18082019 -Anxiety over " Next Level" Ministers

Page 42—SUNDAY Vanguard, August 18, 2019
Viewpoint
By Moses Alao
o, come with me, work with
“S me; let us take Oyo State to
greater glory. Together, we can do this!”
These were the words of the Oyo State
governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on
Thursday, August 15, as he inaugurated
the 14 newly-appointed commissioners
who will work with him in steering the
ship of the state.
They were words on marble and they
will remain memorable for the
Commissioners. They will also be
words of challenge for the
administrators who are assuming
offices in a state that has, in the last 81
days, enjoyed a breath of fresh air or
put differently, a shower of Omi Tuntun
[fresh water], in line with the governor’s
campaign slogan.
Indeed, the last two months and a
few days of Governor Makinde in office
cannot but remain memorable for the
people of the state, who activated the
new dawn following the massive votes
that brought Governor Makinde to
office in the March 9, 2019 election.
Following his inauguration as
governor of the state on May 29, 2019,
it didn’t take hours for the residents of
Oyo State to feel the reality of Omi
tuntun, as the governor started fulfilling
his electoral promises right from the
swearing-in podium. He announced
the immediate scrapping of the N3,000
By Jude Uyi Ediale
press release by Committee of
A Benin Elders, published by
Vanguard Newspaper of August
13,2019,page 24 and the legal opinion
of Hon.Justice S O Uwaifo, a retired
Supreme Court Judge, published by
Punch newspaper of August
13,2019,page 34,justifying the
controversial inauguration of the 7th
Edo State House of Assembly require
the interrogation of critical minds in Edo
State in particular and Nigeria in
general.
There is no doubt that the names listed
as the authors of the press release in
support of the questionable inauguration
of Edo State House of Assembly-Chief(
Prof) E.U. Emovon ,Hon(Justice) S. O.
Uwaifo, Princess(Prof) Mrs.A.
Emovon,Hon(Justice) I. O.Aluyi,
Hon(Justice) J.O.Olubor,
Prof.D.E.Agbonlahor, Emeritus
Prof.R.O.Elaho,Emeritus
Prof.A.A.E.Orhue,Prof.U.Edebiri,Brig-
Gen(Dr) D.O.Ikponmwen,Maj-Gen
S.E.Asemota and Maj-Gen C.O.
By Zik Zulu Okafor
nly recently he opened a 118
Obedroom exotic hotel named
Dantinajo Gold Resort. It was
commissioned by Nigeria’s former
President, Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo. It was in a quaint modest
town, Oleh , in Isoko South Local
Government Area of Delta State.
Now the hotel has become the
Mecca of Nollywood superstars and
practitioners of distinction. And
every practitioner that visits, leaves
with both material and spiritual
satisfaction. The big heart behind the
resort gives financial support, he
gives advice.. he gives hope, all laced
with spiritual counseling.
This is Engineer Daniel Elozino
Omoyibo. Breezy at sight and full of
zest, Omoyibo is writing a new page
in the unfolding tale of Nigeria’s
motion picture industry.
Only a few weeks ago, he hosted a
galaxy of Nollywood’s directors
and actors as he was formally made
Patron of the Directors Guild of
Nigeria, DGN, under the leadership
of its peerless National President ,
Fred Amata. The event turned out
not only a checklist of Who is Who in
Directing but a catalogue of star
actors and perhaps cheer leaders.
They include Fred Amata, Francis
Onwochei, Hilda Dokubo, Eucharia
Anunobi, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Ejike
Asiegbu, Francis Duru, Patience
Ozokwor, Zeb Ejiro, Mathias
Obahiagbon, Chinedu Ikedieze,
Abay Esho, Osita Okoli, Chico Ejiro
and Andy Amenechi, among others.
Beyond the enchanting rituals of
patronship, perhaps the most
enthralling news at the event was
Omoyibo’s announcement of his
plan to build a Film Village at Oleh.
