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Tag: lagos

  • Elpis Megalio opens in Lagos

    Elpis Megalio opens in Lagos

    Elpis Megalio Store has  opened in Lekki, Lagos.

    It is a brand that is aware that the country has become a fashion hub with people wanting to have the latest fashion design, art items and accessories. It’s also aware that the trade Iis booming in this part of the world.

    As consumers strive to get quality items and better services, the store has promised to engage the best of materials in  its manufacturing. This store has brought the best of quality materials together to manufacture mind-blowing designs, its owner, Ms Olufunke Afolabi, said.

    Afolabi, a lawyer turned designer, observed how the world operates in this line of business abroad, and brought back home, the expertise and the best of colourful fabrics.

    Sh said the store is a reflection of  her world, travels and personality. It makes her a classic young woman, who is bringing two worlds together – art and fashion – to create greatness and offer something different to a new generation.

    It is also a fashion house with a history of art behind it, as fashion is art and not just an average store, she added.

    The fashion house consists of an in-house beauty and cosmetics studio -Yanga beauty studio, offering make-up consultancy by a talented make-up artist, Jennifer L. Uloko.

    Afolabi told The Nation Shopping that the store also has other lines, such as the art section, where she created all the designs; the Shoe/Bag Section,  managed by her sister, who also produces them with the help of three staff.

    The Underwear Section, which was born out of the concern that women face to get quality undies in the country and the Make-up/Perfume Unit, which focuses on providing original designer perfumes for customers.

    She said her vision is to create a one-stop shop where people could get dressed and head for an occasion immediately.

    Elpis Megalio caters for a new-generation of trendy forward individuals on an affordable budget, carrying a range of ready to wear and extravagant bespoke pieces and furniture. It also has a lingerie concession (Olannaz World), owned by Yedunde Adegbite, who stocks various sizes selling at affordable prices.

    She said a fitting service would soon be available by a trained lingerie stylist.

    The store is stocking a sister brand, Kieva Desuwa, by Temi Afolabi, who specialises in handmade Ankara and leather accessories, and will be available for sale from the ready to wear collection or bespoke, designed to fit specific occasions.

    Temi Afolabi, the owner of the shoe line, said her business would grow. “Every service rendered in this store complements one another; it is a store where one can walk in and get dressed for an occasion; and few years from now, I see more people wanting to wear my brand of shoes. I also see myself going international to meet people’s demand for quality, good shoes. I can help people find those comfortable shoes that won’t scare them away from heels,” she said.

    Like every other business, there are challenges. The major one is the poor power supply the country is experiencing. But for Olufunke, the results she gets from manufacturing these items herself has made it worthwhile.

    “A major challenge in this line of business is the epileptic power supply in the country; generator has been my source of power. I spend N10,000 in two days to buy diesel.

    To stand out and remain in the market, she said, her business would provide quality service; the brand will be working with people’s body-sizes to make dresses and shoes to suit them.

    “I won’t be doing what every other person is doing. I will be doing something unique with my own designs. I think this market is growing and working hand-in-hand with the international market because we have a lot of talented designers that are also exposed, Nigeria is getting there,” she stressed.

  • Lagos distributes cooking gas to 31 local govts

    Lagos State Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy yesterday distributed Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Gas Cylinders to 31 councils.

    Flagging off the exercise, the governor’s wife, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, said the exercise would help sustain the government’s campaign on safety and healthy living.

    She said the use of gas cylinder for cooking and other domestic works is safer and faster.

    “The success of this campaign is to stop the use of fire wood as a source of energy for cooking especially in our rural communities, but it is not just our rural communities most of our local eateries use fire wood, let them start to use the gas cylinders, it is faster and safer,” she said.

    She appealed to Lagosians to embrace the use of gas cylinders for all home and eatery.

    Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Taofiq Tijani said the use of the gas cylinders at homes for cooking will guarantee a safer environment.

    “The benefit of the use of gas for cooking include good health and clean environment; the environment will be devoid of smoke like when fire wood or kerosene is use for cooking,” he said.

