LAGOS — MINISTER of
Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, yesterday, refuted claims by
Chief Afe Babalola and Akin Fadeyi, that the Federal Government’s
national
re-orientation campaign, ‘Change Begin with Me’ was a copyright version of
drama skits ‘Not In My Country’ initiative.
Mohammed’s reaction
came barely seven days after a senior lawyer at the Afe Babalola Chambers,
Adebayo Adenipekun, wrote to the President, alleging that the initiative
launched to bring attitudinal change in the country, originated from him and
was taken from his project: ‘Not In My Country.’
The minister made the
explanation after unveiling the national re-orientation campaign to
stakeholders in the private sector in Lagos. He noted that the idea behind the
national re-orientation was designed and completed two months before he met
Fadeyi.
He said: “I was
nominated in October and the moment I was nominated, I called my team and I
told them that the most important thing was to change the attitude of
Nigerians. I am happy that the agencies that worked on the idea are here today.
“We started working on the initiative immediately and on 14 October, 2015 when
I was confirmed as a minister, I had completed work on the initiative. I made
available to the media, incontrovertible evidence that by October 14th, 2015, I
had completed work on the initiative.
“On 31 October, 2015, I had completed the
radio jingles and television commercials.
After we had completed work on the
programme, Mr. Akin Fadeyi came to me on December 30th, 2015. So, how can one
accuse me of stealing an idea which was completed by October last year? The
person, who claimed that I stole his idea came to me in December. Mr. Akin
Fadeyi, Afe Babalola and I will meet in court.” Earlier, Director General of
the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Garba Abare, said the initiative was
aimed at making citizens major players in the redevelopment of the country.
Vanguardngr
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