Buhari must be careful with Jonathan, Cleric cautions

By Anote Ajeluorou

As President Muhammadu Bugari’s war on corruption thickens, a cleric, Primate Elijah Ayodele of INRI Evangelistic Church, has cautioned that former President Goodluck Jonathan needs to be handled with care so it does not boomerang. The cleric stated this in view of the tremendous goodwill he enjoys for honourably stepping down during the last election and putting Nigeria on a truly democratic path that the world admires. Ayodele spoke on sundry socio-political and economic issues in his office in Isolo, Lagos.

  Although many of the former president’s aides are mired in corruption allegations, Ayodele cautioned against politicization of the corruption war. While noting that although Buhari would expend a lot of effort on the corruption war, little would come out of it, as he might shoot his administration in the foot in the process.

  According to Ayodele, “Buhari’s government will make a lot of efforts in terms of fight against corruption, he may not make much progress. In fact, he might shoot himself in the foot. Buhari has to be careful with Jonathan; it may turn around and boomerang. His corruption fight won’t go too far. In fact, Buhari won’t be able to fight corruption as expected. In fact, corruption will weaken Buhari’s government; it’s not going to be easy for the president. It will cause inflation, prices of goods will go up, cost of living will rise and retrenchment will be rampant in all sectors. Life will be hard for Nigerians”.

  The clergyman also said Buhari’s corruption fight would becloud him from attending to the economy to effect the change campaign on whose back he rode to power. He also said the president does not have the necessary team to jump-start the economy from the doldrums, as economic missteps would characterise his administration and frustrate his every step to make needed impact.

  As he noted, “The economy needs God’s intervention. Buhari does not have the people to run the government and the economy well. Buhari means well, but he must be careful not to play politics with religion and ethnic sentiments. The economy will not do well under Buhari; it will fluctuate. He must make life easy for Nigerians and so continue to retain their trust. The country needs a lot of prayers so we don’t experience too many strikes. Some states will collapse economically. In fact, the deterioration of the economy will confuse Buhari. Youth unemployment will skyrocket. There will not be much improvement in energy and power sector until 2017 when we begin to get stability. The discos and Nnational Energy Regulation Commission (NERC) will have crisis that will make for instability in the sector”.

  Also, Ayodele tasked Buhari to thread carefully with amnesty for youth in the Niger Delta and Biafra, saying how he handled them would make a huge difference for his administration. He said Buhari needed to handle amnesty well so riots and militancy do not rear their ugly heads again, as Nigeria may not be able to cope with war on many fronts. He advised him to dialogue with Biafra agitators before the agitation escalates and gets out of hand.

  Ayodele also noted that Buhari’s deadline for Boko Haram was unrealistic, saying the sect would find another way to fight back and continue to cause harm to innocent Nigerians. He stated that the international dimension of ISS must be taken seriously and steps taken to cut off the link to further weaken the sect.

  On the suspended Bayelsa State governorship election, Ayodele charged governor Seriake Dickson to work closely with the grassroots if he is to be victorious, adding that the election might end in a slim victory for him.

On a mission to restore Nigeria’s coastal wetlands

By Anote Ajeluorou

Nigeria’s inability to successfully manage virtually every aspect of her socio-economic and cultural sectors has become legendary. Even having to establish enabling laws and policy thrusts that could empower willing individuals and corporate organisations to intervene and make life meaningful often poses its own sets of challenges. The result is usually monumental and avoidable rot in several aspects of national life.

  One such neglected natural treasure requiring urgent attention is Nigeria’s coastal areas and wetlands that suffer from various degradations, with the resultant loss of a vital economic resource. However, one organisation at the forefront of spearheading efforts to restore, preserve, conserve and promote the coastal wetlands of Nigeria is Eco Restoration Foundation of Nigeria (ERFON). It’s Executive Director, Mr. David Omaghomi, is leading a major campaign that would see to the regeneration of devastated coastland areas so they could play vital socio-economic roles in the lives of the people.

