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Tag: Opeyemi Samuel

  • How national assembly can turn Nigerian economy around – Oloniboko

    How national assembly can turn Nigerian economy around – Oloniboko

    Oloniboko Sesan Isaac is an Oil and Gas expert with over 20years experience in the sector desiring to run as Member of the House of Representatives to represent Ekiti North Federal Constituency 2 comprising of Moba, Ido/OSI and Ilejemeje Local Government Areas of Ekiti-State in 2019.

    In this interview with Opeyemi Samuel, Oloniboko speaks on his commitment to socio-economic development as well as his idea of a better Nigeria.

    With your experience, how do you plan giving back to the society?

    I work as a developing geologist in one of the IOC’s in Lagos, I am a technocrat that has put in over 20 years working experience in the oil and gas  industry and with this experience, I am aspiring to see how I would be able to give back to my community and to my nation in the area of service. It has been in my system, it has been part of me to give back to the community.

    In my secondary school days, I happened to be one of the representatives in Ekiti Parapo College then and to God be the glory, when I was admitted into the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), I became the Chief Whip of the student representative council in FUTA and there and then we achieved quiet a lot of things like freedom of press and we were able to get scholarships and bursary awards that has never happened in history.

    I could vividly recollect while I was in FUTA, and Ekiti State was created then, we led the first set of delegation to the then Governor and the Military Administrator of the Ekiti State we engaged him on the need to get bursary across to the students and we were successful. As a leader then, we were the first set of people who were able to get bursary, because it was N500 then from Ekiti State to all Ekiti students schooling all over Nigeria.

    Since then it has been in me to give back to my community and as a person, I rose to the cradles, grew up in Ido Ekiti my university was in Akure, every other thing put together; I am an holistic person who see things holistically, who see things the way it suppose to be so that the community can benefit from what we have on ground, thank you.

    How do you see this as a Call to service?

    At this level with my technical exposure as a technocrat based on experience, based on age and exposure, I am competent to vie for the office or to be a Rep member at the Federal House of Representatives come 2019. This aspiration has been in me as far back as 2011, I was a party man then, moving from ACN to APC.

    I approached my constituency because you don’t stay in Lagos and say your are vying, I am from Ido-osi, and it is one of the Local Government that constitute Ekiti North Federal constituency 2, we have Moba, we have Ileje-Meje and we have Ido-osi and in those constituencies we have about 32 wards, and there and then I was able to meet with all the Chairmen of my ward in my local government and I told them this is my aspiration, this is what I want to do for you, I want to go and represent you the way others have not done before, I tried then but it didn’t work out; that was when my elderly colleague Baba Robinson got the post and as a party man you stay within your party to make sure you build the party.

    Build experience to make sure you are able to deliver as the time comes. Recently I approached them and told them I still have a lot to offer based on my experience, based on my exposure; you know like I said before I have been out of this country on different trainings, and when you are on a technical training in such manner, you are not just focusing on the trainings because you are meeting people from different environment and different climes and you are trying to understand how things work on their side, those are the things I have in my memory in my capacity, in my capability to be able to go to the Federal House of Representative in 2019 and deliver the dividends of democracy to my people.

    What’s your dispostion of present political dispensation?

    I must be frank with you, the present National Assembly is doing their best, but for now their best is not enough to pull Nigeria out of the present economic situation we have found ourselves, and they can still put more effort. Recently we have seen quite a lot of bills that has been passed and if those bills find themselves into the economy of Nigeria, if their impact is felt, Nigeria will come out of this present economy imbroglio and we would put our feet in the committee of nations in the world.

    They are quite a lot of very intelligent people in that house, when I listened to their open discussions in the senate on Channels I know we have quite a lot of intelligent people who can push positions in that place, they need to up their game; they need to do more, of course they are trying but they can still do more.

    If someone like me coming from the oil industry, from energy and environment find myself in the committee on energy in the house, you should expect constructive contribution that will make sure that our oil industry in Nigeria would be one of the best in the world, and to make sure that a lot of youths are engaged because one thing I have realised in recent time is that there are quite a lot of young guys coming from other countries to come and work in Nigeria; why don’t you have more guys in Nigeria going out there to work as experts because when you work as expert you make yourself internationally marketable and you will be called everywhere to come and work and with that we are trying to reduce some level of unemployment in the system. We have the capacity; we have what is needed to equip those guys so that they also can be experts the way also experts are working in Nigeria.

    Kindly brief us on your developmetal agenda?

    As far as we are concerned today in Ido-osi, our major hold is agriculture, however on the other hand there are quite a lot of things that have fall into place. I was discussing with a colleague recently that as far as that local government is concerned it is possible to venture into quarry. The federal government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has recently approved and funded the construction of a lot of rail lines.

