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Tag: promises

  • Amuneke Promises: We’ll work harder

    Amuneke Promises: We’ll work harder

    •Salutes Eaglets’ winning start

    Golden Eaglets Head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has described Saturday’s 2-0 win over the United States of America as a morale booster for the players in the quest to successfully defend the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

    Chukwudi Agor and Victor Osimhen gave Nigeria a winning start courtesy of two second half goals against the Americans at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015.

    “The victory against the USA was important for us and I want to congratulate the boys for making Nigerians happy,” Amuneke told thenff.com.

    He continued: “They (players) were tentative in the first 20 minutes and this was expected because it was the first time they were playing at a big stage such as the World Cup but it was important we won the first game since it would boost our confidence going into the next game against host Chile; so we are happy but will continue to work harder.

    “This victory against the USA is for Nigerians especially for many who stayed up late to watch the match,” stated the former African Footballer of the Year who refrained from praising the goal scorers against USA.

    “It is the job of all the players to do their respective jobs in the interest of the team. We want to play and win as a team and collectively, we want to work in order to achieve our overall objective at this tournament.”

    Meanwhile, midfielder Chukwudi Agor has described his goal and indeed the opening goal in Group A at Chile 2015 against the USA, as very

    important for his budding career. It was Agor’s second goal for the national U-17 side after he grabbed the winner in the 2-1 win over Brazil at the Suwon U-17 Tournament in September.

    “I’m happy that I scored ,” said Agor, “I’m dedicating the goal to my sister, Oluchi.”

    The Golden Eaglets will, in the meantime, hit the road on Sunday for Vina del Mer where they will play host Chile at the 24,000 Capacity Estadio Sausalito on Tuesday.

  • Ambode: I’ll fulfil campaign promises

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has promised to fulfill his electoral promises.

    The governor, who spoke at the 2015 Ojude Oba Epe Festival at the Epe Recreation Ground, Epe, said the previous administration’s infrastructural renewal drive would receive adequate attention.

    “One of the promises during the campaign is that we will continue with my predecessor’s infrastructural development and improve on it.

    “What we have to do is improve on the network which Babatunde Fashola had laid down,” he said.

    Ambode said he used the first three months of his administration to set up an institutional framework, assuring that going forward, Lagosians will begin to witness development across the state.

    “I have no choice, I have to do it for all Lagosians, that’s what I am committed to do, I have said I am going to be selfless about service and that’s what I am going to do and you will see it.

    “What I have done in the last three months is to set up the institutional framework and if you want to build a house, you have to lay the foundation, you will now see what I’ll be doing in the next three and half years, just watch and you would see it,” he said.

    He assured the people of Epe that development would also get to the area, saying aside being a native of Epe, the town has witnessed less development in recent times.

    “For Epe, you can see, in terms of the rural local governments, Epe is the most rural and in terms of the divisions, Epe is the least of all the five divisions. So for them, the best thing we can do is to increase the infrastructural development here in Epe and help them to develop in other areas,” the governor said.

    Dignitaries at the festival include the Oba of Epe, Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun, Asiwaju of Epeland, Justice Adesola Oguntade, Chairman Eleganza Group, Chief Rasak Okoya, Senator representing Lagos West, Adeola Olamilekan Solomon, Chief of Staff to the governor, Olukunle Ojo.

  • Siasia promises Dream Team improvements

    Siasia promises Dream Team improvements

    Dream Team coach Samson Siasia has told AfricanFootball.com his team will improve on their way to winning a second All Africa Games Gold for Nigeria.

    Nigeria U23s outplayed rivals and defending champions Ghana 2-0 to get off to a winning start at the 2015 All Africa Games football event on Wednesday.

    “I am very glad and happy that Nigerians are pleased with our performance. The boys will play better as the competition progress,” a delighted Siasia told AfricanFootball.com.

    “I thank God for the victory. There were no secrets, but discipline and our good tactics.

    “We also defended very well so as not to allow cheap goals.”

    Nigeria face Senegal, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana at the weekend, on Saturday to determine the winners of Group B after Egypt pulled out of the competition.

