The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dele Alake

  • Improve your skills, groom youths, Alake tells mining professionals

    Improve your skills, groom youths, Alake tells mining professionals

    Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake has urged mining professionals to improve their skills and knowledge as well as groom the next generation of miners.

    He said this would earn them the respect of their counterparts across the world.

    Alake spoke in Jos, the Plateau State capital, in a keynote address he delivered at the annual conference of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS).

    The minister, who was represented by the Director General of the Mining Cadastral Office (MCO), Obadiah Nkom, hailed the professional services rendered by mining engineers and geologists in the areas of exploration and extraction.

    Read Also; It’s only in Madonna university that girls graduate as virgins, founder claims

    He noted that without their input, mining operations would have been a herculean challenge.

    A statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, said Alake urged mining professionals to groom younger cadres to sustain the development of the nation’s mining sector.

    “It is now very obvious that unless we come together to build the NGSA as a data behemoth that commands the respect of investors and financiers locally and internationally, our efforts to transform the sector will not be sustained…

    “Let us recognise the need to build a good foundation for the next generation of mining engineers and geologists. As we sit here, many students in secondary schools are about to choose their career paths. How many teachers and counsellors know about geology and mining professions? Most of the students are going to be advised to choose the traditional disciplines.

    “I, therefore, urge the NMGS to engage in enlightenment at the secondary school level, to initiate contests and activities that will make many youths see the advantages of pursuing careers in mining sciences,” he said.

  • Provide work plan to secure mine sites in two weeks, Alake tells security agencies

    Provide work plan to secure mine sites in two weeks, Alake tells security agencies

    Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake had directed security agencies to provide a work plan within two weeks to secure the nation’s mining sites.

    He said the work plan should include the formation of whatever outfits that would be proposed, the modalities, execution, funding, and other details associated with the security outfits that is proposed.

    Alake said this while addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja at the end of a security meeting he had with representatives of all the security agencies in the country.

    The minister said the meeting was a follow-up to a committee President Bola Tinubu set up to address issues surrounding the security of natural resources and the need to map out strategies to curb the menace.

    He said: “Now, the committee set up by the President to address issues surrounding security of natural resources and to fashion out strategies to completely curb the menace that is making Nigeria bleed. After the meeting, the decision was to expand it to include the Service Chiefs and their representatives who actually form the critical security arms of the country.

    Read Also; Crude oil theft ends soon – Uzodinma

    “Following up on the first meeting that we had amongst the ministers, it was decided that we should expand the scope to incorporate the critical security agencies. That’s why the security agencies are here represented.

    “All the critical stakeholders, security stakeholders that are relevant to this issue of securing natural resources are present here and we have deliberated exhaustively, like I said.

    “It’s decided that the security agencies that constitute the experts in this particular venture should meet and give us a work plan of execution of that mandate. And what is the mandate? It’s to secure our natural resources, mineral sites, the forests, and the marine economy. Everyone is agreed here.

    “Now, we’ll meet in a fortnight and deliberate on the work plan submitted by the security agencies. That work plan simply includes the formation of whatever outfits that will propose the modalities, execution, funding, all details associated with the security outfits that we propose.”

    “I want to use this opportunity to let you know what happened in Ibadan, even though we’re expecting the final forensic analysis report form the various security agencies, intelligence agencies, and the technical experts, even some from the Mines Inspectorate Division of this Ministry of Solid Minerals.

    “So, we have the solid intelligence agencies working on unravelling the situation. And don’t forget that the shrapnel or fragments, documents and a lot of items constituting evidence were obtained from the site.

    “Some of these things have to be scientifically analysed before an authentic report will be given. I did say at the time that government would not be able to make a categorical statement until we have seen or received the report, studied and come up with informed decisions.”

  • Ibadan explosion: FG will make report findings public, vows to ensure justice

    Ibadan explosion: FG will make report findings public, vows to ensure justice

    The federal government has promised to make the report of findings on the Ibadan explosion public as soon as technical and intelligence investigations are completed by the various agencies. 

    This is as the federal government lso vows to ensure that justice is served not only to the victims but also the perpetrators, culprits with an assurance of whatever assistance that the report of findings recommends that should be will given to the Oyo state governmemt.

    The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake gave the assurance on Monday, January 22, shortly after paying a courtesy call on Oyo state governor Seyi Makinde. 

    Alake, who paid the visit after visit the site of the explosion and a visit to the victims and survivals still receiving treatment at the University College Hospital, was received at the Governor’s Office by the governor who led him into a private meeting which held behind closed doors.

    The governor also used the opportunity to conduct the Minister round some parts of the office that was also affected by the explosion. 

    He said: “Because it is a technical thing, and it requires alot of technological gadgets and apparatus, we can’t put a time frame on it, but I can assure you in terms of the speed with which they have started and are going about it, it will be shorter than you think

    “But of course we are not going to seat on it, this is not a kind of report that anybody will seat on and this is not a kind of government that will seat on any panels report or any investigative analysis, it will be public documents and will be kept abreast of it”

    Fielding questions from reporters, Alake said he was in the state as a culmination of the establishment of acknowledgement of the federal government on what the Oyo State governor and government has done, which he described as very remarkable. 

