The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2015

  • Let’s have our own president in 2015

    SIR: Since the 1914 amalgamation by Nigeria’s colonial masters, life has not remained the same for her people. The colonialists sought to bring the different tribes together for the smooth administration and exploitation of the country.

    The people were hardly consulted, neither were they given the opportunity to discuss the terms of their coming together. Many people had expected the colonial masters to take steps to foster unity and instill a feeling of oneness among the people. Sadly, they didn’t. Instead of uniting the people, the colonial masters, for selfish reasons, further planted division among the people. People were taught to regard those from their ethnic group more than others. In every engagement, regional interest towers above national consideration. People were ready to die for their regions and none was ready to die for Nigeria. The nationalists of that time were seen more as ethnic and not national heroes. All tribes lived in mutual suspicion of one another. Lies and baseless rumours were fabricated and shared with reckless abandon against one another, and many people fell for it.

    This was the situation in the pre-independence Nigeria. After independence, the situation did not change. Instead coming together and ensuring that the ‘new’ country breeds progress and development, most nationalist and anti-colonialism fighters withdrew to their regions to propagate regional and not national interest.

    There was hardly anyone genuinely championing the Nigerian cause. It was either a Northern, Southern or Western region affair; there was no Nigerian affair.

    This state of affairs has continued till date. At every stage of our national life, issues of regionalism and tribalism take the center stage against national interest. Merit and competence is slaughtered on the altar of religion, tribalism and nepotism. One area where this is prominent is in elections. During elections, people are more concerned about the ethnicity and region the candidate belongs to, and not his or her competence.

    All the leaders we have had as a country are/were products of this faulty mindset. We are yet to enjoy the dividends of having a true and genuine Nigerian leader and president, one who will not be judged by where he comes from, but by the love and interest he has for the country. We need a president who will not play the ethnic or religious card when he assumes office. One who will tell his people, that “although I am one of you, I am now for Nigeria and Nigerians and will operate as such for the next four or eight years.”

    We must note that a Nigerian president cannot emerge without a change in the orientation of the Nigerians. Until this happens, Nigeria will remain where it is; making motion without movement.

    As the 2015 elections approach, one hopes Nigerians will shove issues of regionalism, tribalism and religion aside and see through all the contestants for presidency and elect a true and genuine leader. We cannot continue to make the mistake of the past. 2015 offers us an opportunity to correct the mistakes we have been making since 1914. I pray Nigerians find their own president.

    • Frank Ijege

    frankijege@yahoo.com

     

  • The electorate must be wise in 2015

    Elections are here again couple with the usual campaigns, frenzy and intrigues. It is the season of promises, cross carpeting and adoption. I must confess that the critical mass of our society are either playing the ostrich about the facts on what to do  or are simply ignoring it thinking that the future will take care of itself. Another school of thought opined that, many of the electorate are pursuing personal interest and short term benefits and as such are not ready to go all the way to do the expedient.

    Others opined that the high level of poverty has diminished the sensibility of many. I disagree with the last school of thought in the sense that poverty should even make you think more wisely, most especially when you have the opportunity to contribute to an action or decision that will affect your future. All said and done, my grouse is that aspirants have continually played on our ignorance or may I say lethargy. Can you hold a man accountable to promises that are not concrete and specific? Are there any documents, papers or treaty in form of manifesto that people can refer to when the chips are down? All we hear in times of campaign are high sounding words that are not measurable and do not make meanings to the average man. “When you vote me in I will bring transformation; poverty will be wiped out, Chrismas rice and sallah rams will be made available during festivities” and all the nonsense go on unending. Campaign has been reduced to child’s play. The seriousness attached to campaigns in other climes is no where to be found in Nigeria.