    If you see where rail-lines are constructed you will see very viable granites that are used in the rail construction. It is just for investors coming in and it is just for us to approach our leader who is the present minister for mines and mineral development because they are the ones that grant license for quarry; it is just to sign a memorandum of understanding that I would be able to supply you a tonne of granites.

    Imagine if they are getting that tonne of granite like let say 10,000, and say because of what we have, we have the raw materials and using all the facilities we have presently in Ido-osi, I am telling you Ido-osi alone will be able to supply all the granites that are needed for all the construction of all the rails we have in Nigeria, and you know the level of employment that will generate, and the level of engagement it will generate for the youths in my community.

    These are the things that kept crossing my mind and I believe with good leadership in Ekiti State, good leadership in Nigeria we would be able to get the youths of Ido-osi employed, and with that there would be reduction in restiveness. Another thing that I am looking at is the way at which drug proliferation has continued in that area is unprecedented.

    If our youths are engaged, if they are re-oriented they do away with those things then you can engage them. They are quite a lot of artisans in Ido-osi who can do their work without being engaged in criminalism, they are a lot of guys who are fashion designers, who are masons and bricklayers and those who construct aluminium windows. Those guys can be fully engaged, and when they are engaged, criminality is reduced; guys are employed even if they decide to go to school, then there is a better chance for you to make sure that you are somebody in life. Give you agood career talk on courses to do, even the courses that people think they are irrelevant; there is no course as far as this country is concerned that is not relevant, it is a function of the person that is doing it and the eagerness and the effort one has put to what he is doing. They would be relevant, they would be useful and the community would be less restive, you can’t eliminate criminalism, but you can reduce it drastically and before you realise people who are still interested in doing crime would withdraw their selves and the community will be free and we will be part of the system that we want to represent.

    Putting Ekiti in perspective, what do you think?

    Well to me as of today, the present administration of his Excellency Governor Ayodele Fayose has not lived to people’s expectation because I remembered quite a lot of things he said he would do while vying for the post in 2014, today they still remain a mirage. Based on my discussion recently, it is not Kebbi State that should partner Lagos State in rice production; Ekiti State has older history of rice production compared to Kebbi.

    We produce rice in Igbemo, while I was growing up in secondary school I was doing my holiday job in rice farm, because they are quite a lot of rice farms and the birds are there to disturb; yours is to be there during the day and dislocate those birds. Imagine if Lagos State had partnered Ekiti State in rice production, I cannot imagine the volume of money that will be in Ekiti State now.

    Last week about 70 trailers of rice came from Kebbi State into Lagos State and even if those bags of rice are sold for N6,000, imagine the volume of rice that will come to Lagos from Ekiti, it should not be Kebbi partnering Lagos, or Lagos partnering Kebbi. If the administration we have has taken agriculture with all seriousness, with all concern, Ekiti State by now should be smiling.

    Look at the development in Taraba State, Taraba State has irrigation but they are making fruits like lettuce, cucumber, carrots and many other fruits and they are bringing them to Lagos for quick market and then you realise the volume of money in Kebbi, Taraba and Adamawa now. Ekiti state is in the best position; it is on the pedestal and has a better advantage to bring those things to Lagos than those areas because the distance between Lagos and Ekiti is 3 hours.

    Imagine if 70 trailers of rice are coming from Ekiti bringing rice to Lagos, my people in Ekiti will be smiling now but it is not the order of the day. Federal government has silos in Ekiti, it is for Ekiti to make us of the opportunity by going into agriculture and fill those silos.

  • Release of 21 Chibok girls excites Lagos women

    Release of 21 Chibok girls excites Lagos women

    • As group marches for President Buhari

    The African Arise For Change Network, a coalition of women groups on Friday expressed joy with the recent release of 21 Chibok girls, saying President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Military have indeed restored happiness to the homes of not only the Chibok girls’ families but every concerned mother in the country.

    The women who held what they described as a thank you rally for the release of the girls in Lagos urged Nigerians to continue supporting the government to ensure that the last of those being held by Boko Haram – other than the Chibok Girls are safely returned to their families.

    The group led a peaceful rally from Ikeja City Mall at Alausa to Lagos State governor’s office. addressing the rally, Executive Director of the group, Mrs Oluwatosin Bolarinwa commended the Nigerian military as well as the intelligence agencies that were instrumental in degrading the Boko Haram insurgency to the point where negotiation became possible, which eventually paved way for the release of the girls.

    Addressing the rally, Executive Director of the group, Mrs Oluwatosin Bolarinwa commended the Nigerian military as well as the intelligence agencies that were instrumental in degrading the Boko Haram insurgency to the point where negotiation became possible, which eventually paved way for the release of the girls.