    He noted that the President was very impressed as well as all other persons as to the speed and level of response of the state government to the incident.

    He said no categorical statement will be made on the incident until all reports of investigations are submitted.

    “After going through the site and going to the hospital to see the victims and to commiserate with them, their families and loved ones, there is need for me to pay a courtesy call on the governor who has done a yeoman’s job and commendable one in terms of speed of his response to this unfortunate incident.

    “Recall that I told you that the President put a phone call to him, to commend him and sympathise with him and the people of Oyo state and the victims and also issued a statement after expressing his own sentiments and I also did.

    Read Also: Ibadan explosion: Makinde presents report to Tinubu

    “So, this is a culmination of the establishment of acknowledgement of the federal government on what the Oyo State governor and government has done, and this is very remarkable. 

    “The President is very impressed, we are all impressed, no body wishes anybody any disaster but wish that our people will respond commendable to any unfortunate situation, not even unfortunate but any situation at all

    “And on our own part, we immediately swung into action, but like I keep saying, we will also allow the investigative agencies, the various agencies, technical and intelligence agencies to conclude their forensic investigation before we make any categorical, verifiable and authentic statement on the issue.

    “All the corollary affairs and issues attending these will be answered at the end of the investigation and everybody will kept well informed

    “But my role here is to come and commiserate with the governor and commend his very efficient and effective effort that he put in place immediately after the unfortunate incident.”

    Asked on how long the report will take to be submitted, the Minister who did not give a definite time frame assures that ot will take shorter than anyone thinks or expect.

    “The president has promise to do everything in his power to give succor to victims, and don’t forget I also told you that drawing from the experience of what we had, on a larger magnitude in Lagos in 2002, the Ikeja cantonment blast, when our current president was the governor and I was Commissioner under him then, I knew what we faced.

    “So, drawing from that experience, of course at that time it was the state government that bore the brunt of it and you know that casualty. We are drawing from a wealth of experience in approaching all of these things, so it will be meticulous, authenticated, efficiency implemented, whatever the report says, and at the end of the day, justice will be done, not just to the victims but to the perpetrators and culprits, and of course, whatever assistance that will be needed to be given to Oyo State governmemt, the President will not hesitate to give that”, he added.

    In his brief remarks, host governor Makinde appealed to the people of the state to be patient with the government because it is doing everything within the powers to ensure that people actually get looked after.

    He said the government will wait for the report on the integrity test on the structures before deciding on what to do with the affected buildings. 

    He added that the government is looking at extending the temporary accommodation provided for the victims as well as enhance the safety and security of the place till the completion of forensic test and integrity test.

    Makinde said: “We will wait for the report from he team carrying out structural integrity test. But the bottonmline is that, first we need to extend the temporary accommodation we are given to people. 

    “We also need to ensure that the place is safe and secure and all the forensic pathologists, the work they are doing, we have to encourage them to continue but there’s still a lot to be done. 

    “I don’t think we have faced this kind of calamity around here before, so people should be patient with us because we are doing everything within the powers of the state government to ensure that people actually get looked after.”

  • Powerful Nigerians involved in illegal mining, sponsorship of banditry, says Dele Alake

    Powerful Nigerians involved in illegal mining, sponsorship of banditry, says Dele Alake

    Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake said on Tuesday, December 12, that the act of banditry and kidnappings associated with parts of the country were being sponsored by powerful Nigerians engaged in acts of illegal mining in the country.

    Alake who spoke when he appeared before the House Committee on Solid Minerals to defend the Ministry’s 2024 budget estimate said those he described as heavy and powerful Nigerians were actually the ones behind the insecurity in areas of the country with solid mineral deposits.

    He said the government was identifying those individuals and will take appropriate action against them as part of efforts to ensure that the areas are secured for investors who have shown interest in investing in the solid minerals sector in the country.

    He said: “One discovery that we have made is that a lot of these insecurities and banditry associated with this sector are sponsored by illegal miners.

    “These are not your artisan miners. They are not the people who pick gold on the ground. These are heavy and powerful individuals in our country. They are Nigerians and not foreigners.

    “Yes, you can see foreigners as symptoms, but they are not the basics. Nigerians are the powers behind those foreigners that you see on the streets. We are identifying them and employing various strategies, both kinetic and non-kinetic.

    “The non-kinetic with that artisan miners, I gave them an ultimatum that they should form themselves into cooperatives because every Nigerian has a right to life and necessities and if the government cannot provide these necessities, we cannot push them into the bush.”

    He said his ministry has encouraged the small-scale miners to form themselves into cooperative societies, adding that as of the last count, about 50 of such cooperative societies have been formed.

    He disclosed that with the creation of the Ministry, they embarked on a sensitisation programme aimed at drawing the attention of the world to the solid minerals deposit in the country.

    He said as a result of such a drive, foreign investors have begun to make enquiries about the possibility of investing in the sector.

    According to him, the ministry has identified about 44 key solid mineral deposits in the country which have global demand, pointing out that out of this number, the ministry has singled out seven for particular attention because of their importance.

    Alake said that with the right investment by the government, Nigeria has the potential to become a global hub for solid minerals in the world.

