Volunteer

Are you a passionate writer, blogger or reporter? Are you into photography or social media and looking for an opportunity to help? Then you are the perfect person for this job!

This is an invaluable opportunity to gain experience and be part of an experiment in journalism that, if successful, will re-frame the debate on one of the greatest ethical issues of our time.

The benefits of becoming a volunteer correspondent/ reporter are:

-10% of every advert that comes from you.
-Priority is given when future jobs as an employee of Naija Center News become available.
Contact building
-Exposure
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TOPICS OF INTEREST:
We’re interested in:

-Exposes, Investigative reports, news articles, interviews and op-eds concerning:
-Human Rights emergencies including assassinations, evictions, and kidnappings
-Threats to Indigenous Peoples/rights from governments, corporations, and NGOs
-Protests, blockades and related campaign efforts that focus on protecting Indigenous rights, culture, knowledge/history, the environment, etc.
-Health issues
-Victories, successes and inspiration stories

How to apply:

Currently, Naija Center News is in need of two writers (working as a team, or alone) per a country or a state. If interested, please email your resume and your first article to [email protected], directed to Editor in Chief.

Short CV with your qualifications and experience, one writing sample (min 1 page)

The article must be fresh and not copied from other network or blog.

Thank you! Hope to hear from you soon!

Vanessa Enofe.

NCN.

Source - www.naijacenter.com

Volunteer

Are you a passionate writer, blogger or reporter? Are you into photography or social media and looking for an opportunity to help? Then you are the perfect person for this job!

This is an invaluable opportunity to gain experience and be part of an experiment in journalism that, if successful, will re-frame the debate on one of the greatest ethical issues of our time.

The benefits of becoming a volunteer correspondent/ reporter are:

-10% of every advert that comes from you.
-Priority is given when future jobs as an employee of Naija Center News become available.
Contact building
-Exposure
-Press Card

TOPICS OF INTEREST:
We’re interested in:

-Exposes, Investigative reports, news articles, interviews and op-eds concerning:
-Human Rights emergencies including assassinations, evictions, and kidnappings
-Threats to Indigenous Peoples/rights from governments, corporations, and NGOs
-Protests, blockades and related campaign efforts that focus on protecting Indigenous rights, culture, knowledge/history, the environment, etc.
-Health issues
-Victories, successes and inspiration stories

How to apply:

Currently, Naija Center News is in need of two writers (working as a team, or alone) per a country or a state. If interested, please email your resume and your first article to [email protected], directed to Editor in Chief.

Short CV with your qualifications and experience, one writing sample (min 1 page)

The article must be fresh and not copied from other network or blog.

Thank you! Hope to hear from you soon!

Vanessa Enofe.

NCN.

Source - www.naijacenter.com

We have nothing to treat patients

In this interview with NAIJA CENTER NEWS, a doctor at Edo State Central hospital, Mr. Jonathan Amadasun (not real name) opened up on the rots in the health system in Edo State, lackadaisical attitude of the government towards the health system and challenges therewith.

By Ehi Ekhator

Tell me, what is wrong with health system in Edo state and compared to other states, what level is Edo State?


Central Hospital, Edo
Generally, the health sector in Nigeria is really bad. It is nothing to write home about. A situation where you have vibrant medical graduates flying out of the country because of the condition of the health sector starting from lack of employment, where hospitals are deficient of doctors both specialists and normal medical officers, still a lot of doctors are graduating from Universities and they are not employed. There is this issue of there is no money to pay doctors. It is everywhere in the country, federal hospitals are not employing and state hospitals are not employing too.

For Edo State where I work under the health sector, the last time Edo State employed doctors was about five years ago, that is 2012 and since then, no employment has been done. Within this period, many doctors have retired and in an ideal system, as some are retiring, others should be employed.

Outside that, a state where we have over 3,218,332 as population, the doctors under Edo State under hospital management care are not up to 200 and that is to say that the state is over deficient of doctors not because people are no longer reading medicine, a lot of people have graduated from the University but they are not being employed.

In this state where we have less than 200 doctors, some of them are very old and there is nothing like training and retraining doctors. A situation where you employed doctors five years ago and there is nothing on ground to retrain them knowing that medicine is dynamic such that every doctors need to be retrained all the time, these doctors are in the system without a trainer.

Out of the less than 200 doctors, we have no equipment, nothing on ground. The former governor claimed to have built a five stars hospital in the central hospital but this same hospital does not have equipment. He used it as a political campaign that he has given us a five stars hospital.

The purported five stars hospital was built inside a dilapidated hospital such that they took a part of the former hospital and gave a very exterior attractive look, while the whole hospital blocks, are still the way it was 100 years ago where some department is still decked with wood. Like in some units, there is no light if you go there in the night or you happen to have an emergency from 7pm, there is no single light in the whole hospital even some female doctors that work at night have to be very careful not to be robbed or raped at night.

A situation where you have only one bulb on in accident and emergency units and in the same place, there is no single good room for the doctors doing night calls to sleep nor for other nurses and auxiliary nurses to stay. Outside that, there are some department where there is no free flowing water in a hospital where we were taught that our environment should be cleaned.

