Online Publisher, Azuh Arinze Marks Golden Jubilee In Style

March 7, 2022

The Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine, Azuh Arinze, is set to mark his 50^th birthday on March 24 in style, with public presentation of two books he authored. The books are: A TASTE OF SUCCESS and CONVERSATIONS WITH SHOWBIZ STARS.

A statement from the publisher today, March , said that the event which will be held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, would be chaired by Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State and supported by the Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola, as a keynote speaker.

Azuh Arinze said that A TASTE OF SUCCESS, is a compendium on what anyone desirous of tasting success in any field of human endeavour must do.

“It has almost 300 pages and among the successful Nigerians who took out time to share their success stories and which we diligently documented in the book are Chief Segun Osoba, a former governor, renowned journalist and politician; Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, a top pharmacist and one time chairman of Neimeth Pharmaceuticals; Otunba Seni Adetu, former MD of Guinness Nigeria Plc and currently, MD of Algorithm Media; Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya, one of Africa’s greatest artists; Aare Dele Momodu, the highly connected publisher of Ovation International magazine and presidential aspirant; Mr. Kunle Afolayan, celebrated filmmaker; Professors Okey Ndibe and Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, two well known scholars and academics, among many others.

“The second book, CONVERSATIONS WITH SHOWBIZ STARS, as the title suggests, has to do with what anyone interested in making it in the glittering and glamorous world of music, movies and comedy must do.

“I actually sat down with some of the biggest and most respected in those fields to extract from them how they did it, and are still doing it. From King Sunny Ade to Femi Kuti, Onyeka Onwenu, 2Face Idibia, Wasiu Ayinde, Tiwa Savage, Ali Baba, Gbenga Adeyinka, Okey Bakassi, Basketmouth, Genevieve Nnaji, Richard Mofe Damijo, Julius Agwu, Ali Nuhu, Kanayo O. Kanayo, to mention but a few.

“As a matter of fact, both books contain 60 of such super exclusive interviews, and they cut across sectors and professions.”

On his life at 50, Azuh said: “All I want to say is thank you, Lord. For life, for good health, my blessed family, my precious mother, my irreplaceable siblings, my supportive friends, my selfless mentors and all those who have supported me and my business in one way or the other. I am indeed very, very grateful on how far the Lord has brought and blessed me. Without meaning to sound like another Oliver Twist, all I ask of the Lord is another 50 years. Of course, in good health, mind, body, soul and with the requisite prosperity.”

Other special guests expected at the event which begins at 11am are journalist and activist, Richard Akinnola (Books’ Reviewer); Oyo State governorship aspirant and GMD of Sodium Group, bisoye Fagade (Books’ Presenter); Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin (Royal Father of the Day); former DG of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside; presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina; superstar musician and actress, Lady Onyeka Onwenu; PDP presidential aspirant and Ovation magazine publisher, Aare Dele Momodu; General Overseer of Revival Assembly church, Apostle Anselm Madubuko; Executive Vice Chairman of Verdant Zeal, Dr. Tunji Olugbodi; President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria and CEO of X3M Ideas, Mr. Steve Babaeko and erstwhile MD, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Otunba Seni Adetu.

Others are Rotarian Remi Bello, District Governor, Rotary International, District 9110 Nigeria; Incoming District Governor and the first woman ever to attain that position in District 9110, Rotarian Omotunde Lawson and the District Governor Nominee, Rotarian Ify Ejezie.

How I Became A Product Of Single Parentage – Atiku Abubaka

Editorial staff

March 7, 2022

Former Nigeria Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has praised his mother, late Hajiya Aisha Kande for raising him all alone at the time his father died.

“I owe a lot of what I have become in life to God and to my late mother, Hajiya Aisha Kande. I lost my father at an early age. So, essentially, I am a product of single parentage by my mother.”

Atiku Abubakar, in a write-up today, March 7, to commemorate “Mother’s Day” which comes up tomorrow, March 8, said that today, there are many Aisha Kande, whose daily stories of toil and labour to raise promising children have remained unsung.

“Both as supporting partners to their husbands or widows like my late mother, those successful women who endured all odds to educate their children in character and in learning are the real heroes that we celebrate today

His write-up is reproduced hereunder:

Like in every upwardly mobile society, the story of our great country, Nigeria, cannot be complete without the contribution of our amazing women. Either in contemporary times or in those periods when the bonds of our nationhood was being forged, Nigerian women have stood tall to be counted as worthy patriots.

