The 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.
Lai Mohammed 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.