Saturday 30 September 2017
Ekiti Bailout Fund Not Midused - TUC tells EFCC
Labour leaders condemn EFCC arrest of Ekiti officials...say Bailout Fund not misused
Labour leaders in Ekiti State on Saturday decried the arrest of the state's Commissioner for Finance and the Accountant-General by the agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing the allegation that the Bailout Fund given to the state last year was misappropriated as frivolous and unfounded.
Briefing newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, the Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Odunayo Adesoye, said the state government's implementation and use of the fund were in line with the decisions taken by labour leaders and other stakeholders in the state.
Adesoye, who was flanked by labour leaders, also circulated a statement signed by labour leaders to condemn the EFCC's action.
The statement was signed by him, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Raymond Adesanmi, the NLC State Secretary, Comrade Patrick Olayemi and the TUC State Secretary, Comrade Adebisi Adebayo James.
"Initially, the state government was reluctant in accepting the fund but because of pressure from workers and other stakeholders, it agreed. We held a meeting at the Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye Hall, Ado-Ekiti on September 2, 2015 where labour leaders and stakeholders mandated the state government to take the fund.
" The sum of N9.6 billion was subsequently released to the state government by the Federal Government and it sounds funny when the EFCC said it was acting on a petition where N7 billion was allegedly misappropriated. Then, where did the state government get the fund with which it paid arrears of salaries, allowances, pensions and others?
"The Commissioner for Finance, Chief Toyin Ojo and the AG being detained have been doing their jobs in transparent manner. When anybody talks about transparency in the usage of public funds, Ekiti State ranks among the best. Ojo was in the same position during the first term of Governor Ayodele Fayose which left no debt but a surplus of over N10 billion.
" The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) conducted investigations into how state governments used the fund and Ekiti State was given a clean bill of health. If what we read in one of the national dailies today where one Kolawole Olaiya said the EFCC acted on a petition by workers, it acted on a false information and only engaged in witch hunt of innocent people. Olaiya has been removed from office as TUC chair and even relieved of his appointment even before the present administration came into office.
"If it is on his petition that the agency acted, then the petition could be malicious.
"Some states got N33 billion, some got N25 billion and allegations of misappropriation are flying all over, but the EFCC is yet to act. Workers in the state were aware of how the money was spent and we meet monthly to decide on how allocations or any money coming to the state are spent," he said.
The labour leaders advised that Ekiti State Government functionaries should not be made to suffer unnecessarily as a result of frivolous petitions.
"In conclusion, the leadership of the Public Sector Unions in Ekiti State, on the strength of the above, hereby dissociates itself from any pressure on Governor Ayodele Fayose or any official or officials of government on account of the disbursement of accruals to the state from the said Federal Government Intervention Fund. It is our believe and contention that the Ekiti State Government was transparent enough in securing and in the application of the Bailout Fund," he noted.
Answering a question on whether the arrest of the officials had any impact on the workers, Adesoye said it does, adding that the payment of their salaries was now hanging in the balance.
Nigeria at 57: IBB Says Dialogue is the Way Out
Nigeria at 57: IBB Says Dialogue is Panacea for Conflict Resolution
As Nigeria marks her 57th Independence anniversary, former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has urged all Nigerians to always embrace peace and dialogue as they are antidotes for conflict resolution.
He said even though the nation is bedevilled with senseless agitations and conflicts, there was the need for careful appraisal of our journey to nationhood.
“The resilience of armed forces of Nigeria to curtailed secessionist and agitations throughout our nation’s post-independence has reduced tensions and unnecessary destruction of lives and property,” he said.
General Babangida, opined that: “Peace remains the best option in resolving conflicts and agitations in the country, adding that recent conflicts and agitations, chanting slogan of war and hate speeches are derailing the nation’s development and unity.
“As an active participant in the Civil War and a retired military officer, with the hard lesson learnt, I will never be tired on calling for the oneness and unity of our great nation. We will forever be ready to sacrifice for a united and prosperous Nigeria whenever the need arises
“During our tenure in government we deliberately formulated policies, programmes, projects
and even the creation of states to further weaken unwholesome agitations for secession and promote mutual and peaceful coexistence devoid of ethnic, religious and regional discriminations.”
He said government at all levels should continue to encourage mutual tolerance and protect the life of every Nigerian who should feel at home anywhere they find themselves in the country.
He urged Nigerians to pray and work towards peace and progress of the nation. He advised those beating the war drum through hate speeches to sheathe their swords and support the government in addressing security and economic challenges.
He said: “We should support the government in addressing the security and economic challenges as I urge Nigerians to extend their gestures with a hand of fellowship to one another and assists those affected by natural disasters, conflicts and communal clashes that are presently confined at various Internally Displaced Persons Camps (IDPs).”
Signed Media Office, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Former Military President 1 Up
hill Drive, Minna, Niger State
Read more at: https://prnigeria.com/national/nigeria-ibb-dialogue-conflict-resolution/
EPL Results Saturday 31 Sept
Huddersfield 0 - 4 Tottenham Hotspur
AFC Bournemouth 0-0 Leicester City
Manchester United 4 - 0 Crystal Palace
Stoke City 2 -1 Southampton
West Bromwich Albion 2-2 Watford
West Ham United 1 -0 Swansea City
Chelsea 0 - 1 Manchester City
Friday 29 September 2017
IPOB: US Kicks Against Military Option
U.S. SLAMS MILITARY OPTION IN RESOLVING NIGERIA’S CONFLICTS
• Urges ‘painstaking dialogue’
• Officials say govt must first resolve root causes of agitations
The United States (U.S.) yesterday urged Nigeria to look beyond a military option in resolving internal conflicts.
The appeal was made under the auspices of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington DC when the agency convened a gathering of U.S. officials, diplomats and Nigerian leaders .
The conference as monitored by The Guardian, focused on “Peace in Nigeria: How to build it, and America’s role” and explored possible options beyond military operations. The symposium agreed on the need for the Nigerian government to strengthen the responsiveness of state institutions, address grievances and perceptions “before they become reality and improve accountability and transparency.”
Thomas Hushek, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilisation Operations, U.S. Department of State, in his concluding remarks said “durable peace” in Nigeria “will require a painstaking dialogue.”
Apart from the 15-year Boko Haram issue in the Northeast, Nigeria’s military is grappling with widespread conflicts within the country’s borders, the most current being the second phase of its “Operation Python Dance” in the Southeast that has put soldiers in direct confrontation with the self-determinist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Military authorities have also proscribed IPOB and declared it a terrorist organisation following which they announced imminent operations in South-West and South-South regions — a decision that has drawn the ire of civil society groups and human rights activists.
Re-echoing General Martin-Luther Agwai’s introductory remarks on centrality of the country to potential peace in Africa, Hushek describes Nigeria as a vey critical U.S. partner on the continent, but added that the President Muhammadu Buhari government must in its pursuit of peace first identify the options that citizens want implemented.
The country is warming up to charged elections in two years and the U.S. assistant secretary believes the “2019 election will be critical to Nigeria’s continued prosperity and stability.
“Achieving stability or building political peace is a political endeavour,” he said, just as he explained that responsiveness to people’s needs would
“build trust and encourage durable peace.”
General Agwai, former Nigerian Chief of Army Staff and former commander of the combined United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, Sudan is one of the members of the Nigeria Senior Working Group that participated in the conference on peace in Nigeria. In his opening remarks, Agwai described himself as a simple old soldier humbled by the presence of the State Department and the U.S. and “privileged to stand and talk to learned people across the world about what we are doing.”
His submissions on peace in Nigeria equating peace in Africa kicked off the first panel discussion involving Pauline Baker, President Emeritus of the Fund for Peace and Senior Advisor, Creative Associates International as moderator; Yau, Yunusa Zakari, Director, Centre for Information Technology and Development, Kano, Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim, Senior Fellow, Centre for Democracy and Development -West Africa; and Ambassador Fatima Balla, former Nigerian diplomat, civil servant, and politician.
While declaring the discussion open, Baker made specific reference to agitations in the South-East and urged discussants to be informal. “We tend to look at the outside without looking at the inside,” she remarked, adding that it would be important to think of the fact that Biafra agitation still thrives many years after.
The conference agreed that “Nigeria under President Buhari has made military gains against the extremist fighters of Boko Haram” but observed that Nigeria’s varied conflicts have kept more than two million people displaced and weakened stability in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel re
Sukkuk Bond and the Villification of CAN by MURIC - Majeed Dahiru
Sukuk Bond and the Villification of CAN By MURIC, By Majeed Dahiru
Premium Times September 28, 2017
The concerns raised by CAN were directed to the Nigerian government and not to any Muslim individual or group… it is not in the place of MURIC to take it upon itself the task of defending government policies on the basis of the fact that the current president is a Muslim… It is the responsibility of government to allay the fears of the Christian community in Nigeria and reassure them that the picture painted by Prof. Akintola is not in its agenda.
If ever there were doubts about the complicity of some mainstream Islamic authorities in the proliferation of the radical Islamic ideologies of hate, intolerance and violence, they may have been cleared by the most recent of the regular outbursts of Ishaq Akintola, a professor of Islamic eschatology and spokesman of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). The self-appointed defender of Muslims rights in Nigeria, who is fast gaining notoriety for his politicisation of faith matters and propagation of hate and intolerance, has crossed the red line of decency in social commentary by his latest verbal misadventure.
While breathing down heavily on the neck of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for expressing concerns over an alleged Islamisation agenda, citing among other reasons the recent introduction of the Sukuk bond option of public sector financing by the federal government, Professor Akintola betrayed certain sentiments that have the potentials of stoking further the fears of the umbrella Christian body in Nigeria. In a press statement that qualifies as hate speech, as suggested by the title, “Opposition to Sukuk: CAN Playing Dog In the Manger”, Professor Akintola was quoted as saying, “The Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC) considers CAN’s position demeaning. It is not only infantile, petty and overbearing but also spiteful and egocentric”. He went further to posit thus that, “our position is based on the fact that CAN has all it needs today because the whole system is Christo-Western: education, the judicial system, the economy, everything. Muslims who were deprived all Islamic landmarks and ways of life by the colonialists are constrained to start the struggle all over again by demanding Shari’ah, use of hijab in schools, Islamic banks, sukuk etc. It must be made clear ab initio that Nigerian Muslims had all these before the advent of colonialists who changed everything in favour of Christianity”.
