Gani fawehinmi 's Family Rejects Centenary Award

The gale of rejections trailing the decision of federal government to honour some Nigerians as part of activities marking the nation’s centenary celebrations continued yesterday as the family of the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, has rejected his award.

The position of the family is contained in a letter addressed to the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, dated February 27 and signed by the first son of the late lawyer, Mohammed.

late Gani Fawehinmi

In the letter, a copy of which was made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, the family listed four grounds for its rejection of the award, one of which is inclusion of past leaders with little or no democratic credentials.

Mohammed also faulted the perceived nonchalant attitude of government towards the killing of some students in Yobe State, stating that their late father was empathetic to the sufferings of our people, particularly students.

He said: “In the last 72 hours, 59 innocent students were mowed down by the blood-thirsty Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe State, while 20 other girls were similarly abducted by these same band of terrorists.

“These girls are still in captivity while their fate is unknown. If our late father were to be alive, would he be wining and dining with all the glitterati at a centenary celebration under these circumstances? Certainly no.”

The family also listed perceived official corruption in the management of the country occasioned by the controversies generated by the alleged unaccounted $20 billion from the proceeds of oil sales as the third reason.

“In the past few weeks, the polity has been assaulted with putrid odour of corruption with the alleged $20 billion missing in NNPC, a development that became the Achilles’ heel of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the suspended governor of Central Bank.

“As an anti-corruption activist, if he were to be alive, our late father would have confronted the issue head-on and possibly gone to court. With the issue still raging, would our late father have accepted this award at this critical moment? Certainly no,” the family wrote in the letter.

He also faulted the expenditure on the celebrations, saying it is costing the country too much. He said the funds should have been channelled to the development of infrastructures and social services.

Routine Immunization: Ondo will not relent

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has assured that the State government will not relent in prioritising routine immunization in order to prevent preventable diseases among children and sustain the State's leadership position in routine immunisation in the country.
Governor Mimiko gave the assurance  at the Government House in Akure during  a meeting of the State task force on polio eradication and routine immunization.
The Governor stressed the importance of routine immunization as an avenue to safeguard the future of the children through quality primary healthcare delivery, noting that his administration would not relent in its effort at supporting the task force to achieve the objective.
Governor Mimiko, who had earlier been represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Kola Ademujimi, at the flag-off of the first round of 2014 National Immunization Plus Day at the State specialist Hospital in Akure, reiterated the commitment of his administration to the survival, protection, and development of the children.
He noted that all the chairmen of local government in the State had been mobilized to ensure strict commitment to the eradication of poliomyelites, adding that social mobilization machineries, including skilled human resources were on ground to  ensure the success of the 3-day exercise.
His words "During this period children below 5 years will be given 2 drops of potent OPV using house to house strategy and children under one year will be immunized against tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertusis,
hepatitis, measles, yellow fever and tetanus at the fixed posts in all the designated health facilities in our wards".
Earlier in his welcome address, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, explained that all the logistic and supports needed for the success of the exercise had been made available in all the 18
council areas of the State.
He urged parents to make their wards available for the exercise.

EKITI EMPOWERS 108 PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS

Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has distributed another set of empowerment materials worth over N5m to 108 People Living With HIV/AIDS in the state.

The First Lady, who is also the Chairperson of Ekiti State AIDS Control Agency, said the gesture underscored the commitment of the state government to giving the beneficiaries a new lease of life.
The exercise, which was the third since the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration came on board, took place at the Office of the Wife of Governor, on Wednesday.
The beneficiaries, who converged under the aegis of the Network of People Living With HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), received deep freezers, computer sets, video cameras, sewing machines, grinding machines, photocopy machines and clothing, among other items.

The EKSACA boss pledged the continued support of the government for the NEPWHAN members to live a meaningful life, adding that a lot more was being done to reduce the HIV/AIDS prevalence to the barest minimum in the state.
She said, "When I became the Chair of SACA, I insisted that in everything that we do around HIV/AIDS in Ekiti state, we should ensure that we empower people who are living with HIV/AIDS and we should be able to tell people that being HIV positive is not the end of the world.
"We need to be able to set an example and demonstrate practically what it means to be living with HIV/AIDS and still have hope. Testing positive is not the end of the world."
She appealed to those yet to know their HIV status to visit the nearest health facility and submit themselves for testing and counselling.
She added that the state government has provided free medical care for the people living with HIV as part of measures to mitigate the challenges confronting them. She stressed that the measure has resulted in tremendous improvement in their life expectancy.
Erelu Bisi Fayemi said, "If you are living with HIV/AIDS and you have access to good medical care, nutrition and have a means of livelihood, you can live for as long as God has designed for you on earth."
She thanked the state government and SACA management for their efforts at ensuring better living standard for the people living with HIV/AIDS in the state.
While wishing the beneficiaries well in their endeavours, the governor's wife charged them to use the materials to maximum benefits to care for themselves and their families.

