20122019 - Malabu, P&ID: Adoke returns, arrested by EFCC

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26 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019 CHRISTMAS PARTY: Wife of the Governor of Delta State and Founder O5 Initiative, Dame Edith Okowa (middle) with Delta children at the 2019 Christmas party organised by O5 Initiative, at Government House, Asaba. PRESENTATION: From left — Laitan Adeniji (Fela); Bolanle Austen Peters, Director, Fela's Republic and the Kalakuta Queens; Laide Babayale, Fela's original dancer and queen; Patrick Akinwuntan, Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria Limited; Omolara Sosanya, Fela's original dancer and queen at the presentation of the stage play, 'Fela Republic and the Kalakuta queen' at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos. OPENING: From left: Mrs. Osuji Nkechi, guest, Mrs. Betty Samuel, guest, Evangelist Ijeoma Agodu, Founder/CEO. Divine Convenant Home of Grace Foundation, Mrs. Osuji Ijema and Esther Innocent Akpita, during the grand opening of the Ophanage Home, in Lagos. Photo: KEHINDE SHONOLA CAROL SERVICE: The New Seraph Church Choir performing Nine Lessons during the church's carol service with the theme “Hellelujah” at Mercy Hall, CMD Road, Toll Gate, Lagos.
God and the politics of succession in 2023 POLITICIANS are not leaving anything to chance. Even before the posters for the 2019 elections have been removed, the race for 2023 has started and it’s just as charged at the national level as it is in the states. One state that is offering a spectacularly different approach to the business of the next general election is Ebonyi. Governor David Umahi has told politicians - at least those in his ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state - that they should not worry about who will take over, or even how it will happen. The governor has it all worked out in a special pact with the hosts of heaven and Ebonyi is invited to the party. The governor said at a thanksgiving service in Abakaliki on Sunday that he had started a special programme across the 13 local government areas in the state, a special episode of prayers, to select not just the next governor but the next crop of political leaders in the state. It may sound like foolishness, but it’s foolishness with a history that is difficult to ignore. The worst nightmare of many past office-holders, whether in a hostile or friendly takeover, has been their successors. A conundrum Twice, it almost cost the All Progressives Congress, APC, national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his hold over Lagos. Even now the scars have not fully healed. In the last general election, succession squabbles cost the APC Zamfara, Oyo, Bauchi and Adamawa states. The main opposition party, the PDP, learnt its own lesson the hard way, when Governor Seriake Dickson’s hubris paved the way for his party’s defeat in the governorship election in Bayelsa. The current situation in Edo State where former Governor Adams Oshiomhole has recruited his former rival who he once publicly called a thief to fight against his own anointed successor, Governor Godwin Obaseki, is yet another in a chain of ludicrous succession cases with a fairly long history. As he thought about this matter of succession close to three decades ago, former military President Ibrahim Babangida was so troubled that he finally declared that even though he did not know those who would succeed his government, he knew those who would not. He then proceeded on an extraordinary experiment of banning and unbanning, breeding and re-breeding of politicians until, in the end, his laboratory exploded in his face. Personal story It must be a familiar story for Umahi, too. So, when he decides to make the matter of his succession spiritual warfare, the governor knows what he is talking about. In 2015, he was deputy to Governor Martin Elechi and thought he was secure and next in the line of succession. He was in charge of all big projects in the state and, in addition, had strong connections in the military, where his brother was a top brass. But Elechi didn’t trust Umahi, his own deputy. Instead of Umahi, who Elechi was told was cutting deals behind his back, the outgoing governor endorsed Onyebuchi Chukwu and hell came down. Umahi ran, not to prayer warriors, but outside Abakaliki for help. It’s surprising that the governor now thinks that calling on outside help, the euphemism for Abuja-based politicians, is a crime. If indeed it is, then he’s just as guilty as the politicians he was condemning on Sunday. When Elechi boxed him into a corner in 2015, Umahi did not organise prayer sessions for his deliverance. Instead, it was to former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim - the same Abuja principalities he now condemns - that he ran for help. It was the combined forces of Anyim, former Governor Sam Egwu and