IF there is one thing that Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru and former minister of External Affairs is passionate about, it is church activities. Though a very busy man, sources close to him said he never jokes with church and he also dedicates his resources towards it. Ashiru, we gathered, spearheaded the raising of funds for his Church, All Souls’ Anglican, Lekki Peninsula. Ashiru is not alone in this; in his team, we learnt, are Folorunsho Alakija, Ndi Okereke-Onyuike, John Abebe, and others who have raised over millions to ensure the project meets the completion deadline.
Tag: Gbenga Ashiru
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Gbenga Ashiru’s passion
IF there is one thing that Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru and former Minister of External Affairs is passionate about, it is church activities. Though a very busy man, sources close to him said he never jokes with church activities and he also dedicates his resources towards it. Ashiru, we gathered, spearheaded the raising of funds for the church he attends, All Souls’ Anglican Church, Lekki Peninsula. Ashiru is not alone in this; in his team, we learnt, are Folorunsho Alakija, Ndi Okereke-Onyuike, John Abebe, and others who have raised over millions to ensure the project meets the completion deadline.
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Nigeria seeks ‘prisoners’ swap’ with South Africa
Nigeria and the South African governments are working towards a prisoners’ exchange agreement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Olugbenga Ashiru said on Friday in Abuja.
Ashiru said discussions on the swap were one of the positive outcomes of the recent visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to South Africa.
During the visit, Jonathan had lamented the huge number of Nigerians in South African prisons, which was put at some 400 inmates.
Ashiru told reporters that the agreement when concluded would allow Nigerians “currently serving prison terms in South Africa to return to Nigeria to complete their prison terms.
He said Nigeria already has existing agreements on prisoners’ swap with countries such as United Kingdom, Italy Spain and Portugal.
The minister offered harsh words to Nigerians violating the laws of foreign countries, saying “we must make it clear that this government is not in support of illegality.’’
“This government is not in support of any of our nationals going to carry drugs across the continents,’’ he warned.
On the gains of Jonathan’s visit to South Africa, Ashiru said both countries have agreed to cooperate on international issues, particularly as it concerns the continent.
He said the recent action by both countries to abstain from a United Nations vote calling for political transition in Syria was “ another example of the type of leadership we want to show and we will continue to stress this point going forward.’’
“I can tell you without any hesitation that we have decided that it is in interest of the African continent that South Africa and Nigeria must work together.
“There is no doubt that we are the two power houses in the continent politically, economically and socially and we believe that we have a duty to move the continent forward.
“Nigeria and South Africa must work together to realise this goal.
“If we both work together we will discover that the majority of other African countries would line up behind us, “the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the minister as saying on Friday.
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Why FG declared emergency rule in Adamawa – Minister
…Identifies proximity to Cameroon
.….Emergency to be lifted when normalcy returns
The Federal Government has given reason for the inclusion of Adamawa State in the proclamation of emergency rule in three northern states in the country.
The state proximity to Cameroon and the need for the military to have a wide area of coverage was said to be the reason for the inclusion of the state.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, disclosed this during Friday’s meeting with foreign diplomats in the country.
The minister, however, assured that the state of emergency would be lifted immediately normalcy returned to the affected states.
Besides, he said the dialogue committees on peace would continue their work while the military action is also going on as part of multifaceted approach to arresting the situation.
He also allayed the diplomats’ fears on human right abuse, assuring them that the military would abide with their rules of engagement.
The minister said the military authorities would make public their rules of engagement in the troubled states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.
He further stressed that the state of emergency is to protect lives and property and to flush-out the insurgent.
He, however, said as part of the rule of engagement, the military would first give the insurgent the opportunity to surrender and where this fails, they would employ all military action.
Ambassador Ashiru assured the diplomats who would want to visit the areas of their safety, saying however that would have to be a protected visit.
He advised those wishing to visit the areas to get clearance from the ministry and the defence ministry.
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Commonwealth plans visa waiver for member countries
The Commonwealth of Nations has set in motion plans to review restrictions on free movement among member states.
To this, the body is tinkering with the idea of wavering visa requirements for some categories of citizens of its member states to facilitate easier movement among them.
This is aimed at boosting people to people contact and relationship among member nations.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary organization of countries with a shared history of having been British colonies and also some non British colonies that freely acceded to join.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, announced the plan after a meeting with Commonwealth Secretary General, Sir. Kamalesh Sharma, in Abuja.
He said the organisation is considering bringing back the visa waiver practice as was the tradition in the past for diplomatic and official passport holders.
The matter which would be thoroughly discussed at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo, Sri Lanka in November, according to the minister will also include extension of the waiver to other categories of citizens such as academicians, business leaders and other professional groups that are easily identifiable.
He said, “The Commonwealth Ministers conference has already recommended for approval at the next CHOGM meeting, the exception of holders of diplomatic and official passports within the Commonwealth from those required to obtain visas to travel within the member states.”
The minister further stressed that such concessions are expected to ensure that ordinary citizens feel the impact of the organisation.
Ashiru also said that steps are being taken to strengthen trade and investment among member states and to promote youth empowerment programmes.
He also revealed that the issue of strengthening democracy was discussed.
He further added, “We need to look at the program of education in most member states to ensure that they are adapted to a situation whereby graduates would become self employed after leaving schools instead of searching for jobs.”
On his part, the Commonwealth scribe said some studies have shown the “Commonwealth effect” to be an entity that has huge economic potentials for its member states including providing employment for the youth population.
While admitting that the citizens of the member states have not been fully integrated, Sharma submitted the visa waivers would be a very good step in that direction.
“It is the Commonwealth of the people and the movement of people that is very intrinsic,” he said.