Its easy to label Yoruba mumu in agitation for a firm response to Ibo. You probably did not know this but in as much that Ibos solicit constitutional right as backing for its excesses in Lagos, OPC equally assert its stand on the various statutes of law which demands that law and order in society must be maintained at all cost, with emphasis on AT ALL COST!
Word.
That was why I cosigned what the Oba said during the elections.
They can't turn the ancestral land of folks into "no man's land" when they have theirs. AT ALL COST!
But before I hit the sheets, I just need to drop this tune. My jam.
The doozy, Fabolous, and the woman with one of the most beautiful voices ever, Tamia, came together to create this ever green tune.
And the model in the video, K.D. Aubert, my teen years crush, and top-3 on my list of the most beautiful women ever - also blessed the tune with her presence.
I was in utter shock when I saw the old man they brought from the village in Ondo speaking the English language fluently and educating Wale on some things. And he should be in his late 70s or 80s. My late grandad was also very fluent in English language, but his case was different cos he was born and raised in Lagos and he used to travel everywhere. So that's understandable. But an old man from Ondo? - Awolowo was an enigma!
I read everything you posted about the plans they had for Lagos. Hopefully, folks will educate us on how they planned the other Yoruba cities. Nigeria destroyed Yorubas, I swear down.
Yep! After I posted that response I read and thought it was missing something. You completed it empathetically in this opening. SAD!
The mastermind, Adeniran Ogunsaya was an Ijebu man and I dont even think he was AG. I believe he was in NCNC but their visiin was to use Lagos to perfect the template and then deploy hinterland. There was another pilot experiment in Yaba for an industrial cluster but that one failed from mismanagement. When you read letters and old newspaper clippings detailing exchanges between Colonial administrators and the Regional Leaders you will be amused and proud also of Yoruba leaders.
I was in utter shock when I saw the old man they brought from the village in Ondo speaking the English language fluently and educating Wale on some things. And he should be in his late 70s or 80s. My late grandad was also very fluent in English language, but his case was different cos he was born and raised in Lagos and he used to travel everywhere. So that's understandable. But an old man from Ondo? - Awolowo was an enigma!
I read everything you posted about the plans they had for Lagos. Hopefully, folks will educate us on how they planned the other Yoruba cities. Nigeria destroyed Yorubas, I swear down.
turnup05: The Yoruba speaking people are mainly located in the south western part of Nigeria. This race of people are unique in various ways and internationally known world over for their good culture. Here are some amazing characteristics of the Yoruba people.
1.HISTORY: The Yoruba people have a very rich history and are known to be one of the earliest thriving civilizations in Africa because of the Oyo kingdom. The progenitor of the yoruba race is Oduduwa and it is believed that he migrated from the middle east to settle down in the present Ile-Ife south west Nigeria. He then gave royal backing to his sons to go and rule other kingdoms but have an affiliate with the Ife kingdom regarding it as their source. This is why most kings regard the Ooni of Ife as a foremost and paramount ruler in Yoruba land. It is also interesting to note that each King in Yoruba Land has a different or unique title name given to him. Making the yoruba people to have the highest number traditional title names of Kings in the world. Also each Palace always have a market close to it and they are always called Oja-Oba(kings Market).
2.ARTS, LITERATURE AND CRAFT: The Ife bronze heads shows that the Yoruba people had special knowledge and skills in casting different from anywhere in the world. The Yoruba proverbs also serves as a rich source of moral advise, inspiration and motivation to people. The first nobel prize on literature in Nigeria was given to Professor Wole Soyinka and no one has achieved this feat in Nigeria till now. His rich usage of Yoruba literature has helped him in his profession. The artistic wooden carvings and clay sculptures also lend credence to the rich culture of the people.
3.FOODS: Delicious foods like pounded yam (Iyan) Yam flour meal (amala) as well cassava meals (garri,eba) including the sumptuous stews like melon stew, draw vegetable(ewedu) and vegetable stew (shokoyokoto) has made people from all over the world to cherish yoruba delicacies. Also snacks like peppered plantain chips (dodo Ikire) have always been used as good appetizers. All these mouthwatering dishes are not only tasty but have nutritional value.
