celebrity radar - gossips

ONOCHIE: THE AMAZON DESTINED FOR THE TOP By Idowu Ajanaku

Published

2 years ago

November 28, 2022

ONOCHIE: THE AMAZON DESTINED FOR THE TOP By Idowu Ajanaku

Love or hate her persona of courage and candour, there is no denying the fact that in the leadership equation, here in Nigeria and elsewhere in every democratic dispensation, loyalty and commitment to service pay. Those factors come of course, with character, hard work and being passionate to a cause one firmly believes in.

That may perhaps, explain why the name, LaurettaOnochiesends shivers down the spine of her traducers, all because she has stood solid and strong with her abiding loyalty to the President Muhammad Buhari’scause to promote integrity, quality service delivery and gender equity especially in the political spectrum.

In essence, that would also explain why the leadership of Project Niger Delta, PND, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for heeding the calls of the good people of the Niger Delta. That is precisely so in the recent nomination of men and women of proven integrity to constitute the substantive board of the controversy-riddled Niger Delta Development Commission,NDDC. Good enough, this falls in tandem with the Act setting up the CommissionNiger-Delta Development Commission (Establishment etc) Act 6 of 2000 as part of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

It would be noted that in spite of the barrage of verbal attacks that have trailed her commitment to sanitizing the New Media, which she has been spearheading as the Senior Special Assistant to Mister President she has remained resolute. She has therefore, acted as a beacon bearer against the dark background of unproven innuendoes and insinuations, even from some of her own Niger Delta people.

On the other hand, some others, like members of PND recognize her worth. What that implies or the point it proves is that President Buhari has made this rare appointment beyond loyalty, to competence. The confidence he has exhibited in Onochie, the graduate of Harvard University, University of Greenwich, University of Benin, University of Calabar, will surely go a long way for her to prove her mettle again.

In fact, as the PND group rightly noted, the inauguration of the substantive board of the commission was long overdue. Onochie’s appointment has therefore, revived the hopes of the people of the oil-rich region that the lost glory of the commission will be restored under her able watch.

Interestingly, Onochie, once approved by the Senate is coming as the fifth chairman of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the first woman to do so. That is history in the making.

Her appointment is coming some three years after the last chairman of the board, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba was dropped by the president on January 25, 2019. The senator was appointed in 2016.

It is also on record thatOnochie was a national commissioner nominee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but was rejected because her state, Delta had already produced a commissioner in the electoral body.

In retrospect, the NDDC was established in 2000 by the administration of former President OlusegunObasanjo, to fast-track the development of the oil rich Niger Delta region.

The past chairmen of the NDDC board were Chief OnyemaUgochukwu from Abia State and Air vice Marshal Larry Koinyan (rtd) from Bayelsa as well as Senators Ewa-Henshaw and Victor Ndoma-Egba, all from Cross River State.

In a letter addressed to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, Buhari also announced the nomination of 15 others as NDDC board members.

It would be recalled that in September 2008, President UmaruYar’Adua(of blessed memory) announced the formation of a Niger Delta Affairs Ministry. The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) became a parastatal under the ministry.

One of the statutory functions of the commission is for human capacity development- to train and educate the youths of the Niger Delta region. The objective is to curb militancy and the attendant destruction of lives and property, whilealso developing important infrastructure to promote diversification and productivity of the region’s economy.

Similar to PND, the Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has praised the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint LaurettaOnochie as chairman of the NDDC board.

Also appointed as acting executive director, Finance and Administration of NDDC is Chris Amadi, while Samuel Adjogbe, an engineer, becomes acting executive director, projects.

According to MOSIEND president, Kennedy Tonjo West, because Onochie has worked closely with Buhari, he has no doubt that Onochie will implement the president’s vision for the Niger Delta.

West said: “I think this is the first time we are having a woman as chairman of the board. It is a novel idea. But first, she is an SA (special assistant) to the President and she is doing her job. And the kind of job as an SA, she will definitely do what her boss says.

“If you have put that as a yardstick, then, I am quite sure that was what had endeared her to her boss for being thorough and resolute when it comes to her job.

“Coming back as a chairman, she is a Niger Deltan, she has equal right like every other person that should be nominated. I think the National Assembly should expedite action in giving her the pass to come and serve.”

In a similar vein, the National Coordinator of PND, Comrade PrincewillEbebi in a statement in Yenagoa, the group is convinced that with LaurettaOnochie and Chief Samuel Ogbuku as Chairman and Managing Director respectively, the narratives of the board will change for good.

Ebebi said: “We believed that having duo as the Chairman and Managing Director, the Niger Delta will witness the needed transformation especially now that the pains and agonies running through the heart of people after the calamitous flood disaster that has destroyed the livelihood of the people.

“We charge them to bring their wealth of knowledge to bear in the lives of our people and change the narrative of the current dwindling status of the oil-rich region. We congratulate Mrs. LaurettaOnochie and Chief Dr Samuel Ogbuku and others for their well-deserved appointment to move the Niger Delta forward”.

Though some may view her current nomination for the NDDC headship as a form of compensation for her travails since she was turned down by the Senate for the INEC job, people should not lose sight of the fact that had she betrayed the cause she stood by, the pendulum of the appointment would have swung otherwise. That reminds us of Benjamin Disraeli’s statement that: “The secret of success is constancy of purpose”.

Ajanaku, a journalist writes from Lagos .

celebrity radar - gossips

How Primate Ayodele Gave Deceased Actor ‘Agbako’ N100K Monthly Till His Death

Published

1 day ago

November 1, 2024

Sahara Weekly

*How Primate Ayodele Gave Deceased Actor ‘Agbako’ N100K Monthly Till His Death

In as much as veteran actor, Charles Olumo popularly known as Agbako died at a very old age yesterday, Primate Ayodele is one of those who are not happy that the thespian who graced our screen for decades is no more.

