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  • Tinubu honoured with ‘Icon of Entrepreneurship in Africa’

    Tinubu honoured with ‘Icon of Entrepreneurship in Africa’

    MR. Summy Smart Francis, President of the South – Africa-based Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs, AYE, who is a Nigerian living and working in South Africa has described Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as an exemplary leader in Africa.

    While presenting the Honorary Achievement Award to Asiwaju Tinubu, Mr. Francis said: “This award is given to entrepreneurs and business people that have made a huge impact on the continent and are known around the globe through their business achievements. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Africa sees you and recognizes you. You are an African Icon.” The presentation of the award took place at Asiwaju Tinubu’s residence on Tuesday, October 4. The former Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in his response, called on the youth of Africa to save their continent from economic and political stagnation by applying what he called “Commonsense Revolution” to all that they do. The business mogul and politician also said conquering fear and rigorously challenging bad government policies were necessary ingredients needed to grow entrepreneurship on the continent.

    He admonished the high-powered team from the AYE that visited him not to let fear prevent them from striving for excellence in all they do. He was awarded the “Icon of Entrepreneurship in Africa.” The six-man team was led by the president of the organisation, Mr. Francis. In his further comments to the contingent, Asiwaju Tinubu urged young investors to have self-belief and be fearlessly inquisitive.

    “Fear should not have a place in your dictionary,” he told his guests. “You must conquer the fear of failure. Believe in yourself that you cannot fail. Not every young enterprise will succeed at first try, but you must forge on because Africa depends on your industry, your tenacity, your ability to rise above all the things that hold us back.

    “You all must find within yourselves leaders. And as you seek success in entrepreneurship, keep an eye on the political conditions in Africa. If Africa must break away from destitution, the rule of law must be supreme. Adherence to the rule of law is fundamental to business. The 12 million youths in your organisation want to create and innovate to give us a prosperous continent and they must recognize the critical role of good leadership. Embrace democracy. You are the ones who can create and promote the Commonsense Revolution.” Asiwaju Tinubu advocated that as the study of good leadership is important for young people to learn worthwhile examples, bad leadership should also be studied and evaluated so the people may recognise the traits and conquer it in good time. He also told his guests that while talent was important to any venture, time is the most valuable asset of all.

    According to its website, the AYE unites and empowers young entrepreneurs in Africa to network socially and financially, thereby developing a generation of outstanding entrepreneurs. Our collective intellectual capital develops marketleading businesses and networks, to play a key role in raising African prosperity.

  • Tinubu to Jonathan: go

    Tinubu to Jonathan: go

    President Goodluck Jonathan got some home truth yesterday – he should resign for failing to tame the insecurity monster shaking Nigeria.

    That was the position of All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, where Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed announced his plan to run for a second term in office.

    A huge crowd attended the rally.

    At the ceremony were former Head of State and APC’s presidential aspirant General Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, governors of Imo, Rivers, Kano, Sokoto and Edo states —Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Chibuike Amaechi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Aliyu Wamakko and Adams Oshiomhole.

    Others include House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Bukola Saraki, former governors of Kwara and Ekiti states, Alhaji Shaaba Lafiagi and Dr Kayode Fayemi, APC’s spokesperson Lai Mohammed, Board of Trustees member Abubakar K. Baraje and Assembly Speaker Razak Atunwa etc .

    Said Tinubu: “I saw the sea of displaced persons caused by the Boko Haram insurgents and the lies coming from Jonathan’s administration. They have exhibited failure, lack of capacity, vision, creativity; the lie of yesterday is what they repeat today and it is what they will repeat tomorrow. They are lying to you.

    “They are lying about the security; toying about the security of this country. I don’t have time to explain the logic of their lies.

    “But if you control the armed forces and you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, why should any part of this country be under occupation? And you give us excuses every day. In any civilized country, Jonathan should resign. But if he will not resign, he should wait for our broom, we will sweep them.

    “I will come back. This is just the endorsement of Governor Ahmed; that he will be re-elected by the grace of God, with the support of you people here and those outside there. The unemployment situation will be conquered by this administration of APC. We have the vision for the security of the lives of our children.

