The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Passing

  • Nigeria passing through turbulent time, says CAN

    Nigeria passing through turbulent time, says CAN

    President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Dr Supo Ayokunle, yesterday said the killings and bloodshed across the country is without comparison in Nigeria’s history.

    The CAN leader, who is also the President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, spoke in Sagamu, Ogun State, in  his sermon at the 13th annual New Year Thanksgiving and Memorial service organised by former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel.

    He advised Nigerians to desist from politicising the killings and urged them to close ranks and prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration to take decisive steps to arrest the situation.

    The service, which took place at Abraham’s Tabernacle, Sagamu,was attended by prominent traditional rulers, eminent personalities and  political bigwigs.

    Ayokunle lamented the almost routine clashes between herdsmen and farmers in some parts of the country, saying without peace, the nation would not experience genuine progress and development.

    Ayokunle said: “Things are not working in the best way we have thought of. This is a very difficult time in the history of Nigeria, especially the continuous bloodshed. Communities decimated and human beings killed like chickens.

    “The way it is happening now, it has almost not happened before. It is so barbaric, so unbelievable that in a nation with government, things like that will continue to happen with reckless abandon. It is so unacceptable.

    “We have been speaking about it. It is not a matter of politics, you don’t play politics with the lives of human beings. We have no other life to live. So, all of you (Nigerians) have to be praying that our government is going to do the best and what is right so that this nation can experience peace because without peace, there won’t be progress.”

    He urged politicians to respect and heed the admonition of the clerics.

    He said: “We are the conscience of the nation. Politicians need to humble themselves when we speak to them. It is because we look for the good of this nation. Not everything we say to you, you will want to hear. Not everything will be palatable but we are responsible to God and to all these people, we are accountable.

    “The life of every individual is very important. And God has created each person to live his life to His glory. Nobody can give life and nobody has the right to take it. Therefore, beloved people of God, let us say no to the evil in our midst. It is not a matter of politics. It is happening to some people now, who knows the next person? I pray that evil will not swallow us up.”

    Ayokunle, who revealed that yesterday (Sunday) marked the end of the one-week national prayer declared by CAN, appealed to Christians to donate  to the association’s relief fund for victims of ethno-religious crises.

    In his remarks, Daniel said his experience during the campaign for national chairmanship of the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had further opened his eyes to different perspectives of the challenges confronting the country.

    He, however, pointed out that Nigerians must have the spirit of thanksgiving irrespective of the prevailing challenges.

    In Abuja, the President of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), Apostle Nyeneime Andy urged the President  to end killings by herdsmen in some states.

    Nyeneime gave the advice in his address after he was elected.

    Other elected officers are: Vice President, Pastor Adegbegi Ayodeji, General Secretary, Abel Ogwuche, Treasurer, Ekom Lydia and Peter Galdzana as Assistant secretary.

    He urged Buhari to involved Christian youths in all his plans to bring about peace in the country.

    The YOWICAN leader expressed sadness the way at which youths are engaged negatively to perpetrate violence during elections, adding that  he will soon tour all the 37 states of the federation to admonish the youth on the need to shun violence and reject being used as political thugs during the forthcoming 2019 elections.

  • Orphaned by Adebayo Faleti’s passing…

    Orphaned by Adebayo Faleti’s passing…

    With Papa Adebayo Faleti’s transition to the world beyond, I am now officially an “orphan” in the real and reel sense of the word,” writes Yinka Ogundaisi

    The last of my biological parents, my mum passed on in 1979 to join my father who had earlier transited from mother earth in 1976. Papa Adebayo Faleti and late Buky Ajayi both played my rich and aristocratic parents in the 1999 movie; Hostess, also featuring Gloria Anozie-Young, Clarion Chukwurah, and Yomi Obileye in the lead roles. The “Hostess” was a story of a young lady, Vivian (Gloria), a graduate of music, forced into prostitution by the circumstances of her father’s sudden death. She accidentally met the only son and heir of his parents (Yinka) on his business trip to Lagos. At his presidential hotel room, Remi (Yinka) was impressed with Vivian’s dexterity on the piano, which coupled with her unusual honesty earlier on display at their meeting had no hesitation to junk his temperamental fiancée, Irene (Clarion) for her. The horrified aristocratic parents (Faleti and Ajayi) promptly threw their weight behind Irene until her involvement in the criminal offence of kidnapping Vivian came to light.

    We had the reading rehearsal of the movie at the National Theatre and Papa Faleti at his own cost came all the way from Ibadan for the rehearsal (separately from the shoots!) He also refused to stay in the hotel; opting instead for my modest apartment where we spent the night going through the script line by line to perfect in his words “the colloquials.” He had during the rehearsal given the cast the right pronunciation of “Irene” and when most members disagreed, he simply counselled that we all did whatever we thought was right! No tantrum! But he insisted on his own pronunciation to keep with what he said was “his broadcasting doctrines, even if the younger generations prefer their wrong but entrenched pronunciation!” Today those “younger generations” are now in Papa Faleti’s shoes and hopefully they also now concede the rights of their own younger generations to them. He suggested and made generous use of traditional costumes for himself to promote our culture and as a major cultural slant of the movie.

