The Nation Newspaper

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  • Africa: A Continent of Hope- UN Secretary

    Africa: A Continent of Hope- UN Secretary

    Far too often, the world views Africa through the prism of problems. When I look to Africa, I see a continent of hope, promise and vast potential.

    I am committed to building on those strengths and establishing a higher platform of cooperation between the United Nations and the leaders and people of Africa. This is essential to advancing inclusive and sustainable development and deepening cooperation for peace and security.

    That is the message I carried to the recent African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — my first major mission as United Nations Secretary-General.

    Above all, I came in a spirit of profound solidarity and respect. I am convinced that the world has much to gain from African wisdom, ideas and solutions.

    I also brought with me a deep sense of gratitude. Africa provides the majority of United Nations peacekeepers around the world. African nations are among the world’s largest and most generous hosts of refugees. Africa includes some of the world’s fastest growing economies.

    The recent resolution of the political crisis in the Gambia once again demonstrated the power of African leadership and unity to overcome governance challenges and uphold democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

    I left the Summit more convinced than ever that all of humanity will benefit by listening, learning and working with the people of Africa.

    We have the plans in place to build a better future. The international community has entered the second year of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, an all-out effort to tackle global poverty, inequality, instability and injustice. Africa has adopted its own complementary and ambitious plan: Agenda 2063.

    For the people of Africa to fully benefit from these important efforts, these two agendas need to be strategically aligned.

    It starts with prevention. Our world needs to move from managing crises to preventing them in the first place. We need to break the cycle of responding too late and too little.

    Most of today’s conflicts are internal, triggered by competition for power and resources, inequality, marginalization and sectarian divides. Often, they are inflamed by violent extremism or provide the fuel for it.

    The United Nations is committed to working hand-in-hand with partners wherever conflict or the threat of conflict endangers stability and well-being.

    But prevention goes far beyond focusing solely on conflict. The best means of prevention and the surest path to durable peace is inclusive and sustainable development.

    We can speed progress by doing more to provide opportunities and hope to young people. More than three out of five Africans are under 35 years of age. Making the most of this tremendous asset means more investment in education, training, decent work, and engaging young people in shaping their future.

    We must also do our utmost to empower women so they can play a full role in sustainable development and sustainable peace. I am pleased that the African Union has consistently placed a special focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

    I have seen it again and again: When we empower women, we empower the world.

    I travelled to Africa as a partner, friend and committed advocate for changing the narrative about this diverse and vital continent. Crises represent at best a partial view. But from a higher platform of cooperation, we can see the whole picture – one that spotlights the enormous potential and remarkable success stories in every corner of the African continent.

    With that perspective, I have no doubt we can win the battle for sustainable and inclusive development which are also the best weapons to prevent conflict and suffering, allowing Africa to shine even more vibrantly and inspire the world.

    António Guterres is Secretary-General of the United Nations

  • Eating mushrooms can avert diseases, says Nutritionist

    Eating mushrooms can avert diseases, says Nutritionist

    An Ibadan-based nutritionist, Ms Dayo Olawunmi, said eating mushrooms regularly could help to lower risk of contracting diseases, including diabetes, cancer and obesity.

    Olawunmi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Ibadan that mushrooms were rich in antioxidants and many disease fighting nutrients like vitamin D known to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

    “Studies have shown that mushrooms are naturally low in sodium, fat, cholesterol and calories. In addition to providing basic nutrition, they help prevent chronic diseases due to the presence of antioxidants.”

    She said that mushrooms were also rich in potassium and sodium which worked together to regulate blood pressure to promote a healthy heart.

    “Consuming mushrooms, which are rich in potassium and low in sodium helps to lower blood pressure and decrease the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases.

    “Mushrooms also contain choline, an important nutrient that helps with sleep, muscle movement, learning and memory,” she said.

    Olawunmi, however, cautioned that not all mushrooms were edible and that eating some could lead to serious illness and even death.

    “It is best to consume mushrooms that have been cultivated under appropriate conditions; not all the varieties of the plant are edible.

    “Eating wild mushrooms that are toxic to humans can cause severe illness, and sometimes, even death,” she stated.

    Edible mushrooms, like the cauliflower mushrooms, are the fleshy and edible fruit bodies of several species of macro fungi (fungi which bear fruiting structures that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye).

    They can appear either below ground or above ground where they may be picked by hand.

