Former APC National Disabled Leader, Didi throws weight behind Buni-led caretaker committee

By Lanre Oloyede

Immediate past national leader for the disabled in the dissolved National Working Committee, NWC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Musbahu Lawan Didi, has congratulated His Excellency, Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni and members of his Committee  on their appointment as APC National Caretaker/Convention committee.

 In a statement issued by the revered leader of the disabled, Didi said  as a Party Loyalist, he has accepted and supported all the effort of President Mohammadu Buhari to re-organize the party for the benefit of all its teaming Members Nationwide.

Didi thanked the Almighty Allah and all Nigerians with disabilities for their cooperation, help and support during his service to the Party as the past APC National Disabled Leader.

He also specially thanked Chief John Odegie Oyegun, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni, all the APC governors, and all his colleagues in the immediate past NWC and leaders of the Party for their support for him over the years.

Didi reiterated his commitment to stand by Mr. President's decision towards the resolution of the crisis in the party and pledge to support the National Caretaker Committee all the way.

Why I'm on a rescue mission in Ondo - Adelami

By Lanre Oloyede

Immediate past deputy clerk to the national assembly, Chief Olayide Owolabi Adelami, has declared that he decided to join the governorship race in Ondo State because he is on a rescue mission  to liberate his people from the manacles of poverty, deprivation and politics of exclusion that has kept them in perpetual doldrums despite the enormous resources the State is endowed with.

Adelami stated this at the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC, when he was been presented with nomination and expression of interest forms purchased on his behalf by his supporters under the auspices of Ondo State Rescue group.

The experienced accountant and business administrator with 35 years of meritorious public service and outstanding record of accomplishments at the national assembly and other federal government parastatals said if given the mandate to lead the State as the Executive governor, he would make people oriented programs the priority of his administration.

"Local government autonomy will be my first priority as governor. I will grant financial autonomy to the local government because being the government at the grassroots, I believe if they are given the freedom to utilize the fund voted to them for the people, it will go a long way in ameliorating the suffering of the people at the grassroots," Adelami said.

Speaking on behalf of Ondo State Rescue group, Mr Olawale Ogedengbe who presented the forms on behalf of the group to the governorship aspirant, said the group which comprises of students and youths from all across the State decided to contribute their little earnings together and obtain nomination form for Adelami because they believed in his credibility and capability to lead the State to the next level.

Also speaking,  Mr Adekola Ajibola, a representative of the vulnerable and physically challenged group in the State testified to the antecedents of the governorship aspirant on how he has been transforming the lives of the physically challenged, particularly, those with talents whom he identified, mentored and nurtured up to the university level to realize their dreams.

According to Mrs Abdullahi Mariam, a representative of the widows and orphans in the State, Adelami has, through his family foundation, Elizabeth Foundation, which he founded with his wife, affected the lives of widows and orphaned children by feeding, clothing and paying their children's school fees and medical bills.

Adelami is one of more than ten aspirants who have indicated interest to contest the APC primary election slated for July 20, 2020 to determine the party's flagbearer for the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State.

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Ondo State Professionals meet AKEREDOLU, canvasses for consolidation, sustainability and professional integrity in governance.

By Lanre Oloyede

In continuation of its advocacy mission as the gubernatorial election hots up in Ondo State, members of the Ondo State Professionals Forum, Abuja (OSPFA), led by its Chairman, Arc. Tunde Imolehin met with the Governor of Ondo State, Arakurin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and convassed for continuity, consolidation, sustainability and professional integrity in governance.

The purpose of the visit was to further familiarize and intimate the governor with some of the activities of the group and to also rally support for his re-election bid.

The meeting which had in attendance, the Chairman, Arc. Tunde Imolehin, Secretary, Mr. Dele Fulani, Mr. Lekan Olotu and other members of the Forum was largely successful and monumental.

