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Real Reasons I’m being Prosecuted – Embattled Senator, Dino Melaye reveals
The embattled lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye, has thanked Nigerians for standing by him during his travails in the hands of those he described as the “State.”
Melaye, in a lengthy write-up posted on Facebook on Monday, alleged that his trials were a plot by the “State” to silence him.
The lawmaker, however, said that he is now more resolute on his convictions.
Melaye is being prosecuted by the Nigeria Police in two separate courts.
While he is standing trial in a Lokoja, Kogi State, court on charges bordering on gun-running, he is also on trial in an Abuja court for attempted suicide, among other charges.
The senator wrote: “Someone once said that rock bottom is good solid ground and a dead-end street is just a place to turn around.
“In the last few weeks, I have been taken to the good solid ground at the rock bottom and they couldn’t go further. I have been brought to the dead-end street, but with you standing by my side, I have turned around and bounced back to the chagrin of those who sought to seal my lips from speaking out against tyranny, politics of oppression and blackmail.
“They unleashed an endless barrage of physical, psychological, metaphysical and emotional torture and assault on me, but through the power of the Most High and you, the good people of Nigeria, we have once again seen the triumph of truth over lies and good over evil.
“It was Edmund Burke who was quoted as saying that when bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one … in a contemptible struggle.
“I am, of all men, a blessed man, to have courageous and dependable people like you as my fellow soldiers in the struggle to free us from the shackles of political strongholds and tyranny.”
He added, “The state unleashed its raw power on me and released a 200-man-strong fully-armed policemen on a man without a knife or a bullet. It did this because I called injustice by its name and called for accountability. For this, they sought to break my spirit and destroy me permanently.
“In their moment of reign, I was fully shackled. With my hands tied to my back and hurled into a dark solitary confinement waiting for the butchers knife, you, my people, stood by me. You came against a raging fire and stood up against tyranny, lies, filthy lucre, injustice, persecution and greed.
“While in the dark and unable to fight for myself, they sought to take my mandate, which you had freely given to me, but you answered back and quenched deceit in its wake. You stood resolute and unflinching and defended your mandate to me.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart. In their attempt to break me, they have made me stronger.”
The lawmaker thanked all those who stood in his defence and visited him “after I was injured and subsequently detained at the hospital.”
He said, “You have strengthened my resolve and hardened my flesh against those who seek to devour and make meat of me. You have once again proved to me the axiom in the saying that ‘in prosperity, our friends know us; in adversity, we know our friends.’ I am very grateful. For your sake, I remain unbowed.
“I know many of you worry about my safety and life in this new dispensation where life is no longer sacred in Nigeria, but do not be troubled.
My bond of love for you, my good people, makes it impossible for me to consider my self-risk, safety, comfort or opportunity in my unflinching commitment to stand up for you, to stand up for truth and if necessary, die for the truth and the emancipation of our people from the chains of poverty and oppression.
“Though they raise spurious allegations against me, bear false witness against me, though they seek to frighten me and lure me into their bounty of evil, I will fear no foe.
“Yes, my traducers and torturers wish that I keep quiet; though they seek to seal my lips, to silence my voice forever, I remain ever more resolute and committed.
I am committed to this cause for which I am a politician; the cause of the downtrodden, to speak truth to power and stand against oppression and injustice. On these issues, there will be no compromise. I owe no apologies and I tender none.
“Like I have always said, ‘you speak the truth, you die; you don’t speak the truth, you die. I have chosen to speak the truth, dead or alive. Reverend Martin Luther King Jnr. once said, ‘Cowardice asks the question: is it safe? Expediency asks the question: is it politics? Vanity asks the question: is it popular?
But Conscience asks the question: is it right?’ And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe nor political nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.
“To my people, I promise you this and this only. I have taken my position; I will not hold back, I will not hold my peace, I will not be shut down, neither will I shut up, not as long as injustice and falsehood continues to reign.
“As long as I will live, I will not bow to Baal.”
Dr. Abigail Adesina Olagbaye, CEO Desigo Tourism Development and Facility Management Company Ltd and founder, Sayari Dunia Sustainable Tourism Foundation, a seasoned tourism practitioner with 23 years of experience (out of which 21 years have been in Tourism), has announced her candidacy for President of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), the oldest and premier tourism trade Association in Nigeria.
With a proven track record of driving innovation and sustainable growth, Dr. Olagbaye is poised to transform Nigeria’s tourism landscape.
