The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EAST

  • Reps call for building of section v of East West road

    Reps call for building of section v of East West road

    The House of Representatives has urged Federal Ministry of Work to ensure the commencement of the building of section v of the East West road.

    It mandated the Committees on Works and Appropriation to make provision for the construction of the road to link Oron in Akwa Ibom State and Odukpani Calabar in Cross River State in the 2024 budget estimate.

    These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion moved by Bassey Akiba, Mike Etaba, Alex Egbona,

    Joseph Bassey, Emil Inyang, Victor Abang, Peter Akpanke and Godwin Offiong.

    The House said the East-West road, a 388-kilometre federal trunk A2 dual carriageway connecting Niger Delta states and Ikom federal trunk A4 road, initially designed with 42 bridges and 1,000 culverts, was awarded at N246 billion in 2006.

    It noted that the road was divided into five sections, Warri-Kaiama in Delta/Bayelsa State; Port Harcourt-Ahoada-Kaiama in Rivers/Bayelsa State; Eleme-Onne-Ete in Rivers/Akwa Ibom State and Ikot Abasi-Eket-Oron Road in Akwa Ibom/Cross River State.

    Read Also: Fintiri kicks-off building of N21bn road

    The House said sections I to IV of the road have reached 85 per cent completion, with the Federal Government releasing funds for a new bypass and other works.

    This, it said, had increased the contract sum from N246 billion to N506 billion, with over 80 per cent of the funds already released.

    The House was concerned that the building of section IV of the 30km dual carriageway from Oron to Calabar was

    ongoing, despite contract awards from the Federal Government.

    It said the road, which linked Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, was in poor condition, with potholes causing loss of lives and forcing commuters to travel by sea.

    It said the construction of section v of the East-West road would address infrastructural deficit and enhance economic stability by facilitating the movement of goods.

    The House added that the building of a new East-West road section was expected to alleviate the current six-hour journey time, which had increased fares in the region.

  • No crack in Lagos East APC, says Seriki

    No crack in Lagos East APC, says Seriki

    Lagos East All progressives Congress (APC) leader Alhaji Akanni Seriki-Bamu has said there is no crack in the senatorial chapter, urging members to be committed to the welfarist cause of the party.

    He urged party chieftains, followers and supporters to support Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and reiterate their loyalty to the leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who he described as a colossus and a oak tree offering protective shade to the progressive family.

    Seriki told reporters in Lagos that the insinuation of division in Lagos APC is a figment of imagination, assuring that the party is united behind Ambode, who has been endorsed for a second term.

    He however, lamented that some disgruntled elements may have embarked on a campaign of blackmail and calumny by peddling falsehood and inciting some leaders against one another for personal gain.

    To check their nefarious activities, Seriki said when spurious allegations are raised, leaders should try to verify the claims of the accusers before acting on the concocted lies.

    The party chieftain applauded the governor for living up to expectation, stressing that Lagosians have not voted for him in vain.

    Seriki added: “Ambode is a special gift of the Epe Division to Lagos State. Look at the work he is doing across the state. Look at the roads he has constructed, the bridges, the intervention in the transport sector. He is a very caring governor and a role model to his colleagues.”

    He urged the governor to intensify his efforts in delivering dividends of democracy in accordance to popular expectation.

    Seriki advised Ambode to also remember those party members and followers who laboured at the vineyard of politics to ensure his emergence as candidate at the primary.

    He added: “They deserve attention to give them a sense of reward and belonging and to prevent a feeling of “use and dump” syndrome.”

     

  • Wise men still come from the East

    At his incarnation, wise men gifted in astronomy came from the East, all the way to Bethlehem, in the south of Jerusalem, to worship Jesus Christ. They are today known as the Magi, who gave the newborn gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

    There is a lot to say on the significance of each gift item, but that is not the purpose of the writing today. Maybe, another day, as the need arises. What we need from that nativity story is that the wise men came all the way from the East, following a star that led them to Bethlehem. In our country Nigeria, we have the geo-political zone called the South-east, and wise men still come from there. In plenty numbers. This week, it was brought out in bold relief.

    President Muhammadu Buhari was in two states of the South-east on Tuesday and Wednesday, and what a delightsome, myth-shattering visit it has become. It is one visit that has torpedoed the negative narrative deliberately conjured by some mischief makers over the years, that President Buhari does not like people from the East, and neither do the people like him.

    Now, that assertion is fiction, pure apocryphal, conjured and concocted by some people to serve narrow political ends. In his first shot at the presidency in 2003, who was Buhari’s running mate? Dr Chuba Okadigbo. Where did he come from? Ogbunike, town of the famous cave, in the South-east. And in 2007, candidate Buhari looked towards the East again. He picked Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic, as running mate. And in 2011, I remember very clearly. Buhari was on the march again, and needed a running mate. Socio-political leadership of the South-east forbade any of its sons from being running mate to anyone. Their candidate, they said, was Goodluck Jonathan, who then was completing the term of Umaru Yar’Adua. So, Buhari looked westward, and picked the cleric, Tunde Bakare. But did he demonstrate any animus towards the East? Not at all.