    How do you measure transformation, what are the specific indices or parameters to know a transformed people or society? How are you going to wipe out poverty; is it by giving people rice and rams during festivities? These are some fundamental questions that need to be asked. The electorate must be wise this time around. If you eat rice and ram in one day, what happens to the other 364 days? Are we thinking about the future of our children and generation unborn at all? For me, words like transformation and wiping out poverty are just to play on the sensibility of the average Nigerian some of whom finds it hard to eke out a living.

    I remembered when we were growing up in the early 80’s, I attended a campaign organized by Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the then Bendel State. One of the thing I took home was the late Prof Ambrose ‘s (Gubernatorial aspirant) saying ” I will give free education to all students, he did not end there, he went further to say, parents shall not buy texts books, rulers, biros etc. These were his electioneering deliverables and as a young man, though not up to the age of voting, went home announcing the good news that if this man is voted in, we are not going to pay fees or buy text books again. Telling people “I will give you free education” is not enough. The promises should be concrete and specific.

    Go to any campaign ground today, what your see is fanfare, entertainment and campaign of calumny against opposition. For God’s sake, we want to know what you have to offer when elected. The electorate must rise up to shift the paradigm by tasking our aspirants to tell us the specifics. To make the matter worse, the institutions responsible for organising political parties are either toothless bull dogs or have lost the essence of their work. Where are the party manifestoes? They are supposed to be the instruments of electioneering and not the hypes we are seeing today. They are the indices to access the worthiness of a party or people vying for positions. We must go back to the basics and shun trivialities by asking our aspirant to tell us in precise and specific terms with timelines what they have to offer. They should be able to tell us their economic policies; how the civil service will be reformed; their agenda on industrialization, agriculture and employment generation etc.

    Enough of all these verbose and meaningless campaigns. On this, the Press has a major role to play in galvanizing this change. I believe the press is a powerful force in effecting change in any system. The masses at all level should be sensitized on the need to demand from aspirants their deliverables because it on this basis we can assess their performance at the end of their tenure. I tell you if this is religiously done, some of those people who are clamouring for second and third term will hide their heads. A stitch in time they say saves nine. The time to act is now.

     

    • Alexander Ighoro writes from Warri, Delta State.

  • 2015: CNN rejects political adverts from Nigeria

    The penchant of Nigerians for lavish publicity in foreign media has met a stonewall in CNN, which has been rejecting political advertisement.

    With the 2015 elections drawing close, several politicians are shocked that the American international cable channel, which is one of the favourites in Nigeria, has been turning down commercials with overt political messages.

    CNN adverts are among the most expensive in the world – the network charges up to N5m for a 30-second spot at prime time – but many Nigerian companies and politicians typically value the prestige above the economic cost.

    This has also created a bandwagon effect, with many falling over one another to get on the international media.

    It is estimated that Nigerian companies and various state governments spend billions of naira every year advertising in foreign media, notably The Economist, Financial Times of London, CNN International and Super Sports.

    “We approached CNN agents in Nigeria to place some adverts for our principal. We sent the creatives to them as requested and they returned them, saying they do not run commercials that are intended to campaign for votes. We could not believe it,” a consultant to a presidential aspirant said.

    Another, who is working for a state governor seeking re-election, said he had a similar experience.

    But an official of CNN said that it was a general rule not to accept certain advertisements and there was no discrimination against Nigerian politicians.

    Ashley Hogan-Gancarz, the account manager of CNN International, told The Cable that:

    “CNN International never accept political or religious advertising. This is due to Ofcom regulations.

    “If you want to promote investment opportunities, etc. that would be fine but nothing to do with politics or the 2015 election.”

    Ofcom is the regulator of the broadcast industry in the UK, from where CNN International oversees its African operations.

    CNN’s rejection of 2015-related adverts is expected to benefit local media in Nigeria. Part of the advertising budget is now expected to be spent locally.

  • Abia police prepare for 2015 elections

    Abia police prepare for 2015 elections

    The Abia State police command has organised a workshop for all the political parties, security agencies and traders in the state to orientate them on the need for a violence-free and fair general elections in 2015.

