2023: Hear what Chief E.K Clark said about Saraki

Politics

By Our Reporters 

South South political chieftain Chief Edwin K Clark  has spoken about the presidential aspiration of Dr Bukola Saraki describing him as "best for Nigeria"

Chief Clark made these landmark statement when  the Bukola Saraki contact and Advocacy Council, headed by its national chairman, Prof Iyorwuese Hagher, and the pioneer Director-General of PDP governors Forum who is also the Director-General Saraki Nigeria ‘23 group, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, paid a courtesy call on foremost elder-statesman  and revered Nationalist, High Chief Edwin K. Clark, to intimate him about the Saraki ‘23 project. 

During the visit,  group who met with the revered Elder-statesman in Abuja, spoke on the need for a national cohesion via a presidential candidate who, overtime, has shown character and competence to deliver on national issues. 

In his remarks, a former Nigeria’s high commissioner to Canada and former presidential aspirant who is also the National chairman of the Bukola Saraki Contact and Advocacy Council spoke on the need to present a very credible candidate that goes beyond regional sentiments, His Excellency, Dr. Bukola Saraki possesses all the qualities to take Nigeria out of her current state of near comatose

Elder- statesmen, Chief E.K Clark noted the sterling qualities of the immediate past president of the 8th Assembly and described him as a presidential Material

“We have been agitating for the presidency to be zoned to the south, but in any case where we (southerners) fail to come up with a consensus candidate, I will have no option than to support Dr. Bukola Saraki” , Chief Clerk declared. 

The visit which comprises of powerful delegation from the Bukola Saraki Contact and Advocacy Council includes Sen. Solomon Ewuga, Sen. Bello Adokwe, Hon. Idem Unyime, Hon Moses Aliyu ( Aspirant, Akoko Edo federal constituency) and other prominent PDP chieftains.

EJIGBO MARKET BOILS OVER PONZI SCHEME

Katakata is currently rocking Ejigbo community market following  the activity of a Ponzi scheme which as usual promised millions but delivered nothing.

The Ponzi scheme which promised undisclosed quantity of food items and cash worth N200k at the end of 2021 yielded  nothing after all leaving the community under fire.

As you read this, the office of iyaloja of Ejigbo market reveal that there's no day it is not beseiged with complaints about lost investment 

ECD investigation revealed that the Ponzi organisation named Smile Again promoted by one society woman names withheld entered Ejigbo market using a social influencer, a renowned Igbo woman leader (names also  withheld)who lured traders of the market to invest

The igbo women leader to make her task easier,  also connected another influential big fish in the market to invest. Her investment must have encouraged many others to join.

Before long, all traders of the market had put in so much money running into millions with hope of yielding much only to fail them at harvest time.

Already gist have it that the igbo woman leader who marketed the Ponzi inside market has been on the run after angry investors beat her up with threat to kill her if she did not return their investment.

The organiser of the scheme on her own part is said to be underground not picking calls because the calls won't stop coming.

One of the victims,  a groundnut seller who planned to get a shop and stop street trading was full of tears as she lamented how she was fleeced

According to her, "I thought this investment will yield me the desired money to get a shop. In fact I really don't know what to do. Even the food items I had hoped on as they promised did not come"

However, in defence of the organisers, one of the traders who spoke under condition of anonymity said the "organiser of the scheme are genuine and may have had a little setback which they will overcome"

DAY SENATE PRESIDENT AHMED LAWAN VISITED GOV TAMBUWAL OVER BROTHER’S DEATH

Dr Danladi Bako, Gov Tambuwal, Gov Mai Mala Buni in Sokoto

Sympathetic friends and well wishers, political associates, fellow governors etc have not stopped condolence visits to Sokoto to commiserate with Governor Aminu Tambuwal on the death of his elder brother.

Alhaji Mohammed Bello was the Waziri of Tambuwal, Sokoto and died recently. He has since been buried but friends and well wishers of the state have continued to storm Sokoto.

The early part of this week saw the Senate President Ahmed Lawan and his entourage touching down at the Sadiq Abubakar111 international Airport Sokoto heading straight to the Sokoto Government House.

 Lawan and Tambuwal have come  a long way.

On the same day that the Senate President visited, Governor Mala Buni of Yobe state who doubles as Chairman Caretaker Committee of All Progressives Congress was also in Sokoto.

