Tag: tinubu

Senator Oluremi Tinubu from Lagos Central yesterday urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the Social Security Bill for the aged sponsored by her.

She urged the government, corporate bodies and individuals to help the elderly to ensure that they do not suffer.

The Senator, who spoke at a town hall meeting tagged: “The elders are our treasure,” held at Apapa Local Government Secretariat on Burma Road in Apapa, Lagos, said the elderly deserved social protection.

Senator Tinubu, represented by wife of the council chairman, Mrs Sarah Joseph, said going by the records of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the elderly were not being treated fairly in Nigeria.

To ensure that the aged are well treated in her constituency, she set up an Elderly Citizens’ Assistance Scheme (ECAS), which gives out N10,000 each to over 1,300 beneficiaries.

She said: “The form of social protection is what I sought to promote in a bill on social security for the elderly people which I sponsor at the apex chamber. The bill has now progressed to the second reading.”

The council chairman, Hon. Adebayo Joseph, praised Senator Tinubu’s contributions, adding that her gesture for the aged in her senatorial district is an indication that she cares so much for them.

He said she had complemented the council’s effort at empowering the masses and the aged in her constituency, adding that the initiative is a means of survival for the aged.

A beneficiary, Mr Peter Ojelabi, said he could not quantify the senator’s gesture, adding that he would start a petty business with the money he got.

At Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA), where the event was also held, its Chairman, Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe hailed the senator’s efforts on the aged.

She said a bill to cater for the elderly, being sponsored by her, would go a long way to ameliorate the suffering of the aged if passed into law. “Senator Tinubu’s passion for the elderly should be emulated by everyone who believes he/she will be in that position one day,” she said.

Former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the management and staff of The Nation for winning the Newspaper of the Year and other categories at the 21st edition of the Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA).

The frontline politician urged the management and workers to maintain the standard and win more laurels.

The Nation won the Babatunde Jose Prize for Newspaper of the Year and five other awards at the NMMA in Ikogosi-Ekiti, Ekiti State, last weekend.

Tinubu, in a letter to the newspaper, noted that the honours were well-deserved.

Editor Gbenga Omotoso won the Dele Giwa Prize for Editor of the Year. The newspaper’s Editorial Board, which has won laurels for its editorials on critical issues, won the prize for Editorial Writing. Three of its editorials were finalists in the category. The winning entries were Systemic rot; The Real Sacrifice and A Time To Clean the Augean Stables.

Assistant Editor (News) Olukorede Yishau won the Intercontinental Bank Prize for Capital Market Reporter of the Year. Assistant Editor (Investigations) Joke Kujenya clinched the Peter Odili Prize for Power Reporter of the Year, with her entry, Why Govt, Workers Quarrel Over PHCN, which gave rare insights into why workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the Federal Government were bickering over the agency’s privatisation.

Senior Correspondent Collins Nweze won the UBA Prize for Money Market Reporter of the Year with his report, titled: National Assembly vs CBN.

This newspaper’s reporters were also finalists in categories, such as Columnist of the Year, Tourism Reporter of the Year, Human Rights Reporter of the Year, Telecoms Reporter of the Year, Oil and Gas Reporter of the Year, Columnist of the Year, Investigative Reporter of the Year, Newspaper Reporter of the Year and Foreign News Reporter of the Year.

Omotoso and Editorial Board Chairman Omatseye were finalists in the Columnist of the Year category.

Serial award winner Olatunji Ololade was runner-up in three categories — Foreign News Reporter of the Year, Newspaper Reporter of the Year and Investigative Reporter of the Year.

Assistant Editor (Arts) Ozolua Uhakheme was runner-up in the Tourism Reporting category. Kunle Akinrinade was also a runner-up in the Human Rights Reporting category.

Assistant Editor Lucas Ajanaku was a runner-up in the Telecoms Reporter of the Year category. Also, Assistant Editor Emeka Ugwuanyi was a runner-up in the Oil and Gas Reporting category.

Tinubu’s letter reads: “Job well done. Let me specially congratulate the staff and management of The Nation for their impressive showing at the 21st Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA). The Nation deservedly won six prestigious awards that night. The recognition is a resounding validation of the contribution the newspaper has made to journalism and particularly in disseminating news and information in a comprehensive, timely, robust and professional manner.

“That you won the Babatunde Jose Newspaper of the Year award particularly gladdens me. It confirms that the newspaper has more than come of age. It is the coronation of the paper as a national paper with formidable reach and coverage and as a clear leader. Besting long established papers like of The Guardian and Punch, means that we have come far in a relatively brief period. This is a testament to the hard work and commitment to excellence of all involved in turning the idea of The Nation newspaper into the current reality.

“Your success in five other top categories viz Dele Giwa Prize for Editor of the Year, Capital Market Reporter of the Year, Money Market Reporter of the Year, Editorial Writing Prize and Power Reporter of the Year confirms your fine performance and reputation as a superior all-round newspaper.

“We now move forward into a critical moment in our nation’s journey. Our commitment to democracy and good governance will be tested. To a material degree, The Nation’s progress will depend, I daresay, that Nigeria’s development will depend largely on how organisations discharge their role as the fourth estate.

“Thus, I urge staff and management not to rest on their oars. This is just a glimpse of what can be accomplished if you remain true to your mission.

“In the years to come, we should witness a more brilliant performance. The newspaper must stake its position as an exemplary paper, a champion for democracy and the rule of law, and a voice for the voiceless. Without sacrificing your neutrality, the paper must seek to shine the light of knowledge in a way that it brings justice to the greatest number of our people.”

Kwara State Governor Ahmed Abdulfatah also congratulated The Nation.