    In 2015, the man, easily the most colourful politician, greatest crowd puller of this season in Nigeria, threw his hat into the ring again. The East was still in bed with Jonathan, completely besotted, vowing to swim or sink with their brother, Ebele Azikiwe.

    Buhari looked westward again, picked Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as running mate. A large part of the East was dug in, not minding to play what may be called ‘poor politics’ in the process. When the dust of the elections settled, Jonathan was holding the shorter end of the stick. Buhari coasted to the presidency, but the entire East had given him just about 180,000 votes, less than what some local councils gave in other parts of the country. To make matters worse, the East had refused to re-elect its own son, Dr Chris Ngige, as senator. If Ngige had been given a mandate, he would have effortlessly emerged Senate President, and see what the region would have benefitted. But the large number opted for self-immolation, voted Ngige out, and later began to scream marginalization. But if you ask me, it was a self-inflicted wound. Result of poor politics.

    That was the background that some people twisted, and used to paint the scenario that President Buhari does not like the South-east.

    But happily, there had been voices of reason from the region, pre-2015 presidential election. The Ralph Obiohas, Chris Ngiges, Festus Odimegwus, Fr. Ejike Mbakas, Orji Uzor Kalus, Osita Okechukwus, J.C Ojukwus, and many others, had warned their people not to put their eggs in one basket. And they have turned out to be wise men, being joined today by thousands of other wise people.

    You know what the mistakes of 2015 did to Ndigbo? It consigned them to perpetual opposition politics, playing in the periphery. For such an illustrious and enterprising people, that was unfortunate, if not tragic. If they continued that way, there was no silver lining in the sky for the future. Nigeria is configured in a way that the person who builds the largest coalition is the one who can emerge President. The Igbo should naturally produce the President one day, that is what fairness demands. But how would that ever happen, if they continued to play poor politics? If you continue to swim in small pools, you stand the risk of being submerged in bigger waters. But now, things are changing. The wise men are making a difference.

    Back to Ebonyi, the famed Salt of the Nation, where we arrived last Tuesday. Governor Dave Umahi is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and he is also Igbo. If he were to play narrow politics, he should have nothing to do with President Buhari. But the Ebonyi State helmsman has proven himself a wise man from the East. He has cultivated a good relationship with the President, and achieved the feat of being the first state in the South-east to host the President on a State Visit. President Buhari consented to the visit, thus showing him to be a pan-Nigerian leader, true father of the nation. If overriding sentiments had prevailed, then the President would not have chosen a state controlled by the opposition PDP for his visit, and definitely, not a state in a ‘hostile region.’ But not President Buhari, who has always maintained that no part of the country would be treated unfairly under his watch.

    Landing at Enugu airport, before proceeding to Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State, by chopper, was the first breath of fresh air. The airport was gaily decorated, with banners, billboards and posters of the President and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, who was also on hand to receive the President. He is also of the PDP, but a wise man from the East. You don’t play the politics that shuts you out of the national grid, lest you get sentenced to perpetual half current, or no current at all.  The reception at Enugu airport, and , indeed, in all the places we visited, Abakaliki and Awka, would make you relish and savour the aroma of brotherhood and national cohesion.

    Before the visit, there had been attempt by those behind negative narratives, to frighten the President away. They forgot he was a General, and such people don’t scare easily. However, the  reception and applause  all round gave a true picture of what subsists in the country. This is a President widely and massively loved-in the North, the South, East and West.

    Not only is Gov Dave Umahi a wise man from the East, the royal fathers in his state are of the same mind. They gave President Buhari the traditional title of Enyioma 1 of Ebonyi, meaning Trustworthy Friend of Ebonyis. Commendable.

    Also joining the train of wisdom, are the traditional rulers of South-east, as a body. They gave the President the title Ochioha Ndigbo, meaning Leader of Igbo People. I tell you, this is the way to build a cohesive nation, promote brotherliness, and guarantee fairness and equity, rather than the poor politics of the past. More than at any other time, the wise men from the East have given a handshake across the Niger, and only the future will show the positive impact of that initiative.

    Former Ebonyi State governor, Sam Egwu, immediate past governor, Martin Elechi, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, former Culture Minister, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu, former senator, Julius Ucha,  and many others, were part of the healing process in the East. Ogbuewu said President Buhari, by the visit, had proven that he was  not truly for some people, but for all Nigerians. Egwu, on his part, disclosed that Gov Umahi had charged those of them currently in the National Assembly from Ebonyi, to always give support to policies of the Federal Government, despite belonging to different political parties. That’s the way to go.

    The traditional rulers of the South-east, through their leader, Eze Eberechi Dick, commended the President for fighting insecurity, for fighting corruption, promoting agriculture, and generally bringing hope of a better future.

    “You are a great leader. We love you so much. We are solidly behind you,” the monarch said.

    Trust the President to throw in a wisecrack. After being decorated with the paraphernalia of chieftaincy, he said:”I will tell my personal photographer to frame the picture, and I will put it in my sitting room in Daura, where I will eventually end up.” That’s a man who knows the transience of power and official positions. East or West, home is the best. Daura would always be home.