The Nigerian prophet who leads the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church has always shown his love for Nollywood practitioners, and this is evident in his several addresses to them. He invites them to his church programmes, supports them financially, prays for them, and seeks more support for them.

Due to his love for Nollywood and respect for the industry’s veterans, Primate Ayodele decided to offer the oldest actor, Charles Olumo, who died yesterday, a lifetime salary of N100,000 monthly starting in July 2023.

The prophet made this announcement at an event held by the Nollywood body TAMPAN to celebrate Charles Olumo’s 100th birthday in Abeokuta. At the event, the Nollywood body also made Primate Ayodele its life patron.

At the event, Primate Ayodele instantly gave the veteran a cheque of N500,000 and promised to place him on a monthly salary of N100,000 till his maker calls him home. Asides that, Primate Ayodele called on the Nollywood body to organize a foundation that would cater for old veterans where he would be able to support them financially.

These were his words:

“I appreciate this group for recognizing me, state national and president. I appreciate your service to the country. I appreciate this group for recognizing me, the state national, and the president. I appreciate your service to the country.

“By God’s grace, I will donate the sum of N500,000 to veteran actor, Charles Oluomo and place him on a monthly salary of 100k till his maker calls him home. Also, I will donate N500,000 to the association for this laudable event.

“I want you to come up with a foundation for the old veterans in the industry and include me in it. They don’t have to become beggars before they feed. This foundation will be responsible for their well-being and God’s willing, I will contribute my quota to it.’’

Primate Ayodele’s announcement to place the veteran actor on salary is what others do too but fulfilling the promise is what they fail to do. Many times, this kind of announcement ends immediately when the microphone is dropped but for Primate Ayodele, he ensured the actor gets what he promised him every month since he made the announcement.

May the soul of Charles Olumo rest in perfect peace.

celebrity radar - gossips

MULTIPLE HONOURS FOR EVELYN JOSHUA IN ARGENTINA BY DARE ADEJUMO

Published

2 days ago

October 31, 2024

Sahara Weekly

MULTIPLE HONOURS FOR EVELYN JOSHUA IN ARGENTINA

BY DARE ADEJUMO

In a gallant and joyful show of gratitude for the crusade held in Argentina by the Synagogue Church Of All Nations SCOAN along with its landmark charity programme for the “poorest of the poor” in the country, Pastor Evelyn Joshua has been showered with multiple honours and awards by the government authorities in Argentina. The Crusade was officially recognized as an event of public interest by the various government bodies.
Pastor Joshua received the “Key of the city of Resistencia in CHACO Province” by the Mayor of the city, Abelardo Nokckich,. That “key” makes her the first among equals, a distinguished personality and very important “citizen” of the Argentine city. The other Awards are: from the President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Province of CHACO, Mrs Carmen Delgado Britto in recognition of the Crusade as “a special event and a great thing for the Province by law” and that by the Governor of the province Mr. Leandro Zdero.
Accepting the Awards, Evelyn Joshua who was visibly surprised by the Awards, expressed her deep gratitude to the nation and the Awarders.
“It’s God’s comnand that we should be here to demonstrate His love physically and spiritually. I dedicate these Awards to the christians in Argentina who are striving and yearning to be like our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. That you may continue to grow in faith, spirit and words of God. I thank the Argentine government and all the various authorities that considered me fit for the awards” She prayed for a glorious turn around and God’s blessings for the land.
Major dignatories at the event include: the Provincial Deputy, Mr Paola Beneitez, The Minister of Justice, Labour and Human Rights Mr. Jorge Gomez, Director of Religious Affairs for the Province, Mr Pedro Garcia and Director of Religious Affairs for the municipality of Resistencia, Mr. Javier Pinero.
The two-day Crusade was a high water shed in the christians’ experience in Argentina.

Apart from rejuvenating and invigorating the early Apostolic age revival in a country where Christianity was gradually becoming a mere social gathering, Evelyn Joshua Crusade made the physiognomy of Christianity real with the avalanche of miracles, healings, deliverances, blessings and salvation of several human souls happening simultaneously and practically during the Crusade.

celebrity radar - gossips

Olo Omidan Bata Set To Drop Another Hot Single On Nov 10*

Published

2 days ago

October 31, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Olo Omidan Bata Set To Drop Another Hot Single On Nov 10

Female talented drummer, Olo Omidan Bata, is fresh out of the studios and she is set to drop yet another hot single that will explode in everyone’s faces!

The 23 year old youth beauty is very proud of her culture and flaunting it in stylish class. While her musical colleagues are busy trying to re-sell foreign music, Olo Omidan Bata the queen of the Bata drums is busy most times in the studios working on new African hit songs that will set the dance floor on fire!

Her dexterity and dedication to her kind of music has reflected in her other past singles, released in recent years.

Olo as she is also fondly called is actually one of the very few female that can handle the Bata, and that’s because Bata is such a tasking kind of drum to play.

But Olo handles Bata drums with ease and that is why ‘Inun mi dun’, her next hot song, is going to reflect the star energy that she has put into the African fusion she’s presenting.

The new single is weaved around celebration as the title: ‘Inun mi dun’, suggests. In the song, Olo is thanking God, she’s thanking her star and thanking Atunda Entertainment for making her to hit stardom in her musical career.

“I’m happy to have seen this day! I’m happy to have the right people around me. I’m happy to have been enjoying the right support that has taken me this far. I’m happy for life, so let’s celebrate!” Olo Omidan Bata said excitedly