridlock creates mental stress for many people. “Gridlock also causes irritability and stress; it is stressful because you have to be alert to prevent someone from crashing into your car.

    “Looking left, right and centre while driving for hours every day increases stress, which causes our body to release stress hormones.”​

    David Moxon,​ a​ psychologist in the United Kingdom’s Peterborough Regional College, identified a new disorder in drivers called “Traffic Stress Syndrome (TSS).”

    TSS is a form of psychological anxiety that manifests in certain drivers while stuck in traffic. Drivers who deal with this condition have headaches, sweaty hands, and an increased heart rate. In extreme cases, they experience dizziness, stomach pain, and loss of concentration, which results in poor navigation skills and, sometimes, accidents.

    The gridlock reality is that millions of naira is being lost daily in income and more Nigerians are going into the poverty index, which is estimated by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to be 133 million by the second quarter of 2022.

    Similarly, more Nigerians are in dire health conditions physically and psychologically. The result is that in general, the government will have to spend more in the area of health and lose more in the labour sector.

    To avert these catastrophes, Iku said the FGN should consider constructing alternative routes in the event of any major reconstruction.

    “For example, there is an alternative route by Long Bridge that the government ought to have put in good shape before commencing work on the expressway corridor.

    “If that road was working, it would have alleviated the suffering of the people and as well shorten the time wasted and improve their economy,” he added.

  • Babachir, Dogara failed rebellion: Anti-Tinubu campaigners now at odds

    Babachir, Dogara failed rebellion: Anti-Tinubu campaigners now at odds

    THE conspiracy has collapsed. The conspirators were united by their miscalculations, disrespect for reality, propensity for controversy and shortfall in foresight.

    But, the two collaborators and heroes of division are now at each other’s throats. Truth, the big caterpillar, has bulldozed the household of falsehood and treachery, to the consternation of pompous elements who sought to manipulate religion to further divide Nigeria, ahead of next year’s presidential election

    What would now be the reaction of All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains, Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Yakubu Dogara, lawyer and erstwhile House of Representatives Speaker, whose outbursts, following the adoption of same faith ticket by the party, have fanned the embers of disunity?

    On Thursday, the coast was clear. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), after a deep reflection, aptly dissociated itself from the political tirade. The apex body made a categorical statement that affirmed the rights of Christians to make partisan choices devoid of religious colouration as legitimate citizens.

    Put succinctly, CAN separated religion from politics, urging Christians to vote for candidates of their choice, and not based on religious leanings.

    The clarification instantly doused religious tension and cemented the bond of fraternity between Christians and Muslim leaders, who have been working assiduously to consolidate the atmosphere of religious peace and harmony in the country.

    The adoption of the same faith ticket was not beyond expectation. The APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is a Muslim from Christian-dominated South. Many believe that his choice of Senator Kashim Shettima, a Muslim from the Muslim-dominated North, was strategic and understandable. The preponderance of opinion in the ruling party is that the option will pave the way for victory at the poll.

    However, the two chieftains disagreed with the popular opinion. They hurriedly put together a group, ‘Aggrieved APC Northern Christian Leaders,’ to press for the rejection of the Tinubu/Shettima ticket, in utter insensitivity to the public mood. Members of the group, led by Lawal, are former Kogi State Deputy Governor Simon Achuba, Albert Atiwurcha, Doknan Shena, Mela Nunge, Ishaya Bauke, Ibrahim Harun and Leah Olusiyi.

    To observers, although they may parade seemingly intimidating credentials in their professional callings, there is no evidence to show that they have strong political weight.

    Justifying his opposition to the ticket, Dogara said the ticket was antithetical to nation building. In his view, APC has adopted a same faith ticket in a country that has never attained nationhood.

    Echoing him, Lawal said the same faith ticket was a plan designed to divide the North, adding that it should never stand.

    An APC stalwart, Senator Abu Ibrahim, disagreed with him. He said Lawal was part of the process that threw up Shettima as running mate.

    The chieftain from Katsina added:”Babachir was part of the process. He ought to have sensitised the Christian community about the consideration that led to the emergence of Kashim, instead of inflammable sectarian passion.”

    Party sources hinted that the duo of Lawal, who hails from Adamawa State, and Dogara, who represents Tafawa Balewa Constituency, Bauchi State, in the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly, were fighting personal battles.

    Since many Northern APC chieftains anticipated Tinubu’s emergence as standard bearer, they started bidding for the vice presidential ticket, which landed on Shettima’s palm, after considering many factors.

    In a television interview,Lawal never hid his interest in the slot, saying that if he was offered, he will consider it. The ticket became elusive, following Shettima’s choice. That also triggered indignation, increased resistance and greater hostility by the duo.

    Also, the two chieftains, who have earned respect in the party, based on their past commitment and loyalty, which later became doubtful, have decided to alienate themselves from the APC.

    Many observers said the turn of events is worrisome. Over two years ago, Lawal had declared his support for Tinubu, who he described as the best man to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, based on his competence, capability, experience, profile as bridge builder, feats as former governor of Lagos State, and pathfinding role during the APC’s  formative stage.

    As Lawal and his co-travellers continued their rebellion against the ruling party, CAN, the umbrella organisation of Christians who they claimed to be fighting for was locked in introspection.

    The Christian body invited frontline presidential candidates, including Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP). Led by its president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN threw tough questions at the flagbearers and assessed them, based on their blueprints and responses to questions.

    In addition, the body also handed to each candidate its charter of demands and expectations, if they are elected.

    CAN has taken a neutral position, which may have weakened the battle of the emergency Christian leaders crying more that the bereaved, and the indecorous anti-party activities they have embarked upon without let and hindering in the last three months.

    According to CAN, it is better for Nigerians to vote in accordance with their conscience a candidate “who will best lead the nation into a new  a era of peace, security, prosperity, and collective progress.”

    Having vigorously campaigned against the Tinubu/Shettima ticket in the media, but without success, the Lawal/Dogara gang is not only hit by fatigue, a crisis of confidence has also polarised the group.

    Lawal, the arrowhead, has endorsed Obi, saying that APC and PDP are the same. He has now been isolated and deserted by other members of the group, who have objected to his unilateral decision.

    Dogara, who has distanced himself from Lawal’s move, said:”The decision to endorse a particular candidate and the statement credited to the chairman are solely the decision and views of the chairman, which he is absolutely entitled to, but not that of the group.”

    But, what is the gang up to? Can the members of the group spring any surprise in their respective states? In fact, their strength lies in their active membership of the ruling party, and not as critics and internal opposition leaders.

    Currently, Lawal and Dogara appear to be battling with fading political influence at home.

    Lawal’s Adamawa State is under the control of the PDP, which installed Ahmadu Fibtiri as governor in 2019. The outcome of the December 2019 local government poll in his native Hong local council showed that he could not prevent the defeat of APC.

    In the previous 2019 presidential poll, Atiku and PDP defeated Lawal’s APC. PDP scored 412,266 to defeat Buhari, who scored 377,488, a difference of 34,778. Buhari only won 11 of 21 councils. It was a departure from 2015 when APC won by over 100,000votes.

    In Hong Council, where Lawal came from, PDP, with 23,039 votes, defeated APC, which garnered 29,471 votes.

    In Adamawa, many supporters of Lawal are rooting for Tinubu because the former SGF has not been able to convince them to turn their back at the ruling party and the candidate, despite his campaign of calumny in the media.

    Also, in Bauchi State, where PDP Governor Bala Mohammed holds sway, Dogara, a serial defector from a minority enclave, is no match for the governor.

    He is a Christian from a predominantly Muslim state, where he needs the votes of Muslims and Christians to make a headway. Despite being in PDP, APC still won the presidential poll in Bauchi in 2019. It scored 798,428 to defeat PDP, which got 209,313. Indeed, APC won 14 local governments.

    It therefore, meant that the state deliberately wanted former Governor Mohammed Abubakar out of office. His defeat never affected the fortune of the APC at the presidential poll.

    Dogara’s Council, Bogoro’s contributions to periodic poll is often narrow, in relation to the general popular votes in the state. Although he is popular in Bogoro, he needed the support of Dass and Tafawa Balewa councils to survive as a federal legislator.

    The former Speaker was re-elected in 2019. He defected from PDP to APC later. In April, the defection became a subject of litigation.