    He said one of the non-kinetic strategies being deployed is the involvement of host communities in the exploration of the solid minerals, adding that sponsors of banditry often draw from the poll of unemployed Nigerians in such communities.

    He said the ministry plans to invest heavily in exploration activities, adding that the government cannot leave issues of exploration in the hands of the private sector, adding that it will not be in the interest of the country to do so.

    He however described the N29 billion allocated to the Ministry as its budget for 2024 as a non-starter and sought the assistance of the lawmakers to ensure adequate funding for the sector.

    The chairman of the committee Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi said there is no time in the nation’s history that the nation has needed the input of the Solid mineral sector like now because the solid minerals sector remains the last hope of our country to attain the level of economic diversity it requires.

    This, he said is hinged on the fact that Nigeria possesses the solid minerals needed to attract the kind of foreign exchange required which has been exemplified when in the seventies, the solid minerals sector was accounting for over 50% of contributions to the GDP as against today where we are barely contributing meagre 0.63%.

    He said however that “all hope is not lost especially because Mr. President, during his budget presentation re-echoed the priority this administration has placed on the solid minerals sector and of course the person he has mandated to steer the ship of this sector.

    “It is quite exciting to note that he hit the ground running by embarking on strategic bilateral and trade expeditions that will bring the needed investment into our country.

    “To start with, exploration has never been the business of the investor but the government who carries out the exploration and based on values gotten, engages or attracts the necessary investments.

    “It will shock you to note that the Petroleum sector which is more or less mining and an extractive industry, has earmarked $400 million for frontier exploration as captured by provisions of the PIA being a percentage of the operating profit of the NNPC.

    Read Also: Dele Alake: Knowledge, vision, courage stand Tinubu out

    “When you calculate or convert $400 million, it will give you an idea of what the NNPC is spending on just frontier exploration which is not its major exploration activity.

    “Let me use this medium to call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to rethink and reconsider the paltry sums that were allocated to this sector. We must be careful not to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

    “We are in a phase of energy transition and solid minerals are the next frontier for industrialization and world development. The House of Representatives will not rest on its ores to form strategic partnerships with the executives, the Minister, and all agencies to make sure we make good on the oath of office we swore to at our respective inaugurations.

    “To this end, we have taken proactive steps to put up motions and bills that will strengthen and bring about some reorganization or restructuring in line with the seven-point agenda of the Honorable Minister.”

  • Lai Mohammed, Modibbo Kawu, Dele Alake and the Pinnacle Conundrum

    Even though the progress of its anticorruption war has been slow and tortuous sometimes because of the cumbersome legal process and partly because of the alleged collusion of a number of powerful administration insiders with corrupt elements, the battle is still alive and well. Surely, the fear of Buhari’s war against graft is the beginning of wisdom for public office holders in the country today. And sometimes the long hands of the law reach up to officials in high places thus strengthening the anti-graft war and enhancing its credibility. Nowhere is the administration’s stance against corruption as visible and relevant as the ongoing investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) of certain humongous payments by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) of the sum of N2.5 billion to Pinnacle Communication Limited, a payment that spurred a petition to the ICPC moving the anti-graft body into action.

    The N2.5 billion was part of the N10 billion seized from the NBC by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2016 for being banked in contravention of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy. On assumption of office as Director General of NBC, Mr Moddibo Kawu had reviewed the relationship between the NBC and Pinnacle Communication Limited getting the latter to withdraw a suit against the former in court as regards the appointment of a Signal Distributor for the Abuja Switch over. Kawu appointed the communication outfit as the Signal Distributor for the Abuja Switch over partly on the ground that “The Pinnacle Communications Limited Chairman, Lucky Omoluwa had supported the Buhari campaign and had thought the change of administration would offer an opportunity to rectify the injustice they faced under the former NBC DG, Emeka Mba”.

    Kawu claims that Pinnacle Communications Limited delivered on its mandate as Signal Distributor thus necessitating the payment of the said N2.5 billion to the company five months after its appointment. Some of the items delivered by Pinnacle Communications within 90 days were the airfreighting of nine tons of weapons to Abuja, provision of facilities commissioned by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on 22nd of December, 2017 and commissioning of their Kaduna Centre a year later by Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

    In an article in defence of Kawu published by Abubakar Maahmood Ahmed in an online medium, Daily Nigerian on April 19, and titled “Facts behind Modibbo Kawu’s ICPC travails” the writer delved into a number of issues which he believes are the real reasons why the ICPC is uncompromising and adamant in the prosecution of Kawu for the Pinnacle transaction, which the ICPC considers unethical and contravening due process. Most of the reasons adduced for Kawu’s travails smack of spurious conspiracy theories and unverified or even unverifiable rumours and hear say.

    For instance, in taking on Alhaji Lai Mohammed in the piece, the writer avers that “When President Buhari announced the DGs to head media parastatals and the NBC, he caused the first level of shock. The announcement of Modibbo Kawu as the DG of NBC shocked the political team from the Southwest that had primed the position for Dele Alake, the former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State. Lai Mohammed as Minister of Information was said to have shouted in his office, that “This is unacceptable. Modibbo Kawu is not one of us”. This kind of outrageous nonsense, which has no basis in facts, was dished out by the writer as gospel truth.