Senator Ahmed Lawan and Dr Danladi Bako

They were joined by renowned journalist and Development scholar, former Director General of National Broadcasting Commission Dr. Danladi Bako who may have seemingly shunned all limelight to hug academia.  He is said to be a close associate of Tambuwal’s.

Earlier last week, former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki  had flown into Sokoto to condole with Gov Tambuwal on the day of the 3days Fidau prayers.

AVIATION; ONE YEAR OF FLYING UNITED NIGERIA..SO FAR SO GOOD

United Nigeria Airline in flight; Photo; Wikipidea

By Fred Iwenjora

It is about one year since the first flight of United Nigeria Airlines took off from Murtala Mohammed Airport Ikeja, flew many nautical miles east and landed at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu  

That maiden flight on February 12, 2021 took place just about 11 days after the airline got certified to fly in Nigeria.

By the way, United Nigeria Airline is owned by United Airlines Nigeria  Ltd, one of the biggest of the diverse business interests of Anambra born billionaire business mogul Dr Obiorah Okonkwo, Dikeora of Ogidi, Anambra state.

Dr. Obiora Okonkwo

After its first acquisition of 4 aircrafts was armed with the Nigeria air operations certificate as well as other international certification as IATA, U5, ICAO before its grand take off.

It had also set up headquarters in Enugu as well as offices across Nigerian airports in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, P.H, Asaba and Owerri before the maiden flight. 

Also, it soon acquired another plane to increase the fleet to 5 aircrafts in all.

 A new office was also opened at the all new Umueri, Anambra airport in December 2021 and United Nigeria was the second airline to land on the well laid out tarmac.

All would agree that these are modest but great achievements for a young aviation business in one year.  Try making a calculation of fees, levies and taxes, salaries and wages, aviation fuel, maintenances and running offices across the states etc. you would see that a business that has lasted for a year in Nigeria has tried and deserves a pat.

In the cabin

I have only been opportune to fly United Nigeria twice and my observations combined with a brief sample of the opinions of some of the passengers I met on ground say the past one year has been so far so good. It also says the future is bright.

From my Lagos take off point heading to Asaba, I observed a very courteous staff both on ground and in the cabin.

I couldn’t say whether it was because I checked in an hour earlier as I often did in order to avoid the rush when every one including staff are under intense pressure.

None could also tell whether the extra ordinary courtesy was because it is a 50 only seater Embrear plane with few passengers to handle.

But I also noticed high level of professionalism in the smooth take off and landing of the bird by the United Nigeria Airlines pilots and ground technical staff.

This is also a pointer to the fact that management of United Nigeria Airlines place high premium on its technical matters which is very key in the aviation business. 

There was more than an hour’s delay on my return trip from Asaba. Almost every airline in the world could be blamed for delayed and even canceled flights. Several reasons were given for the delay. While one of the uniformed staff said it was due to weather, another said something else.

However, a uniformed staff also went around the lounge consoling its passengers at Asaba unlike what obtained at the MM2 Ikeja Lagos where poor communication from an inaudible PA system and none or not enough on-ground staff at the lounge to lead passengers almost caused some to miss the flight.

Yet again, at both intervals, after boarding, the pilot took the bird up and landed safely at its destination about 50 mins later. This is the main.  Safe arrival has always been the best news ever for every traveler or flyer.

However, something struck me during the wait in Asaba. It became a test on the amount of goodwill Dr. Okonkwo has been able to acumulate for himself from the generality of Nigerian public including the passengers. I noted that the long wait at Asaba was non critical. The passengers seemed to understand with the airline on the bad weather reason chatting endlessly in wanton happiness. None of the passengers said pim unlike the regular agitation in such situations. The former Senatorial candidate and recently Zenith Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in the just concluded Anambra state governorship election seems to have low or no bad press at all. His people oriented character may be reason for this.

Any man who could set up The Dome, an events and entertainment place hosting the world in Abuja and run political machinery in Anambra state in the past ten years and more,  must be people oriented in the real sense of the word.

Any man who communicates through his many books and prolific lectures on communication, politics and economics is truly a man of the people and readily connects with them.

A man who could honor his late mum,  Late Mrs.  Okonkwo and his kinsman and a former leader in Nigeria’s aviation sector Sir Victor Ikwuemesi as well as Blessed Virgin Mary of Miracles, Blessed Iwene Tansi and a host of others by naming some of his aircrafts after them must have much love for humanity and loyalty to family, friends, catholic faith, community and country and a heart filled with gratitude for so much. It is my guess that this goodwill is enough to kill bad press. Many who have met him closely commend this so called PR sense.