  • Workers accuse Lagos of planning to sell water firm

    Workers accuse Lagos of planning to sell water firm

    DESPITE management’s refuttal of plans to privatise Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), the workers yesterday protested at the governor’s office in Alausa, Ikeja, urging him to stop the proposed sale.

    In branded blue polo shirts and face caps, the protesters under the aegis of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) disrupted traffic on Obafemi Awolowo Way as they marched to Governor Babatunde Fashola’s office.

    Carrying placards, with inscriptions such as, “We say no to privatisation, water is our right”, “Water is for the people, not business”, “We say no to sale of our common assets” and “Holloway, who do you represent?”, they said government was hiding under the guise of Public Private Partnership (PPP) to privatise the corporation.

    Last week, LWC Managing Director Mr Shayo Holloway, said that there was no plan to sell the corporation, stressing that LWC is only partnering with some firms under the PPP Law of 2004 to execute its master plan to increase potable water production.

    Holloway said the master plan would discourage the sinking of boreholes, adding that the multi-billion dollars project would provide surplus potable water to people at a cheap rate.

    But, the protesters said the PPP agreement would lead to LWC’s privatisation and workers’ retrenchment.

    Chanting solidarity songs, they said private firms have no business providing a service the government can handle. But the protesters could not see the governor who was said not to be in the office. They dropped their protest letter at his security post.

    Lagos AUPCTRE chairman Comrade Subair Muali said the workers would resist plans to sell off the corporation’s facilities to private firms.

    Subair, who noted the protest was not politically motivated, said the union had been engaging the government over the matter for the past five years. He accused Holloway of initiating the planned privatisation, saying the government wanted to hide under the PPP guise to sell off the 105-year-old asset.

    He said: “They can use any name to sell off public assets to private owners, we know it is privatisation. Holloway has been telling us that they are into Public Private Partnership, but we know his motive. How can you expect an individual to invest his money in producing potable water for the people without him wanting to take over the corporation asset?

    “Their aim is to retrench workers after they sell the water corporation asset to private investors. We do not trust their argument that they are not selling the corporation. We want the Lagos State government to know that water is not for sale; it must remain a social commodity to be provided by government to the people. We will not stop the protest until Holloway desists from his move to sell our common asset to his cronies.”

    The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) chairman in Lagos, Comrade Idowu Adelakun, said the workers would not stop until Holloway stops his “anti-people” policies at LWC.

    He said: “Lagos citizens and workers are rejecting privatisation of water in Lagos State. We have seen results of where privatisation has taken place; none has ended with good stories. This is why we want Governor Fashola to stop the secret sale of our assets to private individuals, because we don’t want the calamity that befell other government assets to fall on Lagos Water Corporation.”

  • Fayose to lawmakers: you can’t sue me in Lagos

    Fayose to lawmakers: you can’t sue me in Lagos

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in Lagos to adjudicate on a suit against him and others by House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin and 18 others.

    The governor said he could not be sued outside Ekiti State where the “cause of action” took place.

    According to him, the court lacks the “territorial jurisdiction” to decide the case.

    The plaintiffs are praying the court to nullify and declare as unconstitutional Omirin’s purported “impeachment” by seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers.

    Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba, the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the new “Speaker”, Dele Olugbemi, are among the respondents.

    Others are Olugbemi’s loyalists- Samuel Ajibola, Adeojo Alexander, Adeloye Adeyinka, Israel Ajiboye, Fatunbi Olajide, Olayinka Abeni- and the commissioner of Police.

    The rest are three commissioners cleared by the House under Olugbemi – Oweseni Ajayi (attorney-general), Kayode Eso (works) and Toyin Ojo (Finance).

    The plaintiffs are praying the court to declare that Omirin and his deputy are entitled to occupy their office, except removed by a two-third majority.

    They are also seek a declaration that Fayose’s alleged attempt to force them to join the PDP and denounce the All Progressives Congress (APC) is against their right to freedom of association.

