The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has disagreed with Champion newspaper over the award of the "Outstanding Igbo Personality of the Decade" on the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi at a colorful ceremony at Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos.
Champion newspapers had earlier justified the award based and what they called Governor Peter Obi's outstanding performance in office, his commitment to the progress and development of Nigeria and the possession, by him, of the core qualities of humility, handwork and honesty that make for good and egalitarian society. They also pointed at his resilience in following the paths of honour that made him to become the first Governor to come in thrigh the courts and came back from impeachment, among other notables deeds of his.
However, Fayemi, who was also honored as the the "2013 Governor of the Year", disagreed with them and insisted that the totality of what Obi did in Nigetia and his transformation of his State, qualifies him to be named an outstanding Nigerian and not be cocooned among the Igbos alone. He pointed out that Obi should actually be counted among the fathers of democracy in Nigeria.
The Chief Host of the event and the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola who agreed with the Governor of Ekiti State said that Gov. Obi was ripe for any honour and award given his giant strides and landmark achievements while he was the Governor of Anambra State.
Other persons and institutions that received awards are: Alhaji Aliko Dangote, "the Man of the Year/ Business Man of the Decade"; Dr. Akinnwumi Adeshina,"the Minister of the Year"; Chief Emeka Anyaoku, "Lifetime Achievement Award"; Dr. Boa Otudeko, "Lifetime Achievement Award"; Late Amb. Raph Uwechue, "Lifetime Achievement Award"; Chief Sonny Odogwu, "Lifetime Achievement Award"; Lady Odochi Orji, "Heart of Gold Award"; Dame Abimbola Fashola, Heart of Gold Award"; Dr. Stella Okoli, "Heart of Gold Award"; Chief Leo Stan-Ekeh, "ICT Personality of the Year"; Engr. Ernest Nwapa, " Oil and Gas Personality of the Year".
Other winners are: Globacom Ltd, "Brand of the Year"; Zenith Bank, "Bank of the Year"; Mutual Benefits Assurance, Insurance Company of the Year".
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
It has become a regular mantra to hear our amiable Imo Governor say he was elected by the masses. While I do not struggle entirely with that, I find it difficult coming to terms that barely three years down the line Governor Owele Anayo Rochas Okorocha has lost sight of the factors that led to his success during the last election. It is a known fact that without some key political leaders in Imo State, Governor Okorocha’s avowed masses wouldn’t have made so much difference to the outcome of the polls.
I keep wondering how people fail to learn from history. When Ikedi Ohakim was elected by the Redemption/Onongono group of the PDP, many analysts including myself kicked against the move. To the then Governor “he had the yam and the knife” which could guarantee him total victory. In his megalomaniac manner he denied that Udenwa made him Governor, saying only Professor Iwu made him Governor. Ohakim went further to kick out the same Professor Iwu that brought him to power. Running into the elections, Ohakim lost Captain Iheanacho, Professor Iwu, Engineer Ebere Udeagu, Chief P. C Onuoha and many more, yet that did not give him caution that a defeat was in the offing. The rest today is history.
Today however, the same scenario is playing out. Governor Okorocha is losing followers, partners and supporters in droves, yet he is dancing to the false beat that he has the masses on his side. Those who are good students of politics have plotted the graph to see that Governor Okorocha cannot succeed in his quest for a second term in office, despite his shenanigan and reliance on the masses.
The truth and reality is that all the masses, without the synergy of Captain Iheanacho, Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Martin and Jude Agbaso in Owerri North, could not have guaranteed a victory for Okorocha in Owerri North LGA. If we are good students of history, we should know that Achike Udenwa and Christy Anyanwu played key roles in helping secure the victory of Governor Okorocha. Why suddenly does Okorocha and his supporters call them expired politicians?
Remember also that Governor Okorocha setout in 2011 with one Senatorial seat and two Federal Representatives seat who worked with him during his electioneering campaigns. The only ACN Reps member, Hon. Matthew Omegara, also joined his fold. Sadly today Governor Okorocha has only the Rep member for his own Ideato North/Ideato South constituency as his co-party member. This is the worst record for a sitting Governor, seeking a second term and should give someone cause to worry.
With Hon Ezenwa Onyewuchi representing Owerri Municipal/North/West Constituency set to join the PDP, coupled with the impending defection of Hon. Matthew Omegara to the PDP, Okorocha’s Advisers should be fair to let their master know that he has got his political calculations wrong; thus must be ready to leave Douglas House in few months time.