  • Buhari presidency and the hope ahead

    Buhari presidency and the hope ahead

    No doubt, Nigeria is undergoing one of its toughest times in her recent history. Just yesterday, Nigeria was clad with the garments of oil boom or excess petro-dollars resources. There was enough for everybody or sector of the economy to blossom.
    The country had enough cash to pursue development projects, build its critical infrastructure to attract foreign investments and fortify its foreign reserve base. But its leaders and some privileged few in positions of authority wantonly fretted away these opportunities. Unfortunately, the country was suffocated with crass graft, greed of the ruling class laced in theft of the people’s commonwealth and an unusual interest in weird politicking and such extremities. Nigerians acted like people destined to perish the next day.
    Today, Nigeria has been aggressively raped and dumped. There is poverty and misery in the land. There is hunger and thirst in the country. The citizens are unarguably going through the toughest of times. There is no enough money in the wallet to foot basic bills. There are frustrations in many families and homes.
    But Nigerians themselves are living witnesses to the downward plunge of the country in the last few years. And in no way was this message absorbed, expressed and amplified more pungently than their desire for a change of government. Nigerians expressed it through the ballot in 2015 with the enthronement of the APC-led Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) in President Muhammedu Buhari (PMB).
    His emergence symbolized hope for many and a renaissance in the leadership thought of the country. PMB in the last 20 months has tried to reaffix many of the wrongs he inherited in the country. But again, some dubious Nigerians or forces used to the old order of doing things have constituted themselves into stumbling blocks and saboteurs of the laudable initiatives, policies and  programmes of the current administration.
    It’s clear that a few dubious elite who prefer to see Nigeria a failed state, which is brought to its kneels in the midst of abundance, work assiduously day and night to frustrate every step to change the misfortunes of this great country. With paucity of funds and dwindling oil revenues, mounting problems and challenges neither recognize nor submit to such entanglements. The feeling is that these problems must be urgently remedied.
    But every Nigerian can testify that President Buhari has instituted accountability and transparency in the conduct of government business, by the judicious application of meagre resources to critical areas to ensure the even distribution of social wealth to the poor masses of Nigeria. But this again is being stifled with artificial setbacks deliberately created by enemies of the state, who shout loudest on the streets to conceal their moral disfiguration.
    The thieving elite loath the relive the PMB administration is extending to the people and work underground more as destructive spies, to portray his administration as failed. Nigerians must be aware that these cartels of criminally-minded Nigerians have melted into vulnerable and unsuspecting communities in the country to ferment unnecessary and senseless crises.
     In effect, the sinewy resources accruing to the government which ought to have been channeled into critical sectors like power supply, education, agriculture, job creation and youth empowerment and so forth are wasted on the security of lives and property of law abiding Nigerians who have been unjustifiably brainwashed into brandishing swords and cudgels against themselves in a chilling exercise of bloodletting.
    This is the self-inflicted dilemma Nigerians have found themselves. But President Buhari has always resolved like today, more than ever before, never to relent in his pursuit of the populist cause or policies on his promise to better the lot of Nigerians.
    Apart from ensuring that  no part of Nigeria is violently assailed and sized by hoodlums and other criminal gangs or terrorists; there are modest efforts to alleviate the sufferings of the ordinary,  poor Nigerian masses. The N-Power job creation initiative to empower the teeming jobless youths in Nigeria and other social schemes for the elderly have started with beneficiaries gainfully engaged; the conscious and rewarding steps towards the diversification of the economy through agriculture with loans to farmers across Nigeria are praiseworthy steps.
    Furthermore, the bail-out funds to states under the yoke of workers salary debts; the revival of construction sites with renewal of abandoned contracts and award of fresh ones are some of the measures in place, which are the lights of promise of a greater and prosperous nation President Buhari intends to bequeath to Nigerians. Also, funds have been set aside in the 2017 budget to advance loans to Nigerians interested in the development of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and similar businesses to stimulate capital inflow into the economy.
    At the last count, local contractors were cumulatively owed contractual debts in excess of N1 trillion, which dates back to the last 10 years. The current regime intends to begin gradual evacuation of these debts with the 2017 budget, in order to inject life into the economy and ameliorate the present hardships faced by Nigerians. These are major pluses for the masses of Nigeria.
    No Nigerian is in doubt about the deliberate frustration of the President Buhari’s regime by a cabal which has vowed never to allow him to succeed. Of course, Nigerians still recollect the National Assembly’s (NASS) refusal to grant President Buhari the power to secure the $29 billion loan, which would have speedily activated most of the social schemes and developed critical infrastructure in the country.
    The suppression of the emergency powers Bill or economy stimulus Bill from the executive arm of government questions the readiness of Nigeria’s subordinate leadership to assist drive the needed change. These are just the few out of the several landmines strewn on the path of the good intentions of the Buhari administration.
    The massive recovery of looted funds would have served as an alternative in closing the financial gaps in public expenditure and the deficits in budgeting. But a greater part of this looted wealth, which it’s domiciliary has already been identified is stashed abroad and requires procedures and processes to cause repatriation of this looted Nigerian wealth.
    These processes would not come in a jiffy, as it would take some time to materialize. Back home, looters charged to court are held up in the judicial traffic, but it is hoped that these cases would terminate soon to enable Nigeria recoup its stolen wealth and channel resources to development.
    Nowhere in the world has positive change come easily. It is resisted, attacked, frustrated and repressed by corrupted souls likely to be purged of such tendencies. Leaders who launch such changes pass through difficulties, blister nerves and cause tensions. But they eventually succeed with the active support and back-up of loyal and patriotic citizens, their only formidable strength.
     That’s why President Buhari needs the support of the Nigerian masses, which he perceives as too sidelined, neglected and humiliated for too long. It is a battle of Buhari against the devious cabal for the sake of Nigerian masses.
    It is therefore incumbent on all Nigerians to identify and support President Buhari to deliver Nigeria from this dubious cabal of sharks, who delight more in milking Nigeria. Buhari’s liberation of Nigeria is for the masses of Nigeria at the angst of these leadership hijackers and leeches on government. Therefore, Nigerians should wake-up from slumber, sleep with one of their eyes wide open to identify and shun the ploys they deploy to deceive them into mortgaging their future.
    “No pain, no gain”, says one of these songsters. Nigerians will only appreciate President Buhari when the battle is over, and they see and feel how much change has come to their country and themselves.
    So, PMB does not only need the strong ideological support of Nigeria, but also their unceasing prayers and commitment to the goals and aspirations of the great country they wish to dwell. Like President Buhari himself admitted, there are hard times, but it is a global phenomenon and experts are working round the clock to remedy it, much as he is making his own modest efforts back home.
    Everyone should be optimistic that Nigeria is prepared to come out of this mess better, stronger and with a more secured future. In President Buhari, Nigerians have sighted a promising leader and brighter hope for a prosperous nation and no one should allow questionable elements to blur this vision.
    Okanga Agila writes from Agila, Benue State.
  • How to stop puffy eyes