The kind of odour that comes out of the hospital, you would think the entire hospital is a mortuary because outside the doctors other cleaners that clean the environment, even though they are there, do not have the necessary?

The tax payers are not getting the proper medical attention, they are even meant to pay more for the service rendered. The few doctors are over laboured and they don’t have the necessary equipment. Situations where you have to improvise most of the time to treat patients or you spend your own money or the patience are asked to buy their things and bring to the hospital. Even after all that, they patients are still being charged.

The government is saying treatment is free for the children and elderly but the truth is, no treatment is free in Edo State management board rather you buy your materials and you are still charged. The worst part of this is that these same people we are charging have already paid their taxes.

As for the doctors, we have no motivation. Edo State doctors are the least paid doctors.  Over two years ago, doctors were put on new salary scale but Edo State government refused to pay doctors the exact salary approved by federal government and even now the new one that have been introduced over a year ago, the government is not talking about it. How can medical staff who are not getting paid rightly be motivated?

The doctors who decide to train are meant to use their personal money; they write exams and go for updates. Do you expect that kind of doctor to give all in all for service delivery when he is using his own money and his own equipment in government’s hospital without thank you?

How many months salary does the government owe the staff of the hospital?

Talking about salary, the only money they owe us is one month salary Oshiomhole refused to pay doctors in 2015. He said we went on strike then and he refused to pay, and the present government said it is likely not to pay too.

You talked about salary increased that is yet to be implemented, could you explain that in details and how it affects work efficiency?

So as for salary, we are not being held any but promotion has not been done for the past 8 years. The salary increment that was approved about two years ago, the government is yet to pay Edo state staff and now a new one has been approved last year, they are not even talking about it. Several attempt made by Edo State National Medical Association of Nigeria has tried to approached the government on the new salary scale have proved abortive.

They also talked about skipping which means that a doctor level will be skipped by one level. That is, a doctor on level 13 will be skipped to 14. Other states have started doing it and the workers are being paid their money but nothing is happening in Edo State.

As for the work efficiency, when you are not well paid and motivated, a situation when you are not being sent for training, you are more like an outdated doctor because medicine is dynamic; you are expected to renew your mind and technique or approach for service delivery all the time. A situation where you are not well paid, you don’t have own personal money and the government refused to train and retrain staff for effective service delivery are abandoned, there is no efficiency.

There are a lot of young doctors who have the desire of going into training, the areas in medicine that Edo State don’t have. In Central hospital there is nothing new, we don’t have heart surgeons, no pathologists so we have to send our entire blood sample for investigation to private hospitals, no paediatric surgeon, orthodontist, anaesthesiologist and many others. As big as central hospital we do not have x-ray machine, the ultra sound we have has a certain number of people it takes.

In whole of Edo State, we have only one consultant radiologist, one consultant ENT surgeon, they are over laboured. There are some department that has one consultant, some do not have at all, and there are some department that do not even exist. If a patient want a heart surgery, Edo State does not have anything, we do not have a neurosurgeon. There are many branch of medicine we do not even have the specialty.  If Edo State government could not buy a single x-ray machine, there is a problem.

Oshiomhole built five stars and equipped it or is the reality different?

Talking about the five stars hospital Oshiomhole claimed to have built, there is no single x-ray machine there. How can you build a new hospital inside hospital that existed over 100 years that the blocks and roof are falling off and you did not renovate the new one? The same hospital, exactly the same prototype is being built in his own Village, Iyamoh because Edo State University Iyamoh is starting medical school and that same building has been equipped and the one in the heart of Benin does not have anything.

If at all they open that place, who are the doctors that would work there when those doctors are less than 200 in Edo State and they are not trained? I am a surgeon; I am paying my expensive school fees to a certain University yearly to have myself trained. Outside the fee, i go for seminal, other programs and i am not being paid by the government.  If the government was responsible, i must come back to the government hospitals to stay at least 5yrs to render my service but now i can grab any other better opportunity when it comes?

How can i pay over a N1m of my money and you expect me to be happy? A whole lot of doctors spend their money to train themselves and when they come across opportunity along the way, they forget about Edo State and that is why we are losing doctors every day.

Edo State employed a pathologist 6 years ago but the man got a better job in Oghara, Delta State where they gave him a better office, they made all his equipment available for him and he left Edo State.



Photos of the actual Central Hospital coming soon....

Read details on http://www.naijacenter.com/news/exclusive-interview-central-hospital-has-nothing-to-treat-patients-edo-doctor/

says Buhari package Aluko to silence him

By Ehi Ekhator, NAIJA CENTER

The governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose has taken a swipe on the President, Muhammadu Buhari on his alleged fight against corruption.

The governor said Buhari is targetting members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP instead of an overall fight.

Fayose disclosed this through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi while speaking with NAIJA CENTER NEWS on Tuesday.

Fayose accused Buhari of being biased, urging him to extend his fight against corruption beyond the immediate administration to display a sign of seriousness to Nigerians.

The governor advised the President to probe how the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign was funded by the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi and the National leader of the APC and a former governor of Lagos State, Bola tinubu.