    They asked the court to hold that Olugbemi’s election as speaker was illegal, and all deliberations and actions of the seven lawmakers invalid.

    But the governor, in a preliminary objection filed by the three “commissioners” (12th to 14th respondents), is praying for an order that the suit be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

    “The suit, as presently constituted, is incurably defective and grossly incompetent. Consequently, this court cannot sit over an incompetent suit,” he said.

    Besides, the governor said the action did not follow due process as it was not signed by a judge as required by law.

    “This court lacks both subject-matter and territorial jurisdiction to entertain the suit,” the respondents said.

    Besides, they said the suit was an abuse of court process because the plaintiffs had allegedly instituted a similar action on the same matter for the same reliefs in another suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    “The cause of action, which gave rise to this matter as revealed by the originating summons and other processes filed by the applicants/respondents, took place in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State,” the respondents said.

    Plaintiffs’ counsel Norrison Quakers said he would file a response to the preliminary objection.

    The lawmakers are also praying for an order of mandatory and perpetual injunction restraining the “commissioners” from laying claim to offices they were not duly appointed to.

    Omirin, who was elected as Speaker on June 6, 2011, said a team of armed security operatives were deployed to the Assembly’s premises last November 17, preventing the plaintiffs from carrying out their legislative duties.

    The APC lawmakers were locked outside while PDP lawmakers confirmed the commissioners and approved the appointment of local government caretaker committees.

    Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned till March 25 for hearing of the preliminary objection.

  • Lagos objects to environmental sanitation case

    Lagos State has asked the Federal High Court in Ikoyi to dismiss a suit by a rights activist, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, seeking to declare the monthly environmental sanitation  illegal.

    The plaintiff said the restriction of movement during the exercise from 7am to 10am has no legal basis.

    Besides, he said, it grossly violates Nigerians’ right to constitutionally guaranteed freedom of movement.

    The lawyer is seeking a declaration that the restriction of movement on the last Saturday of every month, constitutes a breach of his and other residents’ rights.

    Adegboruwa said no law in Lagos State approves the compulsory detention of citizens at home for three hours for the purpose of observing a mandatory sanitation.

    Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba; Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN); Attorney-General Mr Ade Ipaye;  Commissioner for the Environment and the ministry are the respondents.

    Parties to the suit adopted their written addresses yesterday after which Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned verdict till March 16.

    Chief State Counsel in the Lagos Ministry of Justice Jonathan Ogunsanya argued that Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution permits the state to make laws that affect the right to freedom of movement, such as the Environmental Sanitation Law of Lagos State, 2000.

    He said the law vests the commissioner with powers to make regulations towards ensuring a clean environment and public safety.

    Ogunsanya said keeping people at home for three hours every last Saturday was meant to keep society and environment clean and safe.

    According to him, there are classified exceptions to the restriction, including ambulance services and those on essential services.

    But, Adegboruwa argued that Section 39 of the Environmental Sanitation Law could not be the basis for restricting human movement.

    He urged the court to hold that even if there is any regulation in force which restricts movement, it could not be enforced on roads that are designated as federal highways under the Highways Act, such as the Third Mainland Bridge where he was once arrested by the police and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

    He said the federal roads were built and maintained by the Federal Government, and as such, the state government lacks authority over them.

    The lawyer is praying for an order restraining the respondents or their agents from restricting his movement and that of other Lagos residents on the last Saturday of every month

    He is also asking the court to direct the respondents to forthwith allow him and other residents to move freely on that day, in exercise of their fundamental rights.

    In a supporting affidavit, Adegboruwa said he had been restricted on several last Saturdays from going out on the grounds of  environmental sanitation.

    For instance, he said last June 28, he was invited by a television station for a 9am programme on a Saturday.

    “The next morning of June 29, 2013, I set out from my house in Lekki to honour the said invitation.  At the Ketu interchange on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, I was arrested and detained by police officers on the ground that the monthly environmental sanitation was going on.

    “The expressway was blocked by policemen and officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), also used their pick up vans to block the road, to prevent access and to hinder free movement.