  • ‘Wike fulfulling his promises’

    ‘Wike fulfulling his promises’

    Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah is the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Rivers State Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike. In this interview with Precious Dikewoha in Port Harcourt, the state capital, he speaks on Wike’s achievements and the ongoing projects executed by the administration.

    Many people have described the road projects by Governor Wike as a way to attract the public sympathy in case the Rivers State Election Tribunal nullifies the election. Is it true?

    That is not true; first and foremost it is the constitutional responsibility of any government to initiate projects that have direct impact on the people. But, whatever tendentious interpretation people are trying to weave in, I wish his predecessors find themselves in similar situation to have done what he is doing. Probably, if they had done it, Wike wouldn’t have been doing it now. Because, those projects would have been taken care of. So whatever it is, this is the dividends of democracy. The people are yearning for it, and that is what he is dishing out. What is wrong in carrying out projects that would endure you to the heart of the people? As a governor is he supposed to carry out projects that would scare people away from you? You are to carry out projects that would make people to love you and like you that is why it is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. To have voted him into office they must have appreciated certain qualities in him. So it would be wrong to go there and betray the confidence reposed on him. As a voter and as a man seeking for vote there is a social contract already, it must not be in black and white. And during electioneering campaign you must have promised the people something, is there any particular time to fulfill those promises. Of course, there is no such law that he should begin the massive development after the tribunal has fulfilled the litigation process. So Wike has started, he has  set the ball rolling, there is no time to waste, he took off from the inauguration ground where he declared operation zero pot holes in Port Harcourt. You can testify that governor Wike has turned  Rivers State to construction site, what we used to hear in Akwa-Ibom is what we are seeing in Rivers State today.

    Don’t you think it is too early to appraise Wike’s achievement?

    No, it is not, if within a very short period a man has achieved this much then I think the ‘pull down syndrome’ should stop. Let us rally around him and encourage him so that he will do more. Are we talking of the backlog of pensioners entitlement that cumulated to eight months, remember that all efforts to pay the pensioners by the immediate past administration fell on deaf ears.  What about the salaries of civil servants that Wike cleared? Which one would you talk or leave, what about the scholarship, the students were sent abroad and abandoned callously? Monies that were meant for them were fictitiously spent. Where are you going to start from? We all know that our roads became death traps, most of them impassable, and this is a man that has come to salvage the state. Because we became despondent in Rivers State, you could see frustration on the faces of everybody, but today there is joy in the land because you have the righteous and it is said, when the righteous rules the people rejoice.

    You believe we can’t capsize with Wike as the captain of the ship?

    Of course, instead we should expect more, it is a continuous process; I can’t sit down here and tell you that this is what you are going to witness in Rivers State under the administration of Chief Nyesom Wike. All I know is that all facet of the state would be touched. Not just the road network, he has already taken a step to build and renovate schools in the state. He just completed the faculty of law building in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, the project started during the military era and was abandoned but today the people are rejoicing. He has touched many areas,  if you say Wike has cleared the backlog of pension and if your family or relative is not a pensioner you would not feel the impart. But it would have an impact on the beneficiaries who appreciate the need to have someone like Wike. That is why some people may not know that Wike is doing better in other sectors of the state. When a governor is insensitive to the plight of the people there would be crisis even in the family. You can image that you have a brother among those on scholarship and he cannot write exam over there, will you be happy with the government? But because everybody has access to road that is why people thought it was only road project that is going on in the state.  Even in the health sector he is doing wonderfully well. He has restored calm in the traditional institutions with the amended law.  Because there were so much rubble and bickering, before now the sanctity of our traditional institution was profaned by the former governor for egocentric reasons. Even the traditional rulers are now happy because they find out that he has touched almost all the facet of life. But, what readily come to mind are the roads and the bridges, because even the blind uses the road, the death also uses the road; by conveying the corpse to his or her internal resting place.

    What is the controversy on the alleged empty treasury about when the former governor said he left something in the bank?