    Speaking in Umuahia while declaring the workshop open, the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji said that the workshop could not have come at a better time as the general elections are around the corner, adding that there is need to educate the electorate.

    Orji said that the Inspector-General of Police Abba Suleman should be commended for ordering his men in different states to hold the workshop to ensure a hitch-free general election.

    The governor who was represented by his deputy, Sir Emeka Ananaba regretted the absence of several political parties, stressing that only the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) turned up at the workshop.

    He maintained that the workshop will lecture the police and other security agencies in the state on the need to ensure that there will be free and fair elections in the coming year and ensure that the electorates know their voting rights.

    Orji said that security is very important in the forthcoming general elections and that the state government is not ready to compromise.

    Said he, “We are not ready to trade the peace and security of this state and its people under any guise”.

    He noted that the government of the state is aware of the troubles and crisis the police command in the state faces during general elections, adding that government is prepared to curb any excesses of the violent politicians should it arise.

    Orji praised the political stakeholders in the state for attending the stakeholders workshop, adding that he believes that the participants will fashion out ways that will ensure peace during and after the elections, urging the participants to open their minds to learn and proffer useful solutions to curb election violence.

    Earlier the state commissioner of police, Adamu Ibrahim said that the workshop is necessary because elections are near and want politicians to ensure that there will be credible elections, adding that the workshop is the brain child of the Inspector General of Police.

    Ibrahim said that it is expected that all the stakeholders would come together to deliberate and come up with a violence-free and fair general election. No one knows it all, “which is the reason we convened this workshop as all have roles to play for us to have a free and fair election”.

    However in a lecture titled violent free elections, delivered by Prof Etannibi Alemika of the University of Jos, blamed the electorate for the woes of the country by allowing themselves to be bought over by politicians, as they do not know their political value.

    Alemika said that until the electorates realise their importance they will be ready to elect responsible people into public offices during elections through utilising their votes which makes them equal to anyone including the President on any election day in the country.

    He said, “Since the electorates do not know their value they are willing to sell their votes in exchange for cigarettes, rice and in most cases money and at the end make it possible for violent people to take over the system”.

    The university don insisted that political violence could be triggered by politicians playing the role of godfathers whose stuck in trade is to impose unpopular candidates on the people, “This imposition leads to political violence during and after elections and should be avoided”.

    Alemika said that anyone caught causing election violence despite his level in the society should be sentenced to jail, instead of being allowed to enter into government house as a governor or the state house as a President.

    In his contribution, the state APC chairman Fabian Nwankwo  called on the conveners of the one day workshop to extend it to all the 17 local government areas of the state including the political ward, stressing that most of the people who are supposed to be at the workshop were not there.

     

  • 2015: Lawyers seek justice for all

    All eyes are on the judiciary ahead of next year’s election. Will it do justice for all? This was the thrust of discussions at the fourth annual lecture Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja Branch.

    Speaking on the theme: Electoral process and courts in Nigeria: The Implications on law and democracy, the guest speaker, a former Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) president Boma Ozobia, said although the judiciary has been working towards achieving a level-playing field in the political space, more is needed.

    “The Nigerian Judiciary has done its best to entrench constitutionality, due process and rule of law. The missing link in my humble opinion is activism or a higher sense of social responsibility from the lawyers who prepare and advocate these cases before the judges,” she said.

    The branch’s chairman Mr. U.M. Yamah, represented by the Vice-Chairman, Mrs, Ozioma Izuora filing processes in the court is rigorous.

    He said an urgent solution is needed. “The deployment of the wide benefits of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT)  can do everyone a lot of good both at the filing of processes and the documentation of court proceedings.

    “May I suggest the need to adopt the use of online filing which the court is already prepared for and the introduction of stenographers to ease the burden on judges who presently still depend on the archaic long hand writings in court. This is no longer in tune with contemporary realities,” Yamah said.

