An attempt by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, to do a post mortem of the March 2015 presidential election and the campaigns leading to it has unexpectedly elicited a negative reaction from DAAR Communications Plc, owners of AIT.
In what many Nigerians consider to be an overreaction by the broadcast house to a factual appraisal of the events that took place during the presidential contest between President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress and former President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, DAAR Communications Plc rather than feel sober, decided to denigrate the presidential spokesman.
Despite the strident attempts by the media outfit to rewrite history, by denying obvious facts and attempting to smear a good man, the point remains that Nigerians know the truth and cannot be deceived. As a mass communication expert, I can say that a content analysis of the advertorials and editorial materials used by the broadcast outfit tilted in favour of the then party in power, the PDP.
It is also the belief of most Nigerians that as Mallam Shehu stated at a recent event in Lagos, NTA and AIT denied and refused the APC presidential campaign full access to their broadcast facilities even when they tried to place advertorials.
Though the campaigns are over, yet it is in the realm of scholarship for us to scrutinize the performance of the media during the period under review. The reason why such issues should be put in perspective is to draw the attention of the media to the need to ensure balance in their reportage and coverage.
So many pundits and analysts have attributed the victory of APC in the presidential election to the ingenuity and leadership qualities of Mallam Garba Shehu, who coordinated the media and publicity directorate of the campaign. With his background as a mass communication guru, journalist and editor of over thirty years standing, former president of Nigeria Guild of Editors and media manager Garba Shehu was able to navigate successfully with his team during the campaign on account of his knowledge, expertise and experience in the media world.
Till today, it continues to amaze me that such a man is endowed with sterling qualities, and managerial acumen most times lacking in our clime. To many Nigerians, that Mallam Garba Shehu was able to run a superlative media campaign for President Muhammadu Buhari, is an unprecedented feat in the annals of political campaigns in Nigeria.
It is also public knowledge that some global organizations including the US State Department’s Political Communication and Public Diplomacy units are now understudying the media strategies that Mallam Garba Shehu was able to deploy in ensuring favourable media image for President Buhari despite PDP’s shenanigans.
One does not need to be a prophet or a seer to know that the PDP government used enormous government resources including federal government owned media organs like NTA, Radio Nigeria, VON and the privately owned media like AIT to unleash hate campaigns against the Buhari candidature.
To the eternal credit of Mallam Garba Shehu and his team, they were able to prove to Nigerians the failure of PDP government over the last sixteen years and hence the need for a change. Despite all attempts by the PDP to digress from the cogent issues of the moment, mainly sleaze in high places, Garba Shehu and his team using mass communication channels such as newspapers and magazines, radio, television and social media was able to stay focused on the issues of the campaign which were corruption, security and economy.
At every turn, PDP and its agents made strident efforts using media partners like AIT to divert the attention of Nigerians, yet Mallam Garba and his team were never swayed, and neither did they waiver. There was no doubt that Nigerians were sick and tired of the malfeasance in government, and insisted on realizing the “change” agenda. To most Nigerians, PDP had turned into a “malignant tumour” in their lives and therefore needed to pack and go.
In the light of the above, it can be said that there was no justification whatsoever for DAAR Communications Plc to condescend to the inglorious level of ascribing innuendoes on the person of Mallam Shehu Garba for a remark that many consider innocuous.
For instance, it is unbecoming for the company to describe legitimate requests for discounts in placing advertisements as “unusual requests for discounts”. It is common knowledge that discounts on advertisements vary from medium to medium and in real business transactions which advertisements fall under, there is no cap to the level or amount of discount a client can request. So, what is unusual about normal requests for discounts?
The prerogative of acceptance or refusal for such request lies with the media outfit. In any event, APC Presidential Campaign was hamstrung in terms of funding, and any avenue through which savings could be made was out rightly welcome. In contrast, PDP had a limitless budget for the Presidential campaign, but what mattered to Nigerians most was to be rescued from a system enmeshed in crass opportunism, impunity and drudgery in governance.
In the aftermath of the campaign, it is expected that we bury the hatchet, and join hands with the Buhari administration to restore Nigeria to its past glory. As Nigerians and foreigners alike acknowledge that the future of Nigeria is bright, it behoves all stakeholders to put all hands on deck at ensuring that they don’t rock the boat, and that the ship of state continues to navigate progressively. This is not the time for bickering, but a period for sober reflection and introspection.
