El-Zakzaky: Iran, Saudi Arabia May Lock Horns

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August 29, 2019

By Uche Mbah

It is gradually becoming apparent that the Islamic Movement Of Nigeria, IMN saga has much to do with the rift between two different Islamic groups, the Sunni and the Shiites, with Saudi Arabia and Iran separately backing both parties respectively, making the IMN leader Ibrahim El Zakzaky an anchor point in the struggle for supremacy between the two groups in Nigeria.

IMN has gone to court to challenge the incarceration of El Zakzaky, but the government, in a counter affidavit, has submitted that the IMN has an ultimate goal of Islamizing Nigeria with the backing of Iran. They allege that Iran was the power behind the antics of the Shiite Leader, and that the Iranian government wants a repeat of the 1979 Iranian revolution that brought Ayotolla Komeini to power, thereby making Iran a Shiite Islamic state.

This Magazine can confirm that the Shiite group has nicknamed El Zakzaky the Ayotlla of Nigeria.

Besides that, the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal government, which is largely made up of Sunni officials, are allegedly not favorably disposed towards the IMN.

Recall that the Maitasine, which was a Shiite splinter group, raised its head once under the presidency of Shehu Shagari, and General Muhammadu Buhari was the general that pursued the group right into Chad regardless of the fact that it was encroaching into another sovereign country.

Iran was said to have been making public pronouncements on the El Zackzaky issue, calling for his release. Recently, a senior official of Saudi Government was reported to have said that the best thing Nigerian government has done was to deal with El Zakzaky the way he is being dealt with.

Nigeria is thus unwittingly the battlefield between the two Islamic nations.

In 1979, Ayotolla Khomeini engineered an Islamic Uprising in Iran to overthrow the government of Mohammed Pahlavi, the Sha of iran, when he was vacationing in Austria. Since then, Iran has been the center of the Shiite group as a foremost group that wants to export their brand of Islam all over the world.

Rochas Okorocha – Between Tantrums And Hyperbole

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The Source

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August 28, 2019

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By Nick Opara-Ndudu

It was indeed a very sorry spectacle! Watching a video clip of the immediate past Imo state governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, during a recent visit to Owerri was a most nauseating experience. If any outing qualified as truly despicable and unstatesmanly, it was watching the former governor make inciting remarks about the new administration capable of fanning the embers of hatred and disharmony amongst Imo people.

To the former governor, what made sense to him was a resort to jungle Justice to counter the Ihedioha administration in their efforts to recover looted public property. The former governor also wanted to gain some media mileage by putting out the false narrative that he still had overwhelming support in the state. Nothing could be further from the truth!

For a start, I do know that most of those involved were ferried into Owerri from different parts of the state with the sole aim of creating the impression that Rochas Okorocha still retained some modicum of popularity amongst imo citizens and residents. That is certainly a false narrative if the real mood of the people were to be gauged. What is Rochas Okorocha’s legacy that would account for any real followership?

From an educational system characterised by declining standards in the past eight years to a health sector that has no single hospital or health center in a functional state, alongside the so-called ”27 general hospitals” not completed and long taken over by weeds, Okorocha’s legacy would remain questionable. With pensioners whose entitlements remain in arrears for over sixty months to a state now ingloriously redefined as home to the worst network of roads in the south east, what we see all over is bad governance writ large.

Are we to mention the Owerri capital territory which has been taken over by flooding with the city severely challenged in all facets of service delivery- a direct consequence of an ill-advised and thoroughly misguided “urban renewal” program that has seen the complete destruction of the world class drainage infrastructure delivered between the Ndubisi kanu and Dee Sam Mbakwe era in the state.

From the uncompleted “305 schools in the 305 wards of the state” and badly constructed buildings to poorly built flyovers across Owerri already caving in and, perhaps, racing ferociously towards fulfilling their purpose as death traps, what can one really say is the redeeming feature of Rochas Okorocha’s stewardship in Imo state? The jury is still out.

In the eight years of Okorocha’s stewardship, there was no single road that was constructed that lasted beyond six months without yielding to cracks and potholes. Such roads were neither designed nor supervised by competent firms, just as the state’s Ministry of Works was completely left out of the procurement process.

