The Sokoto government has donated ten Hilux vehicles to the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army to safeguard the ongoing construction of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway initiated by President Bola Tinubu.

The vehicles were formally handed over by deputy works minister Bello Goronyo.

Speaking at the ceremony on Thursday in Sokoto, Mr Goronyo said Governor Ahmad Aliyu donated the ten operational vehicles to support military personnel and the security architecture for the highway project.

He described the donation as another milestone in actualising Mr Tinubu’s objective of providing critical infrastructure for Nigeria, particularly the four legacy projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“This very important arterial road corridor is a stretch of about 1,068 kilometres and is going to criss-cross Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states. It is going to link to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a span of about 750 kilometres, and it will link to the Trans-Saharan route which will begin from Esso in Calabar all the way to Benue and other corridors to Akwanga, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe and beyond,” he said.

Mr Goronyo added that the superhighway is a deliberate attempt to ensure Nigeria’s infrastructure is built for prosperity, as it will be constructed on continuously reinforced concrete that will outlive the present generation by 50 years or more.

According to him, infrastructure development will add to the nation’s gross domestic product, provide safer travel, and facilitate the evacuation of agricultural produce.

He commended Mr Aliyu for the timely intervention and for demonstrating true partnership with the federal government in delivering Mr Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

(NAN)

As a heated debate rages over the unceremonious exit of multiple award winning attacker, Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal’s national team, I make a bold declaration that the five-time Bollon d’Or winner is simply regarding himself as untouchable.

Doubtlessly, CR7 is an icon and a legend, but that does not mean he is indispensable. It also does not mean he is the Lord over every other person or that he will reign forever. He even lasted this long in the Portuguese team because they gave him lots of respect for all he has done for the country.

However, as Lionel Messi stated in his reaction to the unfolding drama, Ronaldo should have known how to quit when the ovation was loudest. Indeed, Messi acknowledged the giant strides of his biggest rival for global awards and recognition as G O.A.T. but concluded by pointing out where ‘Ciroro’ went wrong.

Unwittingly, like the Biblical rich man who thinks his ideas are sacrosanct and everything about life must revolve around him, Ronaldo is still crying blue murder and keeps alleging that Portugal’s coach, Jorge Jesus betrayed him.

Interestingly, Ronaldo had a similar situation with Erik ten Hag during his second spell at Manchester United, and he also left under a storm. But, while his fans keep slamming the coaches who dare to bench CR7, they fail to note that he is quite conceited and falls out with anyone who tries calling him to order.

That’s because, like the rich man who thinks he’s larger than life, Ronaldo does not like being questioned. He thinks his word is Holy Writ, unquestionable and incontrovertible. He sees himself as a demigod who must be carried like an egg all the time, and other people must tremble at his feet.

That’s not taking away the zeal and passion he has for football, nor his dedication to hard work as the route to success as well as his well-known heart of charity. Good values, no doubt but, of what good is a Greek gift that ends up consuming you?

Must the rich man rubbish anyone he gives a token in the name of charity? Should the rich man see himself as alpha and omega to everyone who looks up to him? Should they keep silent where he errs, simply because they are benefitting from him? That’s what Ronaldo wanted Portugal to do because he has uplifted them.

That’s where Ronaldo got it wrong, and that’s why I stick out my neck today against all the hue and cry his fans are hurling at the coach who brought him down to earth. It’s not about Portugal losing many followers on social media because of his exit, it’s not about corporate bodies pulling out of deals because they feel dividends will stop coming since CR7 is no longer there.

For me, it’s about someone who is happy that things are not going well because he has been sidelined. Yes, the focus should be on someone who took advantage of a whole nation, trying to make them worship him forever – even when he was no longer effective. It’s about someone who thinks no one is better than him and nobody can do what he does. It’s about someone who thinks he’s a tree that can make a forest and damn anyone who thinks otherwise.

So, while his fans threaten karma where it is not going to apply, since no one did him any harm, they should accept the simple truth that C. Ronaldo overstayed his welcome in Portugal’s national team.

It’s also a lesson for us that we should not take people for granted and think that they will keep on respecting (adoring or worshiping) us even when we inconvenience them; thinking they will keep quiet forever because them depend on us for comfort.

Let’s face the reality that Ronaldo had become a liability whose presence in Portugal’s national team was slowing them down. It’s not a surprise that they won their next game 4-2 away without him. It’s a lesson for rich people of the world to know that poor people also have dignity. It’s in the past that the beggar has no choice. Nowadays, poor people beg with dignity because God will always provide a rich person in their life as a helper.

That’s why the Bible says the poor will never cease from the land. The story of Lazarus and the rich man serves a strong inference that each poor man has someone to look up to for help. Any rich man who fails to willingly help the poor man at his doorstep stands to face God’s anger.

At the same time, the rich man should not take advantage of the poor man with promises that are not kept, make him wait endlessly before handing over what he needs, giving him half assistance instead of what he needs in full, thinking the poor man cannot survive without him or telling a third party how the poor man is disturbing him. These are the errors Ronaldo committed subconsciously.

He held Portugal to ransom until a Messiah came in the form of their own Jesus, who is now their national team’s coach. It’s not that he doesn’t like Ronaldo any longer.

No, the fact is that CR7 cannot reign forever. But, unlike Messi, he did not know how to quit when the ovation was loudest. He didn’t want to quit because he loves being the centre of all attention – just like the average rich man in Nigeria (if not the whole wide world).

He loves to be adored, hailed, praised referenced and rated highest all the time – anyone who tries to cut him down to size draws his ire (just like the average rich man would do to the outspoken poor man). The rich man would ask, “Who gave you mouth to talk?” Simply because he’s paying the bills.

All said and done, let’s hope Nigeria’s so-called ‘big men’ learn from this. Like Ronaldo, they give bountifully only when they are worshiped, then stop at the slightest sign of discontent from those looking up to them. Instead of serving with true Agape love, they give only when it’s convenient for them, and they quickly talk about ingratitude once the poor man seeks a way to break loose.