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Dele Momodu Reacts to Closure of Nigerian-Owned Shops in Ghana, Promises Palliatives to Affected Traders

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By Eric Elezuo

The Chairman of Ovation Media Group, Chief Dele Momodu, has reacted to the closure of some shops owned by Nigerian businessmen and women in Ghana, saying that the action clearly makes a mess of the Black Lives Matter campaign which has engulfed the world in recent times.

The celebrated journalist, who expressed his displeasure via a press statement made available to The Boss Newspapers, regretted the action of the Ghana authorities and promised a level of palliatives for the displaced Nigerian business men and women in the spirit of brotherliness.

While calling on well meaning Africans and peoples of the world to stand up against the ‘atrocious laws’ he also frowned at the stupendous amount of $1 million, which the Ghana authorities imposed on the Nigerian traders before they could pursue their legitimate endeavours on the Ghanaian soil, asking “How many companies in the world started business with such stupendous amount?”

Read Momodu’s full statement with full list of traders whose shops were closed:

“I note with sadness the viral videos of Nigerian investors being flogged and thrown out of their shops in Ghana. As an avowed pan-Africanist and a fanatical disciple of former Ghanaian President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, I have become traumatized about the future of Africa. The Osagyefo must be seething with anger and rage in his grave, if he could see how Africans are treating themselves at this time and age.

“Just imagine that this is coming at a momentous period when the world is campaigning that BLACK LIVES MATTER, but Nigerians are being kicked around like football by our closest Brothers and friends. And what is the excuse for this act? An incredibly brutal “Law” which stipulates that foreign small-scale traders must invest $1 million in the Ghanaian economy. How many companies in the world started business with such a stupendous amount? If the Europeans and Americans had promulgated such Laws against Nigerians and Ghanaians living abroad, many of us would have accused them of racism and discrimination. What is worse, some of these traders actually have their valid papers and registered long before the coming of this atrocious requirement by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, but the Law enforcers blatantly refused to listen to the cries of these hardworking but hapless traders.

“Another excuse is that they claimed Nigeria shut its borders against neighboring countries. While I agree that the decision to shut our borders is regrettable, this has nothing to do with Ghana. No Ghanaian has been asked not to do business in Nigeria. No Ghanaian has been asked to invest any compulsory amount of money before setting up shops in Nigeria. We make immigrants totally welcome here. I once intervened on behalf of a Ghanaian couple when their factory was going to be demolished amongst some illegal structures in Agbara Estate. I had to call the then Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who exempted the Ghanaians on the compassionate grounds that they were Ghanaian investors in Nigeria.

Nigerians and Ghanaians have been too interwoven and inter-marrying for ages, including the current President of Ghana, the great Nana Akufo-Addo who was once an in-law of Nigeria. His cousin, Adelaide Ofori-Atta, was married to Chief Sammy Oluseun Olagbaju, a prominent Nigerian Businessman who died in 2016. Myma Adwowa Belo-Osagie, Princess Abba Folawiyo, Mrs Edith Korantema Koranteng Fajemirokun, are amongst many Ghanaian women married to prominent Nigerian families.

My personal love for Ghana, and respect for Ghanaians, has never been in doubt. I have been the Chief Promoter of Ghana to the world in the past 25 years. I once worked closely with The Hon. Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, of blessed memory, Ghana’s Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations in the cabinet of President John Agyekum Kufuor. Ovation International magazine was instrumental in showcasing the pristine beauty of Ghana to a global audience at the time. Many Nigerian companies started expanding their operations to Ghana, based on the positive stories we sold to the world, especially Nigeria. Today, Nigerians control huge investments in Banking, Oil & Gas, Telecommunications, Real Estate, Retail, Entertainment, Education, Hospitality, Tourism, Medicals, Aviation, Shipping, Transportation, Textiles, Churches, etc.

I’m saddened that all our efforts of those days are about to be wasted by this latest imbroglio.

“I have reached out, and obtained the full names and phone contacts of the Nigerian traders mostly affected by this unfortunate and unnecessary incidents. Each of them will receive my humble widow’s mite, with no strings attached and no political motives whatsoever. My motivation is just the fact that we should be our Brother’s keepers at all times.

I implore men and women of good conscience to stand up and intervene speedily in this matter. God bless The Federal Republic of Nigeria and The Republic of Ghana.”