    When the President entered the township stadium in Abakaliki, the applause was inspiring. One was tempted to ask, is this not in the South-east, where they say they don’t like Buhari? The same thing was to repeat itself in Awka, when the President entered the Alex Ekwueme Square, where the campaign for Anambra governorship holding this Saturday was being concluded. It was applause all the way, signposting the fact that the East was ready to jettison poor politics, and return to the mainstream. It was a roll call of who is who in Nigerian politics from the South-east, who have now teamed up with the All Progressives Congress (APC). Emeka Ojukwu junior, son of Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who used the occasion to publicly join the APC, summed it all up, by pointing out that when his father came back from exile in the early 1980s, he did not join a regional party, but opted for a national one. He concluded: “It is time to stop operating in the periphery. It is time to leave the shadows for light.” Home truth for all Nigerians, and for Ndigbo particularly, if you ask me.

    There is no way you can tell the Igbos not to aspire for presidency of Nigeria at a time in future. It will be contrary to fairness and justice. But then, the region must start playing astute politics. It must leave the shadows for light. It must sustain the hand of fellowship it has extended to the rest of the country, as shown in the warm reception for the President in Ebonyi and Anambra states. Wise men abound in that region, I say again.

    During the reception in Ebonyi, Gov Umahi announced a gift of 2,000 bags of rice, 2,000 tubers of yam, and a white horse for the President. I saw the Enyioma 1 of Ebonyi open his mouth in amazement. While thanking his host for the gift, he promised to send the cargo to Daura, his hometown, for the people to share. Trust me, I told Mohammed Sarki Abba, the President’s senior aide, seated beside me: “I’ll ask Mr President for 50 of those bags of rice, before you send them to Daura. I’ll then distribute them to my own friends in the name of Ochioha Ndigbo.”

    And that’s exactly what I’ll do. The Enyioma 1 would surely oblige. Lol.

     

    • Adesina is Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari
  • Rivers East district has no senator, says Wike

    Rivers East district has no senator, says Wike

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said Rivers East has no senator.

    He spoke yesterday at  a Thanksgiving Service for Senator George Thompson Sekibo, at the St Thomas Anglican Church in Diobu.

    Sekibo was sacked from the National Assembly by the Court of Appeal last week.

    He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of destroying key national institutions.

    Wike said following APC’s negative governance style, the police and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have metamorphosed into rigging machines threatening the peace of the country.

    According to him, the Appeal Court judgment, which led to the loss of Rivers East mandate is a fallout of the “unfortunate illegal alliance  between the police and INEC”.

    He explained the APC tendered results certified by the Police to the tribunal, which the tribunal relied on, rather than results declared by INEC on election day. He said incidentally, both results had the same serial numbers, which showed the fraud by the two institutions.

    He said: “Instead of bringing change as they promised, things are getting worse. They have introduced extreme fraud in the country, especially  denying the people their mandate.”

    The governor said nobody  should be afraid of the Police and Army in defence of his mandate in 2019.

    “Nobody  should be afraid of the Police or Army, because  liberty comes with a price. They have nothing to campaign with outside  the use of security.  I am ready to place myself on the line. Nobody will take Rivers State, ” he said.

    Wike  explained he was  at the airport  to receive Buhari because  the President  is for all Nigerians, irrespective of political parties.

    He, however, said he would continue  to disagree with policies of the Federal Government, especially the alleged faulty fight against corruption.

    Sekibo said he received  unflinching support from Wike and Ikwerre all through his political struggle.

    He said there was no Ikwerre agenda in his ouster from the Senate.

    Sekibo said: “If it was an Ikwerre Agenda, it would have been  displayed at the point of voting. At the tribunal, those who took away the mandate were not Ikwerre people”.

    Venerable Richard Okpara urged judicial officers to use their constitutional powers  for the good of the country.

    He also called on the Federal Government  to learn to accommodate  all political interests, saying the political space  should  not  be overheated .

    “We must learn to blend for the good of the nation. We must be careful not to heat the polity. Variety is the spice of life, monotony kills interest.”

  • Nigeria’s NotJustOk takes music to East and South Africa

    Nigeria’s NotJustOk takes music to East and South Africa

    NIGERIA’S foremost music site, NotJustOk, is breaking new grounds, with a recent expansion that is taking their offering to East and South African countries.

    With this, the popular website which has only existed for a decade has sets itself ahead of other online entertainment content providers across the continent.

    This, according to its founder, Demola Ogundele, is part of the company’s commitment to exposing African music to the world.

    He said: “NotJustOk pioneered the popularity of Nigerian and Ghanaian music online and our entrance into East and South African markets is an attempt to popularize the amazing music coming out of counties such as Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Botswana and other countries in the region.”

    He further explained that, “this will both provide variety to our three million monthly users and attract even more users from these regions so that they can also enjoy and consume music from their local markets and discover music from other African regions.”

    The intention, according to Ogundele, “is to add more value to these regions as we added to the Nigerian music space which is currently the dominant force in African music.”

    He noted that NotJustOk has been at the forefront of promoting Nigerian and Ghanaian music which is now popularly referred to as ‘Afrobeats’ in the West.