The Project Manager of SACA, Dr Charles Doherty, said the distribution of empowerment materials to NEPWHAN members was part of efforts of the government to reduce poverty and death among them.
He said, "The beauty of this exercise is that one of the NEPWHAN members supplied all the items being distributed today. This in essence means that 109 people were empowered today."

Killing: LAUTECH seeks intensive surveillance of host community

Worried by Tuesday’s killing of its student, the authorities of Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, on Wednesday called for intensive surveillance of the host community.The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin, made the call on Wednesday night at a meeting held with security agencies.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oluwadare Ikechukwu Mba, a 100 level Transport Management student of the institution, was killed by unidentified assailants on Tuesday night.
The vice chancellor condemned the killing and appealed to the security agencies to intensify patrol of areas where students were resident.
He said the non residential nature of the institution was a major impediment to adequate monitoring of the students.
Gbadegesin urged the security agencies to rise up to the current challenge, adding that the institution was ready to bear the cost of protecting its students.
He stressed the institution’s readiness to hold regular meetings with security agencies with a view to evolving pro-active measures to secure lives and property.
The representatives of the security agencies at the meeting promised to fish out those behind the killing as well as intensify surveillance in the town.
The meeting was attended by Mr Chinedu Sylva, the Area Commander of Police, Ogbomoso Zone and Capt. Sakatare Dalhatu, the Ogbomoso Zonal Commander of the Oyo State security outfit, Operation Burst.
Others were Mr Nasir Isah, the Director of the State Security Service in Ogbomoso and Mr Bamigboye Joshua, the Divisional Crime Officer for Owode Police Station.
It would be recalled that Gbadegesin in a letter to Brig. Gen. Laz Ilo, the Commander of Operation Burst, identified some locations where students were predominant and required intensive surveillance.
Among the areas listed were Under G, Stadium, Adenike, YOACO, Kuye, Aroje, Oke-Afin, and Igbo-Agboin, all in Ogbomoso.
Meanwhile, students of the institution have staged a peaceful protest against the killing of the student. 

I won’t defect from PDP again, says Fayose

A former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, on Thursday vowed not to defect from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party even if he loses the party’s governorship ticket to another person. Fayose was at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja on Thursday, where he picked the nomination form, which will enable him contest the party’s governorship primaries slated for March 15.

Speaking with journalists shortly after picking the form,which cost N11m, Fayose said that it would be too late for him to move to another political party. He added that if it was the Will of God for him to be the party’s candidate, there was no one who would stop him.

According to him, “This year, I will be 54. It is too late to cross carpet to any other political party. Even if the party does not pick me, I will not defect. I will still work for the party. Whatsoever is yours will not pass you by. If it is the will of God that I will be candidate of the party, in whatever manner the party goes about it, it will happen.And if it is not the will of God, I will still stand by the PDP. This is not a political statement. Is it APC that I want to go to? It is too late. I am no longer a small boy. I am a former Governor, so I have to take it in good fate. I believe I will be victorious either way.”

He alleged that the All Progressive Congress operates like a cult and that it is usually difficult for members of the party to trust new members. Apart from that, he said new members in the opposition party were usually kept in the cooler without being allowed to play any significant role.

Fayose said, “APC operates like a cult. They don’t bring in new people, the moment they bring you in, they will just put you in the cooler. I am a living witness of that experience. The moment leader of the party is telling you Walahi Talahi, I promise you Mecca and so on, it will end up in lies. For me, anybody cross carpeting is wasting his time. What God will do for us, he will do. It’s going to be a struggle and I tell you, PDP will win the South-West.

It is Easy to Unseat Gov Fayemi- Barr. Kole Ajayi

Barrister Kole Ajayi is the candidate of the Accord Party in the coming gubernatorial election in Ekiti state, in this interview with Alarinka, he bares his mind on the political development in the state and how he intend to unseat  the incumbent Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi ; Excerpt

Question: What attracted you into politics? 