The depiction of a respected body like CAN in the mould of the fabled “dog in the manger” is the height of unprovoked assault on the collective image of Christianity in Nigeria and a disrespect to millions of Nigerian Christians. Interestingly, while denigrating CAN in his latest opprobrium, Prof. Akintola inadvertently misrepresented the Islamic faith and its lofty ideals when he suggested that the current secular status of a religiously diverse nation like Nigeria is unacceptable to Muslims, because it is Christo-Western; a system he claimed, Muslims are struggling hard to replace with the Shari’a. The claim that education is Christo-Western, as well the aspiration to replace the current secular order in Nigeria with Shari’a through concerted struggle (Jihad) by all Muslims clearly puts Prof. Akintola’s MURIC in the same category with Abu Shekau’s Boko Haram insurgency group.
More tragic is the presentation of falsehood as facts of history by Prof. Akintola in his bid to justify his intolerance of the beliefs and the feelings of fellow Nigerians of the Christian faith. British colonialism was not a Christian enterprise, and neither did it deprive Muslims of their rights and privileges.
It is such narratives by mainstream Muslim leaders like Prof. Akintola that sows and continuously waters the seeds of radicalisation among Nigerian Muslims, which has guaranteed a steady flow of willing recruits into the rank and file of extremist Jihadi groups. The sustained the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency as a result of the determined efforts of the young men and women who congregate around Abu Shekau to put to practice in Sambisa what Prof. Akintola is preaching in Lagos.
More tragic is the presentation of falsehood as facts of history by Prof. Akintola in his bid to justify his intolerance of the beliefs and the feelings of fellow Nigerians of the Christian faith. British colonialism was not a Christian enterprise, and neither did it deprive Muslims of their rights and privileges. The British colonial policy of association, as opposed to French colonial policy of assimilation preserved the ways of life, religion, culture and tradition of natives throughout the British Empire, from India to north and sub-Saharan Africa. In the Southern half of Nigeria, Christianity spread peacefully without coercion of the native peoples to accept this. Despite that, the centuries old Muslim communities in Western Nigeria continued to thrive and flourish. The monopoly of Christian missions over education in Southern Nigeria was eventually broken by the introduction of Muslim missionary schools. Similarly, in recognition of the predominance of the Islamic faith in and around the Sokoto caliphate and the old Kanem-Borno empire, British colonial authorities deliberately prevented Christian missionaries from evangelising most part of the Muslim north in order not to alter their religious way of life. In the place of missionary schools, colonial authorities established government schools throughout the Muslim north with mandates to educate the native population without prejudice to their deep Islamic heritage. The elaborate emirate system of traditional leadership, under the nominal suzerainty of the Sultan Sokoto, the legacy of the Uthman Dan Fodio Jihad of the preceding century was preserved and enhanced in prestige throughout the colonial period into the modern era. Never in the history of Nigeria were Muslims ever prevented from practicing their faith.
Concepts of Islamic banking and bonds (sukuk) are relatively modern developments that were not available during British Nigeria. The actual thought process on the development of the concept of a interest free financial system in line with Shari’a started in the 20th century and eventually culminated into formal institutions in the ’70s, while sukuk was formally adopted in 1988. Therefore, it is doubtful how possible it was for British colonial authorities to have been able to prevent Nigerian Muslims from practicing what was not in existence at the time.
In the event that Nigeria is pushed to the edge on account of hate and intolerance, Prof. Akintola and others like him will only be granted refuge by the Christian West as the gates of Mecca and Medina will be shut tightly against “Nigerian refugees”.
From the foregoing, the position of MURIC goes a long way to confirm the fears of CAN that a spirited struggle is ongoing to replace the current secular constitutional order with Shari’a because, according to Prof. Akintola, Nigeria is a Christo-Western creation of British colonial rule. The attempt to create an impression in the minds of the citizens that Nigeria is a competition ground for religious supremacy is a recipe for having multiple nations under one country, whose loyalties are with their faith but not with Nigeria. The consequences of this can be very grave. Iraq to the greater parts of the Levant are currently being ravaged by religious and sectarian wars. In the event that Nigeria is pushed to the edge on account of hate and intolerance, Prof. Akintola and others like him will only be granted refuge by the Christian West as the gates of Mecca and Medina will be shut tightly against “Nigerian refugees”. Therefore, the Christians you refuse to live with in peace in the warmth of your country Nigeria, you will be forced live with in the cold alleys of Christo-Western Europe and America, as strangers and refugees.
Nigerian Christians, as much as any other group of citizens, are entitled to the inalienable right to hold their government accountable and demand explanations and redress were warranted, and the leadership of government business at all levels are duty bound to be responsive accordingly. The concerns raised by CAN were directed to the Nigerian government and not to any Muslim individual or group. Therefore, it is not in the place of MURIC to take it upon itself the task of defending government policies on the basis of the fact that the current president is a Muslim, especially in the manner it did in this instance. It is the responsibility of government to allay the fears of the Christian community in Nigeria and reassure them that the picture painted by Prof. Akintola is not in its agenda. Muhammadu Buhari, although a Muslim, is the president of all Nigerians. The office he occupies is neither Muslim nor Christian but Nigerian. As a Nigerian president, no group should be allowed to arrogate Buhari to itself on the basis of tribe, tongue or faith.
Majeed Dahiru, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja and can be reached through dahirumajeed@gmail.com.
Dare to Decide - Copeland
Dare to Decide
Be it according to thy word.
– Exodus 8:10
I used to worry about making decisions for God. I used to be afraid to step out on faith and declare I was going to do something new that He’d shown me to do. I’d think, What if I fail? I was so scared of failing, I’d muddle around in indecision for weeks. Then one day I found out it wasn’t my power that was going to carry it out anyway. But it took my decision to move God in on the scene. Once I decided what I was going to do, and committed myself totally to it, God backed me!
What I learned is a truth from the Word of God that, if you’ll pay attention to it, will revolutionize your life. It’s truth that carries an awesome responsibility with it, but it’s a fabulous thing to realize.
Here it is: The right, the privilege and the power to decide has been left by God in the hands of men.
You have the right, for example, to decide where you’re going to spend eternity. You have a right to make that decision, and God will back your decision.
God can do everything for you but decide. He’s provided the power. He’s provided His Name. He’s provided the blood of Jesus. He’s provided the kingdom of God. He’s even made us partakers of it (Colossians 1:12).
But He’s not going to stuff that inheritance down our throats. Somewhere down the line we each have to make the decision to receive it.
Now the beautiful part is this: When you make that decision, God will back you to the hilt with His power. Once you make a decision to be born again, there’s no devil in hell big enough to stop you. All you have to do is decide.
Decide now. Declare your decision. Let it be done unto you according to your words.
Is God leading you in some new direction? Is He leading you to step out in faith for healing or prosperity or to take a whole new step of ministry? Don’t let fear hold you back.
Kenneth Copeland
Scripture Reading: Romans 4:13-21
© 1991 Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc. aka: Kenneth Copeland Publications All rights reserved.
As Buhari is On His Way Out of Power
Buhari’s semi-final speech
CONVERSTION WITH AZU,
By Azu Ishiekwene
“My countrymen and women, every new government inherits problems. Ours was no different. But what Nigerians want are quick solutions, quick solutions not a recitation of the problems inherited.” – President MuhammaduBuhari, October 1, 2015
AFTER Sunday’s Independence Day speech, President Muhammadu Buhari will have only one more Independence Day speech before his current term ends. It will be the third in his presidency, but it might well be his most important yet. It’s a speech that would be measured not by what he’s going to say, but by what he has done in the last two and a half years. On October 1, 2015, much of Buhari’s speech was on the war against Boko Haram. In keeping with his promise to make security a priority, he rallied the West African sub-region – and even members of the G-7 – against Boko Haram, putting the terrorists on the back foot only five months after taking office. He was confident that in spite of the infrequent but deadly attacks on soft targets, the war would be won by December of that year. We believed him, not because he said so, but because for the first time in years, monies and supplies to troops in the frontline were no longer being diverted.
Soon, the results were showing as lost territories were being reclaimed. New areas of security concern – kidnapping, violent gun crimes, armed robbery, deadly attacks by herdsmen and a flare-up in ethnic tensions – are threatening to erode the gains made in the war on Boko Haram; but no honest assessment of Buhari’s record will deny that the Boko Haram snake has been severely scorched. Also, in his 2015 speech, Buhari spoke about the economy – another pillar of his government’s promise. “In addition to (sanitizing) NNPC,” he said, “I have ordered a complete audit of our other revenue generating agencies mainly CBN, FIRS, Customs, NCC, for better service delivery to the nation.”
Except if rodents have eaten the audit reports, I’m not aware that the words have left the page since the president made them two years ago. If the institutions have been audited as the president promised, what happened to the reports? Instead of the improvements that Buhari promised two years ago this week, allegations of nepotism in recruitment continue to dog a number of these institutions, while sweetheart deals are still rife.
No New Probe I hope Buhari’s speech on Sunday does not make any fresh promise to probe or audit anything. Any such pledge would make it a mocking speech, except he tells us what happened to the audits he promised two years ago, and also the outcome of the more recent probe of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, BabachirLawal, and the former Director of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke.
Last year, Buhari gave his longest Independence Day speech yet, longer by 1,280 words than his first as civilian President and certainly longer than his similar-day speech in October 1984 when he was military Head of State. I’m not sure that was a good sign. The Chairman of LEADERSHIP Group, Sam Nda-Isaiah, said one of the lasting management lessons he learnt from Pfizer was that speeches are longer when results are failing. Buhari may have been tempted to lengthen his speech to cover the government’s initial confused response to the economic recession, which has driven families and businesses to the depths of despair. But long speeches are not a substitute for bread and butter.
How Much Change?