    The question is: what is the former Speaker up to?

    will Dogara defect? Will he retrace his steps to PDP? If he remains in APC, what manner of havoc can he wreck? Will he still reconcile with APC?

    One thing is certain: their campaign against Tinubu has been derailed by the position of CAN.

  • Inside Nigeria’s Sodom

    Inside Nigeria’s Sodom

    • Crazy world of s3x clubs where fun-seeking Nigerians waste millions on open s3x, hard drugs, booze daily

    •Poverty drove us into flaunting our nakedness at night clubs —Strippers
    •Patrons: we do it to kill depression, emotional stress

     

    THE effervescent night was fast dovetailing into the wee hours. The fast pace of Lagos life was receding into a dreary, sleepy state. The whines of automobiles on the highways could be heard occasionally, as they were already thinning out. The full moon looked like a big ball as it roosted on the horizon, its hazy rays doing a feeble battle with the ubiquitous street lights and powerful beams festooned on the skyscrapers that lit the city into thrilling effulgence.

    This particular back street on Lagos Island, however, refused to wind up into sleep. The day had just broken, as they say. This is one of the busy enclaves that give the city its ‘sleepless Lagos’ moniker! Life here is a nightly fever pitch, roistering din.

    The barely translucent fluorescent lights oozing from every angle of the popular club arena cast the neighborhood into grotesque shadows. And the loud music blaring from huge loud speakers placed in strategic corners sliced deeply into the eerie stillness of the ambience.

    Paradoxically, however, in spite of the cacophony, you could notice a semblance of order as you inch into the premises. Nobody was allowed to mill around aimlessly. Some fearful-looking thickset, macho, broad-chest guys manned the entrance of the restricted ‘VIP’ haven. Welcome to a typical Lagos s3x club!

    Often, people see crowded places as an opportunity to do illegal activities such as have s3x and perform drugs, while others pay little attention.

    It is widely accepted that strip clubs offer many individuals relief from everyday life problems as they use strip clubs to satisfy fantasies, kill boredom, have fun, and secretly perform the most unimaginable acts, including drug abuse and live s3x. A common occurrence at many adult entertainment shows, particularly in high-energy venues.

    At deadly hours, young adults – male and female- find their ways to strip clubs and entertainment shows where expensive alcoholic drinks, drugs and live s3x are the order of the ‘night’.

    Millions of naira goes into these illegalities every night, even as this lifestyle gradually threatens a healthy living as ailments such as STDs, lung cancer and depression are in sight.

    “You no smoke, you no drink, you no still carry olosho (prostitute), wetin you wan use dey reason? Life is meant to be enjoyed-o! You only live once; so flex,” Dorathy, a 24-year-old student and club goer said.

    “Instead of wasting your time and effort on some kind of relationship that will end up shattering your heart, is it not better to come here, get high, have s3x with any girl of your choice and go home? At least, you don’t have to worry about ‘breakfast’ (a euphemism for breakup).”

     

     Open s3x in the club

    Just like reverend institutions do to first-timers, at any stripper’s club, naked young ladies between the ages of 18 and 26 would welcome everyone who comes in a very polite and civil manner, accompanied with a warm handshake most times, as they lead you to your seat. They warmly ask if you’d want a lap dance or s3x. Just before getting access into the club, you are required to part with N5, 000. Some clubs charge more while some charge less depending on standards. However, it is mandatory to buy drinks after gaining access to the club. Once inside, it is an entirely different world of obscenity, drugs, alcoholism and s3x. On this day, no fewer than 40 girls were on parade in this particular club, with over 100 men going in and out for different needs.

    Seated on a four-foot high desk was a naked stripper, who spread her legs wide, facing a client who then inserted his left hand into her private part, while the other hand grappled her breasts as they openly engaged in s3xual activities there and then. That done, she dictated her account number to the s3xually satisfied young man, who then made a transfer of N10,000 to her.

    In a brief chat with Lizzy, one of the strippers, who thought she had found another client in our reporter, she confided that stripping and live s3x were her escape valves from poverty.

    “Everything is for the money even though a lot of money goes down here every night. As for me, fun aside, I make nothing less than N100,000 per night.  If you wan touch and caress me, na N3,000 you go pay. But if you want live s3x for open bar here, na N10,000. If you dey shy, we fit go inside VIP, but that one na N15,000,”one of the strippers advertised.

    Without a whimper of remorse, she explained why she opted to ply the delicate trade. The graduate of Office Technology Management (0TM) recalled that after searching for and trying her hands on some jobs upon graduation and getting peanut offers for the efforts, she found herself in the strip industry.

    Lizzy said: “I have a family to feed. I am the first born of my parents. My dad is late and my mother is helpless in the village. So, what do you expect me to do when I have five siblings also looking up to me?

    “In fact, dem don beg me say dem wan come meet me for Lagos. But I no gree because I no wan make dem do this kind job. There’s a lot of money but it’s risky in many ways.

    “These things don become normal to me, even though sometimes I dey feel bad say no be here I suppose dey. But I do it for the money, and whenever I remember say na  for the money,  I go just get high and forget any other thing.” she said.

    Asked what she uses in getting high, the light-skinned pretty striper with some colorful tattoos on her shoulders, boldly said, “Weed na.”

    “I dey smoke Loud, Arizona and anyone. Once I do am like this, I no dey see anybody again; na to dey do my work dey go.”

     

    Expensive alcoholic drinks

    Expensive cocktails worth hundreds of thousands of naira are carefully stacked behind the bar’s corners where patrons may see them. The least costly drink one can find costs no less than N40,000, while more expensive cocktails might cost up to N350,000. Due to the intense competition among the “ballers”, the abuse of these hard beverages is unparalleled, even if they sell faster than the inexpensive ones.

    While the strippers become the main attraction, wealthy men can be seen “tackling” one another over who has more money and can afford more costly drinks.

    “Na those ballers dey make this place sweet,” a security guy in one of the clubs told our reporter during an innocent conversation. “No club can survive without them because they spend a lot of money when they come.

    “The most interesting days are when opposition ballers come on the same day. Omo! Na that time you go know say money dey this country.

    “One baller fit spend N3 million for one night. Na the girls and the owner of this place know how much dem dey make per night.”

    Before consuming them, club goers were observed blending various beverages and dumping some on their pricey Rolex wristwatches as they made money rain.

    Some of the expensive booze include Ace of Spades priced between N300,000 and N800,000 per bottle in top clubs; Dom Perignon, between N350,000 and N500,000; Luc Belaire priced between N92,000 and N100,000 per bottle; Hennessy XO – N80,000 – N100,000 and Clase Azul Reposado which costs more than N300,000.

     Drugs abuse

    Some people enjoy having s3x and drinking booze, while others prefer to use drugs as the night wears on. After using drugs, some people can be seen acting strangely and slowly. Indian hemp, commonly referred to as “weed” by users, is wrapped in a brown paper called rizla. After taking a drag, both men and women pass the stick to the next person until it is reduced to “Claro.”

    “Drugs are the easiest thing now. Normally as you’re coming in, you already know where you’re coming and you know it is available in excess here unless you don’t have your money.

    “Me I don dey okay already, even before coming here. Na only Loud I dey take because na Loud dey work for my body but e dey expensive small,” said John, who also just had a s3xual intercourse in the public space.

    Among the narcotics frequently seen at clubs are marijuana (weed), codeine, tramadol, skunk, Loud, Colorado and refnol. Drug sales are thought to be more profitable.

    ‘Why we patronise strip clubs’

    “I would say everyone has something they fantasise about. There’s this feeling when you see girls naked dancing around the pole. It’s such a beautiful feeling.

    “And what makes it more beautiful is that it is mostly done in an enclosed place where only those who enjoy such fantasies get to patronise such places.

    “I would say fantasy and nothing more than that,” said Alex, one of the patrons, during an interaction with this reporter.

    He added: “Sometimes I wear two or three condoms in order to protect myself. So I think with that there’s no way I could have a s3xually transmitted disease.

    “In terms of satisfaction, the fact that you fantasise about something and you are able to experience it is a very different feeling.

    “It’s quite satisfying because you get several s3x styles that you might not get from your wife of girlfriend, and she might be having s3x with you while twerking at the same time.”

    Another patron, Adedayo, revealed that he once contracted infection after having an unprotected s3x with a stripper.

    “God saved me it wasn’t HIV. What would I have done?” he wondered.