Nigeria is lucky that we have a president who is determined and focused towards redirecting the affairs of the nation to the path of rectitude and rediscovery. It is equally gratifying that Mallam Garba Shehu has remained a part of the epoch in nation building and development and for media outfits like DAAR Communications, it is only expected that they descend from their high horse and key into the “change” agenda.
. Chukwudi Enekwechi, a public affairs analyst, resides in Abuja. [myad]
A herbal practitioner, Morufu Ajah has told an Igando Customary Court, Lagos, that he gave his wife, Deborah the sum of N7,000 to abort the pregnancy which he said he was not sure that it was for him.
“I gave my wife money to abort her pregnancy because she used to leave home without my consent to unknown destination and come back after 21 days or 30 days. She may even tell me she was going to her parent’s place, after some days, I will call her parent, they will tell me they did not see her.
“So, when she came back home and told me that she was pregnant, I doubted it. I gave her N7,000 to terminate it. She collected the money, lied to me that she had done it but never did it.” The complainant said that his wife turned his mother into a `punching bag’ that most times, she beat and tore her clothes, saying: “My wife had turned my mother’s clothes to rags as she always tore it into pieces whenever she is beating her.
“She always curse and abuse my mother, calling her a witch and telling people that my mother always fly in the night,’’ he said.
He described his wife as a violent and aggressive woman that she used to hit him first any time they had misunderstanding and that always prompted him to beat her up.
Morufu alleged that his wife was fetish that on three occasions, he came back from work and saw salt sprinkled all over the house., even as he begged the court to dissolve their three years old marriage because he was no longer in love and his mother’s life was in danger.
Deborah, a 30 year old teacher, denied all the allegations, and insisted that the fight in the home was because she refused to terminate the pregnancy, adding: “my husband gave me money to abort my baby, I collected the money but used it for another thing.
“When he later discovered that I did not do the abortion, he started beating me and moved my belonging into the kitchen. He later left the house to unknown destination, it was my neighbours that always contributed money for me to feed till my delivery,’’ Deborah said.
The mother of two said that she never beat her mother-in-law nor tore her clothes.
She pleaded with the court not to grant her husband’s petition because she was still in love with him.
The court President, Adegboyega Omilola, advised the couple to maintain the peace as he adjourned the case to December 7 for judgment. [myad]
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State and businessman, Otunba Babatunde Onakoya, popularly known as ‘DEBASCO,’ has called on the police and other security agencies to assist him recover property worth N62 million, allegedly swindled him by his wife, Mrs. Olayinka Rasidat Ibidun Onakoya. Onakoya, who made the allegation as he spoke to newsmen at the Debasco Palace, Atiba-Ijebu, said that his wife moved out her belongings from their matrimonial home when she learnt that he had uncovered all fraudulent acts.
“I am surprised that a woman who is living with her husband can bear four different ‘Mrs.’ for various transactions. In her efforts to swindle me, she opened four bank accounts with different names – Olowoporoku Olayinka Ibidun (Wema Bank), Momodu Olayinka (GTB), Olayinka Hamsat Rashidat (Access Bank), Olayinka Momodu (Zenith Bank).
“While she was in my house, she obtained a passport and visa in another man’s (Momodu) name whom she collaborated with to defraud me and escape to the United Kingdom but their visa applications were not granted. They also made attempts to escape to South Africa. All these matters are before the Ogun State Government Citizens Rights Department”. He stated.
Onakoya, alleged further that materials worth of over N50m, while cash payments of N6.485m were made into the wife’s various accounts under different names through his operational estate office in Lagos.
Similarly, he claimed his wine colour Acura MDX 2010 model worth N6M was allegedly registered by the estranged wife without his consent, the matter, which according to him, was reported at the Odogbolu police station on the 25th of September, same day the wife moved out from home.
Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, efforts by our correspondent to get Mrs. Rashidat Onakoya on her mobile phone for her comment, were not successful as her mobile had been switched off. [myad]
The Oyo State Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunal has okayed the election of Abiola Ajimobi as governor of the State. The candidate of Accord Party (AP), Senator Rashidi Ladoja, had gone to court to challenge the emergence of Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the April 11, 2015 governorship election. The judgment was delivered today amidst tight security. Ajimobi is the first governor in Oyo State to have secured a second term. [myad]
For strategic reasons, the Bureau has considered the press as one of its most critical stakeholders in the implementation of economic reforms and the privatization and commercialization program of the Federal Government. This is why the invitation by your association, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), underscores the trust of our fruitful cooperation, and brings to the fore, the remarkable achievements recorded through our collaboration over time.