    How to stop puffy eyes

     

    Everyone has suffered from puffy eyes at one time or the other; either because you did not get enough sleep, drank too much alcohol, partied too hard or simply find that yours is hereditary. Here are a few tips to banish puffy eyes or under-eye bags to keep your skin looking young and healthy.
    There are three ways to get rid of puffy eyes or under eye bags. Number one, you need to get moisturizer to help your body to de-puff your under eye bugs and get rid of all the toxins that build up there. There are quite a lot of eye creams formulated with ingredients to remove eye bags. Also note, that sometimes your diet can cause a lot of extra fluid to actually collect under your eyes, so if you had a salty meal the night before, you are going to wake up the next morning with more fluid under your eyes, so try to correct your diet a little bit there.

    The second thing you can use is a little secret, nothing more than paper tape. So if you did have had that high salt meal and you know you are prone to these bags the next day, put a little paper tape under your eyes when you got to sleep, the night before, and when you wake up in the morning take away the tape, you will not have the same collection of fluid under your eyes. That’s a secret way to minimize the bags.
    And the third way to get rid of under eye bags after they appear. Anytime you wake up, and see bags under your eyes, and need a quick fix. You can take a very cold shower to constrict all the blood vessels and de-puff, and also do two sets of jumping jacks for 30 seconds each. That circulation is really going to help rev your body up and help drain away some of that extra fluid that collected there.

     

  • Good tidings from northeast Nigeria

    Good tidings from northeast Nigeria

    To many ears in Nigeria, it initially sounded like a jingle on radio or television sets in homes. To many souls, it was just mere propaganda. To opposing politicians, it was another gimmick by the Nigerian Army of President Muhammedu Buhari (PMB) to downplay reality and shore-up its public image.
    And to foreign sponsors of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) it was more of a joke allowed to linger and hover above their shadows for long. To insurgents’ local sympathizers and agents, the battle must not be over this soon and so the terrorists must be seen to regroup to cause more atrocities.
    So, these agents deployed all manner of tricks including shielding of fleeing terrorists, but the most visible of the antics being the last resort to cyber terrorism against the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian people, lovers of peace and harmonious existence. But the Army countered them and has continued to follow their fresh trends in cyber terrorism.
    These overt and covert agents of darkness vowed to prove to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai that it is not yet liberation hour in the anti-terror campaigns. The few BHTs agents distressed by the reality of the defeat of terrorism in Nigeria became publicists for remnants of Boko Haram insurgents; protectors and benefactors to this satanic sect.
    Much more, to  a dozen other skeptics, no one has the sanity to claim the years of turmoil, reckless bloodletting, pains and sorrows in the Northeast region would have ended within a short time as officially pronounced by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and Nigerian Military authorities, which received the seldom hearty applause from the international community, including the venerated United Nations (UN).
     But now the narrative has changed. There are glaring and ominous signs emerging from Nigeria’s Northeast inhabitants, who were in the burning furnace on the restoration of peace in the region. They are not only appreciating the energy and sacrifices the Nigerian troops have devoted to ending terrorism in their communities within the shortest possible time in world history, but are willing to take their destiny into their hands to chart a new course of life.
    They have concurred with the FGN and the Nigerian Army, the return of peace to the region previously manacled by insurgency. They have chorused to Nigerians in loud voices that the anti-terrorism campaigns of the Nigerian Army in the region has yielded the fruits of peace, which they have  gleefully plucked and ready to preserve till the end of time.
    Cheerily, all the  stakeholders in the Northeast, which cut across all strata of leadership in the region have unanimously resolved and endorsed a symbolic advertisement and denunciation of any support or sympathy to fleeing terrorists henceforth. They have indicated in their posturing,  a kind inclination to forgive and forget their kinsmen who have wronged them and Nigeria by launching an unjustifiable internecine war against the region.
    Thus, prodded into action, which the organizations namely, the North East Coalition Against Terrorism and the Karthoum Peace Foundation collaborated and staged the first ever peace solidarity rally in Maiduguri, Borno state at the famous Ramat Stadium in February to celebrate the return of peace to the Northeast region.
    This joy is exploded by the practical evidence and proof of the peoples acceptance of the restoration of peace in that part of the country, railroaded by the current administration of PMB in eradicating Boko Haram insurgency within a time space.
    For the first time, the people of Northeast are recording their firsts in the anti-terrorism campaigns. The time-line of events in the region shows that it is the first time major and indispensable stakeholders in the region would collectively and publicly profess to the restoration of peace in the region; It is the first time all constituents states in the Northeast region would converge for this reason and massively agree that BHT started in Borno and the entrenchment of peace must also begin from the state, which breathe life into Boko Haramism.
    In addition, it is also the first time, Northeasterners are agreeing that though states were plunged into the same dilemma or suffered the same fate, but Borno is unsurpassed in the quantum of destructions in all ramifications. It is lastly, the first time, everybody in the region, with mutual consensus has wholeheartedly accepted and associated themselves with a laudable peace initiative, which has made other parts of Nigerian similarly plagued green with envy.
    There is nothing that gladdens the heart when feted by the people you sacrifice your life to salvage. The public acceptability of the return of peace in the Northeast and the vow of all stakeholders, pleading to be part and parcel of implanting a durable, unshakable and unbreakable peace in the land of their forebears needs no further consultation and divination (as other Nigerians would prefer to know) to decode that the purposeful and result-oriented Nigerian army spearheaded by Lt. Gen Tukur Yusufu  Buratai are heroes and heroines of the Nigerian nation-state.
     That Nigerian troops defiantly decimated the once dreaded sect of devils incarnate or the Jezebels in their midst, the agents within and outside was not loud enough. But its loudest proclamation is the people shouting on rooftops in appreciation of what the administration of PMB has done  to embalm them with peace and tranquility in a once dreadfully explosive region, as further confirmation of President Buhari’s no-nonsense stance on the security of lives and property of Nigerians, anywhere in the country.
    Borno state Governor Kashim Shettima has etched his name in gold on security in the league of Governors in Nigeria. His quite, painstaking, co-operative and supportive efforts of security agents is loudly decoded in the success of the  anti-terrorism campaigns in the region. No assurance to the people can be greater than his superintending over the rebuilding process and his overwhelming embrace or encouragement of the peace process in the region in the post- military intervention era in order to fully domesticate durable peace.
    With an executive order of persona non-grata, Shettima has ensured fled or fleeing terrorists within his domain and the Northeast generally no longer enjoy the respite of hospitality in any form. He has conscripted traditional rulers in his domain as the sentinels of the new focus of the anti-terrorism war and other governors within the region should emulate same to stretch the gamut of peace.
    Governor Shettima has minced no words in declaring his state as no longer a haven for terrorists and by extension, the Northeast, through various internal mechanisms in collaboration with stakeholders. Shettima has just one word for fleeing terrorists; “Please, surrender now to the Nigerian troops and be granted amnesty or we have resolved to collectively rise against you as strangers in our fold.”
     It means since the people of the Northeast and Borno state in particular, are ambling towards  lasting peace in the region, even renegades who initially conscripted into the toleration of fleeing Boko Haram terrorists have declared them enemies of the people who must be tracked down.
    Shettima’s courage and resoluteness should serve as a challenge to other Governors in Nigeria, whose enclaves are equally afflicted by these violent insurrections. If such Governors resolve to do just half of the work Shettima has done in his domain, Nigeria shall be a freer, more peaceful and habitable country for all the citizenry. It is a clarion call to Governors of other states in Nigeria to emulate Shettima’s rewarding peaceful initiatives in their respective states.
    But to ice Governor Shettima’s cake, he must not forget that the durable peace he is working relentlessly to achieve must be backed-up by state-oriented youth empowerment schemes vis-à-vis campaigns for the re-absorption and sound education of the youth, which he has already undertaken. It is a plausible mark of bold leadership in times of crisis and difficulties.
    The prayers of all afflicted peoples, the world over is that may this misfortune of terrorism never cross the path of humanity again. And this is precisely, the message Nigerians of all hues, led by Governor Shettima have beseeched God in prayers and unto Him, terrorists no more have space in Borno, the Northeast and Nigeria, as a nation.  This is the good tidings, this day, from Borno and Nigeria’s northeast.
    Uche John Madu writes from the Good Governance Institute, Lagos
  • The beginning of the start