My inspiration into politics was borne out of the strong desire to emancipate our helpless masses in Ekiti from abject economic decimation inflicted on them by imported political merchants that have infiltrated the political terrain of the state. Also the effect of this has resulted into high level capital flight in view of the overbearing influence of economic godfatherism, hence, my strong desire to put in place a homebased government

Question: When precisely did your foray into politics start?

My foray into politics started since I was young. You know politics and partisan politics have levels. I have always been involved in the politics of my micro environment in Ekiti starting from the various associations I belong to, like being the President of Catholic Youth Association, in 1983, National President UNAD Alumni Association in year 2000, National PRO Ado-Ekiti Progressive Union. On the partisan level, I contested under Alliance for democracy in 2003 to the Ekiti State House of Assembly, in 2004, I was appointed to Ekiti State Government Advisory Council. As you can see, I have been involved in the politics of Ekiti at various levels decades ago.

Question: People are saying you don't have cognate experience. They say being a lawyer does not make you a good governor or public administrator. How do you react to that? 

Thank you very much for that question. I wish to say boldly that relatively since the inception of democracy in Ekiti, I am still the most politically experienced governorship candidate at entry point. Going through my profile, you will deduce that I have transcended the political terrain in terms of political and administrative experience. Hence, if you check the political profile of erstwhile and present governors you will know that relatively, I still have the best in terms of political experience at entry point.

Question: What have you done for the state to make them consider you the next governor of the state?

I think I have done a lot in terms of selfless services in Ekiti. I was the National Coordinator for Ekiti Progressive Forum (EPF) and the body organised Ekiti day in 2004 and 2005. The celebrations which were unprecedented in the anals of our history in Ekiti, witnessed the convergence of all our past governors; even from the Ondo State era gracing the occasion.

I was the National President of UNAD Alumni Association and my tenure influenced a lot of developments in the state university- like the Alumni building in the campus which is the first of its kind in any university in the country. I stand to be challenged. Also I was influential in the tarring of the first paved road in campus and was active in some other policy formulation throughout my stint on the Council.

As the publisher of the Forum Newspaper, my contributions to Ekiti in this aspect is unquantifiable in terms of information dissemination through balanced and unbiased reportage that Ekiti people have access to in tabloid, which is self-sustained for the past 13years of its existence.

As a former member of Ekiti State Government Advisory Council, I have contributed immensely to the development of Ekiti state generally which cannot be quantified.

In my immediate community, which is Ado-Ekiti, I have contributed in terms of being part of various developmental decisions as the National PRO. 

Question: Under which party are you contesting?

Am contesting under ACCORD which is the party that is guaranteeing the Ekitis their desire for a homebased government.

Question: Are you sure you could unseat the sitting governor? 

Yes, I am sure I will unseat him. With the scenario we have now in Ekiti, Fayemi is the cheapest and easiest to defeat because when Ekiti people say vehemently the game is up, no amount of muscling can change their minds.

Question: If yes, why are you sure that you can defeat the incumbent governor?

Am sure because Fayemi has economically and politically short changed Ekiti people and of course the level of poverty in the land is increasing day by day. He has put the state into perpetual indebtedness and Ekitis are eager to vote him out to prevent further or perpetual damage.

Question: Can you match Fayemi's achievements?

I don't know what you mean by achievements when the people are not getting any benefit, when programs of government are put in place to benefit his imported friends and godfathers. What is the rationale in taking #25 billion naira loan and the next thing is to build unnecessary government house, state pavilion, civic center, etc which are not beneficial to the economy of an average man.

Our government will focus directly on the welfare of an average Ekiti man. Most importantly, health, education, job creation through industrialization. We don't want to give details for now, in view of the fact that few of our programs we talked about were stolen by Fayemi; giving it as part of his last minute policy.

Question: What is your vision, programmes for the state? 

Our vision is very clear. Our government core values will be based on transparency, accountability, probity, public participation and sincerity of purpose. Our programs will strictly be welfarist in nature so that it will touch on the economic life of an average Ekiti man. We are still keeping details to our chest for reasons given above.

Question: How strong is your party and your personal structure?

Our party is very strong in Ekiti. We have people's sympathy because Accord is the only party that is preaching their homebased desire. Also, our party has a strong structure across the 177 wards in the state with our members visible in every household in Ekiti. Also, going through my profile, you can see that I am naturally structured.

Question: How will you finance the campaigns? Any sponsor?

Our campaigns will be financed by men of good will in our party.

Question: Do you believe in godfatherism?