The Governor should be truthful to himself and ask pertinent questions; what is it in me that scares people away from me? The way and manner Chief Udenwa and Mike Ahamba who were with the Governor at the foundation of the APC in the state is one clear indication that the Governor of Imo State has not got his politics right. The loss of Udenwa meant an automatic loss of his Redemption followers like Barrister Charles Onyeagbako, Oshieze Vincent Ehirim and many others. While we talk, many are still in the queue waiting for the best time to ditch the Rescue Mission of Governor Okorocha.
The list of those who has left the Governor are as follows; Chief Achike Udenwa, Mike Ahamba SAN, Senator Chris Anyanwu, Chief Martin Agbaso, Sir Jude Agbaso, Captain Iheanacho, Gibson Achionwa Njemanze, Uche Ogbuagu, Hon. Ezenwa Onyebuchi etc and many more who are awaiting the best time to call it quit.
Each time someone leaves, the Governors supporters are quick to label them expired politicians, but if I was an aide to Governor Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, I will tell him the truth that all is not well in his bid for a second term in office. It will be the height of political ignorance for one to believe that the masses would stay in polling stations without the motivation by certain political stalwarts.
This is a prophesy of something that is yet to happen. ========================== Prof Maurice Iwu, Senator Hope Uzodima, Chief Achike Udenwa, Senator Chris Anyanwu, etc conspired and Mobilised in clear deft political Manoeuvring with strong backing of President Jonathan who deployed Army from Enugu through His NSA/Ihejirika to stop Ohakim at all cost.
The Cancellation of Ohaji Egbema LGA and Oguta LGA elections was the icing. That of Mbaitoli LGA was make believe. Prof Akubundu of University of Agriculture Umudike is Used to achieve that goal.
The masses story quite laughable. Can anyone here remember margin of votes declared against Ohakim after suplimentary election.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
RECENTLY, the murky water of Abia politics wasstirred by rumours that Governor Theodore Orji had endorsed one of his officials, Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu, as the state’s next governor. But the government swiftly denied the allegation before it got out of hand.
The denial came given the horde of aspirants on the prowl. There are atleast 20 people from Ukwa/Ngwa ethnic bloc of Abia State interested in ruling the state in 2015. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoned the position to Abia South.
Responding to the rumour that Orji had selected someone to replace him, one of the political heavyweights in the state, Chief Ukpai Agwu, who was the immediate past Transport commissioner and close confidant of Orji, said the governor would not select any candidate for Abia South.
“The governor would not select anybody for the people of Abia South as their candidate. Whomever they select must be the one Abians would approve. It is left for Abia South to present a candidate they feel is best for the state.
The governor will not influence it. I myself do not know who will be the governor. It is left for Abia South people to produce who they want. Remember, it is not zoned to Ukwa/Ngwa. It is zoned to Abia South, which is made up of both Ukwa and Ngwa people,” he said.
Effects of zoning
One of the effects of the zoning, Agwu went on, is that, “the transfer of power to Abia South will not only ease the tension and feeling of marginalisation in the state, it will also ensure equity in all spheres of Abia polity.”
Once this is enthroned in the state, Agwu said, it would be easy for every region in Abia to know which part will produce the next governor. “Immediately Abia South completes its tenure”, Agwu said, “it would be the turn for Abia North as everybody would know which zone will be the next.”
Those after the Abia top job
Those reportedly gunning for the top job so far are Rt. Hon. Uzor Azubuike, Isiala Ngwa South; Chris Nkwonta Akwete, Ndoki Ukwa East; Barrister Emeka Wogu, Umuogle Aba South; Alwell Asiforo Okere, Ohuru Ndoki Ukwa East; Barrister A. C. B Agbazuere, Isiala Ngwa South; Sir Mac Wabara Ohambele, Ukwa East; Mr. Okey Emuchay, Ukwa East; Gabriel Onyendilefu, Isiala Ngwa South; Chief Reagan Ufomba, Isiala Ngwa North; Senator Nkechi Justina Nwaogu, Isiala Ngwa South; Senator Enyi Abaribe, Obingwa; Rt. Hon. Eric Acho Nwakanma, Obingwa; Comrade Chris Akoma, Obingwa; Barrister F.N Nwosu, Obingwa; Chief Nyerere Anyim, Obingwa; Prince Paul Ikonne, Aba North; Chief Okezie I Orji, Obingwa; Uche Nwankpa, Obingwa; Okezie Ikpeazu, Obingwa and Udo Ahaiwe, Obingwa.