    Those who know Alhaji Lai Mohammed very well can readily testify that he is not one to indulge in the kind of intemperate outburst portrayed in the piece. And the assertion that Mr. Alake was ever primed to be DG of NBC is unadulterated falsehood. Yes, Mr. Alake is more than qualified to hold any office. But there is simply no truth in the allegation that Lai Mohammed ever proposed him to be DG of NBC or even made any attempt to do so. I make bold to say that Alake has not been to any minister’s office in the Buhari administration for any purpose at all not talk about going to hustle for positions or contracts. He has been too busy with his consultancy work both within and outside the country to engage in any such unproductive ventures.

    In any case, if it is true that Lai Mohamed had opposed Kawu’s appointment and preferred Alake as DG Of NBC, why did he then as Minister of Information approve the Pinnacle Communication contract and even authorized the release of the N2.5 billion as requested by Kawu? It was only after the ICPC presented the facts in its possession to the minister that Lai Mohammed claimed that he was misled into giving approval for the release of the fund by the DG. A source with the ICPC familiar with the case, told the respected Online medium, Premium Times, that “Lai Mohamed has admitted that he did not do due diligence before signing off on a controversial N2.5 billion payment to a private digital distributor. Mohammed told the ICPC that he only approved the payment based on the recommendation of the DG of the NBC in May, 2017”.

    Continuing the story reads: “Rasheedat Okodua, the ICPC spokesperson told Premium Times on Monday that Lai Mohammed was not charged because he said he was deceived into signing the document. Documents seen by Premium Times showed that Mr. Mohammed played more role than just signing documents. He signed several documents and also took part in discussions with Pinnacle Communications and embarked on foreign trips to inspect equipment for Nigeria’s digital switch over. Mr Kawu told Premium Times that he did no wrong in recommending the payment to Mr. Mohammed but did not assume responsibility for the minister’s approval”.

    It is thus misleading for the impression to be created that Lai Mohammed had always opposed Kawu’s appointment and was thus determined from the onset to ‘make life difficult for him as DG of NBC’. If so, how did Kawu obtain the necessary ministerial approvals that gave him and Pinnacle Communication access to the funds requested? Surely, Mr Mohammed must have later on seen something wrong in the process for releasing the funds that made him distance himself from the NBC DG in his interactions with the ICPC.

    In his writing in defence of Kawu, Abubakar Ahmed, does not spare his readers the most scurrilous attempts at stirring up ethnic and religious sentiments. For instance, he writes that “To make things even better, the new ICPC Board is headed by another VP sidekick, Bolaji Owasanoye who also belongs to the Redeemed Church. The plan is to bring into the NBC, after they might have removed Moddibo Kawu, their original candidate, Dele Alake, who also belongs to the Redeemed Church”. Surely, this is journalism at its very worst, which seeks to excite the base instincts of decent people on utterly unfounded assumptions and presuppositions.

    Rallying his supposed ‘northern constituency’ to rise to Modibbo’s support, the writer makes statements that are really very damaging for Kawu, who first made his name as a progressive, radical and patriotic intellectual rather than ethno-regional jingoist. According to Abubakar Ahmed, “In the last elections, most NBC staff were reported to have voted for PDP because they wanted President Buhari to lose since that would mean that Modibbo Kawu would be removed as DG. One of the most entrenched cabals inside the NBC is the licensing cabal. It was the ruling mantra that Southerners that can, and must always be given licenses in the North, but Northerners are ALWAYS denied licenses in the South, especially the lucrative Lagos market. Well, Modibbo Kawu ensured that for the first time in the 25-year history of the NBC, Northerners got several licenses in Lagos”. So is this an acceptable defence for the infractions of collusion and fraud for which Kawu is facing serious court charges? What determines the issuance of license by the NBC? Are this based on states or region of origin or are there specific technical and specialist or capital base requirements for licensees to qualify?

    Kawu was billed to appear in an Abuja High Court last Wednesday along with the GM of Pinnacle Communication, Mr Lucky Omoluwa. The case was, however, forced to adjourn till May 4th for hearing since Omoluwa was not in court. His counsel claimed that Omoluwa was still on his way to Abuja from Kaduna that morning. It will surely be a most interesting case when the hearing gets underway. It is unlikely that instigating ethnic, religious and partisan sentiments will avail much for Kawu in the final analysis. He is a brilliant man. Kawu should just prove to the court that he did not mislead the minister to approve fraudulent payments to Pinnacle Communication Limited. That is the crux of the matter.

  • Farmer/herder: Stakeholders advocate for multifaceted approach

    Stakeholders have called for multifaceted approach to the farmer-herder crisis in the country.

    The stakeholders also urged the Government to set up a Federal Peace and Conflict Resolution Commission.

    In a communique issued at the end of the two day National summit on conflict resolution Organised by The Nation Newspaper and TV Continental in Abuja, it was also generally agreed that  government need to apply comprehensive approach in addressing the environmental factors that drive herders southwards.

    The stakeholders also recommended for the need to embrace the proposal for grazing reserves, beginning with consenting states while the old bonds that encouraged cooperation need to be built upon.

    Besides, they also tasked the government on the need to draw up implementation timelines for whatever suggestions put forward so as to ensure a more harmonious farmers-herders relationship.

