Business
ONDO 2016: History beckons on APC Governorship Candidate, Senator Ajayi Boroffice
One of the missing factors in Nigeria’s political leadership equation, is the persisting lack of requisite experience and will on the part of the principal actors to serve the state instead of the self.Thus, we have been bedeviled by the dark-horse syndrome. The other is the internecine gambit for the plums and perquisites of office, characterized by intrigues, mischief making and sheer blackmail,sometimes using armed thugs to brow beat real and perceived political foes.Yet, a third and quite distasteful ingredient in the potpourri of power is the obscene display of ill-gotten wealth aimed at courting the voters’ favour and thereby swaying his choice, all for monetary gains. But for how long would this continue? That is the million-naira question.
Truth is, that where competent,committed,courageous and patriotic politicians emerge on the scene their path to accessing the pedestal of power is literally strewn with thistles and thorns.There is however, one concerned Nigerian well-heeled in the art and science of politics who is battle-ready to make the paradigm shift. He wants to be the exception rather than the rule. And he is none other than the two-time Senator Ajayi Boroffice, representing Akoko North Constituency,using the platform of the All Progressives Congress(APC). But he knows it is not going to be a walk in the park. As he highlighted in a recent media chat, it is sad to note that sometimes you need the money and the thugs He should know. All through his political career he has distanced himself from anything that has to do with violence or throwing money about all because he wants some fleeting political position.
As the Asiwaju of Akokoland; a dignifying position thrust upon him after the demise of Chief Rufus Giwa he has become a worthy role model to all. Indeed, he wants to be the exception rather than the rule of brigandage in politics. He did not condescend to the use of thugs or foul language when he contested and convincingly won the Senatorial seat on two occasions. Not even when he squared up against a formidable candidate such as Chief Bode Jumoke. And he is not going to do so currently.
Instead, he wants to make the difference-to leave a legacy of positively impacting on the sustainable quality of life of his people. This he has amply demonstrated by his several philanthropic gestures. Over the years, he has sponsored the sinking of bore holes in virtually all the towns and villages across the Senatorial District that he represents. In addition, he has engaged in youth and women empowerment for skills acquisition and self-reliance. To further this noble cause, he donated grinding machines, motorcycles, in addition to 100 cars and 200 tricycles to those who needed them most.
For someone much-respected for his loyalty to the party, Boroffice firmly believes in the principles of putting the larger picture above his selfish ambitions. His victory at the polls in 2011 was seen by some as riding on the popularity of Governor Mimiko, then on the platform of the Labour Party, LP. But his successes using the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and later the APC have shown that he is constantly faithful to any cause he believes in.
For instance,when in 2012 Barrister Akeredolu clinched the party’s ticket for the gubernatorial race, ahead of him he remained in the party. Even when some politicians such as the former Deputy Governor,Ola Olanusi, and others such as Olu Agunloye, Saka Lawal, Olaiya Oni as well as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly left he stayed loyal and used his influence to win Akoko South-West added to Akoko North for the party. Such a rare form of unflinching loyalty he has also demonstrated when crisis reared its ugly head at the Senate.
Having stayed in the APC for the four years of its existence, combined with the ever-expanding political structures on ground and the aforementioned loyalty, Boroffice stands head and shoulders above the pack to clinch the coveted governorship of the APC.The other factor that stands him in good stead is his wealth of professional experience. This includes his untainted career,that has seen him as a professor of molecular biology at the premier University of Ibadan, subsequently as the Director/Science Coordinator at the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and DG of NASDRA. Thus, all these have fully equipped him to have a holistic view and vision on how to transform Ondo from that of a purely civil service state,dependent on the hand out allocations from the Federation Account to becoming an industrial hub.
First, is the natural advantage of it being a coastal state; with the longest coastline amongst the West African countries.It has the second largest deposit of bitumen, next to Canada in the entire world and fifth largest deposit of crude oil as far as the Nigerian nation state is concerned.Other minerals found, all in commercial quantity include coal, kaolin, columbine, clay, tin, talc, quart sand, granite and limestone.
With him, investors would be interested to build state-of-the-art oil refineries. They will also assist to resuscitate ceramics factory in Okeluse and build a deep sea port at Okitipupa. This would serve as an alternative to the Lagos ports and a choice destination for importers and exporters, rather than Cotonou. With rubber, cashew and cola nut in abundance agriculture-related industries could spring up.With him in the saddle, the state could establish cocoa-based factories as the largest producer in the country. Thousands of indigenes will be employed. Lasting wealth would be created.The Internally Generated Revenue,IGR will jerk up, to put a permanent smile on the forlorn faces of the long-suffering workers currently owed months of salaries.