    The branch’s  secretary and local organising committee chairman, Mr. Afam Okeke, urged the Federal Government to give effect to the letters of the constitution and the judgment of the Federal High Court which granted financial autonomy to the judiciary.

    “Of the three arms of government, the judiciary possesses the largest number of educated people. To be a high court judge, the minimum is that you must have graduated from the university, you must have gone to the Law School which is like having a Masters Degree and then you must have been in practice for at least about 10 years before being appointed to the bench. Whereas to be the President of Nigeria, you need evidence of attending Secondary School, it doesn’t even mean you passed, it is the same thing to be a legislator

    “So if the other arms could control their capital votes, then the judiciary should have been saddled with the responsibility of looking after the capital votes of the other two arms because of the level of the education of the people in the judiciary,” Okeke stated

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Director of Legal Services Mr. Ibrahim Bawa said some cross carpeting should have consequences.

    “Any politician who cross carpets should lose some benefits. A legislator who cross carpets should lose his seat as a legislator. But a situation where politicians of the executive arm of government cross carpet and nothing happens to them, why should you single out the legislators for sanctioning?”

    Chief Judge of FCT High Court, represented by Justice U.I. Bello praised the branch for the lecture and said all hands must be on deck to achieve a just and equitable society.

  • Abuja residents reject mass relocation in 2015

    Indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the auspices of Greater Gbagyi Development Initiative (GG-DIN) have described the purported plan to relocate the original inhabitants of Abuja to a proposed permanent site in 2015 as unrealistic, unattainable and unacceptable.

    In a statement signed by the President of GG-DIN, Prince Gbaiza Gimba, they reject in totality any such relocation as historically it has not worked and tantamount to dislocation, further impoverishment and deprivation of their people and that it shows clear and shear shallowness in the approach developed by the government in recent years to solving the artificial problem of how to deal with the original inhabitants of Abuja.

    Gbaiza said they read with great shock the comment in the news by Senator Smart Adeyemi, Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, that original inhabitants of Abuja are to be relocated to their permanent site in 2015.

    He said, “The purported plan to us is tantamount to further human rights abuses and does not in any way make provision for the livelihood of our people as it treats us as refugees and other unthinkable things. The plan to carry out wholesome or unwholesome relocation of the indigenous peoples of Abuja to the fictitious permanent site without any prior consultation or discussion on the matter is unacceptable and is genocidal.

    “We have met with Senator Smart several times and believe in his sincerity, feelings and wishes for the indigenous peoples of the FCT.  Our problem is with their praxis, with the poor intellectual and elitist solution for our predicament that was artificially imposed on us.

    “We find exception to Senator Adeyemi’s remark that our people sell houses given to them. The so-called houses are a dislocation from our homes. They take our homes and give us houses. They take our lands and give us nothing and compensate their bank accounts and those of their cronies.

    “Why would we not sell those houses when we are artificially turned into destitute and there are no economic activities and sustainable system attached to the houses given to some of us? How do we feed our families?  How do we send our children to schools and cater for their welfare. How do we cater for our children and women? Where do we farm to continue our existence? How do we maintain our culture and tradition? Where is the economy in the so called relocation centres?”

    Gbaiza said that the government should leave them alone where they are and provide them with development programmes that befits their status as original inhabitants and owners of the land FCT, saying that what is good for the Niger Deltans is good for the Abuja indigenes.

    “We are not homeless and there is no justification for relocating us away from the center of development at the Federal Capital. If the statement credited to President Goodluck Jonathan that he wants to make us happy is true and sincere, he should leave us where we are to enjoy the development of the Federal Capital, rather than sending us on exile.

    “We never asked for houses as we are not homeless neither are we destitute. We have homes, houses and accommodate others. We are asking for development. Relocation is not development but abuse of power and oppression as far as our people are concerned. We have cried for decades and government and political office holders have been deaf because they aggrandize for and covet our land.”

