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Death and the governor’s mother By Abiodun KOMOLAFE

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Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola journey into political oblivion commences

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“Life levels all men. Death reveals the eminent.”

 

– George Bernard Shaw

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Rauf Aregbesola must be an extremely sad man, as we speak. This is because, in a spate of two weeks, the governor of the State of Osun has lost two particularly dear friends to the cold fangs of death. First to answer the final call was Olu Abiola, a foremost industrialist, socialite and philanthropist who was not only “an invaluable asset in the business world”, but also “gave his all to the cause of” Aregbesola’s administration. Abiola gave up the ghost on July 16, 2017 and the world mourned the passing of a patriot! Two weeks after, precisely, on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, the matriarch of the Aregbesola family in Ilesa, and the governor’s mother, Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola, also exited this sad, sick and insane world of war and the vagaries of its sinfulness. Rauf lost her beloved mother and a chapter in the history of his events-filled life came to a close.

 

Though grieving is a natural reaction to a loss, the solace in these two sad events is that both grew relatively old before accessing the hereafter. Like Abiola, Iya Olobi, as she was fondly called, will be sorely missed by the governor. Just recently, the governor informed a stunned audience that he has three homes in Osun State. First is Government House at Oke Fia in Osogbo, his official residence. Second is his mother’s, in Ilaje, Ilesa. And third is Abiola’s house in Oke Omiru, also in Ilesa. Now, two of these ‘homes’ are bereaved and one can imagine thegravity of the governor’s grief.

 

As we all know, being a governor’s mother, especially, in this part of the world carries along with it a lot of responsibilities. The ‘challenge’ of that office is so threateningly enormous that, once upon a time in Nigeria, a ‘Mother Excellency’ almost seized control of the powers constitutionally vested in her son as governor of a state. But Aregbesola was with a difference! I doubt if she ever interfered in governance issues in Osun. And it’s not recorded anywhere that she ever used her influence to curry favour anywhere. The present state of the road on which her house in Ilesa is situated bears eloquent testimony to this.

 

But, what is life that its “meter just keeps a-ticking whether you are getting somewhere or just standing still”? On the other hand, why is death described as “a gift to have more life” and why did Walker Scott see it as “the final awakening”? Of course, that’s why I seriously disagree with Will Rogers that being a hero is more of knowing when to die because “prolonged death has ruined more men than it ever made.” For instance, were Rauf to have a choice between losing his mother now, when the possibility of the state shutting down to accord her a befitting burial is high, and letting her live longer till say, when “the phones no longer ring”, I’m sure he’d have opted for the latter. That goes to explain the importance of parents in a man’s life!

 

Iya Olobi’s vision of life was remarkable. She trained her children, sometimes, through the seeming endless valleys of travails, to become responsible citizens in the society. She neither wavered nor faltered in nurturing them, sometimes through the physical thistles and the psychological toughness of a journey of life which, in many instances, attempted to dilute her faith. Despite the winding and the wearisome nature of the journey, she did all that’s worth doing  to give her children’s future a meaning.

 

“Life”, in Marion Howard’s words, “is like a blanket – too short.”This“mutual hostility” is also said to be about wars; you win some, you lose some. Sadly, but with total submission to the will of Allah, Iya Olobi has lost the final struggle of life to death! So, rather than grieve over what’s inevitable, the governor and his siblings should reflect and, with hearts full of praise, appreciate God for having such a wonderful mother who has in no small way added value to their lives. More importantly, the governor should be thankful to the Allah for letting his mother see him through success, notably,asan engineer,a ‘chattered politician”, and“an astute administrator with a vision, one blessed with the ability to picture into the fortunes, hopes and desires of a future which best is yet to come for dear state.”

 

Like mother, like son! Japheth Omojuwa describes him as a “seemingly ordinary man with the proven extraordinary abilities” while Joe Igbokwe sees him as “a repository of trust and confidence among his followers.”Aregbesola has helped a great deal in the transformation of Osun from the shameless sensualities of the Ancient Times and the ruthless ferocity of the Dark Ages into “a developed, cleaner, safer and more beautiful state” that, in another 30 years, Osun will no doubt be a reference point to other states in terms of infrastructure development.His promise of a brighter future has been unsurpassable in the history of the state. Little wonder Aregbesola is one of the most outstanding and credible personalities the Nigerian nation has ever known.