    “It was just one of those days and I and my guys went to the club and I didn’t have condom.

    “Although I no plan s3x any girl that night, but as I reach there that stripper enter my eyes and I had to do it like that.

    “After a few days, I discovered I wasn’t myself health wise so I went for a check-up. Bro, I had STI.

    “The last time I went there, I didn’t have s3x. I only received oral s3x.”

     

    The health risks

    The World Health Organisation claims that alcohol use causes three million deaths annually, as well as millions of disabilities and bad health across the world. Overall, 5.1% of the world’s illness burden is attributed to excessive alcohol usage.

    “Harmful use of alcohol is accountable for 7.1% and 2.2% of the global burden of disease for males and females respectively. Alcohol is the leading risk factor for premature mortality and disability among those aged 15 to 49 years, accounting for 10 percent of all deaths in this age group. Disadvantaged and especially vulnerable populations have higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalization.”

    The National Health Service of the United Kingdom also advised against regular alcohol consumption, while noting that those who regularly consume alcohol run the risk of developing at least six different illnesses, including cancers of the mouth, throat, and breast, stroke, heart disease, liver disease, brain damage and nervous system damage.

    A psychologist with the Department of Psychiatry Lagos University Teaching Hospital (Luth), Dr Juliet Ottoh strongly advised against unprotected sex and  reckless consumption dangerous substances which could result to Sexually Transmitted Infections and mental illnesses.

    “They will be exposed to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) because they are having unprotected sex which could degenerate to affecting other organs of the system.The females can also be exposed to unwanted pregnancies.

    “For the reckless consumption of all kinds of substances, they can be predisposed to having a mental illness psychosis and they could have other health conditions so it’s important that they desist from the use of all of those because they are not healthy for the organs of the body and neurotransmitter which is the brain. So, taking all of those psychoactive substances could be a predisposing factor to having a mental illness.

    “For their indulgence to be curbed they need to understand the consequences of the use of those substances and unprotected sex because if they don’t have knowledge of those they will keep doing them thinking they’re doing the right thing. Sometimes when people do things that are unhealthy they tend to think they are doing the right. It’s important that they have seminars, workshops where they will be psycho educated to understand to understanding that all of these could pose as problems to them, people around them and their immediate environment.

    “Yes the country is bad but it’s not an excuse for people to do things that are distractive. In the quest for you to say I’m trying to make money you could also come down with some health challenges and those monies you think you’re making may not be able to suffice all of those illness. It is important we do things that are legit, healthy, things that we will be proud of, things that will not expose us to more problems than we already have.”

  • NGOZI OMAMBALA: At first people thought I was crazy

    NGOZI OMAMBALA: At first people thought I was crazy

    Ngozi Omambala is the CEO of NMO management Limited. She is passionate about empowering young creatives in fashion, music and modeling. In this encounter with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talked about working with a global audience, collaborating with stakeholders and how Burnaboy started on her platform.

    TELL us about your journey discovering talents?

    It’s been a journey of growth, appreciation and a team that is really united. And we have had to go through a lot. In the last two years, we have been experiencing the pandemic and we continued, migrated online. We navigated well and God blessed us, opened us up to a global audience. Last year, we were able to do the show in a physical building because of Lagos protocols.

    For online we had an audience of 10,000 people watching us and we know it is going to be better this year. We have a critical stage to take up to capacity of a 1000 people and we are going to grow within the space. Our theme this year is really highlighting the circles in Lagos, the flooding, climate change and the environment.

    So, the Naval Dockyard is apt. We have the Atlantic sea, the Lagoon and if you look, you would see the plastics everywhere. You can see the flooding everywhere and you can rate the industry through the arts. We are trying to influence our younger generation to take control, emancipation and empowering them. So, that is the essence of our platform. We have grown now and see that we are stronger culturally and morally in Nigeria and pan African.

    How would you describe the choice of your two ambassadors this year?

    We wanted to show that fashion is opened to anybody. It doesn’t matter your color, your creed, whether you are dark skinned, albino, they are beautiful. Absolutely stunning. Actually one of our most stunning to date. Every single one has had its uniqueness but we love this. It tells a lot about who fashion is for. Fashion is for everybody and there is no discrimination and we are so proud of this image that we are going to see across Lagos.

    Catching them young is also exciting. What have been the reactions?

    At first people thought I was crazy and unusual. Someone even said I was putting children on stage. We have a bigger programme and we are looking at the future. We also know that our youths today are the leaders of tomorrow. So, we are preparing a new perspective, getting our youths to come up, be strong and empowered. So, we knew our direction and that is what you are seeing now. Our children of yesterday are coming strong and influencing the globe. It’s been very exciting and we are very proud.

    Burnaboy is one of the artists who passed through your platform. What are your memories?

    He performed with us about 9 years ago. I am good friends with his mother who is his manager. She has also been through our journey as well. She is reaping the rewards now. They have been travelling around, constantly on tours. Burnaboy took our music platform alongside MI and Nneka. We did it then in Surulere. If you go online, you would see some pictures of him doing our Loud and Proud. He’s really blessed, looks a lot younger but he is one of the fine artists and we are so proud of what he has done, what he has achieved. To be very honest, what we have done is to support them, but at the end of the day, it’s been him and his mother and their team work that has worked for them. They persevered and I know some of the trials they have gone through.

    Let’s talk about the vision?

    We’ve got memoirs to write, it’s been a great journey.

    It’s been challenging but amazing. Also, we’ve come through COVID and now we are open to the public again. It’s more interesting doing things online because we have a totally different audience now. We have an international global audience due to COVID. So, my positive things did come with COVID and last year we had people watching us from America, India, China and UK. I had friends; school friends who were watching us live.

    It’s been a real positive and thankful journey. We go back in years, like 20 years. I did a platform like this way back in Jamaica with Ade Bakare and we were ahead of our time. What we are doing now, we did 20 years ago. Now, we would probably go back to different countries in the continent and beyond. We want to really spread the cultural influence as much as possible, tap into our music industry to what is happening across the world in the cultural space. We have also formed links with other organizations like the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).Also, looking at the arts and education which is the way to go. History, art, music and entertainment go hand in hand and it is important to look to look after our planet and we are seeing the effect on the planet on planet change. This is something that we really have to recognise and work towards achieving. We have a number of people willing to collaborate with us on this. Africa has become slowly the dumping ground for what we are seeing and we need to stop that. We have to do all we can to overcome this, educate ourselves and others.

    Would you say you have made the same impact with music talents?

    We started about years ago to empower young creatives. Now, we have incorporated the GBT auditions into the Pan African Music runway by having a mono search, which we do every year and take two aspiring models and showcase them to the world. This also applies to music and one of the artists performing today is a product of that platform. It is so good to see them coming through and being successful in the contemporary market.

  • My political encounters with Tinubu – Whingan

    My political encounters with Tinubu – Whingan

    Prince Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, is a candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), House of Representatives, Badagry Federal Constituency in 2023, in this interview with MUJEEB OYEDEJI and SAMSON OTI, he speaks on the current migrating drives in Nigeria, why youths need to believe in the Nigerian project and his relationship with APC presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu among other issues. Excepts.

    Nigerian youths are migrating in droves, yet people like you have chosen to stay in Nigeria, why? What would you be telling those who are Japazying,’ migrating to other countries?

    Those leaving the country believe the economy is not working and encouraging, they believe leaving the shores of the country to foreign countries could make their life better but I want to believe that in a matter of months or years, things will get better and people will start believing in the project called Nigeria. There is hope for Nigeria and the hope is here. I am proud to be a Nigerian not because I am a politician but because I believe Nigeria will bloom again. I will encourage the youths to stay back and be a blessing to the country. If we all leave by the time the country needs us what are we going to tell our own kids? Nigeria youths need to stay back and fix the country together.

    With lots of humanitarian gestures you have carried out in Badagry, some regard you as a philanthropist. Is that what makes you feel you can do better in politics?

    No, I came from a political background, so it runs in my blood. My parents were active politicians. I had always been a philanthropist all my life and it doesn’t have anything to do with politics, it is a vision on its own. Although  I have used my foundation to do some projects in my constituency before now.

