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  • Alaghodaro: Waje, Mayorkun, others light up Benin as Obaseki plans 30-hectare TV Village

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said plans are in the works for a 30-hectare Television Village in Okhoro axis of Benin City, which will attract big-ticket investments from Nollywood, Nigeria’s booming movie industry.

    The governor also said that the sum of N250 million will be allocated to boost the creative industry in the state’s 2019 budget, noting that his administration is committed to creating room for youths to find expression in productive ventures in the state.

    The governor disclosed this during the youth concert organised as part of activities marking his administration’s second-anniversary celebration in Benin City, on Friday night.

    He said his administration prioritises entertainment and creativity as a veritable tool for job creation for youths, adding, “We have been trying to fix roads, health care and education sectors over the past two years. We want to build an entertainment hub. We have 30-hectare premises in the Okhoro axis of the state for this purpose and it will have investments from Nollywood.

    “We want to give youths jobs and entertainment. There is hope for talented youths because we have artistes from the state, who are succeeding and making waves in the entertainment industry,” Obaseki said.

    The governor who was elated by the performance of local and international artistes at the concert, donated N10 million to a physically challenged artiste named ‘Kasali’ to enable him establish his record label.

    “My administration will support talents. We want the world to know that there is ability in disability. The N10 million is to enable him establish his label and promote his music,” the governor said.

    He said a team would be assembled to properly organise the creative industry in the state, adding that the committee will be made up of the Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs as well as local artistes in the state.

    He added that his administration was working to get an alternate source of power supply in the state to drive development, noting that steady power supply was needed to grow the economy, including the entertainment industry.

    “Electricity has been our problem and we are solving it. We say no to Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC); we will have our own electricity company in Edo before the celebration of my administration’s third year anniversary,” the governor assured.

  • Abducted Ondo ADC candidate, chairman, others regain freedom

    The Senatorial Candidate of the African Democratic Congress(ADC) for Ondo North District, Pastor Jide Ipinsagba, who were abducted with the Ondo State Chairman of the party, Bisi Ogungbemi, by unknown gunmen four days ago, have regained their freedom.

    Ipinsagba, Ogungbemi and three other chieftains of the party in the state were kidnapped along Oba Akoko-Owo road on their way from Ikare Akoko to Akure on Wednesday.

    According to a source, the incident occurred around 7 o’clock on Wednesday’s evening on their way from Akoko to Akure after a political outing.

    Ipinsagba had recently dumped the ruling APC and joined ADC to actualise his senatorial aspiration.

    When contacted, the ADC House of Representatives candidate for Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency and former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Dr. Bakitta Bello, confirmed the release of the party’s leaders by the kidnappers.

    Bello however said he could not confirm the amount of ransom paid for the release of the abducted ADC leaders.

    The Area Commander in Ikare-Akoko, Assistant Commander of Police (ACP) Razak Rauf, visited the freed politician.

  • Insecurity: Sultan, Agwai, others preach unity, dialogue

    SULTAN of Sokoto Abubakar Sa’ad III and former Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Martins Lurther Agwai have called for continued dialogue among the various nationalities

    The duo said dialogue remained the only way to entrench peace and unity in the country. They spoke yesterday at the symposium and book presentation in honour of Agwai, who turned 70.

    The book titled: “How a congress of baboon made a general” was written by Ms. Rebecca Agwai, daughter of the celebrator.

    The Sultan stressed the need for unity among the people and also the need to always discuss national issues with sincerity.

    He said: “There are problems facing us left, right and centre, insecurity problems everywhere just like part of the big moll, but we shall overcome them.

    “We must not give up, there is hope as long as there are good people like Gen. Agwai who are struggling to put things together and bring us together in such a forum, and that is what we need in this country, let keep on talking to ourselves, let us never get tired of dialogue. Let us never get tired of telling ourselves the truth because as you all know, the truth can set us free.”

    On his part, Gen. Agwai stresse the need to agree that there is a challenge, which according to him is the fundamental foundation to finding lasting solution.

    He said: “Let us agree that there is a challenge; that is the first thing. If people don’t agree that there is a challenge, that itself is a challenge.

    “When we agree that there is a challenge, then we put our heads together and say ‘what is the way forward. And I think the answer to that is that all of us have to look ahead, and try as much as possible, I didn’t say we should not know where we are coming from, but we shouldn’t so much dwell in the past.

    “We should now conjure our condition, what do we want for our country? What is the way forward? And if we continue talking about the past, the past we continue hurting us. But if we agree, yes, the past has its own challenges, what is the way forward? What is the way forward for a new Nigeria? How do we get to that new Nigeria?

