Tag: Fashola

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday said he has nothing against the Igbo people.

He was reacting to the controversy generated by the return of some destitute to Onitsha, Anambra State.

Lagos was accused of dumping 70 beggars on the Onitsha Bridge on July 24, but the state government said it relocated 14 destitute to Onitsha after rehabilitating them.

Speaking at the Silver Jubilee of the Igbo socio-cultural think tank, Aka Ikenga, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, Fashola said he had no problem with the Igbo.

He said the highest number of cattle he received when his father died was from the Igbo.

At the event were Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Ayim, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan; House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha; Archbishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah; former Foreign Affairs Minister Gen. Ike Nwachukwu; Aka Ikenga President Goddy Uwazurike; a former ambassador, Chief George Obiozor, and President of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Gary Enwo-Igariwey.

Others include former President, Aka Ikenga, Chief Chris Asodoka; Director of the Lagos Business School Prof. Pat Utomi; a former minister, Captain Emma Iheanacho; songster Onyeka Onwenu and Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo.

Fashola said: “I came here to say thank you for the honour done to my family and the memory of my late father. People who clearly do not understand the actions taken and words spoken are those I owe an explanation. I cannot take the Igbo for granted because we have built a relationship based on tolerance, mutual respect, love and trust. That relationship was built by our ancestors and I put a lot of value on it.

“I offer unqualified and unreserved apology, if the actions taken have been misunderstood. But I think the basic issue Aka Ikenga must address is why people feel compelled to migrate from one part of the country to the other. Is it that some areas lack the resources to develop or perhaps some parts are endowed with enormous resources that are not adequately managed?

“How can development be so difficult in a zone that has produced people like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Alex Ekwueme and Gen. Nwachukwu, among others? A day like this calls for deep reflection on issues of our loyalties. Are we more Igbo than Nigerian or we are more Nigerian than Igbo?”

Fashola urged Lagos residents to participate in the Resident Registration Scheme (RRS) to enable the government meet its obligations to them.

In his goodwill message, Jonathan said Aka Ikenga had successfully served as an interface between the Igbo and the rest of Nigeria in the past 25 years, adding that the group was one of the most respected and articulate socio-cultural think tank in the country.

He urged Aka Ikenga to recommend solutions to the nation’s challenges.

The president said the goal of his administration is to foster national unity and peace and deepen democracy, urging Nigerians to be civil to one another.

In his lecture: “Nigeria: the challenge of democracy”, Archbishop Kukah said stereotyping, exclusion and lack of compromise remain the major challenges to the nation’s democracy.

Stressing the need to manage our diversity for the good of everyone, he said democracy should be measured with indices, such as security, quality of the rule of law, political and human rights, among others.

Archbishop Kukah said the academic community was the most disenfranchised group in the country, adding that “no country ignores education and grows”.

He said: “Nigeria is a great country hurting badly. Governance is no longer subjected to the whims and caprices of good people. We are not looking for good people to govern us but we should use indices to scientifically measure the progress of our democracy. We returned to democracy so that the frontiers of governance can be expanded.”

Ihedioha urged the Igbo to set objectives on how to rebuild the Southeast, noting that the zone was in dire need of infrastructural development.

Igariwey urged Igbo resident outside the Southeast to invest at home to create jobs for the youth and curb migration.

Uwazurike said Aka Ikenga had committed resources to the pursuit of a better life in Igboland.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday said he has nothing against the Igbo people.

He was reacting to the controversy generated by the return of some destitute to Onitsha, Anambra State.

Lagos was accused of dumping 70 beggars on the Onitsha Bridge on July 24, but the state government said it relocated 14 destitute to Onitsha after rehabilitating them.

Speaking at the Silver Jubilee of the Igbo socio-cultural think tank, Aka Ikenga, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, Fashola said he had no problem with the Igbo.

He said the highest number of cattle he received when his father died was from the Igbo.