4.LEADERS: The Yoruba race has been blessed with a lot of great leaders in various fields and endeavors of life. Ranging from Politics, Religion, Business, Literature and so on. Some of these leaders have been mentioned on the Forbes list as one of the most influential people in the world. The first premier of the western region Chief Obafemi Awolowo recorded a lot of first during his time like the first sky scraper built in Ibadan with cocoa sales (Cocoa House) setting up the first Radio and T.V station as well as the Opening of the First University in Nigeria University of Ibadan are some of his achievements. Chief OluSegun Obasanjo who was former military head of state later became a civilian president 20 years later after he was released from prison. Chief MKO Abiola a former president elect who died in prison is regarded as Martyr of Democracy in Nigeria. Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also been a very influential politician who supported five sitting governors in southwest in elections and they won. So he is regarded as A God father of at least seven governors in Nigeria today. He was also very useful in installing the incumbent President Buhari after he had contested severally. In Business the richest black woman is Chief F. Alakija according to forbes list. Other business tycoons are chief Mike Adenuga owner of Glo the first indigenous owned telecommunication company his other companies are ETB and Conoil . Otunba Femi Otedola is the owner of Forte Oil one of the biggest Oil firms in Nigeria.
5.ENTERTAINMENT: The entertainment aspect is so rich and interesting. Starting from Music the yoruba have different genres of music like Akpala, fuji, afro juju, Afro beats amongst others. Very popular musicains like Fela, King Sunny Ade are Yoruba people. Young super stars like wizkid, davido are also making waves in the music industry with international stars doing collaborations with them including International yoruba stars like Seal and Wale. The Yoruba film industry is also very big with plenty interesting films being released everyday. Some T.V stations only show Yoruba films through out the day showing the versatility of the industry. Interesting games are not left out; there is chess game so also the yoruba have the Ayo game.
6.SPORTS: the Yoruba can boast of many great sports men like Thunder Balogun and Rashidi Yekini in football. Also Hakeem Olajuwon in basket ball was from the southwest.
7.CULTURAL RENAISANCE: The Yoruba are very proud of their culture displaying it and speaking it at any given opportunity. They are a hospitable race and Welcome visitors including Blacks from the Diaspora who want to trace their roots back to Africa. These diasporans are integrated back into the culture and given yoruba names. They are also thought how to speak the Yoruba language. Yorubas feel their language is becoming extinct when ninety percent of them still speak it with their children even as they hardly speak other languages. The Creoles of the Carribean Countries in the Americas also have yoruba words in their languages. 8.TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURAL: Yoruba traditional architecture is Unique; most of the buildings roofs are triangular in shape and always slanting downwards past the lintel. They always have a lot of pillars and columns of traditionally carved totem poles with figures. The doors and windows are also carved with figures.
9.RELIGION: The Yoruba people are a very religious group of people. They are also blessed with great religious leaders who are known world over for their powerful anointing. Like under the Christian Faith the yorubas have great men Pastor E.A.Adeboye (RCCG), Bishop OYEDEPO(WINNERS) T.B Joshua(SYNAGOGUE) Pastor Kumuyi (Deeper Life) Pastor OluKoya(MFM) amongst others. The firts bible to be translated to an African language especially in West Africa was by A yoruba Priest Bishop Ajayi Crowther. The great Prophet Ayo BabaLola the founder of C.A.C world wide was a great pentacostal revivalist who spread the word like fire.
10. TEXTILES: The Yoruba have always been fashionable people with their different styles and accessories. The women,s Gele (head tie) are always spectacular. So also the mens cap and agbada which are always captivating. The Aso-Oke always go with diferent yoruba attires. The tye and dye clothes (adire) have always being with them for generations. Also there are different styles like kembe and dansiki which is now coming back to be invogue by the youths. The concept of aso ebi and aso oke where also introduced by yoruba people where people pick a particular pattern of textile material and wear them in an occassion to make for uniformity and solidarity with the celebrant at the event . There are different yoruba hair styles that are also attractive too. All these and more to numerous to mention needs to be packaged together to form a tourist park which will showcase all these aspects of The Yoruba to the world for future references.
[size=20pt]Women entrepreneurs plan exhibition in Ogun [/size]
Nigerian women entrepreneurs under the aegis of NACCIMA Business Women Group, NAWORG, have concluded plans to hold the largest exhibition of products, goods and services ever at an event billed to take place in December in Ogun State.
The exhibition tagged ‘Promoting Women Entrepreneurs Through Networking’ will focus on synchronizing women’s economic potentials as tools for societal change and growth in Nigeria.