 

In 1890, Crowfoot on his deathbed famously referred to life as the “flash of a firefly in the night“; “the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime“; and “the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.” Without doubt, Iya Olobi’s life brings to memory All Progressives Party (APC), interestingly, a political party co-founded and nurtured into adulthood by his governor-son. Truth be told, APC is fractured in not less than 10 states. Wolves in sheep’s clothing and politicians with no fixed identity are threatening the survival of the party and it seems as if the Father Christmas of our immediate past has lost the essence of his gift. But I believe that this challenge is not insurmountable if only the leadership can learn some salient lessons from the life, travails and the triumph of Rauf’s mother. Herinspiring life and unwavering commitment to excellence have shown that living in questionable submission to the fatal fantasies of life is not always an option.

 

May Allah grant the soul of the faithful departed Al-Janat!

 

Ameen!

 

*KOMOLAFE writes in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State (ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk)

 

abiodun KOMOLAFE,

O20, Okenisa Street,

Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State.

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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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COURT DISMISSES LAND SUIT AGAINST NIGERIAN BREWERIES

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COURT DISMISSES LAND SUIT AGAINST NIGERIAN BREWERIES

COURT DISMISSES LAND SUIT AGAINST NIGERIAN BREWERIES

 

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The Imo State High Court of Oru Judicial Division sitting at Mgbidi and presided over by his Lordship Hon. Justice Onyekachi has dismissed Suit No. HOU/71/2019, which was instituted by Chijioke Nwadika against
Nigerian Breweries Plc in the said suit, the claimant Mr. Chijioke Nwadika prayed the court to declare that the entire Ama Ogbejelem farm land at Awo-omamma in Imo State where Nigerian Breweries Plc constructed it’s drainage for waste disposal at its Awo-omamma
Breweries plant belongs to him and his family.

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COURT DISMISSES LAND SUIT AGAINST NIGERIAN BREWERIES

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The claimant also sought the court to order Nigerian Breweries Plc. to remove the drainage system from the land and pay the sum of N500,000,000 (Five Hundred Million Naira) as damages for unpaid
royalty, and destruction of the family’s economic trees as a result of disposal of waste through the drainage that runs through the claimant’s
farm land as claimed.

The claimant Mr. Chijioke Nwadika was represented through-out the
Suit by his counsel Damian Uneze Esq. who urged the court through his
submission to grant the reliefs. Dr A.A Orunkoya Esq counsel to Nigerian Breweries Plc vehemently challenged the claims of the claimant and urged the court to dismiss the suit on grounds that the
claimant failed to prove with empirical evidence the ownership of the and where Nigerian Breweries is situate or any part of it where the
drainage system of Nigerian Breweries passed.

It was his contention
that the claim of Mr. Chijioke Nwadika is predicated on tittle; hence the onus was on him to prove ownership of the land before he can be
entitled to any other relief or claim for damages connected to the land.
Dr. A.A Orunkoya Esq. further informed the court that the claim of Mr. Chijioke Nwadika was statute barred as the entire suit was centered on
a contract he purported his father had with Nigerian Breweries in 1983
whereas the action was instituted in 2019 in breach of limitation of
Action Laws that requires actions founded on breach of contract to be
instituted within six years.
The trial judge Hon. Justice Onyedikachi after considering the argument
and evidence put before the court dismissed the suit in favour of Nigerian Breweries Plc. Dr. A.A. Orunkoya Esq defence counsel to
Nigerian Breweries Plc while addressing the press after the judgment,
reiterated that the judgment has further rekindled the hope of investors and corporate organizations to invest in rural communities.

He stated that private companies are usually sued by unscrupulous
persons in their host communities thereby discouraging investors.
Dr. A.A Orunkoya Esq. further stated that the suit of Mr. chijioke
Nwadika was capable of frustrating the continuous existence of the Nigerian Breweries in Awo- Omamma but because the claims lack
merit, the court appreciated the issues of law that was canvassed as a defence and entered judgment in favour of Nigerian Breweries by dismissing the suit.