Zoning formula raises stakes
The ruling PDP’s zoning of the governorship to Abia South is upturning political settings in the state’s local governments and senatorial districts. For example, in Abia North which has been allotted the deputy governorship, there is already an agitation over which LGA will produce the next deputy governor. Currently there are many aspirants and communities saying it is their turn to produce one office or the other.
Agwu said that in Abia North, the equity policy is being worked out between the Ohafia, Nkporo, Abiriba on one hand, and Arochukwu, as well as Bende, Isikwuato, Isiochi among others on the other. The positions for zoning range from councillorship, members of the House of Assembly, the federal constituencies, senatorial seat and state deputy governor. This may affect the chances serving federal lawmakers like Senator Uche Chukwumerije and Arua Arunsi from returning, if different local councils were to produce occupiers of the offices. While Arunsi is on his first lap in the House of Representatives, Chukwumerije has done multiple terms.
Ohafia, Aro bicker over deputy gov slot
Elders of Ohafia LGAs are not left out in the political scheming in the state. In a chat with the Vanguard recently, they said it is fair that their people produce the deputy governor.
But Aro Chukwu LGA says it is its turn. One of its sons, Chief Kalu Kalu Diogu, a former president of World Igbo Congress (WIC) from Ihechiowa town of the LGA, is reportedly running with Abaribe as his deputy. Commenting on the centrality of Ohafia in Abia politics, Agwu, a two-time chairman of Ohafia LGA, said his council has always given over 70 percent votes to the winning party in the state.
Agwu, a well known grassroots politician in the state, noted that the governor would fulfill his promises to Ohafia, including the Isiugwu-Ndi Oji Abam road which had been awarded over three years ago but with nothing to show for it.
We’ve not been compensated—Ohafia elders
The Ohafia elders also decried the non-appointment of their people into federal government agencies and parastatals, saying the people gave a big support to the government during the 2011 elections.
The leaders, who spoke to Vanguard included former Abia State PDP Deputy Chairman, and former Chairman, Ohafia LGA, Chief K.K. Owen; immediate past Abia commissioner for Transport, Mr. Kingsley Imaga, and Rev William Onyema Agbai, Abia state Commissioner for Local Government Service Commission.
Rev Agbai explained that the Federal Government did not forget Ohafia people rather, their slots had always been hijacked by one known politician in their area with his Abuja connections.
The people, he said, should be more proactive in asking for what belongs to them. They should have a presence in Abuja to reach out to powers that be in the capital territory so that no one will short change them. On his part, Imaga, blamed the professional elites in the area for the non presence of the people at the federal level, claiming that the political elite had done their duty. Owen in his remarks said the Ohafia community would want the deputy governor to come from their council as a way to compensate them for their bloc votes.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
LIVERPOOL – Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany overcame an injury scare to take his place in the starting line-up for his side’s top-of-the-table Premier League clash at Liverpool on Sunday.
The Belgian centre-back appeared in danger of missing the game after hobbling out of a training session on Saturday, but he was included in Manuel Pellegrini’s starting XI at Anfield alongside Martin Demichelis.
Top scorer Sergio Aguero was named on the bench for the visitors, meanwhile, after sitting out their previous five matches with a hamstring problem.
Liverpool, the Premier League leaders, were unchanged from their 2-1 victory at West Ham United last weekend.
The showdown at Anfield has been billed as a title decider. Liverpool went into the game four points above third-place City in the table, but having played two games more.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Timi Dakolo came into limelight after he won the maiden edition of Idols West Africa several years back. Since then, his life and career have taken a turn for the better. Recently, Esther Onyegbula caught up with Timi and he opened up on how it all started, the journey so far, the challenges, the aspirations and the future.
My grandma’s death and the Nigerian Idol West Africa During the competition my grandmother who I lived with for many years before I got into the competition passed on, I was down and I wanted to quit the competition but I stayed back because of the encouragement I received from friends and fellow contestants.
And I noticed that each time I went out with other contestants people would tell me not to disappoint them, and that they were voting for me. From top ten to top three and as God would have it, I won.