    The beginning of the start

     

    For  a people without qualms about being addicted to imported toothpick and foreign bottled water I am totally not surprised by Nigerians weeping more than the bereaved about the (Donald) Trump presidency in the United States. Trump’s executive orders, building a wall to keep out illegal migrants from Mexico and another one banning entry from Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Syria and four other countries into the US has been a source of ire for Nigerians.

    Online newspaper, TheCable gave perspective with its analysis that showed that Nigerians may no longer enjoy the two year visitor’s visa if the Federal Government does not reciprocate to issue two year visas to Americans.

    What Nigerians are losing sight of however is the history of these countries that are today pariahs to the United States. The nationals of Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Syria once happily beckoned the western world to come intervene in their affairs, driven by the same misplaced logic that once it is western it is the best life can offer. In fairness to the larger part of the population, vocal minorities largely drove the processes that sent these countries into their current state of anomie. The guilt of the majority was that they did not do enough to stop those that collaborated with foreign interests to destabilize their lands.

    The destabilization plot may be targeting new countries but the key concepts and strategies have not changed: sell citizens some lies to make their leaders look bad, sponsor separatists and insurgents to carry out insurrections, commission NGOs to cash in on the situation, teleguide the corporate mainstream media (MSM) to run damaging propaganda and convene circuses called international conferences to decide on the fate of nation’s hapless  citizens without their input.

    The consequences of these perverted interventions are predictable. The western economies, in need of manpower, need not sail slave ships to bring in captives to power their industries; citizens of destabilized countries willingly loaded themselves unto boats with higher casualty rate than the slave trade of centuries ago in their bid to report to their new slave masters. Whatever is left of the destroyed countries are handed over to prefects selected by the western masters using sham elections to give them an air of democratic acceptability. The next phase is for the proxy governments to parcel out their country’s resources for prompt handover to their conquerors under the guise of foreign investors and other sugar coated name to mask the reality of the horror the citizens have signed up to.

