Lagos is not a Mega City – Akeem Olayiwola AAC Lagos guber candidate blows hot

Lagos is not a Mega City – Akeem Olayiwola AAC Lagos guber candidate blows hot

For 23 years, the center of excellence and the economic capital of Nigeria has been managed by one party, although at some point have rebranded. Again in 2023, the contest for the no 1 position in the state will be open  and personalities and parties in their numbers have thrown their hat in the ring; Amongst them is Mr. Akeem Olayiwola, the flag bearer of the AAC party in conjunction with Ben Eze, an astute academician. In an interview with reporter, Damilare Adenola, the business mogul digs into his profile and shares thrilling views of the state.

Can you Introduce yourself?

My name is OLAYIWOLA AKEEM, I am the Lagos State governorship candidate for AFRICAN ACTION CONGRESS -AAC.

I hold a B.Sc. in Mass communication from Olabisi onabanjo University Ago Iwoye. Ogun state. I’m a freight forwarding business mogul. I’m married with kids.

There is the saying that lagos is a mega city, do you agree?

No… presently Lagos State cannot be adjudged as a mega city, owing to the fact that amenities with which to determine a mega city are not visible in the State.

A mega city is expected of bearing facilities of modern development in virtually every sectors in the state. i.e ranging from transportation, education health, security architecture, and general way of life of the people.

How would you rate the performance of the incumbent governor in terms of development?

Nothing at all to rate as a performance.
The incumbent governor failed the state in every area; in terms of education, it failed woefully. In this 21st century, the number of schools/classrooms are not enough to contain the wards and this grossly subject our primary and secondary schools to a mere center of breeding thugs, cultists, and other criminals since the classrooms are overcrowded for a teacher to properly manage and monitor the activities of about eighty to one hundred students in a classroom.

In the health sector, if he performed brilliantly in this area, the chief cabal of Lagos wouldn’t have traveled for medicals when he was sick. Unfortunately, the political godson of the known cabal did not add up any hospital or even a common clinic to what Bàbá Lateef Jakande had built from 1979-1984. Also, the sector is bereft of adequate medical equipment and the lack of manpower is mitigating the quality of health deliveries.

In the housing sector, Lagos State needs a minimum of 193,000 housing unit yearly so as to create shelter for the low earner income of ₦59,000 a month. The current Lagos state government in collaboration with private bodies only delivered 6,300 housing units in three years in office.

Transportation: nothing to show for this compared to what the sector is raking in as revenue to the state. Lagos State is not annexing the water transportation to decongest road usage and ease the mobility of Lagosians.

Waste management: this suppose to be a community project under the supervision of local governments in a supposed mega city, but local governments in Lagos State are operating like branches of state government without any tangible function.

In the area of security, the 2022 budget on security is ₦70.716bn, and this is purely exclusive of the monthly security allowance from the federal government. With this huge amount devoted to security, no street in Lagos State should be without a properly installed CCTV camera to monitor activities.

In conclusion, the Incumbent governor failed in every sector when juxtaposing its revenue to it’s performance.

Why are you contesting for the no 1 position in lagos?

I am contesting for the number 1 position in Lagos State to return government to the people. I am contesting to give equity and justice to the people of Lagos State so that elusive peace and love can be restored in the State.

Why your choice of the AAC party?

I am a grassroots pioneer and registered member of the AAC party. AAC as a revolutionary and socialist party has a well-structured manifesto that revolves around upgrading people’s welfare.

The Challenge, the myth and the Vision; Game changing Plans of AAC Taraba gubernatorial candidate revealed

The Challenge, the myth and the Vision; Game changing Plans of AAC Taraba gubernatorial candidate revealed

As the 2023 general election approaches, personalities and parties have entered the contest of who will generally oversee the Nature’s gift to the Nation. One of this many personalities but a distinguished is Dr. David Charima who spoke extensively to, reporter, DAMILARE Adenola, about his game-changing plans.

Can you introduce yourself sir?