Unlike most celebrities winning ten thousand dollars and a brand new car, didn’t change him, he was still the same old loving, talented Timi. “After winning the ten thousand dollars and a brand new car I didn’t change.I was still my old self because I would still board a bike on the street, buy gala on the road. But life generally changed, apparently in the whole of West Africa when I won the Idols.
Anywhere I go, people recognized me, complimenting my unique voice, which was contrary to what one music director once told me that I should join the drama group and stop singing, because according to him, I didn’t have a good voice.
Milestones and career investment I have achieved a lot. Before the show I didn’t know much about music, but after I won, I had to invest in my music career. First I had to learn the rudiments of music, learn the business side of music, learning what it takes to write good songs. In the process, because I am an introvert, it took me time to realize that in music you can’t do it alone. You need people who know the nitty-gritty of the business.
And I had to learn fast because I didn’t want people to be holding me ransom for any reason. So I had to read a lot of online articles and books because I have always loved to read. In the process, my status changed, I was making money, and things changed, people I used to depend on started depending on me.
Marriage changed my life After I got married and started having kids, my life changed, I no longer think of myself alone. I no longer do ‘wants’ I do ‘needs’, not that I can’t afford to do ‘want’ but because I need to plan for the future of my kids. Marriage has made me a full grown man, I have left ‘wants’ for ‘needs’, I think for a lot of people, not just for my immediate family, and I save and invest more. And I look at things differently. I learn a lot from my children, just by watching them do their thing. I create balance between work and family life, so that one doesn’t suffer for the other.
Initial challenges I have always been a very meticulous person; I have always known what I wanted in life. Even before I won West Africa Idols, I had written my goals within a five year time frame, the kind of music that I want to do, where I want to be in five-years time, the knowledge I want to acquire in five years time, the type of instrument I want to be playing in five years time.
While I was busy equipping myself, people were worried that the runner-ups of the competition were in the limelight while I was nowhere. My response to their complaint then, was that for everything under the sun there is a time. I would rather be slow and hit it late than rush and miss it. And if I miss it they are going to be the same people that would crucify me tomorrow if anything goes wrong.
One of the challenges that I faced was that, even though people loved my kind of music they doubted if I could survive in the industry. Because they felt my kind of songs are not meant for this industry. Music must not be shallow, or too deep, music cuts across barriers, because it is more of the spirit than rhythm. Financial challenge of doing it all by myself, and trying to convince people that this is the kind of music that I want to do in this part of the world and all that.
Inspired by evergreen music I grew up in a house where they used to play those turn-table records and we used to play a lot of deep reggae music, like Burning Spear and Bob Marley. Music that would leave you with a message. And each time I listen to deep music it triggers the thinking part of me. I see myself doing music for a long while; I don’t want to be a flash in the pan. I don’t want to do songs that after three months people would have forgotten it. I want to do music that will outlive me. I want to do evergreen music that will be relevant in the next generation.
Genre of music I really don’t have a genre of music, what happens is that the music comes, sometimes I write my music, at other times, I work with people. I basically don’t have a part to play when the rhythm comes, sometimes I will be lying down, or doing something else when the inspiration comes. It comes in soft rock, soul, R&B, highlife or reggae .
Coping with female fans I appreciate my female friends a lot, but I tell them that I can’t promise anything, I am not just married but I am happily married. Although some female fans don’t care if you are married or not, those are the female fans I avoid like plague. Actually I haven’t had any scandals because I spend a lot of time with my family except when I have shows. From a distance I can smell trouble.
The Nigeria music industry The Nigeria music industry is not well structured, like the music industry of the western world or South Africa. When you talk of royalty payments, artistes are not benefiting as much as they should from their intellectual works. A lot of things are involved in music, from the record label, to the song producers, to the publishers, to
the radio stations. In a standard clime, a lot of people get paid, from a song, the producers, song writers, artiste, record label, but in Nigeria it is not like that. Basically, what artiste make money from here, is ring back tunes and shows, that is because a lot of things are not in place. The biggest problem we are also facing is piracy.
The future I want to continue doing good music, being a good husband, and winning awards. Sincerely I am interested in doing good music, if in the process awards are won, it is an added bonus.