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Palliatives: Dangote donates 80,000 bags of rice to Lagos residents

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Palliatives: Dangote donates 80,000 bags of rice to Lagos residents

 … Sanwo-Olu says Dangote prioritize Nigerians’ welfare above profit

 

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The Aliko Dangote Foundation, (ADF) has flagged off the distribution of 80,000 10kg bags of rice to the vulnerable in Lagos state.

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President of Dangote Group and Chairman of the foundation, Aliko Dangote, noted that the gesture is part of the over one million 10kg bags of rice that would be distributed to reach one million vulnerable people in the 774 local government areas of the country.

 

 

 

 

Speaking at the flag off in Alausa, Dangote, said the distribution of the 80,000 bags of 10kg rice is another demonstration of the foundation’s commitment to upholding the values of compassion and solidarity that are at the core of humanity.

Noting that the distribution of the rice is in addition to the daily distribution of 12,500 loaves of bread in Lagos, Dangote stressed that with the initiative, the foundation aspires to ameliorate some of the burdens faced by vulnerable communities across Lagos State.

In his remarks, Governor of Lagos state,  Babajide Sanwo-Olu, applauded the many initiatives of Dangote to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians, while praiseing him for showing compassion to the needy in the society.

Sanwo-Olu said the gesture of distribution of 80,000 bags of 10kg rice shows that the leadership of the Foundation prioritize the welfare of the people beyond the pursuit of profit and accumulation of wealth.

The Governor said: “Aliko Dangote is a Nigerian that has chosen to be different. You have choices but you have made the right one which is caring for the vulnerable. I appreciate Mr. Aliko Dangote for extending his kind gestures to the people at the bottom of the pyramid and we are grateful for supporting us in government. There is a lot of global disruption in different parts of the world, and it is a tough time to be in a position of leadership,” he said.

While encouraging other wealthy Nigerians to emulate Dangote, the Governor said the distribution of the rice would support the initiative of the state in addressing the effects of the economic hardship.

Justifying the food intervention in Lagos, Dangote said: “While our traditional Ramadan food distribution has been focused on the Muslim Community, we recognize that the current circumstances where a significant proportion of Nigerians across the nation are experiencing severe hardship due to the prevailing high prices of food, require that we broaden our program to cover communities of all faiths. This is why we are extending the Ramadan initiative to cover all the thirty-six states and the Federal Capital Territory as a testament to our commitment to supporting our communities in line with our core values and the spirit of the Holy Month of Ramadan,” he said.

The CEO of the ADF, Zouera Youssoufou, said the Foundation is partnering credible NGOs, civil societies, religious bodies among others to ensure the donations go to the most vulnerable in Lagos State.

She said the Foundation is guided by a vision of empowering Africans to achieve their self-actualization and full potential as it believes that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

“In times of hardship, it is imperative that we stand together as one nation, one community, extending a helping hand to our brothers and sisters in their time of need as we have done with our female empowerment programme in Lagos State which targeted 40,000 (Forty thousand) disadvantaged women,” she added.

Group Executive Director Commercial Operations at Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Fatima Aliko-Dangote, noted that the flag off in Lagos is a follow-up to the 120,000 bags distributed in Kano on Saturday, said the intervention is targeted to reach the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.

“We have been doing this for a while but we didn’t publicize  it because  our chairman  believes  this is between him and God but this year we decided  to publicize  it so that we can encourage  and inspire others to do so.

“There are many other things the Dangote foundation is also doing. We are also serving 2,500 breads all over Lagos daily. We started this in 2020 during COVID-19. Also in our hometown in Kano, we have been doing breakfast, lunch and dinner for the past 35 years. The foundation has invested in many things. Years back, we gave women some money to be able to invest in their businesses,” she said.

Speaking further, Dangote noted that Lagos state holds a special place in the hearts of the Group, hosting two of its major investments – Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Dangote Fertiliser Plant.