The governor said  "President Buhari's fight against corruption is selective, targeted at members of the PDP. Gov Fayose is not opposed to the fight against corruption, but it must be total.

"If Buhari want Nigerians to see him as being serious and not partial, he suppose to extend probe beyond the immediate past administration.

"He should probe the money donated by the APC members to fund his campaign and election. Big donors like Rotimi Amaechi, Bola Tinubu, among others should tell Nigerians the sources of the money they donated to get Buhari into power.

"Buhari also need to publish account of Petroleum Trust Fund ( PTF) under him as chairman then. Buhari should reopen the Halibuton scandal under Obasanjo administration"

Fayose asked the President to probe Atiku and APC governors who have properties in Dubai.

"The APC members like Atiku Abubakar and APC governors having property in Dubai should be unmasked. The involvement of Buhari's wife in scandal which Obasanjo mentioned in his latest book should be investigated.

"When Buhari has done all these, many Nigerians will take him serious. As it is now, only PDP members are targeted"

Speaking on TKO Aluko interview on a National Tv, Fayose alleged that the disclosure was a move by APC to silence him because of his continous criticism.

According to the governor who quoted the international observer, Ekiti governorship election was the most transparent in Nigeria history.

Fayose told NAIJA CENTER NEWS that "The appearance of TKO Aluko on the Channels TV was packaged by the Buhari and the APC to silence Governor Ayodele Fayose because of the persistent criticism of Buhari's obnoxious policies.

"Aluko was rented to tell those lies on the TV and rubbish the election. We know but we are not moved. This is an election which was adjudged the most transparent in Nigeria history by the local and international observers and as well international communities.

"The US particularly commended the security for doing a good job. This is an election which was challenged in the court and the apex court in Nigeria ruled that the election that brought Fayose into power in Ekiti was free and fair.

"What else does the APC want? Let it be known that nothing Buhari or the APC can do to silence Gov Fayose. Strong opposition is an ingredient of virile democracy.

"Nigeria need strong opposition because Buhari is dictator who need to be checked by strong opposition. Those who are applauding Buhari now will soon find themselves in the belly of Buhari"


See more at: http://www.naijacenter.com/politics/probe-amaechi-tinubu-funded-election-campaign-fayose-tells-buhari/#sthash.Fab85clT.dpuf

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By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News

He is a gentleman, a former vice president who found his way to the top after his boss, Musa Yar'Adua passed away.

The only sin he ever committed was that he came from the South South of Nigeria, the least expected region to rule the country; how did he find his way to be the vice president?

His fantasy was made conceivable by a previous President, Olusegun Obasanjo who thought of him as one of the humbled men of honor he had ever seen, he talks just when and where it is important, he tunes in, he complies, and to Obasanjo, he was the ideal imprint to accomplish his ambition since Nigerians thought they were shrewd by pushing him out of his third term dream.

Shockingly for the force alcoholic, the sudden happened. His arrangements fizzled again as the man he made Vice President, in the wake of getting to be president battled for his freedom. He got to be grown up, and as you know, a few folks hate to hear when their youngsters say "I am a grown-up"
As a President, he directed the nation like no different presidents had done, he had his shortcomings, and he confesses to them openly. During his administration, Nigerians acknowledged they have rights, he urged everybody to talk, he never imprisoned any individual who offended him.

Anyway much the same as Julius Caesar, his position was gone for by numerous individuals, especially from the individuals who considered the position as their inheritance. By what means can a Christian run over Muslims, by what method can a minority manage over a larger part? We will make this nation ungovernable for him.

He was chased from left to right, side to side, head to toe. His former godfather took the lead to bring him down. Then propaganda stepped in, terrorism became a business, pastors became closer to God and practice prediction with him.

He was enduring, he made the nation the biggest economy in Africa, returned rail to Nigeria. Built 12 universities in 5 years, built rice mill in both north and south, automobiles trusted him enough to venture into Nigeria. Paypal that accept Nigeria is a nation of tricks all of a sudden affirmed the operation in the nation.

But the problem of insecurity increased, death were reported every day, destruction and maiming of Christians from the Presidency owners' quarters became on the rise, new media were born and new way of reporting came into existence.

A man who had crucified the media for speculation in the past took the lead to levy accusations without evidence. He was accused of stealing billions of dollars, he was called clueless, and he was ridiculed and insulted before the international communities, westerners, African nations turned against him, even coming out publicly to send insult to the President of a great nation.

He was calm, all he did was explain his position, he asked for patients as he had planted such a large number of seeds sitting tight for them to develop and begin proving to be fruitful. The Nigerians were disappointed and obliged magician to turn the things around.

Nigeria is 54 years, the North governed for 38yrs or more, Obasanjo ruled for a long time and the remaining parts go to the active President, yet the transgression of the nation from independence was put on him, he was nailed on the cross, new activists were conceived and he was utilized as a talking practicum.

He didn't have friends, those who laughed with him were those revealing his information to the media. To the world of parable, Goodluck Jonathan, GEJ as he is fondly called was caught from behind, and whirled violently like a toy boat caught in the whirlpool. Landing on his kneels, he urged himself to ignore the pain that gripped his groin, knowing that it was important not to show any signs of distress since he was already tagged clueless.

