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Tag: Adams

  • Herdsmen attacks: OPC can’t guarantee Yoruba’s safety, says Adams

    Herdsmen attacks: OPC can’t guarantee Yoruba’s safety, says Adams

    •Buhari slammed over decision to discard confab report

    OODUA Peoples Congress (OPC) National Coordinator Gani Adams said yesterday that his men may not be able provide enough security for the Southwest people as the Fulani herdsmen attacks persist in the states.

    Adams said the people must be prepared to defend themselves against the attack by herdsmen, which he added, continued unabated.

    The OPC leader spoke at a lecture organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, to commemorate the 2016 Democracy Day.

    It has the theme: “Herdsmen/ Fulani clashes: What implication for inter-Ethnic Relations/ Nigerian Economy?”

    Adams, who was the guest lecturer at the event, said Yoruba people’s negative comments over the activities of the OPC has demoralised the group.

    He said the group lost the zeal to protect the people because its members were branded touts, thugs and terrorists by the same Yoruba race.

    The OPC chieftain added that they were only recognised during elections, but politicians shot their doors against them after they might have won.

    Adams lamented that it was painful that some traditional rulers did not encourage OPC’s existence in their communities.

    According to him, “religion has taken away traditional means of protection from the people in Yoruba land.

    “When one is too fanatic about religious, it brings shame. Religion is good, but when it becomes fanatic, it brings ridicule.

    “If we are being moderate in our religions in Yorubaland – be it Christian, Muslim or traditional – who dares bring attack into our communities?

    “But Yoruba people are being hypocritical about traditional protections,” Adam said.

    He urged the people to use whatever traditional object they have to protect themselves and their communities, saying the first law in heaven is “self defence”.

    The OPC chieftains bemoaned President Muhammadu Buhari’s comment that the 2014 National Conference report would be kept in the archive, saying such statement is insulting.

    Adams insisted that only the implementation of confab report would bring lasting solutions to the crisis facing the country.

    He said: “Before you think that I am exaggerating, consider this: between 2010 and 2013, according to a report, Fulani herdsmen killed about 80 people. However, by 2014, they had slaughtered 1,229 people.

    “When you consider the Global Terrorism Index, you discover that Fulani herdsmen are not Number Four on the list of the deadliest terror groups in the world.

    “Boko Haram, of course, takes the first position. As noted by a recent report, over 2,000 people were killed in conflicts between the herdsmen and different host communities in 2015 alone.

    “In comparison, the regular Boko Haram kills 2,500 people annually. In a situation where a group of supposed herdsmen carry sophisticated weapons and wipe out entire communities, the unity of the Nigerian nation is indeed threatened.

    “Those of us who attended the 2014 National Conference know that Nigeria cannot make any progress without implementing the report of that conference.

    “If we do this (implement the report), we will have a decisive framework for dealing with issues such as the one addressed in this brief lecture.

    “Until the report is implemented, we will just be going round in circles and life in Nigeria will continue to be nasty, short and brutish. The time to change our path is now.”

     

     

  • Adams, Oluwasegun, Wilson for Abuja Writers’ Session

    The Abuja Writers Forum (AWF) will on Saturday, May 28 play host to Lois Otse Adams-Osigbemhe, Victor Oluwasegun and Judah Wilson for the May edition of the Guest Writer Session which holds at Nanet Suites, Cental Business District , Abuja by 4pm.

    Ms Adams-Osigbemhe is author and publisher, her new work is a biography, Olaitan Oyerinde: His Struggles For A Better Nigeria, which chronicles the life and times of the erstwhile adviser to the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomole, who was killed four years ago by assassins.

    Also, Victor Oluwasegun of The Nation Newspapers will be reading from his latest book, a collection of short stories titled Beyond Measure. His previous works include In The Shadow, Messie’s Kingdom, Nightfall, Aminat & Mahmoud and A Big Surprise.

    Judah Wilson (whose real name is Wilson Emmanuel Haruna) is a singer, songwriter, choreographer and producer based in Abuja. He is working on releasing some singles before the end of the year.