Dr. David Victor Joel Charima is my name but officially prefers to be known as Dr David Charima. I hail from Nanzo Village of Abbare B Ward of Lau LGA of Taraba State. I am a trained Veterinary Surgeon and Member of Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) and Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN).

I have an Executive Diploma in Entrepreneurship and MBA in Business Administration from Taraba Business School where I was retained to serve as a Senior Lecturer after graduating with Distinction.

I am a community youth leader of yandang Nation. Also a Director, Nigerian Young Professional Forum (NYPF) Taraba State Chapter. I once Contested for State Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN). Finally, an Ambassador of National Yandang Youth Development Association.

I was the President of Joint Christian Campus Fellowship University of Maiduguri where he was instrumental to the building of Students Ecumenical Center

Do you have any background in politics?

I was a confidential aide to the Deputy Governor Taraba State from 1st November 2016-2020. I was also the Senior Special Assistant to the Executive Governor of Taraba State and concurrently, a Special Aide to the Deputy Governor before resigning to contest for Governor myself.

Why are you contesting for the no 1 seat in Taraba state?

There are three reasons why I have decided to throw my hat into the ring; the Challenge, the myth and the Vision.

THE CHALLENGE:

In 2008, we were sharing banters with my Secondary School Classmates and one of them shut me up saying; ‘When people from great States are talking, People from Taraba should shut up because it is a “One Street State’

And in 2008, ten years after, a similar situation presented itself and I was asked to shut up because Taraba is backwards by 2 weeks and that National dailies reach Taraba two days after and we do not have what it takes to be called a State.

No airport and other social infrastructural developments including that attracts the world to States.

THE MYTH:

To demystify the outplays of those who emerged as Governor has been my resolve.

A. To prove that Leadership is not rocket science but it takes Political will, Visionary passion and Innovative creativity to become a great leader which we lack since 1999.

B. It is said that those who emerged as Governors have an initials that match the DD and another letter to emerge.

In 2007 – Danbaba Danfulani Suntai (DDS) was Governor

In 2015 – Darius Dickson Ishaku (DDI) is Governor and I strongly believe that

In 2023 Dr David Charima (DDC) is next

THE VISION:

The Vision is to SEE a greater Taraba against all odds

What are you game-changing plans?

Taraba State has been governed by a Bloc that only serves its purposes and vested interests, but our goal is to, in spite of such obligations we shall

#1. Drive the message of unity and equal coexistence between Waring communities and religious distinctions

#2. Ban the export of all raw materials and agricultural produce and Industrailize those commodities by processing, packaging and marketing them as finished products

#3. Drive both urban and rutal infrastructural and social developments by decentralizing the Education sector (Satellite Campuses) across the 16 LGAs and siting industries in every Local Council

#4. Focus on Tourism developments and encouraging socio-cultural festivities across the over 40 ethnic groups

#5. Boost Livestock and modern animal husbandry to feed the nation to meet up the United Nations proposition to achieve protein demand in our foods.

SEE happens to be an acronym adopted by your campaign, what does it mean?

I SEE a Greater Taraba Vision is essentially an acronym for

1. S – Security

2. E – Economy

3. E – Education

SECURITY:

To ensure and enforce Peace in the state we shall ensure and enforce the following;

1. Develop a database of the current population through digital censors program and developing a computerized medical record system of births and deaths index.

2.  Place a ban on illegal immigration, settlement and encroachment.

3. Enforce the Executive order to ensure that two-fighting is a state crime. And shall form part of curriculum from nursery to higher levels of education and Faith base Institutions.

4. Traditional council leaders shall be held to account for any ethnic or religious crisis or dispute.

5. An Executive order shall be passed and signed to revoke the privileges of whoever takes laws into their hands in no matter the case that leads to destruction of lives and properties.

6. Whoever, is involved in land dispute and takes the law into his or her hand shall lose such property no matter his position as owner or caretaker.

7. Kidnapping, Cattle rustling and Insurgency shall, through Executive bills and signed act receive State Capital Punishment of the death penalty and corruption as well.