    “With my little life of 70 years, at a local level, the leave in peace, they leave in harmony better than all of us in the cities. Again, we have to learn to forgive, not who is right. We have to start on a new slate. The new slate is to forgive ourselves, forget the past, and then build a solid new foundation for Nigeria.”

    On alleged politicisation of security challenges, Gen. Agwai advised that “we should not allow politicians to use us. How many of us would see fire and go there? But a lot of us because of what I hear today as stomach infrastructure, we stop thinking with our brains. We forget that any temporary gain today, we are actually mortgaging our future.”

    Former presidential candidate of the defunct National Redemption Congress (NRC), Bashir Tofa, asked some rhetoric questions bothering on the peace and unity of the country.

    He said: “With people like you in this country, if I may ask, how is it that we have sunk so low in destroying one another..?  Why is it that we are friends as individuals but enemies as a community? Why is it that most of our people are so desperately poor and our active and intelligent youths are so left behind?

    He challenged the celebrator through his Centre, the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre to find solution to the insecurity problems bedeviling the country.

  • Kia unveils ProCeed, others in Paris

    Kia Motors last week unveiled the new Kia ProCeed at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. The shooting brake made its debut alongside the new high-performance Ceed GT and ProCeed GT, as well as the Ceed GT Line. The Kia e-Niro electric crossover also premiered at the European show.

    According to Kia Motors Europe Chief Operating Officer, Emilio Herrera, the new cars underlined the level of ambition and design passion that defined Kia’s cars.

    The ProCeed, Herrara said, offers buyers stunning and emotional design, the Ceed GT provides maximum driver engagement, and the e-Niro helps to break down the barriers to electric car ownership, making it easy, fun and reliable.

    All four models unveiled by Kia in Paris will be sold with the company’s unique seven-year, 150,000 km warranty as standard. Kia’s warranty also covers the lithium-ion polymer battery pack in the e-Niro.

    The ProCeed merged stunning coupé-inspired lines with tourer versatility. Shown publicly for the first time in Paris, the new Kia ProCeed merged stunning design with the space and versatility of a tourer in a five-door shooting brake body. The ProCeed will go on sale exclusively to European drivers at the beginning of next year.

    Carrying the name over from the second-generation Kia pro_cee’d three-door coupé, the new ProCeed has been designed, developed and engineered in Europe. A product of Kia’s European design, product development and R&D teams in Frankfurt, Germany, the ProCeed will be manufactured at the brand’s Žilina production facility in Slovakia. It will be built alongside the Kia Ceed and Ceed Sportswagon, first introduced earlier this year.

    The Ceed GT majors on performance and accomplished ride and handling. It is more accomplished and fun-to-drive than ever.

    The original Cee’d GT and Pro_Cee’d GT were launched in 2013, as the first ever performance hatchbacks from a Korean brand. The new Ceed GT picked up where its predecessors left off, with an assured, engaging drive and a powerful 1.6-litre T-GDi (turbo-charged gasoline direct injection) engine, as well as a comprehensive range of comfort, safety and convenience technologies.

    The Ceed GT’s sporty exterior design differentiates it visually from other models in the Ceed range. Where the design of the conventional Ceed is characterised by taut creases and curvaceous sheet metal, the GT variant presents a more athletic proposition, with new front and rear bumpers, sills and a series of red highlights around the exterior.

    The GT variant was built around the same ergonomic cabin architecture as other models in the Ceed line-up. Surfaces are finished in high-quality soft-touch materials and metallic trim, while the dashboard angled towards the driver, making it easier to use on the move. At the centre of the dashboard is Kia’s ‘floating’ touchscreen infotainment system – 7.0- or 8.0-inches wide – with audio and heating and ventilation controls situated below.

    For the first time in a performance hatchback from Kia, the new Ceed GT will be available with an optional seven-speed double-clutch transmission, in addition to the standard six-speed manual gearbox.

    Kia e-Niro combines driving enjoyment, eye-catching design, crossover utility and a zero-emissions powertrain – to create one of the most capable electric vehicles on-sale worldwide. It has been designed to break down barriers to electric car ownership, offering long-distance driving range, more intelligent packaging, and greater practicality than many other electric vehicles.

    The e-Niro is the first fully electric crossover utility vehicle produced by Kia, providing a zero-emissions driving range of up to 485 kilometres (301 miles) on a single charge of its 64 kWh long-range battery pack. The long-range battery is also capable of travelling up to 615 kilometres (382 miles) in the city – further than many gasoline vehicles. The e-Niro is also available with a 39.2 kWh battery, which offers a driving range of up to 312 kilometres (193 miles) on a single charge.

    Inside the Kia e-Niro, the cabin combines a  modern design with generous space and technologies that complement its zero-emissions powertrain. Buyers will also benefit from a range of dedicated electric vehicle in-car technologies to maximise range and efficiency, as well as new safety features, and differentiated exterior and interior design.