They didn't stop, this time, he was hit simultaneously by as many as he could remember, one, his knees' another his stomach, a third, his head shot by a cut to size barrel, his legs shot with an arrow, and his faced received acid attack. His friends and workers were no protection at all. His body seemed to telescope into itself but all the parts didn't fit, and he was stunned by the knowledge that pain isn't just one thing - it is cunning and various, sharp here and sickening there, burning here and clawing there. He clutched himself as he hit the ground, his breath faded away, a terrible stillness pervaded him and then, at the onset of panic, his breath came back again. But his head was already shattered by a hand grenade. Engulfed by nausea, he pitched towards the grass, his mouth encountered gravel, and he spat frantically, afraid that some of his teeth had been knocked out, he saw the country through drifting gauze but held on until everything settled into place, no, hoping it would set into place.

Finally after the Presidential election that took place on the 28 of March, he made his final decision. He tried to get up but his body mutinied against movement. He decided the hell with it. He would go to sleep right here, the hell with trying to convince Nigerians, screw everything, he didn't care anymore to fight what he thinks he believed in.

As a gentleman he is known for, even though he knew the election was massively rigged by the opposition, despite the fact that he knew some of his party individuals were assaulted at the time of voting, despite the fact that he knew numerous kids from the age of 10 were enrolled to vote, despite the fact that he realized individuals at the IDM got voters card while those are the grieved free zones didn't, despite the fact that he understood he may win on the off chance that he chose to challenge the result of the race, decide to go home on the grounds that he had said no politician desire is justified regardless of the life of pure Nigerian

For the murderers, they didn't stop there, despite everything it hurts them to hear individuals address him as legend for giving up without worrying the commonwealth or making a scene that may prompt roughness, then death of blameless Nigerians, they have chosen to utilize the same online networking to assault him, calling him a wide range of names, assaulting the individuals who are calling him a saint.

The inquiry they neglected to ask themselves is this "what might have been the result if President Jonathan had won the election? Would Buhari had called Jonathan to praise him or yield to annihilation? In 2011, more than 800 Nigerians including the NYSC students were murdered by the Presidency owners because the opposition leader, Buhari raised an alarm that the election was rigged.

It is no news that Buhari had gone to tribunal three times out of the four times he had challenged. He had never acknowledged defeat, rather his outrage created the demise of hundreds.

They murdered him, those who he trusted, those he tried to tell by all necessary means that he was there for a change betrayed him, they stabbed him, they sent him to his untimely grave.

By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News

The governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi has said that the people of the state enjoyed his governorship because they voted for a young governor.

Amaechi disclosed this while addressing the crowd at the people during All Progressives Congress rally in Kalabari for the governorship candidate, Hon. Dakuku Peterside which was closely monitored by NAIJA CENTER NEWS

He urged them to vote for another young mind in Rivers State, Dakuku Peterside who will take the state to another level just as he did.

Rotimi Amaechi who is also the  APC campaign director asked the people of Kalabari not to accept President Goodluck Jonathan as their brother since he chose to take everything away from them.

The govenror said Jonathan refused to do anything for the Rivers people, including repairing a single road.

He said ” When i ask Jonathan if i should repair a Federal road, he refused, in the presence of your people, he said he will do it. Did he do it?

Let me tell you the problem you will have this raining season, there will be no road to drive home, neither will there be road to drive out, your economy will continue to suffer because of one bad President.

Soku belong to Kalabari kingdom, Kalabari people are big enough to form a nation. If today you are to form a nation, where is your oil wealth?

I promised Jonathan one thing, for any local government that i will campaign, i will show him one thing i have done there.What has he done for the Rivers people?”

The governor continued “Tell those who asked you to vote for him (President Jonathan) because he is your brother, that he is not your brother, he is the enemy of the Rivers people. He never knew this day will come, he has always thought that all election can be done by writing.. No more carry go, carry go has been buried.”

“Another vote for President Goodluck Jonathan will be badluck to us. Our economy will suffer.” He added

Amaechi also admitted that the problem of insecurity is not only the problem of the Federal Government but also that of the state, adding that the Federal government has a greater role to play and the FG has done nothing to employ a single youth in Rivers State

” What has the Federal Government done to employ all of you? If the N30b Naira they stole at the Federal Level get to you, will you be suffering? Federal government refused to give us light, a vote for Buhari will change all that.” He said

Amaechi advised the crowed to learn to vote corrupt politicians out. He added that the only party they should vote for on February 14 and 28 should be APC.

The governor who may have forgotten that he is presently campaigning for a 73 years old candidate on the platform of APC, reminded the people that he became the governor at a very young age. He asked them if they enjoyed his governorship because he is young and the crowed shouted YES!

“I thank God for making me a governor at a very young age, i am sure you people enjoy my governorship because i am young. When i became governor, when i compete, they said i was too young.  You were used to a governor that sit at the back of the car, wave when they are coming and chase you when they come now, but now you have a young governor that talk with you, drink with you even eat in a Buka (local restaurant) that is because i am a young blood. If you vote for another young blood, what happened, you will repeat the same thing.”