Briefing journalists at a pre-event conference held at the MKO Abiola Trade Fair Complex in Abeokuta, where the exhibition is expected to take place, Chairperson, NAWORG/National Deputy President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Iyalode Alaba Lawson, said the event will create a platform for networking and business transaction, as well as learning about each other’s products and services, thereby leading to business expansion and subsequent growth of the Nigerian economy.
“The Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition, NIWEX 2015, is being put together in collaboration with the ECOWAS Federation of Business Women Entrepreneurs, FEBWE, and Uplift Development Foundation, an initiative of the First Lady of Ogun State, Chief(Mrs)Olufunso Amosun.
“Women entrepreneurs from Uganda, Gambia, Ghana and Sierra Leone have already indicated interest to participate at the event which is also expected to draw participants from across Nigeria,” Alaba told newsmen.
[size=18pt]Ogun residents, investors groan under bad roads [/size]
Except Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun comes to the aide of both the residents and business owners in the state, they would continue to groan over the bad roads that litter the State. Vanguard gathered that, the governor had boasted to make the State an eldorado by fixing most of the roads in the state, but, the cash crunch bedeviling the State crippled the plan.
Amosun who had demolished some houses and shops for the expansion of some of the roads was financially incapacitated due to the dwindling fund from the federal allocation. As a result of this, most of the roads which were half done had become impassable for vehicles across the state.
For instance, Ajebo-Idi-Aba road, Lafenwa-Ayetoro road, Oru-Isara, Ago-Iwoye-Ijesha-Ijebu-Irolu-Remo road, Lafenwa-Adedotun-Ita-Aka road, Adatan-Ake road, Abeokuat-Alabata road and Olokemeji-Orile-Ilugun road, Others are ; Atan-Ota/ Lusada juncture and Igbesa, Ado-Odo/Ota local government area of Ogun State, Mokola-Ilugun road, Siun-Owode-Ofada-More road among others were in terrible position.
Residents and Shop owners have cried out over the threat to their businesses and life due to bad roads. Most of the commuters and drivers plying the roads said the state of the roads was threatening their economy and their lives and therefore appealed to the governor not to hesitate to do the needful on the roads.
A visit to Atan-Ota/ Lusada juncture and Igbesa, Ado-Odo/Ota local government area of Ogun State,revealed that the roads, incidentally are the ones leading to and fro Agbara industrial estate, where most of the blue chip, multinationals and small and medium businesses are located.
The level of the deterioration of the roads has forced most motorists to abandon their cars and either taking motorcycles or cabs to their offices and other places. Some of them who spoke to our correspondent lamented their ordeal over the bad roads, appealing to governments at all levels to consider their plight.
A motorist ,Alade Taiwo said the appeal became necessary “to prevent loss of lives, property as well as businesses to the bad roads.” Also, Tajudeen Alowonle who is a welder told our correspondent that most small and medium businesses have packed up as a result of the road situation.
Mrs. Waliat Olaleye, who runs a cold room at the Lusada juncture along Agbara/Atan said often times, trucks bringing frozen foods tumble, emptying their contents. Olaleye, who said she graduated in Accounting from the Lagos State University, recalled that she had always nursed the ambition to be self-employed “even when I was in school”
Along the roads, no fewer than four filling stations have closed shops as students of the ICT institute of Technology, Igbesa, board motorcycles from Lusada juncture for N200 per person. Residents and business owners are sighted in “rain boots”, which they interchange with their normal shoes on and off the muddy barely passable roads.
A commercial motorcyclist, who took our correspondent on the inspection of some roads said the only alternative road to Agbara was to come by boat through Lagos. Commercial bus owners have abandoned the roads, leaving the shuttling business for the few Okada riders.
Companies along the Lusada-Igbesa road include Viju factory, Ogun Guandong Free Trade Zone, housing many factories, among others. Meanwhile, residents and workers as well as motorists have begged Amosun to repair Idi-Aba-Ajebo road which had become almost impassable.
When our correspondent visited the road that leads to Ogun State Television , most people who spoke on the road pleaded anonymity because they are civil servants. They said their cars developed fault on daily basis. The road which was undergoing expansion seems abandoned due to the paucity of fund and had worsen the State of the road from its earlier status.
A visit to Lafenwa-Ayetoro road showed many vehicles were knocked down as a result of the failed portions of the road. It was gathered that those who live at the area lamented that commercial cabs have refused to ply the roads while the few ones operating charged exorbitant fees.