ECONOMY:

Civil Service can not meet the growing demand for job creation at the expense of the deficiency of wealth creation. The annual budget of Taraba State since 2020 is over 100 Billion but our internally Generated Revenue is less than 5 Billion Naira. This means TARABA STATE IS BROKE!

Our goal is to ban all export of raw materials and agricultural produce while we process, package and market those products.

Our first target shall be to invest, partner and collaborate with Corporate organizations to boost

1. Sugar Production

2. Rice Production

3. Tomatoes Production

4. Cocoa Processing

5. Groundnut Processing

6. Palm Oil Production

7. Salt Production

Within the first four years and the below shall be in the second term

1. Natural Resources Exploration and Processing

2. Cotton-Garment industry

3. Tourism Development

4. Shea butter Oil and Olive Oil Production

5. Woodwork Production (Afforestatiin of cash tress and Furnituring)

6. Excellent Education and Working Environment of all Sector

7. Entrepreneurship Development and Empowerment Scheme.

In all of the above we shall ensure the following;

1. Healthcare Development

2. Education Revolution

3. Road Infrastructure

4. Housing Development

5. Veterinary and Livestock Development

6. Water Development

7. Food Security.

EDUCATION:

First is to

1. Remodel our curriculum to infuse

A. Technology and Computing

B. Entrepreneurship Development and E-commerce

C. Peace and Conflict Resolution

D. State Laws and capital crimes subjects

E. Skill Acquisition and Arts/Crafts

2. Excellent Learning and Conducive Environment

3. Establishing Satellite Campuses in LGAs

4. Encouraging Professional Courses

5. State Special Science and Commercial Schools

6. Re-establishment of Teachers College

7. Establishment of Teachers Training Institute.

Our Government will Illegalize Parents Keeping Children Out of School – Sowore

Our Government will Illegalize Parents Keeping Children Out of School – Sowore

The presidential candidate of the AAC party has declared that it will be illegal for parents not to enroll their kids in school.

Speaking to Arise tv on Tuesday, Sowore mentioned that he would incentivize parents to put their kids in school: “one of the basic things we would do about the educational sector is to attach conditional cash transfer to parents enrolling their kids in school. That’s the way to incentivize and encourage parents to make sure their children go to school. Meanwhile, under our government it will be illegal for parents to keep their wards out of school.

When asked where he would get money to fund education, Sowore said: “Nigeria’s problem from time has always been wealth creation and not distribution. What Oxfam, an international Organization said is: in 2014, five Nigerians were richer than half of the population; how did they get it? Because all the cooperate and individual welfare packages are tossed in their direction.”

“As at yesterday, 16 trillion Naira went the way of some few Nigerians, Dangote and Honeywell, and the rest of us, there is nothing for us. ASUU is asking for 1.3 trillion Naira, to be given 200 billion in tranches, they said they didn’t have but the accountant general could steal 150 billion Naira without being noticed.”

“I’m saying it’s a matter of priority and international policy; a substantial amount of our budget must be allocated to education. The goal is to educate our population massively so that we can compete internationally. That would also be the source of economic development; our educated populace will surely help develop the country. Its how India did it and several other countries that use to be at the same level with Nigeria.”

“What we have done over the years is that we have ignored Education, policies and agreements and we kept turning over the wealth of the country to a few people who use the money to send their children abroad. Let me give an example, for a child to be enrolled in UK, in some big schools, it costs nothing less than £50,000, an amount enough to build two schools here in Nigeria.”

“When it comes to spending our own wealth on our own people, we keep complaining that we don’t have money, while we do, but not just spending it on the people we are supposed to spend it on.”

TRULY “SOWORE IS NOT A POLITICIAN BUT AN ACTIVIST!” By Adeola Soetan

TRULY “SOWORE IS NOT A POLITICIAN BUT AN ACTIVIST!” By Adeola Soetan

Ok, I can now understand what a politician means from definition of foolish minds..