    “This new extension has already been added to the website and can be accessed by simply clicking on the Region button at the home page and navigating to the East Africa or South Africa additions on www.notjustok.com,” he said.

    ABOUT Notjustok.com

    Created in June 2006, the Nigerian music website is estimated to have over three million viewers per month, from 183 countries, and recorded as one of Nigeria’s and Tanzanian’s most visited website.

    The website delivers music and music videos from the hip hop and contemporary music genres. It also allows artists to upload their songs to the public through a music sharing platform called “Mynotjustok”. The website contributed to the sales of popular music albums, including Superstar by Wizkid, The W Experience by Banky W, C.E.O by Da Grin, and M.I.2 by M.I.

    NotJustOk was voted the “Best Nigerian Music Website” at the City People Entertainment Awards in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. It was also voted “Blog of The Year” at the 2013 edition of the Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

  • A little to the East

    For one long week, President Muhammadu Buhari was in China on a working visit along with some top government officials and businessmen and women.

    Buhari, who left Nigeria on Sunday April 10 for the Asian country and returned on Saturday April 16, visited the country for the first time under the current dispensation.

    His main target was to get greater support from China towards turning around the fortunes of Nigeria and placing the most populous African nation on the path of growth.

    For several years, Nigeria relied mainly for support on its infrastructural development on the West.

    Under the current dispensation alone, President Buhari had led Nigeria delegations to the United States thrice and also been to many European countries seeking support and cooperation for the well-being of Nigeria.

    Despite the support from the West and the high level mismanagement of the Nigerian economy by past leaders, Nigeria has remained a poor nation in the face of its huge natural resources.

    Among other challenges, the current exchange rate of $1 to about N319 in the parallel market has been pushing up inflation in almost every sector of the economy.

    Costs of imported goods into Nigeria have been rising and indirectly pressuring the prices of locally produced goods and services upward.

    While most infrastructures in the country are nothing to write home about, revenue from its mono economy mainly dependent on oil has reduced from over $100 per barrel to around $40 per barrel for almost a year now.

    The falling oil prices in the international market have also continued to eat deeply into the Nigeria’s foreign reserves while the naira has continued to be very weak against the dollar.

    Dollarization of the Nigerian economy over the years is now gradually becoming a curse for the country.

    To find solutions, Buhari, sought the support of China for infrastructural development, in power, roads, railways, aviation, water supply and housing sectors, among other sectors.

    After the trip, the government has started counting the gains of the one week working visit to China.

    Apart from the belief that the several agreements concluded with China during the visit will have huge and positive impact on key sectors of the Nigerian economy, the visit was said to have yielded investments for Nigeria in excess of $6 billion.

    Highlights of the agreements in the power sector included North South Power Company Limited and Sinohydro Corporation Limited signing an agreement valued at $478,657,941.28 for the construction of 300 Mega Watts solar power in Shiriro, Niger State.

    For the solid minerals sector, Granite and Marble Nigeria Limited and Shanghai Shibang signed an agreement valued at $55 million for the construction and equipping of granite mining plant in Nigeria.

    A total of $1 billion USD is to be invested in the development of a greenfield expressway for Abuja-Ibadan-Lagos under an agreement reached by the Infrastructure Bank and Sinohydro Corporation Limited.

    For the housing sector, both companies also sealed a $250 million deal to develop an ultra modern 27-storey high rise complex and a $2.5 billion agreement for the development of the Lagos Metro Rail Transit Red Line project.

    Other agreements announced and signed during the visit included a $1 billion for the establishment of a Hi-tech industrial park in Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone in Igbesa, Ogun State.

    The Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone and CNG (Nigeria) Investment Limited also signed an agreement valued at $200 million for the construction of two 500MT/day float gas facilities.

    An agreement valued at $363 million for the establishment of a comprehensive farm and downstream industrial park in Kogi state was also announced at the Nigeria-China business forum.

    Other agreements undergoing negotiations included a $500 million project for the provision of television broadcast equipment and a $25 million facility for production of pre-paid smart meters between Mojec International Limited and Microstar Company Limited.

    There were however fears in some quarters that Nigeria’s new romance with China will ruffle some feathers in the West.

    But the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has assured that the new found love with China will not soil Nigeria’s relation with the US.

    He said: “In relationship with the west, don’t forget that what has helped China so fast in 30 years is because of the investments of the west in China.

    “That is really what has transformed the Chinese economy, the Japanese, Germans and Americans. So we will not have any problem with the west. China is part of the World Trade Organization and part of the international trading system.” He added

    Barely five days Buhari returned from China, the US President, Barack Obama, sent a 42-member high-power delegation led by the US Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Ms Samantha Power, to Nigeria.

    Their mission was to support the three priority areas of President Buhari’s administration including security, economy and governance.

    It is hoped that all these moves will really turn around Nigeria and propel it to its rightful place in the committee of nations, both economically and politically.

     

    Wike and the Villa

     

    The Presidential Villa last Wednesday and Thursday received irregular visitor to the seat of power.

    That is in the person of the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

    Unlike other state governors, it became almost impossible to sight Wike among his colleagues at any official function in the State House, Abuja especially after he got his electoral victory at the Supreme Court.

