The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Williams

  • Omole, I.K. Dairo, Williams shortlisted as Owa-in-Council honours outstanding stewardship

    Omole, I.K. Dairo, Williams shortlisted as Owa-in-Council honours outstanding stewardship

    The late Chief Lawrence Omole, founder of International Brewery PLC, the late Pa Folorunso Awomoolo, co-founder of International Breweries PLC, Ilesa, and founder of Imo Hill Farm Agricultural business, and Dame Yinka Obaleye, the Yeye Owa of Ijesaland and founder of Yinka Oba Foam and Allied Products Industries, have been ratified by the Owa in Council for inclusion in the Ijesa Hall of Fame.

    Other notable individuals nominated for inclusion include Prince  Biodun  Lufadeju, the composer of Ijesa anthem, and the late IK Dairo, a celebrated classical musician.

    In the second category, which is the Merit Award, are distinguished individuals including Sir Sapara Williams, the first Nigerian lawyer ever produced, Professor Bolanle Awe, the facilitator and founder of the College of Education, Ilesa, now known as the University of Ilesa, Prince Olu Awogboro, founder of Ark insurance Brokers Ltd, Oba Oladele Olasore, the late Owaloko of Iloko Ijesa, and proprietor of Olashore International School, an educational institution of international repute.

    READ ALSO: Retreat on improving polytechnic education

    The Merit category also comprises General Oluseyi Petinrin, who facilitated the establishment of Federal Military School at Ipetujesa; Mr. Femi Agunbiade, founder of Mekaizer Farm Iwoye Ijesa; Rasheed Sarumi, founder of SARO Agro-Allied Company; Mr. Israel Adesanya, a world champion kickboxer; General Tokunbo Fayemiwo, a large-scale farmer; and Erelu Olusola Obada, facilitator of the Military Base in Ibodi.

    The nominations were submitted by the seven-member committee earlier chosen by the  Owa in  Council, which also changed the name of the  popular Obokungbusi Town Hall to Ijesa Hall of Fame

    The committee, which is chaired by Chief Akin Akinola, the pioneering managing director of International Brewery PLC, comprises Oba Olufemi Agunsoye, the Elegboro of Ijebujesa, Oba Festus Awogboro, the Alademure of Ibokun, Oba Olusegun Ogunleye, the Tirimi of Iperindo, Dupe Ajayi Gbadebo, Diti Aluko and  Lanrewaju Balogun as members.

    According to the Owa Obokun, who conceptualised the initiative, the Ijesa Hall of Fame is designed to honour Ijesa people whose investments have yielded significant benefits for the people of Ijesaland, with the aim of motivating younger generations to emulate their accomplishments.

    The paramount ruler of Ijesaland observed that he opted to democratise the process to further consolidate Ijesa unity.

    He warned that any honorary recipient who compromises the reputation of the land after being honoured will relinquish the title.

    Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup provided insight into the lengthy list of candidates and awardees for the inaugural edition, saying numerous Ijesa people are deserving of the honour and narrowing it down proved to be a challenging task.

    He said the number of candidates would be limited to one in subsequent editions and that no candidate would be inducted into the hall of fame unless the criteria were met.

    Chief Disu Oyedele moved the motion to adopt the Hall of Fame and Merit Award nominees, seconded by Risa Bode Owofade and endorsed by Chief Mrs Hannah Ojo on behalf of the womenfolk

    In attendance were High Chief Adeniyi Oguntoye, the Obaala of Ilesa; Oba Olufemi Agunsoye, the Elegboro of Ijebujesa; High Chief Saka Fapounda, the Ogboni of Ilesa; Oba Festus Awogboro, the Alademure of Ibokun; High Chief Makanjuola Afolabi, the Odole of Ilesa; High Chief Ojo Omonoyi, the Lejoka of Ilesa; High Chief Olalekan Folorunso, the Loro of Ilesa; Chief Disu Oyedele, the Salotun of Ilesa; Chief Oyewumi, the Risinkin of Isinkin; Looja Bode Owofade, the Olumelu of Imelu; Chief Mrs Hannah Ojo, the Yeyerise of Ilesa and the Isogba; Lanrewaju Balogun; Diti Aluko; and  Dupe Ajayi Gbadebo, the chief of staff to the palace.