No. I don't believe in godfatherism, because to me it is the bane of good governance. The economic problem we are facing now in Ekiti is as a result of overbearing influence of godfatherism and that is what we are preaching against in Accord.

OSUN NOMINATES AKINRINADE, OTHERS TO CONFAB

The Osun State government has announced the nomination of former Chief of General Staff during the military regime and an elder statesman, General Alani Akinrinade to represent the state at the forthcoming national conference.

Others nominated are; former speaker of the state House of Assembly, Professor Mojeed Alabi, former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Femi Akande, former commissioner for justice, Chief Gbadegesin Adedeji, Director General of Development Agenda for Western Nigerian Commission, Mr. Dipo Famakinwa and Mrs. Bola Ogunrinade.

A statement issued by the deputy governor, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, said people of the state are happy with the nomination.

CBN DISBURSES N3.3TRN ON SMES, AGRIC, OTHERS

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has, within the last four years, committed over N3.333 trillion to the nation’s power, agricultural, manufacturing sectors, according to statistics released in Lagos yesterday, by the acting governor of the apex bank, Dr Sarah Alade.

Alade who was speaking at the international conference of African Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (AFRACA) said the funds were overseen under various intervention schemes initiated by the bank towards improving access to finance by farmers and investors in the agro-business, adding that they were in recognition of the fact that access to finance is germane to the rapid development of agriculture value chain and economic growth in the country.
Represented by the Director of Research, Charles Mordi, the acting governor listed the intervention schemes as the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (ACGS), introduced in 1978, N200 billion Commercial Credit Scheme (CRS), Nigeria Incentive Base Risk Sharing Insurance for Agricultural Lending (NIBRSLAL), the N200 billion Small and Medium Enterprises Credit Guarantee Scheme (SMECGS), the N200 billion SME Restructuring and Refinancing Scheme (SMERRS) as well as N300 billion power NIIP intervention funds.
She said the agricultural credit guarantee fund was introduced in 1978 to encourage lending to agricultural sector, benefitted over 80,000 people.
In view of the critical roles played by power and transportation in the development of agriculture business in Africa, Alade said CBN introduced the energy intervention funds to provide low interest financing to stimulate private sector participation in the sector.
The  small and medium enterprises credit guarantee scheme, the acting governor said, was also introduced to provide 80 per cent credit guarantee to manufacturing SME sector in order to fast track development.