     

  • ‘Lagosians’ll give 2015 polls to APC’

    ‘Lagosians’ll give 2015 polls to APC’

    Owolabi Olateju, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, is seeking to represent the Agege II Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly. In this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, he explains why he is contesting next year’s election. 

    Why are you contesting for the House of Assembly in Lagos?

    I am quite familiar with the political terrain. My family was involved in the struggle to enthrone democracy after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election by the military. Their participation in the movement to actualize the mandate given to Chief MKO Abiola is a pointer to my interest in politics. I have learnt lots of lesson from it. So, what I am doing at the moment is just like a continuation of the work they did then. My intention is to see how we can actually improve on it through lawmaking for the good people of Lagos State. We are aware that there are limited job opportunities in the country. But, I believe that through empowerment, the people of my constituency can actually be gainfully engaged. We need to put them in the right vocations. We need to organise workshops and seminars for graduates seeking employment. For those who do not possess the prerequisites qualification for high profile jobs, they can acquire vocational skills in carpentry, bricklaying and shoe making. They can also be engaged in hair dressing, decoration training etc. These are some of the things we intend to do for our people. And by that act, when we start it in Agege Constituency 11, we would have empowered many youths roaming the streets in search of jobs. We want to see to how we can reduce unemployment, especially in our constituency.  We want to see to how our debate can contribute to power generation, security and prosperity to Nigeria.

    Are you convinced that the people will support your ambition?

    I have lived in Agege for over 20 years. This is the place where I grew up. But, from my own observation, development is not moving at a desired pace, particularly in the nooks and crannies. At least, it has not permeated the nooks and crannies of Agege. Although, the government is trying, I think we need to do better than we are doing at the moment. So, to the best of my knowledge, they will support our efforts; they will subscribe to our plans because they know that we can make things better for them through good representation at the House. We want to encourage youths in politics, particularly those of the female gender. I know the party is already doing that, but we still have to move a step further than that. I am happy that our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is doing everything within its power to ensure that the female folks are not sidelined. Our party has actually done very well in the Southwest and at the national level, we hope to spring surprises during the general election. It can actually take over the central government because the party is very strong. We have not had an opposition party like this before. The APC will create a positive change and I know we can take the country out of the present state doldrums. There are lots of things to do, to make this country great. I have an NGO which is looking at repositioning the middle class. We have to help all the segment of the society to attain their potential and it can come through making good laws. As a trained management consultant, we are throwing our arms open to assist people who are in need of our services. We will guide you and see how we can support you. The poverty in the land is so much, but something has to be done to ameliorate the debilitating situation.

  • PDP governors’ ambition not a threat to Senators – Akpabio

    PDP governors’ ambition not a threat to Senators – Akpabio

    Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, has said the decision of some of the serving governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to go to the Senate in 2015 should not be seen as a threat to serving Senators.

    Rather, Akpabio urged the Senators to see the development as a healthy competition in a democratic setting.

    According to him, there is no basis for the current crisis between the Senators and the PDP governors, adding that only nine of the governors intend to go to the Senate.

    Akpabio, who spoke to journalists at the PDP secretariat on Thursday shortly after he submitted his Senate nomination form, however said his achievements as governor informed the call by his senatorial district for him to vie for a seat in the Senate.

    He is seeking to displace a second term Senator, Aloysius Etok in the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, a development that has generated animosity between him and Etok.

    Akpabio said: “The Senate has about 109 members and the serving governors of the PDP who are interested in going to the Senate are just about nine. So, we have at least 100 percent chances for incumbent senators.

    “If it is possible for us to return more than 75 percent of our Senators to the National Assembly, it will help a lot in legislation to deepen democracy.

    “So, there is no threat to any Senator where the governors of PDP have interest to go into the Senate. I believe just like the sky, there is enough space for every bird to fly and I think politics is about people and the people’s choice should be allowed to prevail.

