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AJEGUNLE AND AMBODE’S DISCRIMINATORY LEADERSHIP STYLE? By Ikenna Asomba

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By May 29, 2018, some 90 days from now, our amiable and very distinguished Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, would have spent three years in office.

As a resident of Lagos, I must religiously say that the performance of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as it concerns the general governance in the Centre of Excellence, Lagos, has been averagely inspiring but daunting.

Governor Ambode, has no doubt trailed the developmental path of former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, particularly with his Legacy projects such as the New Oshodi Transport Interchange, a Legacy Project aimed at redesigning the traffic flow, as well as transforming the aesthetics of the area with iconic infrastructure; and also the use of the Lagos Local Government Areas, LGA Funds to further open the inner-city access roads in Lagos communities.

I must commend Governor Ambode for using the Local Government Funds, to build solid and standard inter-locked roads, with kerbs, pedestrian walk-ways and street lights across the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). These roads have no doubt contributed immensely to further opening Lagos. However, a lot more still need to be done.

In 2015, Governor Ambode used the Local Government Areas Funds to build 114 roads across the 57 Council Areas- two roads in each of the council areas. These landmark legacy projects were completed and commissioned in August 2016.

Perhaps for paucity of funds caused by the economic recession which hit Nigeria in 2016, the expected 2016 phase of the annual roads project couldn’t be achieved in 2017.

So, this 2018, it is commendable that work is about to commence across the 57 Council Areas, as 181 inner-city access roads across the council areas of the state are under-way.

AJEGUNLE IN FOCUS

Ajegunle is the popular ghetto area in Lagos State with over 946, 400 residents, second to Alimosho LGA with 1, 817, 200 residents.

Ajegunle houses the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area and major parts of the Ifelodun Local Council Development Area.

Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, had once described Ajegunle as the melting point of Nigeria. Reason: Ajegunle is a community that is made up of almost all the ethnic groups in Nigeria. There is barely any ethnic group or tribe that is not resident in Ajegunle.

Despite this melting point feature, residents here have remained largely peaceful and co-existing without tribal or ethnic clashes for many years. Not even the OPC/Ijaw or the OPC/Hausa clashes of those hey days were able to tear apart the peaceful cohabitation of the various ethnic nationalities in Ajegunle. Kudos must be given to the people, as well as the successive leaderships of the Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA and Ifelodun LCDA for this lasting peace in Ajegunle.

A WAKE UP CALL FOR AMBODE

Be that as it may, it has become very imperative to draw the attention of His Excellency Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to what many a residents have described as his Discriminatory Style of Leadership against the people of Ajegunle (Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA and Ifelodun LCDA), particularly in terms of appointments and road projects siting.

I have religiously followed the politics of appointments and siting of projects in Lagos State, particularly on the issue of roads construction, I must say that the Lagos State Government under the leadership of Governor Ambode has not favoured the good people of Ajegunle.

Since coming on board on May 29, 2015, no single road has been built by the state government in Ajegunle. The four roads built in Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA and Ifelodun LCDA respectively were built with the Local Council Funds under the control of the State Government. I stand to be corrected. If these funds are under the firm control of the Local Council Government, with close supervision by the state government, I am certain more than four roads would have been built since 2015.

Since 2015, the four roads that have been built in Ajegunle with the Local Council funds under the control of the state government are: Molade and Temidire Streets (Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA); Iludun Street, Amukoko and Itire Road, Alaba-Oro (Ifelodun LCDA). I reiterate, no road has been built by the State Government with its own funds.

On the other hand, among the 181 Roads under-way, to be facilitated with the Local Council funds, the two council areas in Ajegunle were allocated two roads each. They are: Uzor and Akogun Streets in (Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA) and Adekoya/Owoyemi and Adejiyan Streets in (Ifelodun LCDA). This is even as most council areas were allocated three roads each.

On appointments, in 2015, nobody from Ajegunle was deemed fit to be appointed a Commissioner by Governor Ambode. Not even Special Adviser was deemed fit for anyone from Ajegunle.

Again, there was reshuffling of his cabinet in January 2018, nobody was deemed fit to be appointed Commissioner in Ajegunle. Even Special Adviser, nobody from Ajegunle was deemed fit to be appointed. This is ridiculous.

It is also expedient to recall that in the 8 years administration of former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola- May 29, 2007- May 29, 2015,
just three major road projects were sited in Ajegunle by the administration.