Once in a year, the world comes together to acknowledge the vital importance of women in the society. This day, the 8thof March is the day set aside for that purpose. Since the Almighty God in His infinite wisdom has created our humanity in a binary form, the essence of this day, therefore, is for men and boys alike, to celebrate those women in our lives for the wonderful roles that they continue to play as mothers, wives, sisters, cousins. And leaders too.

But the significance of International Women’s Day should not be reduced to merely celebrating the woman. It is much more than that. It is an opportunity for us as a human race to take the advocacy for an empowerment of the half of us to the front burner.

I owe a lot of what I have become in life to God and to my late mother, Hajiya Aisha Kande. I lost my father at an early age. So, essentially, I am a product of single parentage by my mother. But there are many Aisha Kande, whose daily stories of toil and labour to raise promising children have remained unsung. Both as supporting partners to their husbands or widows like my late mother, those successful women who endured all odds to educate their children in character and in learning are the real heroes that we celebrate today.

By their successes, they have shown to the world that given an opportunity, the woman can prove her mettle in a position of leadership, either in politics or business.

And that is where the theme for the year’s International Women’s Day, “Gender Equality Today, for A Sustainable Tomorrow”, becomes relevant.

The theme leads us to an important pointer that the synopsis for a sustainable future of our humanity must concede some power and responsibilities to women.

Whether we talk about the problem of climate change or the problem of mass illiteracy that continues to manifest as existential problem of out-of-school children in Nigeria; or be it the problem of primary healthcare accessibility and, even, terrorism – finding a sustainable solution to these problems will compulsorily start by giving education to the girl-child and impulsively require that we take the issue of Affirmative Action more seriously.

It is only when we educate the girl-child that we can begin to have a hope that the next generation will be better equipped to confront many, if not all of the problems that beset our world today. So, granting gender equality is not a want for our world. It is a need! And it is a decision that we have to take now!

In my private capacity as an investor in education, the American University of Nigeria, which I happen to be the founder, has since its inception in 2014, giving priority to girl-child education, and particularly espousing initiatives that continue to take formal education to the streets, affording vulnerable children access to learning in Arithmetic and English Language. Through these initiatives, the AUN has registered some level of improvement in mass literacy in the North-East area of Nigeria.

That is why all through my career in politics – either in government or in the opposition – I have led a consistent campaign for upward review of budgetary allocation to education. A lot about what we need to do about gender equality rests within the corridor of policy formulation at the governmental level. It is disheartening that just recently, the national legislature in Nigeria threw away the baby with the bathwater by a sweeping rejection of some proposals that will give women some advantages in the current constitution review exercise, I believe that the civil societies must continue to lobby both the executive and legislative arms of government in driving home the agenda. The process could be incremental, but we must never get our hands off the cart.

Once again, I congratulate all women the world over on this special day, and I also use the opportunity offered by this day to make a plea to government and relevant non-governmental actors to sustain the advocacy for gender equality towards guaranteeing a sustainable tomorrow for our world.

Atiku Abubakar

Son of late Hajiya Aisha Kande

Abuja

7th March, 2022.

Doctors-Without Borders Came Calling

Greenbarge Reporters

March 7, 2022

Members of the Doctors-without- Borders, also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), an international, independent medical humanitarian organization, were in Nigeria today, March 7.

Members of the organization are known to provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare across the world.

Dr. Simba Tirima, who led other members of the organization on a courtesy visit to the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari at the Presidential villa, Abuja today, March 7, said that the body is at the forefront of humanitarian service in Nigeria, with a presence in 10 states, employing 3,000 Nigerian professionals. According to him, parts of the programmes of the body are poisoning, maternal and child health, Noma disease, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Nutrition, and support for internally displaced persons.
He explained that thousands of Nigerians have been served through outpatient, inpatient and emergency consultations, while many have been treated for malaria, malnutrition, cholera, measles, Lassa fever, and Noma disease.

He said that the organization is in the process of strengthening its legal relationship with the Federal Government through a host country agreement so that they will be legally empowered to do more for the country.

He commended the First Lady for her multiple interventions and advocacy in the area of nutrition, saying a factory has been birthed for the local production of Ready-to-use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF), one of her campaigns relating to Severe Acute Malnutrition.

The First Lady, Mrs. Buhari commended the organization for the good job it has been doing to humanity, adding that many hard-to-reach areas rely on their intervention for medical service.

She also acknowledged that thousands of Nigerian professionals are enjoying services of the international team, believing that ultimately, it will result in the reduction of the rates of maternal and child mortality in the country.

Mrs. Buhari was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs, Dr. Rukayya Gurin.

