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How Lagos Guber Candidates Are Bracing Up For De Day

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By Lukman Amusa

As the battle for the seat of Lagos State governor gathers momentum, our correspondents take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the frontline candidates

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, All Progressive Congress (APC)

Until his emergence as the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was relatively known in the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode where he served as the Managing Director of the Lagos State Development andProperty Corporation (LSDPC). Before that, Sanwo-Olu served at various times as special adviser tothe former deputy governor, Femi Pedro and former governor, Bola Tinubu. He was to later serve as two-term commissioner under Babatunde Fashola. Sanwo-Olu’s political profile got a boost recently when Governor Ambode ran into trouble with Tinubu, his godfather and national leader of the APC and other prominent stalwarts. He thus became the chosen one. After a grueling campaign that saw him edge out Ambode, Sanwo-Olu has so far managed to channel a focus for his campaign.

Days after his affirmation as the party’s flag bearer, Sanwo-Olu started confidence-building mechanisms that includemeeting with royal fathers and community leaders in courtesy visits, settling of issues with Governor Ambode and his loyalists, mergingpolitical structures with Ambode’s and securing the adoption of a number of opposition parties, among others.

While the efficacy or otherwise of the steps so far taken by Sanwo-Olu cannot be measured at this time, observers are unanimous in singling out Tinubu’s political machinery that has been winning elections in the state in the past 20 years as his most potent edge above other competitors. The machinery was instituted in 1998 and has been piloted by Tinubu himself, deploying at will to win elections from the old Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1999 and 2003, to Action Congress (AC) in 2007 and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011 before birthing in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.

However, there are fears that notwithstanding the reconciliatorymoves so far instituted to pacify aggrieved members of the party after

the APC controversial primary in the state, there are many people who are still bitter with the treatment meted out to Ambode and may choose to retaliate by joining hands with opposition members.

That fear was to be confirmed on Wednesday, December 5, when the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources in Ambode’s cabinet, Olawale Oluwo, tendered his resignation and declared support for the leading opposition candidate, Jimi Agbaje of the PDP. Central to Oluwo’s resignation was how the APC gubernatorial primary was conducted. Political pundits believe that there are many more aggrieved persons like Oluwo in the party and their decision to get back at the party may eventually hurt its fortunes in the general elections.

Babatunde Gbadamosi, Action Democratic Party (ADP)

Though not known to have held any elective office before now, Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi is not totally an unknown figure in Lagos politics.  Ahead of the 2011 and 2015 gubernatorial elections, the estate developer had tried his luck unsuccessfully under the platform of the PDP.

Popularly known as BOG, Gbadamosi, who is one of the sons of the late chairman of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, had always lost in all attempts at the party’s primaries. The 2015 experience was perhaps more devastating for him. At the PDP’s December 2014 gubernatorial primary

that produced Agbaje, Gbadamosi, who sensed that he was schemed out of reckoning after being deceived that process would be free and fair, decided to voice out his grievances even before the result of the primary was announced at the venue. He, alongside other contenders in the primary,was later pacified by President Goodluck Jonathan to sheathe their swords and support Agbaje’s candidacy.

After winning the ADP’s gubernatorial ticket in October, Gbadamosi said his emergence would set Lagos free from the captivity of political godfathers. That line of argument, observers say, might resonate with many Lagos residents who have been yearning for something new in the state’s political horizon. However, there are worries that the state-wide political structure required to mobilizepeople at the grassroots might be lacking for the Ikorodu-born

politician. The extent to which he can weather the storm in the days ahead, remain to be seen.

Jimi Agbaje, People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

Mr. Jimi Agbaje, the PDPcandidate,is contesting on a familiar terrain.

Like he confessed during the flag-off of his campaign last Saturday the ruling APC mocks him as a regular ‘customer’ whom it had always defeated and is hoping to re-enact that in 2019.

But will Agbaje change the course of history? This is the challenge which many might see as a tall dream pointing to the perceived invincibility of the ruling hegemony. To Agbaje and his supporters as well as the party which gave him the platform, 2019 is a decisive year to feel the aura of governance in the Alausa GovernmentHouse.

But this is an arduous task which some observers in the polity would want to view as impossible to undertake. Agbaje has kicked off his campaign with a message of freedom and entrenchment of true democracy in the Lagos political firmament. The fallout of the APC primaries has invigorated their resolve.

Many people see the rejection of Ambode as the humbling of a chief executive who was denied his right. This is what the PDP is trying to capitalize on as it kicks off its campaign. Analysts believe that the sentiment of Ambode’s second term denial might not be enough to defeat the APC whose structure is still very solidin the 20 LGs and 37 LCDAs of the state.

Agbaje and his team will have to embark on  very rigorous house tohouse campaigns, selling their manifesto to the people and highlighting the different policies and programmes they would bring to bear in the governance of the state.

Speaking recently, Agbaje vowed to beat the APC flat this time around and assured of his intention to champion the freedom of the state, saying the contest is between a one-man Lagos and the people.