    “I have a monthly arrangement with one of the companies licenced by Lagos State to clear refuse, and they deploy their trucks to my house regularly, to dispose of all the waste generated by my household.

    “I am aware that the sixth respondent has granted several other private firms the right to manage waste disposal in Lagos State.

    “I verily believe that the restriction of human and vehicular movement constitutes a breach of the fundamental human right of freedom of movement as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter,” he said.

    Adegboruwa had successfully sued Lagos State over toll collection on the Ikoyi bridge.

     

  • Lagos immortalises first woman CJ

    Lagos immortalises first woman CJ

    Lagos State has inaugurated a new courthouse in Ikeja, which it named after its first woman Chief Judge, the late Justice Rosaline Omotoso. ADEBISI ONANUGA reports.

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN)  has inaugurated a new court house in Ikeja. It is located in the highbrow GRA, adjacent the High Court headquarters.

    It is named after  the first female to occupy the office of the Chief Judge, the late Justice Rosaline Ajoke Omotoso who served from April 12, 1995  to February 27, 1996, when she retired.

    Justice Omotoso, a legal icon, was also the first female Chief Judge in Nigeria and West Africa.  She joined the High Court of Lagos State on March 6, 1978.

    She cut her legal teeth in the Federal Ministry of Justice as a Pupil Crown Counsel  on September 16, 1961 and rose to become state counsel in June 23, 1963; Senior legal Assistant,  May 25, 1965: State Counsel Grade 1, September 1, 1966; acting Deputy Administrator-General, July 27, 1968; acting Registrar of commercial Legislation, October 15, 1968 and was appointed Director of Commercial Law April 1, 1976. Prior to that, she worked as a clerk in the Health Department, Lagos between 1949 and 1953 and for a few months at Burke and Impey before her appointment at the Federal Ministry of Justice.

    She was a product of the prestigious Gray’s Inn, London between 1957 and 1959 and passed her final bar examination in Second Class. She was called to the English Bar in February 7, 1961 and enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria in June 15, 1961. She died July 1, 1999.

    The new court  complex features six fully air conditioned courtrooms for judges and magistrates, with Chambers and Secretary’s office attached to each, a reception and waiting area, all sizable and well furnished to a high standard. It also has robing room and library for lawyers, registries, a total of six toilets and four shower rooms, a water treatment plant, furnished staff canteen, separate holding cells for male and female accused persons awaiting trial, two gate houses, a generator room, CCTV  facilities for round the clock security and parking spaces for litigants and judges respectively.

    Governor Fashola in his remarks at the opening of the new court house was a reiteration of the administration’s commitment to law and order which was the minimum requirement of any civilised society.  He said it also marked  the commitment of his administration to the protection of the rule of law,  of lives and an orderly society adding, “there can be no development in any society where law and order have broken down”.

    This, according to him, was why the government inaugurated similar court houses in Epe, Ikorodu and Lagos Island while those at Igando, Ajegunle and Badagry will soon be completed.

    Fashola said he had never done anything to undermine the independence of the judiciary, adding that if there are issues between the two arms of government, it should be resolved through dialogue.

    He said that the issues between both arms of government could be resolved through dialogue.

    Fashola said the nationwide strike by the workers was  dangerous to the stability of the country and capable of sending  wrong signal to international community.

    He, however, admitted the independence of the different arms of government as guaranteed under the constitution.

    He remarked that the different arms are also interdependent of each other.

    He cited that the constitution empowered the governor to appoint and swear in the Chief Judge while the Chief Judge on the other hand is the only person to swear in the governor. He also noted that the legislators cannot function until the governor declared open their sessions.

    The governor used the opportunity of the opening of the new court house to express his views on the recent strike of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria(JUSUN) embarked upon to enforce a judgment of a federal high court delivered by Justice Ademola Adeniyi on the financial independence of the judiciary.

    He said the JUSUN did not explore all possible avenues before shutting down the nation’s justice system in their quest for financial autonomy for the judiciary.

