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UK Press Blasts Theresa May for Visiting Buhari, blames him for herdsmen killings

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UK Press Slams Theresa May Futile Visit To Elderly Nigerian Dictator Muhammadu Buhari:

One of UK’s leading UK newspaper, The Mail has slammed Prime Minister Theresa May for visiting Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari whom the paper described as a dictator

The paper blames Buhari for the killing of hundreds by herders and his willingness to get air from the UK.

 

Below is the story:

THERESA MAY’S robotic dancing made some people laugh. But the Maybot was not the biggest joke about the Prime Minister’s visit to South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya last week. That would be her reaffirmation of Britain’s bizarre commitment to handing billions of pounds to despicable despots and dodgy schemes as part of this country’s absurd foreign aid policy.

May said she was ‘ immensely proud’ to be giving away a fixed slab of national income – regardless of need, rising demands at home and the reality of global poverty falling with stunning speed due to capitalism, consumerism and scientific advances.

So never mind the sex scandals exposing gross abuse of power, the blood-stained dictators stuff- ing bank accounts with our funds, the fat-cat consultants and charity chiefs fleecing taxpayers – and of course, all those i nsanely wasteful projects this newspaper has exposed around the world.

Take Nigeria and Kenya, two recipients of big aid payouts and both controlled by painfully corrupt elites. Although riddled with grinding poverty, these two nations have some of the highest-paid government executive in the world compared to their citizens.

Britain is spending £235 million directly in Nigeria this year. Yet much of the nation’s vast oil wealth has been looted and last year the acting president admitted half his government’s food aid for people fleeing an Islamist insurgency in the north had disappeared.

The elderly president, widely known has having triggered unprecedented post-election violence with over 800 Nigerians killed by his supporters when he lost the country’s 2011 presidential elections, incidentally, was receiving medical treatment in London at the time – proving how little faith he has in his public services.

Uhuru Kenyatta, the Kenyan leader who admonished May for a lack of British Prime Ministerial visits, is the son of the nation’s first post-colonial president and his family is among the wealthiest in the country.

Along with his rich deputy he escaped charges at the international criminal court over links to horrific political violence after witnesses were allegedly bribed or intimidated, with others dying. No wonder younger generations are so hungry for change across Africa. Yet often they are bullied, beaten and intimidated by those we endorse with our billions.

She trotted out the same old cliches and claptrap

Look at neighbouring Uganda, where a festering regime ridiculously hailed for its democracy by the Department for International Development has been torturing a brave pop star called Bobi Wine who became a rallying point for opponents.

Or Rwanda, sponsor of the Arsenal football team and a place where desperation to find an aid success story persuaded charities and politicians to overlook the crushing and killing of opponents, along with obvious manipulation of development statistics.

May’s quickstep around Africa was designed to drive home the message that post-Brexit Britain can be an influential global player by deepening links and investment in a fast-growing continent being wooed by other global powers.

There are many good reasons to step up engagement in Africa, given its rising wealth, education and population. And it is sensible to solidify trade ties – even if a boost in business with Botswana and Lesotho will hardly solve post-Brexit problems.

Yet while falsely claiming a ‘fundamental shift’ in aid spending, the Prime Minister simply trotted out the same old cliches and claptrap based on that weird desire of Westminster to fritter away taxpayers’ cash.

Theresa May, like her three predecessors, spouts vacuously about ‘global Britain’ while blowing huge sums of taxpayers’ cash and appearing to be a heroic saviour of the poor. She tried to freshen up the haggard aid argument, of course. Yet she repeated one of David Cameron’s daftest claims: that it is in our national interest to spray billions around the planet at a time when public services struggle at home.

What a shame she did not visit Ghana, a country that cherishes democracy. Its business- minded president Nana Akufo- Addo, who took power last year, argues that foreign aid fails to achieve growth and creates a dependency culture.

He is right: aid corrodes democracy since it negates the need for leaders to serve their own people, as pointed out by a Nobel-winning British economist. But naive Westminster politicians, egged on by self-serving charity cheerleaders, ignore more informed and independent voices as they fritter away almost £14 billion a year.

May said last week that extra aid will go to counter migration. Yet studies show that as prosperity rises, more people move around since they have higher means and aspirations.

Stability is key – yet our cash fuels conflict, corruption and despotism.

There are ways Britain can help: crack down on our own firms and tax havens washing stolen funds. Stand up for human rights and democrats, not despots and dictators. Soften the hostile environment visa process that has made it so tough for African tourists and traders to visit Britain.

Instead, May is trapped in the old groove on Africa and dancing to the wrong tunes.

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KFC Reacts As FAAN Shuts Down Its Operations in Lagos Airport

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The Management of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has reacted to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)’s move to shut down its branch at the Muritala Muhammed Airport, for violating laws protecting the rights of people with special needs.

The action was confirmed through a statement released on Thursday by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah.

The official statement, titled ‘FAAN shuts down KFC outlet at MMIA,’ highlighted that the closure was in response to the outlet’s breach of the Lagos State law on People with Special Needs, specifically referencing Part C, Section 55 of the General Provisions on Discrimination.

Responding to the development, KFC posted on its official X account that it opposes bias and discrimination, stressing that the incident did not reflect its standards.

The organisation disclosed that it had embarked on efforts to address the situation and urgently implemented sensitivity training for all its employees.

The statement read, “KFC is unwavering in our stance against bias or discrimination in any form, with inclusivity and respect as non-negotiable pillars of our values.

“However, this recent incident has underscored the pressing need for immediate action. We have embarked on efforts to address the situation and extend apologies and deeply regret the frustration and distress experienced by our guest.