My Absence Can’t Affect Governance, Buhari Says, As He Flies To London

Greenbarge Reporters

March 6, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that his absence cannot adversely affect governance in Nigeria.
He spoke today, March 6, in an impromptu interview with a reporter of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), before he flew to London for medical attention.
The President said that with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo around, the duties of the President cannot suffer setback.
According to him, there are also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Chief of Staff to the President and others who are capable of carrying out varying executive responsibilities.
“I cannot claim to run the government alone: the government is well represented. The Vice President, who is constitutionally in charge if I’m not around is there: the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is there, the Chief of Staff is there and so on.”

Saudi Arabia May Be Getting Ready For Hajj 2022; Scraps Major COVID19 Restrictions

Greenbarge Reporters

March 6, 2022

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made move to return the country to the annual pilgrimage by Muslims from all over the world, as it has scrapped major restrictions on COVID19. The COVID19 had made the country to close doors on pilgrimage for two consecutive years, 2020 and 2021.

The country also suspended the restriction of direct flights from Nigeria and 16 other countries. the other countries, include South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia, Madagascar, Angola, Seychelles, United Republic of Comoros, Ethiopia and Afghanistan.

The Saudi government has scrapped major COVID-19 restrictions except wearing of masks in the two holy Mosques in Makka and Medina as well as other places of worship in the kingdom.

The directive, issued by Saudi Arabia Ministry of Interior, and confirmed by Saudi embassy in Nigeria, became effective from March 5, 2022.

According to the new policy, citizens visiting the Kingdom will no longer be required to undergo mandatory COVID-19 quarantine or present PCR test result upon arrival in the holy land.

However, the new directive compels all new travelers to Saudi Arabia to secure an insurance that covers the costs of treatment from coronavirus infection.

Also, the Kingdom expressed commitment to complete the implementation of its national plan on immunization, which would enable, among other principles, administration of booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine and applying procedures to verify health status of pilgrims at the point of entry any facilities, including events centres, airports, and public transportation.

The ministry declared that the new measures will be subjected to continuous evaluation by the health authoritries and in line with the country’s epidemiological situation.

How CBN Turned Agric Sector Into Saving Grace For Nigeria – Emefiele

Greenbarge Reporters

March 6, 2022

The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has expressed satisfaction with the level of contribution of agricultural sector to the welfare of the Nigerian economy.
He looked at the tremendous impacts the sector has recorded in the country in the last six years and beat his chest for the early initiative of the CBN in the promotion of the sector.
Emefiele, who spoke to newsmen during an inspection tour of the palm plantation at Odighi village in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo state over the weekend, wondered that with the rising cost food items across the globe, what would have happened to Nigeria without the foresight of the CBN to revamp agricultural sector .
The CBN Governor expressed delight that the Bank has assumed a pivotal role since 2015 upon the pronouncement by President Muhammadu Buhari that “we will produce what we eat and eat what we produce” by coming up with several initiatives aimed repositioning the sector with a view to creating employment opportunities as well as growing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
Emefiele, who was visibly elated with the strides being recorded in the production of maize and cassava, expressed optimism that in the next twelve months, palm produce harvests would have commenced.
The CBN Governor acknowledging the significant role played by Edo state Government in the exercise and thanked Governor Godwin Obaseki immensely for matching words with action by making sure that arable land is made available to those who are genuinely interested in agriculture.
He appealed to other state Governors to emulate Edo state which has so far made available about 70 per cent of the promised arable land.
On the socio-economic impact of the CBN interventions, Emefiele singled out the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) among other intervention schemes, which revolutionized agricultural practice in which small holder farmers who hitherto could not approach commercial banks for loans, are now being granted credit facilities in the forms of inputs, like seedlings, fertilizer and herbicides.
“Those small holder farmers can now cultivate and produce enough for their families and sell produce as loan repayment with ease, thereby generating employment, improve living standards and create wealth simultaneously.”
Emefiele also commended the efforts of the promoting company, Agri-Allied Resources and Processing Limited and its parent company, Tolaram Limited for heeding to clarion made of the CBN on them to source their critical raw materials locally.
He noted that the company has painstakingly embraced backward integration principle by acquiring farmland to the tune of 18,000 hectares for cultivation of oil palm, cassava and maize which are the critical raw materials use by the group.
In his remarks during the visit, the Managing Director of Agri-Allaied resources, Madhukar Khetan said that the company has so accessed a ten year loan in the sum of N15 Billion at single digit interest rate with two year moratorium, under the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS) for the project.
The farm currently has about one thousand worker force.