Also, on Lafenwa-Ita-Aka-Adatan road, motorists have abandoned the roads due to the impassable state of the road. Most of the roads in the state which were undergoing expansion have been deserted by contractors as a result of paucity fund and have become impassable. Vanguard gathered the governor was making frantic efforts to ensure that those roads were fixed and made passable.
I will be most interested if you can dig out the said thread about Da Rocha's . . . I will certainly would want to refresh my memory about them all and Da Silver too.
My siblings and I went to ADRA0 International School back then, I still have fond memories of Ms. Abimbola Da Rocha Omololu, Ms Ajisafe and Ms. Smith . . . .they certainly helped in molding us in those formative years back in VI, bet they are all late now cos at that time they were nearly senior citizens and for me? i will mark them down as arguable the best educationist/teachers of that era and also the crews at Corona School.
I recall a school day when the Bar beach overflowed her banks, ADRAO back school premises is/was facing the Atlantic Ocean and it so happened the ocean over flowed her banks. The fear/distress we all went thru was better imagined than experienced . . . .the whole school grounds and lower classrooms blocks was covered with ocean water and also down to the main road/adjoining streets . . . . .that incident killed my swimming appetite till today . . . . I really thought the whole school was going to go under and we were all gonna drown but thank goodness! the Lord spared us all.
FAN Milk Nigeria came calling not too long afterwards with hot jammed doughnuts/milk, we were all given hugs and reassured it was never going to happen again meanwhile the whole of Ahmadu Bello Way and beyond was experiencing serious traffic gridlock due to panicky parents rushing down to pick there kids. Apparently word on the streets of Lagos was that, the school had gone under and was swept into the Atlantic Ocean by strong currents and taken the we the school kids along <grin.png>.
It might interest you to know ADRAO International School was/is (till today) still sandwiched between NTA and the Nigeria Minting Corporation (donkey years have being out there), those were really exciting times in Nigeria (NTA boarded us to the right and the Mint was to the right) Being neighbours with this organisation had is own perks then, we had unfettred access to all the stars on the set of Village Headmasters when they came in for filming, Uncle Dejumo Lewis (Oloja of Oja) continue to RIP was a v big hit among we the kids, we could mime his signature laughter all day long hehehehehehe . . . . . and he always had a smile and kind words for us all.
I also remember Uncle Funsho Adeolu (Eleyinmi), Justice Esiri, Sisi Clara, Amebo and co, they were v courteous, professional, fatherly/motherly and approachable any time. . . . .those were indeed a beautiful time in Nigeria if you ask me! . . . . . I still don't know how we dropped the ball.Anyway how could I forget the cast of Adio's Family, Second Chance and the rest of them . . . . .everybody most come to NTA then, the hydre headed broadcasting station of that period so even if you were doing Cock Crow At Dawn in Jos, at some stage you would had to come to the HQ in Lagos.
Then onto our lovely neighbour to the right, the Mint! it was not unusual picking up partially burnt Nigerian currencies on the school ground, the old currencies were literally burnt on site and once the chimney emits her content into the sky, thanks to strong ocean winds u can be sure to come across burnt currencies within the school presmises, the fun in this was as kids, we endeavoured to look for more partially burnt currencies during recess and try gumming them together like a puzzle map and perhaps get to spend it afterwords (yes we wish) . . . . naive kids we were as no one I recall was able to achieve this feat like you would expect . . . . sighs
Then you have Federal Palace Hotel down the road, it was an architectural master piece at that time and any excuse to pop in there was a real delight. I also recall the Ali Must Go student riot . . . .first time I saw and understood what riot was, it was one "L" of a bloody day in Lagos and again when Fela's mum was killed by "unknown soldier” omg!, Lagos was not child friendly on those days . . . .
Despite the many challenges Nigeria had then, we were certainly on the path of economic prosperity even at that stage but some thing went so wrong along the way and we lost it big time, I hope to God we can find our way back as a nation sooner than latter . . . . . .
Lagos Island was indeed the place to be and all her rich history will forever linger on in my memory . . . . .the Brazilian returnees really did influence many stuffs on the Island and Da Rocha family will go down in history as one of the great driver of education/ wealth of that era too.
P.S . . . ADRAO International School actually started right under the Jibowu Bridge on the Ikorodu road, they had to relocate to the Island when the bridge was being constructed, and each time i drive past Jibowu years afterwards . . . .a lot of changes has certainly taken place in good o’l Eko Akete . . . .