A government that promised change, led by a man who has run for office four times, has to do more than offer excuses for why a few influential members of his government are not living change and the people are not feeling change. This time last year, the President laid out a fairly comprehensive plan to get the economy going again. Specifically, he said, “the country should be self-sufficient in (food) staples by 2019”, and highlighted power, road and rail construction as areas where his government would double efforts. It would be foolish to expect a bounty of agricultural harvest in one year, especially for a country whose current import bill for rice – just one staple – is currently $2 billion, and roughly the 1984 equivalent of the total value of import licenses issued by Buhari in his first coming for the importation of raw materials, machinery and spare parts put together. There’s considerable activity going on to make the country self-sufficient in rice production, for example. But beneath the façade and all the noise about locally produced and branded rice, players who are finding it difficult to compete against cheaper Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Brazilian brands are filing false claims about owning rice mills just to get on the gravy train of concessionary loans or foreign exchange from the government.
Links In The Chain
Buhari’s speech last year mentioned improvement in power supply from the previous year by about 2,000 megawatts, thanks largely to the reduction in sabotage on the gas lines. But we’re losing steam again even without fresh attacks on the gas lines. Buhari can talk about power till the oceans run dry, if he does not do anything about the perennial problem of gas shortage, the dwindling power supply will worsen. Twelve of the major power plants that generate our electricity rely on gas. Unfortunately, NNPC and the Nigerian Gas Company are managing gas the typical government way: opaquely. They don’t care much and can’t be bothered, because let’s face it; it’s a government monopoly. Until the Bureau for Public Enterprises is allowed to do its job and gas supply, which accounts for 80 per cent of the country’s power feed is transparently privatised, whatever Buhari says on Sunday about power should be taken with a kilowatt of salt.
The president must find the courage to bury the demons in the power sector – up and down the value chain – starting with gas supply. His speech on Sunday would be incomplete without his anti-corruption report card. It’s been the main point since 1984, when he warned that “the public service must abandon corruption, incompetence and the slow pace of executing programmes because the days of easy money and reckless spending are over.” His scorecard so far has been mixed.
A combination of internal rebellion in the presidency, sabotage in the legislature and malicious obstruction in the judiciary, not to mention the President’s poor health, has significantly undermined the anti-corruption war. Semi-final What Nigerians want on Sunday is not a long lecture of self-praise, but concrete steps by the President to put his house in order and show that he still has some fire left in him. And after the quit notice, the hate speeches and the python dance, it’s gratifying that Igbos living in the North will not need visas yet to visit Kaduna, which might have been the case from Sunday, October 1.
As the President makes his last but one speech before his current term ends, Nigerians are watching to see not just what he says but how he would deal with genuine calls to restructure the country, a major item on his party’s agenda, which he abandoned – just as he abandoned his party – almost immediately after he was sworn in.
Azu Ishiekwene is the MD/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview magazine and board member of the Paris-based Global Editors Network
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/buharis-semi-final-speech/
CONVERSTION WITH AZU,
By Azu Ishiekwene
“My countrymen and women, every new government inherits problems. Ours was no different. But what Nigerians want are quick solutions, quick solutions not a recitation of the problems inherited.” – President MuhammaduBuhari, October 1, 2015
AFTER Sunday’s Independence Day speech, President Muhammadu Buhari will have only one more Independence Day speech before his current term ends. It will be the third in his presidency, but it might well be his most important yet. It’s a speech that would be measured not by what he’s going to say, but by what he has done in the last two and a half years. On October 1, 2015, much of Buhari’s speech was on the war against Boko Haram. In keeping with his promise to make security a priority, he rallied the West African sub-region – and even members of the G-7 – against Boko Haram, putting the terrorists on the back foot only five months after taking office. He was confident that in spite of the infrequent but deadly attacks on soft targets, the war would be won by December of that year. We believed him, not because he said so, but because for the first time in years, monies and supplies to troops in the frontline were no longer being diverted.
Soon, the results were showing as lost territories were being reclaimed. New areas of security concern – kidnapping, violent gun crimes, armed robbery, deadly attacks by herdsmen and a flare-up in ethnic tensions – are threatening to erode the gains made in the war on Boko Haram; but no honest assessment of Buhari’s record will deny that the Boko Haram snake has been severely scorched. Also, in his 2015 speech, Buhari spoke about the economy – another pillar of his government’s promise. “In addition to (sanitizing) NNPC,” he said, “I have ordered a complete audit of our other revenue generating agencies mainly CBN, FIRS, Customs, NCC, for better service delivery to the nation.”
Except if rodents have eaten the audit reports, I’m not aware that the words have left the page since the president made them two years ago. If the institutions have been audited as the president promised, what happened to the reports? Instead of the improvements that Buhari promised two years ago this week, allegations of nepotism in recruitment continue to dog a number of these institutions, while sweetheart deals are still rife.
No New Probe I hope Buhari’s speech on Sunday does not make any fresh promise to probe or audit anything. Any such pledge would make it a mocking speech, except he tells us what happened to the audits he promised two years ago, and also the outcome of the more recent probe of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, BabachirLawal, and the former Director of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke.
Last year, Buhari gave his longest Independence Day speech yet, longer by 1,280 words than his first as civilian President and certainly longer than his similar-day speech in October 1984 when he was military Head of State. I’m not sure that was a good sign. The Chairman of LEADERSHIP Group, Sam Nda-Isaiah, said one of the lasting management lessons he learnt from Pfizer was that speeches are longer when results are failing. Buhari may have been tempted to lengthen his speech to cover the government’s initial confused response to the economic recession, which has driven families and businesses to the depths of despair. But long speeches are not a substitute for bread and butter.
How Much Change?
A government that promised change, led by a man who has run for office four times, has to do more than offer excuses for why a few influential members of his government are not living change and the people are not feeling change. This time last year, the President laid out a fairly comprehensive plan to get the economy going again. Specifically, he said, “the country should be self-sufficient in (food) staples by 2019”, and highlighted power, road and rail construction as areas where his government would double efforts. It would be foolish to expect a bounty of agricultural harvest in one year, especially for a country whose current import bill for rice – just one staple – is currently $2 billion, and roughly the 1984 equivalent of the total value of import licenses issued by Buhari in his first coming for the importation of raw materials, machinery and spare parts put together. There’s considerable activity going on to make the country self-sufficient in rice production, for example. But beneath the façade and all the noise about locally produced and branded rice, players who are finding it difficult to compete against cheaper Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Brazilian brands are filing false claims about owning rice mills just to get on the gravy train of concessionary loans or foreign exchange from the government.
Links In The Chain
Buhari’s speech last year mentioned improvement in power supply from the previous year by about 2,000 megawatts, thanks largely to the reduction in sabotage on the gas lines. But we’re losing steam again even without fresh attacks on the gas lines. Buhari can talk about power till the oceans run dry, if he does not do anything about the perennial problem of gas shortage, the dwindling power supply will worsen. Twelve of the major power plants that generate our electricity rely on gas. Unfortunately, NNPC and the Nigerian Gas Company are managing gas the typical government way: opaquely. They don’t care much and can’t be bothered, because let’s face it; it’s a government monopoly. Until the Bureau for Public Enterprises is allowed to do its job and gas supply, which accounts for 80 per cent of the country’s power feed is transparently privatised, whatever Buhari says on Sunday about power should be taken with a kilowatt of salt.
The president must find the courage to bury the demons in the power sector – up and down the value chain – starting with gas supply. His speech on Sunday would be incomplete without his anti-corruption report card. It’s been the main point since 1984, when he warned that “the public service must abandon corruption, incompetence and the slow pace of executing programmes because the days of easy money and reckless spending are over.” His scorecard so far has been mixed.
A combination of internal rebellion in the presidency, sabotage in the legislature and malicious obstruction in the judiciary, not to mention the President’s poor health, has significantly undermined the anti-corruption war. Semi-final What Nigerians want on Sunday is not a long lecture of self-praise, but concrete steps by the President to put his house in order and show that he still has some fire left in him. And after the quit notice, the hate speeches and the python dance, it’s gratifying that Igbos living in the North will not need visas yet to visit Kaduna, which might have been the case from Sunday, October 1.
As the President makes his last but one speech before his current term ends, Nigerians are watching to see not just what he says but how he would deal with genuine calls to restructure the country, a major item on his party’s agenda, which he abandoned – just as he abandoned his party – almost immediately after he was sworn in.
Azu Ishiekwene is the MD/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview magazine and board member of the Paris-based Global Editors Network
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/buharis-semi-final-speech/
Thursday 28 September 2017
Nigeria is not a Federation in Practice - Nwabueze
Vanguard News Nigeria https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/nigeria-federation-name-not-practice-ben-nwabueze/
Nigeria is a federation in name and not in practice – Ben Nwabueze
News
VANGUARD
28 September 2017
The Chairman of both 'The Patriots' and 'Project Nigeria Movement, PNM', Professor Ben Nwabueze has said that Nigeria is a federation in name and not in practice and called for the restructuring of the country to reflect its true status to ensure a new beginning.
He also said that the widespread clamour among Nigerians was not aimed at breaking up the country but to ensure fairness and equity for all irrespective of tribe or religion, just as he condemned the unilateral proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, without engaging in dialogue with IPOB.
This was contained in a statement he issued in Enugu, Thursday. Nwabueze, in the statement entitled “Press Statement on Restructuring to mark our 57th Independence Anniversary,” said, “The object of re-structuring for which there is a widespread clamour among Nigerians, is not to break up the country or to enable agitators to secede from its sovereignty and territorial integrity."
“Far from that, the object is, by reforming the governmental structures and attuning them to the needs and wishes of the people, to ensure that the immense diversity of ethnic nationalities comprised in the state will continue to co-exist together in peace, prosperity and progress as citizens of one country united by common interests, common aspirations and a common destiny."
“The clamour for re-structuring must therefore be seen as a clamour for the setting up of appropriate platforms or fora to renegotiate suitable governmental structures for the pursuit and realization of our common needs for development, good governance and national transformation."
“In short, the clamour for re-structuring is more than a clamour for the reform of our governmental structures. This is only its primary focus. In its wider, more fundamental focus, it is a call for Nigeria to 'make a new beginning' under a new Constitution approved and adopted by the people at a Referendum, a new politico-legal order that will cleanse the country of the rottenness that pervades it and enable to 'chart a road map for its destiny' or what has been referred to as 're-structuring of the mind'.”
“This aspect of re-structuring, which is as necessary as its primary focus, will need to be led by a President, as the elected Leader of the people, imbued with an ardour for national transformation."