other Abuja politicians in Wadata House, that saved Umahi. Yet, anyone listening to him pontificating on how the state has come of age and how nobody outside the state can influence elective positions there, would think he cannot find his way outside Abakaliki. Listening to his sermon about how it is now God alone that would choose his successor, one would think he has been in the Salvation Army all his life. Power, amnesia and poverty Power breeds hubris. But that is not its worst vice. Amnesia is just as dangerous, more dangerous, in fact, than power wielders are ready to admit. That’s Umahi’s problem. People in power don’t will themselves to forget: once in power, they just forget naturally - until they fall. Rather than wasting his time ticking off the boxes on how to produce his successor or embarking on a state-wide prayer vigil for a new breed of politicians, Umahi will do well to focus on his job. In spite of his best efforts in the last four years, Ebonyi is still ranked as the seventh poorest state in Nigeria, with 70 percent incidence of poverty, slightly down from 73 percent when Umahi took over four years ago, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Ebonyi is not just poor, it’s the poorest of the five South Eastern states and the only Southern state among the country’s poorest top ten. In a sense, that is, in the sense of both geography and predatory poverty, Ebonyi is what Ekiti is to the Southwest; Bayelsa to the South; and Zamfara to the North. It will take more than prayers and gubernatorial bluff to save Ebonyi. Its trademark Abakaliki rice is a good place to build on, but not enough to lift rampant poverty. The governor is working but there’s still work to be done before the prayer rallies in the 13 local governments begin. When he described himself recently as a very, very rich man, a billionaire by other accounts, one is left to It will take more than prayers and gubernatorial bluff to save Ebonyi wonder if his wealth came by prayers alone, since he did not say how or what brought him good fortune, other than saying that he has worked hard. Residents of the seventh poorest state are entitled to know just what kind of hard work made their governor a billionaire. He was right about something, though - that “politicians are an ungrateful lot.” Once they get one position, they begin, almost immediately, to scheme for the next. Some get away with it, like one of his godfathers, former Governor Sam Egwu, now a senator; and others don’t, like Umahi’s political cousin, Dickson, whose inordinate ambition cost his party Bayelsa State. All told, Umahi’s overriding concern appears to have been how to deal with the question of succession. It’s a legitimate concern of many leaders, yet even those who think they have it all figured out - that they have all their ducks in a row find out, almost inevitably - and often too late - that they’ve left out the X- factor. 2023 is a long, long way; longer in politics than the 1108 days on the Gregorian calendar. While we look to the skies for the heavens to reveal the name of Umahi’s successor in a celestial fly past, the governor will do well to double his efforts to lift the state out of poverty. Since Ebonyi people are looking up to him to lead by example, he will also do well to render a full account of how he acquired a five-star hotel and a raft of petrol stations, among other choice assets, which have been subject of investigations by the EFCC since 2015. His legacy will not be judged by the intensity of the prayers that he organises for his successor, but by the qualitative difference he brings to the lives of the millions of the desperately poor in the state. Now, let us pray. Vanguard, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019 — 27 Access Bank showcases African art, fashion, film, music in second edition of BAFEST THE second edition of the Born in Africa Festival BAFEST, an initiative of Access Bank aimed at celebrating African creativity, held on the 15th of December 2019, at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island Lagos. Following a successful maiden edition last year, this year’s edition was also a massive success. Themed “More For The Culture”, the 2019 BAFEST was a dynamic fusion of African art, film, fashion and music, attracting thousands of fun lovers from across Africa. The day-long festival commenced in the morning with the fashion, art and film park, where various artists, fashion designers and filmmakers showcased their works. Short films, feature-length films and Accelerate Filmmaker project films were screened in the film section; films such as ‘Black Monday’ by Adetola Films, ‘Blast’ by Tosin Ibitoye, ‘Last’ by Olabisi Akinbinu, ‘Scars’ by Miriam Dera among others were featured. Eye-catching and fascinating artworks and clothing were also on display as artists and designers were on ground to engage guests. The