  • Oando Plc boss, Kachikwu, others for Africa Oil Week in South Africa

    Oando Plc Group Chief Executive Adewale Tinubu and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu will be joining over a thousand key industry players to celebrate Africa Oil Week’s (AOW) 25th year event.

    AOW, in the past 25 years, has provided a platform for government officials, national and international oil companies, independents, investors, corporate players and financers to share their strategies for growth and better national participation in the oil and gas sector.

    The AOW platform is also aimed for stakeholders to engage in high level discussions on the future of the continent’s oil and gas industry, focusing on current challenges and trends and proffering solutions that will provide a positive and lasting impact for all.

    The conference, which kicks-off today in South Africa, with the theme: “The Leading Business Intelligence and Transaction Platform for Africa’s Oil and Gas Sector”, will play host to 16 ministers from across the continent, delegates from over 70 countries, 1,300 international CEOs and senior decision makers.

    Nigeria will be well-represented at the event with a cross section of delegates consisting of government and private sector leaders.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo will give a chairman’s welcome address at the event alongside former Minister for Africa, United Kingdom Mark Simmonds.

    Kachikwu will share the Nigerian perspective at the ministerial insights session with six ministers from other African countries.

    Tinubu will lead discussions on a panel session titled: “Can Africa upstream play a significant role in the context of the global and regional energy landscape?’

    This session will offer an objective market watch of the African oil and gas landscape, addressing the challenges and opportunities the industry is presented with.

    Oando has carved a niche for itself as an independent indigenous oil and gas company flying the Nigerian flag at global events that shape the future of the sector and Africa in general.

  • Obasanjo, Gowon, others for Kaduna Baptist Church centenary anniversary

    Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) have been billed for 100 years celebration of the First Baptist Church, Ahmadu Bello Way, Kaduna, slated between November 1 to 18, this year.

    Addressing a journalists in Kaduna on Friday, Chairman, Centenary Anniversary Planning Committee, Dcn Engr. Adeniyi Rasheed Rufai told reporters that, the church, located in the heart of Kaduna, has survived several violence with the help of God and security agents in the state in the last 100 years.

    According to him, the church though founded in 1914, was officially launched in 1918 at about the time the colonial masters created Kaduna City thereby making it one of the oldest denominations in Northern Nigeria.

    Kaduna City had marked its 100 years earlier in the year where the Church played host to the City’s centenary church service led by Deputy Governor, Arch. Yusuf Bala Bantex.

  • Appeal Court dismisses suit against Fayemi’s SIEC, others

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, yesterday dismissed an appeal filed by the state government against the judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).

    The court verdict recognised the statutory bodies dissolved by former Governor Ayo Fayose.

    The Akure Division of the NICN, in October, last year, nullified Fayose’s dissolution of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), Civil Service Commission (CSC), State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) inaugurated by the first administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    The Industrial Court also ordered Fayose to pay the chairmen and board members of the commissions their salaries and allowances, which accrued to them from the date of their dissolution to the end of their tenure.

    The Fayose administration filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal to upturn the verdict of the National Industrial Court.

    The chairman of SIEC, which Fayemi set up, Mrs. Cecilia Bosede Adelusi, alongside other chairmen of the commissions, challenged their dissolution at the National Industrial Court.

    The plaintiffs averred that at the time Fayose dissolved their commissions, there was no vacancy, as they were entitled to a five-year tenure, which had not ended at the time of the dissolution.

    Justice Ahmad Belgore, who led a three-member panel, dismissed the appeal after it was withdrawn by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, who appeared for the governor.

    SIEC and other commissions were represented by Mr. Ibrahim Olarewaju, Mr. Tajudeen Akingbolu and Mr. Adeoye Aribasoye.

    The Ministry of Justice, upon assumption of office by the new Attorney General, reviewed all case files and resolved that the appeals were not meritorious.

    The attorney general filed a notice of withdrawal of the appeal and the Appeal Court, in accordance with Order 11, Rule 5 of the court, dismissed the appeal.

    With the withdrawal of the appeal and striking out of same by the Appeal Court, the judgment of the National Industrial Court, which validated Fayemi’s SIEC and other statutory bodies still subsists.

    Fayose set up his own SIEC, led by former Chief Judge, Justice Kayode Bamisile.

    It conducted two local government elections, including the one that brought the present crop of council chairmen and councillors to office.

    The current local government chairmen had approached a State High Court on October 12 with a motion seeking to stop Fayemi from dissolving their councils.

    But Justice Abiodun Adesodun dismissed the application on grounds that there was no compelling fact on ground to grant same.