  • Adams denies receiving $22m from Ghadaffi

    Adams denies receiving $22m from Ghadaffi

    •Petitions DSS over allegations

    Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) National Coordinator Gani Adams has described calls for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe him as misguided.

    Some OPC state coordinators, at a briefing in Kwara State by Salami Olarewaju, urged EFCC to probe how over N1billion alleged got to Adam’s account.

    Adams, in a statement, said those who addressed the news conference were former OPC coordinators for Kwara, Ondo and Oyo states.

    He said the allegation that he collected N9billion from former President Goodluck Jonathan, and $22million from the late Libyan president, Mummar Ghadaffi, were unfounded.

    Adams said he has never set foot on Libya, nor has he ever met the late Ghadaffi or any of his agents at any time.

    He said when the issue first came up, he petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), informing them of the allegation and pleading with the Service to help investigate the source of the allegation in order to get to the root of the matter.

    “I want to once again plead with the DSS to, as a matter of urgency, make sure that these people who have accused me of this grave crime are made to prove the source of their allegation, and if they are not able to do so, should be made to face prosecution for their actions.

    “They should explain what the money is meant for and how it was sent to me. Such huge amount of money cannot be transferred to an individual secretly, so they need to do more explanation on how I allegedly received this money.

    “I am not a war mercenary, and I am not sure that Ghadaffi was a Father Christmas who would want to give out such money as a gift.

    “Our organisation is a peaceful socio-cultural group, with the sole aim of promoting the cultural heritage of Yoruba race,” Adams said.

    On N9 billion allegedly received from Jonathan, Adams said the claim is laughable because not even Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidates got such amount to prosecute their campaigns.

    He said the allegation was first made ahead of the general elections when it was alleged that his group got N9 billion for pipelines surveillance contract.

    The OPC leader said neither he nor OPC received a kobo from the government as payment for the contract.

    Adams also dismissed allegations that he received N1.6billion from a former minister of state for defence Musiliu Obanikoro.

    “To the best of my knowledge, the last time that I saw the former minister was when he accompanied the former President to the National Confab. They need to explain to the world how I got the money and for what purpose it was meant for.

    “Let me put the records straight here. I am neither a politician nor a PDP member. I have said it several times in the past that our support for the former president was based on our belief that he stood a better chance of implementing the recommendations of the National Confab, which we believed, and still believe will serve the interest of the Yoruba race better.

    “I tell you, anything outside this is a lie and mere fabrication of those alleging it,” Adams said.

    On claims that he shows disrespect to  Yoruba royal fathers, Adams said: “This particular allegation is not only puerile, but also shows the level of mischief of these people.

    “Without any fear of contradiction, I stand to say I am one of the best Yoruba sons who have cultivated, promoted and maintained a very good relationship with all obas in Yorubaland.

    “It is on record that, through the singular efforts of our organisation, and to a large extent, my personal commitment to the ideals of ensuring the unity of Yorubaland and ensuring the peaceful coexistence of Yoruba people all over the world, I have worked tirelessly crisscrossing the Southwest and promoting one cultural festival or the other.

    “They alleged that I only bowed to our revered father, His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi.

    “Definitely, nothing can be farther from the truth. According to a popular Yoruba proverb, Mo sun moba niwon egbefa, mo jinna soba niwon egbeje, arobafin loba n pa.”

     

  • Fasehun, Adams, Dokubo, others unite against NNPC

    Fasehun, Adams, Dokubo, others unite against NNPC

    • Demand pay for services rendered

    Factional leaders of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun and Otunba Gani Adams, as well as other beneficiaries of the controversial Pipeline Security and Surveillance contracts, who met at the weekend called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to pay  their outstanding fees by the end of the month, or face legal action.

    NNPC on June 15, terminated the contract awarded under President Goodluck Jonathan to various ?private security firms to safeguard pipelines against vandals..