    “I am very hopeful that the current crisis between the governors and the Senators will be resolved, but note that with 109 spaces in the National Assembly, the number of governors showing interest in the National Assembly are just about nine.”

    The governor added that no one should gloat over the ongoing face-off between the Senators and President Goodluck Jonathan, saying it’s an internal affair of the PDP that would be resolved through dialogue.

    “I do know that whatever is happening now between the Senate and the party or the Presidency remains an internal affair of the PDP, which we will resolve as a family.

    “There is no reason why anybody should be precluded from showing interest in any position or from having any ambition on the account of being a Senator or a governor,” Akpabio said.

  • Ogun 2015: Amosun’s quest for second term

    Ogun 2015: Amosun’s quest for second term

    Despite the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s popularity has not waned. After his tour of 20 local governments, he reiterated his push for continuity at a rally in Abeokuta, the state capital. The visit paled into a partisan popularity walk across the three senatorial districts. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the governor’s second term bid, its prospects and constraints. 

    Brooms filled the air in Abeokuta, the Ogun State state capital, as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  celebrated a new dawn in the state. Governor Ibikunle Amosun reeled out his achievements across the three districts in the last three and half years. He received an applause from the crowd. Gazing at 2015, he reiterated his quest for continuity, urging the people to renew his mandate. To many stakeholders, the request was not without justification.

    Egba monarchs led by Alake Aremu Gbadebo paid tribute to the son of the soil, saying he has lived up to expectation. In particular, the royal father was impressed by the transformation of his domain. “We are here to testify that the past three and a half years of Amosun’s government have been like 20 years of development in our state.

    “We have come to appreciate the politics of good roads, the politics of good schools and health facilities. We believe that the person who did all this within this short time will do more if given the opportunity because the best is yet to come,” he said.

    Echoing him, the Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, described Amosun as a beloved son of Egbaland, who has changed the face of the state. He urged the people to give him another chance to complete the good work he has started.

    “The work he has started in three and a half years should be completed. If they are abandoned, it will be shameful to all of us. He should be given a chance to return to office to complete his good works,” he added.

    The Agura of Gbagura, Oba Alidu Laloko, said the administration has fulfilled its electoral promises. He described the Amosun as a man of vision, adding that he deserves a second term.

    “Amosun has performed creditably well. He does not need to campaign too much for a second term. His works will speak for him. If he has not done well, we will not come out to welcome him and show our appreciation,” the Agura said.

    The Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu, said: “We are not resting our oars on our support for the governor’s good works. We still want to use our votes to send him on another four years of the rebuilding mission, to fully re-construct our roads and all sectors of the state.

    However, despite the gale of endorsement, the governor has a major challenge. Bickering, intrigues and division in the ruling party have diverted his attention. Unity and cohesion have become elusive. Cracks are bold on the wall. Despite his performance, there are fears that the APC may suffer a set back in next year’s polls, unless the there is genuine reconciliation between the two caucuses led by Amosun and former Governor Olusegun Osoba.

    For three weeks, the governor has been on tour of 20 local governments to assess completed and on-going projects. The visit was also to access the impact of government policies and programmes on the people and appraise their effects on the three zones. Amosun garnered a tremendous goodwill during the visit. But, at home, the house was on fire. As the governor received accolades from traditional rulers, community leaders, professionals, women groups, youths, students, artisans and peasants, his deputy, Hon. Segun Adesegun, who did not accompany him, was firing salvos at him. He accused the governor of monopolising power, stressing that he has not carried him along in the business of administration.

    As many indigenes came out to receive Amosun and endorse him for a second term in those carnival-like rallies in communities visited, aggrieved party chieftains also mounted an effective propaganda against the governor, saying that he has indulged in a politics of exclusion and marginalisation.

    Amosun is bothered by these criticisms. He however, lamented that, despite waving the olive branch, the aggrieved compatriots have not sheathed their swords. He acknowledged Osoba as his leaders, assuring that he was ready to give concessions to his group. Despite the goodwill he garnered during his tours, he said he would work hard to end the division in the ruling party.