    According to him, embarking on strike to enforce a court judgment was not proper because those constitutionally saddled with such responsibilities are the court’s bailiffs.

    The Chief Judge,  Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade,  in her address at the inauguration of the complex, reiterated her commitment to effective justice delivery in the state emphasising, “more than ever, the state judiciary under the present dispensation is poised to render quality service, consistent with international best practice”.

    She said efforts would be intensified to ensure that judicial officers and magistrates are adequately exposed to modern trends, technology and techniques in judicial practice through enhanced and effective human capacity building straties. “Further to this , would be our resolve to ensure the comfort of judges, magistrates and support staff in and out of their work environment. This is most essential, more so, as a high level productivity is largely a function of a sound mind and healthy body. Our goal to significantly decongest the prisons and cases pending in our courts, would also be vigorously pursued and accorded their due priority”, she promised.    Justice Atilade remarked that the new court complex would boost efforts at ensuring quick dispensation of cases as it would enhance the capacity of the Ikeja judicial Division and Magisterial District.

    “Tastefully furnished and equipped with relevant facilities to create a condusive work environment and commodious office space for judges, magistrates, support staff, counsel and indeed litigants,” she noted.

    ”Not only are we pleased and proud of this landmark achievement, but do also commend the vision, focus and foresight of this purpose driven administration, ably led by his Excellency, under whose watch the Lagos State Judiciary has witnessed tremendous progress. Indeed, the successful completion and commissioning of this beautiful edifice is heartwarming and most appreciated”,  she stated.

    In a welcome address, the state Attorney General, Ade Ipaye explained that the  idea of the courthouse was conceived in 2008 as part of Governor Fashola’s Law and Order programme, stressing that it is a well known fact that  matters of law and order enjoy priority attention in Lagos State.  Ipaye pointed out that as the state population soars, the need for judges and magistrates continue to rise.      He said therefore that the  new court house would provide the state with a unique opportunity to accommodate more judges and magistrates in Ikeja judicial division “ with very conducive facilities and amenities which will no doubt enhance justice delivery as well as the welfare of judges and magistrates. It also affords legal practitioners and litigants the best of facilities in which to do business and to resolve case.

    “But we have seen that the dispersal of magistrate courts in the same area is not so efficient and conducive for management. By bringing as many as possible under the same roof, we can ensure access to common facilities like power, security, library, conference rooms, holding cells, etc. We are also better able to ensure that those facilities are well maintained. “We hope therefore that this courthouse will do for Ikeja what the JIC Taylor courthouse is already doing for Lagos – offering a most conducive hub for the resolution of disputes and maintenance of law and order”, he added.

     

  • Why PDP ‘ll fail in Lagos, by APC chieftain

    Why PDP ‘ll fail in Lagos, by APC chieftain

    The Lagos State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been advised to work towards getting one or two seats in the House of Assembly instead of dissipating its energy and resources on the governorship election.

    All Progressives Congress chieftain Hon. Nicholas Ajayi, who gave this advice, said such a strategy would help the party to build structures in the state.

    The APC chieftain also urged the PDP to form a formidable and constructive opposition that would help the APC government deliver more services to the people.

    Ajayi said the people of Lagos State will vote massively for the APC, adding that the party will win with over 70 per cent of votes in the governorship election.

    “There’s no doubt about it. Lagos is an APC state; the people of Lagos believe in the APC and they are going to vote massively for the party. I am not excited about the victory, I am more concerned about what comes after the victory, how do we really accomplish our promises to the people because this is what we would be judged in 2019,” he said.

    Ajayi said there is no way the PDP would win the governorship, because the party does not even have a counselor or a local government chairman.

    He said: “The party does not have a member of the state House of Assembly, a member of the Federal House of Representatives and a senator. It does not have the required structures.

    “That I am good in character and indeed, do not have a place in electoral votes, there must be a platform. The reality is that there’s no PDP in Lagos State. The PDP exists only in time of elections; I advise them to strategise properly to become relevant. They are not relevant; they don’t exist.”