They were the 0.265km dualization of the Alaba/Cemetary Road awarded to Banci Nigeria Limited and the construction of 1.210km Rotimi-Okulaja-Koripamo-Sholade-Salimonu Bakare Streets, awarded to Lopek Engineering & Construction Limited.

One of the two projects which were ongoing but stalled owing to inadequate funds as at when Fashola left office was the construction of 1.1km Ojoku-Ohuntan Streets awarded to Rojo Engineering & Construction Limited. It is completed now.

Unfortunately, the Grading and Surface Dressing done on the 0.8km Onishapa-Akogun Streets awarded to Wallways Tech Limited had since been washed away by flood, as the street is now impassable to the chagrin of pedestrians and motorists alike.

The Akogun Street has been re-awarded again. Perhaps, when completed, its residents can heave a sigh of relief.

Dear Governor Akinwunmi Ambode Ajegunle community has over 400 streets not tarred since the existence of the community.

These streets and roads also lack proper drainage channels, medians, walk-ways and street lights, unlike their counterparts in communities such as Surulere, Lagos Mainland, Apapa and Lagos which had the highest number of completed road projects under the last administration.

According to statistics from the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, the last administration in eight years, completed 229 new roads amounting to 118.159km, as well as did Grading and Surface Dressing on 80 roads amounting to 46.191km.

Ongoing road projects at the twilight of Fashola’s administration were 201 amounting to 237.771km, while there was Grading and Surface Dressing on 71 roads amounting to 76.740km.

In Fashola’s eight years, unlike Ajegunle, top beneficiaries of completed and ongoing road projects according to a summary by the works ministry were: Alimosho- completed (31) ongoing (16); Lagos Mainland- completed (29) ongoing (3); Surulere- completed (26) ongoing (37); Kosofe- completed (25) ongoing (29); Ifako Ijaiye- completed (22) ongoing (13); Mushin- completed (20) ongoing (3); Ikorodu- completed (17) ongoing (8).

Pathetically, Ajegunle, comprising wo council areas got a paltry 3 Roads in 8 years.

From investigations, it is said that the Lagos State Government jettisons Ajegunle in its road infrastructure plan because the residents don’t massively vote for the ruling party in the State.

Assuming this is true, one wonders if Ajegunle is not part of Lagos. One wonders if the State Government don’t collect tax from residents here. One wonders if what took place during elections should be used to determine the amount of projects to be attracted to Ajegunle.

Against the backdrop of inequality in the siting of road projects, I join millions of other residents in Ajegunle to call on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, to urgently declare a state of emergency on roads in Ajegunle community.

It is imperative to remind Governor Ambode of one of his campaign promises, during a Town Hall meeting at Eagle Club, Surulere, to build 5,000 roads in four years, if elected. May 29, 2019 is just some 15 months from now, can Ambode meet up with the fulfillment of these 5,000 roads?

Dear Governor Ambode, the four major roads in Ajegunle community are riddled with pot-holes, shallow drainage channels, lack of median, walk-ways and no street-lights. The deplorable state of these roads cause excruciating pains to motorists, motorcyclists and tricyclists. The four major roads are: Boundary-Aiyetoro-Ojo Road-Alaba Suru; Boundary-Baale-Mba-Cardoso-Otto Woff; Boundary-Tolu-Kirikiri-Berger Suya and Ojoku-Idewu-Industrial Avenue.

Please, enough of the excuses that some of these roads are Federal Government Trunk Roads.

Governor Ambode must not wait for the Federal Government to fix these roads to standard. I trust his verified capacity in building standard roads. Lagos is a pacesetter state when it comes to building standard roads with good drainage channels, walk-ways, kerbs, median and street-lights.

As 2018 ticks, and ahead of the 2019 Governorship election in Lagos State, I am certain that Governor Ambode would be re-elected for a Second Term, to consolidate on his legacy projects.

Going forward, these are some of the deplorable roads Governor Ambode should fix to put smiles on the faces of Ajegunle residents. These roads are important inner-city access roads. They include but not limited to: Ekundayo, Osho Drive, Kekere Ogun, Okito, Uzor (underway), Akerele, Omowunmi, Chidi, Dada Onijama, Odudu, James Igbe, Ashafa, Oluwa, Mensah, Baba Sule, Akimbo, Taiwo, Wowo, Temidire, Adeolu, Apena, Apikirin, Isikalu, Silver, Ugbewankwo, Okorogbo, Akatapko, Abukuru, Babani, Goriola, Rashidi, Ladipo, Otuniyo, Ezeagu, Adekeye, Ligali, Aiyenero, Mosalashi, Olowosu, Ladega, Akogun (under-way), Ibafon, Emodi, Fasasi, Kudaisi, Alhaji Adebola, Bolaji Oloro, Jones Waribi and Jejeliaye.