See what Sally Mbanefo, DG , NTDC , has done in six months

Sally Mbanefo, DG, NTDC: Six months after appointment
Written by Wale Ojo-Lanre Wednesday, 26 February 2014 00:00 Nigerian Tribune
WHEN, in April 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan announced the appointment of Mrs Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo, an accomplished banker and a top private sector player as the new Director-General , Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), the tourism stakeholders and practitioners were gripped by a cold.
The cold emanated from the fact that the erstwhile director general of the corporation, Chief Olusegun Runsewe, was not only perceived to be doing well by the template operating then, but he was in far away Dubai, UAE, doing what he knows best for Nigeria, coupled with the fact that he was just two years four months into his second term tenure of four years!
The image of Chief Runsewe, which loomed large over the sector with the impression of being the best performing director-general and the fact that the newly appointed Mrs Mbanefo was unknown in the tourism sector, readily prepared a negative mindset against her among the stakeholders and particularly the tourism media, over which the former director-general seemed to have wielded a lot of influence.
Mrs Mbanefo’s silence in the first eight weeks of her appointment did not help matters, as this seemed to have jelled with the growing fears that she could not make any impact not to talk about performing well and better than her predecessor in office.
Reinforcing this were some unfounded tales of missing money in the NTDC, this is an entity which her predecessor used to constantly hammered into the ears of the public that it suffered from paucity of fund, thereby making people to wonder where else could such a huge money come from within eight weeks of vacating a post which the new occupant is being alleged to have embezzled!
Mrs Mbanefo cruising on River BenueHowever, the tide of events changed exactly in the third month when Mrs Mbanefo called a stakeholders’ summit in Victoria Island, Lagos, an event she used her goodwill in the private sector to get sponsors for without any financial implication for the NTDC where she unfolded her plans, vision and action.
At the Tourism Stakeholder Summit held at the Events Centre, Kofo Abayomi , Victoria Island, with the theme: “Rebranding the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation,“ Mrs Mbanefo, leveraging on her experience in the private sector, opened up what was up her sleeves for the sector.
“Tourism is a serious business which must be approached with all sincerity of purpose, diligence of mind and optimal clarity for the betterment of the nation’s economy and not just for its glamour, noise and paparazzi intent I don’t want to play to the gallery as my mission, according to the President Goodluck Jonathan who appointed me, is to do all things humanly possible to link the sector with the mainstream of the economy, not by making noise on the pages of newspapers but by ensuring there is a strong connect between NTDC and the private sector.”
She revealed to the guests and tourism stakeholders that she had been silent for the past weeks because “For the sector to grow and align itself perfectly with the mainstream of the economy for the benefits of the stakeholders and practitioners, there should be a paradigm shift from the ways NTDC as an entity used to conduct business and interact with the private sector and this could only be done if the corporation itself is reinvented and restructured in line with contemporary dictates and demands . This is what I have been doing as the structure I met on ground cannot fasttrack the new template of the moment. Then, it was business as usual but now it is business unusual. As they say charity begins at home. I know the fact that driving a vision successfully is not a loner’s efforts but a collective endeavour of all in the corporation who must key into to the vision. But we thank God. We have repositioned NTDC and honed the work force thoroughly well to service the sector and your aspiration.”
With Staff at Ushafa Pottem Centre, AbujaShe revealed that “it is now a new NTDC where the staff are assured of future growth with a new well defined salary structure, conducive atmosphere, two staff buses to ease transportation in Lagos and Abuja offices.”
She declared: “I have to declare to all that I will use whatever time I have as the DG NTDC to grow Domestic Tourism. This is the fundamental and the bedrock for tourism to grow in this country. We must first of all appreciate, promote, harness and enhance the tourism gifts, blessing and opportunities which abound in Nigeria by ourselves before calling others to come and see.”
Mrs Mbanefo, in a sequential order, reeled out her vision of promoting domestic tourism as contained in her booklet with the theme “Rebuilding the NTDC and Growing the Tourism Value Chain for Revenue Generation and Job Creation.”
She efficiently encapsulated the totality of her vision on domestic tourism, hinging it on the three pillars, viz rebuilding the NTDC which she has done and is ongoing via retuning the staff and the environment for the business unusual : growing the tourism value chain, which she has been doing and which was demonstrated on that day when she signed MOU with five strategic partners, Heritage bank, Visa Incorporated, Arik Air, ABC transport and Reddington Hospital, on the day of the Summit in Lagos and Re – inventing the Tourism Sector which involved introducing programmes that change how value is created, marketed, delivered and financed.
Celebrating Mare in OndoAnd in the last six months, Mrs Mbanefo has been marking the turf in accordance to her programme and projection by distinguishing herself not as a noise maker but a doer who is not taking Nigerian for a ride through newspaper tourism propaganda and sloganeering.
Desirous of pulling her vision through, she had a breakfast meeting with the media in Lagos where she craved its indulgence in supporting her as “ Nigeria has more fascinating stories to tell . And no one can tell it better than the Nigerian journalists themselves.”
Mrs Mbanefo revealed that she would first of all take a trip to the six geo political zones to see, visit, authenticate and assess some notable tourism sites for development and enhancement.
She told the journalists: “I love our participation in tourism fairs and trademarks but I am assuring you that NTDC will not just participate in international shows and trade fairs just for the love of it but we will certainly attend those in which Nigeria has a lot to gain and benefit .
“We must be sure of what we are calling and inviting people to see. We ust be able to know, firsthand, what and what need to be done in making the sites presentable and worthwhile.”