    “The thieves that daily steal your money have not given you any job; they cannot create jobs and they are starving states of funds to pay workers’ salaries. The best thing to do is to sweep them away through broom revolution. APC is a party of the masses.

    It now behooves you to begin a house-to-house campaign that this is a party of the masses.

    “You had not seen Bukola and myself mounting the same podium campaigning for the same party before this time. This is a new beginning. This is a time of good things and tidings from us. We have brought good luck and commonsense revolution.

    “Now it is time to apply commonsense revolution and it is about your lives. It is about your education, your jobs and about the security of this country. We stay together since independence and we will remain together. Anything affecting any section of this country affects all of us.

    “I want to thank all of you. Let me forget the protocol, because you are the voters. You are the people who must vote. We bring the greetings and respect of Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and the entire APC states in Nigeria.

    “What I want to beg of you is to be ready to defend for change. The race has started again. We have endorsed Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for second term in office as he has performed creditably, just like his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki.”

    Tambuwal said APC’s administration at all levels would engender prosperity and eradicate poverty.

    The Speaker added that: “By voting APC at the centre, you will be voting for prosperity and eradication of poverty. What we are witnessing today in Nigeria is not governance, but mis-governance. We are witnessing a system that does not have the interest of the people of this country at heart.  It is also incumbent on us as a people to turn en-masse and vote out Goodluck Ebele Jonathan come 2015. That will bring peace, progress and development of Nigeria.

    “In Kwara State your political history is very rich. You have had the foundation of the political struggle of this state laid by our late leader, Dr Olusola Saraki. This structure that is being sustained by God Almighty has always delivered Kwara to the right place. I believe that this time around, there will not be anything different.

    “With the support of the people of the state, APC shall form 100 per cent the government in the state from the local council to state Assembly and to the Government House.

     Eventually and ultimately, the state has always been providing leadership in the politics of this country.

    “When it comes to presidential elections, I am sure that the state will provide such leadership to the extent that we shall deliver this country to the government at the centre to APC.”

    Amaechi said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) does not have God.

    Said he: “I am very impressed with the number of persons that I have seen here today. What you must do is to stop PDP from rigging us. You must go out that day to stop them from rigging us. When you vote, do not go home at all. They will bring soldiers and police, remain there. If they want to kill us, let them kill us. If you go home, you will hear a different result.  Stay there and make sure that nobody rigs you out.

    “They have soldiers and police, they do not have God. God is in APC. That is the problem they have and once God is in APC, and we work with God, we shall defeat them.You know your governor will do better, if you have an APC presidential candidate who wins the next election.

    “The reason is that currently, they are stealing money.  The money we should use in building our schools, more hospitals, more transport and other amenities, they are putting it in their pockets. They are taking the money to South Africa.

    “We thank God we saw small; you do not know the ones we are not seeing. So, let’s vote them out so that we can vote in a better president from APC and our money will remain here. Can’t we manufacture our own guns? Why can’t we?  “Mubi has been over-run by 30 to 40 young boys who are not trained as soldiers? It simply shows that we are not funding our military. It is time to fund our military because our military has the capacity to chase away these boys. But we need to treat our military with respect and with necessary support and we will win them.

    “This is the time to say the truth. The problem with the other party is that they do not know the truth and they do not say the truth at all. If a man does well, what do you tell him? You tell him ‘thank you’, is that not? And that is what we are here to do to tell your governor thank you.”

    Kwankwaso said: “We are removing the incompetent government in Abuja. By voting for APC, we are bringing in employment for our young men and women, we are voting for peace, development in Kwara and in Nigeria.”

    Ahmed promised to accelerate the development of the state – if re-elected.

    “By the grace of God and with your mandate, we intend to accelerate the development of our state when re-elected.

     “I will boost local economy through the establishment of an Independent Power Project (IPP) that will power industrial clusters across the state, stimulate jobs and improve power supply to our communities.

    “By the grace of God, we will upscale our Education Reforms, with the complete overhaul and modernisation of 120 secondary schools across the state as we start the process of benchmarking our schools against global best practice.