Others are Togunde Igbaja, Sadiku, Trinity Close, Dele Bakare, Abiola Oluwa, Alhaji Kareem Akande, Kola Akin-Tepede Close, Cemetery Road, Palace Road, George, New Creature Avenue, Arowo Iyabuno, Iyakudima Lane, Chuka Ben Avenue, Adetola Lane, Chief Titus Ufondu, Ben Onyeka, Ola Badmus, Deliverance, Barr. Ahmed Musa, Odofin Akinsanya, Raufu Olaiya, Abiodun, Queen, Otakoya, Olowa, Emmanuel Avenue, John Okorie, Ishaga among others.

No doubt, Ajegunle is still a sprawling slum and ghetto city. If Governor Akinwunmi Ambode declares a state of emergency on inner-city roads in Ajegunle, the residents here would have no option but to give his party their massive votes and support at subsequent elections. The Discriminatory Style of Leadership would thus be a thing of the past. For one good turn deserves another.

Going forward, when these road projects are done, the Council Administration should take charge in its maintenance. A situation where slight pot-holes on roads are allowed to degenerate should seize. This is corruption. Also, a situation where residents litter refuse on these roads, channel their wastes on these roads should stop.

This is my one penny advice to His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, if his party is to further make in-roads, with ease in Ajegunle.

Ikenna Asomba is a Social Commentator.

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TINUBU IS THE WISEST MAN EARTH -PROPHET IKURU 

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TINUBU IS THE WISEST MAN EARTH -PROPHET IKURU.

by Collins Nkwocha 

 

Nigerian prophet, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry, Lagos magnetized everyone’s attention when he referred to the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the wisest man on earth regarding the appointment of Daniel Bwala as special Adviser on policy communications.

 

 

Speaking to reporters today in Lagos,

Prophet Ikuru applauded the president for choosing him and enunciated that he’s capable of delivering effectively and marketing the Renewed Hope Agenda of the president and urged Nigerians to stop the criticism because of what he said in the past “I’m personally happy with his appointment and I urge Nigerians to forget about the past, forget about what he must have said about the president some years ago which people are now disseminating on the social and taunting him a betrayal that lacks integrity, Nigerians should forget his past because he’s the best choice”.

 

Prophet Ikuru insisted that Bwala saw the sincerity and genuity of the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda and he decided to partake in it “even if he criticized the president, it was in the past, he saw the sincerity in the Renewed Hope Agenda and decided to join in nation building ,the president is ready to unite everyone in order to build Nigeria,that’s why someone like Wike is in his government,Bwala has what it’s required to be successful under Mr.president, as a wise man, the president saw it and decided to harness it ”

 

Finally, he praised Tinubu and referred to him as a great leader who is ready to involve everyone in his government, he maintained that his wisdom is magnanimous ,Baba is truly the wisest man on earth.

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U.S. Courtroom Shock: Funke Ashekun, Husband Collapse as MFM Wins

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U.S. Courtroom Shock: Funke Ashekun, Husband Collapse as MFM Wins

A dramatic scene reportedly unfolded in a United States courtroom as a legal battle involving Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) ended in favor of the church, leaving the opposing party visibly shaken.
According to accounts from individuals familiar with the proceedings, tension had been high throughout the hearing as the court prepared to deliver its ruling in the long-running dispute involving Funke Ashekun and her husband.
Moments after the decision was announced in favor of MFM, the atmosphere inside the courtroom reportedly turned chaotic. Witnesses said Ashekun and her husband appeared overwhelmed by the verdict and suddenly fainted, prompting immediate concern from those present.
Court officials and medical responders quickly intervened to provide assistance, while proceedings were briefly interrupted as the situation was brought under control.
The case, which had drawn attention among observers following the dispute, concluded with the court ruling in favor of the ministry, marking a significant legal victory for the church.
While details surrounding the legal arguments remain closely watched by those familiar with the case, the dramatic moment following the ruling quickly became the most talked-about aspect of the courtroom proceedings.
As reactions continue to emerge, the outcome is expected to close a chapter in the dispute while raising conversations about the broader implications of the case
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Had FFK Faced Mehdi Hassan, Nigeria Would Have Spoken With Fire 

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AHMAD GUMI: CLERIC OF BLOOD, FACE OF HATE 

Had FFK Faced Mehdi Hassan, Nigeria Would Have Spoken With Fire 

By Mohammed Bello Doka

 

 

 

In politics, timing is everything. In diplomacy, character is everything. And in moments of national importance, leadership must be entrusted to individuals who possess not only experience but courage, intellect and an unshakable commitment to the nation they represent.

