The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ositelu

  • Ositelu: I’ll return Nigeria to progress, peace

    Presidential candidate of Accord Party Isaac Babatunde Ositelu has promised to rebuild Nigeria’s broken infrastructure.

    Ositelu announced a four-pronged action plan to restore Nigeria back to the path of economic prosperity, security stability and social order.

    He said food security, portable water, affordable healthcare delivery and power to all nooks and crannies of Nigeria are his priority areas.

    According to him, the energy crisis in Nigeria is tractable and it does not require rocket science to give uninterruptible power to every homes and businesses in Nigeria.

    Ositelu, who gained experience in Canada, United Kingdom (UK), United States (U.S.) and Nigeria where he got academic qualifications and job experiences, said mini grid power structure and containerized/motorized power grids would be deployed on need basis as an emergency intervention scheme.

    He said that the multitude of the energetic and youthful Nigerian population would be motivated to be more productive as the power crisis is resolved.

    “We all appreciate the importance of power and how its availability can radically change our economy and life generally. But it is very unfortunate that this problem has refused to go, despite all the interventions, both by the previous governments and even the current one.

    “However, we all know that at the center of this failure is leadership and capacity. Let me state once again that we are in this race to rebuild Nigeria and return her to the path of growth and development. We have what it takes to bring back those good old years of competence, excellence, development, respect for human life and dignity and hope.

    “Outside power, we all know that other national infrastructures are in dire straits and nobody is doing anything to reverse this ugly situation that has remained for so long.’

  • Ositelu launches book at 65

    Ositelu launches book at 65

    Primate of the Church of The Lord Worldwide, Most Rev Dr Rufus Ositelu, has presented a book to mark his 65th birthday.

    Titled Christianity: Inside story from an African perspective, the book was presented at the 6th Rufus Okikiola Ositelu Foundation (ROOF) annual colloquium.

    It was held at the Church headquarters, Ogere, Ogun State, under the chairmanship of Rev Dr Benebo Fubara-Manuel, President  of the Christian Council of Nigeria(CCN) with the theme “Economic recession: The way forward.”

    Ositelu in his lecture attributed the recession to lack of planning and bad governance.

    He said: “Crude oil sales account for 70 per cent of government income.

    “The price of oil has fallen from highs of about $112 a barrel in 2014 to below $50 at the moment.

    “The country is so reliant on oil precisely because its leaders haven’t diversified the economy enough.”

    The guest lecturer, Prof Sheriffideen Tella of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, said recession is not new in Nigeria and globally.

    To beat recession, he said Nigeria must fight corruption by prosecuting proven cases of corruption, confiscation of properties of corrupt officials, stigmatisation of same and change of attitude by non-political elite, among others.

  • Bakare, Ositelu okay restructuring

    Bakare, Ositelu okay restructuring

    The Superintending Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare,  has called for the restructuring of Nigeria to prevent the nation from drifting into anarchy.

    Pastor Bakare spoke while answering questions from reporters after delivering the 50th-year anniversary lecture of the founder of the Church of the Lord, the late Prophet Josiah Olunowo Ositelu, at the Rufus Okikiola Ositelu Multipurpose Hall, Ogere Remo, Ogun State, at the weekend.

    The topic of the lecture is “The Crisis of Christianity and the Challenge of the Church”.

    He said: “There is no alternative to restructuring of Nigeria . We must go back to the basics . We must prepare the foundation of many generations.

    “In the past, people in their regions maximise the potential of their land and contributed their quota to the Federal Government. We must go back to the regional system if we are not going to continue to see unrest.

    “And there is no negotiation, there is no way out of it. We must go back and raise that foundation, restore and repair the bridge and then the increase of his government and peace will be experienced in our land’’.

    In the same vein, Primate Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, said the only way to rescue the country was to  restructure it and allow the regions grow at their pace .

    He described the federal system as absurd , saying the country must be restructured to let the zones manage their resources.

  • Ositelu ‘The Arena’ goes home Feb. 2

    Ositelu ‘The Arena’ goes home Feb. 2

    The remains of the late Deacon Elijah Ayodele Ositelu a.k.a. Arena will be committed to mother earth on February 2, 2013 at Oluwaseyi Compound (Ositelu’s House) in Ogere, Remo, Ogun State.

    A statement by the deceased’s immediate (younger) brother, Dr. David Ositelu said the ceremony marking the final journey of the multi-talented sports journalist would begin on Monday, Jan 28 with a service of songs at the Church of the Lord, Aladura, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos while Ejigbo LCDA takes the stage on Tuesday, January 29 to honour their first Executive Chairman at the Ejigbo Mini-stadium.

    On Wednesday, Jan 30, there will be another service of songs for the departed sports icon at the Sir (Chief) Molade Okoya-Thomas Sports Hall of the Tesilim Balgun stadium organised by the Lagos State sports endownment fund. This will be followed by another service at 10, Aina Street, Ojota, Lagos and according to the statement all of these events will last from 4-6pm.

    The final journey begins with the remains leaving the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for a brief lying-in-state at the Teslim Balogun stadium on February 1 before departing for Ogere in Ogun State where a Christian wake-keep will be held at the Ositelu Memorial College between 4-6pm.

    On Saturday, Feb 2, the funeral and outing services will hold at the Ositelu Memorial College followed by internment at Oluwaseyi Compound (Ositelu’s House).

    The late Arena, who would have turned 70 years on April 3, this year, is survived by three wives, children and grand-children.

     

  • Ositelu dies at 69

    Ositelu dies at 69

    Foremost international sport journalist, Deacon Ayo Ositelu, is dead.

    The veteran sports journalist died after watching Wednesday’s pre-AFCON friendly between Nigeria and Cape Verde.

    According to report that was confirmed by a family friend and journalist, Kayode Tijani, Ositelu popularly known as “Arena,”died on Wednesday night.

    “I can confirm now that Deacon Ayo Ositelu is indeed dead! I spoke to his Wife. He was watching TV with her and next moment  he was dead. Am in shock,”  Tijani said on his tweeter handle.

    The deceased was a respected sports journalist and was the compere when tennis greats, the Williams sisters, came to Nigeria for an exhibition match in November last year.

    While pouring encomiums on the deceased,  Tijani said, “Deacon Ayo Ositelu told me never to detest those that offended me but continue to be nice to them.”

    He described the late Ositelu as a complete gentleman, principled and trustworthy.