“The governmental structure that needs particularly to be reformed by re-structuring is our federal system. Federalism is commonly agreed to be a compelling necessity for the maintenance of peace, stability and development of Nigeria as one country."
“The 1960 / 1963 Constitutions of Nigeria established a federal system with three (later four) regions each invested with sufficient autonomy to govern itself in matters that concerned it alone – internal self-government – without undue control by, or interference from, the centre, thus giving each region the impetus and incentive to develop optimally in healthy competition with the others. The federal system under the two Constitutions (1960 and 1963) may fairly be described as a model of true federalism."
“Regrettably, the intrusion of absolutist military rule for 28 years after 1965 has brought about the accretion of a vast amount of additional powers to the Centre, over and above what they were under the 1960 / 63 Constitutions, resulting in the system being turned virtually into a unitary system; the system is still tagged federal, but it is so largely in name."
“There are certain matters involved in this, undue concentration of powers and financial resources at the Centre that need to be specifically mentioned, viz: It is a manifest contradiction to conceive of a government, whether in a federal or unitary system, without a constitution. There is just no such thing. The very notion of a government necessarily implies a constitution. Separate governments, as required by federalism, necessarily imply a separate constitution for each of the governments."
“The contradiction of a state or government without a separate coercive force of its own and under its independent control to maintain its existence and authority as a government and to enforce its laws. States exist, says D’treaves, according as they have a coercive force to exact obedience to their commands."
"It is certainly incompatible with the notion of a separate government for each of the constituent units in a federal system that the only coercive force for the maintenance of their existence and authority as a government and for the enforcement of their laws is placed under the control of the Federal Government. The federating units in Nigeria need to have their separate and independent police force to conform with the requirements of federalism."
“The incompatibility with the autonomy of a constituent unit in a federal system that the election of its political functionaries – governor, members of its legislative assembly and local government councils – should be conducted by an organ of the Federal Government."
“The extension of federal power to the control of land. Land title is now largely exclusive to the Federal Government, for not only is the Land Use Act 1978 entrenched in the Constitution (s.315(5)), but also its provisions are to 'continue to have effect as federal enactments and as if they related to matters included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part 1 of the Second Schedule to this Constitution.' ”
“Aspects of local government are now also brought within the purview of the Federal Government. The extension of federal power to aspects of local government offends against the principle that local government is an example par excellence of a matter of local concern which places it squarely within the exclusive competence of the Regions or States."
Gloria Copeland has a Word for You; No Burden
No Burden
For the [true] love of God is this: that we do His commands [keep His ordinances and are mindful of His precepts and teaching]. And these orders of His are not irksome (burdensome, oppressive, or grievous).
– 1 John 5:3, The Amplified Bible
Do you know why the Word of God and the orders God gives to you in your spirit are not burdensome or oppressive? Because everything He tells you is for your good and for your victory!
God knows what it takes to live in victory in this present evil world. In fact, He’s the only One who knows. The people of this world cannot tell you how to live victoriously. They don’t know how. But God does! He can make things work, even in the middle of darkness, and if we’ll follow His instructions, commands and precepts from His Word, we can, too!
Let me give you an example. One commandment that God gave to us is to love one another and forgive one another as He has forgiven us. This command is not grievous because it’s the key to our freedom. If you can walk in the love that’s been shed abroad in your heart, you’ll have joy every day. But if you don’t walk in this commandment of love, someone will get your joy before lunch! God knows that. So, He made a command of love and forgiveness because love works! Without love, there won’t be any joy, and the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Don’t resent God’s teachings. Don’t consider His ways a burden to your lifestyle. Rejoice over them. Take them gladly by the hand and let them lead you all the way to victory!
Gloria Copeland
Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:1-5
© 1991 Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc. aka: Kenneth Copeland Publications All rights reserved.
Okorocha is a Liar - Ex-President Jonathan
JONATHAN REFUTES OKOROCHA’S INDUCEMENTS CLAIM
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has refuted reported claims by Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, that the ex-president offered him huge sums of money and other inducements ahead of the 2015 presidential election.
In a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, yesterday, the former president dismissed the claims as lies, adding that he (Jonathan) did not need Okorocha to garner votes in the South East, which he described as his political stronghold.
Jonathan insisted that he never had any conversation with Okorocha ahead of the 2015 elections. The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to Governor Okorocha, and published by a national newspaper on September 27, 2017, where he was quoted to have said that former President Jonathan offered him an influential ministry and huge sums of money to dump his party ahead of the 2015 elections, which he rejected.
We offer to quickly dismiss these claims as lies, because we are clear in our minds that such conversation never happened. “We are wondering whether this truly came from the governor because we are sure that even Okorocha himself did not believe that anybody would accept these claims.
In the first place, it sounded irrational and absurd. Besides, it was obvious to all and sundry that the South East, being Dr. Jonathan’s political stronghold, the ex-President did not need Okorocha to win in the zone. “However, to set the records straight, we make bold to say that former President Jonathan never made any contact with Okorocha, ahead of the 2015 elections.
“The claim of an offer of ‘an influential ministry’ is also quite surprising because the former President was not in the habit of making frivolous promises, especially pertaining to government positions and offices. All those who had either worked closely with him in any capacity, or served in Dr. Jonathan’s administration can bear testimony to the fact that idle talk is not his style.
“Since we know that the only proof the purveyors of this bribery allegation could offer is to probably claim that the transaction happened in a dream, we can only offer the governor sincere advice, to avoid rumours, twaddle and get down to the business of result-oriented governance.
“Governor Okorocha would have served his state better, if he directed his enormous drive to creating growth and development opportunities for the good people of Imo State, rather than allowing himself to be drawn into dissipating his energy on platitudes and propaganda.”
-Vanguard
Wednesday 27 September 2017
Day 2 All EUFA Champions League Results
Qarabag 1 - 2 AS Roma
CSKA Moscow 1 - 4 Man United
Paris Saint- German 3 - 0 Bayern Munich
Atletico Madrid 1 - 2 Chelsea
FC Basel 5 - 0 St. Benfica
Sportinģ CP 0 - 1 FC Barcelona
Juventus 2 - 0 Olympiacos
How Viable is Buhari's Second Term Dream?
2019 elections: How viable is another Buhari option?
By Kehinde Olatunji
Although he is barely into the second two-year half of his tenure, the question of whether President Muhammadu Buhari would seek a second term of office in 2019, is already being asked by Nigerians especially stakeholders in his All Progressives Congress (APC) ruling party.
Many of the politicians see the decision of the president on the issue as very critical, not only to their political ambitions but as a determinant of the colour of politics that would emerge in Nigeria as the country approaches the election year.
To some observers, if Buhari decides to throw his hat into the ring once again, his chances of making a repeat of the 2015 win are slim because the terrain has considerably changed from that of 2015 while some consider it a done deal because of the massive following that the president still commands, especially in the northern part of the country.
Although in the last two years the Buhari administration had reduced corruption in high places and recovered some looted funds from corrupt government officials, many sectors of the Nigerian polity, especially the economy, are still calling for attention.
Apart from the unity of the country, which is facing one of the greatest challenges since the civil war years, culminating in secession threats and hate speeches across the land, insecurity, industrial strikes and economic fallouts such as inflation and youth unemployment, are serious issues heating up the political space as 2019 is approaching.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Aisha Alhassan was the first to bring Buhari’s second term issue to the public arena when she recently declared her choice of presidential candidate in former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a decision that did not go down well with the leadership of the ruling party.
While many praised her courage for starting the debate on who succeeds Buhari, the Minister has also received knocks for being disloyal to her principal by those who also called for her sack from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
She recalled Buhari’s statement during the campaigns that preceded the 2015 elections where the president was quoted to have said that all that is needed to clear the mess the former ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caused in Nigeria was just a term of a committed administration.
The Minister has however said that the statement credited to her shouldn’t have been made as she appealed to the leadership of the party when she was called to explain the motive behind her declaration.
However, the fact that she still felt at home among other cabinet members, showed that Alhassan is not alone in the believe that one term is enough for Buhari.But as it is common with politicians especially in Africa, those holding state authorities always yearn for more years. Besides, the president may have made the statement of one term back then for political exigencies needed to take power from a ruling party.
After his unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2011, Buhari was also quoted to have said that he would never run for the office again before being prevailed upon by his supporters to try again in 2015.
There are strong indications however that Buhari might consider a second term as the body language of the presidency, particularly the reactions to Alhassan’s position, indicate that even if the president is not interested, he would be goaded to seeking reelection by powerful interests within the corridors of power.
Although the President’s first two years in office had not addressed many national challenges, a situation compounded more by controversies over his health, there is still hope that the remaining two years might yield the expected dividends of democracy considering the fact that the nation had just been declared to be out of economic recession.
ompounded more by controversies over his health, there is still hope that the remaining two years might yield the expected dividends of democracy considering the fact that the nation had just been declared to be out of economic recession.
The health of the president has also become a big issue in the preparations for the next elections as many Nigerians, giving the development in the last few months, are not comfortable seeing their president going in and out of hospitals when urgent state matters are calling for attention.Many are also worried about the mysteries surrounding the health of Buhari as matters relating to it are shrouded in secrecy putting many Nigerians in the dark.
Upon the arrival of Buhari from the United Kingdom where he had gone on medical vacation, his Special Assistant on National Assembly matters, Alhaji Abdulrahman Sulaiman Kawu Sumaila, said it is only competent medical experts that can ascertain whether the President is fit to run for a second term in 2019 or not.
He also added that it was normal for the elderly like Buhari to fall sick; saying even the pressure of work could make him ill. The question now is would Nigerians continue to wait on an elderly man who could fall sick at any time?Taking a cursory look into some of the likely factors that may militate against Buhari’s second term ambition, some political analysts posited that the APC administration, contrary to the promises it made during the campaign period to tackle headlong the state of insecurity that nearly suffocated Nigeria at the wee hours of the erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan’s government, is yet to restore security in the country.
For instance, the Boko Haram insurgency is still far from being over in the Northeast geo-political zone while agitations by separatist groups clamouiring for the dismemberment of the nation are escalating on daily basis.
As a result of the way these agitations are being handled, may watchers of political events in Nigeria are of the opinion that the president’s popularity especially in the Southwest which provided the regional foothold to ascend the top seat for Buhari, may be waning.