” Her vision is to re-position ATPN as the leading voice for Nigeria’s tourism development,” Dr. Olagbaye stated. “I’m committed to empowering our members with the training, resources, and networking opportunities they need to excel in their careers and elevate industry standards.”
Dr. Olagbaye’s campaign focuses on five key objectives:
– Strengthening Industry Partnerships: Fostering collaborations and alliances that drive growth and development.
– Capacity Building: Providing training, resources and opportunities to enhance professionalism.
– Advocacy: Amplifying the voice of tourism practitioners in Nigeria and beyond.
– Tourism Promotion: Showcasing Nigeria’s hidden gems both domestically and internationally.
– Improved Member Benefits: Enhancing the overall experience for ATPN members.
Additional initiatives to consider include:
– Faith-based International Conference Tourism: Tapping into the MICE potential of faith-based tourism.
– Medical Tourism: Promoting Nigeria as a hub for medical excellence.
– Sports Tourism: Leveraging sports to drive tourism growth.
– Language Training: Enhancing language skills to improve tourist experiences.
– Youth Tourism: creating opportunities for youths to be actively engaged in Tourism leveraging their potentials, talents and energies and enabling them to benefit from the socio-economic opportunities that tourism offers.
– Agro Tourism: Develop agro-tourism as a sub-sector of Tourism through partnerships and collaboration with the ministry of agriculture to ensure regulatory support, international organisations for cross pollination of ideas and knowledge transfer and capacity building, encourage our members to organise more farm stays, rural tours, food tourism events for more authentic experiences. Advocate for infrastructural development for rural roads and other amenities. Collaborate with locals for sustainability and inclusion.
To further enhance Nigeria’s tourism industry, Dr. Olagbaye plans to create robust social media platforms for the association. This will enable people at home and abroad to access tourism companies in Nigeria with international standard websites and social media focusing on major sites.Social media being an essential tool for promoting tourism.
As the pioneer of initiatives like Africa Tourism Climate Action Forum ATCAF and Africa Tourism Day, a nouveaux initiative in Africa which she started in 2020 in collaboration with the African Tourism Board, now in its 5th edition, Dr. Olagbaye has demonstrated her passion for sustainable tourism practices and her ability to drive meaningful change. “I invite fellow tourism practitioners to join me in transforming Nigeria’s tourism landscape,” she concluded.
Get in touch with Dr. Abigail Olagbaye:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +2349122525250
Social Media: @abbieolagbaye
@abigailolagbaye
@Dr. Abigail Olagbaye
(Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn)
*Campaign Slogan:* “Transforming Tourism, Empowering Practitioners”.
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The Next Chapter of Amen City: Sade Balogun talks about TIARA Estates & Amen Phase 3 in Lagos, Nigeria
In a move that underscores her commitment to excellence, Sade Balogun, the mastermind behind Redbrick Homes International Limited and Amen City Ltd, has introduced TIARA Estates and Amen Estate Phase 3, expanding the renowned Amen City in a big way!
Situated in the picturesque Ibeju-Lekki area, Amen City has become synonymous with luxury and elegance. The launch of TIARA and TIARA 2.0 by Amen City Ltd soon after Amen Estate Phase 3 is set to elevate this community to new heights.
With its refined homes and superior amenities, the TIARA series embodies royalty and opulence. Amen Phase 3 enhances the living experience with modern architecture and top-tier facilities.
A nearby hospital at Amen Estate Phase 2 offers swift healthcare access, contributing to residents’ peace of mind. This proximity to medical facilities is especially important in emergencies, ensuring that help is always close by.
A large supermarket within the estate provides convenience for everyday shopping, eliminating the need for long trips to distant markets. The presence of excellent schools nearby ensures quality education for children, making it an ideal location for families. The coastal road that reduces travel time to Victoria Island to under 40 minutes makes Amen City a practical choice for professionals who need to commute to the city.
The estate 24-hour light supply from a dedicated turbine engine ensures uninterrupted power, which is a significant benefit for those seeking reliable energy solutions.
Sade Balogun’s innovative vision has transformed Amen City into a model of luxury living and community development. This expansion marks another milestone in her illustrious career, reinforcing Amen City’s status as a premier investment destination. With her ability to foresee market trends and deliver projects that exceed expectations, Sade Balogun continues to set new standards in Nigerian real estate.
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