    The companies are New Age Nigeria Limited (Fasehun); Donyx Global Concept (Adams); ATEF Nigeria Limited (Asari Dokubo); Galery Security Services Limited (Bibo Ajube); Bajeros Nigeria Limited (Joshua Machiever); Close Body Protection Limited (High Chief Omo) and Izon Ibe Security Limited.

    In an open letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, they claimed that they had a three-month contract with the NNPC, from March 15 to  June 15, which they delivered on but are yet to be paid.

    They alleged that the NNPC has refused to pay its indebtedness to them, insisting that they are demanding their entitlement and not a handout or favour.

    They debunked claims that President Jonathan was the one who gave them the contract in order to secure his re-election, adding that due process was followed between them and the Management of the NNPC, before the contract was awarded.

    While noting that they incurred losses ranging from death of personnel, injuries, as well as borrowed ?money from the banks to execute the contract, they insisted that weekly reports and monthly meetings were held with the NNPC.

    ”It should be known that the contractors had valid and duly signed contract agreements with the management of the NNPC to protect the pipelines for a period of three months.

    “Up on till now, the public perception of the NNPC Pipeline Security and Surveillance job was that former President Goodluck Jonathan gave the job to the contractors on the platter of politics. But nothing can be farther from the truth than this.

    “Therefore, for the purpose of clarity, it should be noted that the contract was signed between the contractors and the management of the NNPC, an agency of government, as a way of finding lasting solutions to the incessant problem of pipeline vandalisation across the country.

    “The terms and agreements of the contract were formulated and drafted by the management of the NNPC and was duly signed by all the parties, including the contractors and the legal department of the NNPC after several meetings and consultations.

    “It is also necessary for the public to know that, against widely held belief that the contract was terminated by the Federal Government, it should be noted that the contract indeed ran its course, which was a period of three months, starting from March 15, 2015 and ended June 15, 2015.

    “It is our belief that the contract agreement between the NNPC and the contractors is a public document and therefore can always be accessed by any member of public.

    “At the same time, what we are demanding from the NNPC is for it to redeem its own part of the contract agreement and should not be seen as a favour and handout to any individual.

  • I cannot disown Jonathan because he lost -Adams

    I cannot disown Jonathan because he lost -Adams

    National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, was among the personalities in the South-West who were opposed to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s election. He promised to deliver six million votes to the President Goodluck Jonathan but was unable to do so. In this interview with Daniel Adeleye, he spoke on why he did not pitch tent with the All Progressive Congress (APC), the controversial oil pipelines surveillance contract awarded to the two OPC factions in the South-West and other militant groups in the South-South and South-East. Excerpts

    What is your assessment of the last general elections?

    Well, the general elections has come and gone. We have no options but to accept the outcome of the polls. Embarking on a deep assessment of the election may not help both parties. But I will speak the voice of experience on some of the shortcomings before and during the elections, such as the issue of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), under-age voting in some parts of the country and the creation of additional polling units in the North. You can imagine the figure and population of voters in Lagos compared to Katsina. Katsina has higher figure than Lagos State. During registration, Lagos State has about six million registered voters, while Kano has 4 million. What then happened to the figures that came from the Lagos polls? You would recall that the way Lagosians were being sensitised about the election was more than any other state. You can imagine the figures from Ogun State where there were issue of PVC; they have less than 400,000 voters for both PDP and APC. Oyo State, despite the fact that it has about 2.5 million registered voters, has less than 800,000 voters. So, I think that in future elections, when an organisation or a body raises an issue, we should not throw it away because the party that benefits from that anomaly today may not be so lucky tomorrow. Every situation has swings and roundabouts.

    On the issue of security, there were also huge short-coming in almost all the states of the federation – especially during the governorship election. Although the Independent National Electoral Commission has a lead performance in the elections, especially in the governorship and states House of Assembly elections; they tried as much as possible to ensure that electoral materials got to the various polling units very early. So far so good, I think what would guide and move forward our nascent democracy is to accept the outcome of the elections and forge ahead.

    You promised to deliver six million votes of your factional OPC group to former President Goodluck Jonathan, but it turned out that he polled less than two million votes in the whole of the South-West. It seems the greater percentage of your followers did not vote?