    The Summit was conceived to provide workable solutions to the perennial herder-farmer clashes across the country.

    Dr. Kayode Samuel read the communique at the end of event, which was highly attended by stakeholders including herders and farmers from Plateau and Benue states.

    Other recommendations put forward by the stakeholders include the need to strengthen security arrangements to make both farmers and herders feel safe and to isolate the criminal elements.

    They also recommended for the resuscitation and massive funding of the various river basin authorities especially in the north to enable growth of grass for animal grazing to minimize nomadic mobility across the country.

    Also, the stakeholders recommended for existing conflict mediation and peace building mechanisms and avenues for constant dialogue between farmers and herders.

    The need to embrace Climate Smart Agriculture that sustains both crop farming and animal breeding was recommended by the stakeholders.

    Read Also: Firm mobilises stakeholders for school safety week

    In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of TV Continental, Mr Dele Alake said that Nigerians needed to dwell on the imperatives of peace and unity and to appreciate the country’s strengths and endowments.

    He noted that farmer-herders crises have implications for the cohesion of the nation as an entity and that Nigerians should keep working together peace, unity and progress of the country through dialogue.

    The convening of the Summit, he disclosed, was one of such desirable moves being undertaken by the two media organizations.

    Alake disclosed that the ultimate aim of the Summit is to afford the country a roadmap with which to address the multiple challenges now confronting her, particularly given the context of the forthcoming 2019 elections. He added that the groups in conflictare being encouraged through the Summit to freely express themselves in the hope that at the end of the event, significant levels of understanding would have been recorded.

    In his short remark, the Emir of Kano Mallam Lamido Sanusi advocated for more budgetary provision by the three tiers of government to maintain the grazing reserves across the country.

    The Emir who was represented by Professor Isa Hashim, the Jarman Kano said, ” The three levels of government should provide enough funds through our budgets for the maintenance of grazing reserves and stock routes, because this is what will help us to have an enduring peace in our country. The entire nation needs peace.”

    The CEO of TV Continental, Mr. Andrew Hallon who drew on the experiences of his home country, Ireland spoke on the need to set out a pathway to resolving the farmers-herders conflicts.

    He pointed out the importance of communication, respect for the points of view of others, a common desire for peace, a business-oriented approach to seeking solutions and the unlearning of harmful stereotypes.

    Also, Col. Ahmed Zubair (retd) former Director of Research of the Nigeria Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) pointed to the under-resourcing of the security agencies as a major drawback to the discharge of their role in conflict resolution.

    Mr. Kola Koko of DfID highlighted the fact that while population growth and climate change are affecting production, the country still has a static production system and called for improvements to the system.

    In his presentation, Dr. Saleh Umale of the Kaduna State Peace Commission described the farmers-herders crisis as a crisis long foretold. He identified the improvement of the livelihoods of Nigeria’s rural communities as key to the search for peace.

     

     

  • ‘Farmers/herders clashes negatively affecting Nigerian economy’

    Former Lagos state Commissioner for Information and strategy and Vice Chairman of TV Continental, Dele Alake has said that the various conflicts in the country in recent times is affecting the economic, political and social lives of Nigerians, saying it was unfortunate that various reasons adduced for this challenge has not help in any way in addressing the problem.

    Read Also:The Nation/TVC summit: Experts set to discuss herders/farmers clashes

    Alake who spoke at the opening of the National Summit on Conflict resolution organised by The Nation newspaper and Television Continental in Abuja said the farmer/herders clashes in recent time has grossly affected the agricultural production of the country.

    He said even though the nation had managed to survive a break up, Nigerians cannot longer continue to overlook these challenges confronting it, pointing out that this explain why the two media houses considered it necessary to bring together stakeholder to deliberate on the way forward.

    He said: “There is no doubt that Nigeria is at a critical junction. In the annals of this country, our fire fathers created a vision of having a country of peace and harmony.

    “They created an environment that is conducive to our daily lives in peace. They envisioned a nation that is welded together as brothers and sisters where everybody goes about his or her daily duty unhindered, where our economy will thrive, our polity will be progressive and our society will be developed.

    “This we have been trying very hard to achieve and inspite of all the hiccups, the ups and down that has confronted us like every other nation, we have also managed to us ourselves together as one united forward looking country.

    “Infact, Nigeria is reputed to be one of the largest nations in the world in terms of abundant human and material resource, quite unique. We have adequate amount of sunshine, we have enough of rain fall. We have all the God give underground resources. Gold, bauxite, kaolin are available in this country, not to mention the black gold, oil.

    “We have abundant quality human resources and when you go out in the international community, you discovered Nigerians 8n the top echelon of the economy, business, politics, in the academia, sciences etc. we have all it takes to be on the top echelon of the comity of nation, but we have been struggling all along.

    “We have our own fair share of the challenges. But every time we seems to have been pushed to the precipice, we have managed to pull back to retrospect and reflect and by the grace of God, we have always managed to avoid disaster and disintegration and have trudged on in harmony and peace.

    “All along, we have been able to contend with centrifugal forces in our society and we have managed thus far. Why can’t we manage all that has happened.

    In recent times, our nation has been confronted with serious problem, the challenge of peaceful coexistence that some of our previous generations have taken for granted and we can no longer take them for granted.