    But Wike stunned journalists and his colleagues as he attended the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) meeting at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja on Wednesday night.

    He also came to the Council Chamber the following day along with his colleagues for the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.

     

  • Deepening word-of-mouth marketing in the East

    Deepening word-of-mouth marketing in the East

    To further deepen its share of the dark beer market in the Southeast, Nigerian Breweries is banking on its consumer oral promo, Legend Extra Stout ‘Taste & Tell’, to capture new fans and boost brand engagement, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    Consumers have always valued opinions expressed directly to them. Marketers may spend millions of dollars on elaborately-conceived advertising campaigns, yet, what often makes up a consumer’s mind is not only simple but also free: a word-of-mouth recommendation from a trusted source.

    As consumers, overwhelmed by product  choices, tune out the ever-growing barrage of traditional marketing, word-of-mouth cuts through the noise quickly and effectively. This, perhaps, may have informed the Nigerian Breweries’ decision to push its dark stout, Legend Extra Stout, into the eastern market through its national campaign, Taste and Tell, to underscore the importance of experience and word-of-mouth in marketing. While ‘Taste’ is about brand experience, ‘Tell’ is a word-of-mouth recommendation from a trusted source who has experienced the brand. The experience could be positive or negative.

    The importance of ‘Taste and Tell’ in brand marketing cannot be undermined. A marketing analyst, McKinsey’s Ole Jørgen Vetvik, says 20 to 50 per cent of all purchasing decisions is based on word-of-mouth. “Indeed, word of mouth is the primary factor behind many purchasing decisions,” he said.

    While adopting this approach on Sunday, March 22, at the Owerri leg of the second edition of ‘Taste & Tell’ campaign, an in-bar activation powered by Legend Extra Stout after the first edition was held across Lagos state and Benin, the experience shown in Imo state is unprecedented. The excitement in the air around Umunkoto along the ever busy Nekede Road, was conspicuous. As early as 7:30pm, the event section of the Winter Suite Hotel had no empty seat available. Bottles of the brand had already served on the tables as the quests, mostly consumers, are plunged into the contemporary hit songs blasting from the giant speakers strategically mounted around the event arena.

    Like the Lagos and Benin activations which featured Yoruba and Benin cultural performances respectively, the Owerri leg also featured a performance by Nna Nyelu Ugo cultural group to connect the brand with the people. The group took the audience, which had the Igbos in the majority, back to their roots with their soulful rendition of traditional folk songs.

    The high point of the event, however, was when the audience took centre stage to play the ‘Taste & Tell game. The ‘taste-and-tell’ game, involved a blind taste game where volunteer tasters tasted several drinks poured into cups marked ‘A’ to ‘C’ after which they were asked to identify the cup that contained Legend Extra stout. Participants who correctly identified the cup were rewarded with prizes such as 9.5kva generating set, LED TV and a refrigerator among other things.

    The game was conducted in batches of three volunteer tasters. Two out of the three tasters- Vitalis Chilaka, a 300 level under graduate of Quantity surveying, Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, and Augustine Chukwuebuka, and upcoming artiste correctly identified the glass that contained Legend Extra Stout after tasting the unidentified drinks in the first batch. For their feat, Vitalis and Agustine were rewarded with a 32’ inch LED TV and refrigerator respectively.

    Reacting to their winnings the duo attributed it to their loyalty to the Legend brand for a long time during which they become accustomed to that taste of Legend Extra Stout. “I volunteered to play the game because I knew I would win. I have been a Legend Extra Stout loyalist for years now, so I was sure I won’t miss that unique bitter taste and the feel of that rich foam head,” Vitalis said.

    Also, Augustine said, “Legend has been my best drink for over four years now. You can’t be loyal to a brand like that and fail to distinguish it from other brands even when blind folded. Almost all stout brands have bitter taste, but the bitter taste of Legend Extra Stout is unique”.

    A 500L medical Student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Gift Chukwuoti, emerged the winner in the third batch and was rewarded with a 9.5kva generating set for his feat. Reacting to his winning, visibly elated Gift was full of praises for Legend Extra Stout for the gift and confessed that he never expected that he would go home with such a prize as he had just come to the venue with no prior knowledge of what was going on.

    “This is quite surprising for me; I’m really short of words. I came in here not knowing something like this was going on but here I’m going home with a giant generating set. I want to thank Legend Extra stout for this”, said Gift.

    Asked how he was able to identify the brand from among many unmarked drinks, Gift was quick to say, “I’ve been a Legend Extra Stout loyalist for four years now, so I couldn’t have missed that unique bitter taste that only Legend possesses”.

    A psychologist, George Silverman, pioneered word-of-mouth marketing when he created what he called “teleconferenced peer influence groups” in order to engage physicians in dialogue about new pharmaceutical products. Silverman noticed an interesting phenomenon while conducting focus groups with physicians in the early 1970s. “One or two physicians who were having good experiences with a drug would sway an entire group of skeptics. They would even sway a dissatisfied group of ex-prescribers who had had negative experiences!,” he observed.