    It is not only in the South-West that OPC has members. That is one of the blunders the media make. OPC has members in Kogi and Kwara states. OPC members cut across 33 states of Nigeria. In Rivers State, OPC has no fewer than 150,000 members. In Bayelsa, we have about 8,000 members, so also in Akwa Ibom State. At the same time, when you’re talking of six million people that will vote, do all of them have PVCs? In the South-West, about 40 percent were short-changed of PVCs. How do you expect them to vote? The six million that I was talking about are in 33 states of the federation. The 1.8 million that voted for Jonathan in South-West are not only OPC members. And that gave me the impetus to tell those calling me a betrayer for pitching my tent with Jonathan that all the people who cast their votes for Jonathan in the South-West are also betrayers. Afenifere members are betrayers; Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) are betrayers. Look, we need to correct the wrong impression in our politics. That party A did not consult you, and you’re then a betrayer of party A. APC did not consult me. And I can’t have and control a big organisation like the OPC and still be begging to be consulted. It’s all about negotiation. If you don’t dialogue with me, you can’t force me to work for your interest. Even in the future, if that mistake repeats itself, I would still act the way I did. A good politician should not ignore any organisation that has up to 2000 members in the society. 2000 people are enough to make and mar the advantage of a majority if they are good in strategy and highly determined. But in a situation where you fail to negotiate with me and think that you can hijack my structure from the grassroots, I will work against such political party. And I don’t have any apology for that. If PDP could poll 1.8 million votes in the six states of South-West, what about the other 27 states where we also have members? What about our sympathisers? I’m not a politician that will talk about the laws of PDP or APC. OPC members are not PDP; we only supported the candidature of Jonathan. Likewise we know that 70 to 80 percent of those that voted for Buhari may not be APC members. They may vote for him because of his antecedents on anti-corruption or because they want change. So, we have a right to association. If you don’t tell me my benefit if I follow you, you can’t just use propaganda to force me to your side. The Yorubas cherish recognition so much, that was what Jonathan did before the elections. He invited all our leaders to the State House in Abuja where he thanked all of us for the support given him in 2011. This boosted our morale to support him even beyond our earlier decision. So, I didn’t just come out and tell the media that we’re supporting Jonathan without being cleared by the National Executive Council and Coordinating Council.

    People said your support for Jonathan was based more on the financial benefits you stood to reap and that you’ve deviated from your original motive and mandate as a Yoruba freedom fighter. What’s your reaction to this?

    The last general elections cut across all sectors. It didn’t exclude any freedom fighter. It was either you supported Gen. Buhari or President Jonathan. The majority freedom fighters in Nigeria pitched their tent with Jonathan. I don’t know what you mean by deviation. I was entitled to my opinion during the contest of the election. No one saw me protesting for PDP or carrying placards against APC; the protest that we organised then was against the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega. During the protest, nothing was said against APC or in support of the PDP. Even those who came from Jimi Agbaje’s campaign rally and joined us on Ikorodu Road with PDP banners and T-shirt, we did not allow to join us, until they threw away their PDP banners and replaced their T-shirts with ours. We told about 25 of them that our protest was neither in support of PDP nor against APC. We told the 28 Nollywood artistes that joined us the same thing. Before we embarked on that protest, we explained our motive to them and they agreed. We did it not because of money but because of the anomaly of INEC chairman. And when you’re talking of financial benefit, I didn’t support Jonathan for financial benefits; I supported him based on the relationship we’ve had in the last six years. Our relationship has come a long way, from his days as Vice President, when he personally attended the 10th anniversary of The News magazine. He asked people to call Gani Adams for him; that he wanted to see me. And I went to the high table to see him. He shook hands with me and said you’re doing well, keep it up. And when he became substantive president, he invited me again through Ambassador Ighali, who is now Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power.  When I got to the Villa, the he said to me, I’m now the Commander-in-Chief, I need your cooperation. I don’t want any clash between my government and OPC members. Tell your members to operate within the ambit of the law. He said if any security agency harasses OPC members, I should report such case to either Ambassador Ighali or late Oronto Douglas and they would take necessary actions. That was the beginning of our relationship.