    Tell us more about your foundation who has been involved in empowering the Badagry people before now

    I can only state a few things we have done through the foundation, we have renovated hospitals, built schools, empowered lots of people through skills, fixed roads like  Ijotun-Ajarakoh, Ipaara – Kogakoh, Agunmo, Ilé-ọba – Ozuba, Eyekole – Gomajayi, Ozuba – Zunve, Ilogbo – Iyesi and Health Centre road, Isamo. The foundation has also been involved in helping the government in material things just for the wellbeing and conveniences of people of Badagry.

    Before coming into politics, what were you doing for a living and how did you impact on your people?

    I said it earlier that I came from a political background, my dad was also a politician, so I was born in it. I grew up to see the ways things are being done politically and I have always been preparing for this stage. When I came back to Nigeria from UK, I became the sole owner of Fab Pharmaceuticals license in Nigeria, I was supplying surgical devices to most hospitals across the country and later on I moved into real estate before giving full attention to my political career.

    People in your age group until recently had been lackadaisical to politics, why was this so? Why are they interested in politics now?

    When you are talking about age group, the problem we have is not with us, the problem is the people ahead of us, I mean our parents, and I can even say our religion, there had been a time when we were being told in church we should not participate in politics, it took time for somebody like me to realize that we can’t leave that space for some people if we actually want things to get better. It is time for us to encourage ourselves, especially the youths to participate more in politics. It’s not about complaining alone, the youths need to rally round and be engaged in any political platforms to contest and help the governance, your voice can be heard, and your ideals can be useful rather than staying behind doors and complaining.

    What were the challenges you faced as a young politician and how did you surmount the hurdles?

    I was discouraged by older people, simply because they didn’t want to leave the occupied vacuum, so they did a lot to discourage me but I am a man of vision and I stuck to my dreams and to the glory of God it’s paying off for me. At one point, I was frustrated but never gave up.

    Do you agree to the saying that politics is a dirty game?

    No, I don’t believe that. It is a game of Chess; it is a game that is meant for smarter people, the people who have vision especially for the people they represent.

    You are the candidate of APC representing Badagry at the Federal Constituency for the 2023 election. Tell us how the journey to the ticket was?

    The journey started a few years ago, precisely 2015, I came back to Nigeria to pursue my political dream after my Master’s Degree in the United Kingdom. I came to my Constituency to reach out to the people and staging my dreams having been born and brought up in a political family. When I actually came back to Nigeria, I realized there was a missing vacuum that needed to be fixed especially in Badagry, the Egun people where I came from. I talked to people and at the same time listened to their grievances on why there is a need to do more for my people, along the line, it was something I took upon myself to be in contest in order for me to carry them along and fix things. As a matter of fact, the people of Badagry felt it’s high time to try a younger person with a clearer vision for the people of Badagry and I decided to continue in my material works and empower people for sustainability and enabling the environment. Finally, I picked up the Federal Assembly form under our great party the All Progressives Congress (APC) and God made it possible for me to contest and win the party ticket.

    What inspired you to contest the election and why were you so confident that you will take the ticket from an incumbent rep?

    I was inspired to contest not because the representative was not doing well, he has done great jobs and his records are there for proof, but because people in Badagry and I felt there was a vacuum to be filled.  We felt they could do more. As a matter of fact, the youths felt disconnected and we realized that the youths have the larger part of the voting, so I tapped into that and decided to be the face of youths. The youths want inclusion in any government, we need to be reconnected and give our best in governance, so we spoke to some few leaders and they adopted our submission and they gave us a try.

    How confident were you to defeat an incumbent at the primary?

    I was confident because I was wanted. I have reached out to the people and let them understand why I am here to represent them and let them reconnect to governance. It’s about feeling vacuums and making people understand there is more to be done with their cooperation and understanding we can soar high.

    Can you share your plans for your constituents with us?

    I made a promise to carry them along with governance which I believe is the major reason why youths are angry. I also promised to make live better. I let them understand that Badagry is close to the border and there are so many things we can tap into to empower people and turn things around. There are so many things we are being deprived of, so I think we can unlock many things to give the youth maximum opportunities to live a good life with good empowerment programmes. I have a lot of plans, but the most important is how to put food on their tables. My people should be able to live a good life and that’s my ultimate plan which I believe is possible by the grace of God. There are several plans on how to reduce the poverty rate in my constituency and how to attract investors both locally and internationally and every other plan would rely on that. I believe when people can eat and feed their family they can key into the vision you have for them.

    What is your relationship with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Party (APC)?

    Asiwaju is my leader, my political father and by God’s grace is our next president. He’s someone who listens, his records in political journey are there for everyone to see, and he’s a builder and fantastic goal-getter. I could remember when I told him about my ambition, he looked at me and laughed, but frankly speaking, he saw beyond a young guy just walking to him and telling him how he wants to be the next representative of the Green Chamber. In truth, he didn’t discourage me, he only asked me how I am going to achieve my dream with the party leaders, asking if they are in line with my ambition and I told him they all want me and I am ready to serve my people beyond their expectations. He quickly agreed with me because I told him one or two things that keyed into his manifestos for the country. Asiwaju is someone who identifies talents; I didn’t convince him much because I was able to authenticate one or two things he asked me. He is someone who wants the best for Nigeria.

    How will you convince the angry Nigeria youths that you have something to offer?

    We need to communicate more with the youth; there is a need for proactivity for the youths. Like I said, the youths are angry because they are disconnected, and the best way to correct that notion is from the grassroots, from the constituency, creating an enabling environment and communicating with the youths on empowerment and life sustainability. The Nigeria youth I know wants a better life and I can assure you that Asiwaju has greater plans to eliminate loads of poverty in the country. Many of the Asiwaju allies now all started from their younger age, he grooms most of them we can all see their flying colours at the federal levels. I can state that Asiwaju will run a youth inclusive government no doubt. Most of the things being said in the name of the youths are just misconceptions. When you break it down talking about the youth, how old were they when Asiwaju was governing Lagos? The youths know little about him, every other thing is just a misconception. Going forward, we need to talk to the youths more and more and create an enabling environment for them to know that they are the real future of the country. He has been in the political corridor for long to understand the pains of every Nigerian and he’s going to fix it.

    What is your attraction to him?

    My level of intelligence attracted him and he was very convinced, it’s all about questions and answers because I know it’s a big task… he quickly identified the talents in me and that’s all.

    Asiwaju Tinubu presidency. What do you think Nigerians should do?

    Nigerians should believe in his vision for the country. The country has reached a level where things must be fixed appropriately. Asiwaju has demonstrated with his records and connectivity to be the new hope of Nigerians. It is not all about religion or ethnic politics. It is all about hope for greatness. He’s not a tribal politician, he believes in unity and prosperity. I am a Christian, he never asked me to deviate into my religion and that is Asiwaju for you. He’s a man that wants unity and peace.

     How are you preparing for the general election? Do you think you will win?

    I am an optimistic person and I believe so much in theory and practicality, I am very confident of staging a victory in Abuja. My constituency is agog to lead me to victory. With little I have done and said, I was able to give them hope for a new dawn and it has given me absolute confidence for victory. I have done a lot for my community and they have tested me enough to know I can do more at the federal level and I am not going to resist any chances to ensure absolute victory. I connected a lot with the people in my constituency and they showed a lot to know they want me around. And don’t forget that Badagry has only one party which is APC!

    How would you rate the performance of Governor Sanwo-Olu in Lagos so far?

    We called him the saleable, he has done enough to win the second term in the general election and I am as well confident he’s going to win. We have constructions going on everywhere in Lagos right now, and that is why people are complaining about traffic, but by the time they complete all the construction works, we will realize that the governor has done a lot in the state. He’s doing extremely fantastic in transportation, education, health and infrastructures. These are better credentials to win election as a governor, very soon, the blue rail line will begin operations. And don’t forget he’s one the products of Asiwaju, that tells you the visions that are coming to Nigeria as a whole in 2023..

  • Tale of young woman rewriting history for Nigerians in Italy

    Tale of young woman rewriting history for Nigerians in Italy

    Beyond the negative reputation often ascribed to Nigerians in Italy as traffickers in drugs and human being, a young female Nigerian is changing the narrative with her exploits in the European country, GRACE OBIKE reports.

    When stories are told about Nigerians in Italy, the impression usually created is that of irresponsible individuals who constitute themselves into social nuisance by way of prostitution, human and drug trafficking and other forms of vices.