How Police Investigations Prove Hyginus Ohaekelem Innocence Of Death Of His Wife

Greenbarge Reporters

March 6, 2022

The sudden death of the Nigerian-American business woman and Chief Executive Officer of Vintage Café, Wuse, Abuja, the late Mrs. Sofia Ohaekelem, did not only come as a surprise but for the shocking and overwhelming report linking her husband as the principal suspect and the killer of the successful entrepreneur.
Mr. Hyginus Odinaka Ohaekelem, who is yet to recover from the double tragedies and shocks as he mourns his wife of four years and mother of his two sons, is also faced with the additional encounter of answering questions over the death of his wife to prove his innocence.
Is the death of Mrs. Sofia Ohaekelem a natural one? Was a crime of culpable homicide established against her husband, Hyginus Odinaka Ohaekelem? Only Police investigations could answer these questions and more.
The husband of the deceased business woman however revealed to the police during the Investigation that his journey to innocence started on October 7, 2021 when he voluntarily reported at the Criminal Investigations Department of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command on invitation to answer to petition against him – that he killed his wife with food poison.
He commended the three months rigorous and discrete investigations conducted by the Police, and the professionalism displayed by the investigating officers. He said that everyone that could be linked to the case was invited and examined and the American embassy was part of the process throughout the period of investigations.
Indications from Police investigations into the case clearly uncovered the cause of death and have since exonerated Hyginus Odinaka Ohaekelem of the allegation of having killed his wife.
The Police have also released the remains of the late entrepreneur to her husband for burial.
Now that his innocence has been established, would he press charges against his accusers? Mr. Odinaka said, there are persons indicted in the investigations so far that are nowhere to be found. He said he trust that the Police would intensify efforts to arrest these persons and bring the investigations to a logical conclusion.
He further thanked God for saving him and exonerating him from the grievous allegations against him. He gave account of how the sudden death of his beloved wife would remain indelible in his mind. He said that it is difficult to bid Sofia, his beloved wife, good bye.

Many Nigerians Now Aspiring To Lead In 2023 Should’ve Been In Jail – Obasanjo

Editorial staff

March 5, 2022

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has opened fire on Nigerian politicians currently aspiring to lead the country at various levels from 2023, saying that many of them are supposed to be serving jail terms now.

“I cast a cursory look at some of the people running around and those for whom people are running around. If EFCC and ICPC have done their jobs properly and supported adequately by the judiciary, most of them would be in jail.

“Any person who has no integrity in small things cannot have integrity in big things. Fixing Nigeria must begin on the principles of nation building, not necessarily on emotion, sentiments, euphoria, ignorance, incompetence, ethnicity, nepotism, bigotry, sectionalism, regionalism, religion or class.

“The issues of security, stability, development, economy and our relationship within Africa and with the rest of the world can only be taken care of if we get the issue of the nation building right.”

The former President spoke today, March 5, at the international symposium, organised to mark his 85th birthday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The symposium was attended physically and virtually by personalities, including President Paul Kagame, President Nicéphore Soglo, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Professor Goski Alabi (Ghana), Ambassador Barry Desker (Singapore), Professor Juma Shabani (Burundi), Dr. Mary Khimulu (Kenya), Dr. Moussa Kondo (Mali); Professor Sarah Agbor (Cameroon), Anambra Governor-elect Chukwuma Soludo and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, among others.

The theme of the symposium was: “Africa Narrative with Nigeria Situation.”

Obasanjo stressed that Nigerians should learn from the events of the past and put aside sentiments in choosing the next President of the country.

“We have a lot to learn from the events of the last almost 24 years and God is not to blame if we fail.

“It would appear that we are not getting our priorities right and that can spell doom on our country if we fail to do what we should do for nation-building in terms of fundamentals of equity, justice, common ideals, popular education, shared values, mutual respect and equality of opportunity anchored and propelled by leaders across the board that are persons of integrity, honour, morality, competence, great virtue, courage to do what is right, humility and ability to put a team together and work with them in selfless devotion and service with the fear of God.”

Buhari Describes Obasanjo As A Study In Patriotism, Leadership, Courage

Editorial staff

March 5, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari has described ex President Olusegun Obasanjo as a good study in patriotism, leadership and courage.

In a message to Obasanjo as he marked his 85th birthday today, March 5, Buhari, stressed the leadership quality of Obasanjo, which led the country to democratic government in 1979.

He said that Obasanjo also became an elected President and reigned from 1999 to 2007.

The President said that the former President’s influence had continued to resonate beyond the country, extending to the international community and multilateral institutions.