What Imo state witnessed in the course of his misguided rule was a proclivity for fantasies in the conception and execution of projects. In practically all situations, Rochas Okorocha and his cronies were the de facto consultants, supervisors and awardees of most significant contracts in the state. The consequence of the misadventure which his regime has come to represent, was the unfortunate transformation of imo state into a wasteland of human and physical assets.

Presiding over a state in which he held sway as an emperor, almost all known rules of engagement in the discharge of the functions of his office were observed in the breach. From the absence of due process across the entire spectrum of the state’s procurement system to the near-total emasculation of the bureaucracy, another defining feature of Rochas Okorocha’s era was the elevation of impunity in the manner state resources and assets were dealt with. It was a better- forgotten administration whose eight years in the saddle amounted to a signpost of bad governance which most imolites and the general public would always remember.

With an approach to governance and an attitude considered repulsive, Rochas Okorocha chased away most imo citizens and Professionals of repute and standing thus depriving the state of the invaluable contributions of such Patriots to the development of their state. His era was a nightmare better forgotten. His allusion to the appointment of Prof Viola Onwuliri, former minister of Education,as the state’s commissioner for Education, clearly underscores Rochas Okorocha’s repulsion for intellectuals and Professionals that abound in the state. It also explains why,for the period he was governor, most of his appointees were not fit to occupy such positions. In most of the local government areas, a good number of these persons would not make the mark if competence and experience were the yardsticks for consideration to occupy such positions.

To Rochas Okorocha, anyone including his driver,cook or steward, could be appointed to any position even if they lacked the credentials. What counted was a psychophantic allegiance to his dysfunctional ways regardless of what toll it took on our common purpose and collective interest. Given where Rochas Okorocha left Imo state, he should realize that imo state would require the sacrificial intervention of her technocrats and Professionals to retrieve the state from the abyss of his maladministration.

It is in recognition of these challenges, that professionals and technocrats like Prof Onwuliri are volunteering their services in different areas to help the state clear the rot created by Rochas Okorocha. Sadly, he is incapable of appreciating the paradigm shift given that he is very uncomfortable in the company of such intellectuals and Professionals.

Luckily Governor Emeka Ihedioha cuts a totally different image and approach, opening up his government to the contributions of imolites with solid records of achievement. If he continues along this trajectory, it would be a welcome departure from an era characterised largely by the engagement of all manner of characters and phoney intellectuals.

As a master of deception, Imo citizens would always remember Rochas Okorocha as one who was adept at manipulating our poor citizens and casting himself in the mould of their liberator and benefactor. With what is now emerging as the unbridled and wanton looting of state resources, have we forgotten Rochas Okorocha’s imo anthem and the stanza where unsuspecting citizens were made to sing and believe that “corruption must stop?” With Okorocha’s imo anthem and its despicable pretensions to noble ideals,you need not look further to for a testament to a deceptive personality.

As the Ihedioha agenda continues to unfold,we all need to watch the antics of Rochas Okorocha. He is a perfect theatrician who craves attention with a huge capacity for tantrums. Imolites and Nigerians in general would find that he would generate distractions consistently with the intention of having the new government dissipate it’s energy on needless controversies. That is the essential Rochas Okorocha and he revels in such Milieu. His foot soldiers and media people would seek to engage the rest of us in an unending battle for visibility and relevance. Therefore,

Governor Ihedioha’s media team would need to devise the appropriate strategy to engage Rochas and counter the adversarial narratives that he would disseminate from time to time. And as far as possible, Governor Ihedioha must be left out of this to enable him concentrate on issues of governance which Chief Rochas Okorocha would rather wish were left unattended to. Coming from Rochas Okorocha, it would be all tantrums and hyperbole, and he has the resources to sustain such a campaign.

But beyond all of this, I am aware that a majority of imo people are determined to turn the corner and move on to a new and better future. They crave the return of the glorious past when imo was an outstanding state, defined by distinction in numerous fields of human endeavour.

That also explains why, for instance, a distinguished son of the state, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, would accept the responsibility of leading the vanguard of those citizens who seek a return of the state as the cleanest in Nigeria, and it’s capital the most beautiful amongst its peers. What drives such individuals are not the spoils and perks of Office but a commitment to restoring our dear state to its glorious past. Expectedly, characters that do not appreciate the essence of sacrificial service would see it from another perspective. So we should not be discouraged as Rochas Okorocha tried to do in his inglorious outing in Owerri.