A politician will keep quiet when university students are kept at home for over seven months due to government unleashed ASUU strike. This is because according to shallow minds, politics is not about education and future of our youths and welfare of their lecturers but about political power that must be gotten at all cost and by all crooked means possible.

A true politician must be blind, hear nothing and say nothing to socio-political and economic crisis that affects the people because his ambition is power grabbing and nothing more. And he should not rock boat of the status quo for fear of being denied victory by votes or by rigging.

The job of a good politician is not to involve himself in any protest, strike or respond to social issues that adversely affect the people but to keep dubious silence even if heaven will fall. In as much as some people still remain to vote for him, then no stress.

To be a good politician, you must worship the incumbent arrogant aristocratic oracle and other political deities. Don’t step on their toes to speak for the people when they are in distress because people’s interests don’t really count to a good politician but power for self and his greedy group to accomplish a transient or life ambition.

You can’t be a good politician if you don’t have enough huge stolen public fund to fight a political war, buy votes, induce voters, buy police, soldiers, induce INEC and unleash political thugs and violence on the electorate and the general public.

If you want to be acknowledged as a good politician, you must cultivate the habit of lying and propaganda without any scruple. Integrity and good character means nothing to a good politician in Nigeria but power nothing but power.

Sowore is truly not a good politician to have identified with ASUU strike and students protest or any protest at all. When I saw him with protesting students, it occurred to me that he’s really not a good politician. Or how many presidential candidates or parties have identified with these oppressed students and lecturers? None, , because they are good politicians who are desperate for power but bother less about the people. “Eni Amori iba ku, Agunla Aguntete” (let everyone goes to blazes, it doesn’t concern typical Nigerian politicians)

Since election is close by, a good politician should know that many uneducated youths and university students denied of classrooms are easy recruits to his army of political thugs, his voters, retailers of vote buying. For Sowore not to understand this, it means he’s not a good politician according to the warped opinions of many educated but foolish Nigerians who define a good politician from a bad premise. A rogue tradition they met and want to sustain and defend. .Ask them who’s a good politician in Nigeria, this is who and what these injured and destroyed minds mean.
“Make you ask them o, and we must ask” according to Fela Anikulapo-Kuti (RIP)

I stand with ASUU and students denied of going to school.

Nigerian Constitution Should be Scrapped – Sowore

Nigerian Constitution Should be Scrapped – Sowore

Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress has once again called for the scrapping of the 1999 constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria and according to him the document does not speak to the current circumstances of the Nigerian people.

In an interview with Superscreen in Lagos, Sowore accused the military of sidelining the Nigerian people when they put together the fundamental governing law:
“The 1999 constitution was put together by the military and they fraudulently claimed that we the people. We did not also pass the constitution through a referendum.”

When asked what he wants done to the constitution when he becomes the president, Sowore said “It should be scrapped. The Nigeria constitution now as it stands is redefining the Nigerian people as it likes. Most Nigerians don’t even know the content of the constitution because they weren’t part of it.”

“Had the South Africans had continued with the apartheid constitution, South Africa will not be a place to stay. I’m not saying everything is perfect with there anyways but the first thing they did was to put together a new constitution to speak to their circumstance.

INTERVIEW: “I will work to eradicate Ministry of Women and Youth Affairs,” Ismaeel Ogunsola, AAC Oyo SHA Candidate

INTERVIEW: “I will work to eradicate Ministry of Women and Youth Affairs,” Ismaeel Ogunsola, AAC Oyo SHA Candidate

The 2023 general election is becoming a contest of ideas and values, than in previous years when it was cash for cash and bullets for bullets. In the pool of the emerging value-driven and ideologically inclined politicians is Ismaeel Ogunsola, running for an assembly position in the Oyo State House of Assembly. On a one on one with DAMILARE Adenola, Ismaeel dishes out series of his revolutionary plans intended to better the lives of his constituents.

Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Ismaeel Oladare Ogunsola

I was born in Igboora, Oyo state, Nigeria. had my primary, secondary and tertiary education in Oyo And Lagos state.