    This is one issue that had been over flooded; I don’t want to be embroiled with such issue. If the past administration said they left so much amount like N7.5billion or N10billion as they claimed. Inconsistency alone obviates their claim, because before now they said N10billion and later they said it was N7.5billion the inconsistency alone obviates the need that there is no truth in the assertion.

  • Plateau council chief makes big promises

    The newly appointed Chairman, Management Council of Shendam Local Government in Plateau State, Miskoom Alexander Naantuam has said he will make the council the envy of others in the state.

    He spoke at Government House, Jos shortly after being sworn in alongside 16 other caretaker chairmen.

    Naantuam said, “I had wished to rule my own local government so that I will use the opportunity to really transform [it], and now that I’ve got the opportunity, I will make real my dream.

    “I was a councilor in the local government for more than four years; that gave me the opportunity to know the basic challenges and potentials of the local government and since then I had wished that if I am asked to manage the affairs of the local government I will change the fortunes of the locality.

    “Now that God has made my wish to come to light through this appointment, it is time to execute my dream and vision to my local government, I will make sure I create a peaceful environment for development to take place in all sectors.

    “Basically, the governor that gave us the appointment has told us in clear terms that the All Progressives Congress-led administration in the state is on a rescue mission considering the neglect suffered in the past, hence I will go with that sense to rescue my people from poverty and under-development; it is obvious that our people are deprived.”

  • ASO Savings promises on quality at Garden Estate

    Leading primary mortgage firm,  ASO Savings and Loans Plc, says prospective buyers of its ASO Garden Estate need not worry about the quality of infrastructure and other essential facilities that will be in the estate, as they would be of the highest international standard.

    The Managing Director of Aso Savings, Hassan Musa Usman, gave this assurance while hosting to the MD/CEO, Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), Prof. Charles Inyangete, who visited the estate recently. He revealed that the estate was a product of the bank’s vision of providing affordable housing to Nigerians desirous of living in a safe environment in the federal capital territory, Abuja.

    Usman said the estate would change the face of property market in Abuja, adding that it aims at breaking the price jinx associated with premium properties in the city with its flexible payment plans, which does not require a prospective buyer breaking his bank account before owning a decent home in Abuja.

    ASO Garden Estate,  a 900-housing-unit being built on a 27-hectares of land, is located just after Gwarinpa, on the Kubwa Express Road, within the Karsana East District, which is part of Abuja Phase IV. It is being planned as an affordable property that the middle income earners can afford. The promoters assured that the estate will boast of a neighbourhood shopping centre, children’s playground and park, ample parking space, hospital, police post, fire service and  school, adding that it is offering all the amenities at very affordable prices.

    While inspecting the estate, Inyangete praised the management of ASO Savings for the quality work done on the project, adding that the estate exemplified affordable mass housing, which was the main thrust of NMRC. He urged other primary mortgage institutions  to emulate ASO Savings efforts at making housing available and affordable for Nigerians.

    With flats at a starting price of N17 million,  phase 1 of the estate comprises 249 housing units made up of two and three-bedroom exquisite blocks of flats and four-bedroom terraces, and is at 80 per cent completion; it is planned for inauguration in November this year. The flats are  six per block, and each has two (or three) bedrooms, with open plan living, kitchen area, all rooms en-suite. Individually priced starting at N17 million for the two bedroom and N23 million for the three-bedroom flats respectively.The four-bedroom terraces offer a well-planned living accommodation set over two floors; these terraces have stylish features like an open floor plan. There are four bedrooms on the first and second floors, all en-suite as well as a spacious kitchen. There is an adjoining dining area on the ground floor.

    When completed, the estate will offer 900 homes ranging from two and three bedroom apartments, four bedroom terraces to five bedroom fully detached luxury houses.

  • Can Ikpeazu fulfill his campaign promises?

    Can Ikpeazu fulfill his campaign promises?

    These are challenging times for Abia State. The infrastructure battle cannot be abandoned. There is much work to do. But, the resources are depleting. How will Governor Okezie Ikpeazu navigate the difficult ship of state? Asks Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU.

