NEWS

WE’LL WORK CLOSELY WITH YOUR SECTOR, SANWO-OLU ASSURES CREATIVE INDUSTRY

Published

4 months ago

September 16, 2020

Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday reiterated his administration’s commitment to work collaboratively with the creative industry, saying that his government will do all that is possible to ensure that the sector thrives in the State.

The Governor stated this during a virtual meeting with members of the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria, CEAN and other key stakeholders in the Nigerian film industry.

Sanwo-Olu said Government is mindful of the economic impacts of the covid-19 lockdown on the entertainment industry particularly the cinema sector, promising to work with the association to achieve a win-win situation.

Representatives of CEAN during the meeting, expressed concerns about their sector, appealing to Governor Sanwo-Olu to reopen the cinemas and open up the sector for business. They promised to adhere strictly to the laid down Covid-19 safety guidelines.

Speaking on behalf of the association, Mr. Moses Babatope said the cinema owners are ready to reopen.

He said: “we are ready to open our cinemas any time today or tomorrow. Cinemas outside Lagos are already open and they are complying with all the necessary protocols. We understand that your office is being careful about health and safety of Lagosians but we also assure you that these are top considerations for us too.”

The association also requested that the Governor set up a film office whose function would include liaising with foreign investors while also serving as a major hub for the film industry in Lagos.

A film maker and one of the participants at the meeting, Omoni Oboli appealed to Governor Sanwo-Olu for tax waivers, saying that no one in the film industry has earned a revenue in the past six months.

“Mr. Governor, we want you to help us with some tax break. As you may be aware sir, none of us has earned any revenue in the past six months. We want you to use your good office to help our industry.”

Responding, Governor assured the film industry experts that he would ensure that government continues to protect their interest, saying he is a new convert having seen the level of creativity and economic importance of the sector.

He said: “we would work collaboratively with your industry. I am aware of the enormous challenges you face especially in this period of covid-19 pandemic. But as you know, we have to do what is right to protect the lives and property of millions of Lagosians.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu promised to look into all the requests made and return to them in due course.

Filmmaker and television host, Mosunmola Abudu, popularly called Mo Abudu moderated the meeting.

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SANWO-OLU MOURNS FORMER LAGOS ADMINISTRATOR, NDUBUISI KANU

Published

10 hours ago

January 13, 2021

Segun Lawal

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed sadness over the death of the chairman of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd) on Wednesday.

Ndubuisi Kanu, a retired Naval Officer and former military governor of Imo State between 1976 and 1977, died at a hospital in Lagos on Wednesday morning at the age of 77 years after a brief illness.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, on Wednesday, described the late Kanu as a complete gentleman and officer, saying the former military administrator contributed immensely to the development of Lagos State during his short tenure of office.

The Governor praised the late Rear Admiral Kanu’s contribution to the country’s democracy, especially his fight, alongside the progressive elements in the country during the dark days of the military junta for the enthronement of constitutional democracy in Nigeria.

Sanwo-Olu said the nation would miss the rich experience and knowledge of the late Naval Officer and democrat.

He said: “On behalf of the Government and people of Lagos State, I want to express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and comrades of late Ndubuisi Kanu as well as the Nigerian Navy, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the country in general.

“As one of Nigeria’s advocates of good governance, restructuring and true federalism, the late Ndubusi Kanu will be sorely missed by the people.”

“The death of Rear Admiral Kanu is a colossal loss to the country. He made lots of positive impact and contribution during his lifetime to the growth and development of Lagos State and Nigeria. He fought, along with several other patriots tirelessly for a united Nigeria during his days in the Nigerian Navy as well as a member of a pro-democracy group after he retired from service.

“He wrote his name in gold as a tireless fighter and an advocate of democratic government. He played a leading role as chieftain of NADECO in the agitation for the actualisation of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election and return of civilian government in May 29, 1999.”

The Governor reminded Lagosians that the best way to immortalise the deceased is to ensure that good governance the deceased and others fought for spreads to every facet of the society.

“We must ensure that the people enjoy the dividend of democracy, which the late Ndubuisi Kanu and other heroes and heroines of democracy in Nigeria fought for. Development must touch the lives of the people directly. This is the best way to immortalise the late Ndubuisi Kanu because this is virtue he lived for,” Sanwo-Olu stated.

NEWS

The Fear of US VP Kamala Harris and the Fear of Repercussions

Published

1 day ago

January 12, 2021

Segun Lawal

If you understand, you will know that what happened and is happening in the US isn’t just because Joe Biden won and Trump lost. No it’s not. It’s racism. Racism, powered by fear is at the heart of it all. The Fear is Kamala Harris. The fear of being second. The fear of ‘President Kamala Harris’.