No doubt, the launch of GOCOP could not have come at a better time than now, given that the world over, online publication has become the vogue; and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind. That is why we commend your bold initiative to inaugurate the Guild which undoubtedly, is made up of reputable media practitioners with several years of experience with the primary objective of ensuring that online publishers in Nigeria uphold the tenets of journalism and to serve as a platform for peer review.
As you are aware, the Bureau is the secretariat and the policy implementation arm of the National Council on Privatization, chaired by His Excellency, the Vice President. In this regard, at the beginning of every year, the Bureau takes its work plan to Council for approval before implementation. It should be noted that in over three decades, reform and privatization have been a key economic policy of successive administrations/regards in Nigeria.
As a result of the reforms, privatisation and commercialization, Nigeria has witnessed tremendous inflow of foreign direct investments in various sectors of the Nigeria economy.
It is worthy to note that the advent of democratic governance since 1999, strong foundation were laid for economic reform and attraction of private capital to the national economy.
The first key foundation was the inauguration of the National Council of Privatization; made up of key ministers and critical private sector players in the economy. The Council began with initiation of reforms in the following key sectors of the economy:
Electric Power Sector;
Oil and Gas Sector;
Telecommunications Sector;
Agriculture and Water Resources Sector;
Hospitality/Tourism Sector;
Industry/Manufacturing Sector;
Insurance Sector;
Transport Sector;
Solid Minerals Sector;
Aviation Sector; and
Basic Metals Sector
the Pension Reforms in Public Enterprises,
the Cross Debt Determination and Resolution; and
the Competition and Anti-Trust Reform.
Government believes that the effective implementation of the proposed reform programmes will:
Attract private capital;
Reduce government and political interference in the running of the economy; and
Clearly define role and functions of participants in the economy.
Recall that the improved telephony which the nation is presently enjoying is a result of such reforms in the sector which produced the Telecom Policy and Legal/Regulatory framework which the NCP/BPE championed in 2000. Through the reforms carried out in the telecommunications sector, Nigeria has moved from about 400,000 telephone lines in 2001 to about 134 million lines in 2015; and the teledensity has increased from estimated 2.5% to 95 percent in a space of 12 years.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is gratifying to note that the inauguration of GOCOP today is another eloquent testimony of the successful reform of the telecommunication sector. And the same multiplier effect is expected when the reforms in other sectors of the economy by the federal government are completed.
Once again, on behalf management and staff of the BPE, I congratulate this Guild on this milestone.
* Being the goodwill message of the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Benjamin E. Dikki, at the formal launch of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers on October 22, 2015 in Lagos. [MYAD]
Dangerous snakes are said to have invaded the south and central parts of Plateau state, killing an average of 600 inhabitants per month. The species of the snakes are given as Black Mamba, Carpet Viper and Puss Adder which are said to be violently attacking and killing the people living in such areas. The frequency of the snake attacks has made the state government to order the procurement of anti-snake venom as part of the solution to the menace. Besides, the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Health, Habila Gwatau, called on the residents to always clear the bushes around their homes and ensure constant use of boots and industrial hand gloves when going to farm. “We believe that if the people take some of these tips and measures seriously, the menace will be reduced.” He confirmed that an average of between 15 and 25 snake bites are reported everyday, with “about 600 persons in a month,” saying that the anti-snake drugs, which would be administered on the victims free, would go a long way to save the victims. “I can’t tell you the exact amount government is spending, but millions of naira have been voted for a massive quantity of the anti-venom for the treatment of victims of those dangerous snakes. “We must rise to the challenge to save the lives of our citizens from those dangerous snakes.” Gwatau said three Hospitals – General Hosptial, Dengi; General Hospital, Shendam; and JUTH Comprehensive Health Centre, Zamko – have been designated for the distribution of the drugs. He said that the state Governor, Simon Lalong is very worried by the spate of snake attacks and had directed the health ministry to arrest the situation. The permanent secretary said that the ministry would carry out an assessment of the three designated hospitals next week to ascertain their capacity before the supply of the anti-venom. According to Gwatau, the ministry has carried out sensitisation campaigns to enlighten people in the affected areas to be more careful and use protective materials while entering bushes around them. (NAN). [myad]
A veteran Nollywood actress, Stephanie Okereke-Linus, has announced her delivery of a baby boy. The actress who got married to Linus a few years ago in an old castle in Paris, France, took to her Instagram page to announce the news of her delivery to her fans today. It is learnt that a few hours after such announcement, her numerous fans and associates across Nigeria and the globe have been inundating her with congratulatory messages. The actress was however not forthcoming as to the place where she delivered the baby, though she and the baby are said to be in good condition. [myad]
Report reaching us has indicated that no fewer than 45 suspects have been charged over an alleged Boko Haram plot to attack the country’s financial hub, Lagos.