  • Crypto trader ‘Blord’ Williams arrested

    Crypto trader ‘Blord’ Williams arrested

    •Court orders arrest of Kuje Prison doctor over Binance chief

    The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) yesterday confirmed the arrest of a crypto billionaire, Linus Williams, popularly known as Blord, in Abuja, following allegations against his companies.

    In a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said: “The FCID (NPF-NCCC) is investigating complaints lodged against Blord Group, Blord Real Estate Limited, Blord JetPaye Limited, and BillPoint Technology.

    “These offences include allegations of cryptocurrency fraud, aiding internet fraud, computer-related fraud, terrorism funding, and non-compliance with regulatory frameworks.

    Read Also: Oro cult as tool to minimise crime, insecurity

    “We will do due diligence in our investigations. Our cyberspace in Nigeria must be safe and secure by all means. We are committed to achieving that.”

    Meanwhile, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Dr Abraham Ehizojie, the medical doctor at the health facility of the Kuje Correctional Centre, over alleged refusal to produce the medical report of the detained executive of Binance Holdings Limited, Tigran Gambaryan.

  • Bishop Williams mulls creation of Ministry of Correctional Affairs

    Bishop Williams mulls creation of Ministry of Correctional Affairs

    Bishop Kayode Williams, Director General, Prison Rehabilitation Mission International Inc., has mooted the idea of the establishment of a ministry strictly for correctional and custodial affairs in the country.

    The renowned clergyman, who spoke at a public forum in Lagos, recently, said the establishment of such a ministry devoted to the reintegration, rehabilitation and reformation of inmates becomes inevitable in order to reduce worrisome crime rates as well as guide against recidivism.

    While acknowledging the important role being played by the Minister of Interiors, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in ensuring the well-being of the inmates across the different correctional centres in the country, Bishop Williams said, there is still a yawning gap that needs to be filled because of the years of neglect by successive governments.

    Noting that the Nigerian prison system requires a transition that would allow the inmates to reintegrate themselves better into society without returning to crime, Williams, who did a comparative analysis of Correctional centres in other climes said there is need for an exclusive ministry to cater for the concerns of the inmates if the government is serious about curtailing crime rates across the country.

    Williams said the government need not break the bank to do this as the Correctional Centres, if properly constituted like their counterparts elsewhere, can be self-sufficient, profit oriented and offer life-changing experience for both felons and the custodial officers themselves.

    Echoing similar sentiments, Dr Silas Falokun, the Regional Director of PREMI, North and South America, also called for the provision of productive engagement for the inmates across the correctional centres in Nigeria.

    Falokun, who is a senior staff at Texas Department of Criminal Justice in the United States, who described the annual budget allocation and subventions to correctional centres as wasteful, noted that productive engagement of the inmates could transform the prison into a self-funding system.

    Read Also: Military neutralises 43 terrorists, arrests 115

    “Prison in Texas is a business. We have people who come in for various reasons. When they come in, they don’t just sit down and wait for the government to budget money to feed them. This is where idiosyncrasy is in Nigeria. How can you keep able-bodied men and women in prison? You keep them in prison, feed them, and they wake up in the morning and gang up to plan evil things. They sit all day, idling around. An idle hand is the devil’s workshop. These prisoners are crafty. They are intelligent,” he said.

    Expatiating, Falokun said, “The correctional centres in Nigeria need help, and this is the reason why the government of today needs to yield to our plea to allow PREMI an inlet to correctional facilities in Nigeria. We want to bring our correctional centres to a stage where you have to be productive and not be a liability to the government. We want to organise classes for our inmates. We want to partner with the people to make necessary changes in the lives of prisoners so that prisoners won’t be left to suffer in prison.”

  • Williams calls for reforms of correctional centres

    Williams calls for reforms of correctional centres

    The President of Prison Rehabilitation Mission International Inc, Bishop Kayode Williams, has called on the Federal Government to place more emphasis on the reforming and rehabilitation of prisoners so that they become responsive citizens.

