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‘I’ll quit as PDP Chairman after National convention’ – Ali Modu Sheriff

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The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has said he is ready to vacate office after the national convention of the party, where new officers will be elected for the former ruling party.

He, however, warned governors, elected on the platform of the PDP, not to divide the party.

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Sheriff was, on Friday, declared the rightful National Chairman of the PDP by the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday when he received members of the party from the South-West, the former Borno State governor stated that he was ready to leave office as “soon as a national convention is held and new national officers are produced.”

Sheriff’s guests were led by the zonal and state officials of the party from the six states in the geopolitical zone, except Lagos State.

Five chairmen of the party in five states in the zone – Hakeem Taiwo (Oyo); Ajayi Williams (Ekiti); Soji Adagunodo (Osun); Biyi Poroye (Ondo); and Adebayo Dayo (Ogun) – were on the entourage.

He said he would leave office after the election of officials, who, he said, must be the choice of the people.

“Ali Modu Sheriff is not here to remain as national chairman. As soon as we hold our national convention, I’m leaving.

“I will make sure that we do a credible convention and we elect leaders that are accepted by the grass roots; that is our mission. I will do that by the grace of God,” he said.

Sheriff, who was flanked by some of the reinstated national officers, among who was the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, said the governors were critical to the repositioning of the party.

He stated that he was aware of the many unprintable names he had been called since the Court of Appeal pronounced him as the national chairman of the party, stressing that he would not take issue with those calling him such names, particularly, the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

Sheriff said, “I plead in the name of God, let’s bring peace to the PDP. Let us build this party. If you like and you want to change something, wait for the convention and vote for the person you like and Nigerians and the world will see that you’re are validly elected by the PDP.

“Yes, our governors are very important; they are leaders of this party in their own right. They don’t have to divide the party.

“I will not come down to the level of Fayose. I beg him to respect the PDP; whatever he said about me, posterity will judge him. He should devote more energy and time for the rebuilding of the PDP.”

He noted that his victory at the court was not for himself alone, but for all members of the party. He appealed to the governors and other members of the PDP to be cautious in their utterances.

“People can vent their anger and say what they want but as a leader and a father to all, I want to make sure the party is united.

“I have no issue to take with anybody. My task is to reposition the PDP and bring it back to its position in 1999,” Sheriff stated.

The PDP chairman explained that he was already working with security agencies on how to reopen the party’s national secretariat shut since May 2016.

The police shut the secretariat, located at Zone 5, Wuse District of Abuja, following clashes between a faction of the party loyal to Sheriff and another faction loyal to the sacked national caretaker committee, headed by a former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

Sheriff said, “Between now and Friday, we will move back to the secretariat. We have transmitted all the legal documents to police and the Department of State Services that intervened at some point in time to avoid chaos.”

Sheriff, who is still facing stiff opposition from the governors, the majority members of the Board of Trustees and statutory organs of the party, said there was an agreement between him and the Makarfi faction not to go to the Supreme Court after the appeal court judgment.

“Makarfi and I resolved that whatever was the outcome of the appeal court that we will not destroy our party; that once we get the judgment from the court of appeal that, it would be the final judgment for everybody.

“We spoke to all Nigerians about this; it is on record. But all the same, everybody has the right to do what he wants to do. But it is good to place on record that we had an agreement,” he stated.

The South-West Zonal Chairman of the party, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, urged Sheriff to unite the party by seeing himself as a father of all members.

Makanjuola said members of the party from the zone would support him in his desire to reposition the PDP.

“South-West is very settled behind you. This is the beginning of the battle, but you must see yourself as the father of all. Bring everybody on board. You won the battle for all members of the PDP,” he added.

He urged Sheriff to lead the PDP to win the governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states, saying, “Only then can this victory go down well.”

Meanwhile, Makarfi has restated his plan to pursue the case to its logical conclusion.

Makarfi said this in a statement issued by a member of his faction, Dayo Adeyeye.

He said, “They should comply fully with the judgment of the Court of Appeal. The status quo ante May 21, 2016, is the full National Working Committee elected at previous conventions and not the cronies that he singlehandedly appointed and who are parading themselves as officers of the party.

“We remain resolute in our determination to pursue our case to its logical conclusion in the interest of justice and the Nigerian democracy.”

 

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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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AARE ADETOLA EMMANUELKING ADVOCATES FOR CONSOLIDATION BEFORE TRANSFORMATION AS LAGOS REDAN CHAIRMANSHIP ASPIRANT PAID COURTESY VISIT

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AARE ADETOLA EMMANUELKING ADVOCATES FOR CONSOLIDATION BEFORE TRANSFORMATION AS LAGOS REDAN CHAIRMANSHIP ASPIRANT PAID COURTESY VISIT

 

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Aare Adetola Emmanuel-King, The Executive Chairman Adron Homes, advocates for Consolidation first before Transformation as he declares his support for Dr Segun Oshundairo, The Aspiring REDAN Chairman For Lagos Chapter(Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria)

He stated his full fledged support during an exclusive interview with the REDAN Chairman Aspirant, Dr Segun Oshundairo, the CEO of Arcview Investment Limited. During the Aspirant’s visit, Aare Adetola admonished him on steps to take to ensure that his tenure birth policies that would revolutionize the Real Estate Industry. He urged the Aspirant to embark on Intense Media publicity and collaborative advocacy efforts to influence government policies and decisions affecting the Real Estate Industry.

During this Meeting, The Aspirant talked about his Manifesto which he would implement once he emerges the Chairman. He declared the following Intentions:
– Create a Developers Mortgage Plan. With this, he would be collaborating with the government to create a plan that would ensure that developers can buy affordable estate from the government which would facilitate their ability to create reasonable and affordable houses for the masses.
– Establish an Advisory Board for REDAN. He stated that he would create an Advisory Committee that would consist of 7 stakeholders to advise and train members of the group every quarter on the right policies and procedures to implement.
– Open up lands in rural Areas and convert them to Mega cities. He revealed his intention to collaborate with the government in order to open up lands in Ofada, Papalantoro and environs as well as create affordable real estate in such areas.
– Rebrand and Publicize REDAN: The Aspirant stated that under his tenure, REDAN would have a new look, which would include a new logo, better policies as well as increased visibility .

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Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing, In addition to advising the Aspiring Chairman on Strategic Media Publicity for REDAN, also implored him to pay attention to increasing the number of members in the group as well as present comprehensive strategies poised to shape the future landscape of real estate in the country.

He Admonished and stated that “There can’t be a greater Lagos without REDAN” He further advised the Aspirant on the need for a Universal market price of Landed Properties for Real Estate Developers in Lagos State when purchasing from the government. Also, this would foster and aid the creation of affordable housing for the good people of Lagos State and Nigerians at large.

The interview session concluded on a positive note in which Dr Segun Oshundairo expressed his enthusiasm and appreciation for the collaboration between REDAN and the CEO of Adron Homes. The Interview Session laid the foundation for future partnership opportunities aimed at driving positive change within the real estate industry. Dr Segun reiterated that once elected, he would set up a board of trustees that would consist of veterans and real estate pillars to serve as an advisory board for the pressure group.

 

AARE ADETOLA EMMANUELKING ADVOCATES FOR CONSOLIDATION BEFORE TRANSFORMATION AS LAGOS REDAN CHAIRMANSHIP ASPIRANT PAID COURTESY VISIT

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