     So, it’s not the election of 2015 that brought us together. I supported him in 2011; even Asiwaju Bola Tinubu supported him in 2011. So, when there was a change not to supporting him, did they call me and tell me the benefits therein for me? Although I am not a member of any political party, there is a way of supporting a candidate without being in a political party. So, I will not say because Jonathan lost his re-election bid and twist my words, no way. I’m now 45 years old; even when I was younger, I never twisted my words. If you’re my friend, you’re my friend. I cannot disown Jonathan because he lost. That he is no longer in power does not mean I should betray my relationship with him like many people have started doing. I’m not saying they should not decamp to another party, but Nigerian politicians should be very careful. The incoming party should also be careful. They should realise that most of the people that destroyed PDP are now in APC. Every statement should be well-managed by the new president and the party leadership. They should restrain from using media to assassinate people’s character. The media, not the judiciary, is the last hope of the common man because they are the voice for the voiceless. It was the media that saved Nigeria during the regime of late Gen. Sani Abacha. But unfortunately, the media has been caged.

    The waterway and pipeline policing project was to have commenced operation since 27th of April, what’s the latest trends on this?

    That is very wrong. We read it in one of your publications. The operation has commenced since the 15th of March. The police only did the final handing over on the 27th of April to OPC and other organisations involved. The job is not given to OPC alone. And directives have been issued to the Obas to give able-bodied men in their domain as security operatives for the assignment. So, in the process, we’re employing many people from the different communities. The idea is to stop the activities of the vandals on our pipelines. Nigeria is losing 1.3 trillion naira yearly to vandalisation. The money that NNPC would pay for the surveillance of the 6 pipelines is not up to 15 billion naira. The 85 to 90 percent of this money will go for salary. A target of N50, 000 for each security operative was given to us.

    Some people are already speculating that the pipeline surveillance contract is as good as dead now that Gen. Buhari is President. What’s your reaction to this?

    I believe Buhari is going to be the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Those awarded this contract are Nigerians; they are his subjects. I believe Gen. Buhari is looking for a way to get more money to introduce free education, free healthcare delivery and to stabilise Nigeria’s economy. Gen. Buhari said he would block a lot of holes, and one of the ways to achieve that is to reduce the illegal activities of vandals, so that government can realise more money to develop the country. So, I don’t believe that it would be fair enough to be spreading sentiments. And these sentiments are only coming from the Yoruba. The problem with them is that they always like to stall every opportunity given to their own people. And that is why some people always refuse to join sectional party, they believe in national party. When you come to their party, they will not give you an opportunity to be empowered. So, I know Gen. Buhari and I’m not saying this to pamper him. Before the pipeline surveillance contract, our group survived. Even now, we’ve not gotten a kobo from the money accruing from the contract. We’re still using our money to service people on the project. It’s a project of security and not a project of supplying. So before the pipeline contract, was Gani Adams a poor man? So, why are they crying up and down because of pipeline surveillance? The God that provides for me is still in the high place to do more. His supremacy abides forever. Many people thought the project was a carrot thrown at us to support Jonathan during the last elections. Are you now telling me that APC used similar contracts to bribe its supporters? Look, in politics you don’t need much money to garner the support of those that you’ve had a smooth relationship with. So, we welcome Mr. President on board. He is entitled to his own decisions, but he should not allow people with sentiment to ruin his government. If Gen. Buhari wants to add sentiments to his administration, he will deny Niger-Delta who voted almost 92 percent against him some national rights. He will also deny the South-East, whose 98 percent voted against him. When President Obama became the president of the US, he didn’t victimise The Republicans. When a candidate wins an election, especially in the case of president, he becomes father to all. If you don’t put behind you everything that happened during the contest, you will lose focus and have more enemies.

    You and Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, from whom you broke away, have suddenly become allies. Again, is it money or you genuinely align with Jonathan rulership?