    These realities are the things that should give Nigerians concerns. The foreign influences have not relented in ramping up the assault on Nigeria’s sovereignty and integrity.  Boko Haram might have began as a piece of local misadventure but it grew to the monster it became because of a mix of too many factors that reek of western support – from the unprecedented access to military intelligence to the sophistication of their training and equipment there are questions Nigerians did not ask loudly enough. The NGOs have been brought in same as compromised media both at local and international levels. Nigeria survived that onslaught.

    We must therefore be worried that after failing with Boko Haram, international support seems to be ratcheting up for issues that were once local problems but that are fast assuming frightening proportions. Not only are these issues festering even with the best of national efforts, there is a growing gang up using the international media to blackmail our leaders and label out country a failed state.

    The mutation of the various insurrections since the routing of Boko Haram from Sambisa Forest has all the markings of the western interference that wrecked these other countries. What could spell doom for us however is that unlike the mild resistance they met in other places, our citizens who are disgruntled for different and often irrelevant reasons are lending themselves as willing tools for the destruction of their country.

    This is why we have an Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and MASSOB that have become unnecessarily provocative; Niger Delta militants that are committing suicide in installment with the destruction of their environment each time they blow up oil installations; cross-border killer herdsmen that the country cannot decisively deal with because of international conventions; and most recently purveyors of hate speech that are calling for fresh insurrection under the cover of religion.

    IPOB for instance is making demands that have no basis in the constitution. Its members and leaders know that using unconstitutional and unconventional means to ask for secession, which is a destabilization plot against the country and yet a segment of the international media were out like the back up singers for a possessed orchestra. Their chorus persistently cast our military as an occupying enemy force that must be destroyed – their stories and special reports only stop short of asking Nigerians to lynch every single troop in the land. Their stories pressure nations from selling hardware to Nigeria using bogus allegations of human rights abuses.

    With more notable persons from the south-east coming out to speak against the foolhardy pursuit of Biafra, the wrecking train has moved on to a newer location. The herders/farmers’ clashes are the hottest canon to lob at Nigeria for that singular purpose of delivering on that failed state they desperately wish Nigeria was. But in case Nigerians are not aware, these interests are realization that religion sells in Nigeria  and is being milked for all its worth. So in addition to insurgent foot soldiers, questionable NGOs, thieving politicians  and corporate media, the dimension of rogue clergymen have been added to the mix just to be sure that a meltdown of national proportion can be provoked.

    The disdain in which they hold Nigeria and Nigerians is such that they did not even bother to shop for credible spiritual leaders but rather poached those that have pending warrants on their heads in some countries just to be sure that their new charges are pliable. One of the preachers they have taken on retainership is currently a personal non grata in the United Kingdom after failing to double money as he had promised during a crusade in England.

    And therein lies the travesty. All those contracted to destabilize Nigeria – NGOs, compromised media, corrupt politicians and lately rogue clerics – are already international travelers that only need to get to the closest international airport to relocate out of Nigeria. Some of them even hold the passports of other countries , secured for them by their handlers. The rest of us who are chanting hallelujah to their ‘praise the Lord’ would be left behind holding the short end of the stick when what they are asking for materializes. Even those who chose the silence of indifference would not be spared when it happens.

    So it is our collective responsibility to ensure that Nigeria will not make the cut if President Trump ever has cause to expand the list of countries whose nationals are banned from visiting the United States. Let us make this the beginning of when we start to think of our country as our own and not an outpost that kotows to the dictates of some foreign overlords.

    Philip Agbese writes from the United Kingdom.

  • Patriotism, religion and the Nigerian state

    Patriotism, religion and the Nigerian state

     

    Sometimes, I get confused trying to understand the psyche of Nigerians. I analyze certain issues and come to the painful and regrettable conclusion that Nigerians easily plot the path to their own perdition.

    polity is heated again. This time the fire is sprouting from the religious prism. So much attention is justifiably generated by the comments of a certain clergy who goes by the appellation of Apostle Johnson Suleiman, the Founder and Presiding Pastor of Omega Fire Ministries.

    It emerged recently that Suleiman uttered very inciting statements to the effect that Christians should kill any Fulani herdsman at sight. This man of God (or is it a god?) was reacting to the spate of killings in Southern Kaduna.

    And to my amazement, Apostle Suleiman who probably does not preside over a church congregation, not more than the size of a classroom, suddenly became a hero, a living Christian martyr and a doyen of the ever busy Nigerian media.

    Some days back, Apostle Suleiman also repeated the same gibberish, when the DSS attempted to arrest him in Ekiti state to interrogate him over the gravely inciting statement. And backed by Governor Ayo Fayose, the Apostle escaped and feels fortified or justified by his utterances.

    But no matter the interests at stake, for a minister of God to ask and persuade other human beings to willfully kill others is bad enough. It mocks religion because the God he claims to serve ascribes the sacredness of life to Him, Who alone has the exclusive power of life and death.

    Thus ennobled, the Apostle boasted about the DSS’s attempt to arrest him in these words;  “It was the crowd that scared them. But the truth I want to pass out is that if I spend a day in the custody of security operatives, I have churches in 42 countries and I have alerted them. Every Nigerian Embassy will be thronged. If I spend one day in the custody of the DSS, the damage it will cause will take one year to repair. If I spend one day, the damage that will happen to Nigeria will take one year to repair.”

    Nigerians know his initial outbursts are potent enough to cause widespread breach of national peace and security as well as snowball into an unimaginable dimension of religious crisis. It will plunge Nigeria into anarchy. Apostle Suleiman’s second reaction to the chain of events triggered by his irreverent words and actions is even more appalling to me.