As we move forward with the right leadership which has so far been provided by Rt.Hon Emeka Ihedioha, we shall take our state back from the forces of retrogression that have undermined our collective progress in the past eight years. And in the end, tantrums and hyperbole would pale into insignificance to the eternal chagrin of the likes of former Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Read This:
Imo Orders Okorocha’s Arrest

Nick Opara-Ndudu, a chartered Accountant and former banker,was at various times Chief Economic Adviser to IMSG and Honourable commissioner. He currently serves as the Secretary of the Imo State Financial Advisory Committee.

Lagos May Send Ambode To Jail

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The Source

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August 28, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

For the immediate past governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode things just go from bad to worse everyday. He is being pummelled from left, right and centre.

A few days after Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, raided both his Ikoyi and Epe homes, the Hon. Mudashiru Obasa led Lagos State House Of Assembly has began instituted a panel to probe him.

The All Progressive Congress, APC, dominated Assembly, is probing the purchase of 820 buses by the Ambode Administration.

The lawmaker representing Eti-Osa 2 constituency, Gbolahan Yishawu, informed the House that at an executive and legislative parley held at Golden Tulip in Festac Town, Lagos, two years ago, Ambode informed the kawmajees that 5,000 buses would be purchased by the State Government to ease Lagosians’ stress in terms of transportation.

Yishawu added that N17 billion was proposed for the purchase of the buses by the executive, but was not approved by the assembly.

He, however, stressed that only 820 buses are there for people to see as against the 5,000 Ambode promised to purchase.

Yishawu said the House is worried that in the 2018 and 2019 budgets, the state government proposed N24 billion and N7 billion respectively, but these were not approved. He disclosed that the rest of the buses were still awaiting clearance at the bonded warehouse at the Ports. He emphasised that they were purchased with taxpayers’ money without approval.

He asked the House to investigate the purchase of the buses and other issues surrounding it.

“The state government requested waivers for the importation of the buses and it was not granted. The value of the buses were overrated. Some of the buses are still in the ports and they are attracting demurrage.

“N45 billion would be spent on the total purchase of the buses and we need to prevent such an occurrence in the future”, he said.

Obasa in his response said: “The vehicles are in the ports and they have been there for almost a year. The state will continue to suffer if we allow the buses to stay in the ports.

“We should be the regulators of transporters, the state should not operate the buses. The situation should be addressed. We should get the buses to the roads and save the state from further waste.”

Obasa then set up a committee headed by Fatal Mojeed, representing Ibeju Lekki 1, to look into the matter and report to the house.

The speaker directed the committee to invite the Accountant-General of the state, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, and those involved in the purchase for a full investigation so that everybody would know and appreciate the circumstances surrounding the purchase of the buses.

Nigeria Finishes El-Zakzaky; Robs Him Of Sympathy

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The Source

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August 28, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

The Federal Government of Nigeria, on Wednesday, in Abuja, literally finished the Leader of the Shiite Muslims in Nigeria, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

The Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, which the Cleric also leads, had gone to court to over-turn a court judgement which proscribed it. The case was filed on IMN’s behalf by Femi Falana, SAN.

But in a counter- affidavit, the Federal Government literally threw the bomb.

In a revelation that is bound to shock most Nigerians, especially, Christians, the FG said that El-Zakzaky has a sole aim, which is to turn Nigeria into an Islamic State. It also added a diplomatic bent to it.

El-Zakzaky, the FG alleged, has the full support of Iran to Islamize Nigeria.

This revelation has a couple of implications. One, it is bound to rob the Islamic Cleric of the sympathy of Christians, most of whom are in the forefront of fighting for his release from detention, on bail, as granted by, at least, two courts.

Two, it is good public relations for the President Muhammadu Buhari administration which most Christians, allege, plans to Islamize Nigeria. It stands to reason that, if the FG is alleging this against the IMN, then the Buhari regime has no such plans.

Three, if it is true, then, time may come when the IMN could decide to work with ISIS and Boko Haram, both of which sole aim is also to Islamize Nigeria.

Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed September 11 to hear the substantive case.

A Court had, on July 26, proscribed the IMN.

It would be recalled that El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, have been in the custody of the DSS since 2015, a consequence of IMN members’ clash with the Army.

At the time, Iran had officially protested what it called a persecution of the Shiite Muslims in Nigeria whose leader, El-Zakzaky is.

The FG had refused to obey bail orders given by the courts, until a few weeks ago when a Kaduna High Court granted the couple a medical bail to India.

But El-Zakzaky and his wife were returned to Nigeria from India within 96 hours by the FG which alleged that the couple had not only become nuisances in India, but had breached all the bail conditions.

The couple denied the allegations, insisting that the FG had connived with the Indian government to treat them like criminals at the Indian hospital.

The allegation of El-Zakzaky’s plan to Islamize Nigeria, with the support of Iran, adds a new twist to the already messy situation.

Court Refuses to Hear Sowore’s Application Contesting His Detention

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Uche Mbah

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August 28, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has refused to hear the application filed by Femi Falana, Counsel to Omoyele Sowore, Publisher of Sahara Reporters ans convener of RevolutionNow protest, sayi ng it ia already being handled by a court of coordinate Jurisdiction.

According to the presiding judge, Justice Evelyn Maha, the case is already before Justice Taiwo Taiwo, and her entertaining it will amount to reviewing the order of a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

Recall that Justice Taiwo Taiwo had ordered the detention of Sowore for 45 days in the first instant to enable the Directorate of State Services, DSS, to investigate their allegations of treason. The DSS had asked for 90 days.

Sowore had challenged the use of the DSS in his detention, claiming that the DSS was not listed as one of the agencies that can detain him as stipulated by section 40 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, as amended.

“Although we are not unaware that the Department of State Service (DSS) is listed in Section 40 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, we submit that the DSS is not a juristic person having not been created by any Act of the National Assembly,” Falana wrote in the suit he filed on behalf of Sowore.

The World: Fire, Fire, Everywhere

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Uche Mbah

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August 28, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

During the recently concluded G7 meeting in Paris, world leaders rose to the conclusion that the global climatic change is happening faster than predicted by even the most pessimistic scientists. Though the president of the United States, Donald Trump, maintained stoic opposition to affirmative action against climate change in favor of corporate greed, the Amazon fires dominated the discussion, even with conspiracy theorist insisting that it has an apocalyptic outlook.

The Amazon fires are said to be massive, both in its land mass and political implications. Already the G7 has decided on financial help for the affected Latin American countries, which was flatly rejected by Brazil. On second thoughts, Brazil made a U-turn, with the proviso that they ought to be allowed to determine how the funds must be utilized.

While the world is facing Brazil due to its obvious strategic impact-the smoke has all but shut out the sun and the carbon emission is becoming out of this world-it is only a small part of what is being experienced worldwide, as virtually every continent-and country for that matter-is insulated from the covetous glare of Vulcan. Angola, Congo, Spain, Greece, Alaska, and Siberia, and other countries besides, are all reeling under the heavy burden of fire, some even more devastating than the Amazon. Surprisingly, turgid areas like the arctic region is taking the lead, with over a hundred fires reported in the region. “Unprecedented #wildfires in #Arctic. Over past 6 weeks @CopernicusEU #Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) has tracked more than 100 intense fires in the Arctic Circle. In June alone, these fires emitted 50 megatonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere = Sweden’s total annual emissions”, the World Meteorological Organisation, WMO, twitted, using the handle @WMO. In recent times, over 21,000square miles of forests have been devastated by fire. The fires have no boundaries: the Greek island of Evia, Alaska, Greenland, Spain’s Canary Islands (9,000 people were forced to evacuate). Spanish gran Canaria lost 46,000 square miles this year alone.

The biggest fires in the world, however, are in Angola.

These fires have been turned into political weapons by the world elite, and there appears to be little chance that anything could really be done, except for some platitudes.

It becomes worrisome, however, when juxtaposed to the incessant flooding that is currently ravaging Asia and other countries. Though these things are of annual occurrence-as recently experienced here in Adamawa, Nigeria- the exponential rate of increase is rather alarming. This, compounded by reversal of weather-the surprising cold bouts in the tropics and tropical hot temperatures in the temperate zones which, juxtaposed with the melting of icecaps, are bringing home uncomfortable thoughts of human extinction. And the corporate world go dancing on their own graves blinded by greed and lack of love.