  • 2019: IRI seeks to reform campaign strategy of APC, PDP, others

    The American International Republican Institute (IRI) said yesterday that political parties lacked ideology and are being influenced by wealthy individuals, who fund parties and usurp powers of party leaders.

    The institute also said there was the need to  reform the campaign strategies and message base of political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to be centered on issue-based ideology rather than personality-based campaigns.

    IRI Resident Programme Director Sentell Barnes spoke yesterday during a campaign messaging workshop for State House of Assembly candidates in conjunction with USAID, which took place in Abuja.

    The workshop, which comprises of four states’ House of Assembly candidates, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Ebonyi, and Sokoto states, aims at training the candidates on how to address the shortcomings present in the campaigns of political parties and engage the voters in a more progressive route.

    “We are training State House of Assembly candidates from four states starting from Sokoto,” Barnes said in an interview during the workshop.

    “We are working with multiple political parties; we are working with APC, PDP and some others.

    “The four states were states USAID had good governance programmes with. So, what we are trying to do is to attach the political party aspect with the good governance so if we can bridge those gaps and we can see greater results with what the political parties are doing.

    “It’s important to realise that political parties are the people going to government. So, if we imbibe the structures within the political parties, then we enhance the governance that comes from people serving in government.”

    “Our goal is to train them on how to develop policies that they can share when they are out campaigning. What we are trying to do is kind of enhance their ability to run issue-based campaigns.

    “What we are trying to move away from is personality-based politics. We want people to talk about the issues. We want to help candidates to better understand how the whole campaign process works.

  • Obaseki, others: death shocking

    Edo State Governor  Godwin Obaseki has described as shocking the death of Chief Tony Anenih.

    Governor Obaseki  said Chief Anenih’s contribution to the nation would be missed.

    Obaseki who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the people of the State are consoled by the fact that Chief Anenih lived a long and fruitful life.

    He said the demise of Chief Anenih is more saddened as it happened at a time the country is going into electioneering campaigns.

    Governor Obaseki said the state would mourn his demise and missed his fatherly role in bringing people together.

    Candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Ovia Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Dennis Idahosa, said Chief Anenih’s contribution to the country’s political development cannot be forgotten easily.

    Idahosa said Chief Anenih played fatherly role to all politicians in the state.

    Former President of the National Association of Nigeria Students, Comrade Jude Imagwe, said his heart is heavy with the passing of Chief Anenih.

    He said: “The wind is blowing and the root of an iroko has shaken. The lion has gone into sleep and the leopard is heading into the savannah. The san in his hour has poured out. My. heart is heavy but God is God.”

  • Classic FM, others partner for medical outreach

    RESIDENTS of Bariga community, a Lagos suburb, on Saturday, October 13, came out in large numbers to benefit from the free consultation, diagnosis, and treatment organised by the ‘Doctors on Air’ initiative in conjunction with the Executive Chairman Bariga LCDA, Hon. Kolade David Alabi.

    Tagged ‘Free Medical Mission’, the event which held at the Bariga Local Council Secretariat, Lagos, had various volunteer doctors, the Lagos State Ministry of Health and corporate establishments all providing medical assistance to the participants, irrespective of age, gender, or socioeconomic status.

    Services rendered include cardiology services, breast and prostate cancer screening, dental treatment, eye checkup, skin talk, infertility problems, blood pressure, health insurance, drug abuse as well as the provision of free drugs and medication amongst others.

    Highlighting the benefit of health to humanity, Hon. Kolade David Alabi said if his administration put all other infrastructure problems in place and his people don’t have good healthcare delivery, everything will be rendered nugatory.

    “If you build good houses, churches or mosques and people lacked good healthcare whatever you are putting in place will be rendered nugatory. So, health is very important, is the key to all humanity and that is why people say, ‘health is wealth’”.

    He added, “What we are doing here today is addressing infrastructural decay in Bariga. In my campaign, I told my people that we are going to address all areas of infrastructure problems, healthcare delivery and this is one of it. So, I urged my people to take advantage of this screening to stay healthy. We will be doing this at intervals.”

    Hon. Kolade, however, heaps praises on the SYNLAB and other partnerships who supported the initiative saying, “Though we’ve been doing this in the past but what we are witnessing here today is more encompassing because it is not only related to one but covers all sphere of medical screening.”

    Dr. Pamela Ajayi, creator and host of the Doctors on Air stated that the healthcare programme is for everyone especially those who are unable to afford the quality health care clinics.

    “Don’t wait for symptoms to occur before going for a medical checkup. Nigerians need to be empowered to know their bodies and tell when it needs medical attention. This is an opportunity for you to take advantage of this free medical service to examine yourself and free from diseases with no cost,” she advised.