    The production overran its budget and being my first venture after resigning my corporate job with Xerox, this posed a major financial challenge to me. Papa Faleti and late aunty Buky were the first to volunteer the unpaid balance of their fees. Feeling jittery about how to cope with life after the security of guaranteed monthly salary, Papa guided me with his own story of life after his exit from the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, BCOS.

    Aside our common Oyo ancestry, we both spotted the same Oyo facial marks, which made him a natural to play the role of my father. All the credits so far attributed to him weren’t undeserved but much more so. What remains unknown or so far unspoken about was that late Ade Love’s first (own movie) IJA OMINIRA (Fight for Freedom) was based on his novel; OMO OLOKUN ESIN and various single-handed conciliatory roles he played to settle the inevitable professional squabbles amongst our founding theatre lords. For me, he remains a father; always to be remembered as a worthy role model, a cultural icon, a pioneer that proudly held his traditional ancestry amongst his peers, especially at a time when to have facial marks made the carrier untouchable. He blazed the trails that I feel proud to have followed and on which tracks, I shall remain – May his soul rest in peace.

  • Ministerial screening: Passing through needle’s eye

    Ministerial screening: Passing through needle’s eye

    Much have been said about the screening of ministerial nominees by the Senate. But, beyond the approval by the Red Chamber, the legislature and the executive arms  must work together to effect the desired change and promote the cause of democracy, writes BUNMI OGUNMODEDE  

    FOR some 21 Nigerians, who will be screened at plenary by the Senate today and tomorrow, it is easier for the horse to pass through the needle’s eye than scaling the hurdles to serve their fatherland as ministers.

    Unlike what obtained in the past, when nominees appear for screening with funfair in the company of family members, it is certain that the hearts of these nominees will beat unusually faster when they face senators for assessment.

    Ahead of the screening, the would-be ministers have subjected themselves for scrutiny by the Department of State Security (DSS), the Nigerian Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Beyond the clearance from the security and anti-graft agencies, the nominees must have proofs that they have declared their assets with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). The stake is even higher for those who held political offices in the past. Such nominees must appear with CCB certificates.

    If the words of Senate President Bukola Saraki, who will preside over the screening, are anything to go by, there will be no walk-over for any nominee. “It is not going to be business as usual,” he told reporters at the weekend.

    He was only reinstating what Senate spokesman Dino Melaye said after an executive session in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly last Thursday. Though Senator Melaye hinted that former federal legislators might go through lighter rigours, he ruled out preferential treatment for any category of nominees. He said the era of “take a bow and go” was gone for good.

    The screening under this dispensation is a clear departure from the past. The practice was for nominees to lobby senators to soften the ground before they appear for scrutiny.

    Besides the criteria set by the Senate, there are other hurdles to cross. It will not be over for them until it is over as those opposed to their nomination from their respective constituencies have perfected arrangements to back up their written petitions with protests at the National Assembly premises.

    Many believe that the parliament must not pander too much to petitions to avoid the error of judgment. The lawmakers must rise above party affiliations in their duty to ensure Nigerians are not unduly denied of those who have the wherewithal to rebuild the country.

    Hardly had the Senate President read the names of the nominees than their opponents swung into action, raking up reasons nominees from their states should not be cleared to join President Muhammadu Buhari in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    Perhaps, creating more bumps for the nominees is the cold war between the presidency and the legislators. There have been repeated denials on both sides, but discerning minds know that the existing relationship between the two arms is everything but smooth.

    Will the senators adhere strictly to the set criteria and create the impression that the Eighth Senate will not be a rubber stamp to the executive or see the opportunity as a payback time to hit at the presidency for undermining its independence in the choice of principal officers? The end will justify the means.

    But, beyond raising the stake for the screening, the nominees must be made to sign an undertaking that they would heed the invitation of the National Assembly whenever called upon and cooperate with the lawmakers in the discharge of their oversight functions.

    In the past, once ministers scaled the screening hurdle, they were out of control. They spurned legislative summons. Some even seek judicial injunctions to avoid appearance before the National Assembly.

    It is hoped that the legislators and nominees would buy into the new order and play their parts. When cleared, ministers should keep their offices on the strength of what they can offer and not on how dexterous they are holding on to their offices.

    The legislature and the executive should henceforth learn to promote the culture of democracy and foster good governance as partners in progress. The two arms needs each other for democracy to thrive.

     

     

     

     

  • Passing on the baton

    Passing on the baton

    The Batch “A” Corps members of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a Community Development Service (CDS) group of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), have been trained by their outgoing colleagues in the best way to deliver on the group’s objectives in Taraba State. PHILIP OKORODUDU (NYSC Jalingo) reports.

     

    In a few weeks, members of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Community Development Service (CDS) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Jalingo, Taraba State will pass out of the service. But, they don’t want their exit to create a vacuum that will affect the activities of the CDS group.

    •Anjira with some of the outgoing Corps members.

    To ensure continuation of the CDS activities, the outgoing Corps members held an in-house training for their colleagues in Batch “A” to prepare them for the task ahead.