Re: Imo: 90 days of nothingness

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The Source

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August 28, 2019

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By Remmy Mbagwu

I read the above-titled article by Kenneth Uwadi with relish. It made quite interesting reading for the singular reason that Uwadi appears like a budding prose stylist. I must commend him for his nimble way with words.

But style without substance is hollow; it’s like a well-dressed beautiful damsel who’s lacking in gumption. Style that is lacking in depth is actually dangerous and must be eschewed.

Let me quickly puncture Uwadi’s lazily and languid lies in his “9o days of nothingness” before I graciously offer him a brief tutorial on the need for acuity and delicate balancing in public affairs commentary. Of course, the entire article suggests that Governor Emeka Ihedioha has done nothing in 90 days of his tenure. A howling fallacy.

First, Uwadi stated categorically that he didn’t support Emeka Ihedioha during the governorship election. His entire narrative also suggests he didn’t support Ihedioha in 2015 as well. This explains an unveil animus. It will be interesting to know who Uwadi supported in that crowded field of popinjays and pygmalions. Ihedioha stood like a giant in that crowd as reasonable people can see.

If Uwadi tells me the guber candidate he supported, I will immediately profile the poor character he is made of.

Prose dressed in lies and half-truths remain naked. Uwadi states that the results of the election bear no relationship with the reality of the peoples votes…

It is either that he is not an Imo man or he is induced to write fiction by the losers. Every Imo person will testify that soon as the result of the last guber election was announced the entire Imo erupted in utter joy and there was celebration through the night. Uwadi tries to dress his lies in a large babanriga; Emeka Ihedioha was clearly the choice of Imo people both in 2015 and 2019.

Uwadi talks glibly about 90 days of nothingness, of lies and blame game and unpaid pension, on and on.

I wager that Uwadi is either starkly uninformed about activities of Governor Ihedioha since May 29th or he is too compromised by his paymasters to be able to think properly; or both.

But quickly, for the benefit of Uwadi and his uncaliberated cohorts, Owerri, nay, Imo is much cleaner. For 90 days, Ihedioha’s ENTRACO has been clearing an 8-year-old heritage of garbage left by Okorocha. Drains, channels and waterways silted for 8 years are being opened. Taps in Owerri are runnig again as otamiri Water Scheme has been fixed; a roguish pension regime bequeath Imo people by Okorocha is almost turned around; workers salaries jumbled for 8-years has been carefully sorted out and normalized.

The Dan Anyiam and Grasshoppers Stadia are being refurbished after complete decay under Rochas… the list of quality achievements is too long for this short rejoinder.

But the most cynical lies by Uwadi which gives him away as a paid-pen is the claim that Governor Ihedioha is rebuilding his personal homes as well as building a hotel in 90 days. The truth is that expansion of his Owerri home and the hotel project had been going on long before the 2019 election. Would a man stop his personal projects just because he won an election?

Finally, public commentary is a serious and indeed sacred trade; albeit the craft is peopled by wayfarers and charlatans not unlike Uwadi. Many today actually make a living purveying falsehood, blatant lies and paid-for-propaganda in the guise of public opinion. Again, not unlike Uwadi.

It is perverse; a dehumanizing evil, to use Uwadi’s terms. But in this case, a purveyor of deliberate falsehood dehumanizes himself more than the public he seeks to deceive.

*Remmy Mbargwu writes from Mbaitoli, Imo State

Buhari Not Invited To G7 Summit-Adesina

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Uche Mbah

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August 28, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

The Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media, Femi Adesina, has stated that Buhari was not at the G7 summit because he was not invited, not being a member of the group. Adesina said this in apparent reaction to critics who faulted the idea of Buhari traveling to Japan instead of Paris.

The G7 meeting, a meeting of the seven world leading countries, usually invite other countries as observers during the conference. This year, some other African countries-like, for example, Rwanda-were invited. Previously, judging by Nigeria’s strategic position in Africa, it was almost certainly a given that Nigeria will invited. This year, according to Adesina, Nigeria was not invited.