Amaechi is the Campaign director of the All Progressives Congress flagbear, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari who many Nigerians have refused due to his old age.



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Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has described the audio clip released by the All Progressives Congress (APC), through its media organ, SaharaReporters as fake, saying; he never held any meeting with anyone to rig the June 21, 2014 election, suggesting that his voice and those of others could have been faked using technology like Natural Voices.

He said the audio clip was APC's new calculated attempt to discredit the election results, having failed woefully both at the poll and the tribunal.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi said in a statement issued on Friday in response to the questions by NAIJA CENTER NEWS, that the APC would have used the audio clip as evidence at the tribunal if it was genuine.

He said; "Nigerians should be reminded of how the APC people lied in 2007 that they recorded how the governorship election was rigged even in the palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, but the party could not produce a single photo evidence at the tribunal because their plans to do what is know as Morphing and Syncing was exposed.

"Nigerians should also be reminded of the existence of a technology called speech software, which is good at reproducing the sounds, inflections and intonations of a human voice.

"There are softwares that can re-create voices and even bring the voices of long-dead notable persons back to life. There are softwares that can turn printed text into synthesized speech, making it possible for anyone to use recordings of a person's voice to utter new things that the person never said. One of such softwares is called 'Natural Voices.'

"The APC that we all know is a party of crooks, who are capable of doing anything, no matter how criminal to achieve their aim.

"They tried all tricks to manipulate the election and failed. Even after wining the election, they tried to prevent Fayose from assuming office but failed.

"Now it is a fake audio clip, which is obviously targeted at the next week presidential election.

"Another question that should be asked by discerning minds is; if indeed such a meeting took place, could any of those purported to be present at the meeting have recorded the conversation and leaked it to the APC? Or was the supposed secret meeting held in the public such that it was possible for the conversations to be recorded?

"This fake audio was obviously manipulated with the use of technology and it is known to discerning minds that motion pictures can even be manipulated using what is called Morphing and Syncing.

Nigerians, especially the people of Ekiti who overwhelmingly voted Fayose as their governor should therefore ignore this new fabricated lie coming from the APC."


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A multi-award winner, and a UN peace ambassador, Hajia Habiba Abubabar has said she is tired of the Nigeria biggest political party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

She made this statement while responding to questions from her followers who requested to know the political party and the presidential candidate she intend to support in 2015.

Habiba said she was tired of the PDP and its members, adding that Nigerians had given PDP enough time to perform in the country but chose otherwise.

The Chairperson, Elderly and the Poor who is presently on vacation in the UK to spend Christmas with her children, expressed her disappointment towards the government and current administration said " To those sending me mails asking me who I like more between Goodluck and Buhari, is not about who I like is about who will look after the elderly,the poor,the struggling working families and those young boys and girls unemployed simple as that.

Who will tackle corruption for once in our country. Am simply tired of PDP and it's people. Nigerians have given PDP enough time to do good to the Country but it appears that is just not working. They can't tackle corruption, they can't tackle Boko Haram what can they do?

Nigerians love enjoyment but apparently is slowly being taken away from us. Our youth are not happy at all. They struggle so hard to make ends meet while some are at a corner looting what belongs to all of us. I don't care who rules Christian or Muslim all I need is an able leader."

NAIJA CENTER NEWS could recall that Habiba wrote an open letter to the President, Goodluck Jonathan, copying the senate President, David Mark and the speaker of the House of Assembly, Aminu Tambuwal, requesting the government to make free, medical services for the elderly, the poor and children in the country which was completely ignored.

NAIJA CENTER NEWS reported the UN ambassador assertion after she was disappointment by President Jonathan's behaviour during the time Nigeria was mourning the Nyanya bomb victims and the missing more than 200 Chibok girls.

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By Naija Center.

In this interview with Ehi Ekhator of NAIJA CENTER NEWS, the Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot, who has decided to venture into politics revealed why he decided to try his luck, praised the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola and explained the kind of Nigeria he dreamed of. Below is the excerpt.

Naija Center News : What’s your view about Fashola’s administration? How would you view his achievement as the governor of Lagos State?

Desmond Elliot: I think he has been fantastic. He set the ball rolling for fast pace government and dynamism. If you take a survey or go to the polls you will find out that he is one of the most favourite governors if not the most, the most favourite governor of our time and this has been linked to several reasons.  Firstly, he acknowledges the cosmopolitan nature of government. He seeks out for the best and very importantly, when he came to power, he did not initiate, totally, his own programs but built on what was already laid on the ground which leads to why continuity is very important in government. What Bola Asiwaju Tinubu had done, he built on it. So, Asiwaju’s position at that time as a governor was important, his also became even more important because he built on it. IF he had started creating from the scratch, then he probably wouldn’t be where we are today, but because he took it over from where someone had stopped, that led to a good continuity which is where we have a lot of problems even in politics. You might come with a different ideology, that doesn’t mean that whatever it was that your predecessor had done before, was totally rubbish. If that was totally rubbish, he would do but I think in Nigeria, what we should do is to capitalize more on what your predecessors have done before. You might come from the opposition party or whatever; it does not mean you totally destroy the structure because money of the people doesn’t change as government changes, what changes is the hands that manage, but the money used in building those structures doesn’t change. So the only appeal you would want to give is, build upon what your predecessors have done, it might not be all but some of it, build upon it and then carry on.