    “In terms of physical infrastructure, we will connect more of our communities with urban and rural roads, including roads designated as Federal, thus opening up our state for greater development.”

  • Honour for Senators Tinubu, Solomon, others

    Honour for Senators Tinubu, Solomon, others

    THE National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Apapa Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) chapter in Lagos State, has honoured Senator Oluremi Tinubu “for her selfless services to the state and the nation.”

    The group’s Chairman, Comrade Frank Nero, said she got the Excellence Award because “she is the best representative in the Lagos Central Senatorial District so far. She extended her goodwill to the grassroots by empowering the people, especially the youth”.

    Other personalities honoured by the group were: Oba Abdul Fatai Aremu Ojora; Hon Olumuyiwa Wahab Jimoh, member, Lagos State House of Assembly; Dr. C. Z. Anago, a former chairman, Apapa Iganmu LCDA; Senator Ganiyu Olarenwaju Solomon (GOS) of Lagos West; CID Onyeka, Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Orile, and Hon Bamidele Avoseh.

    Nero urged the youth to be law-abiding during the forthcoming election. “This is our nation; let nobody prepare for war. Elections are not for wars. The youth in the different parties should not see themselves as enemies; rather, they should see themselves as partners in progress. Elections are not about fighting,’’ he advised.

    The guest speaker, Comrade Nelson Ekunjemi, said the future of the country was in the hands of the youth, adding: “Some youths dissipate their energies in the wrong things like thuggery. I wonder why a youth would want to be used as an instrument of destruction. We should go for what we can do to develop ourselves. Some people, such as Jesus Christ and General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) became great men when they were youths. I wonder why a youth would want to be used as weapon of destruction.”

    Avoseh also advised the youth, saying: “If any politician buys you a cutlass or gun, tell him to give it to his brother.’’

    He urged traditional rulers to tell the politicians the truth, adding that when there is peace in the community, it is for the good of all.

  • Tinubu hails The Nation for CNN award

    Tinubu hails The Nation for CNN award

    All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader and former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has congratulated The Nation for winning the CNN African Journalist Award (Health category) through its Assistant Editor Olatunji Ololade.

    In a congratulatory message he personally signed, the former governor noted that the award was in tune with the newspaper’s fast developing tradition of impactful, objective and development-oriented journalism.

    Tinubu said with the CNN award, The Nation has once again validated its place as a leader in Nigeria’s media firmament.

    The frontline politician  urged the newspaper’s team to strive to be the best.

    He said: “The recent CNN award, won by Assistant Editor Ololade in the Health and Medical category, is a further confirmation of the depth of the paper’s journalism.

    “On this, please accept my hearty congratulations. It is an award not just for the winner but the entire Nation Newspaper family.

    “The Nation’s commitment to the tradition of fine and comprehensive reporting has always won it recognition.

    “The paper must continue on this path. This award must serve to inspire other reporters and editors in The Nation team to strive to be the best.”

  • Photo: Tinubu, Fashola, others at Sallah celebration

    Photo: Tinubu, Fashola, others at Sallah celebration

    L-R;National Leader Of APC,Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Lagos State Governor Mr Babatunde Fashola and the Children ;Senator Oluremi Tinubu;Senator Gbenga Ashafa;(LEFT) Mr Akeem Bello;Alh Suraju Ayinra;Mr Lare Babalola and Information Commissioner Latifu Ibirogba;during the Eid-el-Kabir Celebration Day;...............PHOTO;TAIWO OKANLAWON
    L-R;National Leader Of APC,Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Lagos State Governor Mr Babatunde Fashola and the Children ;Senator Oluremi Tinubu;Senator Gbenga Ashafa;(LEFT) Mr Akeem Bello;Alh Suraju Ayinra;Mr Lare Babalola and Information Commissioner Latifu Ibirogba;during the Eid-el-Kabir Celebration Day;……………PHOTO;TAIWO OKANLAWON
  • We must not whitewash leadership failure, says Tinubu

    We must not whitewash leadership failure, says Tinubu

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said Nigerians should not celebrate 54 years of independence because the country has not “flourished as it should”.

