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AMBODE: A TESTIMONIAL

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By Yemi Ajayi

Before the advent of the Fashola administration, driving through Oshodi, which I had to do to get to my office then at Fatai Atere Way, was one of the most harrowing experiences I had to go through five days a week.

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The two alternative routes to my office, passing through Ikorodu Road to connect Ilupeju By-pass or through the Airport Road to link up Ladipo via Five Star, were to say the least equally unattractive. The traffic on those alternative routes was as hellish as that of Oshodi.

Then, one Sunday after the first New Year of having Fashola as governor, I drove through Oshodi on my way to work and my “flabber was gasted.”

The orderly chaos that was the defining persona of Oshodi was totally absent. I was confronted with a new Oshodi devoid of its characteristic heavy human and vehicular traffic. There were phalanxes of policemen here and there to prevent a breach of the peace after a dawn demolition of illegal structures that also provided habitats for criminals who tormented motorists and passers-by.

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That singular act marked the beginning of my romance with Fashola. I became his implacable supporter. He had by restoring order to Oshodi not only reduced my commuting time from home to work, my daily fuel consumption dropped by as much as 55%.

In a nation devoid of a standard metric for measuring performance of public office holders, it also set for me a template in assessing leaders.

It is in that light I’m viewing the ongoing crisis of succession in Lagos State being championed by those trying to deny Fashola’s successor, Akinwunmi Ambode, the conventional right of first refusal.

Many reasons have been pushed into the public space on why Ambode must give way to Jide Sanwo-Olu, the favourite pick of Tinubu’s political machinery, the Mandate Group, and they range from the ridiculous to the sublime.

Unfortunately, none of the reasons I’ve come across so far has much to do with majority of Lagosians on whose votes Ambode is in office.

As someone who has lived in Lagos for almost 40 years, I can say that Ambode has added to the building blocks of the foundation laid by his predecessors. Lagos to me is better now in terms of infrastructure and service delivery in some areas than it was before.

The governor has wormed his ways into my heart, and those of millions of others, with the construction of inner road network especially within the Ifako-Ijaiye Alimosho corridor.

Within my Alakuko neighbourhood, there are at least nine ongoing inner road projects. Some of them are in areas where the residents had lost hope of ever feeling government’s presence.

He has made interventions in other areas such as tackling Lagos perennial traffic congestion through the construction of laybys, flyovers and pedestrian bridges.

I can’t forget my first day of driving through Ojodu-Berger in a bid to access the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. It was a detour I had to grudgingly make as that route is one I avoid like a plague for its notorious traffic.

But on this day, I had to take my chances as all alternative routes to access the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway through Agidingbi to connect Otedola Underpass were choked with traffic.

Surprisingly, the Ojodu-Berger axis was not only uncharacteristically free from traffic, I could’ve missed my way due to the changed landscape that followed the reconstruction of the area. The reconstruction had not only led to the removal of all traffic impediments, but saw to the expansion of the road.

There is no doubt that while Ambode had done well in the area of infrastructure, his performance has been average in other areas, especially in refuse disposal. Many residents are also not happy with his administration with the hike in Land Use charges.

However, as a property owner, I can say that the hike in the Land Use charges isn’t as hurtful as it was made to be, especially after the governor bowed to public outcry and ordered a review.

Although what I paid as Land Use charges is now far higher than what I had been paying in the last eight years, I don’t need to rob a bank or take a loan to pay up.

But his performance notwithstanding, there has been an intense campaign to ensure he doesn’t return in an election that is his to lose.

The governor has been accused of not deserving a second term for not servicing the greed of APC leaders in the state, among others.

But in all this, where stands the interest of the electorate who put in Ambode in office and whose welfare is the purpose of governance?

Unfortunately, the electorate are being railroaded to rally behind his main challenger for the post, Jide Sanwo-Olu.

Certainly the APC leaders are pursuing a selfish agenda which they’re deceitfully dressing as a push for better life for Lagosians.

For what it’s worth, Ambode might not have done well in all areas of governance, but he has performed well enough to earn a second term in office.