    Although we operate in different parties; that does not mean that we have enmity between us. It’s all about position. We have a lot of Yoruba who don’t even believe in APC and who are ready to die for Buhari. So, that is politics. There’s neither permanent enemies in politics nor permanent friends. Your political enemy today might turn to out to be your best friend tomorrow. The two recommendations of last year national conference brought a lot of people together, beyond the interest of Jonathan. What we were saying was, look, let’s use this man [Jonathan] to achieve what we want in the South-West. If Nigeria is well structured today, the transparency Gen. Buhari is talking about will be easy to achieve. The only monster that stalls the progress of this nation, as we all know is corruption. But if Gen. Buhari can champion his crusade on anti-corruption, I, Gani Adams, am ready to give him maximum support.

  • OPC council asks Adams to resign

    The National Coordinating Council of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has asked the National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams, to resign to prevent an “internal war” within the organisation.

    Speaking with reporters in Ibadan yesterday, its spokesman, Comrade Adesina Akinpelu, asked Adams to make public the OPC’s bank statements since March 1, 1999, when he became national president.

    Akinpelu called on Yoruba monarchs and governors to prevail on Adams not to cause another crisis, saying many died in two such crises fuelled by Adams in Lagos and Ibadan.

    “It is on record that many  indigenes died in the battles between Adams and Dr. Fredrick Fasheun.

    “We now know the antics of Gani Adams, and we will never allow him to start another internal war within the OPC.”

    Just as OPC in Ekiti State has been liberated, other state chapters will be liberated. Oyo OPC has equally been liberated. No amount of threat and intimidation from Gani Adams and his cohorts will stop me and other members of the council from upholding the truth we stand for. “

     

  • Adams warns Southwest over insurgency

    Adams warns Southwest over insurgency

    The National Coordinator of Oodu’a Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, has expressed fear over the likely spill-over of Boko Haram insurgency to the Southwest region, if not properly curtailed.

    Adams, who spoke to reporters at this year’s Oranyan yearly festival in Oyo, at the weekend, said the revolt was taking serious toll on the people’s lives and property in the Northeast.

    He noted that indications were rife that Boko Haram had entered the Southwest, saying an instance was the explosion at Apapa, Lagos State, which the sect’s leader, Shekarau, laid claim to.

    The Oodu’a chief said drastic solution must be taken to curtail the menace of the Islamic sect in the Southwest.

    Adams said the zone’s governors were showing nonchalant attitude towards the issue, adding that as a leader of OPC, none of the governors has called him to discuss how to take measures to curtail the threat.

    “I have been to 51 countries, launching Oodua Progressive Union. I just came back from Europe and what they were asking me was the issue of Boko Haram.

    “We need to organise a stakeholder meeting on security to chat a way forward on how to secure and sanitise our region from Boko Haram insurgency,” he said.

  • Adams: Norwich will not overspend

    Norwich City manager Neil Adams will tread carefully during the transfer window, insisting he will not pay over the odds for a player.

    Relegation from the Premier League last season has forced Norwich to take stock, with influential midfielder Robert Snodgrass having left for Hull City in order to bring in some transfer revenue.

    Adams has recruited forward Kyle Lafferty and midfielder Lewis Grabban ahead of the club’s return to the Championship, though he saw reported target Ross McCormack move to Fulham in a big-money deal on Tuesday.

    But Adams, who replaced Chris Hughton in April, is adamant the club will not be caught up in a transfer frenzy.

    “The danger is the whole thing gets inflated and clubs have got to be sensible,” he told The Eastern Daily Press.

    “If you go into the market and pay over the odds then you are asking for a bit of trouble in my view.

    “Of course as a selling club you want to get the best price and buy at the best price because it is about good business and you are trying to balance the books.

    “The big money is always in the Premier League and we are not in the Premier League now, we are in the Championship and we have got to arrange our business if you like accordingly.