Sources with knowledge of the matter told AFP: “about 60 suspects were picked up from different locations in Lagos by the Department of State Services (DSS), acting on intelligence information that they were planning to attack Dolphin Estate in Ikoyi last month.”
A source who referred to an upscale area of Lagos but asked not to be identified for security reasons, said some of the suspects were released after preliminary investigations, while 45 others were taken to a magistrate court on Friday.
“They were arraigned on holding charges. The DSS urged the court to remand them in prison pending further investigation and their eventual arraignment before a high court,” said a source.
Dolphin Estate is a gated community on the Ikoyi island, which is home to wealthy Nigerians as well as expatriate workers, many of them in the oil and gas industry.
Lagos State Information Commissioner Steve Ayorinde had already called for the public’s help in ensuring the safety of the megacity’s 20 million-strong population.
“Our appeal goes to every school, housing estates, religious houses, markets and shopping complexes, hotels and restaurants and sporting arenas to take issues of security and personal safety more seriously these days and to work with both the government and security agencies in promptly reporting any persons with suspicious activities or unusual gatherings that may compromise security,” he said.
“Care must also be taken in how domestic servants and house aides are also employed,” he added in a statement.
Security analysts said that at the time, the Lagos bombing was likely to have been carried out by a small group of Boko Haram sympathisers, with no direct link to the group’s high command. [myad]
The sacked Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has lost again at the Supreme Court in his bid to convince the court that the sitting of the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja was null and void. The Supreme Court, this morning, threw out his argument that the Tribunal went against the law by conducting its sitting in Abuja. The court disagreed with him, saying that the President of the Court of Appeal acted in line with the law, adding that the relocation of the tribunal to Abuja was to safeguard the lives of the tribunal chairman and members. Wike had challenged the sitting of the tribunal in Abuja instead of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital at the apex court. The court affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had earlier okayed the decision of the Tribunal to assume jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), has lauded the Nigerian Supreme Court on its decision to throw out the bid by Wike to declare the sitting of the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja as being against the law. “As a party, the APC is grateful that all seven eminent jurists of the Supreme Court unanimously agreed that there was sufficient violence before; during and after the elections to justify the relocation of the tribunal to Abuja and that the relocation of the tribunal to Abuja was to safeguard the lives of the tribunal chairman, members and witnesses. The apex court likened the violence in Rivers to that of a theatre of war such as is prevailing in the North-East.” In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone in Port Harcourt today, APC noted with delight that Justice Okoro from Akwa Ibom State not only concurred but went further to say that Rivers State was a theatre of war and as such protection of life and limbs of members of the panel and interested parties was paramount and thus relocation of the Panel imperative. “The APC also commended the eminent Supreme Court Justices for once again re-affirming that they always dispense justice without fear or favour despite the frequent boasts by Nyesom Wike that he has all the Justices of the Supreme Court in his pocket, whatever that means. “The significance of all seven eminent Justices of the Supreme Court speaking in one voice in today’s judgment according to the APC, is that the faith, hope and confidence of the ordinary Nigerian to get justice is assured in the Nigerian judicial system.” [myad]
The elections petition tribunal sitting in Abuja has nullified the election of the Speaker, Owaji Ibani, from Andoni Constituency and 20 lawmakers in Rivers State House of Assembly.
The lawmakers were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on April 11, 2015.
It would be recalled that governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike, was sacked on Saturday by a tribunal under the same circumstances.
However, despite the sack of the lawmakers, PDP still has a majority in the house.
There are 32 state lawmakers in Rivers State and with the election of 21 members nullified, the state assembly will no longer form a quorum. [myad]
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In Defence Of Garba Shehu, By Chukwudi Enekwechi
An attempt by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, to do a post mortem of the March 2015 presidential election and the campaigns leading to it has unexpectedly elicited a negative reaction from DAAR Communications Plc, owners of AIT.
In what many Nigerians consider to be an overreaction by the broadcast house to a factual appraisal of the events that took place during the presidential contest between President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress and former President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, DAAR Communications Plc rather than feel sober, decided to denigrate the presidential spokesman.