The same fear they had about Obama. If you listened to Pat Robinson, president of Christian Broadcasting Network, (CBN) - a conservative and right wing Christian TV Network- on the day he told Trump that he’s living in an ‘alternate universe’ some weeks ago, he said something that many people missed. He was emphasising on the age of Joe Biden and his health and that he thinks Kamala Harris will have to complete his term…. He seem to suggest that Biden will not live to complete his four years! - There, the fear of another Black/Asian/minority person being the president of the United States of America few years after Obama, a black man. That’s what rattles the racists Republicans and the right. Fear. Fear. Fear. The democrats don’t have that fear. They are open minded. I hope Biden completes his first 4 years and go for another if he has the strength.

In that video that day, Robinson said something about not having problem with Biden being president even though they have their differences but that his problem is Kamala Harris in particular who he thinks is most likely to succeed Biden before the end of their four year term. Many others have expressed that fear of Kamala being president. Would it have been ok if someone else that isn’t Kamala does? It’s not the fear of whether she can run the economy to the ground. It’s the fear of being subservient to a race some of them consider to be lesser than white. That’s why they are called ‘White supremacists’. They believe they are Supreme in intellectuality and all compared to any other race and therefore can not be second or deputy to them.

Let me be clear that this is mostly the thinkings of many in conservative circles, Republican Party and right wing platforms.

For years, Republicans and Democrats have won and lost elections and nothing serious like what we are seeing has happened until Obama won. He had to endure years of unending protests powered by majority in the GOP, ‘Tea Party’ and Trump who at every opportunity accused him of not being born in the US and using tacit racism to accuse a sitting Black President and incite the white mob. They know that will irk the raging and racist right because they are a one way herd of zombies who do not listen to facts or attempt to know the facts even if its plastered on their foreheads.

If you have been following right wing groups, one thing they have been hammering about is the fear of becoming ‘minorities’ in ‘their’ country. They fear they will become minorities because they were able to reduce the native Americans to minorities till date!! The fear of Repercussions!!!

They fear that one day they will no longer be able to rule their country because it will be overtaken by immigrants, non indigenous people and all, which is of course a lie.

Today we see what happened in Nazi Germany playing out in our time. How propaganda and misinformation is being used to mislead and misinform people. The fear of immigrants is being engraved in people’s minds and thoughts making them think that in no time, indigenous people will become minorities and all…It played out with Brexit. The fear and lies flew without caution and it was all shamelessly owned by the purveyors of the lies that delivered Brexit. Their argument was that ‘they wanted their country back’. Back from who? Ask yourself! Many of them were so misled that they believed voting ‘leave’ means the immigrants will leave their country not knowing that voting leave will take them out of the European Union.

Images were were manipulated to show immigrants approaching the country in caravan. Lies! In the 2018 US midterm elections, trump and the republicans also dished out that image of a ‘caravan’ of immigrants approaching the US border even though it was a big lie!!

This theory has been fed them by some white suprematist think tanks and media using revisionist theories and has found its way into the church in the name of globalisation.

Globalisation is now a term people use loosely while they are practicing it!! You use Chinese mobile, American social media, Internet backbone from Israel, medicine from India, cars from Japan, migrate to another country and live there and have a family, you preach in Nigeria and your message is transmitted and broadcast around the world and yet you moan about globalisation? Do you even under the meaning of it??

All of a sudden the church is scared of globalisation after going from continent to continent spreading the gospel and Christianity?? Give me a break!! The church is now spreading propaganda being fed them by racists and right wing groups?

Something is not right and this is all reminiscent of nazi Germany and how Hitler made them believe their race, the ‘Aryan race’ which they believe is a faultless and perfect race is under threat of elimination. To that end the Nuremberg Law was passed which forbids marriage between Germans and Jews and to ‘protect the purity of the Aryan race’. Their fear of the Jews led to the Holocaust after the ‘Final Solution’.

Today, we are experiencing a wave of white nationalism spreading like wildfire because they fear and their fears are founded on lies. Fear of the future which pushed Anders Breivik to massacre 77 people in Norway in 2011 and repercursion of what has been done to others in the past.

Racism is powered by fear.

RantOver

NEWS

2021 HAJJ: OGUN BEGINS PAYMENT, REGISTRATION FOR EXERCISE

Published

1 day ago

January 12, 2021

Segun Lawal

The Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, has commenced registration and payment for the year 2021 Holy pilgrimage to Mecca and Medinah.

A release signed by the Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Salau Babatunde indicated that intending pilgrims are to pay initial Hajj fare deposit of N1.2m, in not more than three instalments.

The release further stated that those who intend to rollover their initial 2020 Hajj fare deposit, are required to visit the Board for proper documentation.

It enjoined other intending pilgrims to pay all necessary fares, as they would be accorded priority on the basis of first-come first-serve, urging them to visit the Board at the New Secretariat Complex, Block B, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta for further enquiries.

The release also informed that Hajj Savings Scheme, designed for those who intend to build their savings over a period of time, towards performing Hajj has now commenced.