My siblings and I went to ADRA0 International School back then, I still have fond memories of Ms. Abimbola Da Rocha Omololu, Ms Ajisafe and Ms. Smith . . . .they certainly helped in molding us in those formative years back in VI, bet they are all late now cos at that time they were nearly senior citizens and for me? i will mark them down as arguable the best educationist/teachers of that era and also the crews at Corona School.
It might interest you to know ADRAO International School was/is (till today) still sandwiched between NTA and the Nigeria Minting Corporation (donkey years have being out there), those were really exciting times in Nigeria (NTA boarded us to the right and the Mint was to the right) Being neighbours with this organisation had is own perks then, we had unfettred access to all the stars on the set of Village Headmasters when they came in for filming, Uncle Dejumo Lewis (Oloja of Oja) continue to RIP was a v big hit among we the kids, we could mime his signature laughter all day long hehehehehehe . . . . . and he always had a smile and kind words for us all.
I also remember Uncle Funsho Adeolu (Eleyinmi), Justice Esiri, Sisi Clara, Amebo and co, they were v courteous, professional, fatherly/motherly and approachable any time. . . . .those were indeed a beautiful time in Nigeria if you ask me! . . . . . I still don't know how we dropped the ball.Anyway how could I forget the cast of Adio's Family, Second Chance and the rest of them . . . . .everybody most come to NTA then, the hydre headed broadcasting station of that period so even if you were doing Cock Crow At Dawn in Jos, at some stage you would had to come to the HQ in Lagos.
memories! this gave me chills. I wonder if Corona still exists today. As for dropping the ball, I seem to remember about the time SAP really started to kick in, a lot of these things just died off, slowly at first. There was no internet back then(many phones were still rotary even), so for the Nigerian on the street, we just knew quality of everything was degrading but there was no one who could put a definite finger on it.
As per the emboldened,GOODLUCK! I already got my popcorn
MayorofLagos I'm waiting for you
Se mo le te awon Gbogun gboro yen si bi?
Mo mo wipe eyin le ko
Aare, Jo, ma binu o. Most times when i return here i dont bother to catch up to missed pages and their content....thats what happened i missed this one.
Its easy to label Yoruba mumu in agitation for a firm response to Ibo. You probably did not know this but in as much that Ibos solicit constitutional right as backing for its excesses in Lagos, OPC equally assert its stand on the various statutes of law which demands that law and order in society must be maintained at all cost, with emphasis on AT ALL COST!
One thing i'd never understand is the fact that their excesses are strictly "domiciled" in the SW, they are as docile & respectful as can be with the northerners..
There are intelligent women in NL. They have social pressures and are conditioned to yield to these pressures. This is why plenty of them are entrapped in online relationship scams. Men are sometimes caught in this entrapment as well.
I saw your convo with tupac and im thinking to myself he needs to be more careful than he has been if hes serious about finding a woman here to settle with.
Part of the pressure is age and procreation, other things are put aside. So, not all, but there is a reason romance, sexuality, family, cooking is filled with women than you find in politics....plus they trade their feminine appeal easily in those sections, whereas those appeals have to be suppressed if they were here interacting in politics section.
A lot of the people are very young. I got to exchange info with some, but they are simply too young. I lost my hearthrob not too long ago, and I am more inclined to find a woman, but I prefer someone from 30 upward, though that is still going to be a very big age difference nonetheless. Nairaland is full of twens people.
memories! this gave me chills. I wonder if Corona still exists today. As for dropping the ball, I seem to remember about the time SAP really started to kick in, a lot of these things just died off, slowly at first. There was no internet back then(many phones were still rotary even), so for the Nigerian on the street, we just knew quality of everything was degrading but there was no one who could put a definite finger on it.
NB: POINT OF CORRECTION DEJUMO LEWIS (KABIYESI, OLOJA OF OJA) STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE AND STILL ACTING
Is it the same Dejumo Lewis who played the Kabiyesi role in Village headmaster?
Yes Boss . . .had Councillor Balogun whilst penning that portion of the write up but most have erroneously penned Oloja to the RIP portion . . . .Apologies y'all
Yes Boss . . .had Councillor Balogun whilst penning that portion of the write up but most have erroneously penned Oloja to the RIP portion . . . .Apologies y'all
Haba! ko le to yen.Speaking of Kabiyesi,he's really going through tough times.