  To kick off this nationwide campaign is the 9Ja Eco-Charity Festival 2015 concert and other associated ongoing events being organised to take Lagosians outdoors fun activities at New Lekki Beach, Elegushi, Lekki, Lagos. Starting out on Christmas day, December 25, the charity show that ends on January 2, 2016 features a lot of fun games ranging from music, comedy, dance, water sports, beach volleyball and beach soccer which the organisation is utilising to promote and raise awareness about environmental responsibility among Nigerians.

  The fiesta also gave opportunity to youngsters to showcase their talents as they performed to thrill the huge crowd of spectators. Prizes were also won in various performance activities like dancing, singing, rapping, fashion and lots more. Also, many others simply caught fun splashing the ocean waves that crashed on the clean sandy beach and on the abandoned ship moored on the beachhead. There was music, food, drinks and assortment of games for children; some rode merry-go-round and horses.

  According to the organiser, Omaghomi, 9Ja Eco-Charity Festival 2015 is designed to raise awareness about environmental issues in Nigeria’s coastline areas and how they could be made clean and friendly for economic and tourism purposes.

  “We’re utilising the instrument of entertainment to preserve and restore eco-friendly coastlines,” Omaghomi noted. “It’s a Green Theme event designed to promote environmental responsibility and sustainability. Participants are being trained on waste management practices at homes and workplaces as well as planting of trees.”

  Omaghomi said the highpoint of the festival was the planting of 3,000 trees by performing artistes and dignitaries on the beach stretch that would act as buffer to the encroaching ocean and would last till the end of the festival. He stated that the ocean surging had claimed over 500 metres of beachland and still ragging. He further lamented the loss of the coconut trees that used to be the attraction of Lagos beaches to the ocean surge. Omaghomi stressed that if immediate intervention strategies were not deployed to stem further encroachment of the ocean, Lagos would be robbed of its beautiful beaches in no distant future.

OMAGHOMI’S restoration campaign project is multifaceted. He has a number of programmes lined up next year that aligns with other world bodies’ efforts to draw attention to the country’s environmental degradation with a view to providing remedy. For instance, The Niger Atlantic Restoration Project conference would be held on June 5, 2016 in commemoration of World Environmental Day. Also, there would be inauguration of Eco Centre at New Lekki Beach to coordinate all activities of the various coastal wetland campaigns.

  ERFON will host Nigeria Aqua Tourism and Expo June 5 – 8, 2016 in dual commemoration of World Environmental Day and World Ocean Day. This would be preceded by the commemoration of World Wetland Day on March 22, 2016.

  The Niger Delta coastlines devastated by oil spills due to the activities of multinational oil companies is on the radar of Eco Restoration Foundation of Nigeria. Also, the immediate removal of wrecked and abandoned ships on various ports in the country forms another area ERFON is working on to make seas shores safe for the contingent communities in port areas.

  Bio-remediation of oil-impacted coastal areas of the Niger Delta to rid of it of oil pollution, Omaghomi stressed, was key to reclaiming the once beautiful aquatic life of those areas. Also related to the bio-remediation is the removal of abandoned ships in ports and coastal areas across the country. On the hull of the abandoned ship on New Lekki Beach is the signature inscription, ‘Save Our Coast,’ through which Omaghomi is asking appropriate authorities to tow such ships out of beaches for their effective use as tourism and relaxation spots and fishing points as well.

  “We intend to preserve the coastal wetlands with a view to highlighting their contributions to the nation for their alternative uses for tourism, sports and farming, especially aquaculture,” Omaghomi said on the first day of the festival. “Lekki Beach is an impacted environment, the most impacted ecosystem in Lagos having lost about 500 metres of beachland and coconut tress to the ocean erosion. Our flag off here is both symbolic and important to environmental issues”.

  To accomplish his work, Omaghomi has co-opted several individuals and organizations as partners and ambassadors. Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Agency for Forest and Nature – Forest Support (Belgian Agency) are some of the organisations ERFON is working with to realise environmental sustainability in coastal areas. Individuals such as Nollywood star Ini Edo, Frank Edoho, radio DJ, Diplomatic OPJ and others.