Message to my fans Fans….get ready, I am coming out with a new album titled ‘Love and Consequences’. Love is one part of it, the consequences of love is another part of it, inspired by my experiences and that of others. I am also working on the video for Iyawo Mi.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
SLAVYANSK – At least two people were killed and nine wounded on Sunday in gun battles between Ukrainian special forces and pro-Kremlin militias that threatened to scuttle the first international talks on the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War.
The clashes across the ex-Soviet state’s separatists eastern rust belt broke out a day after masked gunmen stormed a series of police and security service buildings in coordinated raids that Kiev blamed on the “provocative activities of Russian special services”.
The heavily Russified region has been riven by unrest since a team of Western-backed leaders rose to power in February on the back of bloody protests against the old regime’s decision to reject an EU alliance and look for future assistance from the Kremlin.
Russia has since massed around 40,000 soldiers along Ukraine’s eastern frontier and threatened to halt its neighbour’s gas supplies over unpaid bills — a cutoff that would impact at least 18 EU nations and threaten further retaliation against the Kremlin.
Saturday’s attacks were especially unsettling for both Kiev and Western leaders because of their remarkable similarity to events leading up to Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula last month.
The balaclava-clad gunmen were armed with special-issue assault rifles and scopes most often used by nations’ crack security troops.
Many wore unmarked camouflage uniforms similar to those seen on the highly trained units that seized the Black Sea peninsula in early March. They also moved with military precision and cohesion.
But Russia denied any involvement. And it sternly warned Kiev late on Saturday that the use of force against pro-Russian protesters could ruin the chances of the two sides sitting down for US-EU mediated talks in Geneva on Thursday.
– ‘Everyone is in panic’ –
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Arsen Avakov announced the launch of an “anti-terrorist” operation in the eastern Donetsk region early on Sunday morning.
Crack units from Ukraine’s SBU security service first attacked an occupied police station in the eastern city of Slavyansk that was seized by about 20 militants on Saturday.
But Avakov admitted that his troops had to “regroup” after meeting stiff resistance and suffering casualties.
“There are dead and wounded on both sides. On our side — an SBU officer. The head of the SBU’s anti-terrorist centre has been wounded, as have four others,” Avakov wrote on his Facebook page.
“On side of the separatists — an unidentified number. The separatists have started to protect themselves using human shields.”
Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti news agency cited one local protester as saying that a civilian had also been killed and two others injured.
The local administration separately reported a series of heavy clashes on a highway linking Slavyansk with the region’s capital Donetsk to the south.
The Donetsk adminstration said one person was killed and four wounded in an “ongoing armed standoff” on a stretch of the road connecting Slavyansk and the town of Artemivsk.
The statement added that authorities were still checking to see “whose side the casualties were on”.
Slavyansk residents meanwhile reported a run on stores and general panic among locals in the poor mining town of 100,000 people.
“By nine in the morning, the stores had run out of bread,” 47-year-old Yelena told AFP as attack helicopters hovered overhead.
“Everyone is in panic. People are waiting for a war to break out.”
– ‘Russia is complicit’ –
Saturday’s raids drew expressions of grave concern from world leaders and Russian warnings against any use of force against the militants.
The US State Department said John Kerry phoned his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Saturday to make “clear that if Russia did not take steps to deescalate in eastern Ukraine and move its troops back from Ukraine’s border, there would be additional consequences”.
Britain’s Foreign Office on Sunday said the wave of occupations of government buildings was “a dangerous escalation”.
“Assumptions that Russia is complicit are inevitable as long as Moscow does not publicly distance itself from these latest lawless actions.
“Russia must desist from steps which destabilise Ukraine and undermine” the possibility of talks.
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen also said he was “extremely concerned”.
“The reappearance of men with specialised Russian weapons and identical uniforms without insignia, as previously worn by Russian troops during Russia’s illegal and illegitimate seizure of Crimea, is a grave development,” Rasmussen said in a statement.
But Russia’s Lavrov warned that the Geneva talks would be in jeopardy if Kiev used force against “residents of the southeast driven to despair”.
The latest wave of unrest began last weekend when protesters seized the seat of government in Donetsk after similar actions in the eastern cities of Lugansk and Kharkiv.
The Donetsk protesters heavily fortified the building and announced the independence of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” — the flag of which has gone up over newly seized security buildings across the region.
Pro-Russian protesters in the region fear a loss of their rights to speak Russian and the collapse of an already depressed economy if their government cuts ties with their close and historical ally.