Coupled with this, analysts believe, is the alleged sidelining of the leadership of the ruling party in the Southwest, which reportedly got the short end of the stick after providing the desired platform that made the Buhari presidency possible in the last election. The believe is that it would be difficult to carry the Southwest along this time around because of the alleged disenchantment of politicians from the zone who felt that they were denied full participation in the administration.
There are also allegations that the president, rather than being a nationalist that his office requires him to be, has turned himself into a sectional leader with references to his handling of the menace of Fulani herdsmen with kid gloves and coming down hard on separatist’s group, Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), which government banned and on which members soldiers were unleashed.
This is coupled with the fact that crime rate is gradually becoming alarming basically because of the escalating state of poverty and youth employment, which the government has not been able to tackle adequately in the last two years. Another critical factor that President Buhari would have to contend with, which will also be a deciding factor in the 2019 elections, are the issues surrounding demands for a restructuring of the Nigerian federation by many Nigerians.
Analysts believe that the matter has indeed become a litmus test for both the presidency and the ruling party, to show capacity and desirability to provide a new political direction for the country.
Speaking on the two years of Buhari’s administration, elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo alleged that the period has been unproductive and destructive. He said, “How far has he performed since a assumed office? His administration is shaky, unproductive, negative both the presidency and the ruling party, to show capacity and desirability to provide a new political direction for the country.
Speaking on the two years of Buhari’s administration, elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo alleged that the period has been unproductive and destructive. He said, “How far has he performed since a assumed office? His administration is shaky, unproductive, negative and destructive in nature.
Buhari said he has banned IPOB activities when the Fulani herdsmen who are still roaming about the country with AK47 are not termed terrorist group.
“There is no question of continuing his tenure. What we are praying for is for him to rule us better to prove that he is a born again democrat. He should not confirm the allegation that he is a dictator because all his activities so far, have been pointing to that. He is not going by the rule of law.
“Nobody is opposing his fight against corruption but he should also support restructuring of the country in a way that everything will be peaceful. Saying that the unity of the country is not negotiable is not the point.” when we agree on unity.”
Another elder statesman, Chief Guy Ikokwu however said it is too early to speculate about the 2019 election.According to him, “The problem really is in view of the problems facing the nation at the moment. It is still early for any group or politicians to speculate about the 2019 elections. For instance we do not know what kind of country we will have in 2019, structurally speaking, whether it will be a unitary president or federal president.
“If it is a restructured presidency then Nigerians know that there will be just very few people wanting to become the president come 2019, they will rather try to stabilize their federating unit of the true federation.
“The mid-term report of President Buhari’s administration has been publicized in the past three month and it is very clear that the myriad of problems which this administration inherited are very huge. The first one is insurgency, which is said to have been technically defeated but still carrying out atrocities.
“The other issue is economy and corruption. It is quite unfortunate that corruption still pervades Nigeria. The only way corruption can be drastically reduced is by the anti-corruption drive, being holistic, that is, it should not be sectional but properly institutionalized so that we can always know what has happened to those who are corrupt, what has been recovered from those who are corrupt and how the money collected from those who are corrupt will be utilized. This will improve the economic situation of the country. Although the drive is on but there are still a lot to be done.”
Ikokwu who called for an immediate Council of State meeting for all former presidents and prominent persons to discuss issues surrounding the survival of the nation, lamented that majority of states in the country are owing their workers. He said, “We should not think of 2019 at the moment. You talk of 2019 when you have not even reached 2018 and when we have not restructured the country. We are at the middle of first term and over 27 states of the federation owe workers salaries.”
The Guardian 27 Sept.2017
What Saraki Told Other Senators About Restructuring
WELCOME BACK SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR (DR) ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI (CON) ON THE 8TH SENATE’S RESUMPTION OF PLENARY FROM THE 2017 ANNUAL RECESS ON TUESDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER, 2017.
PROTOCOL
1. Distinguished colleagues, it a great pleasure to see you all back from our annual recess. In truth, it has always been a special privilege to welcome you my colleagues into this chamber, and today is no exception. I believe the recess afforded us, opportunity to take stock on the journey so far, consult widely with our constituents and be re-energized for the tasks ahead.
2. Let me also use this opportunity to, on behalf of the entire Senate commiserate with our colleague Senator Gilbert Nnaji (Enugu East), who recently lost his amiable wife, Lady Ann Nnaji, after a brief illness. We pray that the good lord will grant her eternal rest and you, our dear Senator Gilbert, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
3. Distinguished colleagues, we have in the last two sessions of our term devoted enormous time, working hard on critical legislation, some with historical essence and others with relatively high-level implications for enhancing the welfare of our people and putting food on their tables. I am happy to tell you that some of these bills which has since become law have already started yielding expected gains. This is especially so with the Secure Transactions in Movable Assets Act, with increased lending to private sector. We expect more to come. Our ultimate aim will be, inclusive growth, full employment for our people and frameworks that enable our young people to run viable startups.
4. Distinguished colleagues, as a firm believer that economic security is first and most important security we can offer our people, it is the apparent inadequacy of this security that is at the heart of the general disaffection of our people towards government. We have done this with the belief that with less hunger on the street; with more of our people gainfully engaged; insecurity will be significantly reduced and our economy revamped. In this period, I expect us to conclude work on the National Transport Commission Bill, and the National Road Funds Bill, the Petroleum Industry Fiscal and Host Community Bill which are pending. It is my hope that we shall conclude work quickly on the Bank lending rate reduction initiative and the National Payment Systems Bill.
5. As we continue to take action to strengthen our economy, let me use this opportunity to congratulate all Nigerians for working together to get us out of recession. While we congratulate ourselves for exiting the recession, it is important that we don’t rest on our oars as this is not an end in itself. There is a lot of work ahead. Our aim is to see our economy create millions of new jobs and see growth rates of 7% or more. This is why the implementation of the 2017 budget is crucial.
6. By the first week of October, we expect to begin the review of the implementation of the 2017 budget. To set the stage for this, we expect to invite the Ministers of Finance and Budget Planning to come and brief the Senate on implementation so far. Nigerians want to see a more significant improvement in the level of implementation of the budget this financial year. Let me therefore use this opportunity to call on all our standing committees to begin the process of putting together their oversight plan for a close and proper review of the performance of the 2017 Budget. In the same token, we must remind ourselves of the initiative we started and for which we have significant stride - that is, the Made in Nigeria initiative. Distinguished colleagues, it is time to enter the next stage of this initiative; the oversight of implementation to ensure that the policy yields expected gains.
7. I will like therefore to see the committees demonstrate proactivity and readiness to engage government to ensure that at least a significant portion of our annual budget is fully dedicated to local procurement. All committees of the Senate must be involved in this and find better channels to engage our people and enable feedbacks. However, for these efforts to be successful it is required that we maintain peace and political stability. Hence the need for all of us to fight to keep Nigeria united and prosperous.
8. Distinguished colleagues, a house divided against itself will not stand. More than ever before, we need to stand for the unity and indivisibility of our country. We must condemn in the strongest possible terms all forms of violence as a form of engagement. The Constitution and laws have laid down tools and procedures for us to push through our interest as all democratic nations do. Our nation is blessed with exceptionally talented and beautiful people, we are collectively strong and indomitable and it is time for all of us to stand up for our nation. Our dream of a virile nation must keep us motivated and this dream is already at the horizon.
9. Distinguished colleagues, as leaders, closest to our people, we must rededicate ourselves to the values we have institutionalized in this chamber. In this chamber, we are first and foremost, Nigerians. Yes, we are Igbos, Yorubas, Hausas, Fulanis. Yes, we are Muslims, Christians and traditional worshipers. But we must in all our conversations and decisions continue to be first and foremost Nigerians and as Nigerian citizens be our brothers’ keepers. Too many of our youths, too many of our families from the South to the North need a lifting. Our job is to help government give them a hand and ones again make them feel great again being Nigerians. This is our mission.
10. As we work to even make our Constitution better, it must be remembered that Constitution review is a continuous process which we must undertake with the vision of the future in our minds. The process we have already will continue in earnest with the meeting of the speakers of the various state Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly with a view to moving forward with the process. As promised, we will revisit and consider areas of the Constitution we believe will further strengthen our federation and enable our collective dream for a more prosperous Nigeria.
11. In the fight against corruption, aside the bills we have passed, it is important that we also sharpen up our oversight tools to ensure that government remains accountable always. However, I urge us all to more than ever, operate above board ourselves. In the last two years, we have successfully exposed numerous cases of corruption in our agencies and officers of government and as a result saved government enormous amount of public resources. This is what Nigerian people expect of us and we must continue to deliver on this. We must not make the mistake of resting on our oars. I say this to encourage you to keep up with the good works of exposing corruption as you have been doing so far. Yes, like Senator Isah Hamma Misau who had the courage to expose deep rooted institutional corruption, you will be attacked, blackmailed and insulted but, unlike any former Senate before this, we will not bow or be intimidated.
12. Distinguished colleagues, our focus on interventions critical to our national development will continue in this session. We will be interacting with stakeholders with the aim of repositioning our education sector and the health sector especially with the health insurance subsector as key primers of the economy. The major direction will be to expand access to basic education and health, incentivize investment in these critical sectors and find lasting solutions to issues of strikes and interruption in these sectors.
13. Dear colleagues, we are all witness to the revolutionary growth of innovative works and remarkable fits Nigerians both in the entertainment industry and software development are making across the globe. However, their ability to fully harness and reap the fruits of their effort continues to be hampered by our intellectual property regime which is yet to be reformed to meet with today’s digital realities and opportunities. We are determined to contribute our quota to make their lives easier and better by initiating and paying close attention to our intellectual property (IP) rights frameworks.
14. Distinguished colleagues, a lot has happened in our nation within the last few weeks especially with the floods. Let me take a moment to commiserate with all Nigerians who may have been affected by the recent floods. Our hearts and prayers are with you at this period.
15. On a salutary note, I am happy to report to you distinguished colleagues that while we were away, we also took note of some of the strides Nigerians have been making. We congratulate our women on the wining of the African Basket Ball Championship. We also congratulate our Super Eagles on their journey so far for the world cup qualifiers and we will continue to support and encourage them.