    She paid special tribute to the families and loved ones of military personnel who paid the supreme price in the course of fighting the insurgents to ensure the girls regain their freedom.

    She said with this achievement, the federal government as led by President Muhammadu Buhari has turned around what many Nigerians had given up hope about.

    She said, “Our rally today is for no other reason than to say thank you to Mr President, you promised to bring the girls back and some of us were already losing hope when it was taking time but today we are beginning to see the wisdom of focusing on getting the girls out safely as opposed to applying brute force.

    “Thank you to the military, whose members sacrificed on countless occasions to keep the operation against the terrorists going. Thank you to the parents and families of the Chibok Girls for the many months of patience with Nigeria while their girls were held, hostage. Nothing is enough to compensate for countless nights of uncertain vigils.

    “This thank you rally will not be complete without us asking for more. We appeal to the government not to relent at this point. It should quicken the pace at which the remaining girls are freed from the terrorists.”

    According to her, the recent attacks by Boko Haram terrorists on soft targets are to create fear in the minds of our peoples that they are still around. She, however, said Nigerians are no longer afraid of them as our military has demonstrated enough capacity to be equal to any uprising by any unscrupulous element that rises up to challenge our humanity.

    She further appealed to the government not to bring the military operations against the insurgents to close simply on account of the girls being freed. According to her, some of the fighters are known hardliners who will not sign up to the peace deal.

    They were received by Mr Taiwo Ayedun, the Special Assistant to Ambode on civic engagement, who spoke on behalf of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, saying: “We also want to say a very big thank you for your concern. It is a collective responsibility and we want to assure Nigerians that very soon the remaining girls will join their parents at home.

  • Arewa youths rally support for Buhari on terrorism, corruption

    Arewa youths rally support for Buhari on terrorism, corruption

    Northern youths under the aegis of Arewa Youth Leaders Forum (AYLF) have urged Nigerians to rally support around the President Muhammadu Buhari led-administration and not join the cabals who are bent on destroying the country for selfish reasons.

    The youths said it made this appeal in the belief that the economic progress Nigerians desire to end the current recession will amount to nothing if we are still plagued with corruption and terrorism.

    Addressing journalists on Thursday in Abuja, national president of the group, Alhaji Abubakar Abubakar
    said the support Nigerians give to Mr President should be extended to the military to win the war against terrorism.

    He also called for the same support to be given to the anti-corruption agencies to succeed.

    According to him, despite the  current challenges, Nigerians need to be able to appreciate that things could have been worse but that thanks to a forward-looking leadership we have been saved from a worse outlook as a country.

    He said Nigerians need to appreciate the risk our military men put themselves fighting the insurgents to enable us to have a safe country.

    He commended President Buhari for his towering credentials in the war against terrorism and extremism that has manifested in the release of 21 Chibok Girls and other persons once held hostage by the dreaded Boko Haram terror group.

    According to him, the degradation of Boko Haram that ensured it was possible to negotiate the release of the girls has also created the scenario in which the unrepentant components of the group carried out  the recent attacks on Nigerians troops and other locations.

    He said Most of the now infrequent attacks are on soft targets, which justifies the confidence Nigerians have in the ability of the military leadership to curtail and turn the tide quickly in line with Mr President’s directives as Commander-in-Chief.

    According to him, that the country has not sunk completely on account of this corruption is due, largely, to the timely intervention of President Buhari

    Abubakar also commended the President for his commitment to democracy in the country, saying it is unprecedented that the wife of a sitting President should publicly criticise his administration, yet he did not flinch.

    He said: “No doubt, several things are wrong. A lot of things can be better. But notwithstanding our lot is not entirely bad neither is our outlook bleak. Part of what we need is perspective.

    He said despite the criticisms that have trailed the President’s anti-corruption war, the results have been positive.

    According to him, “the clamp down on senior judges alleged to be corrupt is a testament that Mr President will stop at nothing to ensure that corruption does not deny citizens of their rights. A land where justice is for sale cannot be adjudged democratic so Mr President has in essence strengthened democracy.

    “We recognise that criticisms trailed this beaming of the anti-corruption searchlight on the judiciary. The array of comments, commendation, condemnation and other positions – whether positive or negative  are indicative of a government that allows the greatest dividend of democracy, the freedom to be part of governance through vibrant contributions.

    “Even family members, as was the case with Mrs Aisha Buhari’s recent BBC interview, are part of the criticism. We salute Mr President for this unrivalled democratic precedence that allows everyone to make the intervention in governance. We hail Mr President for his democratic posture and respect for rule of law and all the basic norms of democracy.

    “This is bearing  in mind that it takes a true Democrat like President Buhari not to flinch when members of his family criticise his activities. This is what many African leaders lack and our president has shown recently that it is exactly what is needed to move any democratic society forward.”