With the growing clamour for the diversification of the economic base from the mono-product of oil, it should be obvious that Ondo state needs an erudite, globally recognized scientist in the mold of Boroffice to turn its fortunes around. He is a man whose time has truly come. But will the good people of the Sunshine State heed the clarion call? The answer lies in the voters’ hands. They should remember that man’s destiny is guided by the choices he makes.
NNPCL and Corruption’s Final Throes
By Pius Olasanmi
In the twilight of the Obasanjo administration, when Nigerians were still capable of being outraged, when Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of refineries was a buzzword that still held some mysticism to bamboozle citizens, during a conversation, a certain man said something profound. The man said, “As a businessman, if I were the owner of these refineries, knowing that they are three decades old, I would take the last money I have, hire bulldozers, raze them to the ground, and obtain loans to build new ones.”
When we pressed him further on why he would engage in such waste, he explained that repairing the refineries is the real waste. He explained that even if the TAM were honestly carried out, a thirty-year-old refinery would never compete favourably with a new one that would integrate contemporary technology. Operating at its best, such a refinery would never be comparatively more efficient. It is therefore pointless to have spent another one naira on the refineries at that point.
A few months later, I had a conversation with a then-lawmaker on an entirely different matter. I mentioned that the National Assembly has failed by not crafting legislation that would criminalise and punish public office holders who foist wrong decisions on the country. The logic: a public office holder need not steal to be punished, wrong decisions should attract penalties for an office holder who opts for the worst of all options when there are less injurious ones.
These established premises speak to the ongoing nauseating efforts at revisionism by those who wrecked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its previous iteration, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Notably, this campaign to rewrite history is traceable to Engineer Mele Kolo Kyari, the disgraced immediate past Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL and his hirelings. They have suffocated the news and the public opinion space with even more lies than they spun while in office.
The Saint Kyari campaign is anchored on convincing Nigerians that the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna Refineries were fully functional when he was booted out of office. So brazen is the campaign that one of its talking heads challenged the group chief executive officer (GCEO), Engr. Bayo Ojulari, to “inform Nigerians categorically what happened to the functioning refineries he inherited from his predecessor, Engr. Mele Kyari.” The effrontery.
We have not forgotten so soon the charade that followed the baffling claim that Nigeria has spent $2.8 billion on the repair of the refineries, while they are not churning out even a single litre of refined product among them. Saint Kyari and his goons played all manner of tricks, all of which embarrassed President Bola Tinubu, who had counted on ticking off the return to productivity of the refineries as part of his achievements, only to realise that he was deceived into celebrating phantoms. Tragic.
Lest we forget, 200 trucks were arranged as props in a well-directed video clip to celebrate the re-streaming of the Port Harcourt Refinery. The disappointment. Nigerians were to learn from several reports that the Port Harcourt refinery was not producing and was instead using old, stored petroleum products to load trucks. Worse still, the Kyari crew was passing off sanction-tainted Russian-sourced crude oil refined in Malta as locally refined products. More insult was piled on the assault on our collective sensibility with the lies that the Port Harcourt Refinery exported semi-finished products. Brazen.
Meanwhile, Kyari and his hirelings called those who pointed out or protested these glaring scams all manner of names. They hid behind industry technicalities and jargon to create the impression that those of us who knew Nigerians were being robbed did not understand what we were saying. The point remains that a $2.8 billion investment can potentially build a refinery with a capacity of around 100,000 barrels per day (bpd). Of course, the actual capacity of such a refinery will depend on various factors, including the complexity of the refinery, the technology used, and the location. That is the amount that Kyari’s regime at the NNPCL took and did not give Nigerians refined products.
Fast forward to Kyari’s sack and the appointment of Engineer Bayo Ojulari, who has demonstrated that things can indeed be done differently. Kyari’s exit was expectedly followed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) going after him and his associates. The extent of the theft is better understood against the backdrop of N80 billion being found in the bank account of one of his associates. They went on the run.
Perhaps because the EFCC was biding its time on securing international warrants for the arrests of these characters on the lam, they have become emboldened. They have decided to fight back and rewrite the story of their participation in the greatest fraud against Nigerians. Engineer Ojulari’s renewed mindset, which is entrenching a semblance of the transparency Nigerians demand, became their natural target. The demons that once roamed around the corporation came out with malevolence. They started spinning stories of corruption to tarnish the incumbent who refused to hide their crimes. The objective: bring Ojulari down. But alas, he is winning the war as it stands.
His innocence is proven, and it is glaring that those who want him out are mere charlatans who can no longer ply their corrupt wares because of the impact of the new reforms. Corruption in the NNPCL is in its final throes. The fake news being unleashed against the incumbent leadership is akin to corruption’s last kicks as reforms in the sector strangulate it and its practitioners. The reforms must take place in the NNPCL, whether the industry demons like it or not.