    Ajayi said the APC has set a very high standard, adding that at this point in time, there is no need to experiment. He said what is required is consolidation on the achievements that have been made so far.

    Ajayi said that the Babatunde Raji Fashola administration has set a very high standard that today many governors in the country, including the PDP governors, are emulating such standards.

    He added: “Before this time there was no index for measuring the performance of governors in the country, but today, governors are measured by the number of schools they build, roads, hospitals and other infrastructural and developmental facilities.

    “These are the things that the APC government has brought into the Nigerian polity as dividends of democracy. I doubt if a PDP government in Lagos State can deliver such because for a very long time they have not come into governance.”

    He said that the candidacy of Akinwunmi Ambode, the APC governorship candidate, has a lot of practical experience that would help take the state to the next level.

    According to Ajayi, the standard which the present administration has set is so high that it would be expected that the next governor would try to outdo and deliver the dividends of democracy and good governance better than what the predecessor had done. He added that Ambode is coming to consolidate what has been actualised by Governor Fashola

  • Lagos stands still for APC

    Lagos stands still for APC

    TENS of thousands of supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) brought Lagos to a standstill yesterday, walking from Maryland to the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, to demonstrate their solid support for the party in the coming elections.

    Speaker after speaker at the carnival-like event, which climaxed at the stadium, said this month will go down as a milestone in the country’s political calendar because it would mark the freedom of Nigerians from the bad governance and impunity.

    The National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said the march from Maryland to Surulere, a distance of about 9.2 kilometres, was a march for change, to herald the month of March.

    He said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) postponed the election from February 14 to March 28, as if March 28, which he alluded to as the day of reckoning, would not come.

    Tinubu said the ruling party postponed the election because it was afraid of being voted out of power.

    He said: “I thank all of you for heeding the call to walk for your freedom; for agreeing to march for change. This is the month of March. On February 14, we would have elected a new president to govern us! But, they changed it to March, right? Today, we are in the month of March and we are marching for that change that we desire. We are marching for Buhari and Osinbajo; we are marching for common sense revolution!”

    Tinubu said Nigerians are fed up with the PDP, which has ruled the country for the last 16 years, but has nothing to show for it. He sang a song in Yoruba, alluding to the fact that Nigerians have persevered with the ruling party for a long time, but have no light to iron their clothes.

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State said Nigerians will send President Jonathan back to his Otuoke, Bayelsa State village, with their votes and that they will drive the PDP away at all levels during the general elections.

    Senator Gbenga Ashafa, who represents Lagos East at the Senate, said it is obvious that the ruling party has been trying to intimidate the electorate not to vote for the candidates of their choice.

    “Will you be intimidated? Are you ready to vote APC?” he asked those at the rally.

    The Lagos State governorship candidate of the party, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said the APC has proved a point by undertaking the event dubbed the one million-man march.

    He said: “We said we would do a one million-man march and we did it. Beyond those of us that marched on the streets, others are glued to their television sets, watching this event. Nothing will stop our destiny; we do everything possible, spiritually and otherwise, to make the desired change possible.”

    Members of the APC across the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) participated in the march. Political office holders and candidates in the forthcoming general elections and their supporters also took part in the march. Besides, thousands of residents lined up the street, along Ikorodu Road, to cheer them.

  • INEC card reader test hitch free in Lagos

    The pre-election test of the use of the card reader was hitch free in Lagos on Saturday.
    The process kicked off at 8am in 50 polling units across Onigbongbo in Ikeja.
    Four INEC officials attended to the voters who came to verify their PVCs and test a process that has been faulted by some political parties.
    To the relief of the ‘voters’ and the audience at each venues, the machine proved effective, authenticating the PVCs within a minute.
    A mild drama also ensued during the exercise as some people turned out at the various polling units to press for their PVCs and get clarification on how to get their cards.
    The Independent National Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Akin Orebiyi, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise.
    According to him, “The intention of today’s exercise is primarily to test the efficiency of the Smart Card Readers. That is why we are here. And we have achieved good results. This shows that the card readers are efficient.
    ” So, politicians who have doubts about the device can now see that the device will contribute in making the elections credible.’’