The OSPFA had a fruitful deliberation with His Excellency that culminated in a robust and harmonious  working agreement towards realizing the unassailable victory for the governor at the poll.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Forum Chairman, Arc. Tunde Imolehin , stressed that the Forum was established to promote the pristine ideals of professionalism in all strata of the society particularly governance which the governor stands for as a thoroughbred professional and a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) with a distinguished record of service.

He said the group was impressed with the catalogue of unprecedented achievements recorded by the governor in the area of infrastructural development within just three years in office.

Imolehin pointed out in particular, the construction of the road leading to his town, Ipele, for which the people of the community have suffered for so many years.

He praised the governor for taking up the gauntlet and defying all odds posed by the dwindling global economic fortune to put smiles on the faces of the people in the state.

The chairman said the group was ready to roll up its sleeve  and go into the field as well as nooks and crannies of the State to campaign for the Governor to secure a second term in office. He also stated that the group would reach out to other aspirants with a view towards encouraging them to support continuity and sustainability of the present administration in Ondo State.

He concluded by saying that the Forum was ready to support the re-election bid with what all the members have got including cash and kind.

Also speaking, the Forum Secretary, Mr Dele Fulani eulogised the governor for taking the bold step he took in achieving the giant strides he has recorded so far.

Fulani specifically thanked the governor for leveling and reconstructing the popular Oke Alabojuto hill which has been a major cause of fatal accident leading to the loss of innocent lives of the people of the area for so many years.

In his response, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu thanked the group for its support and solidarity towards realizing the goal of his re-election come October 10, 2020.

The Governor recalled the unflinching support he has been receiving from the chairman of the Forum, Arc. Tunde Imolehin, which dated back to 2012 and his consistent contributions to the party.

While answering questions from the media crew  from Nigerian Pilot Newspaper, the governor promised to work with the group, and also used the medium to reel out some of his numerous projects to be executed in his second term, top of which included the signature project of Port Ondo which has the potential of stimulating industrial revolution in the state and generating thousands of employment opportunities for the youths.

Democracy Day presents opportunities to reflect on prospects over challenges - Amb. Tukur

By Lanre Oloyede

Renowned diplomat and one time Nigeria’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, London and Equatorial Guinea, Ambassador Hassan Ardo Tukur, has advised Nigerians to utilize the opportunity of the June 12 Democracy Day celebration not only to reflect on the challenges encountered by the country in the journey to nationhood but rather focus more on the enormous prospects awaiting the nation in the future.

In a statement to newsmen in Abuja, Amb. Tukur stated that in the wake of the celebration, Nigeria will be presented with choices: “to start a pity-party about our socio-political challenges (which everyone already knows), to weep over all of our missed opportunities or we will be presented with the choice of re-writing the wrongs and weaving together a future that posterity will be grateful for; a future that we will be a part of as much as the kind that is solid enough to support the dreams of the next generation.”

He admonished Nigerian leaders on the need to build a better future for the incoming generations, stressing that we “need to get our acts together and join the league of Nations who are on the forward march which is where we deserve.”

In his words, "We will roll our sleeves and build together -- leaders and citizens alike. We will use all of the tools of developments that we can muster and leverage technology to leap-frog in our forward march.

According to Tukur, great men plant trees whose shade they know that they wouldn’t seat under and the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but the next best time is now.

Commenting on the mandate of the URNI Initiative, the former Ambassador who has served under various capacities as diplomat reiterated that the initiative is set to mobilize a mass of change agents and leverage on the scaling effect of technology to push for a positive renaissance of nationhood.

“We will tell our story in a way that fosters hope and emphasizes the positives and hopefully create a new narrative that will contribute towards making our nation a desirable one to live in.

He further noted that URNI has lined up activities and events leading up to Nigeria’s 60th Independence Day celebration in October, which will precede the official flag-up of the Unveiling and Rebranding Initiative billed for October 3 2020 in Abuja Nigeria.