    The governor reflected on the gains of his administration. He gave himself a pass mark. But, he quickly acknowledged that the complaints and requests by the communities visited by him would be attended to.

    “We have gone round to see the product of har work in the course of rebuilding our dear state and listened to your requests for further development. We have taken note of all that you have told us. Let me assure you that we will not let you down,” he stressed.

    The governor’s first point of call was Imeko Afon Local Government Area, where he called for a violent free-election. He appealed to the political parties contesting for election there to ensure an exercise devoid of violence.

    “I want to thank all our contestants. There’s something we must do and this is not for the APC alone, but for all the parties in Ogun State; we don’t want violence. Nobody should fight. If you’re running for any office, 50 people can come out, but it is people destined by God that will be there. I am saying this not for the APC alone, but I am saying it for all our parties,” he said.

    At Remo North, he reitetrated his commitment to welfarist programmes. He said: “My mission here in Remo North is for a feedback, to enable us know where to improve and to concentrate. This is not a political rally, but a government visitation to know how its people are feeling.”

    At Odogbolu Council, the governor, who visited a ‘3 by 3’ kilometre cassava farm owned by the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with a Kenyan foundation on Eyinwa Road, which is ready for harvest, said his government had invested heavily in agriculture, where it has comparative advantage. Making a case for agricultural development, he said: “We are going back to the basics and take fuller advantage of our agricultural potential.”

    The governor, who also visited Ipokia Council, appealed to the Federal Government to develop the oil-rich Tongeji Island to avoid losing it to the Republic of Benin. He said the skeletal naval base on the Island should also be expanded to avoid the fate that befell Bakassi Peninsula, which the country lost to Cameroon. He said Tongeji Island has huge potential of increasing the nation’s economy and improving the livelihood of the people.

    “Tongeji Island is of serious concern to me. Each time I see President Goodluck Jonathan, I call his attention to the need to expand the naval presence on the Island, which is rich in oil and other mineral resources, so that it does not go the way of Bakassi.”

    The governor said arrangements have been concluded with a world class tourist outfit to make Akere community, Ipokia Local Government Area, a tourist centre. He promised to construct the 10km Ipokia-Akere road, which leads to the Lagoon.

    “We have the longest seashore in this country. One of the world’s tourist outfits have done the designs and planning on all they want to do here. The investors, who were looking for a place that has sea view and seashore have chosen Akere in this part of the state.

    “They want to make Akere a totally new town. They have done it in other parts of the world. This is their first time in Africa and Nigeria. I’m trying to envision what Akere town would be in the next three years. It would no doubt be the number one destination of tourism in Nigeria.

    “Without any delay, I have directed the immediate construction of Ipokia-Akere road and Agosasa-Ijofin road respectively as well as a bridge before Agosasa to further open up the Local Government Area and fulfill the promise of constructing two rural roads in each Local Government Area of the state.”

    While commending the forebears for the initiative to cite a large expanse of palm trees plantation on both sides of the road to the riverine area, he affirmed that the state government would as a matter of urgency do the regeneration of the old palms.

    He also assured the people that Ipokia Local Government Area would be made to have two Local Council Development Areas, pointing out that one additional model school would be constructed as a starting point to having a full fledge higher institution.

    However, the high point of the grand finale was the popularity walk in Abeokuta. Taking off from Akin Olugbade area, Amosun’s convoy drove through Totoro, Enu Girder, Ago Ika, Oja Igbo, Itoku, Sapon, Isale Igbehin before arriving at Oke Igbehin, which hosts the Government House.

    The beauty of the popularity drive was that the governor was able to feel the pulse of the people and appraise their support for him.

    According to analysts, the visit was strategic and rewarding. But, in spite of the acknowledgment of performance by the masses, the governor has to overcome some hurdles. Community leaders said that the onus is on Amosun to sustain the tempo till the end of his first term.