  • ‘Why Ndigbo ‘ll vote APC in Lagos’

    ‘Why Ndigbo ‘ll vote APC in Lagos’

    In this piece, the Co-ordinator of the Association for the ‘Defence of Igbo Interests in Lagos’, Comrade Chris Nwokobia, explains why Ndigbo will vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, at the April 11 election.

    In all parts of Lagos, we have been inundated with innuendoes that will clearly endanger Ndigbo, their properties and other interests in Lagos if not well handled. We are concerned because there is a raging feeling all over Lagos that Igbo are deep into a conspiracy to undermine the political interests of the Yoruba and help impose an anti-Yoruba surrogate in Lagos, as a way of mocking and undermining the political interests of the Yoruba Nation.

    We see this as dangerous and we note that this has sparked hostile reactions and promises to spark more reactions after the election.

    We are compelled to state that Ndigbo are parts and parcel of Lagos and that we share an excellent relationship with the people of Lagos, especially the Yoruba. We state also that Ndigbo are the prime beneficiaries of the conducive environment Lagos offers, that Ndigbo are the prime beneficiaries of the good, orderly and secure governance in Lagos, especially in the past sixteen years, we note that Igbo businesses and spirit of enterprise have flowered so well in the new Lagos, a working and modern Mega City that offers a home for all Nigerians and offers an expansive environment for Igbo businesses to thrive unimpeded.

    Our concern is that these great benefits stand to be endangered by a misreading of the present and unfolding political situation in the country, where it is being made to seem as if Igbo are in the forefront of what is seen as a political battle to upstage the Yoruba in Lagos. We are concerned that the greedy and selfish interests of some self-serving Igbo masquerading as leaders of Igbo people and self serving groups, stand to endanger the Igbo in Lagos in the near future hence we issue this disclaimer. We want to state the afore-mentioned impressions amounts to a    misreading of the Igbo in Lagos and their well known republican disposition especially as it relates to issues and politics in Nigeria and do not represent the feelings and political inclination of the majority of Igbos who do their business, live their lives and work in Lagos unimpeded.

    We note that the PDP has been brash, immodest and loud in dropping the good name of Ndigbo for their political ambition to rule Lagos. We note the insinuation being created all over Lagos at present that Igbo are being mobilized with huge money and resources to work for PDP. While we do not deny this, we insist that this is restricted to few people who are transacting business with the name of Ndigbo. They neither represent the generality of Ndigbo nor do they represent credible Igbo platforms, which have worked well with Yoruba since the amalgamation of Nigeria.

    We align with the huge success story Lagos has been in the past sixteen years under APC leadership and we are happy that Ndigbo have expanded tremendously in this period, investing hugely in the expanding economy of Lagos and exploiting the promises of the state, enjoying excellent security, good infrastructures, good transportation and a friendly business environment.

    Given that there is clear danger ahead, we want to state that Ndigbo are not part of the indecent money sharing going on now as a campaign strategy of President Jonathan and the PDP. This is not to dispute that various so-called Igbo groups are not partaking in this malfeasance. They are on their own and represent themselves the few members of their groups and families. Millions of Igbo in Lagos are not part of this and we wonder how much it will take to settle all Igbo in Lagos. Those who have partaken in the sharing of dollars and Naira are on their own, if we must restate this fact. They should not drag Ndigbo to their illicit business.

    Proceeding further, we want to advance reasons why Ndigbo must vote the APC government in Lagos.

     

    Why vote APC?

    • APC Lagos has shown through actions and deeds that it understands what leadership is all about.  It has shown leadership in Lagos and made Lagos a destination for all Nigerians especially for Ndigbo when the Federal Government under PDP has abdicated its responsibility to Nigerians.

    • APC government in Lagos has made the issue of Security the number one agenda and this has made it possible for Igbo businesses to thrive in Lagos.  When kidnappers ravaged the South East I know many Igbo Lagosians who traveled to the village to bring their parents to Lagos. Today, Lagos is the safest state of Nigeria where Igbos sleeps with both eyes closed and do their lawful businesses without molestation.