16. Before, I conclude this speech, let me on another winning note and on your behalf welcome Mr. President who has acknowledge his return to office through an executive communication earlier within the period of our vacation back to the saddle. We pray that the almighty Allah will continue to grant him full restoration.
17. Let me wish us all a very successful session.
Thank you all and God bless Nigeria.
PREIDENT OF THE SENATE colleagues, it is time to enter the next stage
Read Another Insult on Nigerians from Lai Mohammed
Breaking: Buhari’s health is private even if state’s paying- Lai Mohammed
Nigeria’s president is under no obligation to disclose his medical condition even if the state is the one paying for his medical bills, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said.
Muhammadu Buhari has spent lengthy periods in London since January, sparking speculation about his fitness to govern — and also questions about who was footing the bill. President Muhammadu Buhari
The 74-year-old former army general has said only that he required blood transfusions and had never been as sick in his life. Claims from political opponents that he had prostate cancer have been denied but civil society groups still want to know whether tax-payers’ money was used for the private treatment.
Buhari’s information minister suggested the silence was not unusual, just hours after the president returned to Abuja from another round of check-ups in the British capital.
“It’s not strange at all for a sitting president to be ill and it’s not strange either for the state to take care of his medical bill,” Lai Mohammed told AFP in an interview, without elaborating.
“I think there’s so much speculation as to what he’s been treated for. “I think we would rather respect his privacy. If Mr President feels like telling the world his ailment, so be it. I don’t think he’s under an obligation to tell anyone.”
The health of Nigeria’s head of state is a sensitive issue. Former president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua fell ill and died while in office in 2010, sparking months of political turmoil. Buhari’s mystery illness also comes as political parties and potential candidates jockey for position ahead of the next presidential election in 2019.
Buhari’s women’s affairs minister Aisha Alhassan claimed earlier this month that he had said he would only serve one, four-year term of office.
But Mohammed, who was spokesman for Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) that unseated Goodluck Jonathan at the last vote in 2015, refused to be drawn. “If he’s going to run that’s left to him but right now, his major preoccupation is delivering on all his electoral promises,” he said.
Buhari returned to Nigeria in late August after more than 100 days away. He has since been met with a rising tide of support in southeastern Nigeria for a breakaway state of Biafra. The government last week formally proscribed the main separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), after repeated clashes with the security services.
IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu is currently on bail pending the resumption of his trial in Abuja next month on charges of treasonable felony. Kanu’s supporters say he has not been seen since the unrest.
Mohammed, who said the group had been banned because it had “crossed a line” from legal protest, said he suspected the separatist leader was “in hiding”. But he added: “He’s not being held by government at all.”
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/breaking-buharis-health-private-even-states-paying-lai-mohammed/
Read Another Insult on Nigerians from Lai Mohammed
Breaking: Buhari’s health is private even if state’s paying- Lai Mohammed
Nigeria’s president is under no obligation to disclose his medical condition even if the state is the one paying for his medical bills, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said.
Muhammadu Buhari has spent lengthy periods in London since January, sparking speculation about his fitness to govern — and also questions about who was footing the bill. President Muhammadu Buhari
The 74-year-old former army general has said only that he required blood transfusions and had never been as sick in his life. Claims from political opponents that he had prostate cancer have been denied but civil society groups still want to know whether tax-payers’ money was used for the private treatment.
Buhari’s information minister suggested the silence was not unusual, just hours after the president returned to Abuja from another round of check-ups in the British capital.
“It’s not strange at all for a sitting president to be ill and it’s not strange either for the state to take care of his medical bill,” Lai Mohammed told AFP in an interview, without elaborating.
“I think there’s so much speculation as to what he’s been treated for. “I think we would rather respect his privacy. If Mr President feels like telling the world his ailment, so be it. I don’t think he’s under an obligation to tell anyone.”
The health of Nigeria’s head of state is a sensitive issue. Former president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua fell ill and died while in office in 2010, sparking months of political turmoil. Buhari’s mystery illness also comes as political parties and potential candidates jockey for position ahead of the next presidential election in 2019.
Buhari’s women’s affairs minister Aisha Alhassan claimed earlier this month that he had said he would only serve one, four-year term of office.
But Mohammed, who was spokesman for Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) that unseated Goodluck Jonathan at the last vote in 2015, refused to be drawn. “If he’s going to run that’s left to him but right now, his major preoccupation is delivering on all his electoral promises,” he said.
Buhari returned to Nigeria in late August after more than 100 days away. He has since been met with a rising tide of support in southeastern Nigeria for a breakaway state of Biafra. The government last week formally proscribed the main separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), after repeated clashes with the security services.
IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu is currently on bail pending the resumption of his trial in Abuja next month on charges of treasonable felony. Kanu’s supporters say he has not been seen since the unrest.
Mohammed, who said the group had been banned because it had “crossed a line” from legal protest, said he suspected the separatist leader was “in hiding”. But he added: “He’s not being held by government at all.”
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/breaking-buharis-health-private-even-states-paying-lai-mohammed/
Tuesday 26 September 2017
Police Parades Suspected Vicious and Notorious Criminals
Security Update from Kaduna-Abuja-Minna axis
PARADE OF SUSPECTED VICIOUS AND NOTORIOUS KIDNAPPERS/ ARMED ROBBERY GANGS, TERRORIZING ABUJA – MINNA AND ABUJA – KADUNA HIGHWAYS AT DIKKO NEAR SULEJA, NIGER STATE
BY CSP JIMOH MOSHOOD FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
ON 26TH SEPTEMBER, 2017.
SUSPECTS:
1. HUSSAINI MOHAMMED A. K. A GENERAL MAIGEMU SAMBISA AGED 43 YRS, 'M' GANG LEADER AND PRINCIPAL SUSPECT.
2. ADAMU HUSSAINI A. K. A BANKIS, AGED 29YRS, 'M'
3. BALA MOHAMMED, AGED 39YRS, 'M' ADAMU, AGED 34YRS, 'M'
4. SHAGARI MUSA, AGED 38 YRS (DEAD DURING A SHOOT OUT WITH THE POLICE MEN), 'M'
5. HASSAN HASHIMU, AGED 36YRS, 'M'
6. IBRAHIM BADAMASI, AGED 32YRS, 'M'
7. BABANGIDA HAMZA, AGED 30YRS, 'M'
8.YA'U AUTA (DECEASED), 'M'
9. ALH. UMARU ABUBAKAR, AGED 40, 'M'
10. KARO LADAN, AGED 30 YRS, 'M'
11. BUHARI ABUBAKR A.K.A SAMBISIA, AGED 21YRS, 'M'
12. ALANSHIRA ABUBAKAR
13. AZIRU TASIU
14. IBRAHIM MUSA, AGED 22YRS, 'M'
15. ISHAMU SAIDU, AGED 25 YRS, 'M'
16. SANI ALIYU, AGED 21YRS, 'M'
17. SHUAIBU ABUBAKAR, AGED 48YRS, 'M'
18. BASHIR ABUBAKR, AGED 22YRS, 'M'
19. NASIRU SANI, AGED 30YRS, 'M'
20. ZAYANU SANI, AGED 30 YRS, 'M'
21. ISA SALISU, AGED 35 YRS, 'M'
22. HAFIZ JIBRIN
23. KABIRU SANI
24.ABDULLAHI ADAMU A. K. A DARE, AGED 35YRS, M'
25. BARA'U MASAUDU, AGED 45YRS, 'M'
26. IBRAHIM HASSAN, AGED 29YRS, 'M'
27. ALIYU CHEDE, AGED 35 YRS, 'M'
28. BELLO ABDULLAHI, AGED 32YRS 'M'
29. ISA ABDULAHI ‘M’
30. NASIRU ADAMU ‘M’
31. IDRIS DAUDA ‘M’
FIVE (5) SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS DEAD DURING EXCHANGE OF FIRE WITH THE POLICE PERSONNEL ATTACH TO OPERATION ABSOLUTE SANITY
THE POLICE LOST SGT SHETTIMA ABDULAHI WHEN THE TEAM CAME UNDER AMBUSH ATTACK BY THE SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS ON THE EARLY HOURS OF 26TH SEPTEMBER, 2017
EXHIBITS RECOVERED:
1. FOUR (4) AK47 RIFLES
2. TWO ENGLISH BARRETAL PISTOLS
3. TWO LOCALLY MADE PISTOLS
4. FIVE (5) SET OF ARMY CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORM
5. FIVE (5) MILITARY CAPS
6. THREE (3) MILITARY BOOTS
7. ONE (1) INTERNATIONAL PASPORT BELONGING TO A KIDNAPPED VICTIM
8. EIGHT (8) OPERATIONAL VEHICLES;
(i) TWO (2) SHAROON VEHICLES ASH AND GREEN COLOUR
(ii) TWO (2) GOLF VOLKWAGEN VEHICLES BLACK AND RED COLOURS
(iii) ONE (1) HONDA CIVIC, BLUE COLOUR
(vi) ONE (1) TOYOTA CAMRY
(vii) ONE (1) MERCEDEZ SALON CAR
(viii) ONE (1) TOYOTA COROLLA
9. NINETY FIVE (95) 7.62 X 39MM AMMUNITION
10. FIFTHEEN (15) 9MM AMMUNITION
11. FOUR (4) PLASMA TELEVISIONS
12. FOUR (4) DVD PLAYERS
13. TWO (2) LAPTOPS
14. TWO (2) CAR STEREOS
15. ONE (1) WRIST WATCH
16. THREE (3) WALKIE TALKIES
17. FIFTY TWO (52) GSM PHONES
18. ONE (1) DIGITAL CAMERAS
19. SEVEN (7) FLASH DRIVES
20. SIX (6) ATM CARDS
21. ONE (1) STABILIZER
Consequent on the reinforcement of Operation Absolute Sanity on Abuja- Minna Highway with more personnel of Special Tactical Squad and additional two (2) units of Special Police Forces by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris NPM, mni to tackle the gangsof Kidnappers that escaped arrest on Abuja – Kaduna Highway and relocated to some roads in Niger State. The above mentioned suspects were arrested in their hideouts and camps where some of their victims were rescued and the listed firearms, ammunition, Army Camouflage Uniforms and operational Vehicles of the kidnappers were recovered from them.