    Speaking about the activation, the Marketing Manager, Lager (Gulder, 33 export, Life & More) and Stout (Legend, Turbo King &), Nigerian Breweries Plc Emmanuel Agu, explained that the in-bar activation was introduced last year after Legend Extra Stout was repackaged as the brand.  He said that it will also serve as a medium to engage and reward its teeming consumers for their support over the years. “We started the Legend Taste & Tell activation last year after the brand was repackaged and we are continuing with it this year because it is a unique way to engage and reward our teeming consumers for their continued support for the brand. It also provides platform for us to reinforce in consumers the unique great taste of Legend Extra Stout despite the brand’s repackaging, and also serve as a medium to reinforce in them those key attributes of the Legend brand that makes it stand out,” he said.

    In 2014 Legend Extra Stout was repackaged in Stanoil foil and metalised labels. In the same year Legend Extra Stout via its National Consumer Promo, took 30 Nigerians to an all-expenses-paid shopping spree in Dubai, United Arab Emirate.

    Agu, who disclosed that the activation train will touch designated locations across the country from March to June, 2015, enjoined consumers to look out for when the train will stop in their cities and join the fun.

     

    Competition as the driver of Taste & Tell marketing activation

    The competition in the stout marketing is reaching a fever pitch especially between Guinness stout and Legend extra stout. The market, which parades old rivals, such as Guinness Extra Stout and Legend Extra stout; and the brands for the low-end markets such as such as ‘Castle Milk Stout’, Dark Ale and Turbo-King, is becoming more competitive following the ever-changing taste of consumers. With the renewed effort by low-end brands to stimulate demand, the story of the old rivals has continued to follow the narrative of the Biblical David and Goliath, mustering enough marketing budget to fight each other through innovative marketing approach.

    The Marketing Director of NB, Mr. Walter Drenth said: “I don’t think we are responding to any competition; as stated earlier, innovation is in the DNA of Legend and we believe this will progressively push the brand to its deserved place at the top. A quick flash back about our support for Legend in the last few years will convince all that rather than responding to others, other players are following our footsteps. This explains why the brand has, in the past years, remained the fastest growing stout in the market. We have to keep growing; we want to give consumers the best by emphasising the quality of our brand. This is part of our strategies. And again, I want to reiterate this; it’s part of our ways of showcasing a premium quality.”

  • Ogun East: Kashamu faces fresh hurdles ahead senatorial poll

    Ogun East: Kashamu faces fresh hurdles ahead senatorial poll

    Barely weeks to the April National Assembly Elections, Buruji Kashamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is facing fresh hurdles threatening his ambition to represent the Ogun East Senatorial District at the red chamber, reports, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

    A FRESH lawsuit challenging the eligibility of Prince Buruji Kashamu to contest the March 28, 2015 National Assembly election and unending rejection of his candidature by groups and individuals within the Ogun East Senatorial District he seeks to represent, may be creating fresh worries in the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strongman.

    Sources told The Nation that anxiety gripped Buruji’s political family, the Omo-Ilu group, as well as leaders of the PDP in Ogun State as the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, last Wednesday, commenced hearing in a suit filed by two members of the party seeking his disqualification as the party’s candidate for Ogun East Senatorial District.

    Although the hearing was stalled following arguments by Kashamu’s counsels that their client was yet to be served the processes of the court, The Nation learnt that the commencement of the proceeding, after Kashamu had allegedly vowed that the case will not see the light of the day, scared his supporters stiff.

    “When we first heard of the case, we were bothered. But when our leaders assured us that it will not be heard before the election as things were being taken care of, we relaxed. But when we got to court on Wednesday and the judge said he was prepared to entertain the case, fear gripped many of us,” a supporter of the politician said.

    Signs that things may not go the way Kashamu’s supporters expected showed when the defendant’s counsel, Ufoma Eze, urged the court to first thrash out the matter concerning its jurisdiction to hear the case as already raised in her notice of preliminary objection, before considering the applicants’ originating summons and motion on notice.

    Swiftly, counsel to the applicants urged the court to hear the issues raised in the originating summons, the motion on notice and notice of preliminary objection at the same time.

    Rather than accede to Eze’s demand, presiding judge, Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo, however, adjourned further hearing to March 12 to enable the applicants’ counsel reply to the notice of preliminary objection filed by the applicants’ counsel, while insisting that the main case will be heard on its merit.

    The two PDP members, Dele Ajayi from Ward 08 in Ijebu North Local Government Area and Saula Adeniji Wasiu of Ward 003, Sagamu Local Government Area of the state, last week, dragged Kashamu to court and prayed the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising him as the candidate of the PDP for Ogun East.

    Sources within the party in the state also revealed that leaders of the PDP are worried of what will be the lot of the party should the Judge grant the prayers of the applicants barely three weeks to the rescheduled elections.

    “The concern by party leaders is based on the fear that an injunction restraining any candidate at this time will greatly injure the chances of the party not only in the senatorial election, but in other contests. Kashamu is one of the flagships of the party in Ogun state.

    Stopping him now under any guise will harm the PDP. That is why all hands are on deck to ensure that he surmounts this current hurdle. As a party, we are solidly behind him and determined to field him as our candidate,” a member of the elders’ caucus of the party told The Nation.