Agbaje also hopes to improve on his performance in the 2015 election where he garnered over 600,000 votes as against the APC’s 700,000.

According to him, those huge votes are still intact and he only needs to leverage on the performance to actualise his dream of ruling the state.

Chief Salis Owolabi, Alliance for Democracy (AD)

Like Agbaje, Chief Salis Owolabiis not a greenhorn in the contest. He is a long time member of the PDP where he has always been a governorship aspirant. He must be tired of being referred to as an aspirant which probably informed his decision to dump the PDP for the AD.

Owolabi is one candidate who cannot be dismissed with a wave of hand. The US-based attorney has got contacts, the clout and the deep pocket to prosecute his gubernatorial campaign. As the gubernatorial campaign kicked off, he is probably one of the most visible candidates that Lagosians have come to identify with.

Also, the AD is not an unknown platform. In fact, it used to be the ruling party in the state under which Asiwaju Bola Tinubu came to power. No doubt, the fame of the party has waned significantly but the personality of Owolabi could give some life to the party in Lagos ahead of the election. Owolabi is said to be leveraging on his support base in the PDP to pull some crowd to his side but he is still seen as an unpopular candidate in the race.

Muyiwa Fafowora, African Democratic Congress (ADC)

Formerly the PDP chairman in Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area, Muyiwa Fafowora got a towering profile in October after emerging as the governorship candidate of the ADC in the primary.Although, Fafowora is not known to have a strong political base across

the state, many believe he would be banking on the growing popularity of his party to reach the grassroots. His political stint in the PDP is also being touted as an advantage for him.

However, the challenge of adequately covering every sections of the state with his campaign is an issue many believe has to be properly addressed if he is to make any significant impact in the election.

 

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Modupe-Ola Shine Shine, Iya nKa-ola, Opeyemi Jemila Felicitate with Barrymade As She resume ISMAN National Amirah

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AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Trio of Cosmetics giant, Alhaja Module-Ola Shine Shine, Nigerian Born America Base Islamic Star Artist, Alhaja Sofiat Iya NKa-ola and her counterpart, Alhaja Opeyemi Jemilat has Congratulated and Felicitate with the newly Amirah Suarai of ISMAN, Alhaja Modinat Ashabi a.k.a Barrytide, Omo Babae, Iyawo Babae, Iya Agbaye respectively. 

Report has it that Islamic Star Artist, Alhaja Modinat Ashabi Barrymade has been elected unopposed for the second term as the National Amirah Suarai of Islamic Musician Association. ISMAN. 

In her congratulatory Message, Alhaja Module-Ola Shine Shine Said Barrytide victory as the National Amirah Suarai is a round peg in a round hole, that is why she was elected unopposed praying that may her reign bring more succour into the Association.

On her own side Alhaja, Sofiat Iya Nkaola hearty felicitate with Amirah Suarai Claiming she has been a wonderful and lovely sister and a lover of peace and unity. 

Alhaja Opeyemi Jemila told August24news.com on behalf of sister in love that “we will all rally round her to give maximum support so as to deliver good leadership because we believe in her leadership style” says Jemilat Opeyemi

The Peacefully and well conducted Election took place on January 24 2024 in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state, Nigeria. 

Asabi will be inaugurated along side with the National President of ISMA, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Ibrahim Arafalujona at the prestigious Ikeja City Mall Lagos on Sunday 2024.

Other Elected officers that will join the inauguration ceremony Includes Office of the Secretary of ISMAN, Treasurer, Public relations Officers among others. 

Also Extending their felicitation to Alhaja Modinat Ashabi Barrytide is the sisters in love head by its Madam Mayor Alhaja Mujidat Lawal a.k.a Asbunallah respectively.

In a telephone interview with Alhaja Modinat Ashabi on her newly inaugurated office, Barrymade told news men that Welfare of its females members will be her priority. 

Barrytide, daughter of Fuji legend is no doubt an Icon in the field of Islamic Music, Event Moderator, Event Planner, Vocalist, Music Producer and the CEO of Barrytide Music company.

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AfCFTA SECRETARIAT AND ZENPAY SIGN AGREEMENT TO DEVELOP SMARTAfCFTA PORTAL FOR ENHANCED INTRA-AFRICAN TRADE

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AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Zenpay Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zenith Bank Plc, has signed an Agreement with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat for the development and deployment of the SMARTAfCFTA Portal to facilitate trade within the African continent.

L-R: Chairman of Zenpay Limited, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu and the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, His Excellency Wamkele Mene, during the signing of an agreement for the development and deployment of the SMARTAfCFTA Portal to facilitate trade within the African continent, at Zenith Bank Headquarters, Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday.

The agreement which was signed by the Chairman of Zenpay Limited, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu and the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, His Excellency Wamkele Mene, at Zenith Bank Headquarters, Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday, May 3, 2024 comes as a follow-up to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was previously signed by both parties during the 8th Annual Edition of Zenith Bank’s International Trade Seminar on Non-Oil Export which was held on Wednesday, August 8, 2023.