    A 2017 report by ReliefWeb titled ‘To be a Nigerian Migrant in Italy’ quoted some Italian sources as saying that about 50 per cent of Nigerian women and girls migrants in Rome in particular and in Italy in general are forced by smugglers and human traffickers to work as sex slaves.

    A research conducted in April 2022 by ReliefWeb stated that approximately 119.000 Nigerians reside in Italy; that the country hosts the second-largest group of Nigerians in Europe (after the UK) and is “the most important destination for Nigerian victims of trafficking”.

    While in 2016, IOM Italy reported that the top nationality of migrants reaching the country via sea was Nigeria, with a notable increase in the number of women (11.009 compared with 5.000 in 2015) as well as of unaccompanied children, with over 3.000 compared with 9.00 in 2015.

    From all the negative reports, however, some positives are finally coming out in terms of Nigerian migrants doing great in the country.

    One of such news is that of Tracy Eboigbodin, a Nigerian woman from Benin City, who emerged winner of the 11th series of Master Chef, Italy, an international cooking show.

    Ms Eboigbodin, her brother and parents had relocated to Italy from Nigeria 17 years ago when she was only 15 years. She recalled that things were tough for her family after they relocated but she stayed focused.

    She went on to graduate from the university while working as a waitress; a job she did for about 15 years before proceeding to culinary school. She embraced her passion for cooking and ventured into the international cooking competition replicated in over 60 countries.

    Eboigbodin explained that she refused to be limited by the stereotype of being a Nigerian and a woman from Edo State, as they are often times linked to prostitution and trafficking.

    Read Also: Kemi Badenoch: Rewarded with high office

    Unfortunately, she said, people tend to turn a blind eye to Nigerians who are doing great things in Italy and rather focus on the negative.

    Her words: “It is not just me; a lot of Nigerians are doing great things in Italy. They are hairdressers, tailors, and so on.

    “They don’t need to depend on men. There are so many Nigerians in Italy that are good.

    “I have a Nigerian friend in Italy who is a doctor. So the story is changing.

    “Unfortunately, this side of Nigeria is hidden from the citizens (Italians) so they do not know us.

    “They only know the negative side.

    “I think it is time to change the story about Nigerians, especially about Nigerian women, because there are so many talented ones.

    “They can give more.”

    The Italian embassy in Nigeria, in collaboration with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission and Fraser Suites, celebrated Ms Eboigbodin at the seventh edition of the annual week of Italian cuisine in the World, which was held in Abuja.

    The Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Stefano De Leo, described Eboigbodin as a good representative of the youths of the country and the fact that Nigeria youths can make it anywhere they choose in the world.

    He said the stories of Nigerians in the diaspora is changing for the better.

    De Leo said unfortunately, stories of Nigerians achieving great things in Italy is not usually celebrated as the negative ones, but that of Eboigbodin should be a turning point for young people to dream and achieve in whatever field they choose.

    Hailing Eboigbodin for her feat, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, urged Nigerians in the diaspora to emulate compatriots, making the nation proud in their host countries.

    Tallen said: “This is one of the best news we would have coming from Italy as against the backdrop of all the bad news we have been hearing about Nigerians in Italy.

    “Thank God for this beautiful news. She is here to break the ice and turn things around.

    “And I believe this is the beginning of many good things about Nigerian women in Italy.

    “She has opened new doors and closing bad sides of the stories.”

    The Minister promised to ensure that Eboigbodin is made an ambassador for young girls in Nigeria, especially in her home state of Edo, to enable the girls realise that if they decide to travel, they can make it through hard work and determination without having to get themselves engaged in activities that could spoil the image of the country.

    On her part, Eboigbodin said she intends to train other Nigerian girls in Italy on alternative means of making a living either by returning to school or getting themselves engaged in handwork, especially hair braiding which is quickly becoming sort after by residents and could be rewarding if one engages in it.

  • My exploits as Nigeria’s Ambassador to US, Permanent Rep at UN – Itegboje

    My exploits as Nigeria’s Ambassador to US, Permanent Rep at UN – Itegboje

    He is a self-effacing man, not wanting to be noticed in any gathering. But his powerful presentations on occasions he has to speak exposes the passion in him, especially with regards to his job and his country. For instance, as Nigeria’s immediate past Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Samson Itegboje relishes the victory Nigeria recorded as the 74th President of the UN General Assembly. Itegboje, in this no holds barred interview with ASSISTANT EDITOR, MUYIWA LUCAS, says keeping Nigeria united is not negotiable because anything to the contrary will spell doom not only for Africa but for the black race. He also talks about how he met his wife, Tina, among other issues. Excerpts:

    How would you describe yourself?

    Ambassador Samson Itegboje is a Nigerian diplomat who God has uplifted from a very humble background to the height he finds himself today. I am a native of Erhurun-Uneme in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State. But I was born in a beautiful town called Auchi in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, where I attended primary and secondary schools before proceeding to University of Ibadan to study History. Later, I went to Times Journalism Institute (TJI) for my postgraduate Diploma in Journalism programme. It was after the programme that I joined Foreign Service.

    How has it been for you in the Foreign Service?

    It’s been very fulfilling. When I joined the Foreign Service in 1992, I was sent to the Foreign Service Academy to horn my skills. Thereafter, as part of the training, I was deployed to Asia and Pacific Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From there, I was posted to Caracas, Venezuela, on an attachment programme, which formed the last lap of my training. On my return from Venezuela, I was deployed to Postings and Discipline Division under Administration Department. Thereafter, I was posted to the Consulate General of Nigeria in New York as a Consul. From New York I was cross-posted to Manila, Philippines.

    On my return to Nigeria, I was deployed to the office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From there, I was moved to the Office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thereafter, I was posted to our Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and when I finished my tour of duty in Addis Ababa, I returned to Nigeria where I was deployed to the Minister’s Office in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From Minister’s office, I was deployed to the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I was a Deputy Director at this time.  And from there, I was posted to the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations, New York. I became the African Group Coordinator for the First Committee on Disarmament. It was while I was there, that I was nominated for Ambassadorial appointment. And that appointment led to my being deployed again to New York as Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations.

    So if you look at my trajectory, I have worked on a political desk, in administration; in the office of the Permanent Secretary; Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Office of the Vice President and then Office of the President. Interestingly too, I have served in all the three categories of our missions outside the country, namely bilateral missions, multilateral missions and the consulates general. With regard to multilateral missions, I have served In Addis Ababa (the seat of African Union Commission) and New York (the seat of the United Nations). I have gone through the entire gamut of the Foreign Service. Currently, I am the Director, International Organisations Department (IOD) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    You seem to have had a smooth sail in your career…

    That’s how it seems, but it has to do with hard work. I tell people that I wasn’t even born with any spoon. People say they were born with diamond spoon, some with golden spoon; some with silver spoon, and some with bronze spoon. But I was not born with any spoon. So I knew from the blast that I would need to work very hard; that I would need to prove myself in whatever assignment I was given, so that I could be dependable. And I think that has really helped me. That is why I have been able to work in all our most important missions in the world, in all the most important offices in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the most important offices in Nigeria i.e. Offices of the President and the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    What has the experience been like for you?

    Tremendous! There is no other job that is as satisfying as the job of a Diplomat.

    In the course of your job, you have come across so many foreigners. What is usually their impression of Nigeria?

    Nigeria is respected worldwide. When it comes to international diplomacy, especially multilateral diplomacy, Nigeria is a force to reckon with. Take the United Nations for instance, when there are burning issues, Nigeria is usually consulted by both countries of the global North and countries of the global South. They would want to know what Nigeria’s position is on such matters. If you are not important, nobody will consult you as a country. Nigeria champions the interests of the Black Race; and that is why we should not toy with our unity. Nigeria remains the hope of the black race. That is why we must all join hands together to ensure our unity.

    I’m sure that many Nigerians on the street will not agree with you on this. Nigeria is being battered left right and centre. Our citizens get shabby treatments in countries they go to; the most recent being in the United Arab Emirates. So, if Nigeria is so important like you have said, why such treatments from the international community?

    It is a global phenomenon that is not peculiar to Nigerians.  Shabby treatments are usually suffered mostly by economic migrants. It was as a result of that, at the United Nations, we negotiated the Global Compact on Migration, seeking to make countries respect the dignity of the migrant irrespective of his status, whether regular or irregular.