    •APC government in  Lagos  led by Governor Fashola fought Ebola to a standstill and effectively stopped the spread to other parts of  Nigeria.  This led the United Nations to declare Nigeria Ebola free. It could have been worse if not because of this courageous intervention that led the way in curbing this deadly virus in Nigeria.

    • APC government in  Lagos  has created a conducive atmosphere for Igbo businesses to thrive in  Lagos  whether is Real estate, Commerce, Transport, Artisans, Okada, Churches, Construction and other professions.

    • More than 500 Igbo are working in Lagos State Ministries and LGAs in various capacities, including the powerful office of Commissioner for Budget and Planning. Time and space will not permit me to mention their names here.  In Abia State, a PDP Governor, Theodore Orji sacked Igbo from Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi states.

    •Lagos APC government has fought for justice for Igbo Lagosians like Miss Uzoma Okere who was assaulted by a Naval Rating.  Lagos also funded the treatment of a popular Actress, Ngozi Nwosu, OJB Jezreel, Prince Ifeanyi Dike, etc abroad.  Lagos APC government  not only rehabilitated the family of the late Human Rights Activist, Chima Ubani, it also gave the family a house  and offered his children scholarship to all levels of education when the Federal Government and his home PDP State government turned their backs on his family after he died fighting for the masses. APC government in Lagos has fought for countless number of Igbo Lagosians to get justice in Lagos.  Again time and space will not permit me to mention their names here.

    • Lagos  is the second home for Igbo in  Nigeria.  Check the number of Igbo in  Lagos. Check the volume of investment and check the successes. This can only happen because a stable and trusted APC government has been in place. Contrast this with what obtains at the Federal Level where PDP holds sway.

    • Under APC government, Lagos is the fifth largest economy in Africa, larger than the economies of many African countries. Today, Lagos remains the driver of the Nigerian economy and pulls its weakest links. This is what the Igbo need to thrive and excel and not the consumptive politics the PDP promotes which excels in looting and sharing parts of the loot during election time.

    • APC government in Lagos has remained a pacesetter for other states to copy in Nigeria.  Every good idea, every good thing, every evidence of good leadership you see anywhere in the country must have a link and or connection with Lagos.  APC government is a thinking government and you do not prefer a fourth-eleven for the first-eleven.

    • It is better for Ndigbo in  Lagos  to work with those they know than to plan a deal with total strangers. His Royal Highness, the Oba of Lagos Oba Rilwanu Akiolu has told all Lagosians that they do not want PDP anywhere on their soil.  Igbo in Lagos should listen to him as a mark of respect.  PDP has devastated Yoruba land since 1999 from Ogun to Oyo, from Ondo to Ekiti and to Osun. PDP has devastated Nigeria in 16 years and made the country a laughing stock in the comity of nations. Yoruba see PDP as a virus.  That is why they formed an alliance with the North to stop PDP.

    • A lot of money is exchanging hands in  Lagos  but money cannot buy friendship or relationship.  Friendship and Relationship are built over years of hard work and commitment.  Money can buy you a bed but it cannot buy sleep.  Money can buy you a car but it cannot buy you safety.  Money can buy you the best shoes in the world but you need to have legs to wear shoes. If Igbo make the mistake of investing in a dying horse by voting PDP at a time other Nigerians are rejecting it for its sixteen wasteful years in power, it will neither affect the electoral choice of Lagosians nor make any positive difference for Igbo. It will rather worsen their woes in Nigeria especially in Lagos where they co-exist and compete favorably with other Nigerians. Igbo be warned.

     

    Wake-up call:

    In concluding, we want to debunk the impression being created that Ndigbo are against the present wind of change in Nigeria. We want to correct the impression that Ndigbo are very comfortable with the state of affairs in Nigeria.

    We are all for change and Ndigbo will maintain significant presence in the change movement sweeping all over Nigeria.