    The second challenge is that the governor must return to the table of brotherhood with aggrieved chieftains, who are already opening talks with other opposition parties in the state.

    The third challenge is the PDP challenge. The  gladiators in the party are making frantic efforts to close ranks. Former PDO Chairman Chief Joju Fadairo, said the party has learnt its lessons, adding that the mistake of 2011 will not be repeated.

    A party source disclosed that Amosun will soon be endorsed by the APC as the consensus candidate. But, will he get a second term with ease? Time will tell.

  • Ogun students meet on 2015 elections

    Ogun students meet on 2015 elections

    Students of tertiary institutions in Ogun State last Saturday discussed how they can participate in the 2015 general elections at a forum organised by the state’s chapter of Generational Voices (GenVoices). TAIWO ADEBULU reports.

    How can the youth help in ensuring violence-free elections in Ogun State in 2015? This was the issue that dominated discussion as some students across higher institutions in the state came together last week at a summit to discuss what could be done to make the youth participate in the elections.

    The Ogun State chapter of Generational Voices (GenVoices), a youth advocacy group, organised the summit with the theme: 2015 Elections: Engaging voters in Ogun State. It was held at the JDPC Hall in GRA, Ijebu-Ode. The summit focused on youths and students participation in the elections.

    The Ogun co-ordinator of GenVoices, Adebayo Ishola, a Corps member, said the event was to equip the youth with skills and strategies to ensure governorship election in the state is free of violence.

    Adebayo said: “We have come to discuss strategies to educate voters on the electoral process to ensure the overall safety and integrity of exercise. Our concern is to build a generation that can rise up to the challenge and ensure peaceful elections are held. We are also out to tell our leaders that young people can effectively participate in governance and bring about desired change.”

    The lawmaker representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Gbenga Kaka, who interacted with the students, praised the group for creating a platform where leaders could engage the youth in cross-fertilisation of ideas.

    Kaka said: “Some of us are luckier than those of you called youths of today. When I say we are lucky, it is in the sense that we witnessed a lot of sanity in the polity from the Second to the Third Republics unlike the present one. In those days, the value system was sound and we were proud of it. Now, the connection between the old and young generation has been broken.”

    The lawmaker apologised for what he called “generational waste” perpetrated by the political class, noting that the youth had been robbed of good governance and political participation. Kaka explained how he became a commissioner when he was 35 years and later became deputy governor. He urged the students to acquire sound knowledge to engage the leaders on issues affecting development and rule of law.

    Hon. Abudu Balogun, a member of the House of Representatives from Ijebu North/East Federal Constituency, urged the students to consider their economic status before they engage the leaders for their rights. He said the youth must be part of the stakeholders organising the 2015 election, even if they would not be contesting in the exercise.

    In his brief address, Mr. Adesina Kawonise, former Ogun Commissioner for Information, urged the youth to develop skills that will enhance their productivity. He berated what he called the “inappropriate use” of the social media by youths.

    During the interactive section, Olufemi Ajayi, a Political Science student of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ago-Iwoye decried the hypocrisy of the elders, saying: “They always claim to follow the steps of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his principle. But, you cannot hold them by their words. They simply have no ideological stand.”

    Tolulope Oyekanmi, 100-Level Early Childhood Education student of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) in Ijagun, said she was ready to volunteer herself and engage the youth in the state on the need to rise up to be part of governance.

    Also at the event were  Mr Musibau Ajibola, Mr Daniel Akinlani, Chief Morin Kilo, Yinka Quadri, a Development Consultant, and Dr Lawrence Holumidey, the proprietor of Paragon International School, Abeokuta.

    Ayobami Faloye, a youth activist at the event, said he was not moved by speeches of the speakers. He said: “We hear such speeches on this kind of platform. They will come and tell us what we need to do, although they are not willing to concede power to us. The older generation has cheated us and we are ready to take over. The elders won’t leave until we force them out.”