In the operation that is still ongoing, four (4) different vicious and notorious Kidnap for ransom gangs including those dealing in illegal possession of prohibited fire arms were dislodged and busted. Also arrested is a gang that is responsible for the killings of some security personnel on Kaduna – Abuja road and Abuja – Lokoja road recently. They equally confessed to have raped some of their victims. A total number of thirty one (31) suspected kidnappers / Armed Robbers were arrested in the operation. They confessed to the offence and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime. The arms and ammunition, kidnappers operational vehicles listed above and other properties belonging to some of their victims, who were rescued from the gangs, were recovered from them. Most of the suspects were identified by the victims and for being responsible for their kidnap. Investigation is being intensified to arrest the other suspects at large. All the suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of Investigation.
While the operation is being sustained, the Inspector-General of Police has directed the Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the zones and commands to introduce new strategies in curbing kidnappings and other violent crimes on the highways and major roads in other states of the country. They are also to beef up security in their Area of Responsibilities (AOR) and ensure massive deployment of Armed Police Personnel, Patrol Teams and undercover operatives to black spots, flash points and other vulnerable criminal spots to nip in the bud all forms of crimes and criminality nationwide and make sure that detection of crimes are prompt to serve as effective deterrent to who-will-be criminals. The ongoing raids on criminal hideouts will be sustained throughout the country.
The Inspector General of Police wishes to extend appreciations and gratitude to the communities, towns and villages along Abuja – Kaduna and Abuja - Minna highways for the supports and assistance being rendered in terms of prompt information and complaints to the Police Personnel deployed in their localities that have led to so many successes for the Nigeria Police Force.
The renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to reduce crimes and criminality in the country is yielding positive results and remains unwavering.
CSP JIMOH O. MOSHOOD
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS
ABUJA.
All UEFA Champions League Results
Spartak Moscow 1 - 1 Liverpool
Sevilla 3 - 0 NK Maribor
Napoli 3 -1 Feyenoord
Manchester City 2 - 0 Shakhtar Donetsk
Besiktas 2 -0 RB Leipzig
AS Monaco 0 - 3 FC Porto
Borussa Dortmund 1 - 3 Real Madrid
Apoel FC 0 - 3 Tottenham
Lift Songs of Praise to the Lord - Joseph Prince
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:17
- SEPTEMBER 26 -
LIFT SONGS OF PRAISE TO THE LORD
God wants us to walk as wise men and women, and not as fools. (Ephesians 5:15) Now, He will not tell us to walk in wisdom without showing us how. That is why His Word goes on to say, “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
So what is the will of God? The next two verses tell us how to identify it: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”. (Ephesians 5:18–19)
As you allow yourself to be filled with the Spirit by lifting songs of praise to the Lord, singing or speaking (God knows some of us can’t sing!) psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, and making melody in your heart to the Lord, God promises that you will know what His will is for your situation. You will then have the wisdom to decide wisely what to do next.
I have found this to be true in my own life. Whenever I face a difficult situation, the more I think about it, the more confused I get. The more I try my best to come up with a smart solution, the further the answer seems to get from me. But when I turn away from my problem and turn to God, singing in the Spirit and praising Him, I get a clearer perspective of the problem when I come back to it later. I also find an inner prompting to make certain decisions which in the end, turn out to be better than anything I could have come up with on my own.
So my friend, lift up songs of praise to the Lord, whether times are good or bad. For when you fill your mouth with praises to God, He will lead you and guide you in all the affairs of your life. Even if you are stuck with a problem, He will show you the way to go or make a way out for you. Either way, you will get the wisdom and help that you need!
Joseph Prince Ministries
PRONACO Reconvenes Conference in January
https://guardian.ng/news/pronaco-to-reconvene-conference-in-january/
PRONACO to reconvene conference in January
• Lauds Atiku, Tinubu over stands on restructuring
• Says military operation in south-east dictatorial
By Seye Olumide
THE GUARDIAN
26 September 2017
Barely 24 hours after the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) canvassed a return to the 1963 Constitution, the Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) has announced plans to reconvene its national confab adjourned in 2007 following calls for the restructuring of the country.
PRONACO is a pan-Nigerian movement initiated under the leadership of the late Chief Anthony Enahoro and the Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, to resolve Nigeria’s perennial constitutional challenges.
The group said it had become necessary to reconvene after a series of consultations with eminent leaders of thought and well-meaning political figures in the country over restructuring and agitations for self- determination by the Nigerian people.
In a statement yesterday, the group’s spokesman, Mr. Olawale Okunniyi, said the Nigerian peoples’ confab would adopt the 2007 Peoples’ Draft Constitution as its confab proposal.
“PRONACO would not like to watch the country slide into a major civil strife before invoking its standing mandate to intervene in the worrisome political tension and ethnic acrimony currently embattling the country’s political space owing to contentions over the constitutional structure of Nigeria.”
The group said it would soon interface with President Muhammadu Buhari, who incidentally was the most senior ally and backer of the movement from the northern region while its confab lasted in 2007, on the urgent need to convene a government-driven national consultative panel to advise him on how to proceed on the contentious matter rather than allow it degenerate into a major distraction for governance in the country.
Although the group commended the roles which political leaders such as the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar and National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have been playing on the issue of restructuring so far, it said it had finalised plans to request some other frontline national leaders in the country to play key roles towards the success of the proposed confab tentatively billed to commence in a consultative mode in January 2018.
The group disclosed that some eminent leaders of thought, who had played key roles as stabilising forces in the country such as Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Dr. Ahmed Jodah, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Dr. Paul Unongo, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Bisi Akande and Dr. Usman Bugaje had been identified and penciled down for consultations.
“The proposed confab is expected to be composed of delegates and elective representation from territorial social movements, ethnic nationality groups, political parties, labour centres, the private sector, professional bodies, youth and women groups as well as government agencies, which shall be attending in advisory capacity to join other voting delegates to consider both the 2007 PRONACO’s Peoples Constitution as well as the Nigerian 1963 Constitution adopted as confab proposal,” the PRONACO statement read in part.
The group’s spokesman also expressed reservation over the current visibility of the military in the democratic dispensation, saying “It is abnormal and unnecessary. The police should be allowed to exhaust their capacity before drafting the military into civil matters.”
Adebanjo, who was contacted yesterday, said what the country was undergoing under the Buhari administration called for concerted efforts to tackle before it was late.
He specifically decried the military Operation Python Dance in the south-east and the planned military operation in the south-south and south-west, saying, “It was uncalled for, unnecessary, unconstitutional and dictatorial.”
According to the elder statesman, “Buhari has all the weapons of war under his control, all the weapons of war are in the north but we have God in the south. All the former Presidents and Heads of State except Chief Olusegun Obasanjo have recanted and said we should go back to true federalism, even some key stakeholders in his party.”
Copyright ©
2017 Guardian Newspapers.
All Rights Reserved.
IGP Orders Removal of All Roadblocks in Nigeria
PRESS RELEASE
IGP ORDERS IMMEDIATE DISMANTLING OF ALL ROADBLOCKS
NATION WIDE
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim k. Idris NPM, mni, has ordered the dismantling of all roadblocks nationwide with immediate effect; particularly on the following routes, Lagos-Ibadan, Shagamu-Benin, Benin-Onitsha, Okene-Abuja, Kaduna-Kano, Katsina - Kano, Otukpo - Enugu, Enugu – Port Harcourt Express Ways. The directives became necessary to enable ease of doing business in Nigeria, safeguard, and guarantee free passage of goods and travellers throughout the country.
2 To this end, no Police department, section, squad or unit should mount road block without express permission of the Inspector General of Police.
3. Consequently, Assistant Inspectors General of Police in charge of Zonal Commands, Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands, Heads of Departments, must ensure that every patrol vehicle in their respective Formation carries a conspicuous and legible inscription of Patrol vehicle identification number, and dedicated emergency Phone numbers for ease of identification and report of distress by members of the public. The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Border patrol of the Force is specifically directed to ensure compliance with this directive along the Border routes in the country except the few approved points by the Federal Government.
4. Furthermore, Police personnel who involve in vehicular Patrol on highways and major roads across the country must wear on their uniforms a bold name tag and service number.
4. The Special X-Squad teams of the Force have been deployed throughout the country, they are under strict instructions to arrest, investigate and discipline any Police personnel violating this directive.
5. The IGP has also directed the Special X-Squads to embark on removal of other forms of illegal blockage and obstructions on Highways and Roads, created by unlawful Revenue/Tax collectors, Road Transport Unions, Labour and Trade related unions inhibiting vehicular movement and smooth passage of passengers and goods, and other road users across the country.
6. For avoidance of doubt, the Taxes and Levies act, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 section 2 (2) disallowed any person, including a Tax Authority from mounting a Road block in any part of the Federation for the purposes of collecting any Tax or Levy.
7 While monitoring and ensuring full compliance of this directive by all the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Force hereby advised the relevant State Governments, Local Government Councils, Boards of States Internal Revenue service, and various Transport Unions, Labour and Traders Associations that it is against the law for any organization to create a blockage to restrict or restrain members of the public the free usage of Roads and Highways anywhere in the country.
CSP JIMOH O. MOSHOOD
Force Public Relations Officers
Force Headquarters
Abuja
Monday 25 September 2017
Restructuring: I Am Not a Product of this Fake Federalism - Atiku
“I want to agree essentially that there is every need for us to sit down and talk about our future. This is because the arrangements in the last 50 years or so have not served us very well.”
“I am not a product of the current structure of Nigeria. I am a product of regional government. I saw the government at work and I have also seen the current arrangement at work.
“That was why I came out, some people even said to the detriment of my political career, to advocate for restructuring or rearrangement or whatever you call it of the present structure of the country. I still stand by it. But we cannot determine the nitty-gritty of this restructuring until we are able to dialogue and agree on how we want to continue to live together as a country.
“It is good that all the representatives of the ethnic groups agreed that we should continue to live together, I believe it is imperative.”
But I also don’t believe in the current arrangement which I have always referred to as unitary federalism which was a creation of a prolonged military rule.
He fingered the military regime of the late General Murtala Muhammed which he accused of insisting on a strong centre while setting up Constituent Assembly in 1978 and called for urgent reform of the arrangement by all stakeholders in the polity to inspire economic development.