To her, for domestic tourism to grow, all the strategic partners must be involved and wired into the vision, and in line with this, she also had a dialogue over breakfast with airline operators and travel agencies, where she sold her domestic tourism vision, canvassed their understanding and charged them to be patriotic in their operations. “As the nerve centre of the tourism sector, you have to redefine your strategy bearing in mind the development and promotion of domestic tourism. You are the ultimate beneficiaries of domestic tourism. The wellbeing of domestic tourism is the wellbeing of your cash in the bank. As domestic operations blossom, your coast of operation and cash flow.”
With Gani Adams in Ile-IfeLiving up to her words, she first of all ensured a proper rebuilding of the NTDC, laundered its work force and ensured a positive change of their mindset from business as usual to business unusual and she commenced her visit tothe six-geopolitical tourism zones.
According to her: “We cannot promote domestic tourism without ascertaining and having a heart-to-heart contact with the various sites we would be inviting foreigners to visit . This is an authentication trip which must be undertaken for authentication, certification and verification of facilities there in.”
Mrs Mbanefo, thus, tied her apron, revved her tour engine and commenced the tour of Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Taraba, Benue, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ondo, Osun, Ogun, Rivers, not only visiting the tourism sites in these states, but dialoguing with major stakeholders therein preaching to them the gospel according to domestic tourism. These peregrination have taken her to see the Mare Festival and Idanre Hills in Ondo, Tinapa in Cross Rivers, Oodua Festival in Ile Ife, the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba, 9999 Choristers in Akwa Ibom, Olumo Rock in Ogun State, first oil well site in Oloibiri, Bayelsa, the royal gate in Kaduna, the museum and other places in Lagos, and a lovely cruising on River Benue. All these were never ventured into by any of her predecessors within the space of time and logistic.
For instance, in the South-West, she did not only have a heart-to-heart discussion with Otunba Gani Adams, the cultural tourism ambassador of that region, in his office, but attended the Oodua Festival, held in Ile-Ife, where the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade not only specially applauded her passion and prayed for her, but commended her for being the first director-general of Tourism who knows what to do and doing it well.
At Port-HarcourtThe same episode played itself out when she was the special guest of honour at the launching of the Niger Delta Slave Route in Port-Harcourt, an event put together by the Centre for Peace Tourism Arts and Culture, CEPTAC, where the President of the centre, Chief Mike Amachree, described her as “ the light in the dark tunnels of tourism.”
Her carriage and exhibition of a firm grasp of the tourism industry, and what the sector needed to grow, have endeared her to major economic and professional groups in Nigeria which have either invited and dignified her as a speaker or special guest of honour at events and ceremonies.
And in any of these, Mrs Mbanefo has given a very good account of herself and utilised the opportunities to tell the audience why domestic tourism should be it .
Mrs Mbanefo, a Barrister-at-Law and a hard core player in the private sector, displayed her intelligence and understanding of the tourism sector as a speaker at an event organised by the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Lagos, last year, where she was given a standing ovation after her delivery.
She impressed the gathering of Nigerian economic players so well that Chief Goodie Ibru, the then president who was a former president, Federation of Tourism Association in Nigeria, FTAN, described her as an “ asset not only to the sector but to the nation.”
The management and staff of City People Magazine could not hide their feeling after she honoured their invitation and delivered a paper on: “Fashion and Tourism.’’ They acknowledged her sound mind, solid understanding of the sector and her agrarian passion at promoting domestic tourism.
Mrs Mbanefo has also built bridges of constructive engagement with the Federal Road Safety Commission, the Central Bank, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Football Federation , Nigeria Turkish Chambers of Commerce and Industry and other sectoral organs whose business cuts cross the tourism sector .
Even the football fans in Nigeria commended the NTDC for being the only Federal Government parastatal which welcomed the Golden Eaglets with a ceremony at the Nnamidi Azikwe International Airport last year after their victory.
Her foreign engagements have also been gauged within the location of necessity and not formality, as promised.
It is on record that she did not only perform well at her first foreign engagement, the World Travel Market, WTM, London, held in November last year, but her organisational ability and conduct impressed the Nigeria High Commissioner, Dr Talatu Tafida, who participated at the fair for the first time, in praising her: “I must commend the director-general for her robust sense of duty and responsibility by inviting Nigerians who live here to participate at this market. This is the first time I am being formally invited.
This is a break from the past behaviour of your predecessor when I will just be informed that Nigeria was here. This is commendable. Kindly keep it up.”
Though, Nigeria was unable to participate at the FITUR Spain, Mrs Mbanefo said: “Like I have said, many times, our participation in the foreign travel market will be determined by first, the inherent benefit of such a show and priority on available fund. You see, at WTM, London, Nigeria was able to sign fruitful MOUs and we are talking with the World Bank officials we met there on funding of certain projects.
We are desirous of ITB Berlin because we are in contact with some agencies and countries who are eager to talk business with us.”
The six months or half year performance of Mrs sally Mbanefo has succinctly told all that you don’t judge a woman with her looks or appearance but rather with what she has to offer and the way and manner she goes about it. This lady has confirmed that she has a vision for the sector. She has affirmed that she can drive the vision .
She has continued displaying that it is all about physical beauty alone but about beauty of brain , guts and patriotic zealotry to deliver beyond the expectation of the cynics.
According to Mr Ayo Olumoko, CEO, IFOGEM: “The director-general has been sequentially implementing her programmes and being religious about driving domestic tourism. I have watched her at close quarters, particularly how she packaged Nigeria’s participation at the WTM. I have also been following her travel all over Nigeria, preaching her gospel of domestic tourism.
I have also been impressed by her strident efforts at carrying stakeholders along and informed. These are pointers to the fact that she will perform well in the subsequent months or years provided there is the right political backing and will.” — with Tayo Adelaja and 33 others.