WELCOME TO NIGERIA:The country where everything is just for the moment.When the time comes,you'll be dumped and forgotten
[size=14pt]"I am the poorest paid actor" Dejumo Lewis cries out[/size]
Veteran Nigerian movie star, Dejumo Lewis, popularly known for his role as Kabiyesi in the classic NTA TV series ‘The Village Headmaster’ has opened up on how poor he is. In an interview with Punch, the 72 year old actor cried out that he has never been financially stable despite his legendary status. “I must admit that I have not been rich. I am the poorest paid actor even though people call me a legend or an icon. My pensions were not paid at a time even though it is stipend. You would be shocked how much I receive as pension. ‘I had to struggle to pay my rent and my staff. I must admit that right now, I am indebted to the management of the hotel that I am staying. I also owe two of my staff more than three months salary. They have been so loyal and committed to me” said the thespian. “I must tell you that I have been living on charity and that is why I have not been able to publish my book or run my publishing company. It has been very rough and tough but because of my focus on what I am doing which would be of great benefit to Nigeria, I have been coping until things become better. I must admit that I am broke” lamented the TV star.
Dejumo Lewis’ story is one of many movie veterans in the Nigerian film sector who are not financially well-off.
Do you think the Government should be the one helping out these legends or their Nollywood colleagues?
A lot of the people are very young. I got to exchange info with some, but they are simply too young. I lost my hearthrob not too long ago, and I am more inclined to find a woman, but I prefer someone from 30 upward, though that is still going to be a very big age difference nonetheless. Nairaland is full of twens people.
tpiah
You don't need an older woman to find intelligence...... I know some pretty young, brilliant females on NL. When searching exclude the politics, family and romance section.
Egbon mi, I really haven't looked into this angle you've brought up. Quite interesting I must say o.
We know the Ijebu were active in the commerce but not sure about the coastline.
The Ilaje and Itsekiris probably hold unrecorded details of their feats in the seas/coasts. I would love to read details on this o.
Ilaje people have been fishers and merchants. Our exploits have been directed more towards the east. We had scattered Ilaje huts along the coast of Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Cameroun, Gabun. Most of these folks have been assimilated into the main folks in these regions.
Besides, there were hardly reason for Ilaje to be subdued, because we were like the nomads, but on water. Our region was also not very accessible. We have lots of waterways, but they were not navigable for big ships. And even though we have a long stretch of sandy coastline, it's below sea level. The Atlantic always overflows the beaches atleast once a day. I do not know how it is nowadays, but that was how it was in my younger years (early seventies), when we used to go to my uncles on the beach of AbeAlala (Eteekun Abaala). And due to climate changes, I presume the situation might be worse now, except the beaches have been sand filled.
Ilaje people have been fishers and merchants. Our exploits have been directed more towards the east. We had scattered Ilaje huts along the coast of Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Cameroun, Gabun. Most of these folks have been assimilated into the main folks in these regions.
Besides, there were hardly reason for Ilaje to be subdued, because we were like the nomads, but on water. Our region was also not very accessible. We have lots of waterways, but they were not navigable for big ships. And even though we have a long stretch of sandy coastline, it's below sea level. The Atlantic always overflows the beaches atleast once a day. I do not know how it is nowadays, but that was how it was in my younger years (early seventies), when we used to go to my uncles on the beach of AbeAlala (Eteekun Abaala). And due to climate changes, I presume the situation might be worse now, except the beaches have been sand filled.
[size=14pt]Ambode commends sterling Bank’s support to transport sector[/size]
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has commended Sterling Bank Plc for its support towards the development of the transportation sector in the state through the financing of 434 new buses under the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme. The high-capacity air-conditioned buses are expected to convey over 400,000 passengers daily on the Ikorodu-CMS via Mile 12 route.
The Governor gave the commendation at the commissioning of the buses and launch of the extension of BRT operation from Mile 12 to Ikorodu, which was witnessed by the former Governor of the state, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, and the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in Ikorodu.
Ambode who used the event to restate the commitment of his administration to delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Lagos State assured that he will continue to initiate policies and programmes to accelerate the development of the state.
He noted that the step taken by Sterling Bank has further confirmed the need for public-private partnership for viable economic growth and development in the country.
Ambode further assured that his government was committed to improving the transportation network in a bid to improve traffic flow and attract investors to the state to support the strategic master plan of his government.
In his short remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Yemi Adeola, expressed the bank’s appreciation for the opportunity afforded it by the Lagos State government to contribute its quota to the economic agenda of the government, especially in the transport sector.