Studied finance at The Polytechnic, Ibadan in 2013 and later Economics at the University of Ibadan, 2018. I am ICAN and ACCA certified.

I worked in the banking sector for several years, from the defunct Diamond bank to Skye bank, now known as Polaris bank, until 2020 when I was sacked by the bank amidst controversies for front-lining protests against bad governance in the country.

I am now a writer, a stockbroker, digital marketer and the founder of Altruistic Mankind Project (Altmap) where we are mapping out sustainable world for coming men via series of advocacy and digital businesses.

I am currently the African Action Congress candidate for Oyo state house of assembly representing Ibarapa central and Ibarapa North

You tagged your campaign: revolutionary representation, what are the revolutionary plans you have for your constituents?

Yes, It is not tagged revolutionary representation for rhetorics, our ideas are revolutionary as it gets, and we will be legislating from a revolutionary side, which will be in tandem with our party’s (AAC ) manifesto. For instance as Oyo state house of assembly member, I will be sponsoring a bill that seeks to put government officials and civil servants on the same living wage.

I will be sponsoring a bill that seeks to digitalize our contracting system and severe punishment for defaulters.

A bill to efface the ministry of women’s affairs and youth ministry. These ministries were fashioned out to perpetually keep the two demography as minorities.

A bill to end oppressive cultural practices in our society. e.g- child marriage, sexual exploitation, genital mutilation, disinheritance of women, etc…..

How would you rate the Seyi Makonde government by in terms of developing Oyo state?

The Seyi Makinde government just like every other governors score low in terms of what development should be.

Anyone who thinks otherwise will be doing so because we have demeaned governance and development in this part of the world so much. So we take basics and bare minimum as good work.

But for people like us, he has done so little.

Interview: Under Buhari, violations of Human rights is the order of the day – Haruna Magashi

Interview: Under Buhari, violations of Human rights is the order of the day – Haruna Magashi

In June, Omoyele Sowore, the Presidential candidate of the AAC announced Mr Haruna Magashi as his running mate in the forthcoming 2023 general election. Special about the ticket is its combination of two popular human rights defenders; one a citizens rights reporter, the other a citizens rights lawyer. In an interview with reporter, Damilare Adenola, the party vice presidential candidate throws a shovel into the ditch of his profile.

Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Barrister Haruna Garba Magashi. I’m Hausa by tribe, born in Ibadan Oyo State, and brought up in Kano.

I had my primary and secondary education in Kano and Jigawa States. Attended the University of Maiduguri Borno State for my LL.B and Nigerian Law School Lagos for my BL in 2005. I had a Masters’s degree at Bayero University Kano in 2016.

I’m currently operating my Law Firm HUJJAH CHAMBERS as a Principal Partner

Do you have a background in politics?

I started partial participation in politics in 2003. We were supporting ANPP then when primary elections of the party were conducted. Alhaji Ali Amin Little won the governorship ticket. But Buhari came and dictated that he will never go along with Little. So the ticket was forcefully and illegitimately taken away from Little and given to Ibrahim Shekarau.

That’s when we as youth stood up and supported Little when he was forced out of ANPP and joined PRP.

Some people say you do not have political weight in the North, what do you have to say?

From my point of view, ‘political weight’ as it’s called centers on the efforts one can make to secure the required needs of his party.

It is therefore not something that will be talked over the media, but rather the real effort one can do.

My political weight will be viewed through the structures we can put across the North, and importantly the votes we will be able to amass for our party.

As a human rights lawyer, how do you score the Buhari regime on human rights?

Very poor. Flagrant violations of citizens’ rights have become the order of the day.

What will the Sowore/Magashi administration do differently, as it concerns human rights?
The provisions of Chapter 4 of our Constitution that border on Human Rights will be adhered to without any sentiment.

If We Want To Reset Nigeria, Sowore Is The Best Candidate – Seun Kuti

If We Want To Reset Nigeria, Sowore Is The Best Candidate – Seun Kuti

Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, has said that he believes that the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, is better than the trio of other leading presidential contestants in the 2023 elections.