Buhari, however, is currently in Japan for a conference amid protests by the Independent people of Biafra, a Biafran separatist group. The Japanese Prime Minister, who is his host, is away to the G7 summit, leaving Buhari to be received by a Junior Minister, according to reports. Buhari chose to be in Japan four days before the commencement of the conference, a situation that critics latched on to accuse him of not having anything to do in his country, having directed Ministers to deal with his Chief of Staff instead of him. This has made the office of the Vice President look redundant.

But Adesina tried to downplay the issues, dismissing the Indigenous People of Biafra threat as a non issue. Below is his statement, made available to The Source.

SOME CONCERNS AND CLARIFICATIONS

By Femi Adesina

Day two in Japan, and it was mainly for exhaling, catching our breath, receiving briefings and preparing for the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 7), which holds from August 28-31.

The program outline is rich, and holds much for Africa in different spheres like deepening sustainable and resilient society, building peace and stability, agriculture, climate change and disaster risk reduction, human resource development, education, blue economy, and many others.

From concerns and comments on the social media, one is compelled to make some clarifications. No, not in response to futile efforts by some shadowy group to convince Nigerians that their President was not in Japan, or that they were going to molest him. That does not really deserve any answer. To those who believe, no explanation is necessary, while to the cynics and septics, no explanation is possible. We leave them in their follies.

The first concern somebody raised was why President Buhari was in Japan, when the G7 was meeting in France. Funny, but let’s educate those who are of such minds. Is Nigeria part of G7? No. So, no Nigerian leader, or leader of any non-member country, can gatecrash into the meeting of the association. You need to be invited.

Recall that in 2015, about a week after his inauguration, the first trip President Buhari made outside Africa was to attend the G7 meeting in Germany. He had been invited to brief the association on the security challenges in Nigeria, so that helping hand could be offered.

You don’t stroll into G7 meeting, if you are not a member country. You gotta be invited.

Somebody also said the Nigerian President was in Japan, when his host, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was in France, saying it didn’t show seriousness. Really? TICAD 7 starts Wednesday. The Nigerian leader arrived here Monday. When else should he have come? The journey from Abuja to Japan is 17 hours. Do you do that by hop, step and jump? Or you use what the Yoruba call ‘Kanako,’ in which you just stamp your foot on the ground, and you find yourself where you want to go, in a jiffy? Some people must just criticize, for the very fun of it.

And then, another person said all the African leaders congregating in Japan for an African conference were stupid, because they should have insisted that the conference hold in Africa. When I read the comment, the Scripture verse that came to my mind was, “Why do the heathens rage, and the people imagine vain things?”

It has been said many times in our statements and press releases that TICAD started in 1993, as an event of every five years in Tokyo, till the format was changed to every three years, to rotate between Tokyo and Africa. TICAD 6 thus held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2016. So, why are some people still wailing? China holds Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). It rotates between Africa and Beijing. Since it started in year 2000 as a triennial affair, Ethiopia, Egypt, and South Africa have hosted it. As well as Beijing. That is the structure that is also emerging for TICAD. But some people simply refuse to get informed.

Apart from Japan, other co-organizers of TICAD 7 are the UN, World Bank, UNDP, and African Union Commission. Participants include African countries, international organizations, development partners, private companies, civil society, and others. For instance, Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr Tony Elumelu, is billed to give a keynote address.

Somebody else wailed online: it’s just a talk-shop. Africa and Nigeria gain nothing at the end of the day. Japan just wants to milk the continent, and improve her own economy.

Really?

Since 1993, when TICAD started, Africa has received numerous grants and technical assistance. In the first five years, Japan built 1,321 elementary and middle schools, improved 4,778 healthcare and medical facilities, and provided safe water to additional 10.79 million people.

For Nigeria specifically, Japan has provided counterterrorism measures and humanitarian assistance, particularly for internally displaced persons. The help is worth its weight in gold.

Keep a date, as the conference opens Wednesday

Aregbesola Gets Mandate Group’s Nod To Succeed In New Role

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The Source

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August 27, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

Newly appointed Minister for Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has received the nod of the Mandate Group to succeed in his new role.