     Williams said this in Lagos during his visit to the Vintage Press Limited, the Publishers of The Nation Newspapers.

    According to him, the correctional centres in Nigeria play more emphasis on punitive measures instead of reforming them.

    He stressed the need for more understanding of the reformation of prisoners.

    “I came out of Sokoto Prison 43 years ago and God divinely remoulded me and I became a man that never went back to his vomit. Many of my colleagues have died and some went back to their vomit and have since gone.

     “Since I surrendered my life to Christ while in prison, I have not looked back. My focus has been on winning souls for Christ. The other project in my life is prison reformation and inmates’ rehabilitation. I have been combining evangelism with the project.”

    He disclosed that God gave him a commission for Africa prisons, to be a change agent, and rehabilitate prisoners for the betterment of society.

     Williams noted that the road map toward reducing crime is proper rehabilitation, reformation, and resettlement of convicts.

    Read Also: Tinubu’s signs new deal with US based FuelCell Energy

    “I have been to Prisons in London, and Houston in the United States of America, they have good prison systems. The prison system makes provision for prisoners to work and receive some pay,” he said.

    Williams posited further that in his drive toward prison reforms, he had made overtures to Nigeria’s foremost lawyer, Afe Babalola, Olisa Agbakoba, and Oba Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso and they are willing to work with him.

    He called for more media support to amplify his voice and the genuineness of his commitment to prison reforms across Nigeria.

    He also threw his weight behind Nigeria’s Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s plans to decongest the prisons and relocate them away from the city to vigil land.

    “One of the best ways is to speed up the prosecution of cases. In a situation where old cases are yet to be determined and new ones are piling up, then congestion will continue. Piling up of cases with endless adjournments, which usually result in people being remanded in correctional centres will continue to end up in congestion,” he said.

    In his response, the Weekend Editor of The Nation newspaper, Festus Eriye, lauded the efforts of Bishop Williams, and promised to assist him.

    “I know that you have a lot of experience and you are using your experience as a beacon of hope to lots of people across the country. When God gives someone a position or a privilege, it should serve society and make a difference,” he said.

  • Williams was a trailblazer – ICAN

    Williams was a trailblazer – ICAN

    The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has described Mr Akintola Williams as a trailblazer, an icon, and a symbol of excellence in the accounting profession.The 59th President of the Institute, Dr. Innocent Iweka Okwuosa, who stated this recently in Lagos during a special Valedictory Council Session in honour of the late doyen of accounting, noted that he was the first black African to qualify as a chartered accountant.

    According to Okwuosa, “He was more than just a pioneer in his field; he was a trailblazer, an icon, and a symbol of excellence. Today, we gather here not only to mourn the passing of a distinguished and illustrious figure but to celebrate the extraordinary life of Mr Akintola Williams, CBE, CFR, B. Comm, FCA. The transition of our doyen is not just a huge loss to the Institute, but a loss to the world as we are deprived of a man of exemplary commitment to accuracy and Integrity. Mr Williams, the first black African to qualify as a chartered accountant, was more than just a pioneer in his field; he was a trailblazer, an icon, and a symbol of excellence.”

    Read Also: DESOPADEC: tackling unemployment, youth restiveness one trainee a time

    Going down memory lane, the ICAN boss noted that Mr. Williams was a visionary leader who contributed to the establishment of the Association of Accountants in Nigeria in 1960, serving as its first President and also a founding member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and played an instrumental role in the creation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

    “Throughout his illustrious career, he left no stone unturned, actively engaging in public service as Chairman of the Federal Income Tax Appeal Commissioners, participating in various governmental commissions, and contributing significantly to numerous organisations and foundations. His dedication to his profession, his country, and his community was unrivaled. Mr Williams embodied the true spirit of a patriot and a nation builder,” Okwuosa stressed.