No wonder since the first sell out of tickets on its maiden flight from Lagos MM2 to Akanu Ibiam airport Enugu, United Nigeria Airline ticket has continued to be a regular sell out.

As the one year birthday anniversary of United Nigeria Airlines draws nigh and as validity of its operations certifcate begins its second year run, let’s try and set an agenda for management. Would they be reading this? I hope they do.

First on my agenda is that more thoughts should be devoted to the consolidation of its business contracts with all its passengers and their destinations which is safe arrival in comfort and on time too.

Second is that the company should continue to do and even improve on those technical things that drive for overall safety like it has done in the past one year.

The capital intensive nature of the aviation sector notwithstanding, there is need also to invest in the acquisition of one or two bigger aircrafts in the coming year to service the new improved passenger loyalty and enlarged routes.

A bigger aircraft may avert the issue of turbulence which created panic and caused the return to take off point of a PH-ABJ bound United Nigeria Airline flight in June 2021.

This is more like a tall order in the aviation business for a company that just started operation but it is still possible to get this done except if abinitio it has been the original intention of the owners to fly smaller crafts with a managable passenger manifest.

In a recent brief chat with spokesman for the airline, Mr. Achilleus Chud-Uchegbu he disclosed with infectious enthusiasm that the past one year has “been good for the airline and its passengers and stakeholders”. According to him “United Nigeria Airline has flown to unite as the motto reads; flying to unite. The vision of United Nigeria Airlines is to be Nigeria’s number 1 airline and the mission is to continue to provide efficient and prompt services. The future is very bright as we have also started Osubi, Warri and Benin is in the offing.”

I believe him and must add that there is need to clink glasses and celebrate because like an Anambra man would say; Odiro fecha fecha.

Fred Iwenjora wrote from Lagos

 

SARAKI CONDOLS WITH TAMBUWAL

Former Senate president Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki earlier today visited Gov Aminu  Tambuwal of Sokoto  to condole with him on the death of his brother.

Dr Saraki was on hand to join the family, friends, and well-wishers of Governor  Tambuwal, for the third day Fidau prayer of Governor Tambuwal’s dear elder brother, Alhaji Muhammadu Bello, the Wazirin Tambuwal which held today.

Dr Saraki spoke kindly to Gov on the fact that Almighty Allah

Dr Saraki condoling with Gov Tambuwal

knows all about our lives on earth urging him to take heart

WHY GAJ DESERVES ANOTHER TERM----AIDE

HON ENGR. GANIYU ABIODUN JOHNSON

INSIDE EJIGBO

Hon Dotun Oladapo, a close aide to member of the House of Representatives Hon Engr Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson has reeled out with his achievements so far adding that he deserves another term at NASS.

In a chat with ECD yesterday, Oladapo said GAJ’s positive contributions to Oshodi Isolo federal constituency 2 in “just three years will speak for him during the coming election”.

According to Oladapo, “Hon Johnson has had a laudable performance so far as a member of NASS and there is no vacancy”.

He wrote; If we begin to count the blessings from the representation of Engr, there wont be space. Please find below some of his laudable landmark achievements which I will categorize into two segments;

In the area of infrastructure and empowerment, GAJ has touched various sections of our constituency as the case may be in area of education, roads, water boreholes, power, SMEs.

On roads, he has successfully attracted construction and rehabilitation of many roads within the axis of the constituency including at Ago, Okota,  Ire akari, Isolo, Ajao estate, Ifoshi road Ejigbo is on going while his presence is also being felt at Ilasamaja."

On education, he has sponsored  the construction and furnishing of 3 blocks of 14 classrooms equipped with modern furniture and VIP toilet at Faronbi Primary School Isolo.

He also constructed and furnished 2 blocks of 12 classrooms equipped with modern furniture and VIP toilet at Ejigbo Model Primary School, Ejigbo.

"GAJ in the past three years has built ICT HUB fully equipped with computers and a standby MIKANO Generator at Ajumoni Grammar School Okota.

Aside this, he has supplied modern furniture, stationeries, laboratory equipment  and other instructional materials in Akinbaye Primary School Isolo, Imakiyo Primary School Ejigbo and Oba Faronbi Primary School Isolo.

According to Oladapo, "Engr. Johnson has facilitated the provision of functioning solar powered borehole at Balogun Street Okota.

Another of such project is standing at Alaba street Ejigbo as well as on Popola street okota.

Another on going solar powered borehole project is at Aje Awa lane Okota.