Adeola who was represented by the bank’s Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Adesanya, assured that as an institution committed to enriching lives, Sterling Bank was willing to partner with the state government in other endeavours. The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) in an earlier statement pointed out that the Mile 12 – Ikorodu route was a two-in-one project, which includes the widening of the 13.5km road from four to six lanes, adding that the BRT lanes will run in the middle with supporting infrastructure.
According to LAMATA, some of the infrastructure to ensure commuters’ safety and convenience include three bus terminals at Mile 12, Agric and Ikorodu; one state-of-the-art depot at Majidun with the capacity to accommodate over 400 buses, 15 bus shelters and six pedestrian bridges, among others.
[size=15pt]Rep Member Urges Mimiko To Complete Owena Dam Project[/size]
An All Progressives Congress (APC) member of the House of Representatives from Ondo State, Afe Olowookere, has appealed to the state Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, to complete the Owena multipurpose Dam located at Igbara-Oke in Ifedore local government before the end of his tenure.
The lawmaker, who made the plea while inaugurating a motorised borehole project at Igbalaye community, off Oke-Aro in Akure, said the Dam, when completed, would serve all the six local governments in the central senatorial district of the state. Olowookere expressed dismay that the project which was conceived under the administration of late Governor Olusegun Agagu, has been abandoned by Mimiko despite having attained a 70 percent stage of completion.
The lawmaker claimed that Mimiko has no cogent reason to abandon the job despite the trillions of naira that accrued to the state since he took over in 2009.
He said: “This is a project that started under the late Dr. Agagu’s administration and has reached 70 percent completion. Since the Dam was constructed by the federal government, the water treatment plants have been constructed, thus remaining the delivery through reticulation by the state government to towns and villages in Ifedore, Akure South and North, Idanre and Ondo on the central senatorial district.
“If this has been achieved, there would have been no need for digging of borehole anywhere in the Central senatorial district of the state. We all have the duty therefore to call on Mimiko to complete this project before the expiration of his tenure”.
[size=15pt]Urgent tasks for S/west leaders and governments[/size]
Since the brutal attack by Fulani cattle herders on one of the most important fathers of the Yoruba nation, Chief Olu Falae, most Yoruba people have been, at last, waking up to a realization of the dangers that threaten their Yoruba nation in Nigeria. The signs of the shock, and the growing anger and outrage, are spreading in all directions among Yoruba people. A Yoruba leaders’ summit meeting even threatened secession from Nigeria on account of the incident – although many other Yoruba have denounced that threat, rightly insisting that, for a large and prestigious nation like the Yoruba, talk of secession ought to be over much more substantial and structural issues, and ought to be arrived at through very thorough considerations.
Virtually all Yoruba are agreed, however, that the attack on Chief Falae represents a warning alarm to all Yoruba people and their leaders to brace themselves for the protection of their nation, and their nation’s interests and integrity, in Nigeria. When different nationalities, each living in its own homeland, different in culture and religion, are forced together into one country, dark forces of rivalry, envy, fear, ill-will, hatred, and primitive ambitions by some to dominate or even eliminate others, can sometimes be generated in the hearts of some of the nationalities against others. That is what happened in Yugoslavia, producing the horror of genocidal brutalities when that country disintegrated in the early 1990s. It has happened in many Black African countries too. It is the duty of the leaders of each nationality to ensure protection for their people in such a setting.
Signs of these dark forces are strong in Nigeria. Some nationalities harbour ambitions to dominate others or even to dominate all. Some nations are trying to seize the homelands of the smaller nations. Some nations disrespect and try to destroy the traditional farming economy of other peoples. Some nationalities compulsively behave in unruly and disruptive ways in the homelands of others. Some try to use violence to force their brand of religion on others.
If Nigeria is to be able to live down these fault-lines and become a stable and prosperous country, then Nigeria would need to be much better structured, and much better governed, than has been the case since independence. Also, much will depend on how much Nigerian nationalities respect one another. Those who migrate to other peoples’ homelands and choose to be disrespectful of their hosts, and to indulge in aggressive and unruly claims and behaviour against their hosts, and those who seek to dominate others or to destroy the economies of others, must know that they are essentially making Nigeria impossible to hold together.