    But another prominent chieftain of the party, Hon. Dave Salako, is opposed to what he called the political antics of Kashamu and his camp. According to the former House of Representatives member, anything short of justice for those opposed to Kashamu’s manipulations will spell doom for the PDP in the state.

    “Like I always say, Kashamu needs to be honest and he should be far away from anything that is politically fraudulent. He has done so many things that I have seen that are very wrong and he is getting away with it. I have also taken him to court but instead of him backing out, he is bringing another dimension into politics of Nigeria.

    He always gets people who are ready and eager to compromise in many things that they know are wrong. Check out all the candidates he fielded in his so-called list; they are all weak aspirants who can never win any election. Even Kashamu himself cannot win Ogun East Senatorial seat for PDP. He is not even qualified. We cannot be under the same umbrella with him unless he goes back to mend his ways,” Salako said.

    Expressing worry over the readiness of PDP members to dump the party and move to the opposition, Salako said “our people are daily telling us they want to move to another party because they don’t want to stay under the same umbrella with Buruji. If they do, we cannot stop them and we will lose that election again.”

    Also on Wednesday, some members of the PDP in Ogun East Senatorial District dissociated themselves from Kashamu’s senatorial ambition. Speaking under the aegis of PDP Elders and Youths Coalition, at a meeting in Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu North Local Government, they denied any support for Buruji Kashamu’s ambition.

    In a communiqué, the leaders of the coalition, including Tola Alausa, Wale Soile, Segun Odujirin, Segun Adekoya, Emily Sholaru, Dan Akitan and Moshood Adebayo, urged the national leadership of the party to stop the candidacy of the politician before he plunges the party into more crises.

    The communiqué read in part: “We hereby reject the leadership and candidacy of Prince Buruji Kashamu in Ogun East. It is instructive to state here that with him as the leader and or candidate of PDP in our zone, the party will fail to get the vote of the highly intelligent and self-respecting people of Ijebu and Remo kingdoms.

    “While it is public knowledge that the coming of Kashamu into the PDP in Ogun state has brought more damages than good into the party, we urged the national leadership of the party to stop the candidacy of the politician before he plunges the party into more crises.”

    The group condemned what they called the damaging support being enjoyed by the Kashamu faction from the national leadership of the party. They argued that unless the PDP leadership calls Kashamu to order, PDP in Ogun state will remain in the opposition for much longer.

    The leaders, who pledged their loyalty to the party, said they would not work with the Kashamu-led faction of the party. Sholaru, a former chairperson of the party in Ikenne LGA, warned that “Kashamu and his co-travelers are working hard to end the hope of our party returning to its winning ways in Ogun State.

    But responding to the current developments, Kashamu said nothing will truncate his desire to represent the people at the senate. According to him, he remains the man to beat at the polls.

    According to the business mogul-turned politician, the ongoing attempt to stop his aspiration through the courts will fail because the allegations against him are baseless and frivolous.

    In a statement, he said: “I have not been charged or convicted of any offences whether here in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world. The Interpol and other relevant agencies, including the courts in the United Kingdom and Nigeria, have exonerated me of the unfounded allegations.”

    Kashamu said his lawyers are addressing the issues at the court, urging his supporters to remain calm and be focused on winning the forthcoming elections.

  • Jonathan’s sun sets in the East

    President Goodluck Jonathan has missed being the sun of the nation’s life and that of the pit of degradation, called the Niger Delta. Everlasting night has settled upon Nigeria, spurred by moral

    bankruptcy and the clueless chaos of his governance. There is nothing his administration has done that inspires hope in the people within the last six years.

    Nigerians have grown accustomed to the deafening cacophonies of missing billions in the oil sector and the NNPC accounts, pension fund looting, oil bunkering, abandoned projects, devaluation of the

    nation’s currency, spilling of innocent blood by the nihilist Boko Haram militias etc. Most of all, mega-corruption and the government’s inability to tame the bloodcurdling insurgents Boko Haram has been President Jonathan’s undoing.

    He could not use his “Omnipotent Government” to suppress the vices because he is a beneficiary of the self-inflicted crises. President Jonathan’s government has been a major source of mischief and disaster ever witnessed in Nigeria. Granted that the worst evils which mankind ever had to endure were inflicted by governments in human history, but there come a time the people strive for change, and the time is now.

    The above statement was echoed – not exactly the same – by no less a personage than the fierce and fire-spitting Catholic Priest Rev. Ejike Mbaka. The iron cast priest obviously ventilated Ludwig Von Mises, the Austrian School economist, sociologist, and classical liberal who became prominent for his work in praxeology, a deductive study of human choice and action. “There is no more dangerous menace to civilisation than a government of incompetent, corrupt, or vile men”, Von said.

    Rev. Mbaka hits the bull’s eye when he told President Jonathan the stark truth he hates to hear: “What is the fate of our children? Tears fill my eyes when I see our young graduates hoping and walking our streets. What is the meaning of kidnapping? Kidnapping is the grandson of unemployment. Boko Haram is a great grand child of the same unemployment, mass looting, and poor governance”.