Despite the strident attempts by the media outfit to rewrite history, by denying obvious facts and attempting to smear a good man, the point remains that Nigerians know the truth and cannot be deceived. As a mass communication expert, I can say that a content analysis of the advertorials and editorial materials used by the broadcast outfit tilted in favour of the then party in power, the PDP.
It is also the belief of most Nigerians that as Mallam Shehu stated at a recent event in Lagos, NTA and AIT denied and refused the APC presidential campaign full access to their broadcast facilities even when they tried to place advertorials.
Though the campaigns are over, yet it is in the realm of scholarship for us to scrutinize the performance of the media during the period under review. The reason why such issues should be put in perspective is to draw the attention of the media to the need to ensure balance in their reportage and coverage.
So many pundits and analysts have attributed the victory of APC in the presidential election to the ingenuity and leadership qualities of Mallam Garba Shehu, who coordinated the media and publicity directorate of the campaign. With his background as a mass communication guru, journalist and editor of over thirty years standing, former president of Nigeria Guild of Editors and media manager Garba Shehu was able to navigate successfully with his team during the campaign on account of his knowledge, expertise and experience in the media world.
Till today, it continues to amaze me that such a man is endowed with sterling qualities, and managerial acumen most times lacking in our clime. To many Nigerians, that Mallam Garba Shehu was able to run a superlative media campaign for President Muhammadu Buhari, is an unprecedented feat in the annals of political campaigns in Nigeria.
It is also public knowledge that some global organizations including the US State Department’s Political Communication and Public Diplomacy units are now understudying the media strategies that Mallam Garba Shehu was able to deploy in ensuring favourable media image for President Buhari despite PDP’s shenanigans.
One does not need to be a prophet or a seer to know that the PDP government used enormous government resources including federal government owned media organs like NTA, Radio Nigeria, VON and the privately owned media like AIT to unleash hate campaigns against the Buhari candidature.
To the eternal credit of Mallam Garba Shehu and his team, they were able to prove to Nigerians the failure of PDP government over the last sixteen years and hence the need for a change. Despite all attempts by the PDP to digress from the cogent issues of the moment, mainly sleaze in high places, Garba Shehu and his team using mass communication channels such as newspapers and magazines, radio, television and social media was able to stay focused on the issues of the campaign which were corruption, security and economy.
At every turn, PDP and its agents made strident efforts using media partners like AIT to divert the attention of Nigerians, yet Mallam Garba and his team were never swayed, and neither did they waiver. There was no doubt that Nigerians were sick and tired of the malfeasance in government, and insisted on realizing the “change” agenda. To most Nigerians, PDP had turned into a “malignant tumour” in their lives and therefore needed to pack and go.
In the light of the above, it can be said that there was no justification whatsoever for DAAR Communications Plc to condescend to the inglorious level of ascribing innuendoes on the person of Mallam Shehu Garba for a remark that many consider innocuous.
For instance, it is unbecoming for the company to describe legitimate requests for discounts in placing advertisements as “unusual requests for discounts”. It is common knowledge that discounts on advertisements vary from medium to medium and in real business transactions which advertisements fall under, there is no cap to the level or amount of discount a client can request. So, what is unusual about normal requests for discounts?
The prerogative of acceptance or refusal for such request lies with the media outfit. In any event, APC Presidential Campaign was hamstrung in terms of funding, and any avenue through which savings could be made was out rightly welcome. In contrast, PDP had a limitless budget for the Presidential campaign, but what mattered to Nigerians most was to be rescued from a system enmeshed in crass opportunism, impunity and drudgery in governance.
In the aftermath of the campaign, it is expected that we bury the hatchet, and join hands with the Buhari administration to restore Nigeria to its past glory. As Nigerians and foreigners alike acknowledge that the future of Nigeria is bright, it behoves all stakeholders to put all hands on deck at ensuring that they don’t rock the boat, and that the ship of state continues to navigate progressively. This is not the time for bickering, but a period for sober reflection and introspection.
Nigeria is lucky that we have a president who is determined and focused towards redirecting the affairs of the nation to the path of rectitude and rediscovery. It is equally gratifying that Mallam Garba Shehu has remained a part of the epoch in nation building and development and for media outfits like DAAR Communications, it is only expected that they descend from their high horse and key into the “change” agenda.
. Chukwudi Enekwechi, a public affairs analyst, resides in Abuja. [myad]