The only place where we Nigerians usually have a problem is, we always want to build our own legacy, forgetting that building upon someone else’s legacy, is the beginning of your legacy; people now know you as someone who builds on a dream someone else’s had. So, it is not a bad idea to build, for instance, you start a railway project and your time is up, you leave office, instead of the other person cancelling it, continue from where you stop even though he is from the opposition. That being said are major qualities of Fashola. One more thing I think he has done which is great is, he doesn’t matter who takes over from him. He has been able to put Lagos to the point where systems can work on its own irrespective of who’s in power. For instance, LASTMA can still work because the structure is already there for the bodies to keep working. So, being able to do that steadily takes a state gradually towards development.

Naija Center News: You are going into politics now, what exactly have you done like community development and others, for the community you love before thinking of aspiring for higher position to do more?

Desmond Elliot: This is born out of the fact that I have done not just community but humanitarian work. In politics, they say, if you have your trumpet, blow it. So, what I have been doing is unto God, I just do it and believe my reward is in heaven. I have done work internationally, I have done work in Liberia of which I use to go everywhere giving back, I have taken a lot of artist, entertainers, actors who usually join me like Rich Dominic, Klint De Drunk, Jackie Apiah, Michel Majid. buy food stuff, buy things to give back to people in poor area.

In my community, what I have done is, I have assisted within my field in sending a few to school in terms of film school, I have done service in area I live in terms of doing seminars with school children, mostly of primary schools, talk to them about career etc., which I do with them towards the end of every terms. I am as well being involved in HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, promoting safe water, not necessarily clean water, and safe water in rural and poor urban area especially in the area where I grew up and schooled in Jos. I have partners in water aid, UN habitat, I have partner with an organization called SCHEMA where we promote the awareness of sickle cell, generally just humanitarian work which is taking me to, basically to many countries, Uganda, Kenya, where we create all these kind of awareness. Back home, Port Harcourt, we visit orphanages etc. Basically, all of these bring themselves together make me to understand that, you could bring these entire energy home and change lives instead of spreading your wings too far, bring everything home, go deep into your people because we have lots of youths very unemployed, unschooled, not nurtured and already even before doing much, I am already securing admission into the open university for a lot of getting atleast support for funding from some corporate organization to sponsor a lot of our youths who haven’t been able to get into the unconventional university to at least start learning from the international open university. I have been in talk with the authorities over there, we are streamlining and we are starting the first batch of admission next week.

That being said, we are also working on the unskilled, those who like to learn some form of skills like sewing, mechanic, technicians, electricians etc. all those specific school work, we are putting that out and getting them admitted into schools. What the schools would do is also partner with organisations that are specific to those things then get them in. Why am I doing this, it’s not my main priority, by the grace of God, a legislator, but it’s a part of being in the position whereby we can actively differentiate between social responsibility for the people from corporation organization and give return because of where you are at, as an honorable or a member of the house of assembly, you force the corporate organisations, which is lobby, talk etc. When you have the kind of initiative, it helps out in leading to the growth of a society. My point is, Surulere Local government has gotten to the point where it will come up with dynamic, young; preempt idea on how to move forward in terms of education, shelter, clothing, feeding etc. If you don’t bring out dynamic ideas, we will always be where we are which is close to point O. If you feel you have something to offer, bring it out, bring it on and let’s move on. That has been a moving force for me, in order to prove that it’s possible, I started the work already.

Naija Center News: You are going to be a lawmaker when you win, what is it that you want to change, what law are you trying to make or what is it that you think is not well positioned that you want to change?

Desmond Elliot: There is a couple. We have issues that have to deal with our roads, we need to…. Wait, I am not changing laws but probably have to amend which I feel are very important.

Most of our roads the state government handles are very narrow. Because of population explosion and increase, they need to be expanded.

The government of today has really worked hard in terms of building and giving a lot of stuff. Today we see a lot of accommodation which is very important, now we see they are doing a lot of scheme, new house is coming up, we need to get something almost like something we have in the state called the project, we need to give a lot to deal with that specifically, giving out to the civil service, helping them, relocating them. It has started already; we need to do more on situating them so that we don’t have too many people densely populated at a place. Lagos has gotten to the point where people start going to the hinterland, start going to off state like the one in New York, partnering  with other states we are close to, especially Ogun State and really making it as a point of duty, relocate people, not out of their domains. Now when we do that, we’ll see there’s need to start expanding our roads because you now spread Lagos. The truth is, to become cosmopolitan, when we are too close together, we can’t afford the opportunity to build, we are now looking at a future new Lagos.  I want to be part of that prophesy, a prophesy whereby we are not just dumping people but creating the network whereby people can live not too close and not too far and that will begin developing our future city. It’s a broad spectrum with laws and build an impact, a dynamic conference that see to the future but making it very systematic and not a system that leads to the suffering of people. And while you do that, you create the opportunity for road usage. The thing about traffic we do not know about is that, it does not only shorten the life span of your car, it also shorten the life span of the people that owns the car because when you get home late, you sleep late, you wake up too early, you don’t have enough sleep, it reduces man power, it reduces energy, all things work together. Expanding road, we have to create a proper traffic system, every populated state like Lagos is bound to have traffic problem. A lot has been done; a lot can still be done into managing the problem of traffic control, making people obey laws and we have to make laws not only traffic signs but other parts like in a modern society. So, it is not in a way to make things harden for the people, we need to push in more laws, we need to now make para-military. For security purpose, we have round clock security, we give them uniform or something to make sure, even at night. We need to have a feeling of being safe, so we need to preempt, you know right now state police has not been approved, but we can have a vigilante system, we can have a system whereby we watch out for our brothers and sisters, we turn Lagos into a big community whereby we look out for each other.

