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Tag: Chief Owolabi Salis

  • Nigerian relives historic moment as first nation’s astronaut

    Nigerian relives historic moment as first nation’s astronaut

    A United States-based lawyer and politician, Chief Owolabi Salis, has become the first Nigerian to travel to space above the Karman line, boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space, located at an altitude of 100 kilometres above sea level.

    The Blue Origin, which took the astronauts on the flight, touched back from the epic space adventure at the tarmac of the exotic space village in Western Texas.

    Salis is the only black among the crew of astronauts.

    He said he dedicates this feat to victims of discrimination and civil rights violations

    Salis was wearing an African made cap over his astronaut jacket to generate campaigns for greater participation of Africans in exploration of space science and technology

    The Blue Origin identity for the group is NS-33 and the group name is Solstice-33.

    READ ALSO: Nigeria oil rigs increase to 44, says NUPRC

    “Space is a humbling place. Leaders causing troubles in this planet should be sent to space; they will be humbled and sober” – said Salis.

    The high-flier and visioner, who had criss-crossed virtually all continents, was on board with six NS-33 crew, comprising Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Jim Sitkin, Freddie Rescigno, Jr., Leland Larson.

    He described the experience as “humbling, stupefying and overwhelming, beholding the universe in its awe-inspiring splendour, and delightful cosmic spectacle.

    “It was for me a eye-opener, widening my vista, drawing me closer, more than ever towards my maker, whose creative mind fashioned the mystery of the universe’’, Salis, spiritual leader of Soul Maker’s Ministry Worldwide, said.

  • I will unite all Lagosians if elected governor – AD Governorship Candidate

    The Lagos State Governorship Candidate of Alliance for Democracy, (AD), Chief Owolabi Salis has promised to unite all persons in Lagos state irrespective of their tribe, religion or nationality if elected as Governor of Lagos state come March 2nd.

    Salis made this known at His visits to Sarkin of Lagos and his council members in Ebutte-Metta, Lagos. The Sarkin of Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Oshodi, Isola, Amuwo-Odofin, Egbeda, Shasha, and Ikeja were all in attendance. He also visited Saro community and Market Leaders and Traders Association of Nigeria in Surulere, Lagos.

    He noted that the unity of all nationals in Lagos state is sacrosanct and imperative in our search for development in the state which I will pursue rigorously with all my heart.

    He said, “Lagos state is a cosmopolitan city and it means that it belongs to all of us but there are attempts to divide all of us and create crises and that is why I am contesting as Governor of the state and when I win, I will stem the tide in Lagos”.

    “some of the violence that occur in the state is because the people at the grassroots have not been sufficiently engaged in the governance and developmental process in the state. Arewa people have been marginalized in the scheme of things in Lagos. I want to assure them that if I win, I will appoint the first commissioner from the Arewa community. I will do it”.

    “we define a successful government as the government that is able to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in basic needs of life which include qualitative and accessible education, efficient and affordable health care facilities, adequate food and affordable housing.

    “the rich do not worry about educating their children, or are neither are they concern about accessing quality health care but we have to think of the less privileged people in Lagos and many of the Arewa people are part of the less privileged and government responsibility is to alleviate the suffering of the people irrespective of where they come from”.

    He further said, there will no discrimination between the Arewa and other tribes in Lagos.

    “I have been used to the Hausa community since 1985. I schooled in the north and I was given a chieftaincy title because of my commitment to a detribalized Nigeria”.

    “I have set up an empowerment programme to assist the Arewa community in Agege area of Lagos’.

    In his response, the Sarkin of the Arewa Community in Lagos, Kabiru Sani said that he appreciated the A D Governorship candidate for his firm understanding of the problems in Lagos and the unique solution is bringing to the table to solve them.

    “when people in power understand the problem of the people and have a well thought out plan to address them, governance becomes better and believable”.

    “members of the Senki Council will look at his proposal and get back to him on their final decision, adding that there are lots of candidates coming in to get their endorsement and they will sit and come up with their final decision this week”.

  • Lagos 2019: Christian group declares support for Salis

    A group of Christian leaders in Lagos has pledged support for the gubernatorial candidate of the Alliance for Democracy, Chief Owolabi Salis as the next governor of the state.

    The Christian group under the aegis of ‘Christian Minister Welfare Initiatives’ which comprises of pastors, and bishops from different denominations endorsed the gubernatorial candidate, saying it was a directive from the Holy Spirit.

    Speaking at the gathering, Reverend Michael Fadeyi of Christian Faith Assembly Organization, and the president of Church Leaders International said their decision to endorse Salis, was not instigated by flesh but by the spirit of God.

    Fadeyi said : “We have endorsed Salis today not just in the capacity of a Bishop but as being led by the Holy ghost. When he was introduced to us, we accepted him as a Nigerian, a Lagosian and a grassroots governor who will deliver his people without thinking only of himself and when we looked at all these areas, we believed that he can do it and that is why we adopted him”.