    “President Jonathan cannot lead Nigeria. As things stand right now, from the oracle of the Holy Spirit, Jonathan should honourably resign quietly and let Nigeria be. The destiny of Nigeria is greater than

    Goodluck Jonathan. The Goodluck in Jonathan has become a bad luck to Nigerians. Whatever brought him in should send him back and let Nigeria be. By this time in few months to come, many are going to lose their jobs and there is no alternative”

    “During election, Jonathan will answer Azikiwe, Ebele and become an Igbo man and after election, the Ebele, the Azikiwe and Goodluck will vanish from his identity. Who is fooling who actually? Look at our federal roads, we are not even asking for new ones, roads built by Buhari and Babangidas — the so called Hausa people— cannot be maintained. Follow Enugu here to Onitsha, children born some years ago do not know that there was a lane along the other side of Isiagwu and we are all saying continue. The continuity of Jonathan means disaster to Nigeria”.

    “When there is no road, no power, all this fake promises… where is the power? That Onitsha Bridge, has it now been built? No. After six years, and Goodluck has what it takes to do whatever. He surrounded himself with hooligans. By the time he comes down, he won’t have anybody to

    work with. He played himself into the hands of hooligans. My interest is about the wellness of this country. Nigeria must survive. What we are passing through is by the help of God. The same

    God who saved us from Ebola will save us from this bad luck season”.

    “Look at it, there was a time there was an argument about pension fund – such billions. Who is talking about it now? Billions and we were hearing it… from excess crude oil money, where is the impact of the excess crude oil money? Now from oil boom, it has met a bad luck; it’s now oil doom. If my father will be my leader and my siblings will all die, let a stranger be my leader and let my family be”, Rev. Mbaka said.

    I quoted the Catholic Priest at great length because of his religious standing, his following, his geopolitical firmament and the ethno-religious sentiments that have dampened Nigeria political

    growth. Political leaders who failed to fulfil electoral promises to the electorate deliberately appeal or exploit ethnocentric and religious sentiments of their selfish gains in sections of the country. No Nigerian leader has gained popularity through divisive politicking, ethno-religious grandstanding than President Goodluck Jonathan. Then what is government if it is not to promote human happiness and welfare?

    All the blemishes plaguing this administration came as a result of the parasitic sycophants who give the president a halo of false glory and are hell-bent on feasting dangerously on the nation’s easy oil wealth.

    The reason, lamentably, is that Jonathan didn’t attain ideological maturation before he found himself in the corridors of power. He is being goaded on by dint of virtual providence and veritable luck.

    Minds more developed and ideologically balanced have proved that one of the greatest bequests to modern civilisation and governance is not entirely humility, but a great deal of granite hardness, as the need arises to trample on closest friends who stand in the way of the masses.

    With one stroke of abhorrence for corruption, President Jonathan could have transformed Nigeria. In President Jonathan’s administration, Nigerians have lost one of the nation’s supposed great educationist whose products we have not yet found in our time their fullest use, to corruption! He missed the chance to wear the cap described in Mein Kampf, The Struggle Of My Life:

    “From millions of men, one man must step forward who with apodictic force will form granite principles from the wavering idea-world of the broad masses and take up the struggle for their sole correctness, until the shifting waves of a free thought-world there will arise a brazen cliff of solid unity in faith and will”. World-historical men – the Heroes of an epoch – must therefore be recognised as its clear-sighted ones, their deeds, their worlds are the best of their time”.

    You can now gauge why President Goodluck Jonathan government is beset by treachery, overwhelmed by violence visited on it by the Boko Haram, drown in blood and will go up in flames in an orgy of self-willed annihilation which will answer some terrible longing question in the minds of Nigeria. The President who ought to be a man of staggering political genius, an incredible reformer by the reason of his education and experience has yielded to crass opportunism and mega-corruption.

    Which ever way, President Jonathan’s sun has set at midnight in the Eastern part of Nigeria, at the Adoration Ground, where he holds a portion of the nation to a grand illusion of oneness and slavish

    • Ikhide wrote in from Lagos.
  • BET9JA to open operational base in the East, South-South

    BET9JA to open operational base in the East, South-South

    Buoyed by the huge success of its operations in the South West zone which has seen it emerge as the number one sports betting company after only a year of operation, Bet9ja has concluded plans to increase its operational base in the East and the south south region.

    According to the chief Executive Officer of the company Ayo Ojuroye,” we plan to continually increase out operations in the nook and crannies of the country. Hence, we have concluded plans to open more offices in the east and the south south part of the country. We also hope to employ more agents across the country so that our customers  can  have  our agent at their beck and call. We realize the strategic importance of the region to our business and we want to empower a lot of people as well.With the response we get on a daily basis, we have to expand our operations by employing more agents in states like Anambra, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Rivers,Imo, Enugu, Abia and Delta State.”

    Ojuroye further disclosed that in less than a year of doing business in the country, Bet9ja has made remarkable impact as the number one sports betting company in the country “We have operated our business on integrity,transparency and comittement to the betterment of the society .We have built a reputation for delivering on our promises. We have made people that  were jobless millionaires based on their, passion, we have taken our  business to new heights and it can only get better”

    Bet9ja was launched last year with the aim of rewarding people through their passion for sports.