    For eight years, Abia State was bogged down by some predecessor-successor tension, which degenerated into a protracted crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The state is poor. But, being a commercial nerve centre, it has prospects. But, the potential was not fully tapped. During the last election, the people voted for the former university don, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, to run the state.

    The governor swung into action immediately. Although his attention is being diverted by the post-election litigation, he remains focused. Ikpeazu, who was a member of the previous administration, is conversant with its strengths and weaknesses. However, the governor, like his counterparts in many states, is constrained by the cash crunch.

    Ikpeazu embarked on value engineering. He introduced a frugal approach to management. Leading by example, he cut his salary by half. That singular move was meant to send the signal that he planned to run a prudent government that gives no room for wastages. But, according to stakeholders, slashing of salary is not the only solution. All the drain pipes and loopholes exploited by government officials should be blocked.

    The governor has also taken some steps to cut the cost of governance. In his view, governance is not a tea-party or about showmanship. He said he would only embark on few trips as demanded by his work. But, during those trips, he has demonstrated discipline by travelling with not more than three aides, thereby cutting significantly, the cost of foreign trips by officials.

    Ikpeazu has ordered a comprehensive staff audit in the civil service to enable government determine its actual staff strength. The goal is to weed out ghost workers through an Integrated Payroll Verification System. Addressing workers, he said: “I promise to pay salary every 24th of each month”.

    The infrastructure battle is a priority. Thus, the governor kicked off with the silted Aba drainage. To succeed, many people believe that the cooperation of Aba residents is important. Aba holds the ace to the economic prosperity of Abia. The two markets-Ariare and Aregua-are in bad shape. But, the bulk of the internally generated revenue comes from the commercial ventures there. When the governor was inspecting of projects in the commercial town, residents told him that “once government is able to get Aba right, Abia will be alright.”

    In Ikpeazu’s view, the IGR should be jerked up, if any tangible project is to be implemented. He has set up the  Abia State Economic Advancement Team, of which he is the chairman, to drive the state’s economic growth. “It is the task of this team to drive the IGR of the state from an average of N350 million to N1.5billion within our first year in office,” he said.

    The governor has also established the Office of Aba Urban Renewal. The aim is to develop the state by making Aba the launch pad and ensure that Aba becomes the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Capital of Nigeria. As he promised during his campaigns, he has awarded the construction of seven roads in Aba .

    The roads have streetlights. Work has already started on site. The governor plans to commission them in his first 100 days in office. He has directed that the relevant tax collection agencies should stop the collection of taxes and levies so that the system can be automated and harmonised by the Economic Advancement Team.

    Ikpeazu’s vision to transform the state into a centre of commerce, where business is conducted seamlessly, and in a secure and clean environment, ,may become a reality. In his projection, Abia is billed to be one of the cleanest states and biggest contributors to the nation’s treasury by virtue of its increased IGR. To meet the new IGR benchmark of N1.5billion, there are existing structures to build upon. For example, when the new Umuahia City, with modern malls, recreational parks, housing estates, and an International Conference Centre capable of boosting the states revenue through tourism is amplified with the rapid rebuilding of Aba, the state would wear a new look.

    The centre will accommodate about 9,000 persons. It has a main hall, four conference halls and a banquet hall. It also has with a VIP lounge, gallery, offices and a huge parking lot. A huge revenue is expected to be generated by the government from the building when the centre begins to host big events. The centre will serve the entire Southsouth region. It will only be rivaled by the Calabar International Convention Centre in Cross River State.

    The centre is aided by an  advanced information technology. Events can be recorded and the signal beamed live for people to watch anywhere in the world. When completed, it will boost tourism.

    Aba is the seat of cottage industries. The governor has promised to develop the sector. “It will generate employment and contribute to our drive for self-sufficiency,” the governor said.

    According to sources, the move would enjoy the support of local financial organisations and international organisations, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Recently, the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved a $200 million facility for the state to tackle the challenges of water, sanitation and road construction. With this fund, which Ikpeazu said would be judiciously used for the construction of Port-Harcourt Road and other roads, the challenges of refuse dumping and deplorable roads may be a thing of the past. The Office of Aba Urban Renewal has  commenced work on the drainage system in Aba.