    But as Nigerians, we have all turned our backs on these obvious infractions by the Apostle and instead, what is shamelessly publicized is defence of the religious faith card laced in weapons of violence.

    I am a Christian, but I do not believe in the herd instinct of balance of terror in resolving issues.  Matching violence for violence has never solved a problem anywhere in the world. I also know that the Holy Scripture admonishes us against this tendency.

    Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour preached the doctrine of meekness for his true followers during His sermon on the mount, when he said, if your enemy slaps you on the right cheek, turn your left cheek also. And we all are aware that vengeance belongs to God and not man. We disobey God when we do the contrary.  But Apostle Suleiman stood on the sacred pulpit and negated all these religious creeds.

    And what invoked the greatest pity in me about Nigerians is that some persons came out to defend Suleiman. I shuddered to read the reaction of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to the purported fruitless attempts to arrest the Apostle and propagator of religious violence.

    A statement by Pastor Bayo Oladeji, Special Assistant (Media and Communication) to the CAN President, admonished security agencies and the state that it will not tolerate what it termed handling ministers of God and members of CAN as common criminals.

    The statement read: “The last time we checked, Sections 38-41 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states clearly that every Nigerian is ‘entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.”

    It added, “The Constitution states unambiguously that ‘Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.’

    The actual problem manifests at this level. At one point, CAN cites an instance of the invocation of the law to resist attempts to “turn Nigeria into a refugee camp for Christians,” which is good enough. But in direct opposition to the same views it espouses, it sides with a breaker of the law which could cause breach of public peace. Would CAN say the attempted arrest of Apostle Suleiman was unlawful to warrant such blind and biased commentary?

    Much as the Constitution of Nigeria grants freedom of expression and religion, the same statutes book also prescribes limits of freely expressed speech that could lead to violation of some aspects of the law. The freedom of expression must have to be applied by citizens patriotically and responsibly.  And Apostle Suleiman cannot hide under this clause and irresponsibly incite Nigerians to religious crisis.

    I believe resorting to hate speech by the Clergy offends both religion and the state. Every religion preaches peace and love of neighbours. These are sacred doctrines. Anyone who loves his neighbor would neither raise his sword against anybody nor canvass for such savagery.

    The nation-state on the other hand has the lawful duty to protect lives and property of the citizenry. So, any patriotic citizen would not instigate violence on any platform of the liberty granted by freedom of expression. When individuals fail to blend state and religion, it becomes an aberration and condemnable. This is the power God the creator of the universe has imbued in human beings and acting outside the prescriptions of these creeds also offends God.

    The clergy and the religious who really believe in the dictates of God Almighty do not turn themselves into advocates of blood for blood. Nothing is impossible before God and the duty of a church convinced that it is facing persecution as the likes of Apostle Suleiman and CAN are trying to preach can beseech God in prayers for His intervention. But asking Christians to become warriors of bloodletting is uncharitable and a disservice to Nigeria, the church inclusive.

    I still do not believe the latest incidence of Southern Kaduna killings have a religious tinge and until inquiries by government states otherwise, it is wrong for Christians to give it this coloration and prepare for reprisal war. But if CAN and the Apostle are convinced that it is the persecution of Christians at work, they could gather their facts and approach the courts of the land for legal redress.

    But calling for outright retaliatory violence is ungodly, unpatriotic, disloyal, irreligious and unchristian. No man has the power to fight God’s battles and the clergy with such mindset should discard it or else, some of us are forced to now believe the notion of “church as business” or the commercialization of some churches in Nigeria, where people anointed by the devil claim to be men of God.

    Probably, Apostle Johnson Suleiman’s utterances were not inspired by any genuine concern for lost lives or the persecution of Christians, but the depopulation of his church congregation, which will negatively affect tithes and offerings. But when the fire of the war he has ignited explodes, he will bundle himself to take refuge in one of the branches of his Omega church anywhere in the 42 countries he claimed presence and leave the rest of us to suffer the consequences. Enough of this indecorous act in the guise of religion.

    Sunday Attah is National Co-ordination, Stand Up 4 Nigeria and contributed this piece from Abuja.

  • Diary of a noble self employed naija dame (11)

    Diary of a noble self employed naija dame (11)

    By Bola Bilesanmi – Beebee

    Opening Balance: N42, 500

    We self-employed people begin to panic when our opening balance is below N50k but on this occasion, my feathers were not ruffled because I had a card up my sleeve. I leapt out of the bed with a spring to my feet. I was going to ring POW for now, we do not know if we are going to revert to POS.

    At 9.00 on the dot, I rang POW, he picked up immediately, an act that has never occurred before, he never picks up my phone. Life moves in cycles. I know for sure now, he would always pick up my phone. He asked why I had not returned his calls, I informed him I had to visit my parents and reception was not at its best.

    I asked him nicely why he was ringing and what would he want from me, as if I did not know. He went directly to the point and asked for forgiveness and the contract was mine if I still wanted it. This time it’s the whole 100%.

    I offered him 20% ( a swindler would always be a swindler) he agreed to the terms of 20:80 then he must have thought of the last recording. He went on to inform me that it does not matter, 40% would be paid up front and 60% would follow later.

    I thanked him nicely and ended the conversation, I forgot to add, he volunteered to ring me back. The cost of the whole conversation was borne by him. The dream of a curve television became vapour in a split second. I am sure it was going to be someone else’s headache, definitely not mine

    I had to pinch myself in the flat, history has recorded a new event, that I had come out of this saga the winner, it can only be the wisdom of God.