    “Specifically, we have been confronted with all manner of forces that threatened us, threaten our social-economic advancement, threaten our political stability and threatening us even as a one united nation.

    “As usual, we are not going to sit down and fold our hands and keep watching till the apocalypse. This prompted two frontline media houses, The Nation newspaper and TVC to sit down, ponder on all these issues, for general good and even for peculiar interest and as responsible corporate citizens in the Nigerian project, we decided to relate a platform to bring all the parties that are contending with one another together because even after a war, the resolution will be on the round table and it will end up in discussion.

    “So, we decided that before we get to the level of an all-out war, we should bring all the warring forces to the round table to discuss because as the saying goes, to jaw jaw is better than to war.

    “There is no doubting the fact that all the clashes, with regard to the herder/Farmers clashes have impacted negatively on our environment, on our polity because there is tension everywhere, on our economy, particularly on agricultural production and sale and especially peaceful coexistence without which, no development can take place.

    “This was the prime objective and the motivation behind The Nation newspaper and TV Continental in creating this platform. We have decided to bring all of you together to vent your spleen in good conscience, in a peaceful atmosphere with a view to finding enduring solution to a seemingly intractable problem.

    “Various reasons have been adduced as causes of the clashes ranges from incursion by foreigners into Nigerian Territory or because some people wanted expansionism among others.

    “All these reasons have been unhelpful and have failed to abate the problem and these reasons have been giving discordant signs and we felt that there has a platform has not been created where the antagonist and protagonist can sit down together, face each other and come out with their own perspective, educate the public and all of us who are interested parties in the Nigerian problem with a view to resolving issues and coming out of this platform as brothers and sisters that we all want to be, which we all want to be.”

  • Farmer/herders clashes negatively affecting Nigerian economy – Alake

    …as Nation/TVC Summit opens in Abuja

     

    Former Lagos state Commissioner for Information and strategy and Vice Chairman of TV Continental, Dele Alake has said that the various conflicts in the country in recent times is affecting the economic, political and social lives of Nigerians, saying it was unfortunate that various reasons adduced for this challenge has not help in any way in addressing the problem.

    Alake who spoke at the opening of the National Summit on Conflict resolution organised by The Nation newspaper and Television Continental in Abuja said the farmer/herders clashes in recent time has grossly affected the agricultural production of the country.

    He said even though the nation had managed to survive a break up, Nigerians cannot longer continue to over look these challenges confronting it, pointing out that this explain why the two media houses considered it necessary to bring together stakeholder to deliberate on the way forward.

    He said: “There is no doubt that Nigeria is at a critical junction. In the annals of this country, our fire fathers created a vision of having a country of peace and harmony.

    “They created an environment that is conducive to our daily lives in peace. They envisioned a nation that is welded together as brothers and sisters where everybody goes about his or her daily duty unhindered, where our economy will thrive, our polity will be progressive and our society will be developed.

    “This we have been trying very hard to achieve and inspite of all the hiccups, the ups and down that has confronted us like every other nation, we have also managed to us ourselves together as one united forward looking country.

    “Infact, Nigeria is reputed to be one of the largest nations in the world,icky in terms of abundant human and material resource, quite unique. We have adequate amount of sunshine, we have enough of rain fall. We have all the God give underground resources. Gold, bauxite, kaolin are available in this country, not to mention the black gold, oil.

    “We have an abundant quality human resources and when you go out in the international community, you discovered Nigerians 8n the top echelon of the economy, business, politics, in the academia, sciences etc. we have all it takes to be on the top echelon of the comity of nation, but we have been struggling all along.

    Read Also: ‘Farmers/herders clashes negatively affecting Nigerian economy’

    “We have our own fair share of the challenges. But every time We seems to have been pushed to the precipice, we have managed to pull back to retrospect and reflect and by the grace of God, we have always managed to avoid disaster and disintegration and have trudged on in harmony and peace.

    “All along, we have been able to contend with centrifugal forces in our society and we have managed thus far. Why can’t we manage all that has happened.

    In recent times, our nation has been confronted with serious problem, the challenge of peaceful coexistence that some of our previous generations have taken for granted and we can no longer take them for granted.

    “Specifically, we have been confronted with all manner of forces that threatened us, threaten our social-economic advancement, threaten our political stability and threatening us even as a one united nation.

    “As usual, we are not going to sit down and fold our hands and keep watching till the apocalypse. This prompted two frontline media houses, The Nation newspaper and TVC to sit down, ponder on all these issues, for general good and even for peculiar interest and as responsible corporate citizens in the Nigerian project, we decided to relate a platform to bring all the parties that are contending with one another together because even after a war, the resolution will be on the round table and it will end up in discussion.

    “So, we decided that before we get to the level of an all out war, we should bring all the warring forces to the round table to discuss because as the saying goes, to jawjaw is better than to war war.

    “There is no doubting the fact that all the clashes, with regard to the herder/Farmers clashes have impacted negatively on our environment, on our polity because there is tension everywhere, on our economy, particularly on agricultural production and sale and especially peaceful coexistence without which, no development can take place.