Those who’re pushing the argument that he should go and test his popularity at the party’s direct primary are being disingenuous in their advocacy. The direct primary, abinitio, has been rigged for him to lose.

That argument would have had any veneer of credibility if all other elective posts had been thrown opened for contest.

So far, I’m not aware that Senators Remi Tinubu and Adeola (Yayi) have any serious challengers for their tickets. That is so because the party establishment has decreed it be.

If it’s sauce for the senators and others, it should be sauce for Ambode.

There is no doubt that the political fortune of Ambode and President Muhammadu Buhari are tied together, which is the more reason why good reasoning should prevail in this matter. More worrisome to me is the economic impact of this needless impasse when all of us know that instability in Lagos would have spiral effects on the national economy. 

It’s therefore morally and political expedient to allow the governor finish the good work he has been doing. 

 Ajayi, a journalist, writes from Lagos

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Yahaya Bello: Appeal Court fails to hear EFCC’s suit against order restraining ex-Gov’s arrest

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Kogi AG Vs. AGF: Supreme Court cautions against continued harassment of Kogi officials

Yahaya Bello: Appeal Court fails to hear EFCC’s suit against order restraining ex-Gov’s arrest

 

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Hearing on the appeal instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against an interim order of the Kogi State High Court restraining the Commission from arresting, detaining, harassing or prosecuting Yahaya Bello, pending the determination of the substantive originating motion for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, suffered a setback on Monday, as the Court of Appeal failed to sit.

 

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Governor Yahaya Bello Reveals His Preferred Successor

 

The appropriateness of the siege on Bello’s residence by operatives of the Commission last Wednesday had elicited a heated debate across the country, particularly with the realisation that there had been a restraining order against such action, which had not been vacated as of the time of such action.

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The EFCC had appealed the order on March 11, 2024 and sought for a stay of execution in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission v. Alhaji Yahaya Bello. The Court of Appeal did not grant the stay of execution but fixed Monday, April 22 for hearing.

However, the Kogi High Court, on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, had delivered its substantive judgment in the matter and directed the commission to seek the leave of a superior court before taking further step against Bello. The judgment was read at about 12pm.

As at about 8am, when EFCC laid siege on Bello’s Abuja residence, the interim injunction, which restrained them from arresting or harassing him, among others, was still subsisting.

Justice Isa Abdullahi had, in his latest verdict, held: “Looking at the Orders sought by the applicant (Yahaya Bello), I am inclined to grant them subject to some alterations which in my view will meet the justice of this case, in the following terms;
1. An Order is hereby granted enforcing the Fundamental Rights of the applicant to liberty and freedom of movement and fair hearing, by restraining the Respondent (EFCC) by themselves, their agents, servants or privies from continuing to harass, threaten to arrest or detain or in any manner whatsoever arresting, detaining or prosecuting the Applicant on the basis of the criminal Charges now pending before the Federal High Court, Abuja to wit; Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022 between FRN v. Ali Bello & Anor, without prejudice to the power of the said Federal High Court, to make any Order as it may deem just in the determination of the rights of the Applicant and the Respondent as may be submitted to her for consideration and determination.

2. An Order is hereby granted directing the Respondent to bring before the said Federal High Court, or any such appropriate Court, such criminal Charge, allegation or Complaint in respect whereof the Applicant is reasonably believed by the Respondent to have committed any offence subject of its jurisdiction, provided that the Respondent shall not invite, arrest or detain the Applicant on account of a reasonable belief that the Applicant has committed any financial crime, without first obtaining the leave of a superior Court of Record, especially haven regard to the antecedents of the Respondent in the manner it has managed its engagements with the Applicant.”

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YOU MUST OVERCOME THE NEED TO BE LIKED -Apostle Suleman lectures

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YOU MUST OVERCOME THE NEED TO BE LIKED -Apostle Suleman lectures

YOU MUST OVERCOME THE NEED TO BE LIKED
-Apostle Suleman lectures

 

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If you have always been a people pleaser and always try your best to be liked by everyone, and do not like it when people are mad at you and always your mouth shut and letting people do and say whatever and walk all over you, Apostle Johnson Suleman has a word for you.