    He said rather than merriment, it is a time to reflect on what could have been.

    In an independence anniversary statement by his media office, Tinubu said it would be dangerous to “whitewash” the challenges.

    “We are burdened by too many resolvable challenges that remain unresolved. This is not a time for fake cheers and elation at the present state of things just because the calendar has touched this day.

    “We need to use this hour soberly by taking stock of the obstacles mounting before us and of the hard direction in which we seem to be heading.

    “I fear this direction, if further taken, will lead us not home but to an appointment with failure and national destitution,” he said.

    According to Tinubu, the country ought to advance, year by year, toward greater democracy instead of rushing “into the pit of arbitrary, imperious rule that smacks of despotism.”

    “If we whitewash the reality of our existence by lying that all is well just because this is Independence Day, then we ignore the troubling signals at our collective peril,” he said.

    Tinubu said the 16 years of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rule have been a period of diminishing return, adding that the longer the party remains in power, the less benefit the people derive.

    “Nigeria now needs a ‘common sense revolution’, a revolution that calls forth a return to decency, probity, transparency of process and fairness in outcome.

    “This is done not by subterfuge, divide and rule and turning Nigeria into a field of discord or a street of broken institutions. It is accomplished by honouring the principles of democratic good governance and economic justice.

    “It is done by persuading the people they are better off as one instead of better off tearing at each other’s throats,” he said.

    Blaming the country’s woes on leadership, Tinubu said for the most of the 54 years and for all of the past 15, honest men have been given scant opportunity to lead Nigeria.

    He said President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration only has a “vision” for personal enrichment.

    “The vaunted Transformation Agenda is but an elaborate name for old-fashion pocket stuffing. They do not have a national blueprint or vision.

    “They do have a blueprint and vision for excessive self enrichment. Their equation is simple. You work, they feast. You toil, they grow fat. You seek a decent wage; they pilfer the collective treasury to enjoy a king’s ransom,” the APC National Leader said.

    Nigeria, Tinubu believes, is saddled with a “reprobate leadership”, while decrying what he called incessant attempts to stigmatise and physically intimidate a peaceful political opposition.

    He bemoaned the militarisation of elections, which he said are features of “a perverse democracy run at gun-point”, coupled with “brazen assaults on the judiciary.”

    “Fifty-four years is enough to have built upon a solid foundation. If we had embraced a few lessons from India and other countries in similar situations like ours, we would be far advanced from where we are,” Tinubu said.

    According to him, there is, however, a ray of hope considering the difference being made in Lagos and other progressive states.

    He said those states kept faith with the nation’s founding fathers’ best practices and policies. Asiwaju Tinubu urged Nigerians to work for a progressive change.

    He added: “Governance is about trust. And this government is not even trusted by itself. This is why it does nothing except feed itself. This is not the road for a better Nigeria.

    “We must proceed from this 54th anniversary to embark on a common sense revolution that brings about a progressive change for the benefit of most of our country men and women, our youth and the vulnerable among us.

    “I speak here of a Common Sense revolution that promotes the well-being and improves the lot of the average person, regardless of his or her ethnic, religious or regional affiliation.

    “In this way, Nigeria will not only be unified in national purpose, it will also have recovered its better path. That will be an Independence Day we can and should celebrate. Until then, we strive to keep from falling further.

    “We dare not remain lost forever. I am positive that help is on the way. Nigerians should be prepared for a change. We must rescue Nigeria from those set to cause it irreparable harm.

    “The change I talk about is the only route to our deliverance from 16 years of the PDP locusts. Nigeria is ours to keep and its democracy is ours to save.”

  • Tinubu’s return exposes PDP lies, says APC

    Tinubu’s return exposes PDP lies, says APC

    The grand return of former Lagos State governor and national leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu after a three-week vacation in London has further exposed the Lagos Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a party of gossipers and false fabricators, who live on chasing the wind, the Lagos State APC has said.

    In a statement yesterday by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Joe Igbokwe,  the APC said it is shameful that the PDP, which was “hallucinating” about taking over an educated, enlightened and sophisticated state like Lagos should thrive on gossips and lies about the health status of Asiwaju Tinubu.