    In his tribute titled, ‘Will there be another?’ Mr George M. Okufi, who represented past registrars, noted that the members of ICAN woke up to a situation where there is a vacant seat at the top of the table. Okwuosa recalled that in 1954, Williams made a broadcast on WNBS “Rediffusion Service – How to be a Professional Accountant,” pointing out that the broadcast turned the attention of non-science students to accountancy.

  • Williams’s memoirs of a Black Box

    Williams’s memoirs of a Black Box

    Depicting what he described as inspiration from his multi-dimensional creative disciplines, his work, mounted on three floors at Revolving Art Incubator (RAI), explored the foursome of human existence. The exhibits focused “body, mind, heart, and spirit” within the context of what the artist expressed as “a recollection mechanism in documenting culture, custom and tradition.”

    Through the scenery of visual cultural expressions, a quiet, but steadily growing young creative professional, Sadiq Williams, is making his presence known. His fresh contemporary imprint on the city’s creative space combine traditional and contemporary expressions just as his art and design content generate critical and commercial appreciation, previewing futuristic appropriation of art. From the background of architecture, Williams combines fine art, filmmaking, martial art, poetry and music writing.

    As a futuristic expression, Williams said, “Memoirs of a Black Box imagines the future generation of Africans uncovering our world today through data recovered from Black Box.”

    Between traditional processes of creating art and the digital-inspired technique, Williams floats along the divides, noting, “I am a mixed media artist exploring the contemporary, digital and traditional modes of expressions through multi-dimensional approach of drawing from blurring generational lines and the paradoxes of living in contemporary times,” he said.

    Enunciating his Memoirs of a Black Box, the artist who has an opportunity of working in multi-cultural Lagos and London environments explained, “I draw inspiration from many variants of life as a creative professional in architecture, film, culture, filmmaking, story-boarding, poetry, martial arts and music and as an observer and an avid participant, reality to me is more fluid and less rigid, hence my approach.”

    The artist’s aim was to use the exhibition to share his thoughts on handshake across creative genres. “Memoirs of a Black Box explore the intersection between the arts and notions of identity, connections and inter-connections to wider humanity, using performance, visual arts and music et al as a catalyst for engagement.”

    However, his approach in appropriation uses what he described as “fluid and dualistic” perspective that explores “the notions of ‘me is we’ philosophy as made famous by Muhammad Ali in relation to history, appropriation and negritude.”

    Between an individual and Williams’ conceptual Black Box, there comes again the artist’s liberal disposition in traditional and contemporary forms. In fact, he has something salient to share, particularly for those who create an iron-curtain over space and period.

    However, Memoirs of a Black Box, he said, was still a work in progress along the journey of “creative process.” Generating result he called “experiential dialogue in latex and figurative representation of subjects,” the body of work depicts life’s daily experiences by employing “date, time, objects and events.”

    Williams is one of the youngest Nigerian artists, whose career evolved through competitive spaces and events in talent hunt. For example, in 1988, he won the first prize, Independence Day, Brazilian Embassy, Lagos, Nigeria; he emerged finalist at Creative Pioneers in 2012 the ‘Can Start Entrepreneur Segment,’ organised by the IPA Institute for Practitioners in Advertising and the London Metro in the U.K., and was among the 12 finalists at the National Arts competition in 2016, organised by Heineken International, Nigeria Breweries and African Artists’ foundation.

    Among Williams’ solo and group exhibitions are Hippie and Gypsie Vibrations Live Art 2 Pieces (2018), Black Box weekend at The Blowfish Hotel Live Art 2 Pieces (2017), ‘Adire Heritage Festival’ at Freedom Park in Lagos (2017), among others.

  • Professor of Medicine Williams dies at 76

    Professor of Medicine Williams dies at 76

    An eminent Professor of Medicine, Femi Willians, is dead.

    Williams, 76, died yesterday in circumstances yet to be ascertained.

    A family friend, who confirmed his demise last night, was too distraught to speak on how he died.

    Williams, in February, did an analysis for The Nation of what might be ailing President Muhammadu Buhari, using his photographs.

    That was the first time the President took a medical vacation to attend to his health in the United Kingdom (UK) and Nigerians were asking questions about his ailment, which caused the President to stay in London for more than 50 days.