Another problem we have is because more gates are close. Where there is proper security system, you open up the gate, you find out there is good network around. There are certain places and residential places where you would not allow commercial vehicles to pass through, This will begin to gradually, build a cosmopolitan city that we are looking at. I want to start with a place like Surulere where we can have network, we can have growth, we want to start to promote even a situation where we can give very soft loans to people you know that are highly business people, that lead me to my community now, not lagos as a whole. Once you can deal with what to eat, how to move, then we want to promote other means of transportation. An average Nigerian think of a car the moment he makes N500,000, we need to start promoting walking, bicycling, all those forms of transportation that a modern society needs and it’s not just car. How will that work? In my mind, I will push a bill that will create parking centres where you can actually park your car, and then you pay a token which actually go into all the streets where you can park. And if you need to go to somewhere maybe ten minutes from where you park your car, you can ride a bicycle or walk. By the time you promote these things, the traffic laws are working; you find out that you have different forms of movement and walking is a good form of exercise, people should start giving minutes’ walk and you yourself in government should prove it, you don’t need to drive everywhere. If we start to orient people on this, I want to push for a law that will begin to change the psyche of the people, so the ministry of interior becomes very important, where we will go through the radio or tv or whatever it is. We are not saying change Nigeria, but change your locality where you are. By the time you do it, it leads to a bigger effect. People do not agree immediately to change. Oh Desmond is an actor; he wants to go into politics because he wants to go change money. No, allow the cause to happen, but remain focus at what you want to do to change it.

Naija Center News: I guess the people are saying you want to steal money because they have been disappointed several times.

Desmond Elliot: Fine, who is going to make the change? Let’s try dynamic people, the little things people have done in the past, they can’t probably do this themselves. If you know someone has been there in an office for many years and changes have not been made, then try someone else.

As a Nigerian, what’s your view about Boko Haram?

It’s a situation that gives its way to a lot of cause. You can’t shy away from what Boko Haram and ISIS is doing in the middle is doing in the middle east. They all intertwined. You see the government struggling to try and curb or limit it but I do feel that, beyond that, when we are able to get the right machinery for instance, we need information. I feel a lot of information needs to be passed to the people, let us keep them informed. I do understand that a lot of organisations are really working at making sure this does not escalate to a big problem. My only prayer is that we find a quick solution and if we do not, it’s going to spread, and I wouldn’t want that.

Naija Center News: The government is saying that they want more youths to participate in politics, taking a form to contest is very expensive. Then the government stripped the youth naked, financially, if you can’t eat your three times daily meal, how can you contest for a position.

Desmond Elliot: Why not support some of our youths who are able to manage? Politics all over the world is not a cheap venture and in a country like ours where lot of corruptions have gone deep, it takes you to convince people through your heart to not wonder that you going for the money.

It is difficult for the youths to want to venture into the politics because it is almost, every step you go, you need to do something that involves finance. So the only thing the youths can have as your voice is your words, what you do and being aware. A youth must know that if we pay taxes, there must be tax return. This is why I see APC as a dynamic party that will give more to the youths, to empower people and to change, because of its diversified formed in nature. I am in a position speaking a lot might be a bit detrimental and I don’t want to be misquoted. A lot of us picture a Nigeria in the future, a Nigeria where people will actually asking for Jesus, a Nigerian where when you land into the country, people would say welcome to the country and not where people would ask bros wetin you bring come?, bros wetin dey for us? Then you wondered, what’s going on? It’s not just at the airport, you can’t also blame them, but you can see the ugly situation in our society. We have to change all that, you do not ask, you don’t give unless you are willing, there is need to let them know that there is gain in working hard through what they called kulele to become CEO.

Naija Center News: You agree with me that Nigerians do not have patients, everyone wants to be rich overnight.

Desmond Elliot: You can never overemphasize the power of the media and social media, you need to create awareness, you must cite examples of countries that was patient and are now big. Malaysia was patient and now produce palm oil. You must show the country through radio, TV, explain to them that for us to get to a point, this is what we need to do.

Naija Center News: But do you know that Nigerians blame the government for any crime they commit?, Don’t you think it is proper for the leaders to straighten themselves so the youth do not have to blame them?