He had already acquired some
massive acres of land stretching over
three kilometers for this grand
mission and he took some of his
guests to the proposed site of what
promises to be a delightful tourists’
Makinde’s cabinet of colourful commissioners
Education Development Levy, which
had become a source of agony and
anger among the people, thereby
fulfilling a promise he made in the
heat of elections.
He promised that the state would
replace the controversial levy with
effective and timely funding of
education and by blocking loopholes
of corruption. He had also announced
the increment of budget allocation to
the sector to 10 per cent from a paltry
two percent, promising to raise the
budget annually until it reaches the
26 per cent which the UNICEF
described as preferable for the
education sector.
The governor has since followed
that action up with the cancellation of
examination fees across the public
schools in the state, which resulted in
massive enrolment for terminal
examinations conducted in July.
Similarly, the governor, in a
symbolic act that has continued to
water the throats of pensioners in the
state, announced that he was donating
his salaries for the next four years to
the Oyo State branch of the Nigeria
Union of Pensioners. That action,
which was a tip of an iceberg, has been
followed by the release of N280 to
offset pension arrears of about 100,
who retired in 2012 in the state.
With each passing week of the last
The Omoyibo/Nollywood partnership
•Zulu Okafor
haven.
In his words, “I want to leave a
legacy in the movie industry
because Nigerian movies taught
me a lot of amazing things. I learnt
so many lessons from the early
Nollywood movies that I used to
watch with my wife”.
He revealed watching those
movies at a time that life was
difficult and hope was almost
epileptic. “I had become a business
man then, but there were no
contracts coming my way. So, from
morning to night, me and my wife
would sit in our small, quiet
apartment and watch Nigerian
movies. Those movies taught me to
be patient, to keep hope alive and
never to make money through evil
ways because the joy will only be
temporary and the end will be
disastrous. The movies
consistently taught us that no matter
how long it might take, light would
always defeat darkness and that an
evil person will suffer and die in
shame. Unfortunately my
•Gov. Makinde of Oyo State
two months, the Oyo State governor
continued to be in the news for all the
right reasons, restoring the joy of civil
servants in the state through prompt
payment of salaries on the 25th of every
month, a date that has now become
known as the GSM day; restoration
and massive increment of bursary
award to Oyo State students in the Law
School from N100,000 to N500,000
by the governor; bringing back smiles
to the faces of pensioners. He had also
blazed the trail of public accountability
and transparency by being the one and
only governor out of those elected into
precious wife passed away after all
our endurance, just when things
started going well for us . It was
painful. But I thank God that she
was alive to witness our
breakthrough and to enjoy at least
a little bit of it”. He paused as
change in his mood became
palpable on those windows of his
emotion-laden soul: his eyes. And
his guests quickly rose in applause
to cheer up a man whose entire life
seems dedicated to the cause of the
down-trodden, men and women
confined to the lower end of the
economic ladder and still grappling
with the pangs of life.
Omoyibo, the Chief Executive of
Damotech, an indigenous oil and
gas firm, a glowing tribute to the
efficacy of Nigerian Local Content
Law, announced to the delight of his
guests a huge financial support for
their movie industry. And within
minutes issued cheques to DGN
executives towards plans for its 25th
anniversary. The 51 year old father
of three children and a business
magnate with over eight companies
under his corporate canopy also
unleashed millions of Naira to the
Nollywood stars, leaving them
twinkling as they grinned from ear
to ear. The man, now seen as an
emblem of a new hope for
Nollywood, had expended over
N100 million in his first formal
encounter with the doyens and stars
of the motion picture industry.
But the buoyant and sprightly oil
and gas mogul did more. He
announced his plan to raise the bar
of professionalism in Nollywood. To
achieve this he says will require
good training. Therefore he would
finance young Deltans and
Nigerians interested in movie
production for quality training both
in Nigeria and abroad. “I want them
to be well trained to be able to tell
our stories professionally and to be
office in the 2019 to publicly declare
his assets. Indeed, Governor Makinde’s
manner of asset declaration has been
commended by articulate anticorruption
agencies such as SERAP and
CACOL as well as well-meaning
individuals in the country as setting a
great example for other public officials
at all levels.