Ondo state government announces death of Speaker

The  Ondo State Government has announced the death of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Adesina Samuel Ajayi, representingOdigbo Constituency 11.


Dr. Rotimi Adelola, the Secretary to the State Government in a statement, said the death occurred in the course of a protracted battle with Cancer of the Urinary Bladder.
The late speaker during his life time, the statement said,was a bridge builder, a man of integrity and a reliable team player who placed the interest of the state above personal consideration.


"The Ondo state government received the news of the death of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Adesina Samuel Ajayi with disbelief but in total submission to the will of God. All hopes were that the late Speaker will pull through his health challenge which has seen him taking time off official function for
some time. That death took him at this time can be no less of a shock to the government and people of the State, as the prayers of all was for full recovery," Adelola said.


The statement added that the Government commiserates with the immediate family of the late Speaker, his colleagues in the state legislature, members of his constituency in Odigbo Local Government Area of the State and indeed the entire people of the state on the sad loss.


"We mourn his passage and can only pray for fortitude and strength
from above to bear this irreparable loss," the statement added

Fayemi names Fasuan leader of Ekiti delegation to National Conference

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has forwarded to President Goodluck Jonathan a list of the state’s nominees to the National Conference.

The list was contained in a letter addressed to President Jonathan and dated February 19th, 2014.

The Ekiti delegation include: International Law expert, Prof Akin Oyebode; Prof (Mrs) Bisi Aina; Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rev’d Felix Ajakaye ; elder statesman and chairman of defunct Movement for Ekiti State Creation, Chief Oladeji Fasuan ; Secretary, Yoruba Unity Group, Dr Kunle Olajide and Chairman, Ekiti State Council of traditional rulers, HRM, Oba Idowu Adamo Babalola.

According to the Governor’s letter, which was routed through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Prof Oyebode, Prof Aina and Bishop Ajakaye are to represent Ekiti North, Ekiti Central and Ekiti South senatorial districts respectively.

Chief Fasuan, who leads the Ekiti delegation is a nominee for the Elder Statesman slot.

Dr Olajide and Oba Adamo Babalola are the state’s representatives for the two slots allocated to Ekiti out of the 15 slots to represent Ethnic Nationalities/ Groups in the zone.

Olayinka Oyebode

Stupid ! Stupid !! Stupid late Sir abubakar Tafawa Balewa .........?

Was the late Sir Abubakar Tafawa balewa not stupid ?

Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa ( then Prime Minister of Nigeria ) Sitting On Bare Floor Sharing Sugarcane With His Children
It was reported that Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa went on his only annual leave as Prime Minister of Nigeria in 1963 and decided to spend the vacation in his village. A British photo journalist came calling and was told the PM was on vacation. "To which country?" he asked, but was shocked to hear it was to his village. On getting to his village, there was no evidence to show that a BIG MAN was there. Everybody was busy with their chores. He met a farmer with his donkey carrying bales of sugarcane for the PM's home and he was shocked when the farmer said " I just left him a while ago. You will see him sitting on bare floor with his kids drinking the sugarcane I gave them".
He met them like that and took this photograph. What an epitome of SIMPLICITY and HUMILITY! The true Founding fathers of Great Nigeria' ( culled from Tunde Akinlade )
But Now !
But now , yes then , it was nobility , intelligence ,education , programme ,pedigree and resourcefulness that won elections but now olowolayemo , it is one that dictates who wins an election no matter your level of criminality , jut bribe the judges , get a legal clean shave , throw up some bales of money and you are there . You can even win an election from the prison or while being tried . This is an era if when you are a fool if you gain a political appointment and cannot within a year , a month and a day build another house , buy another car or change the school of your children from Usi High School where they are to one of the best private secondary school in Ijesha or Offa .
Where you need a quantum load of money before you can be able to express your interest on just at the party level for a political post .when election is about how much you can offer not your bright ideas !
Yet we all desire a sane society !

I started the campaign to terminate the concession contract of Lagos - Ibadan Expressway in 2011 !