  The boss of ERFON who said he is driven by passion and his concern for the environment expressed sadness at Nigeria’s inability to tap into the rich economic resource of coastal wetlands as other countries are doing. The Microbiology major from University of Benin, Benin City, with certificates in environmental management, has worked with oil services companies and has had firsthand encounter with oil spills and their devastating impact on the coastal wetland of the Niger Delta, and from which he draws his passion for his work.

  Omaghomi who confessed to being very nature-friendly, noting, “I have seen how oil damages the eco-system and robs the local community of their livelihood. We cannot just sit back and watch. We have to collaborate to help in our own small ways”.

  Nigeria’s inability to tap into the resource of coastal wetland is another motivating force driving his organization. According to him, “It’s a shame we have nearly zero receipts from aqua tourism as against other countries. The right time is now before our oil dries up. President Muhammadu Buhari should consider Integrated Coastal Areas Management Plan (ICAMP) which should look at adopting a national master plan for tourism for the country”.

  He noted that the time had come for Nigeria to set apart designated tourism sites across the country to encourage investors in the coastlands and forest areas, saying such sites should be areas where no one else would venture to build or farm on. Omaghomi also said the country needed a 20-year development plan to kick-start tourism investment as it could be the next money-spinner for Nigeria if properly managed.

  For Omaghomi, Nigeria’s beaches and coastal areas are treasures – both economic and touristic – which Nigeria’s complacence was allowing to waste away. He wants the degradation halted so restoration and remediation measures can be carried out to save the country’s neglected but rich natural resource in coastal wetlands.

Wakaa, Kakadu… Two Musical Theatres rock Lagos’ Christmas holiday

By Anote Ajeluorou

IN a country where stage performances suffer a huge lag on account of lack of sponsorship and purpose-built theatres (without necessary acoustics) and acute audience apathy, this week marks a perfect magical getaway audiences to enjoy the holidays and immense themselves in the spectacle the stage represents. Two fantastic Broadway-style Musical Theatres – Wakaa! The Musical and Kakadu the Musical - will share two stages at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. While the Bolanle Austin-Peters’ Wakaa! The Musical will start showing today at Shell Hall, Uche Nwokedi’s Kakadu started thrilling theatre fans since yesterday at Agip Recital Hall, and both will run till January 1st and 3rd respectively.

  The two musicals promise to be the greatest performance shows that will bring 2015 to a glorious end and also usher in a promising year for live theatre in Lagos, a city that has witnessed a resurgence of theatre activities through the doggedness of a few diehard practitioners like Mr. Wole Oguntokun (Renegade Theatre), Mr. Kenneth Uphopho (PAWS), Mr. Ikenna Okpala (Wazobia Theatre House), Mr. Joshua Alabi (Kininso Concepts Production) and Mr. Bimbo Olorunmola (B/Rated Production) in the Lagos theatre circuit. Austin-Peters (BAP) and Nwokedi (The Playhouse Initiative) have also stepped in to raise the bar with their musicals that fuse history and contemporary themes to produce amazing artistic results that always leave audiences asking for more.

  After Saro the Musical that rocked Lagos in the last year two years, Austin-Peters is adding Wakaa! The Musical to further spice up the theatric space and give Nigerians what some usually travel abroad to see. According to the boss of upscale Terra Kulture, “Nigerians love music; Nigerians love to dance. Somehow, music appeals more to Nigerians although musicals are three times more expensive than ordinary drama. Saro changed the game and it can only get better. It’s like we’re creating a mini-revolution; it’s unbelievable. What we’re doing here is building capacity. In 10 years from now, it will be great. What if we have a proper theatre? Things will be far better. The game has changed. We believe that Nigerian theatre can be a major tourist attraction, job- and wealth-creation driver and tool for socio-economic development”.

  Wakaa! The Musical is a play about the trials, successes and experiences of six young graduates with varied backgrounds. A wager among them after graduation has a twist when the realities of life and the folly of their choices hit them. Eventually, they unite, coming full circle. The story reveals the struggles and challenges young people face in present-day Nigeria and abroad. Wakaa! The Musical takes you on an emotional roller-coaster and is a strong satire on Nigerian politics.