    “The church is supporting Salis, and not just the church, the clergy are supporting him”, he said.

    While answering questions from pressmen, the Bishop said our decision is not based on whether we are tired of any candidate or political party.

    “We are not tired of any candidate, this is his own time and everybody are entitled to his own opportunity, and he is ready to do it. He has so convinced us and we are directed by the Holy Spirit that he can do It.”, he said.

    On endorsing a non-Christian candidate, he said, this is politics of Nigeria not clergy.

    “To become a Bishop has a criterion and to become a governor has protocols too, and that has to do with serving his people very well, no matter the religion. When we looked at all the candidates, we concluded that he is the one who can serve us and we adopted him”.

    “We know they are doing their jobs, our advice to them is that they should do things right, they should do everything in favor of all Nigerians and Lagos State as a whole”.

    “As for Owolabi Salis, the church is supporting him, and not just the church, the clergy are supporting him.”

    Also speaking, Apostle Aderemi Adebiyi, one of the leaders of the group said; we are now mobilizing Christians in Lagos state and all over Nigeria to vote for candidates of their choice because this time around, our vote must count.

    The gubernatorial candidate, Salis, while addressing the group, he said, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should deduct a means to make the collection of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) easy for citizens.

    “By now, INEC should have make provision for automatic card printers so that , people can get their cards immediately people registered, instead of going through this cumbersome arrangement and there will no longer be cases of uncollected PVCs”.

    “That INEC has decided to take uncollected PVCs to CBN for security purpose, it will be a great idea but I doubt whether it will be followed to the later because as we speak, a lot of people have submitted their PVCs to politicians who will use it to rig election but I know that the people will win this election and AD is representing the people”.

    “Buying and selling of voters card is a crime, it’s just that they are not enforcing it and it is unfortunate that people are poverty ridden, they give them token and sell their rights for the next four years but I am very sure that this time around, people are going to collect the money and still vote whoever they desire”.

    On security challenge, Salis said there are different types of security issues militating against Nigeria, sabotage and domestic terrorism are part of it.

    “Terrorism is not just about Boko -haram alone, the security agents seems not to be doing much and one of the best way to tackle it, is to make law against it and ensure enforcement, then everybody will sit tight but when you treat it with levity, they are going to perpetuate evil and get away with it and this is disheartening”.

    “In Lagos, youths fight and cause violence instead of doing something meaningful with their life but once politicians give them peanuts, they will start killing themselves and causing unrest in the society”.

    “This is part of what we want to do in Lagos state, to stop the children of the less-privileged from being used as instrument of thuggery, and by the grace of God, we are going to achieve it,” he said.

     

     

  • Centre trains 51,000 youths on skills

    Over 51,000 youths have benefited from various skills acquisition programmes in Lagos State.

    The founder of the Lagos Youth Skills Acquisition, Centre, Chief Owolabi Salis has said.

    Addressing reporters at the one year celebration ceremony of the Shomolu Centre, Lagos, he said the beneficiaries would contribute to the development of the society.

    He said some of the areas of specialization include hair dressing, building technology, electrical and plumbing, fashion design, shoe making, soap making, catering, film and audio editing, gas refilling, mechanics and printing.

    Salis added that the country would be better if other well meaning Nigerians and corporate organizations get involved in project like this, noting the country would be free of social deviants.

    He said: “It is an efforts to make the country better to make Lagos great and assist in reducing the incidents of prostitution and other social deviants.

    “We have been commended by our brothers in the Diaspora on the project, particularly as it affect the lives of women who are vulnerable. Our young boys would also face better lives instead of being a willing tool in the hands of those who use them to foment trouble.

    Read Also: Lagos Govt empowers 98 HIV patients with trade skills

    “I am really overwhelmed by the responses of our youths who embrace the project. The turnout in Badagry, Agege, Ikorodu and Shomolu has been impressive. For instance, the clothes I am wearing are products of the beneficiaries who are being awarded certificates.

    Salis said what he was doing had no political undertone, but genuine intention to make life meaningfull for the Nigerian youth.

    ” Let me say, people who are benefiting from the Owolabi Salis initiatives cut across political party and religious lines. We simply want to add value to lives of our youths.

    Similarly, the traditional ruler of Shomolu, Oba Timson Jagunmolu said Salis yeoman’ s job was addressing the social and economic inequalities in the society.

    “If a man of Salis capability found himself in the corridors of power, I am very sure life will become much meaningful for the people. The man is really doing a yeoman’s job and the people are excited.

    ” To the beneficiaries, let me urge you to reciprocate the efforts of the initiator by ensuring you equally put smile on the faces of those who train under you because you got everything for free.“

  • AD advocates united Nigeria

    Lagos State Alliance for Democracy (AD) governorship candidate, Chief Owolabi Salis has called for the unity of the country.

    He said the country would gain from being united.