At the event were Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Ayim, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan; House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha; Archbishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah; former Foreign Affairs Minister Gen. Ike Nwachukwu; Aka Ikenga President Goddy Uwazurike; a former ambassador, Chief George Obiozor, and President of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Gary Enwo-Igariwey.

Others include former President, Aka Ikenga, Chief Chris Asodoka; Director of the Lagos Business School Prof. Pat Utomi; a former minister, Captain Emma Iheanacho; songster Onyeka Onwenu and Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo.

Fashola said: “I came here to say thank you for the honour done to my family and the memory of my late father. People who clearly do not understand the actions taken and words spoken are those I owe an explanation. I cannot take the Igbo for granted because we have built a relationship based on tolerance, mutual respect, love and trust. That relationship was built by our ancestors and I put a lot of value on it.

“I offer unqualified and unreserved apology, if the actions taken have been misunderstood. But I think the basic issue Aka Ikenga must address is why people feel compelled to migrate from one part of the country to the other. Is it that some areas lack the resources to develop or perhaps some parts are endowed with enormous resources that are not adequately managed?

“How can development be so difficult in a zone that has produced people like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Alex Ekwueme and Gen. Nwachukwu, among others? A day like this calls for deep reflection on issues of our loyalties. Are we more Igbo than Nigerian or we are more Nigerian than Igbo?”

Fashola urged Lagos residents to participate in the Resident Registration Scheme (RRS) to enable the government meet its obligations to them.

In his goodwill message, Jonathan said Aka Ikenga had successfully served as an interface between the Igbo and the rest of Nigeria in the past 25 years, adding that the group was one of the most respected and articulate socio-cultural think tank in the country.

He urged Aka Ikenga to recommend solutions to the nation’s challenges.

The president said the goal of his administration is to foster national unity and peace and deepen democracy, urging Nigerians to be civil to one another.

In his lecture: “Nigeria: the challenge of democracy”, Archbishop Kukah said stereotyping, exclusion and lack of compromise remain the major challenges to the nation’s democracy.

Stressing the need to manage our diversity for the good of everyone, he said democracy should be measured with indices, such as security, quality of the rule of law, political and human rights, among others.

Archbishop Kukah said the academic community was the most disenfranchised group in the country, adding that “no country ignores education and grows”.

He said: “Nigeria is a great country hurting badly. Governance is no longer subjected to the whims and caprices of good people. We are not looking for good people to govern us but we should use indices to scientifically measure the progress of our democracy. We returned to democracy so that the frontiers of governance can be expanded.”

Ihedioha urged the Igbo to set objectives on how to rebuild the Southeast, noting that the zone was in dire need of infrastructural development.

Igariwey urged Igbo resident outside the Southeast to invest at home to create jobs for the youth and curb migration.

Uwazurike said Aka Ikenga had committed resources to the pursuit of a better life in Igboland.

•2013/2014 Legal Year begins

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday canvassed the use of plea bargaining to speed up the dispensation of justice.

Fashola spoke at the Lagos Central Mosque during a service marking the beginning of the 2013/2014 Legal Year.

The governor, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, said plea bargaining was necessary, especially with the congestion of prisons.

Fashola said the judicial system relied on witnesses, rather than forensic evidence.

He said: “Everybody must be involved if the administration of justice will not be delayed. They should comply with new court rules and adhere to e-filing and the digitalisation of the judicial system.”

The governor said about 100 litigants received legal aid from the government in the outgone legal year.

He urged lawyers to offer free services to assist the indigent.

The National Education Secretary, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi, urged lawyers not to allow their selfish interests interfere with the dispensation of justice.

At the Cathedral Church of Christ, where a simultaneous service was held to mark the year, judges were urged to fight corruption.

The Bishop of Lagos, Rev. Adebayo Akinde, who decried the spate of corruption in the country, urged judges to always discharge their duties with the fear of God.

He urged them to always uphold their oath of office and never deprive the poor and vulnerable justice.

Akinde said: “Do not accept bribe in the course of discharging your duties. Be conscious of righteousness and fairness and abide by the ethics of your profession and the oath of office you swore to. Do your best in your service to the nation and humanity. Ensure you cross-check all facts before passing verdict and be sure of who you follow while doing your job.