He acknowledged that as a former military and civilian leader, with a strong network nationally and internationally, Obasanjo gathered enough wisdom and that he brought insight and versatility to bear on things, reflecting his experience, diligence and versatility.

Buhari then felicitated with Obasanjo and celebrated him as well as thanking God for the life, health and alertness of the former leader.

He prayed for grace and more strength for the former leader, “as he continues to serves country, Africa and the world.”

Who Is Buhari’s 2023 Presidential Candidate? By Fredrick Nwabufo

Editorial staff

March 5, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari can be inscrutable. Difficult to predict and divine. You cannot tell what he is thinking. And like the old general that he is, he has perfected the art of not telling it all and choosing his words carefully like a cat on tightropes.

In an interview with Channels Television in January 2022, the old fox kept his mystery and had everyone guessing. When asked who his preferred 2023 presidential candidate was, the artful general said: “I don’t have any favourite for 2023 and if I do, I won’t reveal his identity because if I do, he may be eliminated before the election. I better keep it secret.’’

Since this ‘’tactical manoeuvring’’, many presidential aspirants have been courting the president’s attention and seeking to establish themselves in the national consciousness as his sanctified pick.

Who is Buhari’s consecrated presidential choice? Is it Bola Tinubu, former Lagos state governor and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC)? Well, one thing is certain – we may not know Buhari’s preference, but we do know those who will not go through his beatification. In January, Tinubu visited Buhari at the presidential villa. He later announced that day that he had informed the president of his intention to run for presidential office in 2023 — and the pyrotechnics began.

Some regard Tinubu’s ‘’ambush’’, considering how, where and why he declared his presidential bid, as a desperate move. It is common knowledge that Tinubu and the president, including members of the recondite cabal, have not had a sunny relationship. It is alleged that Tinubu who contributed principally to the success of the APC in 2015 was given the heave-ho soon after the president and ‘’his men’’ came to power.

Remi Tinubu, the former Lagos governor’s wife, is one of those who have taken this allegation to town. She said Tinubu was ‘’trashed’’ after helping the APC win the presidential election in 2015. Her words: “I was hurt [by] what they did to my husband after the campaign. He didn’t say a thing. We were running three campaigns in my house, and for him to be trashed like that…”

Those privy to palace gossip say Buhari is not ‘’comfortable’’ with Tinubu based on principles. Buhari is of the conservative stock, but Tinubu is the wheeler-dealer politician who understands the art of the deal. If Tinubu was good enough to help bring the current administration to power, why is he not fit to be supported by the same hand he held up?

The declaration of Tinubu’s presidential bid at the presidential villa was not necessarily to seek the permission of Buhari, but to call his bluff and soldier on with ambition. It was a case of ‘’I know you do not want me to succeed you, but hey, I am getting on with my ambition anyway’’.

Is Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo Buhari’s presidential favourite? It will be too hasty to say, but the chronicle of relationship between the two puts a doubt to the question.

In September 2019, Buhari took drastic steps to whittle down the power and influence of Osinbajo. The vice-president had reportedly offended ‘’members of the conclave’’ when he sacked Lawal Daura as the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS) following the siege on the national assembly by the DSS in 2018. The vice-president was also alleged to have taken some unsanctioned decisions and actions.

In a presidential memo, as reported by TheCable, the president asked Osinbajo to, henceforth, seek presidential approvals for agencies under his supervision. This was not the case during Buhari’s first term in office. Osinbajo is the chairman of the governing boards of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Boundary Commission (NBC) and the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA).

He is also the chairman of the board of directors of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), a limited liability company owned by the three tiers of government.

The directive was for the vice-president to follow due process in seeking approvals for contract awards, annual reports, annual accounts, power to borrow, and power to make regulations, among other key functions. Buhari also appointed the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) and disbanded the Economic Management Team led by Osinbajo.

Not sparing any effort in this blitz, the president removed NEMA and the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) from the office of the vice-president and put them under a newly-created ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, headed by Sadiya Umar Farouq.

However, Osinbajo took the president’s decision well – without acting out or gunning for a dogfight. But does Buhari trust him enough to put the laurel wreath on his head?

Is Buhari’s presidential favourite Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation; David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi state; Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state, or Chris Ngige, minister of labour? Only the retired general can tell – a clairvoyant will find it hard to decipher this mystery even from the president’s famous ‘’body language’’.

The fact is whoever Buhari ‘’sanctifies’’ will get the support of the north – which holds the ace in elections in Nigeria.

Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist.

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