    As I sat in my flat, I looked round the flat, the first thing I would buy is a generator that can pump water, I am fed up of dry cleaning, I will have to pump water when it runs out. I must buy a Christian Louboutin shoe (for those who are not as exposed as we are, it’s the shoes with red soles ,although I hear Aba market has produced some red sole shoes) My mood changed suddenly, I was happy, I began to sing songs, I had to celebrate the victory.

    I decided to celebrate the victory with a Chinese meal, I looked at my balance, I could afford ‘Jade Chinese Restaurant, I definitely had moved up the ladder, change had come. I rang for a Uber taxi. I was going to be reckless with money. Picking up my Phone I saw a credit alert POW had stayed true to his words. I transferred my recording from my phone to my laptop.

    God forbid POW tries to steal my phone the next time I visit their office, and God forbid that I would use the information to blackmail him. I have come to the conclusion that the recording will become my meal ticket. ‘Cunny man die, na cunny woman go bury am’.

    What a marvellous God we serve.

  • Buratai brutally confronts insurgents, his spirit remains unbroken

    Buratai brutally confronts insurgents, his spirit remains unbroken

    Soldiering is one of the hardest professions in the world. I say this because, having tested its good and bitter sides, I stand to appreciate my colleagues for the sacrifices they make in the course of service to the nation.

    But I have come to realise that sometimes our Nigerian experience posts different results for the wrong reasons. After the Nigerian civil war, the only time the Nigerian military has been stretched is the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast. That Nigerian troops have been able to subdue the rampaging and devilish instincts of the sect members on Nigerians to enthrone peace is not only inspiring, but fulfilling.

    I was however taken aback, the deliberate campaigns of calumny and mudslinging by a few detractors and by implication, the enemies of Nigeria, against the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai.

    To this set of people, Buratai is better confined to the dustbin of ignominy. But fate works differently. It is the neutral umpire that recognises hard work, determination, resilience, doggedness and selflessness. It endures like the Biblical prophecy of end times.

    I discovered that these characters thrive better when society is in chaos or anarchy. So, Buratai’s brutal confrontation of insurgents and his unbreakable resolve to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Nigeria against Boko Haram Terrorists, offended these few enemies of progress. They hate the peace soldiers have enthroned in the country, much as they are resentful to Buratai, his foot soldiers and the Nigerian Army.

    These felons contrived series of plots against the personality and leadership of the Nigerian Army to the extent of seeking to distract the Army Chief from his professional duties of protecting the geographical space of Nigeria against enemies of the nation. They have vainly sought to diminish and frustrate his service to fatherland in order to impose their idiosyncratic flair of violence and destruction of Nigeria.

    But the Army Chief who is not given to trivialities, ignored all their misguided notions against him and surged ahead. So, the unperturbed Buratai has proved all his adversaries wrong, by excelling on every professional outing and exhibiting uncommon leadership qualities that stream applause even from foes.

    I admire his courage. As a strong breed from Northern Nigeria, Gen. Buratai is defamed, castigated, persecuted and even insulted; yet his spirit remains unbroken and resolute, waxing stronger against enemies of his fatherland.

    In Buratai, Nigerians have truly testified that a gold fish has no hiding place. And in spite of devilish plots of a few, majority of Nigerians have come to fete Gen. Buratai as a rare army officer, a messiah to the people once chained by terrorism and one Nigerian who is extremely passionate about peace and unity of Nigeria.

    I was glad when the Editorial Board of The Politico Magazine, like many other organizations, fished out Buratai from the mesh of personalities in Nigeria, who made the list of finalists to fete him with an award, as The Politico Man of The Year 2016.

    For me, the ceremony itself, timing and the substance in the honouree has ignited a special sense of patriotism, loyalty, commitment, appreciation and the unyielding spirit of excellence in national, regional, continental and global assignments personified in one man – Lt. Gen. Buratai.

    I was disarmed by the disclosure by The Politico Magazine’s Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief, Mustapha Shehu during his speech at the presentation of the award in Abuja that on the online polls on various social media platforms organized by the Editorial Board, Nigerians massively voted Gen. Buratai ahead of other equally prominent Nigerians and nominees. Buratai towered above personalities like Lagos state Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Fomer Defence Minister, Gen. T.Y Danjuma (rtd), the DSS D-G, Mallam Lawal Daura, America’s President   Donald Trump and Dr. Sale Abba.

    Shehu spoke my mind when he said; ”that General Buratai is deserving of this award is not in dispute. Even his arch enemies, leaders of the Boko Haram, cannot, but concur with us, if in their sober moments, they tarry a while and review their brutal misadventure. For, they had heard from the General, in a loud and clear voice. And I believe they will continue to hear from him.”

    And truly, an elated Buratai could not conceal his appreciation of the magazine for exposing to him how much Nigerians love and appreciate him and by extension the Nigerian Army saying, ‘the Nigerian army and the media are partners in peace and development of the country.”

    As it is customary with him, Buratai does not forget that his efforts would have piled into insignificance if devoid of the blessings of President Muhammedu Buhari (PMB). The President provided the needed logistic and financial support to the Nigerian Army  in their quest to protect the country’s sovereignty against internal and external aggressions.

    But I asked myself why Nigerians have not ceased feting Gen. Buratai, as recently done by The Politico Magazine. After a deep reflection I came to the pleasant realization that Nigerians are coming to terms with the burden of soldiers on the battlefield and the sacrifices they make for millions of country men and women to live in peace and harmony. And Gen. Buratai is the epitome of these sacrifices.