Desmond Elliot: I can speak for Lagos State. Lagos state is a structured government as you can see. There hardly any law they created that is not being effected. One more thing you must see about Lagos is that, every state look up to Lagos and a bench mark for growth. We need to know more on what our government is what we want to push more and giving information to the people is very important to changing their ideology and orientation. It happened here and here and it can happen here and before you know it, it is not a short process, in the next two three years, you begin to see multiple changes.

One more thing I would do is to deal squarely piracy of every form. Piracy of creating content, piracy of entertainment in every form must be dealt with. That’s part of what I would love to do when I get there. Nigeria as a nation is blessed with diverse people, and in this complex situation, we are able to coexist and live. We need to get a forum and a program that pushes out what make us unique as a people rather than what make us different.

Naija Center News: It seems like we are more religious and tribal than being a Nigerian.

Desmond Elliot: Well, it is coming from what we have been taught by our leaders of yesterday. Oh I have a wife, where is she from? You are not asking she is from because you are just proud that your son got a woman, you are asking because you want your son to get a wife from your area.

I am a Yoruba boy, I was born in Lagos, grew up in Lagos but school in the North and I socialized a lot with the northerners and I saw a lot of things that bring us together than separate us. Then I met someone from the South, and then I felt this is what we mean by being together. Then my mother is from what you would call from the East. A fusion of all of these would make you understand we can go exist as Nigerians. Nothing makes us different, instead of killing ourselves for those little things that make us different, let love ourselves over those things that make us unique, appreciate what we have and we will be better. This is what Lagos state has displayed. You see people that are not even Lagosians that are commissioners that are not even Yoruba people because they want to make sure they put it in the best hand and everyone has a sense of belonging. You can be in plateau state and put Yoruba man as a commissioner and head of service can be from Akwa Ibom State as long as the person is loyal to government and bring peace to the people.

Naija Center News: What message do you have for Lagosians and others who think you are going there for a selfish reason

Desmond Elliot: Well, the only thing I can say is let support those who want to bring change. Change doesn't occur overnight but change starts with one person who is ready for a change. Look at my progress, look at what I am bringing to the table, I didn’t just sleep over night and say I want to go there, it is something that has been for the longest and it was just a question of waiting for the time.

If I do this and it worked, good and it doesn't work, I will continue to do what I do, give to the community and humanity the way it ought to be. The bottom line is bless someone’s life, make someone smile, improve on someone’s life and when you see people who are trying to do it, the best you can do it to help is push it forward and how you can be a decider in a dynamic society we are hoping it will come.

Read more at Naija Center Neww - http://www.naijacenter.com/news/interview/want-lawmaker-desmond-elliot/
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Why i ventured into politics
…says acting will be on hold if he won
By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News.

In this interview with NAIJA CENTER NEWS, the Nollywood actor, Olusola Desmond Elliot who is aspiring to contest in 2015 as a representative in the Lagos State house of Assembly, disclosed why he decided to venture into politics,  chose APC and what his plans are if he won.

Naija Center: How long have you been nursing this ambition?

Desmond Elliot: For the longest about 8 years now, i have been involved in it with some government friends, i was waiting for the right time.

Naija Center: What inspired you to join politics?

Desmond Elliot: Inspiration is from the things around and the fact that you can do much better than what you see growth is change which must be dynamic. We don’t embrace it.

Naija Center: What do you intend to do when you are given the chance? Why should they send you after the disappointment from others?

Desmond Elliot: I intend to use cooperate so sponsorship and interfacing with the private sector in achieving my aim. Give funds is just not enough.

That’s where the problem has been, over reliance on govt funds to the public. And having relationships with d cooperate world by virtue of my profession, I can harness cooperate social responsibility. Remember am not running for governor but to represent my community at the house I can adequately harness, skill acquisition and youth tertiary education at the open university, get funds for them to start business from, Like PNG, Unilever, NBL etc who will be happy contributing their quota in to social development.

Work out soft loans for traders in the community with a bank I have good relationship with, having government funds as back up when there is a default. Important thing is to have a community that is running and funds in circulation, most important that the average person is affected positively just to mention a few, on they should send me or not, it’s left to the people. Mine is I dictate my intentions. I think it’s more about service, my target is the youths whom I think are still young and can approach life differently.

Naija Center: How do you plan to cope with acting and politics?

Desmond Elliot: WHEN I win sir, acting will be on hold, but at the house i willl fight for stiffer penalties for piracy and content control. Now u sound like a reporter.

Naija Center: How do you intend to cope with the system of sharing money to buy voters in Nigeria?

Desmond Elliot: Those who have the money should do what they please. I will just ask the voters to vote with their heart and not what they are receiving from people who only show up when it’s election time.

Naija Center: Did you choose APC because it’s the ruling party in Lagos State?

Desmond Elliot: APC is about change and has a reach to the grass roots. It’s a growing party because of the merger and I want to be a player in that merge. It’s young and easier for the youths to have a stake in its growth. Its leaders are pro youth dynamic and true to its words PROGRESSIVE

Stay tuned on the concluding part of this interview.


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