“Have the fear of God at all time because the judiciary remains the only instrument than can be used to put the country on the right path.”

Akinde condemned the insecurity in the country and urged the Federal Government to curb insurgencies.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola at the weekend said Lagosians spend over N36 billion on parties annually.

Fashola spoke at the fourth edition of the Lagos Ignite Enterprise and Employability project, a youth empowerment programme organised by the government and the Afterschool Graduate Development Centre (AGDC).

He said the figure was arrived at after a thorough study of the Lagos party life in five local government areas, including Agege, Mushin, Ifako-Ijaiye and Ikeja.

Fashola said the government discovered that about N3 billion was spent on 1,555 parties in the councils annually.

Urging youths to tap into the investment opportunities by providing goods and services for such occasions, he said: “We did a study between last October and November in Agege, Mushin, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja and another local government. We studied Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, three days every week for four weeks, which was 12 nights.

“In 12 nights, 1,555 parties were held in those local governments. About N1.2 billion was spent on drinks, food and other engagements during such parties. When we disaggregated them, we saw how much went to DJ, MC, food and drinks.”

The governor said clothes worn at such parties, popularly called Aso-ebi, cost, at least, N1.2 billion monthly, saying the market is huge and should be tapped into.

Urging youths to look beyond white collar jobs, Fashola explained the huge opportunities in refuse collection and provision of rest rooms at events.

He said: “Some people have become very smart. They saw the money in refuse. They are PSP operators today and they employ people, own trucks and get loans from banks from carting away refuse. Some of us say refuse is dirty but they will tell you another story. The way we choose to manage our refuse is a cultural problem and that is what Europeans have done differently.

“The market is still very big and if you can envision it, you can do it. The possibilities in the Nigerian market have not been fully exploited. It is for you to decide whether you want to get your hands dirty like the late Otunba Gadaffi of DMT toilets or you want to sit in your house and tell yourself that well, you have just finished school and you do not want to rumple your tie, so you are looking for a job. The solution to unemployment in Nigeria is in three simple words: “Made in Nigeria”.”

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola at the weekend said Lagosians spend over N36 billion on parties annually.

Fashola spoke at the fourth edition of the Lagos Ignite Enterprise and Employability project, a youth empowerment programme organised by the government and the Afterschool Graduate Development Centre (AGDC).

He said the figure was arrived at after a thorough study of the Lagos party life in five local government areas, including Agege, Mushin, Ifako-Ijaiye and Ikeja.

Fashola said the government discovered that about N3 billion was spent on 1,555 parties in the councils annually.

Urging youths to tap into the investment opportunities by providing goods and services for such occasions, he said: “We did a study between last October and November in Agege, Mushin, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja and another local government. We studied Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, three days every week for four weeks, which was 12 nights.

“In 12 nights, 1,555 parties were held in those local governments. About N1.2 billion was spent on drinks, food and other engagements during such parties. When we disaggregated them, we saw how much went to DJ, MC, food and drinks.”

The governor said clothes worn at such parties, popularly called Aso-ebi, cost, at least, N1.2 billion monthly, saying the market is huge and should be tapped into.

Urging youths to look beyond white collar jobs, Fashola explained the huge opportunities in refuse collection and provision of rest rooms at events.

He said: “Some people have become very smart. They saw the money in refuse. They are PSP operators today and they employ people, own trucks and get loans from banks from carting away refuse. Some of us say refuse is dirty but they will tell you another story. The way we choose to manage our refuse is a cultural problem and that is what Europeans have done differently.

“The market is still very big and if you can envision it, you can do it. The possibilities in the Nigerian market have not been fully exploited. It is for you to decide whether you want to get your hands dirty like the late Otunba Gadaffi of DMT toilets or you want to sit in your house and tell yourself that well, you have just finished school and you do not want to rumple your tie, so you are looking for a job. The solution to unemployment in Nigeria is in three simple words: “Made in Nigeria”.”