 

It is for this reason that the appointment of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode as Nigeria’s Ambassador to a foreign nation stands out as one of the most consequential diplomatic decisions in recent years.

 

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, better known in the South as “FFK” and in the North as “Sadauki”, is one of the most brilliant, experienced, accomplished, vocal, respected, educated, profound, intellectual, patriotic, disciplined, well-read, historically literate, versatile, forceful, persuasive, sophisticated, cosmopolitan, charming, eloquent, courageous and resilient men in Nigerian politics and he has paid his dues and proved his worth over the last 35 years in politics and political discourse.

 

 

In each role he has played he has excelled and succeeded even when he was in opposition.

 

 

His friends value him as a great and loyal defender and his traducers and political adversaries fear and respect him because when he goes to war he is utterly relentless, takes no prisoners and literally spits fire.

 

 

 

How I wish it was him that was interviewed by Mehdi Hassan of Al Jazeera and not the young and inexperienced Daniel Bwala because he would have not only humbled Hassan but also done Nigeria proud.

 

 

 

He played Bwala’s present role in the Presidential Villa 23 years ago as President Olusegun Obasanjo’s spokesman and not only brought the then President’s domestic enemies to their knees but also had a series of very hot exchanges with foreign Government officials like America’s Under-Secreatary of State for Africa Jendaye Fraser and the White House over the Charles Taylor issue and Liberia.

 

 

 

Tinubu decision to appoint him as an Ambassador for our nation was a wise one because he will fight for and protect the interests of Nigeria and the Nigerian community whetever he goes and will never sell his soul or bow to foreign imperialist interests.

 

 

 

His appointment is not about just rewarding loyalty for the key role he played in Tinubu’s presidentiel campaign organisation as Director of New Media and Special Operations in 2023 and the staunch support he has given the President over the last three years but also about putting a square peg in a square hole.

 

 

 

If you want to put Nigeria first Sadauki is the one to do it.

 

 

If he runs the Nigerian Mission in the country that he is sent to in the same way he ran the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Aviation when he was Minister to each of them one after the other twenty years ago he will do very well and both our nation and whichever nation he is posted to itself will benefit from his efforts.

 

 

 

History teaches that diplomacy is most effective when nations deploy individuals who possess both intellect and courage.

 

 

 

As the American statesman Henry Kissinger once noted, “Diplomacy is the art of restraining power.”

 

 

 

To do so successfully requires deep historical awareness and strategic clarity—qualities that have long defined Fani-Kayode’s political career.

 

 

 

Sending a politically seasoned voice like FFK to any nation that is a key partner to Nigeria signals that Bola Ahmed Tinubu intends to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic posture with confidence.

 

 

Throughout more than three decades in the political arena, Fani-Kayode has remained one of the most resilient and outspoken figures in Nigerian public life despite numerous challenges which would have broken and destroyed lesser men.

 

 

Regardless of all that was thrown at him he continues to pull through and come out victorious which is why many refer to him as the “Akanda Eledumare” and the “Ayanfe Oluwa” which mean “the strange one of God” and “the beloved of the Lord”.

 

 

There appears to be a divine dimension to his life that makes him unstoppable and irrepressible even though his enemies are legion.

 

 

 

 

 

One wonders what sets him apart and makes him so different.

 

There is no doubt that his education played a part in it and this set him apart from most.

 

 

 

He never went to school in Nigeria but was educated from the age of eight in England starting off at Holmewood House School in Kent, one of the UK’s best and most famous Preparatory schools, after which he attended the famous Harrow School just outside London which is, together with Eton College, an institution that is the exclusive preserve of high society in the UK, one of the two best private schools in that country where only the ruling elite, the rich, the well-to-do, the famous and only a tiny proportion of those in British high society can afford or even qualify to attend.

 

 

No less than eight British Prime Ministers, including the great Sir Winston Churchill, and countless British cabinet ministers attended Harrow and so did many leaders, diplomats and top politicians from many foreign countries.