    Having said that, if you took the statistics of Nigerian travellers, you will discover that there are millions who travel unencumbered. We tend to generalise it when some Nigerians get shabby treatments. And most times when these are reported, our diplomats and embassies outside the country usually respond appropriately.

    Let me tell you a short story. When I was serving in Venezuela on attachment programme, I was on the Consular Desk, so I travelled to Colombia, our country of concurrent accreditation, to visit Nigerians in prison there. Whilst visiting the prisons, I discovered that some of the Nigerians in prison were convicted on drug charges. However, there were many who were there because they overstayed their visas.

    As a young officer then, I summoned the courage to go meet with the prison authorities. I told them that I was disappointed that Nigerians were being held in prison simply because they overstayed. I told them that there were several Colombians with same offence in Nigeria who were working free without harassment because Nigeria believed in South-South cooperation. I was pleasantly surprised when, a week later, 14 Nigerians were released from the prison. We don’t make noise about what we do because we work in the shadows.

    Let me take you back to your last posting to the United Nations. It was a very critical and difficult time for the world given that it was predominantly overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. What was your experience during that turbulent period?

    You know, it was during that time that we took the initiative to run for the residency of the UN General Assembly. We were powerfully supported by our dear President Muhammadu Buhari, and we won that election by a landslide, with the full support of the 193-member United Nations General Assembly. And a Nigerian, Professor Tijani Muhammad-Bande, became the President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. That was a high point for me as an Ambassador and as a Nigerian diplomat.

    However, never did we bargain that during our tenure a pandemic of that proportion was going to strike. Prof. Bande appeared to have been created for that period as the COVID-19 brought the best out of him. He quickly moved the UN General Assembly into a different gear. And you need to Google the comments made by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres, at the end of the tenure of Prof. Bande. He noted that the UN General Assembly would have shut down but for the sagacity of Prof. Bande.

    So, I will say that my experience at the UN was really a great one. What you experience there is not something you can experience from without. You have to be involved. You have to know that every country fights for its interest. So you have to be on top of your game to ensure that you also fight for your country’s interest. You have to fight to ensure that the UN remains a rules-based multilateral body where both the big and small countries have a sense of belonging.

    What do you think are the high points of your tenure as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Nations? What are the things you can point to as being very significant to you?

    I had many highpoints apart from initiating, championing and coordinating our campaigns in New York for the Presidency of the UN General Assembly which we won. I was also chairman of the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (otherwise known as C34), I was Interim Coordinator, Alliance for Poverty Eradication of member states of the UN. I was also Interim President of the 31st Special Session of the UN General Assembly on COVID-19.

    You seem to like championing causes; what is the motivation for this?

    Yeah, I was president of the Students Union of Times Journalism Institute. But again, God has always been on my side because whatever I try to do, I am honest about it. I try to carry everybody who works with me along. I try to ensure that when I am in charge of any situation, all the stakeholders are carried along, and that is why God has seen me through up to the stage where I became Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations. We were fully supported by Mr. President. I want to say something and hope you will permit me to say it, that when it comes to foreign policy exertions, no one can beat President Muhammadu Buhari’s record.

    Why did you say so?

    I will reel out some of the records so you can make an informed judgment yourself. Under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari and, of course, with the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs Barrister Geoffrey Onyeama as the arrow head, a Nigerian woman, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala became the first female to win the seat of the Director General of the World Trade Organisation. Also, my very dear Senior Sister, Ms Amina Mohammed, who I call the god-mother of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and who is driving those goals with all her might, is the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations.

    We also had Prof. Tijani Muhammad-Bande as President of the United Nations General Assembly. The UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, is a Nigerian. The Deputy Director General of International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Ms. Ugochi Daniels, is a Nigerian. We also have the UN Secretary General Special Envoy for Sustainable Energy, Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi. The President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, is a Nigerian. The Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the the African Union Commission, the most powerful Commissioner at that, Amb. Bankole Adeoye, is a full blown Nigerian. Please check history, we have never had it so good!

    How has all that translated to benefits for the citizens?

    Not only have these positions given Nigeria a lot of visibility, they have put Nigeria in a vintage position to be able to influence decisions that will not only be beneficial to Nigeria but the whole of Africa, using the instrumentality of these international bodies.

    How did you handle cases involving Nigerians during the COVID era?

    Let me first of all say that the permanent mission’s sole business is with the United Nations. We don’t really deal with Nigerians. However, we didn’t say because that was not our responsibility, we shouldn’t assist. So we were interfacing the Consulate General to evacuate Nigerians. So we all go to the airport to assist the Consulate General to ensure seamless operations during evacuation of Nigerians.

    I would really give the Nigerian government a lot of credit for what it did during that period in the face of the hiccups created by various governments shutting down airports and banning movement of people amongst other restrictions.

    We now have the “Japa” syndrome where every Nigerian wants to go out of the country for greener pastures. What is your take on it?

    Sometimes we behave like it is only Nigerians that want to go for greener pastures. Many foreigners travel for greener pastures. There are foreigners in Nigeria who are here in search of greener pastures. So, it is not Nigerians alone. If you go to US-Mexico borders, you will see hordes of citizens of South American countries wanting to cross to the US’ side.

    My take on the “japa” syndrome; people say oh, it leads to brain drain. Of course, there can be brain drain, but Nigeria stands to benefit later. How do I mean?  You will discover that ultimately Nigerians who are going out there will return with special skills that will be of benefit to the economic development of our country. I’ll give you an example. It is the Indians in Diaspora that are driving India’s technological development, especially in the area of information technology. And I think Nigeria will also benefit as well. Nigerians in Diaspora are already returning home to invest. Our medical doctors abroad are returning to set up hospitals in Nigeria. All we need to do is to be patient with ourselves. In terms of development, I don’t agree with those who think we have not done well as a country. If you look at the world today you will find that many countries, including world powers, are struggling; the US and the UK are battling economic woes.

    Many Nigerians often refer to Ghana as an economic pacesetter vis-à-vis Nigeria. But Ghana today is on the brink economically. These problems are as a result of the advent of COVID-19 which the world did not prepare for.  You will recall that in the life of this government, Nigeria went into recession twice. This is the only country that I know, that will go into economic recession and exit almost immediately. Despite these problems, and in the face of the economic woes the world is grappling with, Nigeria is still growing at about 3.1 per cent. Haba! You have to give it to President Muhammadu Buhari. So, coming back to the “japa” syndrome, permit to say that it is the fundamental right of any Nigerian who wants to go out of the country in search of greener pasture or for whatever reason, to do so legitimately. It is also within their right to return whenever they see the need to return.

    But I want to stress that home is where you find love. You can’t find a country that is as loving as Nigeria. You can’t find a country that has the kind of beautiful people like Nigeria; you can’t find a country like Nigeria where you have citizens who are their brothers’ keepers. That is why you see a lot of foreigners come to Nigeria. When they come they don’t want to leave. We exude love, we give love and we truly love, and that is why Nigeria ticks.

    What we need is patience. Our democracy is really improving. INEC has gotten to a point now where people are beginning to believe in it. We are beginning to build our institutions gradually. So we all need to be patient with our country. Let’s keep working at it. At the end of the day, we’ll all have cause to smile. It’s not going to be too long from now.

    That’s quite reassuring. I just hope it is not going to be long from now before Nigerians can eat and feed themselves with relative ease…

    Nigerians are eating and the economic downturn we are facing in Nigeria is not peculiar to Nigeria; it is worldwide. I was in New York and I saw Americans who are homeless sleeping by the side of the road. So let’s not think that this is just peculiar to the Nigerian environment. No, it is not. But in spite of our challenges, we are moving on. So we all need to join hands together to push this country in the right direction. Many countries are looking up to Nigeria. From time to time foreigners who visit Nigeria and are amazed at what they find in Nigeria ask me why Nigerians are the worst critics of their country. I often tell them that Nigerians always set a high bar for the government. This is good in some ways as it keeps government on its toes. Conversely, it creates situation whereby foreigners are scared to visit, thus limiting the flow of direct investment in the country.

    How did you meet your wife?

    We met when I was doing my postgraduate programme in journalism in TJI. That was in 1992. She was doing a diploma programme, so we became friends. And sometimes we sat together to discuss issues. I started noticing that we were sharing the same ideas and ideals. I noticed also that she was someone who was ambitious and found out that she was going to be a good wife.