    Salis who spoke at an event in Lagos said Nigerians should look beyond geopolitical zone. The theme of the event: “Lagos: Creating a sense of belonging among the minority”, was organised by an association under the aegis of Akwa/Cross indigenes, Nigeria.

    Salis advised groups who might feel marginalised in the six geo-political zones, to remain focused, united and see the bigger picture in Nigeria.

    He said Nigeria as the most populous country in the world, stressing there was need to be together in the interest of black brothers distributed across the globe.

    According to him, Nigeria has matured in managing crises, adding there must be proportional accommodation of diverse interest in the polity.

    He said the presidential system of government as practiced in Nigeria does not seem to give a place for the minority.

    Salis, however, advocated a system called equity-based democracy.

    “We have to stay together because we are strong together and present the hope for black race.

    “For us to stay together in peace and love, we have to reform or restructure to create proportional opportunities for all diverse group within the country.

    “The system we currently practice does not give hope to the minorities even though they are stakeholders in Nigeria project.

    “If the minorities can form a solid block, which is unlikely, then balanced. We need system that will challenge it,” Salis said.

    He also enjoined the youth to preserve the unity of the country and shun political induced killings as well as monitisation of votes.

    The group representative, Mr Salis Udoh said minority communities existed in various tribes.

    “Although, the Federal Government has made effort in creating some bodies to protect the interest of these minorities like the Federal Character Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, where the minorities can lodge complaints.

    “However, praiseworthy and laudable these bodies seem to be, the funding of them and the genuine intention of the government are at best for psychological satisfaction as those bodies are underfunded.

    “The minority communities have been clamouring for the control and decentralisation of power as a measure to integrate them in the main stream of governance.”

    Udoh said a system of government that would bring about rotational presidency within the six geo-political zones would surely create a sense of belonging for the minority race.

    He said it would put confidence in the majority race, noting that all interests had been fully integrated in governance.

  • Lagosians have confidence in us – AD

    Lagos State Alliance for Democracy (AD)  governorship candidate Chief Owolabi Salis has said the party will produce the next governor of the state.

    At a conference in Lagos, he said AD was not intimated by candidates of other parties, noting that Lagosians had confidence in its programme.


    Salis added that the recent list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was in order, stressing that the AD’s governorship candidates stood out among the pacts.

    The INEC list indicated that 41 candidates of various political parties were vying for the governor of Lagos State in  2019.

    Some of the prominent parties include; All Progressives Congress  (APC), Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) African Democratic Congress (ADC), AD and others.

    “I am not intimidated by the principal contestants of the other parties. I am not just the candidate of AD but also the candidate of the people.

    “AD is a party of the people and the people’s party,” Salis said.

    He, however, called on INEC to ensure credible elections, avoid rigging and discourage vote buying and other malpractices.

    Salis maintained that Lagos needed a visionary leader to steer its affairs and not a product of imposition.

    “Lagosians are tired of the same set of people who have  made it difficult for them to access their Commonwealth. “

    The AD noted that the party did not endorse the APC’s governorship candidate Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stressing that the AD was not part of the recent endorsement by some parties.

    Also, the Chairman of AD in Lagos, Mr Ajayi Kolawole, said the party was fully on ground and engaging with the grassroots.

    “We are here to correct the impression that we are not known for, we are not a new party, we have been on ground,” Kolawole said.

     

  • Lawyer unveils empowerment centres in Lagos

    A lawyer Chief Owolabi Salis has opened his skills acquisition empowerment centres in seven places in Lagos.

    The first set, which comprises 350 participants in Ajeromi, have graduated while the second with 800 at Somolu, are still undergoing training.

    The centre has a fish farm at Ikorodu, where participants are also trained in smoked fish packaging.

    According to Owolabi, the empowerment centres will also include practical training as part of its courses, adding that it is good for the trainees to have knowledge of both the theory and practice of their areas of their specialisation. He said the schools’ curricular lack practicals’ segment.

    He said he was targeting areas boys who could not fend for themselves. ’’They must be empowered to do something for a living,’’ he added.

    Owolabi continued: There are various skills acquisition empowerment courses. They are training in stones, iron, glass, wood, aluminium, petroleum, farming, among others.

    ‘’A majority of Nigerians are poor and someone is needed to stand in the gap and find better living for them. The rich are self-centred. They have no passion for the poor. The poor do not have access to good standard of living which the rich have, such as accommodation, feeding, security and welfare. The poor are not living well. The challenges of life must be met by both the rich and the poor. The country needs secure jobs for every family to survive.

    “In the next five years, Nigeria will be over populated. We are number seven in the most populous in the world. My plan is to expand the empowerment to assist the poor. We have a challenge in the country which must be tackled.

    On why he set up the skills centre, Owolabi said: “My passion is in-built. Giving is part of my life. Helping people generally is part of my life and I will do so for forever. When you give, God He will give reward you.

    ‘’When you help the grassroots, they will work towards the progress of the nation. The government should not only provide for the majority, it should also cater for the minority.’’