    Another critical issue is security. Former Governor Theodore Orji started the battle to rid the state of crime. The onus is on Ikpeazu to build on the foundation.

    This, perhaps, explains why the government has immediately taken over the security of Enyimba Hotel. The hotel was reportedly bought some 20 years ago by the Aba Chambers of Commerce. Later, it became the hiding place for criminals. However, the hotel is now wearing a new look.

    Investment opportunities abound in Abia State for genuine and serious investors. The governor has assured the investors of a safe environment.

    The governor said he will defend all sectors-education, health, transport, and social welfare. He described himself as a tested and trusted administrator. But, the members of the opposition do not believe him. To them, he is an impostor in power.

    The governor’s victory is still being challenged in court. His challenger is Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Will he survive at the tribunal and court? If he survives, he will focus on his programmes and work hard to fulfill his campaign promises. If he does not survive, a new government will take over from him.

  • First Lady promises better deal for women

    Wife of the Governor of Abia State, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu, has urged the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs, to collaborate with

    her office to give fillip to the welfare of women and abused persons in the state. Speaking in Umuahia when officials of the ministry paid her a

    courtesy visit, Mrs. Ikpeazu charged them to be dedicated in the discharge of their duties.

    The Governor’s wife emphasized on the need for her office and the ministry to work together to ensure that women and children in the state take delivery of the numerous dividend of democracy meant for them under the new administration of her husband, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. “We owe the women and the children this. We must work together to give them a better deal,” she stressed.

    According to her, Governor Ikpeazu is gender friendly and has many programmes planned to take care of Abia women and children, adding that she will soon make public her pet project. In an earlier address, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Nnenna Chikezie, promised to work with the First Lady as a team to achieve common goal.

    She highlighted that the ministry is saddled with the responsibility of taking care of people with disability, the elderly, women and children and prayed that God will help the governor to give Abia state good leadership. Responding, Mrs. Ikpeazu said that her husband need prayers and support while urging the people of the state to always acknowledge God at all times.

  • Rangers teenager Aguda promises more after Pillars strike

    Rangers teenager Aguda promises more after Pillars strike

    Rangers teenage sensation Godwin Aguda has promised more goals after his goal against champions Kano Pillars.

    The COD FC of Lagos ace told AfricanFootball.com after he helped Rangers come from behind to beat Pillars, he was enjoying his debut season in the top flight.

    “The match was very tough and I thank God for the victory. I must also thank my coach for his belief in my God given talent. I believe there are more goals from where this first one came. By God’ grace, it will continue in Uyo at the weekend” stated the teenager.

    Rangers came back from an Aniefiok Godspower’s 10th minute strike for the visitors to score on 29 and 35 minutes through Aguda’s diving header and Bobby Clement’s sublime strike inside the box.

    Rangers are now seventh on the table with 23 points from 15 matches.

  • ‘Fayose must begin to deliver on his promises’

    ‘Fayose must begin to deliver on his promises’

    Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi represented Ekiti North in the Senate between June 2011 and June 2015. He was Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior. In this interview with Odunayo Ogunmola, Adetunmbi xrays the political climate in Ekiti State and the country in general. Among other things, he expresses optimism that the All Progressives Congress (Apc) will bounce back to power at the next governorship election.

    How true is the accusation by Governor Ayodele Fayose that former Governor Kayode Fayemi diverted N4 billion into funding ACN?

    It would appear that since Governor Fayose came into office, he has strangely pitched himself and his government as an opposition to a governor and government that is no longer in office. This is a sterile and fruitless pursuit. You don’t keep flogging a dead horse and Fayemi bashing cannot compensate, nor be a cover up for non performance by his government. He will be one year old in office in October and the time clicks so fast that before you know it, the term would be over. I think the time has come for the Governor Fayose to face governance and service delivery; electioneering and elections are over and elections petitions have been concluded. Governor Fayose should begin to make efforts to deliver his electoral obligations to the people and spend less time on the pages of newspapers. If he has evidence of financial infractions by the past government, he should take the matter up with appropriate authorities and stop the hysteria.