As a parting shot, Kyari and his associates would do well to prepare their defence. In addition to accounting for the $2.8 billion they laundered in the name of repairing the moribund refineries, they must also answer for the poor decision to fix that which is irretrievably broken. Awarding contracts for Turn Around Maintenance of 59-year-old refineries that a right-thinking person had suggested should be demolished almost twenty years ago, when they were only 30 years old, is criminal. Trying to deceive Nigerians that the fake repairs worked is treason.
Olasanmi is a public affairs analyst writing from Lagos.
GRANDIS 5STAR LUXURY APARTMENT & SUITES SET TO REDEFINE LIVING IN VICTORIA ISLAND
Set to Rise elegantly against the Lagos skyline, is the Grandis 5Star Luxury Apartment & Suites. According to Adejuwon Ademola, The General Manager of the Development company, it is more than just a residential building
“it’s a lifestyle statement. Standing 17 floors high in the heart of Victoria Island, this revolutionary masterpiece of modern architecture will offer a panoramic 360° view of Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, and Ikoyi, transforming every apartment into an exclusive penthouse experience for the world’s most discerning elite.”
Developed by Dumarco Construction Limited, a globally acclaimed company with decades of delivering complex, high-value projects in the highly regulated petroleum, oil, and gas industries, Grandis 5Star brings unmatched international safety standards, uncompromising quality, and timeless elegance into Nigeria’s luxury property market.
> “When you live in Grandis, you’re not just buying a home—you’re investing in peace of mind, world-class safety, and an effortless luxury experience that will remain pristine for decades,” says Adejuwon A. Ademola, General Manager of Dumarco Construction Limited.
The Gold Standard in Safety and Quality
Dumarco’s roots in the oil and gas sector mean the company operates to some of the strictest safety protocols in the world. Every stage—from conceptualization, design, construction, to long-term maintenance—follows internationally accepted procedures and quality assurance measures. Cutting corners is simply not in Dumarco’s vocabulary.
> “In the oil and gas industry, there’s no room for compromise. We’ve brought that same discipline and zero-tolerance for mediocrity into property development,” says Ademola. “That’s why Grandis will be one of the safest and most enduring residential developments in Nigeria.”
To ensure transparency and prevent (project complacency), Dumarco deliberately separates the developer, contractor, and consultant roles, engaging only the most competent professionals in each respective field. Dumarco’s project team includes globally recognized contractors such as Julius Berger, Cappa & D’Alberto, and Elalan, Migliore Construczione & Tecniche (MC&T) and their partners VENCO IMTIAZ CONTRACTING COMPANY (VICC) based in Dubai, UAE, Business Contracting Limited, alongside leading consultants like Morgan Omanitan & Abe, LAMBERT, and James Cubitt.
Grandis – Investments, appreciation, returns and profitability
Our selection process for the location of the project alone was pains-taking and completely thorough scientific process. Top professional companies were employed to conduct a scientific data acquisition and analytical survey of the entire Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki and Eko Atlantic before a project site is selected. Analyzing and acquiring areas developmental charts and trends, studying and gathering historical and present sale prices, rental charge and occupancy rates over a 50 year period from every individual street before the selection of the location of any of our developments especially true for the Grandis Project
He adds,
“Our clients and residents can be rest assured that the location of Grandis has been scientifically proven through all existing data to provide our clients with a 100% occupancy rate, highest developmental location, highest rental income and investment returns. ”
The Grandis Experience
Located minutes away from international corporate headquarters, embassies, and landmarks such as Eko Hotel, Radisson Blu, and the Radisson Red, Grandis offers unmatched convenience for professionals, diplomats, and high-net-worth individuals. Every residence is designed for both indulgence and efficiency, with high-grade finishes, smart-home systems, and private amenities that ensure seamless living.
From sunrise over the Atlantic to the glittering Lagos night skyline, residents will enjoy uninterrupted luxury, supported by discreet and highly trained staff, advanced security systems, and a design that prioritizes comfort and privacy.
> “We designed Grandis for people who want everything—security, elegance, convenience, and the assurance that their home will look as spectacular in 20 years as it does on day one,” Ademola notes.
A Legacy That Lasts
With its combination of visionary architecture, peerless safety, and meticulous maintenance planning, Grandis is built to remain iconic for generations. Thanks to Dumarco’s meticulous approach, the building’s service charges are expected to remain low while its value and appeal continue to appreciate over time.
In a market often marred by shortcuts and substandard practices, Mr Ademola says
Grandis stands as a beacon of what luxury living should be—safe, spectacular, and built to last.
“Grandis 5Star Luxury Apartment & Suites — Where safety meets sophistication, and every detail is designed for a life well-lived.”
He added
Website -www.dumarcoltd.com
Project website – www.26idowutaylor.com
Email [email protected]
Tel / WhatsApp +234 9077777883
GM – Adejuwon A. Ademola
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