In two months, Governor Makinde
has emerged the leading topic on
Twitter trends, beating entertainment
and other trending topics in
recognition of his people-oriented
leadership and good governance ideals
that are paradigmatic of a true
democrat and progressive.
But after a few weeks, residents of the
state had begun to anticipate the
formation of Governor Makinde’s
cabinet, waiting with baited breaths to
know the individuals that will work with
the governor to deliver on the mandate
given to him. Going by the kind of
characters and individuals that have
been commissioners in the state in the
past and how their actions and inactions
have rubbed off on government and
shaped governance, residents of the
state who have been enraptured by
some of the early steps of Governor
Makinde in office, were hoping that
the governor would appoint
individuals that will build on his
achievements and be active vision
Benin elders got it wrong on Edo Assembly saga
Omoregie are eminently qualified
Benin Elders. What is curious however,
and the reason for the interrogation of
their support is the complete absence
of legal foundation for their decision.
The claim by the Elders that the
inauguration of Edo State House
Assembly is a Constitutional issue that
should not be politicised is absolutely
correct. Sadly, in a desperate search for
reasons to support what is wrong , the
Elders contradicted themselves by
saying that the Party Caucus had in
mind those to hold certain official
positions in the House,and those who
disagreed decided to stay away from
the inauguration. Is inauguration of the
House of Assembly a business of the
Constitution or an activity of a political
party?Are these official positions of the
House appointees of the political party
or elective by members of the House? If
they are appointees of the political party,
why should members stay away from
the inauguration of the House after the
appointments have been made by the
political party? If the official positions
of the House are elective, why should
the majority,(15) members-elect stay
away from inauguration and allow (9)
to elect the official positions? It will be
interesting for these erudite Elders to
tell Nigerians whether the inauguration
of the House of Assembly is about the
official positions of the House or a
Constitutional enthrone of the State
legislative Arm of Government.
It is highly doubtful whether these
Elders are aware of the date and time of
the inauguration of the 7th Assembly of
Edo State House of Assembly . Their
press release stated that the Governor
made a Proclamation letter on the 17th
of July,2019 to the Clerk and the
inauguration was done that same day
by the Clerk of the House. The
controversial inauguration of Edo State
House of Assembly was held in the late
night of 17th June, 2019, not 17th
July,2019. If their date is excused on
typographical error, how can these
Elders defend the legal propriety of
inauguration of the House by the Clerk
on the same day the Proclamation was
issued by the Governor?Is the element
of the Proclamation of a State House of
Assembly a secret correspondence
between the Governor and the Clerk of
the House or a public announcement
for the information of the Members-
Elect and the general public as defined
by Law, Public Policy and English
Dictionary?
The claim that there is no
Constitutional requirement for all
Members-Elect to be present before
inauguration, is not equally supported
by any Constitutional provision that the
inauguration of the House can take
place without the invitation or notice to
all Members-Elect.Those to be
inaugurated are legally title holders that
must be compulsorily invited to the
inauguration.The issue of quorum can
only be relevant if their is evidence of
Proclamation and invitation of all
Members-Elect for the inauguration.
Any Member-Elect can be absent on
his personal volition, but not to be
criminally schemed out in order for an
equipped technically so that our
pictures are excellent and could
compare with foreign movies.
They may be short- term training
programmes, but they will be
intensive”, he said.
Omoyibo’s kind gesture towards
Nollywood however is not surprising
to those acquainted with his history.
Indeed, he is a known passionate
philanthropist. His Foundation,
Damotech Foundation for the Less
Privileged carries the pay-off, “Your
pain is our concern”. This genuine
concern is indeed demonstrated in
the over 1,600 pupils that the
Foundation paid their WAEC fees
this year and 600 last year.