A charm offensive by embattled Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk — who promised during a visit on Friday to grant more powers to the country’s regions and protect the east’s right to use the Russian language — was seen as many as insufficient and coming much too late.
But many of the pro-Russian protests have only drawn crowds of a few hundred and local polls showed the majority of citizens in the Russian-speaking east preferred to remain part of Ukraine.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The digital world is here. We are all using various digital devices –smartphones, laptops, tabletops,tablets, phamblets, etc and consuming data,which is the currency of the digital world.
Manufacturers and techies are pushing out new gadgets and appon on a daily basis tofurther drive us down the digital lane.
At the heart of all these are the telecommuni-cations networks which provide the high capacity transport infrastructure that services ride on. It is often acknowledged that telecommunications is to the digital era what electricity was to the industrial era.
Across various spheres of endeavours – education (distance learning), traditional and social media, travel and tours, shopping, entertainment, etc, Nigerians are actively harnessing digital opportunities and ways of life, courtesy of the enablement accorded by the telecommunications networks.
From growing telephone penetration from less than one percent in 2001 to more than 86 percent in 2013, the telecommunications sector now comes second only to the oil and gas sector in terms of attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Nigeria.
According to Pyramid Research, the sector contributed about 35 percent of FDI(around US$45bn)between 2001 and 2011 and its GDP input grew from below one percent to 8.54 percent between 2001 and 2013.
The sector has also been responsible for creating around three million direct and indirect jobs and a value chain that impacts millions of Nigerians across various spheres of life.
It has also been pivotal in promoting wide public access to information which is an important element for the development of democracy.
As a social overhead capital, that is, a basic service without which primary, secondary and tertiary productive activities cannot function effectively, telecommunications therefore needs to be accorded due attention by relevant stakeholders in order to ensure that Nigeria’s vision of digital inclusion is realized.
With the announcement of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) by the Federal Government last year, the telecommunications sector is set to play an even greater role in the socio-economic development of the country.
A critical success factor for the NBP was aptly outlined in the following statement “implementation of a national broadband plan requires long-term commitment and significant action by the Federal, States and Local Governments, as well as, the executive and legislative branches of government – alongside strong private sector participation.
”Riding on this, theFederal Government through the Ministry of Communication Technology is partnering with IBM, a global ICT player, to provide technology-driven solutions to resolve challenges in key sectors of the Nigerian economy and to that end has convened a ministerial roundtable to develop appropriate implementation plans.
At state level,Lagos and Osun have declared ICT adoption as an important part of their strategic development efforts and are actively collaborating with the private sector to this end.
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,Governor of Osun State who had earlier championed the State’s multiple award-winning computer tablet innovation, “Opon Imo” (Tablet of Knowledge), recently reaffirmed his determination to make his state the ICT hub in Nigeria at a ceremony marking the take-off of the multi-million dollar RLG-Adulawo Technology City in Ileshathat that was set-up by RLG Communications, a phone manufacturing company, with support from Osun State Government.
According to the Group Chairman of RLG Communications, the technology city will play a major role in the technology revolution that is imminent in Nigeria.
The centre will be involved in the training of youths in the assembly, repair and manufacture of various electronic devices and is expected to create over 10,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly.
Aside from being a strategic tool, Osun Statehas keenly applied ICT in transactional activities as Ogbeni Aregbesola had indicated that the deployment of ICT in government operationshad blocked financial leakages and brought about an increase in internally generated revenue by 100 per cent, from N300 million to N600 million within one year and to N1.6 billion presently. Lagos State has also adopted e-payments solutions for government transactions.
The Eko Atlantic cityproject which will be Africa’s first “Smart City” is undoubtedly the most ambitious ICT project of the State to date.
While not detracting from these initiatives, the recent agreement between the Lagos State Government and the telecommunications operators which streamlines the approval processes and fees for telecommunications facilities deployment is an even more momentous development in terms of scope of impact and demonstrated alignment with the spirit and letters of the NBP’s vision on public-private sector collaboration.
TheLagos State Government was interested in protecting the sanctity of extant planning and related regulations while the telecommunications operators’ concerns were around speed of infrastructure deployment,discriminatory fees and multiple taxation/regulation, as well as the protection of their facilities from illegal lock-outs by over-zealous government officials.
In discussions leading to the landmark agreement, the parties were able to reach reasonable and legitimate compromises as partners-in-developmentto streamline processes leading to reduction in approval timelines for the grant of site build permits to 30 days and reduction of applicable fees by around 60 percent.