    “This was the prime objective and the motivation behind The Nation newspaper and TV Continental in creating this platform. We have decided to bring all of you together to vent your spleen in good conscience, in a peaceful atmosphere with a view to finding enduring solution to a seemingly intractable problem.

    “Various reasons have been adduced as causes of the clashes ranges from incursion by foreigners into Nigerian Territory or because some people wanted expansionism among others.

    “All these reasons have been unhelpful and have failed to abate the problem and these reasons have been giving discordant signs and we felt that there has a platform has not been created where the antagonist and protagonist can sit down together, face each other and come out with their own perspective, educate the public and all of us who are interested parties in the Nigerian problem with a view to resolving issues and coming out of this platform as brothers and sisters that we all want to be, which we all want to be.”

  • Waiting for Dele Alake

    When Henry Dele Alake showed up the other day at a book launch at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, the audience hardly expected remarks concerning his plan for the future, far or near.

    He spoke profusely about Jackson Akpasubi, the author of the two books presented, who was also Alake’s professional protégé back in their Concord newspaper days. He revealed in characteristic humility that resourceful reporters are always the flame of success of celebrated editors, linking his own flourishing era to the enterprise of field men like Akpasubi in his time as Editor, Sunday Concord. At that time Alake’s editorship came close to lifting the paper to rival the achievement of Gbolabo Ogunsanwo’s Sunday Times in a much earlier epoch in the 70s. The great Ogunsanwo took Sunday Times to a height never reached thereafter by any weekly paper in Nigeria.

    Later Dele Alake was to reinvent the wheel when he served in the administration of Governor Bola Tinubu in Lagos State in 1999. Coming in as a member of Tinubu’s cabinet following a hard fought battle to dislodge the military for democratic governance, Alake promptly sought the renaming of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Sports. He saw it as an unwieldy and elephantine contraption ill-suited to deliver the efficiency required for the challenges of the liberal democracy just birthed. Alake is said to have secured Tinubu’s nod to rename the department as the Ministry of Information and Strategy. He became the first in Nigeria to be addressed as Information and Strategy Commissioner.

    The title was not a bombastic appellation: it gave its owner and those identified with the department an urgent obligation to sync information and the dynamics of reporting government services as one indivisible activity. You were no longer bogged down by needless procedures or bureaucracy to communicate government business to the people. In addition you were to disseminate information with the objective of striking long term partnership with those who elected you. That amounted to the erection of a strategy of relationship between government and the governed.

    Now Alake happens to be one of the figures who used part of this political ground plan to first displace the military in 1999 and secondly to form the broad coalition that midwifed the current All Progressives Congress (APC) at the centre.

    At the book launch Alake spoke copiously about the roles he played during the momentous days that the events threw up in the country. He excited the crowd as he recalled how he and late MKO Abiola, the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election crisscrossed the length and breadth of Nigeria to campaign. He titillated the imagination of the public. The charismatic Abiola has become a folk hero Nigeria never had as their president. Nigerians insist that the current national challenges persist because we have not had a just and acceptable closure in the June 12 matter.

    Alake may have perceived the electrifying animation in the hall when he mentioned MKO Abiola and what he Alake did as his media adviser that led to the man’s election as the president-elect. Alake appeared to have grasped the attention of the audience when he promised that soon he would write a book on those heady days.

    And that was my takeout that day. A book capturing or relating the events that have dramatically shaped the politics and history of Nigeria is badly needed to redirect us, especially if it comes from the mind of a key player. American writer Clarence Day says: “The world of books is the most remarkable creation of man; nothing else that he builds ever lasts. Monuments fall; nations perish; civilizations grow old and die out but in the world of books are volumes that live on still as young and fresh as the day they are written; still telling men’s hearts of the hearts of men centuries dead”.

    Too often, in our society, notable citizens have been known to be helpless victims of the falsification of their noble achievements. This illusory portrayal is then passed on as real to posterity in the absence of a pre-empting counterpoise and incalculable harm alas is done to the polity!

    I believe that Nigeria’s recurring social economic and political challenges are, in a way, the direct consequences of the dearth of books on compatriots who have been influential in our history to relate their story for succeeding generations to study, analyse, understand and learn from.

    For instance I recall how Abiola used the imagery of a transformer to drive home the pivotal role of leadership during the June 12 campaign. This was how his campaign team put it: All Nigeria needs is one transformer. In the bill-board that ran the advert, the body copy contained the message: “This country has the resources to ensure stable power supply. All it takes is one Achiever who can transform what seems impossible to be possible. MKO Abiola has the courage and honesty of purpose to unite us in a bold new move to solve our problems.” Thus Abiola’s image makers projected him as the man who could deal with the flawed and failed leadership Nigeria had been cursed with over the years.

    Nigerians are waiting for Dele Alake’s book to retell the story of an age which promised us a transformer and indeed delivered one. At the moment we are back to a challenging period when we need a genuine game changer.

     

    • Ojewale is a journalist and writer at Ota, Ogun State.
  • Dele Alake’s son’s fairytale wedding

    Dele Alake’s son’s fairytale wedding

    It was a society wedding. The high and mighty joined the families of former Lagos State Information and Strategy Commissioner Dele Alake and former Managing Director/CEO Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria John Akinleye when their children– Olatunbosun and Omoleye got married in Lagos last Saturday. NNEKA NWANERI reports.