The Foundation has also given
scholarship to over 300 students in
both secondary and tertiary
institutions. There is an
empowerment programme to the
tune of N100,000 for market women
without any tribal discrimination as
long as the market woman plies her
trade within Isoko North and South
LGAs. His car gifts to the men folk
came in consignments of 50 and 100
cars. Shockingly, while the
enigmatic philanthropist was
sharing these cars he bought none
for himself except a motor bike. The
height of his car gift to men came
when the Delta State government
under ex-Governor, Dr Emmanuel
Uduaghan gave out Special Purpose
Vehicles, SUV, Toyota Land
Cruiser, V-6, to some traditional
rulers in Delta State, but one
important royalty was snubbed. It
was that of Oleh, his home town,
His Royal Majesty, Anthony
Williams, Onovughe Ovrawah, JP,
FCI, Omogha I, The Odio-Ologbo
of Oleh Kingdom. In reaction, this
revered scion of the soil, Omoyibo
gave his king exactly the same car
but one with a higher engine
capacity- a V-8 super strength. He
carriers.
Therefore, when the list of 14
nominees for commissioner posts
surfaced, not a few people heaved a
sigh of relief that the governor had,
indeed, got it right again. The
preponderance of individuals with an
experience base that is a composite of
politics and professionalism was
hailed as a good step in the right
direction for the state.
For instance, many of the new
commissioners, apart from boasting
of professional experiences in different
fields, have had public service
experiences as former legislators, local
government chairmen and
commissioner.
In fact, as the citations of the new
commissioners were reeled out on
Thursday ahead of their taking the oath
of allegiance and oath of office at the
Executive Chamber of the Governor’s
Office, to the admiration of hundreds
of political dignitaries, civil service
chiefs and family members of
commissioner-nominees in
attendance, the colourful nature of the
new cabinet was laid bare.
•Alao is a Special Assistant on
Media to Oyo State Governor
Read more on
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individual or a group of persons to
achieve an unlawful objective. These
Elders deliberately stabbed morality
without any concern that those excluded
from the inauguration are equally Edo
sons that should be protected by these
Elders to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
It is totally untrue for the Elders to say
that the Business of Edo State House of
Assembly had fully commenced and
already functioning in the interest of
Edo State.
The threat of declaring the seats of
the Members-Elect that have not been
inaugurated vacant because of the
Constitutional requirement 100
legislative days is equally unfounded. A
tenant cannot be default of a rent when
the landlord has not given access into
the apartment. It is sickening that the
Members-Elect that have not be
inaugurated should make themselves
available to an illegal Speaker for
swearing-in.
*Ediale is SECRETARY,
Committee of Benin Progressives
and a public commentators.
Read more on
www.vanguardngr.com
topped it up with a Pilot Honda car
to serve as Escort for his traditional
ruler. The ovation, the story and
appreciation that awesome gesture
spurred, still remain familiar
acoustics in almost every home in
Oleh.
Still, his Foundation pays medical
bills for the sick, in addition to a
major housing programme that
builds and hands over bungalows
and duplexes to men, women,
widows and families.
His Royal Majesty, Anthony
Williams Ovrawah, in a flowing
narrative gave a crystal account of
how Omoyibo has touched lives in
Oleh, how he footed his medical
bills abroad and many community
projects he had executed. For the
people of Oleh, Engr. Omoyibo is
putting their little town on a global
map . The sheer size of his hotel,
the expatriates it attracts and now
the mega stars of Nollywood
visiting, they say, are incredulous
testaments to the silent wind of
global fame blowing their town.
They are proud of their eminent son
whose image towers high and his
influence transcending the
boundaries of Delta State and
Nigeria to the rest of Africa.
In all, Daniel Omoyibo seems to
be living up to his middle name –
Elozino, for a tale is told of how his
dear mother having had three boys
before him was praying fervently for
a girl during her fourth pregnancy.
She was palpably disappointed
when the baby turned out another
boy. She was indeed depressed. But
her husband, Daniel’s father, a man
Daniel himself described as
spiritually deep, saw in the new baby
boy, a ‘messiah’ to the family.
So he gave him the name, Elozino,
which means “Light has come to our
family”. And today that “Light” is
indeed shinning, not only on
Omoyibo’s family, town or state
but also on Nigeria and surely
Nollywood.