  On the other hand, Kakadu charts the music and socio-political map of 1960s’ Nigeria before the bubble burst and the resultant bloody civil war and its bitter aftermath from which the country is yet to fully recover.

  According to Nwokwdi, “Kakadu has its own energy; there’s a certain temperament all its own about it. We’ve also made a lot of changes to it, especially in the musical rendition. There are some drastic changes although it is the same story. Of course, you don’t want to change a successful story. Although the same theme, the cast is 80 per cent new. Kanayo Omo is director while Benneth Ogbeiwei is musical director”.

  Visual artist, Polly Alakija, who is painting the scenes of Kakadu said, “This production is no mere indulgence in the glamour and optimism of the 1960s. Sitting in on the rehearsals was so much more than this. What I witnessed was producer, director and cast re-living and learning about the political situation in Nigeria in the 1960s and how optimism turned into destruction and the pain and suffering that ensued. So my imagery could not be a mere visual representation of a cast in character. The line between being in character and living the pain has become blurred for this cast. I am not sure myself if I am representing cast or character, but the emotions are real, be it pain, outrage or joy”.

  Clearly, the two musicals on offer are must-see and audiences have been promised unbelievable stage spectacle and magic.

Mare Festival 2015… Enhancing Local Participation Of Idanre Populace

By Anote Ajeluorou

ALREADY in its seventh year and still counting, Mare Festival 2015 organised by Ondo State Government, roused up sleepy Idanre last weekend when the world converged to celebrate among the ancient town’s rocky hills and caves. It was a one-day event that packed many interesting activities together and threw Idanre into festive mood.

  Perhaps, it was Wole Soyinka’s poetry Idanre and Other Peoms published in 1967 that first gave Idanre, a town tucked away in a vintage corner of Ondo State, prominence, as rocky haven. Soyinka had visited the town and, like the hunter he is, explored the rocky hills and caves, then decided to explore the mythical Ogun through the vehicle of poetry. Since then Idanre had remained a quest in the imagination of readers who encounter Soyinka’s poetry.

  But rather than Idanre festival, or perhaps align the festival with Idanre communal traditional festival, Orosun Festival (which tells the historic exploits of Idanre founders and its existence from time immemorial) already in existence, the Olusegun Mimiko-led administration preferred Mare (meaning ‘don’t fall’) festival instead to celebrate the natural hilly rocks and caves of Idanre as a natural tourism destination. Indeed, the entire Idanre community is a time-frozen tourism haven with its dark, brooding rock mountains forming a phalanx-like shield round Idanre, further accentuated by Idanre Hills Resort in need of rehabilitation to attract tourists.

  From the early morning Marathon Race at Habitat (Owena) Idanre to the Mountain Climbing competition at Methodist High School, Idanre, the Cultural performances at Idanre Hills Resort, it was all spectacle. A raffle draw at the resort courtyard saw Idanre natives and visitors alike winning household and business items like standing fans, pressing irons, fridges, a sewing machine and the star prize of a motorbike.

IN opening the festival proper, Commissioner for Information and chairman, Local Organising Committee of the festival, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, stressed the importance of tourism in human development. He noted that it was why Governor Mimiko was investing heavily in tourism, adding that plans were underway to “turn Idanre Resort into a tourism destination; Mare has entered into international lexicon as tourism festival. Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Commission (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, has been here. I watched the mountain climbing; our own people will begin to climb mountains internationally from the experience gained here at Mare. In the coming years, our people will begin to bring laurels to Nigeria. Our golf course is ready, and by February, the Governor’s Cup will be held to attract ‘who is who’ in Nigeria to Idanre. In years to come, I see our people competing in the Marathon. Idanre is full of fun and activities that tell of our visibility, our strength and our versatility”.

  Also, newly appointed Commissioner for Special Duties, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Femi Adekanmbi, noted that under his watch, tourism development would be taken a notch higher so as to position tourism in the state for better performance as economic tool. Traditional dancers of varying hues performed to thrill dignitaries in the open court of Idanre Hills Resort.