    Seeking a good life partner? Why not work for God. That was what pretty Omoleye did. She has been well rewarded. Olatunbosun, son of eminent journalist Mr Dele Alake, spotted her. On setting  eyes on her, he knew she was meant for him.

    Omoleye was Hephzibah Club president at  the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Olive Tree Parish on Banana Island in Ikoyi, Lagos, when Olatunbosun ran into her.

    Olatunbosun, Media Manager of IPNX Telecoms, told The Nation: “I saw her busy in the house of God, doing a lot of things, serving and I prayed about it. Within a short time, everything was clear. It didn’t take long for me to know that she is the one. What better way to meet my partner.”

    He told everyone close to him about her and they accepted her.

    Last Saturday, at the same parish where they met 18 months ago, they exchanged marital vows before a huge crowd of dignitaries: family members and friends.

    The marriage tagged LEYEBOSUN 2015 was a big event. Omoleye, daughter of Mr John Akinleye, and a broker with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) was welcomed with open arms into the Alake family.

    The traditional wedding, held the previous day, was a combination of the rich culture of Ekiti, where the groom hails from and the Ijesa in Osun State,  the bride’s hometown. Omoleye placed a cap on Olatunbosun’s head and dressed it, signifying acceptance to marry him.

    It was an occasion for fashion buffs to show off. There were political big-wigs, captains of industry, and professionals who came to rejoice with the Alake and Akinleye families. Banana Island lost its serenity. Chauffeur-driven cars dotted the landscape.

    Clad in a navy blue suit, bow tie, a piece of rose in his breast pocket, Olatunbosun walked aisle to the altar to read Genesis 2:18-24. Olatunbosun is a split image of his father. The bride looks more like her mother-in-law.

    The union was solemnised by the Vice-President-elect and Senior Pastor of the church, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), who charged the couple to always remember who they are. He described them as extraordinary, supernatural and mysterious children born of water and the spirit. He reminded the couple of the task ahead of them as representatives of the church in their life-long journey.

    Prof Osinbajo has known the groom’s father for 40 years since their days in Igbobi College, Lagos.

    After the nuptial rites, Osinbajo declared them man and wife and presented them to the cheering crowd.

    The next port of call was the Ball Room of the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Lekki, where the reception was held.  Guests were wowed by the decor. It was a masterpiece. The hall was full of red roses, though the colours of the day were gold and red.

    A large screen formed the backdrop of the glassy runway. Candle-lit tables were set round it. The chandeliers added beauty to the hall.

    The groom’s father looked resplendent in his agbada and Abeti-Aja cap. He was ushered into the hall  with his wife, Olasumbo by their family members. Before the couple’s arrival, their  parents  had stepped on the disco-lit dance floor to dig it out the Yoruba way.

    Big B and his band were on the stand, electrifying the hall with soulstirring songs.

    Comedians  Helen Paul and Gbenga Adeyinka anchored the event, ensuring that guests had a nice time.

    Friends of the couple, Angela and Tochukwu, rendered a love song from the sound track of the classical movie “Phantom of the Opera.” There was father-daughter dance.

    Wife of Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi led all the guests to spell Love after which the couple cut their five-layer cake filled with pink roses.

    The groom’s brother, Babajide, who was the bestman, proposed the toast.

    After leaving Home Science Association Secondary School, Ikoyi, Olatunbosun proceeded to Temple University in Philadelphia, United States (US) for a Bachelors degree. He did his Masters degree in New York.

    He said he saw in Omoleye what he desired in a woman. According to him, she is someone who goes out of her way to please others. “I knew right from the very beginning. She has such rare qualities and never disturbs me for material things,” Olatunbosun said.

    Omoleye, who grew up in Lagos, had her first degree at Bells University in Ota, Ogun State, before proceeding to the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom for her Master’s degree. She described her beau as the most amazing and most caring man she has known. “He loves God passionately; he’s very stable and very focused and outstanding,” she said.

    She said he gave her a surprise proposal when he gathered all their friends, organised a video and asked her to marry him before all of them. “With a ring in his hand, he got on one knee right there in the church,”she said.

    Their union, she said, “is a fulfilment of God’s purpose in our lives.”

    At the ceremony were: All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; former APC  Interim Chairman Chief Bisi Akande; Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his Osun State counterpart Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Oyo  State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; former Lagos State Deputy governor Femi Pedro; Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji; Awujale of Ijebuland Oba Sikiru Adetona; Lagos State APC Chairman Chief Henry Ajomale; APC National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed; Women Leader Chief Kemi Nelson;  House of Representatives member Mrs  Abike Dabiri-Erewa; former Lagos State Health Commissioner Dr Leke Pitan; Emeritus Professor of Medicine Yetunde Olumide; Mrs Teju Philips; Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN); Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) and former NTDC boss Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Debo Aina and Mr. Kehinde Bamgbetan.

    Others are: Vanguard Publisher  ‘Uncle’  Sam Amuka-Pemu; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, represented by Mallam Garba Shehu; Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora; former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, Senator Ganiyu Solomon. The News CEO Bayo Onanuga and “The Punch” Managing Director Ademola Osinubi among others.