festival then got into high spirits with the fusion of music and fashion all on one stage. Fans were thrilled with captivating music performances from some of Africa’s biggest and finest acts including Niniola, Seyi Shey, Becca from Ghana, Patoranking, Teni, Joeboy, Flavour, 9ice, Mr Real, Naira Marley and Burna Boy. The stage was lit by runway models displaying the works of top-notch African designers such as Tokyo James, Emmy Kasbit, David Tlale and a host of other talented fashion designers. A notable highlight of the festival was the electrifying opening dance VIVO Nigeria, a Smartphone brand said it has produced and shipped over 10 million Smartphones across the world since 2009 and its phone among Top 5 brands, making it industry leading brand. The company noted that its vivo V7 and V7plus brands launched at the Mobile World Congress is the first smartphones to spot an elevating 24MP front camera from APEX and is determined to outperform major existing brands like TECNO, Infinix, Huawei and Xiaomi amongst others. Head of PR, VIVO global, Chloe Wang said: ‘’This year, vivo expanded into the Nigeria mobile phone market with the launch of its flagship product – the V17 Pro which debuted yet another industry leading technology, the Dual Pop Up Selfie Camera. ‘’The device houses six cameras in performance coupled with a daring aerodynamic performance by the Drumstatic band, who were all suspended in the air. The ambience at the BAFEST 2019 was a lively one; guests had several options of refreshment as there was a food court packed with vendors dishing tasty meals and drinks. Commenting on the event and its significance, Access Bank GMD Herbert Wigwe explained that “BAFEST is not just a means of providing quality entertainment to Africans, but a platform Access Bank has created to spotlight Africa through its enormous creativity and talents. We believe it is time the world knows the true story of Africa. I believe that this year's BAFEST will further strengthen this new African narrative we are creating.” Born in Africa Festival is a celebration of the unparalleled dynamism of the true African spirit. This highly entertaining fusion of music, art, film and fashion is designed uniquely to help shape a positive African story globally and better connect the world to the continent. The Born in Africa Festival was birthed by Access Bank from a need to tell the true story of Africa in all its glory. Over the years, Access Bank an institution has persistently shown passionate support for African creativity and has successfully positioned itself as Africa's gateway to the world, providing more than just banking services. The Bank has continued to promote the vibrant creative spirit that abounds Nigeria and Africa through its support for platforms such as Art X Lagos, AFFRIF, Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Access The Stars among other initiatives. VIVO rolls out 10m smartphones in 10 years Obi Ilomechina Obajanma celebrates 82 birthday in grand style All is now set for the 82years birthday anniversary celebration ofa prominent community leader and the head of Inalu dynasty,Umuagu, Asaba, Delta, Obi Ilomechina Amuwah aka Obajanma.A statement jointly issued on behalf of the family by thechairman planning committee for the ceremony, Ogbueshi Paul Olikoand secretary Dr. Victor Onuorah Amuwah, stated that the ceremonywhich is expected to attract large turnout of prominent personalitiesincluding the state governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, his deputy, Barr.Kingsley Otuaro among others including a cross section of traditionalrulers and title chiefs as well as captains of industry all including a 60MP AI Quad Rear Camera. The Dual Pop Up Front Camera also has the Selfie Softlight which helps to capture clear pictures in lowlight environments while the rear camera has a combination of lenses including the macro that helps capture tiny details of closeup shots. This camera also has a Pose Master which somehow suggests poses for users when taking photos.’’ He added: ‘’Asides being at the forefront of innovation, vivo have also been engaged in activities that interest its consumers – such as becoming the official smartphone brand sponsor of the 2018 FIFA World Cup as well as that of 2022. Another is contracting product placement with Marvel Studios for Captain America and also announcing its sponsorship with PUBG Mobile. With these activities, the brand continues to stay connected to its consumers.’’ Obi Ilomechina Obajanma celebrates 82nd birthday in grand style and politicians,will take place on the eve of Christmas celebration at the Obi Inalutown hall, Umuagu quarters, Asaba beginning at two in theafternoon. Obi Ilomechina Obajanma
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20122019 - Malabu, P&ID: Adoke returns, arrested by EFCC

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