Alarinka Agbaye Travel & Tourism

31 minutes ago

I started the  campaign to terminate the concession  contract  of  Lagos - Ibadan Expressway in 2011 !
Why FG should terminate Lagos-Ibadan expressway contract
Written by Wale Ojo Lanre
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Nigerian Tribune

The Federal Government should not hesitate to terminate the Lagos-Ibadan expressway concession contract awarded to Bi-Courtney Consortium on April 15,2009 in Abuja, if the consortium refuses to change its non challant attitude to this vital national engagement

Nigerians are not happy with the company's unimpressive efforts in executing a contract which it fought tooth and nail to win after a rigorous bidding session.

When the Lagos-Ibadan expressway concessioning contract was announced to Nigerians by the former Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on April 15, 2009 in Abuja, that the concessionaire would reconstruct and modernise the highway and recoup its investment through toll collection, and that the FEC had approved the concession at the cost of N89.53 billion with a concession period of 25 years under a Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) scheme, Nigerians jumped up and shouted Halleluyah!.

And when Professor Akunyili went further to reveal that the scope of work to be undertaken by the firm on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, include the full reconstruction of the existing carriageways, construction of additional lanes to the four-lane carriageway and provision of associated facilities for the security and welfare of the road users, which include electronic traffic control and enforcement measures; highway lighting between 7:00 pm and 6:00 am through the installation of a gas-fire plant; overhead pedestrian bridges on designated locations; modern toll points with electronic tolling system; modern road signs and lane markings commuters and frequent users of the road prayed for the Federal Government.

And also, the then Minister of Information informed the nation that "The investor's cost and return on investment will be recovered via tolls subject to regulatory guidance from the Federal Government and other charges on road support service such as trailer parks and rest areas. To ensure that the highway is in good condition throughout the concession period, routine and periodic maintenance will be carried out at a minimum level of service under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Works, Housing and Urban Development."

Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief saying that, one; their nightmares on this road would soon be a thing of the past, two; that the funding will not be subjected to the cumbersome administrative budgetary processes and thirdly, they were particularly happy that Bi-Courtney, a company which had a credible performance in BOTas exemplified by its handling of the MM2, had won the contract.

Raising the hope of Nigerians over the road was a testimony of assurance given to the nation by Dr Wale Babalakin, the chairman and CEO of the Bi-Courtney Consortium, when the road was formally handed over to him by the then Minister of Works, Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Hasan Muhammed Lawal, on Thursday September 3, 2009 at the Lagos Old Toll Gate, where the management of the firm promised to commence work on the road in January 2010.

His words: "We acknowledge that this, being the primary link between Lagos, Nigeria's main ports and the rest of Nigeria, is a road of serious economic and social importance to Nigerians. We are mindful, therefore, of potential inconveniences that the reconstruction, expansion and modernisation can cause to Nigerians.

"Our work plans have been phased in such a manner as to significantly reduce the stress encountered on the highway. We will begin with ameliorative works to restore the road to a semblance of its early 1980s image before the commencement of reconstruction and expansion work. More importantly, we seek the indulgence of the governors of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states for the speedy allocation of suitable locations for ancillary activities, including that of truck parks, which will enhance the enjoyment of the highway by Nigerians.

"We promise to carry out the required works as speedily as possible and above all, with minimal disruptions to traffic flow. We require the cooperation of all Nigerians, especially users of the highway."

The Minister of Works, however, urged the concessionaire to upgrade the road to an 'international expressway standard under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.

Also, the Executive Director of the company, Dr Niyi Odunlami, told newsmen shortly after that, in the next four months, the company would engage in the construction of parks where trucks and trailers would be provided accommodation.

He also said that the road would be completed within 36 months. The 25-year concession period, he said, would begin from the day the company starts revenue collection on the road.

The then deputy governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja, the officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states, Mr Jonas Agwu, Mr Kayode Olagunju and Mr David Mendie, respectively, were in attendance. Representatives of the Lagos State government, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) were among the guests at the event.

However, that was where the beauty stopped, as the company did not carry out any meaningful work on the road after 20 months.

In fact, the company has further compounded the traffic chaos on the road by closing some parts of the expressway and diverting traffic one way.

Nigerians plying the road on a daily basis have continued to complain of untold hardships on the road.

Roadwatch urges the Federal Government to help Nigeria and Nigerians who suffer daily on the road to give this company an ultimatum on the road or terminate the contract and award it to another company willing, capable and competent to do the job as expected.