But also, very importantly, the leaders and rulers of each Nigerian nationality owe the duty of ensuring that inter-ethnic relationships in their own homeland shall develop in an orderly and healthy manner. For instance, nearly all Nigerians relocating from their ethnic homelands today are heading to the Yoruba South-west. Already, the coming of many of them is disorderly and unhealthy, and manifestly brewing conflict and confusion. Yoruba leaders, and Yoruba state governments, are doing little or nothing to respond to this growing crisis in their homeland. They are thus preparing the ground for big trouble in the Yoruba homeland – since it is impossible that the masses of common Yoruba people will forever tolerate being insulted and trampled underfoot, and having their means of livelihood destroyed, by immigrants from other parts of Nigeria. No matter how much Yoruba political leaders may be committed to Nigeria, the masses of Yoruba people are likely to react someday to these provocations.
Hospitality to strangers is a well-established icon of Yoruba culture. Moreover, welcoming people from other lands is something that can add greatly to prosperity in Yorubaland over time. However, the large-scale immigration into Yorubaland today creates many serious problems – problems that Yoruba people, Yoruba leaders, and especially Yoruba state governors and legislatures need to find answers to. Yoruba leaders should establish some modicum of unity in their own ranks, at least for the purpose of facing these serious problems together. The six governments of the Yoruba South-west should put heads together to find and implement answers to these problems.
The problems are many and complex, but they are soluble if seriously confronted. The leading problem is that the Yoruba South-west is not generating enough economic development, and enough jobs, for its burgeoning population of indigenes and immigrants. Among the Yoruba people themselves, in spite of their solid education, enough businesses are not emerging – largely because the governments are not guiding their people to develop a modern entrepreneurial culture. As a result, most educated Yoruba youths are unemployed, and most of the immigrants are unemployed too. Huge numbers of the immigrants, and many of the Yoruba youths, take to petty peddling of merchandise on the streets, which is a classic example of “under-employment”.
The state governments must arise to this situation. The governments must create programmes of human development – improved basic education, job-skills education, entrepreneurial development and promotion, small business promotion, modern farmers’ programmes, and well-managed micro-credit systems, for all (indigenes and immigrants alike). The objective must be to achieve the purpose of the old Yoruba adage – “that the owners of the home and the strangers in the home may all have plenty to eat”.
Another problem is the serious shortage of shopping centres in Yoruba towns. The old marketplaces are still offering great service, but more modern shopping centres and malls are urgently needed. Also needed are proper licensing of traders and stores, introduction of sales taxes, proper urban zoning, and proper control and management of street peddling. Laws should also be made to prohibit the existence of exclusive “tribal” marketplaces or shopping centres, so that all marketplaces and shopping centres shall be the common property of the community, equally open to all. Serious provisions also need to be made for the proper enforcement of law in business competition in Yorubaland, as well as for the prohibition of ethnic-based, or other, monopoly or cartel practices – including illegal or violent acts aimed at eliminating business rivals.
Yet another problem is that, though Nigeria’s laws vest the management of the land of every state in the state government, most Yoruba states have evolved no land policies and no clear land transfer systems, and the states that have evolved such laws are not properly enforcing them. Therefore, land acquisitions and land transfers are occurring on a massively chaotic scale in all parts of the Yoruba South-west – obviously threatening the interests of indigenes and immigrants alike. The state governments need to deal urgently with these matters.
Moreover, it is time to eliminate cattle herding in the Yoruba South-west, and the dangers that it brings to Yoruba farmers and urban dwellers alike. There is really no place for unrestrained cattle herding in a country like Yorubaland where there are cities and towns at short distances from one another all over, and where most of the rural folks live on peasant farming. The answer, undoubtedly, is that the Yoruba state governments should speedily promote modern cattle ranching in the Yoruba grasslands in the northern parts of most Yoruba states, encourage and assist Yoruba people to become ranchers there, and establish modern abattoirs for the slaughter and distribution of beef. All of these will discourage and ultimately eliminate unrestrained cattle rearing.
In short, the impression must be eliminated that the Yoruba homeland is a “no-man’s-land”, a land without rules or order or leadership, where people from other parts of Nigeria can come and do as they wish. The Yoruba people can, and must, change all that – for their own good, and for the good of all residents in Yorubaland.
You don't need an older woman to find intelligence...... I know some pretty young, brilliant females on NL. When searching exclude the politics, family and romance section.
I like stubborn, intelligent, independent, nonetheless cultured (Yoruba) partner. I am not a fighter, and I don't like a woman that fights every one.
Besides, I am wearry of pastors said this, imam said that people. If anything, I love my peace of mind.
How do you feel the person you mentioned fill into this category?