    Buhari has since May 7 returned to the UK for another round of treatment.

    Williams graduated from Trinity College, University of Dublin in 1961.

    He obtained arts and medical degrees with postgraduate medical education and fellowships in Internal Medicine and Pathology at Queens University and Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Ireland.

    He also got Board Certification in Internal Medicine and Pathology, UK and Ireland.

    He held faculty positions at Dublin University in Pathology and later at University of Ibadan.

    The late Williams was Professor and Chair of Pathology, University of Ibadan and University College Hospital Ibadan.

    He was the Foundation Dean and Chief Medical Director, College of Medicine, University of Calabar.

    He was a visiting Professor at Universities of Minnesota, Howard, Vanderbilt, New Jersey, Hopkins Cleveland Clinic as well as Executive Secretary, Science Technical Research Commission (STRC), African Union, Addis Ababa.

    The pathologist was also Chairman, Committee on Solar Energy for Africa and Chairman of Board, Africa Union Centre for Soil Science, Harare, Zimbabwe.

    He was Scholar-in-Residence, National Cancer Institute, Fogarty International Centre, Bethesda, Maryland.

    The late professor was the founder and Director, African Cancer Centre, Lagos and fellow African Academy of Science.

    He was author of over 100 peer review publications in medical journals and seven monographs/books.

    The late Williams’ statement on the President’s state of health, “Clinical diagnosis of President Buhari’s requests for medical vacation”, said Nigerians have a “constitutional right to know the health of our President”.

    “It is a moral prerogative to be concerned about our President’s health. The physical and mental well-beings of most presidents in the world are usually not shrouded in secrecy because details of the health of current and past presidents in the developed world are published in the public domain.

    “Speculations about the health of some of our leaders should not be subject to benign or malignant analyses by medically qualified and non- medically qualified pundits,” he said.

    The statement added:

    My negative findings, based on this single photograph are as follows:

    • The president is not dehydrated;
    • The president is not clinically anaemic;
    • The President is not clinically jaundiced;
    • For his age, there are no wrinkles on his forehead indicative of good preservation and nutrition; and
    • The national costume does not permit a superficial assessment of whether he has lost weight or not.

    My positive findings based on this single snapshot are as follows:

    • The photograph shows some degree of clubbing of the fingers;
    • The photo shows a small nodule on the lateral aspect of two fingers and one of these bumps has a hyper pigmented rim suggestive of an infective etiology (cause) in the recent past;
    • There is mild reduplication of skin over the knuckles (not enough for elastosis); and
    • There are multiple transverse opacities on the nails, particularly of the left hand suggestive of an infection, viral or other infections.”
  • Stress not cause of anaemia-Williams

    Stress not cause of anaemia-Williams

    Until recently, Professor Femi Williams’ name might probably take some minutes to register, but not so anymore, especially since he did a clinical diagnosis of the president’s condition a couple of weeks ago, using his photographs. Now back, the America-based professor of pathology, going by the president’s confessions, says ‘we now have a definitive diagnosis.’ He spoke with Gboyega Alaka.

    Not too long ago, you did a photo diagnosis of the president’s condition. What do you have to say now that he’s back?

    We now have a definitive diagnosis. We now have a pretty good idea of the diagnosis, which is now comprehensive or good enough to say that the diagnosis of President Buhari’s illness is anaemia. Or was anaemia, because you cannot be transfused if you don’t have anaemia. And the question is what is the cause of the anaemia? He even confirmed this by the report in your paper today (Saturday) that he told the Vice President as far as December last year, that he had been feeling tired for the past 16 months.

    Could this be an outcome of the election stress?

    Anaemia does not come as a result of election or stress. One thing you must understand is that transfusion is a serious problem in America, because the risk of transfusion is enormous. It therefore means that his haemoglobin level must have been so low. Don’t forget, this is a man who does not menstruate?

    From your experience, what could be the cause of this anaemia?