“In response, we are urgently implementing sensitivity training for all our employees. This incident is not reflective of our standards, and we will act swiftly to rectify it.

“We are actively exploring solutions to equip our team members and establishments better to ensure that every guest feels genuinely welcomed and that we deliver empathetic customer service that proactively addresses the diverse needs of each guest.”

KFC had during the week, denied Adebola Daniel, son of former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, access to their facility at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport  because of his disability.

Daniel had recounted his experience at the KFC outlet of the airport in a series of tweets posted on Wednesday via his X handle, @DebolaDaniel.

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Ezekiel Bolarinwa Ajayi: Mentor, Philanthropist Revels at 80

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By Eric Elezuo

The ancient town of Ile-Ife was agog weekend, when Professor Ezekiel Bolarinwa Oladele Ajayi, a renowned educationist, accomplished mentor and elder brother of veteran journalist, Dele Momodu, pulled all the stops to mark a resounding entry into the octogenarian club, celebrating his 80th birthday with fanfare, pomp and class.

The event, which attracted family members, colleagues in the academic world, friends and well wishers, was another testament in the expression of influence, clout and connection.

Held at the Rock Rehoboth Cathedral in the centre of Ile-Ife, the event brought out the best in the Stanford trained PHD holder, as beamed with contagious smiles, absorbing accolades from a crowd of well wishers and dignitaries, most of whom traveled half  way across the world to felicitate with the newest octogenarian.

A lavished reception followed after heartfelt prayers were said for the celebrant flanked by his wife of many years, children and grandchildren. The reception witnessed guests savoring the best of continental and local delicacies as well as dancing happily to the old school tunes.

The highpoint of the event was the cutting of the gigantic cake by the birthday boy around whom were dotting family members.

As guests expressed their profound, hearty and sincere congratulations towards the octogenarian, whose event changed the landscape of Ife, many recalled how they have come a long way from their very humble beginning in Gbongan Olufi.

Fondly called Ladele, Prof Ajayi was born on March 23, 1944 in Gbongan, Osun State, where he had his earliest beginnings.

He statted his education at the Saint Paul’s School Gbongan, before moving on to Saint Judes School, Ebute Metta, and later to Saint Stephens School, Ile-Ife, where he completed his primary education.

After his elementary education, he was admitted into the Government College lbadan, where he was described as having  ‘passed out in exceedingly bright colours’. As many that knows him has confirmed that Prof Ajayi was a walking encyclopedia, and vibrated with intelligence while at school.

It was not therefore, surprising that he later proceeded to the United States of America, after his secondary education, where he attended various prestigious Universities including Stanford University. It is worthy of note that all his appearances for university education were on different scholarships. It was also at Stanford that he bagged his PhD honours.

On the completion of his PhD programme in Stanford, Prof Ajayi was recruited by the University of Ife, as it was then known, before its transmutation to Obafemi Awolowo University, where he later became a Professor of Physics, a position he jealousy guarded until retirement from active classroom duties.

According to a very close family member and confidant, Bola Adeyemo, who spoke glowingly about their fond relationship, Prof Ajayi “also became active in things of God. Like a proverbial gold fish, he has been recognized as a Pastor. Ladele played a mentoring role in the final years of school for my twin daughters who both graduated from the medicine program in the same University.

“The mutual fondness between Ladele and I remains very much intact. Ladele and l share common ancestry. His father who was the Otun Olufi of Gɓongan was a much older cousin to my mother and was fondly referred to as baba mi ile ASORO. They both had the same tribal marks. Ladele can be classified as belonging to the royal class as his father was the OTUN OLUFI while his mother was the daughter of the ÒOSA, first class chief in Gbongan.”

A life of Prof Ajayi without a mention of prolific publisher of the Ovation brands,  Chief Momodu, remains incomplete. It is worthy of note that apart from both sharing the same mum as siblings, the Prof was instrumental in shaping and mentally mentoring Momodu on the path of education. His 80th birthday was a reminder of how it used to be in times past as it marks a form of reunion for the Ajayi extended household.

Among those who attended were his daughter, Kemi Ajayi-Ingram, who flew in all the way from the United States of America, with her entire family; his niece, Yejide Ajayi among a host of others.

We wish the ebullient octogenarian a splendid birthday, and many ore years of splendid celebrations.

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Easter, Ramadan: Adeleke Releases March Salaries, Pension, Palliatives, Approves Promotion for Personnel

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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the release of salaries, pensions and palliatives for the month of March for all public servants in the state, as well as approved the promotion of service personnel due for promotion from 2023.

Adeleke’s show of love for the entire workforce, is in spite of the fact that the State allocation from the Federation account is yet to be released, according to a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed.

The Head of Service, Mr Samuel Ayanleye Aina confirmed the approval of the March salaries, pension and palliatives, noting that the fast tracked approval covered all categories of state and local government employees including tertiary institutions in the State.

“I can confirm that Mr Governor has approved the March salaries, pension and palliative wage awards, including the usual payment of the outstanding half salary for retirees under the contributory pension scheme yet to obtain their bonds. Mr Governor requested for the file and granted immediate approval.

“Any moment from now, alerts will be landing in our peoples’ accounts. This is a preemptive step on the part of Mr Governor to meet the needs of our people”, the Head of Service explained.

Governor Adeleke who has been hosting inter faith leaders at the Government House said he approved the early payment to ease the burden of the workers ahead of the Easter period.

“As I wish muslim and christian faithfuls blessed fasting season, the early payment is a gesture of support for workers whose welfare remains the number one priority of our administration”, the Governor noted.

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