LIST OF NIGERIAN TRADERS AFFECTED BY THE FORCEFUL CLOSURE OF SHOPS IN ACCRA, GHANA

1. CHUKWUEMEKA IHEJIRIKA

2 PAUL OKECHUKWU

3 JUSTINE IKECHUKWU NWACHUKWU

4 BLESSING UGWUOKE

5 CHINEDU MBANUGO VALENTINE

6 LOVETH CHUKWUEMEKA

7 JOHNSON ARINZE

8 PAULINK GLOBAL DIGITAL

9 GODWIN OGBU FRANCIS

10 SAMSON ANAYOANIAWA

11 TITUS EZEMA UGWOKE

12 TONY IZUCHUKWU ANYAEGBU

13 UGOCHUKWU UCHENNA ONUOHA

14 CHIKWENDU IKE NDUBUISI

15 IBEH KINGSLEY

16 DAVID IKECHUKWU MUANYA

17 AUGUSTINE EKWOH

18 OLIVER OMEKE

19 OKAAH OBURUZO

20 JONAS UGWOKE UGWUOGO

21 OBINNA LUCKY

22 EZE VICTOR CHINEDU

23 STANLEY UMEALAEKWE

24 IGBONAJU DESMOND

25 OKEKE NELSON

26 UGWOE ERNEST

27 ANI EMEKA SOLOMON

28 CHUKWUEMEKA T. P ONYEKAONWU

29 GOODLUCK MADUABUCHI OKWARA

30 OKECHUKWU SAMUEL

31 CHRISTOPHER UBANATU

32 INNOCENT UDE

33 CHINEDU DESMOND NWABURUEBU

34 KINGSLEY EJIKE MBADIWE

35 OKECHUKWU IFEAKANWA

36 BENJAMIN ONAH

37 TOCHUKWU JULIUS EZEH

38 UGWU ALPHONSUS IFEANYI

39 AMAKA VICTORIA

40 OHAYI CHIGBOGU PAUL

41 TITUS CHINASA

42 OLISA ADINDU KINGSLEY

43 EZE PAUL TOCHUKWU

44 IGWE PAUL IKECHUKWU

45 STEVEN OKOYE

46 OSMOND OSINACHI OKOYE

47 UDOKA NZELU

48 UGWU ONYEKA JOE

49 UGWUMADU ONYEDIKA CALLISTUS

50 CHUKWU VICTOR PAUL

51 FAMOUS HANNAH

52 KELVIN MAMAH

53 EZE SUNDAY

54 MARTIN ANAKUDO ARINZE

55 VIINE OBI NWODO

56 PETER TOCHUKWU

57 UGWOKE PATRICK

58 EMMANUEL OHEAKESI

59 UGONNANYA CANDY EZE

60 BENNEDICT REUBEN (TIGO)

61 NWAZUOKE CHRISTOPHER CHUKWUDI

62 RAYMOND UGWU

63 NKOKU NDUBUISI JACOB

64 UDENYI LEONARD

65 RICHARD DOUGLAS

66 JAMES UZAR KINGSLEY

67 ONUORAH EBUKA DESTINY

68 CHUKS EZE

69 SUNDAY JOSEPH

70 FRESSY EZE

71 KINGSLEY UCHENNA NNAEGBUNA

72 UGOCHUKWU RAPHAEL

73 AGUDILE CHIZOBA MIRACLE

74 PAUL ONYEKACHI UGWUOKE

75 IZUNABOR NONSO COLLINS

76 ONYEKE UCHENNA WISDOM

77 FLORENCE EZI

79 TOCHUKWU UBAH

80 BRIGHT OHIARA

81 OZIOMA ONWUZUGHA

82 JOSEPH UGWU

83 JOSEPH EZUZOBI

84 EMMANUEL IFEANYI

85 EJIKE DOMNIC

86 CHUPEZ ARINZE

87 RICHARD OBIDINMA

88 NNADI KINGSLEY EJIOFOR

89 OBI AUGUSTINE

90 SUNDAY DONATUS

91 EMMANUEL ADIBE

92 NWOKOCHA GODWIN

93 EZE LUCKY

94 LAWRENCE AMANDIANEZE ANIEKWE

95 ONYEANULA CHINEDU GODWIN

96 EZE FRANCIS

97 UKWUNGWU LINUS

98 COLLINS CHIDIEBERE

99 IBEH TOCHUKWU

100 ABUGU CLEMENT

101 FAVOUR ANITA

102 CHINEDU ONYEMACHUKWU

103 ALEX EZIOKWU

104 AMBROSE OGWUEGBU

105 EMEKA POLITE

106 BLESSEDUC AVENUE

107 NEWLY INTERNATIONAL UCHE CHUKWU OKEZIE

108 JOHN NKE

109 IHEAGWAM B. IYKE

110 NNAJI IZUCHUKWU

111 GLORIOUS BLESSED SEA LAND (TONY IGBOMALU)

112 FEDELIS OBI

113 MIKE EZE

114 CHIMA ORIAKU

115 OBINNA EKWECHI

116 AUGUSTINE UKPABIA

117 MONEKE MICHAEL K

118 OGOCHUKWU NWANKWO

119 EMMANUEL AGBATA

120 EMMANUEL IGWE

121 NELSON OKECHUKWU

122 IKENNA NWAKAOZOR

123 NNAEMEKA GODWIN

124 CHINEDU MBIONWU

125 AKONAM EZEANOLUE

126 CHINEDU OKPALAEKE

127 CHINEDU UKABIA

128 EMEKA UGWUNNWA

129 EJIKE EZEDINIRU

130 CHUKWU NONSO OKEY

131 STANLEY CHIMEZIE UDEH

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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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