MUSICAL Concert billed for the evening started early and had many upcoming artistes entertaining the huge crowd. The star artistes were Ara, Paul Play Dairo and 2face Idibia. Some of the younger artistes seeking to cut their teeth included Samba, choreographers, Psalm 23 and Explicit Dancers, Salome, Ondo State Cultural Band, ODD, Ojoro, Iyalode, Japh Extra, Emerald Choir and Rough Ken. Of the youngsters, Deola, an upcoming rap artiste, stood out and wooed both the audience and Governor Mimiko. Deola’s rap theatrics was stunning as he adapted to virtually every situation the master of ceremony subjected him. His fluidity, his swag and all-out delivery were spectacular. He was the only artiste Mimiko shook hands with as a mark of his staggering stage presence and rap virtuoso.

  It was only Paul Play Diaro who got Mimiko, his wife and his cabinet members to their feet to dance. And they danced. From one hit tune to another, Paul Play had the huge crowd dancing. And so from his R&B, ‘Angel of my Life’ to his remake of his father’s famous ‘Mo so rire,’ Paul Play led the groove in Idanre.

  But famously, the crown performer was 2face Idibia whom the crowd had been patiently waiting to come on stage. Ara was barely tolerated as she failed to rise to any appreciable level of performance. However, her introduction of 2face Idibia seemed a redeeming gesture, as both artistes hugged. Indeed, if anything the super stardom of 2face was well assured on the night. It was well past midnight when it finally got to his turn. But he turned the night on its head and pelted his audience with his signature hits one after the other. But it would seem the night had just begun; the large audience, made up mostly of young Idanre, didn’t seem to have enough of him. They surged through the barrier and crowded the main arena close to the stage and became one with their idol.

  Even when Governor Mimiko had had enough and wanted to have a few words before leaving, the crowd would have none of it. Energised by the crowd, 2face, too, wanted to sing on till he possibly dropped. It was clear he hadn’t had such passionate crowd in a long while by the show of love from Idanre audience.

  However, Mimiko stressed how much celebration of culture the night was and the need to appreciate tourism as a resourceful tool of economic sustainability. He restated his commitment to the development of tourism as a driver of the economy and the need to leverage on domestic tourism as an important tool of socio-economic development. Mimiko noted that with the fortunes of oil as economic resource dwindling and Nigeria’s economy on downturn, it would make economic sense to turn to tourism as a way out. He called on governments at all levels to look inwards for the economic resuscitation tourism could offer.

HOWEVER, participation of local Idanre community in Mare Festival since its inception seemed minimal. Indeed, how much indigenous content does Mare festival boasts and how is it woven into Idanre social-cultural fabric? An Idanre respondent to this poser, who craved anonymity, was unequivocal in asserting that Mare Festival is foreign to Idanre culture and people and that the entire Idanre people have remained mere spectators in a festival celebrated yearly in their town. Although he commended the spirit behind Mare, he could not but wonder why the local, age-old festival, Orosun, was not adopted instead of creating a new one that has no bearing on Idanre culture and tradition.

  As he put it, “Idanre people cannot participate in Mare because it is not their culture. The biggest problem with Mare is that Idanre community people are not carried along. They are grumbling that an outsider is operating Idanre Hills Resort right before them. They are made to pay to enter the resort that is natural to their environment. So, Mare is purely government festival since inception”.

  He sued for greater participation of Idanre people in the festival as a way of making them the people claim ownership of it, adding, “They need to allot roles to the people through Idanre traditional chief. Mare Festival is an invasion of Idanre people although it impacts them somewhat. But it should have been more like it happens in Osogbo during Osun Osogbo festival, with the local populace playing varying cultural and economic roles that benefit the local community”.

  He noted that there is a thriving local economy based on cocoa and timber and said Idanre economy was bigger than those of most Nigerian cities. He advised Governor Mimiko to merge Mare with Orosun Festival, usually celebrated in May or early June, and assured that the governor would be shocked how Idanre people would be galvanised through it, given the impetus of government, as they would truly claim it as their own and give it their all.