 

 

 

After finishing at Harrow he attended some of the top universities in the world, including London University (SOAS) and Cambridge University (Pembroke College) where he did so well.

 

 

 

As a matter of fact his great grandfather, Rev. Emmanuel Adelabi Kayode, attended Furrough Bay College which at that time was part of Durham University and graduated with an MA (Hons.) in Theology in 1893. His grandfather Justice Adedapo Kayode attended Cambridge University (Selwyn College) where he studied law and graduated in 1922. His father Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode attended Cambridge University (Downing College) where he studied law and graduated in 1943. Sadauki himself graduated in law at Cambridge University (Pembroke College) in 1984 whilst his daughter Folake Fani-Kayode graduated from Durham University in 2009.

 

No African family has an uninterrupted streak of 116 years of Oxbridge-level university graduates except for the Fani-Kayode’s which is something that both his family and every patriotic Nigerian should be proud of.

 

 

It therefore makes perfect sense that a man from such a distinguished pedigree and intimidating lineage and that has such an extraordinary intellectual heritage should represent Nigeria on the international stage.

 

 

 

There is also his role in the debate on Gaza which made him a hero in the eyes of millions of people in the Global South both amongst Christians and Muslims.

 

 

 

He spoke out consistently about what he described as the genocide being committed against the Palestinians and he was prepared to put his life and career on the line for this cause even though most Nigerian leaders and politicians refused to say what he was saying publicly out of fear of the Zionist lobby and the Jewish state.

 

 

 

His sense of patriotism is unquestionable and nothing reflects this better than his series of essays written against Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Opposition Conservative Party and his write up against one Ben Llewelyn-Jones, who at that time was the Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, when the former consistently sought to insult and denigrate Nigeria and the Nigerian people and the latter attempted to interfere in our internal affairs by making statements in support of Peter Obi and his Obidients in the 2023 presidential elections.

 

 

 

Sadauki successfully put them both in their place and when American Senator Ted Cruz, President Donald Trump, Congressman Tim Riley and other American politicians began to peddle the false narrative and fake gospel of Christian genocide and persecution in Nigeria Sadauki, a devout Christian himself, rose to the challenge and more than any other Nigerian wrote about the issue in a series of essays pointing out the fact that as many Muslims were being killed as Christians by the terrorists in our country and that Christians were not being persecuted by our Government and are in fact faring better when it comes to positions in the security apparatus and governance under Tinubu than they did in the previous administration.

 

 

 

He also spoke out boldly against President Trump and his administration when they accused the Government of South Africa of indulging in genocide against the white minority population in their country and pointed out the fact that South Africa, like Brazil, was a shining example of a successful multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural nation that was treating its white minority population with the greatest respect. Few Africans said a word to defend South Africa at the time even though they knew that Trump was wrong but Sadauki did so without thinking twice.

 

 

 

He is clearly a strong Pan-Africanist and a believer in the importance of the African Union, African solidarity, the BRICS coalition and the Global South alliance comprising of China, Russia, South Africa, India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other emerging world powers.

 

 

This is commendable and it reflects his courage and disdain for those that display ignorance, disdain and contempt for our nation and people and that seek to denigrate and misrepresent us.

 

 

 

Sadauki is not the type that bows and quivers before Westerners like so many other Nigerian leaders and politicians but rather takes pride in his Nigerian culture, race, heritage and identity and is prepared to defend us and speak for us no matter whose ox is gored and who is involved.

 

 

 

In an increasingly competitive global environment, Nigeria requires diplomats capable not only of negotiation but also of defending national interests with conviction.

 

 

 

If the energy, eloquence and intellectual fire that have defined Fani-Kayode’s political life accompany him to the country to which he has been posted, his tenure may well become one of the most consequential chapters in Nigeria’s modern diplomatic engagements.

 

 

 

I wish him well and I thank God that he is back in the saddle of public office after so many years.

 

 

What more could any of us ask of this great and noble son of Nigeria?

 

 

This is undoubtedly the quality of personnel and leaders that we need on the international stage.

 

I hope and pray that in his endeavours and during the course of his work he meets with Mehdi Hassan in a debate and prove to him and the rest of the world that Nigeria still has men that can not only match them but that can also remove their trousers in any verbal encounter. Bwala put us to shame but FFK can redeem us before the eyes of the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Mohammed Bello Doka, the author of this essay, is the publisher of Abuja Network News and can be reached via [email protected])

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