    When I told her that I had something to discuss with her, she started running away from me. But somehow, we met one day at school and I pleaded for her to hear me out; so we set a date for it and then we discussed elaborately. The rest is history. The union is blessed with wonderful kids who are doing very well, and I thank God for what He has done in our lives thus far.

    My wife’s name is Tina, and from the name I coined the phrase ‘There Is No Alternative’ (TINA) after due consideration of the impact she had made in my life. She has been a very strong support system and a wonderful wife, and my very significant order. She has been what the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo called “a jewel of inestimable value.”

    What’s your favourite meal?

    I have two favourite meals. I have always told you that I am an “ajepako”. So I love to drink sour garri with some groundnuts in it. But my wife does not allow me to have it as much as I want. So she regulates it for me. I also love pounded yam and egusi soup. Again, my wife regulates it but anytime I have it, you will know that something special is happening to me.

    How do you relax?

    I play the keyboard and the conga drums. If my son was around now, we would have “jammed” for your entertainment. I also watch football. I am a Chelsea fan. I watch both local and international news. I love lawn tennis. I like to watch the grand slams. I love athletics. And then I love boxing and Ultimate Fight Championship (UFC). Then I love dancing and singing, especially reggae music.

    What are your views on Nigerian politics?

    The Nigerian political environment has become very vibrant. I have been to many countries where general elections have taken place and it will look like nothing is happening. This is because opposition parties have been muzzled. But look at Nigeria; the elections are in February next year and the political temperature is already rising. Our political debates are becoming more robust. Nigerians are now particular about how the politicians want to execute their programmes. So I am very excited about what is happening now.

    And Mr. President has given his word that the elections will be transparent, free and credible. So I’m really proud to be a Nigerian and I hope that the politicians will play to the rules and play in accordance with the peace accord they’ve signed and also ensure that our electoral choices take precedence over their parochial political interests.

    Looking at your walls, I see several awards of recognition. What do these awards mean to you?

    Whenever I am given any award, it serves as a catalyst for me to continue to give my best in the service of humanity. Every award that I get spurs me on to give my best; to continue to show passion in whatever I am doing; to continue to uplift people. I want to inform you that I am a He-for-She Diplomatist. What does that mean? I feel that women should be elevated and given the space to thrive. If you observe every country that is thriving, you will see that women are given opportunities to excel. In our little way, we have some girls under our scholarship scheme. When you train a girl, you train the whole community. That’s why I want to enjoin our distinguished presidential candidates to ensure that in the next dispensation they

    should improve on what Mr. President has entrenched by giving more political positions to women. In our country, women are more passionate than men in what they do. So let’s give them the opportunity to excel. When they excel, the country itself will excel.

    If you were not in the Foreign Service, what else would you have done?

    I would have been a journalist. That was why I went to do my postgraduate studies in journalism. I had two ambitions in life. The first was to be a diplomat and the second was to be a journalist. So it was while I was at the tail end of my journalism studies that the vacancies were declared by the Federal Civil Service Commission for positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I was fortunate to have been selected. And also,  you know, by virtue of my performance at the journalism school, being the best postgraduate student of that year, I was given automatic employment by the then Daily Times of Nigeria. So I got employed into the two professions I wanted same time. So, I had to choose Diplomacy in line with my first preference.

    The diplomat and journalist speak for the interest of the people. Can we therefore infer that it is the passion you have for your people and your country that influenced your choice of profession?

    Absolutely! Passion for the country was an underlying factor. As a Nigerian diplomat, I am a Nigerian “soldier” in my own right. My method is to jaw-jaw and discuss issues that are in consonance with the interest and territorial integrity of my country. I think the same goes with the journalist. A journalist’s weapon is the pen, and as they say, the pen is mightier than the sword. But what does he do with the pen? He uses the pen to better the lot of his country and the lot of his citizens. So, both professions are similar.

    After your service to your fatherland, what do you hope to do?

    First, I want to serve God more because He has been very kind to me. I still want to continue to impact society. Like I said earlier, I already have a pet project where we have a few girls under our scholarship scheme. But when I retire, I want to expand it because I am very passionate about girl child education. So I am going to expand that project to ensure that I get as many girls into our scheme. Hopefully God will provide the capital to fund the project. But I am determined and I know that wherever determination and God’s prayer exist, failure can never dismantle success. Finally, I want to read a lot of books that I have bought that I have not found time to read.

    What is your philosophy of life?

    Live, love and laugh.

    Can you share a word for the “japa” people?

    For the ‘japa’ people, I want to tell them that it is not greener on the other side. What normally happens is that you see Nigerians who are outside the country visit the country and give the impression of living in opulence whereas they struggle to make ends meet in their foreign abode. Some of them will come with fake accent. That is not to say that we don’t have Nigerians that are doing well outside. But I’ve come across so many Nigerians who are not doing well. And some of them will want to return home but they cannot return because of the shame that is involved.

    So, I want to tell people who want to ‘japa’ that it is not green out there. Even the resources that have been put together for you to ‘japa’ can be used to set up little business. Nigeria is still a virgin economy with a lot of opportunities, so before you decide to leave, check out your skills and see how you can apply them in this country. If you go to America without valid documents, you will spend about 10 years of your life trying to validate your stay before you can start finding your footing. During this period you cannot get a decent job, but will only find menial jobs that you won’t do in Nigeria.

    What will be your passing shot?

    Well, I want to use this opportunity to thank God for what he has done in my life. Also to thank Nigeria. I am very proud to be a Nigerian and I know in my heart of heart that Nigeria is a great country. I have travelled round the world, I have not seen a country like Nigeria and the beautiful people that make up Nigeria. So I want to thank them.

    I want to thank the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for deeming it fit to appoint me as Nigeria’s ambassador to the United Nations. That was a very huge responsibility. It goes with a lot of assurance that the person being appointed will be able to deliver for the country. So, I want to thank Mr. President very profusely for giving me the opportunity. And I’m happy that we contributed our quota to the successes that we achieved at the United Nations. I must also not forget my Ministers and my dear wife for giving the much-needed support.

  • Controversy as multi-million naira constituency projects collapse in Ibadan school

    Controversy as multi-million naira constituency projects collapse in Ibadan school

    • Computer training stalled as thieves cart away hardwares

    • UBEC: Lawmakers, not us, chose contractors for projects

    • I had no hand in choice of contractors – Ex-lawmaker

    After many years of defecating in bushes within and outside the school premises, teachers and pupils of decrepit Chesire High School, Ijokodo, Ibadan, heaved a sigh of relief when the then lawmaker representing Oyo South Federal Constituency, Senator Adesoji Akanbi, facilitated the construction of a block of three classrooms and a VIP toilet in the school.

    The VIP toilet was part of a three-classroom block and furniture project meant to alleviate the sufferings of the teachers and pupils and also enhance learning in the school.

    Findings showed that the project, which was commissioned in 2017, was worth more than N18 million.

    Not quite long after the project was commissioned, the  toilet, which lacks every feature of the VIP it was tagged, collapsed, leaving the school community to return to the archaic practice of defecating in open places and consequently polluting the environment.

    “This is what they constructed for us as  a VIP toilet. We used it for only a very short time before it collapsed.

    “It is disheartening that this kind of project could be said to have been constructed by a certified contractor.

    “Who certified such a contractor and what was the company’s antecedent that made it to be given  the project to handle.

    “I bet that if this project had been handled by local bricklayers, they would have done a much better job that will last for decades.

    “The toilets we constructed with modest amounts in our various houses have lasted far longer than this and are still in good shape.

    “There is nothing VIP about this toilet. It is a glorified latrine,” a teacher who preferred anonymity said.

    Also lamenting the condition of the collapsed VIP toilet, another teacher noted that the toilet was actually not meant for the students.

    The teacher said: “It was solely used by teachers. They are just two toilets in one small space as you can see. As it is now, whenever it rains, water will fill the toilet.

    “In fact, it is a no go area as you can see. If you put your leg inside the place, that portion will cave in and you will find yourself inside the rubbish. This is despicable.

    “All the people involved in the execution of the project should be probed because they endangered our lives by carrying out this shoddy job for a sum that you can be very sure is far and above what a local bricklayer would charge.

    “Imagine somebody was using the toilet when it caved in. The person would have fallen inside the mess and may not have come out alive.

    “When people get contracts, they should endeavour to execute them well. They shouldn’t put monetary gains above the safety and well-being of the citizens they are claiming to serve.”