    Igbokwe said the PDP tried to con Lagosians by manufacturing lies and gossip about the health status of Tinubu.

    “How good it is to debunk lies, how wonderful it is to counter mischief? How sweet it is to disprove rumour and false fabrication than the arrival of a hale, agile and spotless Asiwaju to Lagos the very day Lagos PDP released their usual nauseous gossip insinuating that Asiwaju is ill? It goes to expose their minds as that of hollow and clueless gossip and vendors of lies,” Igbokwe said.

    He also described as satanic the allegations by the PDP as published in some national newspapers that Lagosians were paying the medical bills of Asiwaju. “The party manufactured an illness for Tinubu when there was none and went further to con stories of Lagos tax-payers paying illusory bills for a concocted hospital bill paid by imaginary tax-payers.”

  • Tinubu: I never went to hospital

    Tinubu: I never went to hospital

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived in Lagos last night – hale and hearty .

    Tinubu flew into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport aboard a chartered jet that landed about 9.50pm.

    The former Lagos State governor said he was never admitted in any London hospital, wondering where his “detractors” got the information that he was very ill – a rumour that has been rife in the past two weeks.

    He attributed the rumour to the handiwork of the ruling party, whose members, he said were spreading bare falsehood because they wanted to know at every time his whereabouts and what he was up to politically.

    He prayed God to forgive them for wishing him ill health.

    Tinubu said it was unimaginable for anybody to spread rumour that he was not fit.

    He said the last time he travelled abroad to treat a kneel injury he made it public.

    He said this time around, he was in London for a “deserved rest to study and strategise on how to turn around the APC to take over government from the ruling party which has lost focus”.

    Tinubu said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had lost direction and the confidence of Nigerians in providing leadership .

    He said the APC , as a medical and pharmaceutical therapy, was ready to offer cure to the  political and economic problems plaguing the nation.

    He was received by Lagos House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji .

    Mrs Kemi Nelson and other stalwarts of the APC,  including Chief Funsho Ologunde, were also at the airport.

    Tinubu said: “After the Osun governorship election , I  planned a long vacation for a deserved rest. I simply just travelled abroad to rest , study and learn new things from people who have positive influence on me. I went to learn from people who are more experienced in handling opposition politics. I do not have to disclose to people my vacation location or the reason why I am travelling.”

    He added: “It is very shocking and saddening that people are peddling all sorts of lies about my health. When I had a kneel problem I disclosed to Nigerians. Some people are deliberately fabricating information that I have a medical or health problem. This is evidence of distrust of people in this country.

    “Some people are creating a doubt about my fitness for one assignment or the other. All are lies . They was no day that I had need for Panadol. I was busy reading, relaxing.”

    “The opposition wanted to know my whereabouts, that is why they are sponsoring rumours about my health. How did they cone about the story , may God Almighty forgive . I wish them what they wish for me.”

    He said he aligned his thoughts with the position of the APC on burning national issues as a party that is disciplined .

    He said: “Nigerians have lost confidence and trust in the ruling party .

    “The PDP has failed . This is a challenging time, and we must make a complete change of governance.”

  • Tinubu: I’m hale and hearty

    Tinubu: I’m hale and hearty

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu with two tweets yesterday, dispelled speculations on his health.

    Connecting with his followers on his twitter handle @asiwajutinubu, the former Lagos State governor said:

    “The story about my health is the mother of all lies.Do not believe it. I was on my usual holidays. I thank all well wishers.I return soon”.

    “May God forgive the rumour mongers b/c they do not know what they are doing.

    Those with evil thoughts towards me, God will guide them right”.

  • Tinubu: Boko Haram evidence of lack of governance

    Tinubu: Boko Haram evidence of lack of governance

    National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said that the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East is a glaring evidence of lack of governance in the country.

    Relating with his followers via @asiwajutinubu, the former Lagos State Governor in a twitter message said: “The festering Boko Haram attacks on the North East and massacre of innocent citizens is a concrete proof that Nigeria has no government.”