Ondo Guber: Group rallies support for Akeredolu’s re-election bid

Ondo Guber: Group rallies support for Akeredolu’s re-election bid

By Lanre Oloyede

A group under the auspices of Ondo State Professionals Forum, Abuja (OSPFA) has called on all sons and daughters of Ondo residing in the Federal Capital Territory and the diaspora to support the re-election bid of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for the greater benefit of the entire people of the State.

The Forum made up of selected professionals of Ondo extraction drawn from different walks of life said its position was informed by the need to sustain the current momentum of development being piloted by the governor.

In a press statement themed: “Sustaining the Uncommon Strides in Ondo State” and co-signed by its Chairman, Architect Tunde Imolehin and Secretary, Mr Dele Fulani, the group stressed that there was need to consolidate on the monumental achievements that have been recorded by the current administration in the areas of infrastructural development, youths empowerment, job creation, wealth creation and industrialization.

“When you talk of infrastructural development, Governor Akeredolu has literarily transformed the hitherto hard-to-reach rural areas of the State into modern cities through massive construction of state-of-the-art access roads, storm water drains, overhead bridges, provision of rural electrification, potable water supply among many others too numerous to mention,” the group averred.

It added that, though its position does not disregard the rights of other citizens to aspire for any position of their choice in the state, its motive for mobilizing support for the governor’s second term bid however became more necessary because of the need to forestall the ill-fate that usually befall people oriented projects set in motion by a one-term governor in the event of premature change of government.

“Apparently, we all eknow from experience that premature change of government in Nigeria is usually characterized with lack of continuity in governance. As it is the practice, instead of continuing with the development trajectory he or she met on ground, every successor would rather crave for his own new 7-point agenda while the predecessor’s projects are either discontinued, abandoned or cancelled outrightly. At the end, it is the innocent taxpayer citizens of the State that bear the brunt.  We cannot allow all these uncommon achievements of the Governor to be rubbished on the altar of political expediency,” the group asserted.

The forum however stressed that it remains committed to supporting the continuity project of the governor with all resources at its disposal including intellect, clouts, cash and kind.

Corruption allegations against NIRSAL handiwork of detractors - HURIWA, others

Corruption allegations against NIRSAL handiwork of detractors - HURIWA, others

By Lanre Oloyede

 Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, led by the famous Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has declared as baseless and unfounded, the allegations of corruption levelled against the leadership of  Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, NIRSAL PLC.

The group has, therefore, demanded that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu  commence immediate  investigation within seven days by inviting  for interrogation, "these bunch of detractors, traversing the entire length and breadth of the media industry in their campaign of calumny against the Management of NIRSAL PLC  under its Managing Director,  Mr Aliyu Abbati Abdulhameed."

In a press conference addressed by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the Coalition which consists of 16 organizations drawn from  across Nigeria but led by HURIWA claimed that some  faceless elements who hide behind compromised social media platforms are responsible for the vicious and sustained campaign of calumny against the institution that is playing a key role in the transformation of Nigerian agriculture sector.

According to the group, the allegations which ranged from mismanagement of funds by its current leadership to claims of discrimination and favouritism is nothing but falsehood.

 The Coalition  urged the Presidency not to be deceived by this evil campaign against the person of the MD of NIRSAL PLC  because those making these baseless allegations are working hard to scuttle the government's agenda for agriculture revolution.



 The group added that the perpetrators have forged fake documents, organised fake protests, sponsored fake farmers groups and induced unprofessional media platforms which lack integrity to publish unverified falsehoods against the institution in order to achieve their nefarious objectives.

The Coalition saw it as totally incredible  that an institution that is working so hard for the country, without any budgetary appropriation by the Federal Government nor allocation of funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria, yet achieving solid results in a critical area of national development such as agriculture, can be subjected to endless attacks in pursuit of nefarious political goals and negative economic interests.

While providing reasons why the allegations against the agency should be discountenanced, the group said, "First, the efforts to distract and even disable NIRSAL PLC  is not in the interest of the nation because this 5-year-old institution’s mandate as given to it by the Central Bank of Nigeria, its sole shareholder, is central to the focus on agriculture by the Buhari administration, the sector that is the number one employer of labour and the lynchpin of the nation’s plans for a post-oil future.