Ahmed, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, described the award as an endorsement of The Nation’s robust editorial policy and professional excellence.

The governor said The Nation, since its establishment, had not only remained steadfast in its commitment to the ideal of balance reportage but parades a crop of columnists, whose opinions and analysis have continued to define the nation’s political and economic landscape.

He urged the paper not to rest on its oars.

Editorial Board celebrates its award

At its meeting yesterday, The Nation’s Editorial Board clinked glasses of wine. Members of Nigeria’s elite corps of editorial writers had good reasons to exchange banters and drinks to the health journalistic intellectualism.
In this season of laurels, The Nation stood peerless and proud.It won the Newspaper of the Year, Editor of the Year award and others. But the Editorial Board showed especial snob quality in both the Diamond Award for Media Excellence and the Nigeria Media Merit Award.
It scooped up a record five nominations in two award nights and crowned it with the NMMA editorial writing prize.
For the NMMA, The Nation had all three nominations for editorial writing. It was the only prize all who attended knew had been decided because the list of nominees already was in the brochure for the awards night. The three editorials were: “Systemic rot,” relating the contradictions in the firing of the former Power Minister Barth Nnaji. The others were “Real sacrifice” and “Cleaning the Augean stable.”
“It was a crowning endorsement of a year of hard work, imaginative richness and elegance of style,” said Sam Omatseye, chairman of the Editorial Board.
For DAME, The Nation did not win the first prize, but had the first and second runner-up positions. The Punch won the prize.
“With five nominations and one grand win, we could ask for more,” said Omatseye, “but we must be thankful for the reward for an exceptional year.”

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) National leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu reacted this morning to the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela:

The former Lagos governor said: “Mandela’s death signals the end of an era of the generation of African leaders who  never coveted power, but used power for the good of the greater number of their people. Africa has indeed  lost an Icon, a formidable figure, a man of character and conviction  and a political leader unequalled in the history of Africa. His demise is a great loss to Africa. I extend my sympathy to the government and people of South Africa and to the wife and family of Nelson Mandela.”

Tinubu went on: “He represented the moral compass in African leadership and the reference point for transparency and good governance. For long, his compelling story of struggle, prison life and journey to power will remain a classic and a tonic for others that may come after him. The Mandela story will forever resonate across the world and though retold over and over, will never lose its effect and power.

“Mandela demonstrated to the world that the black man is of a higher conscience, strong conviction and brilliance, compassionate and able to master his destiny. That is part of what Mandela represented. He made us proud as Africans. He led and showed us the way. He challenged us to heed the higher calling of selfless service. But much more, he boosted the African spirit and carved a new reputation for Africa in the global world.

“Mandela left a legacy of quality leadership, selfless service and sacrifice and a people centred governance. His legacy will endure. From his life, other African leaders are challenged to do right by their people and submit to democratic ideals. Sadly, we have seen more African leaders jettison or depart from the Mandela option. Many of them have become sit tight leaders, while others amongst them have sought by dubious constitutional processes to elongate their stay in power. They celebrate Mandela, but lack the discipline and morale fortitude of Mandela. They stand in the way of their people progressing and make Africa a laughing stock.

Let his death revive us to the ideals of democracy. Let his political legacy, commitment to his people and the examples he left behind challenge us all to a renewed commitment to make our country and Africa better for the greatest number of her citizens.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) will transform Nigeria’s electoral system for good, its national leader Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu said yesterday.

He expressed optimism that the party, would work towards enthroning transparency in governance.

Tinubu, speaking in an interview broadcast on Aljazeera television, said Nigeria’s political landscape has changed .

“It will change forever and change for good. The scale and balance of power is tilting and changing to the opposition. We are moving from imperialism to proper democracy,” the former Lagos State governor said.

Tinubu said rebuilding confidence in the electoral system is crucial in achieving a virile democracy.

“The sophistication, the honesty, trust, transparency necessary in electoral process have been absent in this country. The balance of power is tilted in favour of the incumbency.

“Nigerians have never seen a group that will have a common focus and put patriotism as the cornerstone of their guiding principle.

“This (APC) is a party that will put people at the forefront of their cause in participating in politics. Never has there been a group that will focus on the welfare of the Nigerian citizenry and fight corruption and waste in governance. There are many areas that this new APC alliance and effort will unveil.

“We will ensure that we have credibility in the voting system, the character, commitment of our people – the value that you want to pass the torch to the coming generation on democracy. It is very important that we are able to do that.

“Otherwise, it will turn out that election after election, confidence in the electoral process will drop and we don’t want that to happen. For us, it’s a new beginning. It’s a new hope. It’s a new commitment.

“The perception alone of having so many governors working together in one party and platform will encourage people to share ideas, share values and encourage them to put their confidence in the electoral system to change the process and make sure one man, one woman , one vote should be the order of the day,” Tinubu said.

According to him, the shifting political equilibrium would rekindle the expectation of the observing world that opposition is not only existing on paper but “physically present” in Nigeria.

Tinubu said APC is working hard to gain power “in an honest and peaceful manner,” which he said “will strengthen the confidence of other democratic observers around the world.”

He added: “Nigeria, in responding to this development, must realise that help is here. Hope is here; that we will represent them effective to engender true democracy in the country; that their vote will count; that the nation will be represented by the leadership that can be trusted.

“And if we trust our leaders and encourage them for not breaking promises, they we will develop faster, and we have honesty and transparency in governance, we will eliminate mediocrity – we will be able to focus on developing our country.

“This is a blessed nation with human and material resources and we should be able to harness these resources for the greatest interest and number of our people.”