    The training, at the instance of the NYSC schedule officer of the MDGs in the state, Mr Benjamin Anjira, was to acquaint the trainees with the aims and objectives of the MDGs, especially as it is gradually transiting into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Dividing the Corps members into groups, Bello Adoke, an outgoing Corps member and graduate of Philosophy from the Ekiti State University (EKSU), noted that the training became necessary, because NYSC has stopped the training during at the orientation camp.

    Since there are eight goals of the MDGs according to the year 2000 millennium declaration, the trainees were divided into four groups, with each group given a responsibility to identify factors responsible for two goals each and come up with solutions. At the end of the discussion, two persons were called upon to represent the groups and discuss their general findings as well as solutions.

    The reason for this method of brainstorming, Bello said, is to ensure that all Corps members are carried along in the discussions.

    Temilolu Oluwole, one of the trainees and a graduate of Microbiology from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, volunteered to present the seventh goal of the MDGs on behalf of her group. She explained that activities of terrorists and saboteurs contributed to environmental degradation, noting that toxic chemicals from bomb explosions destroy the environment. She advocated the need for more vigilance, adding that people should be wary of containers filled with substances whose content could not be ascertained.

    Another presenter, Sheriff Afolabi, a graduate of Physics Electronics from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) was of the opinion that the refusal of people to know their HIV status was responsible for the prevalence of the disease in some parts of the country. He said free and compulsory testing should be priority of the campaign of the CDS group.

    The NYSC MDGs schedule officer advised the Corps members to ensure to put into practice what they learnt in their places of primary assignment and make positive impact on their host communities.

    In his vote of thanks, the General Secretary of the CDS group, Sunday Asogwa, a graduate of Public Administration from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) in Enugu State, thanked the schedule officer for the confidence he had in the outgoing Corps members, noting that the training was successful. He also enjoined the Batch “A” Corps members to ensure that they sustain the legacy of the MDGs in the state.

  • Passing of a pioneer

    Passing of a pioneer

    • Sylvester Ifeanyichukwu Moemeke, the doyen of Nigeria’s advertising dies at 83

    Call him a member of the old guard; call him a pathfinder, a pioneer, whichever way you describe him, the story of Sylvester Ifeanyichukwu Moemeke is akin to the very history of advertising in Nigeria. His demise recently at the age of 83 could well signify the end of the pioneering era of Nigeria’s advertising.

    Besides being a trailblazer in the industry, his role in advertising was unique in many respects: he joined when advertising was merely referred to as publicity and was not a highly regarded profession. But he was one of the few graduate practitioners of the time, having studied Economics at the Bournemouth College of the University of London, (1961). He was also true to his calling and to the firm. Having joined West Africa Publicity Limited 1962, an arm of the UAC/Lever Brothers’ multinational conglomerates which metamorphosed into Lintas, Moemeke remained with Lintas till his passing on early March.

    In 1972, ten years after he joined, he was appointed to the board and in 1975 he became the chairman and chief executive of the world-renowned advertising firm. For about five decades, Moemeke and his Lintas ruled Nigeria’s world of public relations, advertising and marketing communications.

    It had its pick of businesses not only from across sectors in Nigeria but across the English-speaking West Africa. Of course, Lintas had the most dominant and indeed towering presence in the industry until the mid to late 90s when firms like Insight, Rosabel, STB McCann, SO&U and Prima Garnet began to impact the market and break the hold of Lintas.

    In one way or the other, Moemeke who was the first black managing director of Lintas did not only influence the industry but many generations of practitioners for whom he opened a new vista of opportunities in a new, white-dominated profession. Most of the adventurous professionals of the 80s and 90s who broke out to establish agencies were indebted to him directly or indirectly.

    Lolu Akinwunmi of Prima Garnet and the immediate chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) said of Moemeke: “He was a major industry pillar, one who produced generations of outstanding practitioners. Whatever the Ad profession is today, he played a major role in shaping it.”

    Biodun Shobanjo, who along with Jimi Awosika and Richard Ibe, founded Insight Communications which was to challenge Lintas for preeminence in the industry said of Moemeke: “Here was a man who defined the industry at a point in time. Although I never worked at Lintas, his managerial and professional skills as chairman/CEO resonated across agencies.

    “He was like a god, especially in the 70s and 80s. As the first chairman of APCON, of which I was a member, he worked very hard in establishing the building blocks on which the council was to anchor.”

    Though some may criticise him for hanging on for too long at Lintas thus not allowing it to rejuvenate and flower into a modern branding communications firm especially at the turn of the century, on the contrary, some would see his lifelong tenure as providing longevity to the firm and stability in the industry. For instance, while numerous agencies rose and fell with the turbulence of the ages, Lintas has remained till today.

    Some of the industry big names who have been influenced by Moemeke and his Lintas will include: Ted Mukoro, Dele Adetiba, Ron Mgbatogu, Olu Falomo, Steve Omojafor, Akin Odunsi, Lolu Akinwunmi and Udeme Ufot, to name a few.

    Sylvester Ifeanyichukwu Moemeke will be remembered for his unobtrusive industry, quiet dignity and for representing a path-breaker for his generation.