  • Adams to support NTDC boss

    he Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Mrs. Sally Uwecheu–Mbanefo has commended the efforts of the chief promoter of Olokun Festival Foundation, Otunba Gani Adams for his efforts and that of his foundation at promoting domestic tourism by financing and organising festivals and cultural shows, which emphasise those things that ‘bind us together as a nation’. She described the festivals as great economic potential if properly branded and packaged in tandem with the nation’s aspiration.

    The NTDC boss, who was guest of Adams last Saturday, said NTDC will not only support the cultural activities of the Olokun Foundation, but form a strategic partner for the advancement and promotion of domestic tourism. She however regretted her inability to attend the last Olokun Festival saying, “I am here to show that my inability to attend the Olokun Festival held in Suntan Beach Badagry was not out of contempt but due to a national assignment which left no spare time for me.”

    Mrs. Uwecheu–Mbanefo disclosed that she had been monitoring the cultural activities of Otunba Adams with particular interest in the Olokun, Oya, Okota and other festivals long before her appointment as the Director–General, NTDC.

    “I have studied your enthusiasm and analyzed your zeal at projecting and promoting the cultural heritage of our people in serving the nation’s tourism vision and I realised the import of the mass movement of your members on the economy of a given area of celebration. This is domestic tourism at its best.

    “You are one of the great cultural icons in Nigeria. I am particularly happy that you are using all these festivals to stoke the embers of domestic tourism and stabilise the country by diverting restive energies into cultural activates which rejuvenate, resuscitate and revitalise our culture and value for international appreciation”

    Otunba Adams commended Uwecheu-Mbanefo for the rare honour and appreciation the little the foundation has been able to do and are doing to earn cultural identity for Africa. He assured the NTDC boss of the foundation’s support, advice and cooperation at all time.

    “Since we commenced the cultural revolution to stimulate love, peace and harmonious relationship, you are the first Director–General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation who show a deep understanding of what is expected of them in that post,” Adams said.

    Otunba Adams said: ‘Tourism promotion and marketing is not only about making noise or paparazzi, it is about mobilising the stakeholders which you have successfully done, networking with members of the private sector, which you have done by mobilising and boosting the morale of diligent practitioners and cultural promoter, which is what brought you here.”

     

    “I have no doubt that you are going to succeed going by your display of native intelligence,  brilliance, robust sense of responsibility and commitment to a national call as showcased by your activities in the last 5 months. You have clearly demonstrated to all that your appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan was appropriate and fit.”

    “It is amazing that within the last 5 months you have been able to set a clear vision for the tourism sector with your domestic tourism, held meeting with stakeholders, addressed players in the Aviation

    industry, signed various worthy and necessary MOUs, visited many tourism sites for authentication of state of facilities and combing all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria telling Nigerians why they should embrace Nigeria domestic tourism assets. To cap it all, was your profound performance at World Travel Markets in London. All are testimonies and attestations that you are going to launch domestic

    tourism in the hearts of the people rather than on the winds of time like some of your predecessors.

     

  • Rooney transfer would be risky business, warns Tony Adams

    Arsenal legend Tony Adams has warned his former club that Wayne Rooney may not be mentally equipped to deal with a move to London.

    The Manchester United striker has been linked with a move to Arsenal after Sir Alex Ferguson claimed Rooney wanted out of Old Trafford last season – a claim the 27-year-old denies.

    However, despite the Gunners’ reported interest in Rooney, Adams has aired his concerns over the impact the bright lights of the capital would have on the England international.

    ‘I’m not sure Wayne Rooney could handle London, to be completely honest. That would be a massive risk for me,’ Adams told talkSPORT.

    ‘I don’t think it’s a question of finances. I think it’s his temperament and mentality. London is a different animal. I think it takes a different type of player [to handle it].

    ‘I think Wayne is unquestionably a super player and I’d love to see him at the Arsenal. Technically he’s a fantastic player but I’m not sure about him mentally, off the pitch, and his professionalism.

    ‘I know Sir Alex Ferguson has dealt with Wayne brilliantly over the last few years and I’m sure Arsene could handle him, but I’m not sure. I wouldn’t like to spend my money on Wayne.’