This landmark agreement will certainly facilitate the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure across Lagos State to enhance the provision of services currently on offer and facilitate the deployment of “future” services such as 4G LTE.
The CEO of Airtel, Segun Ogunsanya, certainly had this in mind when he recently expressed gratitude to the Lagos State Government and announced that telecommunications operators would reciprocate the goodwill by providing state-of-the-art services in the state.
Telecommunication has been playing a leading role in national development since the liberalization of the sector about thirteen years ago.
In addition to facilitating tele-access for over 120million Nigerians presently and making significant contributions to GDP and FDI, the sector is now pioneering a developmental partnership model that will prove useful in the consolidation and growth of all infrastructure-based industries in Nigeria, thereby reaffirming its status as ‘the goose that lays the golden egg.’
Such a specially innovative industry should be widely celebrated rather than vilified as unfortunately seems to be the case currently.
lOsondu is Director, Legal & Regulatory Affairs at Airtel Nigeria.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The Emir of Gwoza in Borno, Alhaji Idrissa Timta, on Sunday decried the renewed insurgency in the area, saying it had crippled the socio-economic activities in his domain.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Emir in Maiduguri.
According to the statement, it is unfortunate that our people have witnessed increased attacks with mass killings by the insurgents in the last four months.
“The attacks have crippled both social and economic lives in the entire area,’’ the statement quoted the emir as saying.
Timta said: “it is sad to say that my people have been blocked from going to the market by the insurgents, who kill at will.
“Even the food crops cultivated by them in the last farming season have ended up with the Boko Haram as the harvest were seized by the insurgents making life unbearable.
“There is an urgent need for the security agents to intensify and change their tactics of operation to stop the mass killings in this area.’’
He said the insurgents had also killed many number people by blocking major highways, and appealed to security agents to intensify patrol on these roads to prevent the attacks.
“If care is not taken my people will completely flee the area to neighbouring states and countries for safety,’’ he said.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Lagos – Rainstorm destroyed property worth millions of naira in Lagos on Sunday following an early morning downpour.
Correspondents, who monitored the situation, reports that property affected, included public and private buildings, churches, shops and mosques.
The rain which started at about 7:30 a.m. was accompanied with stormy wind that disrupted service in most churches in Ketu, Ojota, Somolu, Lagos Mainland, Oworonsoki, Oyingbo and Ebute Metta.
The other areas include Lagos Island, Ajegunle, Surulere, Mushin, Oshodi, Iganmu, Gbagada, Ikoyi, among others.
Checks revealed that the rainstorm collapsed the building housing the national studios and workshop of the National Gallery of Modern Art, National Theatre, Iganmu.
The building of the SS Mulumba and David Catholic Church, Lawanson, Surulere, was also affected by the rainstorm as its roof was blown off leading to the disruption of the Mass.
At Gbagada, an electricity pole fell on the Owonroshoki-Oshodi Expressway leading to gridlock while traffic officers were seen diverting vehicles.
The National Theatre Staff Mosque was also affected by the rain as part its fence collapsed and members were seen clearing the debris.
Mr Musa Yakubu, a member, attributed the damage to the poor quality of the block.
Yakubu, who decried the poor quality control measures in the country, told NAN that the authority of the mosque would use better materials for the rehabilitation.
Also, Apostle Gabriel Ayodele of Praying Brand, Saints Matthias New Church of Cherubim and Seraphin at Abule Nla, Oyingbo, said that rainstorm removed part of the church roof.
Mr Israel Monday of No. 55, Brickfield, Ebute Metta, said that he was woken up by the rainstorm which damaged the entire roof of his house and destroyed property worth N200,000.
Part of the roof of building housing the Tetrazzini Food Plc., National Theatre, Iganmu, was also destroyed.
Some buildings were also damaged on Apapa Road, Lagos, while score of houses were also affected at Goriola, Nosamu and Alayabiagba Streets in the Olodi-Apapa.
The roof of the officers’ quarters of the Otto Police Barracks in Lagos Mainland was blown off leaving the occupants stranded and their belongings scattered.
A female officer, who spoke on the conditions of anonymity said: “the saddest part of the situation is that this is a yearly occurrence but thank God no life was lost.”
“We are all stranded here with our children and our property, we don’t have anywhere to sleep.’’