  • Group protest terrorism at Iranian embassy

    Group protest terrorism at Iranian embassy

    • Demands El-Zakzaky’s prosecution.

    Members of the Sovereign Right Coalition (SRC) have staged a protest at the Iranian Embassy, demanding the removal of the Iranian embassy and prosecution of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) leader, El- Zakzakky.

    The protesters gathered at the Alexandra junction and march to the main gate of the embassy in Ikoyi, Lagos. They bore placards and banners with the inscriptions: We hate terrorism and cannot afford to breed a new one in this country again; Stop Iran from sponsoring terrorism in our country; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of justice prosecute Zakzakky now.

    The coordinator of the group, Comrade Aaron Aaron said today marks another epoch in the existence and survival of our dear nation Nigeria as it grapples to stay alive from the forces of terror and their allies who have held our nation hostage for over a decade.It is a special day in the lives of all patriotic Nigerians as we have gathered here today to register our rejection of imperialism and terror from religious extremists and their sponsors.

    “It is a special day in the lives of all patriotic Nigerians as we have gathered here today to register our rejection of imperialism and terror from religious extremists and their sponsors. The happenings in the North-Eastern part of the country are familiar to all who live in or are interested in Nigeria. It is common knowledge that there has in the last decade, been a sprouting of religious fanatic groups which have unsuccessfully attempted to foist their beliefs on innocent Nigerians using terror as their tool of evangelism.

    ”The happenings in the North-Eastern part of the country are familiar to all who live in or are interested in Nigeria. It is common knowledge that there has in the last decade, been a sprouting of religious fanatic groups which have unsuccessfully attempted to foist their beliefs on innocent Nigerians using terror as their tool of evangelism.

    “Today the gallant Nigerian Army has gotten the upper hand in this fight and most of these groups have been brought in check. However, it is our belief that even the little cells of terrorist groups be checkmated.

    “It is also not news that the group, Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) led by its leader Mr. Ibraheem El Zakzakky had attempted an assault on the Chief of Army Staff and his motorcade in Kaduna where in the course of the operation, he was arrested and a cache of arms was recovered.’

    ‘Speaking further, he said ”Unfortunately, even after this blatant display of disregard for the nation’s security, these terrorists have continued to display obtuse discount for the nation’s sovereignty in their treasonable attempts to occupy parts of the nation in a bid to form their own republic,” Aron said.

    “It is on this belief, that we are here today to establish our reproach for the postponed trial of Mr. Ibraheem El Zakzaky who is the leader of this notorious sect which has and is still reigning terror on masses in Northern Nigeria.We are also concerned with the unceremonious relocation of the Embassy of the Republic of Syria to Lagos, a move we have suspected to be aimed at moving base of operations of the terrorist group to the Southern Nigeria after ravaging the North.

    “We are also concerned with the unceremonious relocation of the Embassy of the Republic of Syria to Lagos, a move we have suspected to be aimed at moving the base of operations of the terrorist group to the Southern Nigeria after ravaging the North.Our concern is based on the trail of violent acts that have trailed the Iranians who have been known sponsors of terror and particular IMN. We have refused to sit and fold our arms while these harbingers of terror sneak in seeds of discord amongst our religious tolerant Southerners where all religions wine and dine under the same roof.”

    “Our concern is based on the trail of violent acts that have trailed the Iranians who have been known sponsors of terror and particular IMN. We have refused to sit and fold our arms while these harbingers of terror sneak in seeds of discord amongst our religious tolerant Southerners where all religions wine and dine under the same roof.”

    one of the protesters, who pleaded anonymity said: ‘As a group, we have severally observed with awe, acts by persons supported by foreign nations including the Republic of Iran aimed at disparaging the honour of Nigeria as a nation.

    “It is judging from the above parameters that we state as follows:

    • That the Republic of Iran is not an ally of Nigeria but a detractor and its presence on Nigerian soil is an affront to Nigerian sovereignty.
    • That the Iranians are major sponsors of terror in Nigeria and particularly the IMN who have not hidden their association with ISIL.That Nigerian security with a matter of urgency swing into investigation of reports of recruitment and funding of terrorist by the Iranians to prevent further acts of terror on Nigerian soil.
    • That Nigerian security with a matter of urgency swing into investigation of reports of recruitment and funding of terrorist by the Iranians to prevent further acts of terror on Nigerian soil.As a matter of immediacy,  IMN be treated and elevated to a first class terror group in the ranks of the famed Boko Haram and given similar attention.
    • As a matter of immediacy,  IMN be treated and elevated to a first class terror group in the ranks of the famed Boko Haram and given similar attention.
    • That we frown at the delayed prosecution of Mr. Ibraheem El Zakzaki, as this delay in prosecution further emboldens the movement in the country.” he maintained.