    People are worried about the impact of Fayose’s controversies on the image of the state. What do you think of the person of Governor Fayose.

    What do I think of Governor Fayose? You see, a man can only speak out of the abundance of his heart and as man thinks so is he. You don’t need to ask me what I think of Fayose. Quite frankly and truly speaking I don’t think anything of him. Take his words and those spoken on his behalf, evaluate them against ethical, moral, social and cultural standards. That is the man. We all are defined by our actions and the words that we speak.

    Do you think that Ekiti people are getting what they bargained for?

    I hold the view very strongly that a people deserve the leaders that they get. I believe the political class should allow Ekiti people to enjoy the consequence or benefit of the choice which they made on June 21, 2014 with their eyes wide open. The people made a free choice, in spite of the fact that they will not have another chance till four years time. I am yet to find a substitute for choice and learning, it doesn’t matter how many times you do it, you keep at it until you have come to the point of knowledge and conviction about what is good and what is right for you. I think it is democratic to allow Ekiti people to get to this point of knowledge and conviction of what is good and right for them. It’s a free world.

    What are the chances of your party in future elections in Ekiti?

    I am sure you have heard the popular saying before, ‘no condition is permanent’; when a person is down the only way he can go is up. That is the benefit of setback; it becomes the springboard for our new elevation and testimonies. A planted seed must first die before it can bring harvest in multiples of self. The defeat of the APC in recent elections in the state is a proverbial seed that must of necessity decompose before it can bring forth a new harvest. In our electoral democracy, that period of our party’s rebirth in the state is four years.

    But, your party is going through a serious crisis at the moment. How would the crisis help in the rebirth of the party?

    Yes, there are misunderstandings, but we are not at war. It is also not correct to say that some people want to get rid of former governor Fayemi or anyone for that matter. We remain a big family of children from different mothers. There are those who had issues with the style of the last government and the roles of some notable persons within that government. Mind you, it’s the style and not its essence; Fayemi’s public conduct and performance are exemplary. The government also rebranded the state and put it strongly in positive ways on the national map. We all should confess and commend that. There are those who feel they have to get what they want now and are unwilling to wait for another round of opportunities. You also have this category that feel they deserve better recognition and attention; better patronage and privileges. All these feelings of entitlement are legitimate and co-equal. This is especially so given the exceptional circumstances that brought that government into office. We had an all inclusive peoples struggle that delivered the state from electoral heist of April 2007 and the people feel a strong need for personal and private reward for their roles in the struggle. These are my readings of the issues at the underbelly of the conflicts that you described. It’s a combination of logic and emotions and clearly of perceptions, delayed rapprochement and lack of consensual resolution.

    The situation was not helped by a rebellious silence and breakdown of communication within and between critical segments of the party and the government.

    Is there any hope of reconciliation in the APC?

    The disappointing expectations of all interest groups from the Supreme Court judgment on the judicial challenge of the elections to the closed window of impeachment with the expiration of term of office of G19 in June has created a level playing field within the party. I think it’s crunch time for all of us to return to the family table. I believe the atmosphere is ripe for reconciliation. Everyone is a loser and no one is standing on higher ground. You see, failure is a leveler and a good teacher for the wise.

    Our collective failure as a party and political class is a unique opportunity for introspection and rebirth. I don’t see any individual or group that is saying ‘no’ to reconciliation by a credible and trusted third party to rescue the party from its self-inflicted rift.

    Is the APC ready for the role of the opposition?

    The APC and its predecessor political parties are reputed to be the most experienced, most skillful and longest standing opposition parties in Nigeria since independence. Once we close ranks, embrace a new path of remorse and reconciliation then we will be able to halt the drift to anomy in the state and put a stop to the circus that is going on.

    Now that you are out of the Senate, what next for you?

    I came out of professional practice into politics and I have since returned to my work. I have a strong second address that will keep me occupied and fulfilled. I am grateful to God, my party and the good people of Ekiti North for the privilege of serving them in the Senate these past four year. It’s an experience I will forever cherish.