The Mandate Group said it is optimistic that the former governor of the State of Osun will perform brilliantly in the Ministry and take it to its desired pinnacle.

The Group known for its role in the exit of former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, from the saddle and the enthronement of Babajide Sanwo-Olu who got the support of the group.

The Mandate Group has been influential in the politics of Lagos State, and has strong political stalwarts in the South-West in its fold.

The Chairman of the group, Prince Wale Arogundade, said given the striking legacy of Aregbesola in Osun State, he was sure the former Governor would perform beyond Nigeria’s expectations..

“We have confidence that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola will make Nigerians proud. He is honest, humble and down to earth.We have no doubt in our minds that President Mohammadu Buhari made the right choice”, the Mandate Group stated.

The group also commended Tunji Bello, the former Secretary to the State Government of Lagos State during the Ambode administration, who was recently appointed Commissioner by Sanwo-Olu.

Arogundade added that Aregbesola as a man of principle, who is also incorruptible, will set new standards in the Interior Ministry.

He stressed that, “We will recall that Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola’s name came with forty-two (42) other names which was submitted to the National Assembly for confirmation as Ministers. By Aregbesola’s sparkling performance during his screening by the Senate, the immediate past governor of Osun state has left no one in doubt of how eminently qualified he is to become a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”

Arogundade then enjoined all the good people of Lagos State to commend Governor Babajide Sanwolu for putting round pegs in round holes to facilitate the growth and development of the State.

Upcoming Artiste, Okiki Bright Drags Telecom Giants To Court Over Intellectual Theft

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The Source

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August 27, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

Upcoming Artiste, Okiki Bright, has sued telecommunication giants, 9mobile, Airtel, Globacom and Mobilexcetra for illegal use of his intellectual property.

Bright alleged that the telecommunication outfits used his song, “Gba Gbe Boshe Sele” as caller tune without his authorization, prompting him to take the companies to court.

At the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, where the case is being heard in suit number, FHC/L/CS/1776/17, and presided over by Hon. Justice I.N. Oweibo, the complainant is demanding for the sum of N400 million from the four defendants, and a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from continued use of the work.

Bright claimed that he featured star Artiste, Oritsefemi, in the song to get more publicity and acceptability, for which he paid him.

“We were still working on how to make the song go viral when, in October 2017, people drew my attention to the fact that the song is on caller tune of some telecommunications companies. I downloaded the song for N150 on Airtel to be sure it was my song.

“I involved my lawyer, Barr Alayo Akanbi, who advised that we should verify this fact and, we found out from Globacom website that my music was listed as caller tune and, I downloaded the music using codes provided by these telecommunications company and it was listed there.

We then printed it out as evidence. That was when we decided to officially write them for explanations.”
In a letter dated October 18, 2017, Alayo Akanbi Chambers, solicitors to Okiki Bright, wrote to 9mobile demanding among other things, compensation of five hundred million naira (N500,000,000) for the unlawful use of the song.
However, in a letter dated October 30, 2017, 9mobile said the song had been barred from its caller tune platform pending the resolution of the allegations but urged Okiki Bright and his lawyer to direct all queries to MobileXcetera Limited.
Investigation by the magazine revealed that except Glo, the telecommunication companies allegedly got the song from MobileXcetera Limited which they believed had paid for the song.
In another twist, MobileXcetera is claiming that Oritsefemi sold the song. “But I called Oritsefemi and he denied any such move. He said since the song does not belong to him he could not have sold it. He told me to go and settle with them,” Okiki supplied.

The claim that Oritsefemi owns the song could not possibly be true as all the telecommunications companies listed the song as ‘Gba gbe Boshe Sele by Okiki Bright ft. Oritsefemi.
But according to Okiki Bright, the road to justice has not only been rough and bumpy but it has been filled with power play and delay tactics.

Although Bright has come out with another block buster titled “Chop make I Chop”, he insists he would see his legal struggle through to its conclusion.

In his words, “I had to release ‘Chop make I Chop’ to keep on going, my case in court has really affected me coupled with the manner the telecommunications companies have handled the whole thing.
“I plead with those in positions of authority to come to my aid and help me, the outcome of this case will go a long way in vindicating the judiciary if it is truly the last hope of the common man. As it stands now, justice is on trial”, he declared.

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