"Second, there is clear evidence that NIRSAL PLC  is doing justice to its mandate. It is an established fact that the institution, in just a few short years of its corporate existence has facilitated about N110 billion from the financial sector into agriculture. In the process, it has contributed to the creation of millions of jobs and the improvement of the lives of smallholder farmers across the country.

"Third, NIRSAL PLC  is adding significant value in other areas, notably agricultural insurance where it is working with partners to create and popularize innovative insurance packages that will reduce the risks faced by Nigerian farmers and help them to benefit more from their toil.

"Fourthly and related to the above, the institution is making brisk progress with its AgroGeoCoops scheme which is projected to create about 16,000 farmer-cooperatives on 4 million hectares of farmland, enrol about 8 million farmers to produce about 12million metric tonnes of Grain Product Equivalent annually, across Nigeria."

NIGERIA @ 60: REKINDLING HOPE AND CHANGING OUR NARRATIVES

NIGERIA @ 60: REKINDLING HOPE AND CHANGING OUR NARRATIVES

By the 1st of October this year, our compatriots will be celebrating 60 years of our nationhood. Indeed, we’ve come a long way together and this period offers us an opportunity to reflect on the journey so far -- the challenges that we have faced (and are still facing) and the opportunities that stare us in the face. In all of these, we will be presented with choices -- to start a pity-party about our socio-political challenges (which everyone already knows), to weep over all of our missed opportunities. Or we will be presented with the choice of re-writing the wrongs and weaving together a future that posterity will be grateful for; a future that we will be a part of as much as the kind that is solid enough to support the dreams of the next generation.

It has been said that great men plant trees whose shade they know that they wouldn’t seat under and as we may have heard the saying that, the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago (or even 60, as in our case), but the next best time is now.

We will need to get our acts together and join the league of nations who are on the forward march. That’s what we deserve.

"We will roll our sleeves and build together -- leaders and citizens alike. We will use all of the tools of developments that we can muster and leverage technology to leap-frog in our forward march.


Commenting on the mandate of the That’s what we stand for and our message at the Unveiling and Rebranding Initiative (URNI). We will be doing our part to mobilize a mass of change agents and leveraging on the scaling effect of technology to push for a positive renaissance in our nationhood. We will tell our story in a way that fosters hope and emphasizes the positives and hopefully create a new narrative that will contribute towards making our nation a desirable one to live in. We have lined up a number of activities and events leading up to our silver jubilee celebrations in October. These activities and programmes will precede the launch of the Unveiling & Rebranding Initiative billed for the 3rd of October 2020 in Abuja Nigeria.

As we understand that the process of change is not a walk in the park, our strategy will entail a 10-year development plan encapsulated as the URNI Vision 2030 which will also be unveiled at this epoch-making event.

Worthy of mention is that this initiative is promoted by a team of active citizens from different walks of life and championed by some distinguished Nigerians among whom is Amb. Hassan Tukur, OFR, who has served the country in different capacities over the last 4 decades. There will be several engagements monthly leading up to October this year, some of which include: roadshows, campus tour, community engagements and town hall meetings, the making of the book -- faces of patriotism, football competition/unity league et cetera.

It’s also our belief that all hands must be on deck for the work of nation-building to succeed and therefore, we would be calling on all stakeholders to come together, irrespective of tribal, religious, or political affiliations to make our nation work, even at this auspicious moment. Towards the launch of the URNI Vision 2030, we are making a clarion call for collaborators, partners, sponsors, and volunteers towards making this programme and vision a success.

More information can be found on our website: Http and do keep an eye on our social media platforms to stay informed of our activities.

I am Nigeria. You are Nigeria. We are Nigeria. Nigeria needs us!

Signed:
Hassan Ardo Tukur.
Chairman, Board of Trustees,
Unveiling & Rebranding Nigeria Initiative.