    Based on the report in your newspaper today (The Nation on Saturday); and I must say you guys did a great job, he was telling the whole nation to avoid self medication and saying that a lot of Nigerians are taking a lot of drugs without prescription. Therefore, I suggest that by admonishing the whole nation on self-medication, his anaemia is drug related, self-medication-related or drug-induced. And when I use drug, I mean over the counter medication.

    For a man of his level, who has been at the top for quite a while, one wouldn’t imagine him indulging in such practice…

    That is why he went on to say ‘trust your doctors.’ For the first time, a president is saying ‘trust your doctors’. He gave himself away there again. (Obviously) he’s been self-medicating and he’s now telling the nation to trust their doctors and not engage in self-medication. The fact is that such drug may be destroying your red blood cells.

    You’re saying anaemia can be caused by self medication…

    It can be caused by certain drugs. Not all drugs. These drugs are mainly pain killers such as panadol, paracetamol. Our people do it all the time. I have malaria, two tablets. Now the man has opened up and made my diagnosis easier. In my last analysis, which I did by looking at his pictures, I said he was not clinically anaemic; but in a previous photograph, I said he was anaemic because his nails were white. But I also said this could be as a result of the photograph. In the photograph that I analysed, his nails were pink; and that could be due to the transfusion. So the transfusion tied up with all the things I said, that he was not anaemic, he was not dehydrated and that his nutritional status was good. What you must understand is that transfusion is a treatment for anaemia.

    He also said he went through series of lab tests.

    If you are investigating anaemia, you have to go through many laboratory tests to find out the cause of the anaemia. But that is not an issue. The issue is he has anaemia. Now, he was mesmerised by all the technology and all the various things he saw there, which we should have in this country anyway. Don’t forget, I started my piece in my write up by saying that he has a constitutional right to his privacy. He is not duty-bound to divulge his condition, as many have been clamouring. Again, the anaemia could be related to kidney damage. The drug he was taking could have damaged his kidneys.

    Is it only kidney damage that can cause anaemia? I’m asking this so Nigerians don’t just conclude that the president is suffering from kidney failure.

    There are a hundred causes of anaemia. Again I refer you to my article (see analysis). The few things that Buhari has said suggest self-medication. He also said he has never been this sick all his 74 years, not even when he was in the military; which means something has happened. It means whatever is wrong with him only started recently. And for you to get anaemia like that, it could imply that it is an insidious thing; it’s not a sudden thing. It has been going on for some time. Anaemia simply means insufficient blood; and you can get insufficient blood by either sudden loss of blood or gradual loss. So this is a gradual evolution. I’m not sure whether he is losing blood anywhere. I don’t know whether he is bleeding internally. He may have been losing blood and taking self medication; maybe pain in the abdomen or pain in the stomach, and taking pain killers to suppress it. Unfortunately, ours is a society where there is no regulation on OTC (Over the Counter) drugs; none whatsoever; be it on deadly drugs or benign drugs.

    What are the chances of him recovering fully?

    It depends on cause of the anaemia. There are three things. The second one I spoke about in my write-up is the possibility of a cancer somewhere. The third is that he is probably bleeding from the intestine.

    What are the dangers of blood transfusion, especially in a man of Buhari’s age?

    The question is: will the bone marrow be able to take over and start raising more blood cells?

    Do you see him resigning?

    I don’t see any reason why. As I said in the article, when you are anaemic, you don’t have enough blood going into your brain, your heart, your lungs and your liver. But I really don’t see him resigning. He can carry on with his duty as president.

    What about him running for a second term?

    Again, I don’t see why not.

  • Obaseki on course in Edo, says Williams

    Obaseki on course in Edo, says Williams

    •Former varsity don urges Edo governor to set up exco

    Eminent scholar Prof. Adebayo Williams yesterday appraised the first 100 days of Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, saying that his administration was on course.

    He described the governor as a hardworking, dynamic, courageous and self-effacing administrator, whose policies and programmes have connected with the legitimate hopes and aspirations of the people.

    Noting that the story of Edo under Obaseki is unfolding, the former university don, who hailed his remarkable feats in the last three months, said: “At the end of his tenure, Edo will become an economic and technological hub.”