Kuti said, of the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress, and the Labour Party; Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu, and Peter Obi respectively, the AAC standard bearer was the best if Nigerians were really ready.

“For me, Sowore is the best of the four candidates that are available. Personally, I still think he is better than the three others if Nigerians say they want to press the reset button,” he said.

The singer was speaking on the demise of Queen Elizabeth II and briefly digressed to address the 2023 elections.

“That they want to take the right step in the right direction. Unfortunately, the same Nigerians will tell you Sowore can’t win as if election is football sport. You are not playing to win; you are playing your conscience. You are voting your belief,” he added while speaking to Object TV Media.

Kuti said the Queen had only passed, but King Charles III who took over would still continue in the system that Nigeria is still under. He maintained that Africans still needed to liberate themselves from mental slavery.

“He (King Charles) would continue to perpetuate because the system still exists and we are still under the denomination of their system.

“It’s a moment for us to reflect. The Irish are jubilating and the Irish did not go through half of what Africans went through; the Irish being the most marginalised in their region.”

He said this meant that the Irish had liberated their minds.

 

Who Can Hold the Beasts Down, Sowore or Peter Obi? by Damilare Adenola

Who Can Hold the Beasts Down, Sowore or Peter Obi? by Damilare Adenola

All animals are equal, they say, but in Nigeria, beasts- especially ex-president – are more equal. Even when they commit the worst of criminalities like robbing the Nigerian people of their commonwealth and eating their flesh in cold blood when they fight back, no human being, who is born of a woman can commit them to their cross.

In the presidential race, there are two candidates seemingly appearing as the candidates with youth support buzz on social media: Omoyele Sowore and Peter Obi. This duo becomes relevant to this piece because their fan bases have forced the emerging political debate into an idea and issues-based one, other than the usual popularity or affluence based.

Honestly, the quality of the political debate testifies to the impact of #Endsars protest in awakening the citizens to government malfeasance and the need to fight back. Yes, ideas have played a decisive role in political development. Although it saw many heads hung on pikes, the French Revolution was more a battle of ideas. The American revolution was a battle of ideas more than it was of guns and boats. In the 2023 election, it is hope-rejuvenating that it will be one of the ideas.

On our way out of Egypt, unarguably, we can see the pharaoh of military and civilian ex-leaders standing; far above the law even. As youths, one of the ideas that should drive our adoption of a candidate – the one fit to fight for our freedom – is the need to assess the values that each hold.

The values on which every society thrives are largely connected to the values the leaders at the helm of affairs share; they usually correspond. In Burkina Faso for instance, where Blaise Campaore, an ex-leader of the country notorious for murdering the revered Affica’s upright leader, Thomas Sankara, was recently tried and sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia, the leaders hold the values that everyone is below the law. In South Afria, where Jacob Zuma, for plundering public money, is doing his time, the leaders believe that a quail does not stand taller than another.

In Nigeria, rather, Gen. Buhari, a notorious coup plotter, who sacked a democratically elected government still walks the street freely and unfortunately sits on the most revered chair today. In this same country, characters like Babaginda who annuled the 1993 election and callously denied the Nigerian people of their mandate; Obasanjo who embezzled $16 billion belonging to Nigeria’s power project; Yakubu Gowon, under whose era Nigeria first witnessed an unprecedented level of corruption, have become demi-gods whose prayers are sought by aspiring presidents. However, no nation where this ‘bigmanism’ values drives ever moves in a direction of progress; Uganda, Zimbabwe, Democratic republic of Congo are all befitting examples.

Judging by what the two – Sowore and Peter Obi – hold as very important amongst their intended moves to change Nigeria, the choice of the ideal youths hopes to be resolved. ”You can’t shut down your shop and be chasing criminals; Peter Obi once responded to the question of who will tame the beasts. Sowore on the other hand, while responding to the same question, vowed to not only retrieve all stolen monies but also to hand all of these attrocious ex-leaders their jail beds.