 

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YOU MUST OVERCOME THE NEED TO BE LIKED
-Apostle Suleman lectures

The servant of God at the Omega Fire Ministries (OFM) worldwide warns you should never try to make people like you. “Deal with fear,” he instructed in his latest homily. “The person who already likes you doesn’t need it, and the person who dislikes you doesn’t deserve it,” declares the ‘Restoration Apostle, warning that you risk being overwhelmed by anxiety and fear if you desperately need to be liked by others to be happy.

 

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“It is fear. Fear is so terrible that it takes some components to crush fear; love, power and sound mind, including courage. To be free from fear, guard what you hear. When the devil throws fear at you, gather yourself and respond in faith,” Apostle Suleman lectures.

 

There are people who are incapable of saying no to other people; they struggle terribly to overcome the need to be liked by other people. But Apostle Suleman’s warning suggests the keyword to be ‘need’. It indicates that it’s perfectly okay to ‘want’ to be liked by other people. However, issues arise when it becomes a need, because you would do all sorts of dumb things just to crave acceptance in order to be liked. The famous preacher says the need to be liked by other people can only compound the problem by breaking your commitment to yourself.

 

 

It doesn’t matter if that means ignoring your values, lying to yourself, or pretending to be someone you’re not; as long as it results in you being well-liked by others, it sounds good to you. But Apostle Suleman points out the result: “Jesus Christ and other great people in world’s history never achieved the impossible goal of being universally liked. These exceptional people lived their truth regardless of whether or not everyone liked them,” he asserts, instructing that you’re better at focusing on living your truth than trying to be liked by others.

People will dislike you because of how you look, dress and talk. People will avoid you or pretend to fall asleep when you’re talking, for reasons you may never know. But, Apostle Suleman cautions you to commit to consistently living who you really are because, he says, if you don’t, no matter who you are, you will always say yes to people who don’t like you for whatever reason.

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Niger: One Week After Primate Ayodele’s Warnings, Bandits Attack Nigerian Soldiers (VIDEO)

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Niger: One Week After Primate Ayodele’s Warnings, Bandits Attack Nigerian Soldiers (VIDEO)

*Niger: One Week After Primate Ayodele’s Warnings, Bandits Attack Nigerian Soldiers (VIDEO)

 

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Six Nigerian soldiers and a civilian hunter were killed on Friday night by bandits who ambushed them in Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State.

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Niger: One Week After Primate Ayodele’s Warnings, Bandits Attack Nigerian Soldiers (VIDEO)

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Local sources report that the soldiers were responding to a distress call from Roro, Karaga, and Rumace communities when they were attacked. An army captain, identified as Adamu, was also abducted during the ambush. There are conflicting reports on whether Captain Adamu was subsequently killed.

This unfortunate incident has fulfilled the prophecy of Nigerian prophet, Primate Elijah Ayodele which he shared earlier in the month of April.

According to the prophecy which was captured in a video, the man of God warned the government of Niger state to be careful of attacks on military formations, government houses and governor’s convoy. He called on the authorities to watch out for any of these attacks.

These were his words:

‘’There will be a deadly attack on military formation. They must be careful so they won’t attack their government house and the governor’s convoy. They must watch on this in Niger’’

Just one week after the prophet sent this warning; bandits laid an ambush against soldiers and killed them.

There are several prophecies on the internet that Primate Ayodele has shared regarding the security situation of Nigeria. He also foretold the biggest calamity involving the brutal murder of soldiers in Delta state, kidnap operations in Nigerian schools, and several other things that have been fulfilled while some are yet to come to pass.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW:

@primateayodele

#military #nigeria #nigeriantiktok🇳🇬 #militarylife #warnings #government #niger #nigerstatetiktokers #governance #governor #governmenthouseniger #primateayodele #iescworldwide

♬ original sound – Primate Ayodele

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