    However, the renowned essayist advised the governor to quickly set up his cabinet to enable him tap from the talents and experience of commissioners and advisers.

    He added that the governor “cannot single-handedly run” the state.

    Williams spoke in Lagos at a colloquium organised by the Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa with the theme: ‘Tracking Governor Godwin Obaseki’s 100 days in office.”

    The guest speaker and Editorial Page Editor of The Nation, Mr. Sanya Oni, hailed the governor’s programmes on economic diversification, job creation, power and executive time management.

    An important highlight of the event was the video presentation of Obaseki’s 100 days.

    The achievements highlighted included road rehabilitation, the setting up of the Gele-gele seaport Committee and the agricultural committee, the ban on illegal taxation by touts, fiscal discipline, the Bill for Pension Scheme, the signing of power purchase agreement and increased funding for technical education.

    Others include school renovation, the resuscitation of farm settlements, transparency and accountability.

    Williams, who chaired the lecture, noted that he had delivered the valedictory lecture in honour of Obaseki’s predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who he described as a “warrior politician,” who laid a solid foundation for him to build upon.

    He said: “Oshiomhole is a warrior politician. He was the John the Baptist, who made it possible for Obaseki to be doing what he is doing today. He fought godfatherism and other challenges. All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is also a warrior politician and made it possible for former Governor Babatunde  Raji Fashola to practise politics of anti-politics to connect with the people.”

    Williams praised Obaseki for running a focused government devoid of scandals, stressing that he has thrown away the racketeers and concentrated on service delivery.

    He added: “People have great expectations about the governor. Obaseki is a good governor and a man of promise. I can bet that a lot more will be heard about the energetic, promising and self-effacing man. Judging by the way he has taken the bull by the horn, Edo will be an epic centre of good governance and economic prosperity.

    “Edo is a product of a glorious empire, the Benin Empire. When the Portuguese visited Benin, they were shocked by its level of advancement. It was socially and culturally ahead of Lisbon, the capital. Benin had well-paved streets, an ancient form of electricity and it was painted. It was an empire on the way to modernity before it was stopped by the invasion and later, it collapsed.

    “Benin was a remarkably rich empire. What the British stole from the city pointed to its greatness and wealth. Governor Obaseki is a hardworking governor with a vision and innovation to take the state to modernity, not regressing it to primitiveness. What is this quiet and self-effacing man doing in politics? He is going against the grain of normal politics. Obaseki is impacting on the life of the people.”

    Oni, an economic expert, said Obaseki has a fresh economic direction, instead of the peculiar tradition of dependence on the federal allocation that depended on elusive oil earnings.

    He noted that Obaseki’s 100 days in office might define the character of his administration, adding that he started well by reducing the massive wastage of executive time allocated to useless meetings and appointments that have no bearing on good governance.

    Oni applauded the emphasis on technical education in Edo State, explaining that increased funding for vocational education would reduced the number of unemployable youths and enable them to acquire skills that would make them get jobs in the technical areas.

    The coalition’s Country Director, Mr. Jude Gadimoh, said: “Our peer review mechanism in assessing the states in the country makes it expedient on us as a group to challenge the Edo State government to showcase what they have done so far as Lagos State developed that culture of reviewing herself every 100 days, especially during the government of Babatunde Fashola. That kind of review mechanism helps a government to quickly respond and correct areas of lapses within its operations.”

  • Banke Balogun, Ifeoma Williams still inseparable

    Banke Balogun, Ifeoma Williams still inseparable

    Many who are conversant with the happenings on the Nigerian social scene would attest to the closeness between former Miss Lux Ifeoma Williams and Banke Balogun, the delectable wife of Ladi Balogun of First City Monument Bank Plc.

    From a mile away, you could sense the affection the bosom friends have for each other. They duo have been friends for ages. They attend events together and carry on like inseparable soul mates. Their friendship hasn’t just strengthened over the years, it is has metamorphosed into an agent for the unification of their husbands who have also become friends.

    Those who should know said they have passed through a lot together. Many months ago, they resorted to lying low. But they are back on the social scene better and bigger with their friendship as strong as ever.