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
DELTA State is one of those geo-political entities in Nigeria where social and inter-ethnic re-engineering have proved abortive as its history since the cloning of the state in 1991 has been that of virulent acrimonious relationship among the different nationalities that make up the state.
Since Gen.Ibrahim Babangida cloned a state called Delta, a hybrid of Igbo speaking and Urhobos, the Itsekiris and the Ijaws nationalities, neither the Anioma nationalities nor the so-called Core Delta region have had peace.
The core Deltans who feel that Anioma people stole their capital have been belligerent because they feel that the Igbos want to use their oil money to develop their areas. This love-hate relationship continues to find expression on the pages of newspapers where ethnic hate mongers attack the people of Anioma, denigrate their heritage and cultural values.
Things would be perfect in Delta State as long as the people of Anioma would not aspire to produce the next occupant of the Government House. The political elites from Delta Central and Delta South, believe that they own Delta State and the people of Delta North should be made to be “hewers of wood and drawers of water”. Even when the lion share of the revenue from the federation account, DESOPADEC and NDDC have gone into the pockets of their sons and daughters, with some trickling down as token projects, Anioma people continue to bear the brunt of their hate.
Initially, the Urhobos had been most hostile and antagonistic in their attitude towards their neighbours, but over time this hate mongering attitude towards Anioma people, especially toward the people of Enuani and Oshimili areas of the state, has taken a frightening and murderous dimension.
In fact, the virus has become comparable to the Nazi ideology and hatred which led to the Adolf Hitler-superintended holocaust against the Jews. It is not different from the jihadist ideology of Boko Haram, informed by religious bigotry.
The culture of kleptocracy and sycophancy has been extolled to the highest levels, while the state and its citizens wallow in penury in spite of the resource endowments of the state. Only recently, a television footage of areas of Delta State affected by oil spillage exposed the shame of Delta State and the proponents of Urhobo dominance of the political system in the state. The footage revealed bizarre poverty of families still living in thatched mud houses.
It must be clearly stated to these hate mongers that the people of Anioma are not political appendages or strangers in the Delta project. Gen. Babangida committed an unpardonable error by denying us a state of our own and lumped Anioma people in a union they would never have contemplated. Anioma people are in Delta State not by our choice and would prefer to be in their own state where they would realise their dreams for self-determination, extol their socio-cultural heritage and historical antecedents.
Even within the politics of Delta State, Anioma people have provided the buffer for peace and development. In the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, it is on record that since 1999, Delta Central has been the strong hold of the opposition party in the State.
In the contest between Chief Moses Kragha of All Peoples Party, APP and Chief James Ibori of PDP, Chief Kragha won in Delta Central. He struggled in Delta South, but it was votes from Delta North that sealed victory for Ibori.
In 2003, the candidate of Alliance for Democracy, AD, Chief Great Ogboru won in Delta Central; again, Chief Ibori and PDP relied on the votes from Delta North to over- come the challenge. This was the time two Urhobo sons were used to savage Chief Ibori in the ex-convict case.
This trend continued in 2007 and 2011 when the opposition party voted against Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in Delta Central. It was Delta North and Delta South that kept Uduaghan in power even with the judicial coup against him in Benin city.
It is a fact that the Urbobos produced a Senator from an opposition party and they only returned to the ruling party after their years of opposition ended in futility.
So where lies the morality of their claims that a region that has supported the PDP because of its ideology that power should rotate among the Senatorial districts, to ensure equity, justice, fairness and eliminate ethnic cleavages, marginalisation and give every body a sense of belonging should be alienated from the seat of power?
The other PDP states are implementing this policy, so Delta State is not an exception. In fact, PDP cannot afford to reward Delta Central which has over the years voted against PDP at the expense of Delta North which has been loyal over the years.
Nigerians, including the Urhobos, the Ijaws and the Itsekiris, know that without any form of an informal power shift arrangement, the South-South region would never have access to the presidency and their argument to jettison that arrangement in the state would be their Waterloo in years to come. Whatever advantage that they think they are enjoying today is temporal.
Even if Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan decides to go against the power shift arrangement, his Itsekiri nation would rue it in years to come. Whatever goes round comes around. Deltans are no fools. The idea of creating a culture of political dynasty did not succeed in Kwara State; Delta state would not be an exception.
*Mr. Odoh, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Lagos.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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