    I make haste to say the era of Lt. Gen. Buratai and the Nigerian Army has conferred an aura of respect for soldiers. Boko Haram terrorism remained the single most challenging menace on Nigerians until PMB came on board and after a thorough search appointed Gen. Buratai who is familiar with wars and the trenches to lead soldiers in the battle against counter-terrorism.

    Buratai inherited troops who were in the battlefront, but with an extremely dampened morale. I know it is not an easy task to revive soldiers under such psychological conditions in war and reposition them to bring out the ultimate best, but Buratai seamlessly accomplished it.

    I was thrilled to no end when the Army Chief effectively blended all the disparate aspects of anti-terrorism warfare and obtained the targeted results. He was personally on the battlefield with troops and led counter-offensives against insurgents; he identified and tackled the political arm of BHTs and the sponsors/agents who spiraled into cyberspace with awful propaganda against the Army in favour of terrorists. He placed premium on issues of human rights violations by troops and recorded a near zero incident of human rights abuses by troops on such special assignments.

    Buratai ensured he rewarded excellence by troops, paid their entitlements promptly and made welfare of families of troops in the battlefront a top priority and it gave soldiers comfort, courage and zeal to go the extra-mile to achieve results. The stylish invasion and demolition of the once-dreaded Sambisa forest and the consequent dislodgements of terrorists are rare exploits in military adventure, only capable and experienced officers like Buratai would anchor.

    His surveillances and clean-up operations in the north-east against remnants of terrorists are strategic theories that military science alone cannot accord you the wisdom. It required extra thinking, planning and execution. But Buratai proved his mettle excellently.

    His current campaigns inspiring all stakeholders in the Northeast to sustain the peace, detailing the measures they should adopt, are exceptional leadership dexterity only gifted officers of his caliber would have an insight. I am compelled by these rare feats to describe Lt.Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, as an all-rounder military officer.

    And  like Oliver Twist, if I may add,  a man of Gen Buratai’s stature  truly deserves more awards  in appreciation of his service to the nation. Having once served in the Army myself, I am convinced that no amount of honour or award is too much for a man of General Buratai’s standing in a nation he has donated his life and comfort to serve meritoriously. He is an Army General that Nigerians will cherish for a long time. May God Almighty continue to protect and preserve Lt.Gen. Buratai  and his family as well as the Nigerian soldiers.

    Adebayor is a security consultant and contributed this piece from Lagos.

  • Child Safety: When to spare the rod

    While growing up if you dared to come to school late, you were flogged like a criminal that committed a heinous offence by your teacher, I hated going to school because any slight mistake you make as a child was corrected with flogging.

    It was as if the teacher enjoyed flogging students. I remember my
    childhood friend then from a poor home, they could barely eat one square meal talk less of two. She was so skinny and obviously looked malnourished but she was bright and did very well in school despite her poor background.
    She was always flogged for paying her school fees late. I remember our
    mathematics teacher flogging her like a deranged man, when she couldn’t pay her lesson fees and after beating her, she was sent home.

    My friend cried bitterly, her screams and pleas pierced my heart, even as a grownup I still shudder each time I remember it, I will never forget how hurt and helpless she was, as a child I knew it was so unfair, I hated witnessing such brutality, it was not her fault that her parents could not afford her school fees, why met out such cruelty on a vulnerable child who was facing her own challenges, my friend went to school without food most times and suffered so much hardship at home, her parents struggled to make ends meet.

    It was so sad seeing our crazy teachers then beating malnourished, hungry, nervous and sad children whose parents couldn’t pay their school fees. Was it their fault? Is this the right punishment to give to children who we hope would compete with other children in the world?

    These were helpless children who did nothing wrong to warrant such inhumane treatment.

    This happened while growing up and it still happens today, this is
    senseless. Nigerian teachers still think the appropriate way of correcting children is through cane. They believe that it is the best form of discipline. It is very common in schools especially public schools to see teachers flogging children like animals, these children are left with horrible marks and scars on their body.

    There have been cases of corporal punishment that has gone drastically wrong, so many children have either lost their sight, ear impaired or even died as a result of extreme flogging.

    Most teachers are ignorant of the fundamental rights of children which are violated by corporal punishment. The child’s right act clearly forbids battery, physical assault and abuse in any form. This law should be properly enforced in schools. Children must be protected and corrected with love especially by their teachers who are there to mould their character.
    There are so many ways of disciplining a child without flogging. By brutalizing children in the name of discipline, a teacher is doing more
    harm than good, that child’s self esteem and cognitive development is being killed. The child feels worthless becomes aggressive, rugged, and very timid.

    Majority of Nigerian parents ignorantly support corporal punishment,
    I have heard parents encourage teachers to flog their children without
    knowing the adverse effect of such punishment and without thinking of the possibility of the child getting seriously injured.

    It is my opinion that flogging should be banned in schools; no research has proven that children who are beaten excessively turn out good. Corporal punishment has yielded unsuccessful result, with all the beatings given for
    late coming in Nigerian schools, we are still known for coming late to
    events, even schools start their events late, I have never attended any
    event hosted by a Nigerian school where they started early and they are so
    unapologetic about it while in other countries where children are not
    beaten for coming to school late are known for keeping to time. It is time
    schools live up to the examples they try to enforce on their learners.

    Njideka Obi, Child safety Advocate, 08060424282

    safersmarterchildren@gmail.com