During the agreement signing, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, Chairman of Zenpay Limited, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat, highlighting its significance given the current understanding of trade flows in Africa. Dr. Onyeagwu noted, “In Africa, intra-African trade constitutes only about 20% of total trade, with the rest going overseas, despite Africans making up 18% of the world population but contributing less than 5% to global GDP. By trading within Africa, we anticipate building prosperity across the continent.”

He further stated, “This initiative is not driven by profit but by the need to support the African Continental Free Trade Area. It aims to create a unified African market, enhancing economic integration and standardising customs and practices. As we advance this agenda, we expect tosee significant growth and improvement in intra-Africa trade.”

Also speaking during the agreement signing, His Excellency, Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, shared his delight over the partnership with Zenpay Limited in developing SMARTAfCFTA. He appreciated Jim Ovia, CFR, Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, for his commitment to the project. According to him, “Four years ago, we discussed and envisioned SMARTAfCFTA as a digital platform to empower SMEs and young entrepreneurs in Africa, facilitating their inclusion in trade and boosting intra-African trade. This platform will serve as a repository for crucial trade data, offering insights on rules of origin and market intelligence, thus playing a pivotal role in implementing the AfCFTA agreement. Today is a testament that working together with our African partners in this case, Zenith bank, shows that their commitment goes beyond their progit margins to their stakeholders, but are motivated by our shared duty towards the Continent.”

Speaking about the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) alongside the SMARTAfCFTA portal, H.E. Mene described PAPSS as “Africa’s payment highway.” He clarified that, unlike PAPSS, SMARTAfCFTA is not a payment platform itself but will be interoperable with PAPSS, allowing functionalities that facilitate easy payments. He emphasised that these platforms complement each other; they are not in competition. “We promote and encourage only one payment platform—PAPSS. Our goal is to integrate the digital ecosystem we are developing into PAPSS. We are committed to fostering innovation within this framework, ensuring it supports a seamless continental payment system without creating competition among platforms.”

SMARTAfCFTA is a digital platform designed to facilitate international trade by providing the necessary information and tools to the African private and public sectors. The Portal aims to streamline and unlock vast opportunities for trade across the African continent, and has the capacity to provide information like trade indicators, market trends, custom tariffs, trade agreements, Rules of Origin, market access requirements of relevant jurisdictions, export potentials, export diversification indicators and contact details of business partners in target markets and other trade-related information about Africa.

About ZENPAY Ltd 
Zenpay Ltd is a private limited liability company duly incorporated under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a wholly owned subsidiary of Zenith Bank Plc. The company. It is a one-stop revolutionary financial technology (Fintech) company responsible for digital innovation and payments.

About the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) 
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is one of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want and entered into force on 30 May 2019. It is a high ambition trade agreement, which aims to bring together all 55 Member States of the African Union, covering a market of more than 1.3 billion people, with a comprehensive scope that includes critical areas of Africa’s economy, such as digital trade and investment protection, amongst other areas. By eliminating barriers to trade in Africa, the objective of the AfCFTA is to significantly boost intra-Africa trade, particularly trade in value-added production and trade across all services sectors of Africa’s economy, at a potential of 52.3 percent. 
 
For further information, please contact: 

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GRMA To Partner NiMet In Climate Risk Modeling

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AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Global Risk Modelling Alliance (GRMA), has expressed a willingness to partner the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), in creating and enhancing access to risk data and models.

During a courtesy visit on the Director General, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and Nigeria’s permanent representative with WMO, Professor Charles Anosike, on Thursday, 2nd May, 2024, Alastair Norris and Renuka Srinivasan from the GRMA said the proposed partnership will also cover application of open source platforms and open standards designed to inform risk financing, and providing technical assistance via strategic and operational projects co-defined with key stakeholders in Nigeria.

According to Prof. Anosike, “Nimet welcomes the idea of the proposed partnership with GRMA to support our efforts and improve our forecasting and dissemination capacity”.

He further stated that the agency provides early warnings to farmers and other stakeholders by downscaling and disseminating the seasonal climate prediction (SCP). Professor Anosike also highlighted that pilot briefings and daily advisories on weather and climate conditions are other ways NiMet provides early warnings to the aviation sector.

The Global Risk Modelling Alliance (GRMA) is a technical assistance programme funded by the German government. GRMA leverages public and private sector risk expertise to enhance capabilities in vulnerable communities to undertake risk analytics.

Falemi Ayodeji of The National Council on Climate Change, NCCC, accompanied the GRMA team during the courtesy visit. Mrs Gloria Onyegbule, Director, Department of Applied Meteorological Services (DAMS), and Mr James Ijampy, Chief Meteorologist at NiMet, were also present.

PHOTO STORY

Left to Right; Alastair Norris of The Global Risk Modelling Alliance (GRMA), Professor Charles Anosike, Director General, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and Nigeria’s permanent representative with WMO, Renuka Srinivasan of the GRMA, and Falemi Ayodeji of The National Council on Climate Change, NCCC, during a courtesy visit on Prof. Anosike at NiMet Headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, 2nd May, 2024.

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