He disclosed that the Dangote Group is also working on the nutrition agenda and has made significant strides in food fortification, investing in iodized salt and vitamin A fortified sugar. He stressed that the Group actively promotes food fortification within the Nigerian food industry and is exploring fortification methods for staples like rice and wheat and bouillon cubes to help ensure improved nutrition nationwide.

“At the heart of the Aliko Dangote Foundation lies a deep-seated belief in the importance of nutrition in human capital development. We understand that access to nutritious food is not only a basic human right but also a critical determinant of good health and well-being. By providing these modest bags of rice to those in need, we are not only looking to alleviate immediate hunger, but also investing in the long-term health and prosperity of our communities,” he added.

While commending Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu as a Governor with a penchant for overcoming adversity and enormous capacity in handling emergencies, Dangote urged other well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations to emulate the efforts to support the less privileged in the communities, especially during Ramadan, which is a time of self-reflection, empathy, and charity.

Palliatives: Dangote donates 80,000 bags of rice to Lagos residents

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NIFESAF ESUT Lagos Holds 4th Edition Of Business, Career Exposition

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The Lagos State Alumni Fellowship of Nigerian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFESAF) has held the fourth edition of its Business and Career Exposition programme themed ‘Maximizing Technology and Strategic Customer Loyalty For Sustainable Business Growth In Today’s Economic Condition’ on Saturday, 23rd of March, 2024 in Lagos.

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The programme which was basically for Small and medium-sized enterprises since its inception has served as a major platform for the promotion of Nigerian-owned businesses and created several opportunities for SMEs to thrive and have access to the world through the global reach of NIFESAF ESUT.

Just like the previous editions, the fourth edition wasn’t any different; it featured an avalanche of exhibitions by several Nigerian businesses with guests who were ready to patronize them and a huge platform to publicize their businesses.

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Some of the businesses involved in the exhibition include Finet Mobile, Purch Gadgets, Congratulations Corporate Events, Exceptional Intensive Vocational Training, Farmskills Limited, Jigsimur health drink, De Luxe flour, Royal Almonds, Ifiefruit, Ihubest trading enterprise, K-shape fashion designer, Zara Caps and Hats, Chee Havillah Royal Services Ltd, Lowan Enterprises, Mace Ventures, Arif Bureau, Davis Exotic Homes, Whiztech Global Ltd, Earthblend flavours, to mention but a few.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Global Body— Nigerian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES) ESUT Alumni Fellowship, Mr. Fred Nnadike, said the essence of the business exhibition was to support and build a community of excellent, Christians who would be role models in their respective careers.

Nnadike who urged believers under the umbrella to keep the faith alive equally charged them to uphold ethical standards, sound corporate governance, and avoid sharp practices in their respective professions and business endeavors as ardent followers of Christ.

“We want to encourage what we produce and link our entrepreneurs to the global space. SMEs are indispensable for economic growth and development. The government across board should do something urgently to revive the economy by making the environment conducive for businesses to thrive” he implored.

On his part, the Lagos State Chapter Chairman of the Fellowship, Mr Henry Nnadike, said the leadership of NIFESAF has often reminded the government that MSMEs are still the engine room of every strong economy.

“Government must address multiple taxation, epileptic power supply, dilapidated road network, and general scorching economic environment. Governments must be transparent in their reforms and interventions. Besides, we need informed ideas, programs, and policies that must be designed by the best brains. The government should learn to put the interest of the masses above their personal interest for posterity’s sake” he urged.

Similarly, the Vice Chairman of NIFESAF, Lagos Chapter, Mrs. Chika Idalah–Allison, called on the state and federal government to partner with NIFESAF and related organizations which are poised to promote skills and craftsmanship, particularly for youths.

“Government should partner with organizations promoting skills acquisition, innovation, human capital development, and creative industry. In NIFESAF we are under the mandate to support every entrepreneur under its umbrella even beyond.

Idalah – Allison told newsmen that she was able to travel to different countries for business purposes, not by her academic certifications but by the salability of her skills in artwork and design.

“Nigeria is our only country, we must build it because the world is waiting for us to step out, and that is what we must all do collaboratively, however, our education curriculum should be designed fit- for -purpose” she asserted.

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