“As regards power, GAJ has not neglected his constituency.  He has provided 350 KVA Transformer at Babs Aregbesola Street Okota, solar powered street lights at Ire Akari Road.

 “The other segment of his achievement is based on empowerment of people from all sides of trainings, skis acquisition, grants, free forms for national exanms like utme, NECO, WSSCE, etc

BIG BOOST FOR NOLLYWOOD FESTIVAL GERMANY 2022

 SHOWBIZ

__CONSUL GENERAL THROWS WEIGHT

By Fred Iwenjora

Nollywood Film Festival Germany and its sister event Nollywood Europe Golden Awards (NFFG/NEGA) got a very big boost yesterday  when the organisers and patrons of Frankfurt based Ehizoya Golden Entertainment led by Cultural Ambassador Isaac Izoya paid a courtesy call on the Consul General of Nigeria in Frankfurt, Germany, His Excellency, Ambassador Wahab A. Akande.

The meeting was to intimate His Excellency, Amb Akande of the grand plans for the 2022 edition of the festival, the first edition after the COVID 19 strike themed; Unlocking all possibilities.

Ambassador Akande (2nd L) flanked by Ehizoya tea

In his remarks at the meeting which held at the expansive meeting room of the consulate, Isaac Izoya flanked by Patron, Engr. Imade Iyamu and head of international relations Heidi Ivangs-Kariuki welcomed the new consul to Frankfurt and followed it up with a historical overview of the activities of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V in the area of cultural exposition of Nigeria’s culture as in music, films and other formats like comedy over the years.

All in one

Izoya recalled the first integrations shows in Berlin which brought Nollywood super stars (Lancelot Imasuen, Ngozi Ezeonu and Empress Njamah) to Germany to perform and feature in ZERO YOUR MIND after the first Nollywood film ever produced in Germany titled SINNERS IN THE HOUSE shot in Germany and in Nigeria in 2002 and premiered March 1, 2003 in Berlin, Germany.

Cultural Ambassador Isaac Izoya and Ambassador Wahab Akande

Aside this, Izoya talked about his other films like, Love in Berlin, Home and Abroad, Run..But You Can’t Hide, Mrs Adam etc as well as the comedy shows that eventually toured over 18 EU cities in 8 European countries like Italy, Holland, France, Greece, Spain, Germany, Belgium and a host of other cities.

He talked about how these films later gave birth to Nollywood Film Festival Germany - NFFG as well as Nollywood Europe Golden Awards NEGA, platforms to showcase and reward excellence in the art of film making.

He did not stop until he noted the supportive role the Nigerian embassy and consulate always played in these activities adding that more of such support was expected especially in the upcoming 2022 event.

Said Izoya “there is no way I can forget Nigeria Embassy in Berlin and Consulate in Frankfurt am Main, Germany in all we have done in trying to use cultural activities to cleanse and project Nigeria image here in Europe. I remember Ambassador Baba Wakil, I remember Ambassador Rimdap, I recall how your predecessor Amb John Ejinaka took our matter personal. In fact let me here and now commend Nigeria Embassy in Berlin and the Consulate General in Frankfurt interest in what we do. We came here today to intimate you of the big plans we have for NFFG/ NEGA 2022 so you can also take it personal and give us maximum support. Apart from being the first event after the global issues created by Covid19, this event will be a bumper occasion featuring Nigeria’s big artistes and comedians aside from the film shows. We are already being inundated with films from Nollywood film makers who wish to make use of our platform to showcase and premiere their new films come July 29th and 30th of July 2022. 

This  edition is very commemorative because it coincides with the 20th anniversary of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment cultural expositions in Germany.”

When Ambassador Wahab Akande flanked by his lieutenants Head of Chancery  Ismail Ahmad, head of culture educaion and information Solomon Enejoh and Valery Lapang, head of economics, trade and investment took the floor, he was full of commendations for the activities of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment in the onerous task of laundering Nigeria’s image abroad making use of the much cultural diversity Nigeria is blessed with; films,  music and comedy.

He also commended the organisers for their tenacity of purpose and holding onto a vision and mission for 20 years undeterred by the many challenges that confront it.

Ambassador Akande pledged his unalloyed support for anything capable of projecting Nigeria’s positive image and interest NFFG/NEGA inclusive.

He said a committee featuring head of culture, education and information at the Consulate Solomon Enejoh and head of Economics, Trade and investment Valery Lapang will be put in place to liaise towards a very interesting event.