“It all started after the civil war when General Murtala Muhammed set up the Constituent Assembly of 1978 and specifically instructed the Assembly to recommend a very strong federal government which no component can challenge or try to secede.
“He was understandably coming from the perception of Biafra civil war. He felt that the war was caused by the region which felt that it was too independent to poll out of the country.
‘Subsequently, they kept amending the constitution centralising more and more power at the centre.”
He further noted that the military government failed to implement recommendations of the Constitutional Conference of 1994/1995 of a single term of six years for the President to rotate among all the six geopolitical zones.
“Of course, I was a member of the Constitutional Conference of 1994/1995 and what we actually drafted was not what they eventually came out with. We proposed a presidential system with a single term of six years to be rotated among the six geopolitical zones of the country.
“By now, about four zones would have produced the president. We also said that after 36 years, we could review that provision if Nigerians believe it is the best season, otherwise we could discard it.
“By the time we won the election in 1999, we saw an entirely different constitution. I was told that they set up a review committee headed by Niki Tobi, which tampered with the draft and ended up with the constitution we now have today.
“However, on a serious note, we have seen that the fact that a zone produced a president does not mean that he will get the zone developed. Former President Jonathan could not construct a road from Port Harcourt to Bayelsa.
“Even the South West road we started during our administration he could not continue. Until former President Obasanjo finished his eight-year term, he could not complete the road from Lagos to Otta
where his farm is.”
“Another issue that needs restructuring is the economy. Left for me, I will ask every part of this country to take charge of its resources while the federal government should handle defence, foreign affairs, immigration among others in the exclusive lists.
“I use to tell people that I would not have gone to school if I were born today. My parents were so poor they won’t afford to send me to school. I was born during the era education was free, food was free for me, I was sponsored from primary school to university. There was even a job waiting for me before I graduated. Yet there was no oil then. I am not certainly a product of oil boom Nigeria.
“So, I don’t know what those who are against restructuring are afraid of. Those afraid must be lazy. We fought the civil war with the Igbos.
Today, the Igbos have been completely rebuilt, but we still find mud houses in the north. Is it the fault of the easterners that the north is like that?” he said.
“So, there are more fundamental issues that we need to deal with after which we would have settled on what basis we want our federation to be. How do we draw the boundary because even the Ijaws are not contiguous to each other? I come from a state where we are minorities.
In Adamawa, whether you are Hausa, Fulani, Christian or Moslem, you are the minority. It is the same thing in Taraba.
“I think that what is most important is the devolution of powers and resources with the various governments whether states or regions. How do the people hold those in power accountable for the resources handed over to them?
“We are not as educated as we are today in the first republic, yet it beats my imagination how those in charge of the Local governments were more efficient, honest and transparent in accountable administration.
“Since we have agreed to remain one successful country, it is not complicated because you can start with all the recurrent items in the constitution. The President can dialogue with the governors or National Assembly for states to take charge of the roads, hospitals, schools and such other items in the concurrent list while the federal government will continue with items on the exclusive lists.
Nigerian Tribune
Agitations for Secession Will not End Until - Oladejo tells FG
Failed Leadership is Responsible for Seccession's Agitation - Oladejo
Rector, Baptist College of Theology, Oyo, Dr Olusayo Oladejo, has urged the federal government to see to equitable and justifiable distribution of the nation’s resources among the various zones to put an end to intermittent agitations by various groups.
Oladejo who spoke with journalists on Monday, as part of activities marking the college’s 40th anniversary, also lamented that the nation’s leaders had, over the years, failed to appropriately utilise the country’s resources, evident in the current agitation by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
While lamenting injustice and poverty faced by Nigerians, he said the church was therefore compelled to empower her members to meet their basic needs and meaningfully contribute to state affairs.
Speaking on events of the anniversary to include visitations, revival, students’ day, history book launching, fundraising, Oladejo mentioned that the Vice Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University, Professor Dapo Asaju will on Saturday deliver the anniversary lecture themed, “Theological Education in the 21st century: Prospects and Challenges.”
In his comments, Chairman, Board of Governors of the college, Dr Olubunmi Ajayi, noted that it was high time Nigerians converged to decide on their terms of being together in one nation.
According to Ajayi, the nation was not bounded by love, hence Nigerians failed to see themselves as members of the same family, but upheld their various ethnic identities.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Let God be Your Defence - Joseph Prince
But the Lord has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge.
Psalm 94:22
- SEPTEMBER 25 -
LET THE LORD BE YOUR DEFENSE
Imagine being a poor widow, a stranger in the land and holding one of the lowliest jobs in society. That was Ruth’s situation, so it would have been easy for her to feel vulnerable and defenseless. But because she trusted the Lord (Ruth 1:16), He placed her under Boaz’s protection.
Boaz, the owner of the field she worked in, commanded his young men saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her.” (Ruth 2:15) What he was saying to his men was this: “She might be a gleaner, but because I care for her, treat her with respect and make sure she is not put to shame.”
Boaz is a picture of our Lord Jesus. If you are feeling vulnerable and defenseless right now, imagine Jesus commanding His angels, “Watch over this one who belongs to Me. Make sure he is treated with respect and not put to shame because he is someone I love and someone whom I died for.”
God’s Word tells us that if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) No one who has set himself against us can prevail because when God is for us, His protection is upon us. That is why I have never answered any of the poison email messages which I have received in the course of my ministry.
My attitude is this: Jesus is my defense. If He does not defend me, it means that there are things in my life that are not to be defended, and I would be glad to find out about them now rather than later. On the other hand, because I take the Lord as my defense, and He defends me, what can those who are against me do to me?
When you defend yourself, you have only your two hands and your own human resources. But when you let Jesus take up your defense, He defends you with His nail-pierced hands and His legions of angels! The results will be amazing.
Beloved, the Lord is your defense and refuge. Trust Him to defend and protect you!
Joseph Prince Ministries
APC is Collapsing Under Unprincipled Leaders - Sagay
As for the leadership of the APC, I think they are the most unprincipled group of people. They are lily-livered, weak, and cannot run any organisation. The whole party is collapsing under them. They cannot control anybody. Because they cannot control anybody, they’re now in fact encouraging and accepting ‘rogues’. When I say rogues, I don’t mean stealing. In literature, when you say someone is a rogue elephant, it means people who are running riot and destroying the party. They’re pampering them, saying: ‘Let’s not annoy them too much’, but they’re destroying the APC house. So, I think the APC leadership is weak, is too compromising and is certainly a failure as far as I’m concerned.
- Professor Itsey Sagay
Coming Convention a Test Case for PDP - Adedoja
*PDP national convention, test case for removal of impunity, imposition of candidates ―Adedoja*
A contender to the office of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Taoheed Adedoja, at the weekend stated that the Party’s December elective national convention would be a test case for removal of impunity and imposition of candidates for elections
The one-time Minister of Sports and Youths Development stated this while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja about his ambition of becoming the PDP National Chairman.
He said that the method that would be used to provide the outcome of the December convention that would be political laboratory for testing the democratic credentials of the PDP.
According to him, “If the December election into all the national leadership positions is democratic and the delegates decide who their officers are, it is then the process for the elections of candidates for the party will be gotten right.
“So, when we get right the national convention, then PDP has gotten it right.”
The one-time Provost of the Federal College of Education (Special Oyo) disclosed that the party lost in the 2015 general elections not because it did not do well in providing the dividends of democracy to Nigerians, in terms of infrastructure, social and economic development but because of impunity and imposition of candidates
According to him, “the 16 years of PDP administration enabled it to make positive impacts on the lives of Nigerians virtually in all sectors of the economy, as a result of manifesto it provided for the people of this country.
Adedoja said that the PDP would have ruled beyond 16 years, but its administration was truncated majorly because of impunity, imposition of candidates, and processes by which some of its candidates emerged.
According to him, PDP has learnt it’s lessons and it is now ready to do the right thing by ensuring Level playing ground for everybody aspiring.”
He added that PDP lost power not because Nigerians were not satisfied with it, but because they were promised changes “but after two years Nigerians want PDP to come back in 2019 to rule and rule better.”
Adedoja said to regain power in 2019, there must be better processes through which the party’s leaders and flag bearers would emerge.
The former minister said he was “the fresh face” PDP needs, especially now that the party wants to give Nigerians fresh ideas to consolidate on its 16 years achievements.
According to him, “to lead a party like PDP that is the biggest party in Africa will require a person with thorough understanding of the political thinking and orientation of Nigerians.
“In the modern Nigeria of today, you cannot succeed as the chairman of the party, without understanding the historical antecedents, the cultural value of different value of different parts of Nigeria.
“The social economic needs of Nigerians transcend the reading of the pages of newspaper or books. You must have had the experience of personal relationship with different parts of the country.
“That is why I stand out to offer this service as a true Nigerian who has built friends and associate across all Nigeria.”
The Aspirant stated that as a Nigerian from Oyo State born in Kano State, he had lived and worked in different parties of Nigeria in the course of his studies and carrying out national and international assignments.
He said that as a loyal PDP member he had never been associated with any case of violence, anti-party activity or violation of any party rules and guidelines.
According to him, “I have not been involved in igniting any problem or crisis in PDP either at the ward, local government, state or national level.”
He added that in his desire to lead the party, he had been making wide consultation with PDP stakeholders in over 30 states, saying “I am satisfied with the feedback.”
According to Adedoja, “also in the last seven months, I have been moving round the country to learn my hands in the various reconciliation efforts of the party by making personal contacts.”
When elected as PDP national Chairman, I will set in motion, machinery that will ensure that the party’s representatives emerge without imposition.
He added that when elected, he also had a 15-point focus would help in discharging his duties, which include providing the needed leadership for re-positioning and re-branding of PDP.
Others were to lead the party to present a winning presidential candidate for the 2019 election and winning candidates for all elective positions.
According to him, “Part of my focus will also be promotion of party sustainability at the ward, local government, state and national level, through viable business ventures and investments
“Ensuring party internal democracy and party discipline as well as implementing standard financial regulations that conform to international best practices on transparency and accountability.”
He also pledged to work with the party’s leaders and stakeholders including the governors in deploying innovative and fresh ideas for party membership drive and on other party issues.
http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/pdp-national-convention-test-case-removal-impunity-imposition-candidates-%E2%80%95adedoja/
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