    Some of the pupils who spoke with our correspondent also decried their experiences defecating in the bush.

    One of the pupils said: “We were defecating in the  bush for a long time. As boys, we were going deep down the bush to defecate, but the females couldn’t go far because they were afraid of snakes.

    “We do kill snakes within the school premises. In fact, we killed one two weeks ago. We are never scared of them.

    “If we are in the classroom and see a snake passing, we would run after it and make sure we kill it.

    “Apart from snakes, we also have seen an alligator within the premises. It was when the alumni saw our plight that they constructed new toilets for us sometime last year.”

    Aside from the challenge of not having a toilet, the dilapidated state of the school is another source of worry for the pupils.

    Decrying the state of their learning environment, a pupil said: “Our classrooms are not in good conditions. We are in the heart of the capital city, Ibadan and yet our school looks like a rehab home. It is very disturbing.

    Read Also: Universities as constituency projects?

    “As you can see, some of our classrooms have no doors and windows. The roofs of some are leaking and it is a sorry sight when it rains.

    “Each time it rains, we would have to be moving around the class to settle down in a place that is not so much affected by the rain. This is obviously not healthy for us.”

    The pupil added: “The sets of furniture are also in bad shape. Hardly will you find a chair and a table that are in good condition. Many of them are  broken, and for us to write we have to be patching things together.

    “We deserve more than this. It is not a crime that we are studying in a public school.”

    Internet project suffers setback

    Apart from the failed toilet project, findings around the school revealed that internet cum computer projects said to have been facilitated by a lawmaker are also not functional.

    The first set of computers delivered to the school were said to have been carted away by robbers shortly after they were installed.

    One of the teachers said: “The computer project was meant to teach and enhance the education of our pupils. Shortly after they  brought some computers, robbers broke into the school and carted them away.

    “The problem was that the people who facilitated the project didn’t consider the porous nature of the school and didn’t make efforts to put security measures in place to prevent the computers from being stolen.

    “One wonders the kind of leaders that we have as nothing was probably done to investigate the theft. The assumption obviously was that it was government’s money and once it is gone, it is gone.

    “An ‘honourable’ facilitated the project. It is just unfortunate that I cannot remember his name.”

    The teacher continued: “They also brought some dishes for internet training purposes but the whole thing is not working because there is no subscription on them.

    “The school does not have the money to pay for subscription. Those who facilitated it through the NCC should do something about this because it is a federal government project. They are the ones that should be paying for it.

    “When the first dish was not working,  they brought another. When the officials came earlier, they signed the documents that they were  meant to sign after visiting  but for them now to subscribe is the only challenge.

    “We have not been having computer training. The new computers they brought are only being used to type examination papers. It was facilitated by the then principal because he knew some people in the NCC.

    “They brought the new set specifically for the special and disabled students. It came with a braille machine.”

    Alumni save situation

    It was gathered  that a silver lining appeared behind the cloud for the teachers and students last year when the alumni association took it upon itself to build a befitting toilet for them.

    “That has been our saving grace. Their intervention ended the pains of going to defecate in the bush where pupils also defecate. It could be denigrating and embarrassing rushing into the bush to pooh.

    “Aside the toilet, the alumni association has also helped us to renovate some of the buildings and equipped them with good furniture. They also intervened in our library.

    “It is very unfortunate that we have to rely on the alumni to put the school in order. If not for their intervention, this place wouldn’t have been good for learning,”  a worker in the school said.

    We’re not responsible for choosing contractors – UBEC

    The signpost placed by the collapsed toilet  showed that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) project was the client.

    Spokesman of UBEC, David Apeh, exonerated the commission of any guilt in the project.

    He said: “Yes, UBEC was the client, but who brought the contract there? It must have been brought by a House of Reps member or a Senator.

    “What we do is that if there is a contract by a House of Reps member or a Senator, before we were giving them those monies for their constituency.

    “Now we tell them, this  your constituency, what are things to be built? When they bring the work, most of them come with their contractors. Those are the people concerned.

    “What I know is that the honourable facilitating the project brings the contractors.

    “Most of these things that are happening are between the contractors and the politicians; not UBEC.”

    I didn’t pick contractor – Ex lawmaker

    The facilitator of the project, Senator Adesoji Akanbi, said he was not aware that the toilet collapsed.

    “After leaving office, I have done quite a lot for my people. The old students can come together and do another one for them,” he said.

    Asked if the development was an indication that the contractor didn’t do his work well, the former lawmaker said:  “Well, I have left office and I have done quite a lot for my people. The contractors are not allocated by us. we don’t bring contractors.  We don’t bring contractors, that I know.

    “I think it was SMEDAN that was in charge of it.”

    Contacted, SMEDAN Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Kaula, demanded to know the connection of the agency with a project that UBEC was the client.

    “Which is the agency responsible for that project?”

    UBEC, our correspondent replied.

    “What is the connection with SMEDAN now?  If it was a SMEDAN contractor, it should have indicated it as the client.

    “Send me the name of the contract and the name of the project. I will send it to my procurement officer to find out if we were the one that awarded that contract. I will send it right now to the procurement officer  and I will get back to you. “

    NCC reacts

    Reacting to questions about the stolen computers, NCC spokesperson, Reuben Muoka, said: “I wouldn’t know about the computers that were carted away.”

    He went on to say that the project wasn’t a constituency project but a social responsibility project.

    He said: “There is a project that we do that is called DAPT, Digital Appreciation for Tertiary Institutions  and Computer Awareness Programme for Secondary Schools.

    “We give these facilities to schools. We don’t  monitor them. If it has any problem, the school will know how to report it for us to remedy the situation.

    “It is not anybody reporting that it is not working. That is  not what happened. This is a corporate social responsibility  that  we give to schools across the country.

    “Ours is to give them those facilities, make sure it is working and hand it over to them. We don’t have  a staff there that monitors whether it is working or not.

    “If it is  not working they know what to do. They have all the channels to meet with us to do what is necessary.

    “It may interest you to know that the internet subscription we give is for a period. If it expires, we expect the people to continue the subscription.

    “We buy bandwidth and we don’t buy it forever anywhere we install it. We buy it for a reasonable period of time that we think that those  people should be able to buy the bandwidth.”

    He added: “The most important thing you need to know is that we install these facilities and hand them over to the schools, and if there is any problem with it, especially problems that we can solve, those people know what channel they contact.  They know how to reach the NCC to remedy the situation.

    “It is not a matter of it is not working. That is not how it works.

    “Even the one you said about carting away computers, we  also give the responsibility to the people to protect the facilities.

    “We cannot send security men to go and be protecting facilities that we have installed in a school. We expect the school to take responsibility.

    “In fact, that is one of the major messages we give to them during commissioning. They are to ensure that those equipment are secure and not left for people to vandalise.

    “It is the responsibility of whichever institution that is receiving to protect them. We can’t be sending security men to all the schools to go and protect them.”

    Concluding, he said: “We are giving these things to the institutions. If any institution is porous, who would take the responsibility? They should have told us that it is porous.

    “In the place where you schooled, if you say we want to give you computer, build the lab, refurbish the building and equip it with computers with a protector, would your school say we will not take it because there is no protection?

    “We assume primarily that every school has security. It is a school and not somebody’s house.”

    Concern over growing number of special children in school

    Apart from the failed projects in the school, parents have also expressed worries about the growing number of special children in the school.

    A parent who identified himself simply as Mr Taju said: “The school was established as an able bodied school. Oluyole Chesire Home, which was a private institution, gave the school that land and in turn expected the school to admit pupils.

    “Now, it is like the school is being hijacked by the physically challenged. The categories of special students being admitted into the school now are the kind of pupils that should be in special school.

    “Their being in a regular school is like wasting the teachers’ efforts. It is just like giving the teachers tick forest to clear. There is no competition among the students.

    “The government will need to look into this and change its strategy. If they want a special school for special pupils, they should establish one.”

    Reacting, a high ranking official of the school, who didn’t want her name in print because she was not authorised to speak to the press, said: “The inclusion of special children in the school is an integration policy of the government meant to help the physically challenged pupils.

    “We always give able pupils orientation about the need to assist their physically challenged colleagues. This has been yielding fruits as there is no discrimination among them.

    “There are tremendous improvements in the lives of many physically challenged as a result of their interaction with able bodied colleagues.”