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Tag: battle

  • ICYMI: $1b anti-Boko Haram battle plan sparks row

    ICYMI: $1b anti-Boko Haram battle plan sparks row

    Govt: it’s to finish off insurgents

    Shettima defends plan 

    Wike demands special cash for Niger Delta

    SERAP kicks

    Nigeria plans to lend its neighbours a hand in the anti-Boko Haram war, it was learnt at the weekednd.

    The Federal Government requested for $1billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to  bolster the military’s capacity to assist neighbouring countries, Defence Minister Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali said.

    The conference of Ministers of Defence and Chiefs of Defence Staff of member-states of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) held in Chad recommended an inclusive plan to  clear out Boko Haram insurgents from the region.

    The Federal Government has got the approval of the National Economic Council (NEC) to spend $1billion from the ECA.

    Gen. Dan-Ali said  in Lagos that the approval of the money “is in order” because it was needed to “finish off the degraded Boko Haram”.

    Gen. Dan-Ali was in Lagos for the retirement/graduation of 403 soldiers who underwent skills acquisition training at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi, Lagos.

    The retired soldiers are 281 from the Army, 17 from the Navy and 105 from the Air Force.

    The Minister said: “Boko Haram has been really degraded. I just returned from Chad from the Conference of Ministers of Defence of the Multinational Joint Task Force.

    “These are (the $1b) some of the initiatives we are looking forward to from the Federal Government so that this Boko Haram is finally degraded and finished off.”

    It was gathered that a greater chunk of the money would be spent on the acquisition of military equipment and capacity building for the Nigerian troops and militaries of neighbouring countries.

    The government was worried that Boko Haram had more firing power and expertise than the armed forces of some of our neighbouring countries.

    A source said: “One of the reasons this Boko Haram insurgency became difficult to contain is because the armed forces of our neighbours lack capacity. They neither have the equipment nor the expertise to prosecute the war. That is why the terrorists always run to their countries when they cannot withstand the heat from Nigeria.

    “Another problem is that they see the war as a Nigerian thing. But with the JTF, all the countries affected have come to realise the need to be ready. I can tell you that the $1b is to be used for state-of-the-art equipment and boost the capacity of the forces of these countries.”

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shetima also defended the approval by the National Economic Council (NEC) of $1billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to battle Boko Haram.

    The decision has been criticised in some circles, particularly because the government had declared Boko Haram degraded.

    Shettima said the decision was in line with international best practices.

    He argued that the best time to strengthen a country’s military is not when it is suffering defeat or weak but rather when it is in a position of strength either by winning a war or when there are no security challenges.

    Shettima, whose state is the epicentre of the Boko Haram crisis, spoke in Kaduna yesterday in his capacity as Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum. He attended the Kaduna (Northern) centenary celebration on Saturday.

    Shettima said: “First, I think it is really important for us not to play politics with national security because whatever ambition anyone might have for 2019, first, Nigeria has to be in continued existence before such ambition can make any sense. I was laughing when I read series of attacks on the Federal Government over that approval of one billion dollars. Some of these statements even said it was an irony for such an amount to be budgeted whereas the Federal Government has claimed to have decimated the Boko Haram. I think those saying this need to have a better understanding of what National Security entails. The fact that Boko Haram is incapacitated is even the more reason why we should strengthen our military because the best time to make your military strong is when you are in position of strength not when you are weak. Let me give you one example.  According to the 2017 Global Peace Index, whichý ranked 163 countries according to their levels of safety and peacefulness, Switzerland is ranked amongst the first ten countries that are the safest and most peaceful in the world. Switzerland is spending 4.8 billion dollars to strengthen the capacity of its military. Mind you, Switzerland has a population of only 8.3 million and they don’t have Boko Haram, they don’t have ethnic militias, they don’t have rural armed bandits, they don’t have cattle rustlers, they don’t have kidnappers, they don’t have militancy and ethno-religious conflicts. Switzerland is not even vulnerable to external aggression of terrorists. The crime rate in Switzerland is one of the lowest on earth yet they are spending 4.8 billion dollars to make their military stronger than it already is.”

    “As second example, still from the 2017 Global Peace Index, Denmark is the fifth most peacful and safest country in the world. Denmark has a population of only five million people but they are spending $3billion to strengthen their military. The entire country is less than any of  our most populated states, like Kano and Lagos. Denmark doesn’t have one per cent of our kind of security challenges yet they are spending huge to raise their military.

    ”Gathering information is expensive.  I know what it entails for information to be gathered before one single successful operation against a group of Boko Haram is carried out. ýI think those people saying all sorts of things should please not play politics with the security of this country.”

    Shettima added: “The NEC that approved that fund had Governors from different political parties. As responsible leaders, governors know what security entails because every governor deals with one or more security issues. Before you hear of one security incident, many might have been averted through proactive intelligence gathering and actions and these cost money. ýThe President Buhari we all know will not preside over a situation where monies meant for arms will be shared or misappropriated by anyone for whatever reason. President Buhari has proved to be more than sincere in all his efforts so far, in fighting Boko Haram. I am on the ground.”

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike said a special cash should also be given to Niger Delta to battle insecurity and environmental degradation

    Wike said while he would not condemn the release of a $1billion to tackle Boko Haram, the environmental and security challenges  in the Niger Delta far outweighed the Boko Haram conflict.

    Speaking during the Annual General Meeting of Okpo Club of Nigeria (Association of Ikwerre Lawyers) at the weekend in Port Harcourt, he said:

    “Niger Delta environmental problems are as serious as the Boko Haram Insurgency. I am not saying that you should not fight Boko Haram.

    “If you can get funds from the National Pool to tackle  Boko Haram, then you should go to the pool to get funds to fight environmental problems in Ogoni and other Niger Delta communities.”

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “urgently explain to Nigerians why the government decided to withdraw $1 billion from the ECA to fight Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, if his government is to avoid the intense secrecy and lack of accountability and oversight of the spending on Boko Haram that characterised the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.”

    In a statement, SERAP Deputy Director Timothy Adewale, said: ”Nigerians should have some sense of what it is the government is doing in our name, especially against the background of the declaration by the authorities that the anti-insurgency war has ended and the Boko Haram terror group defeated, as well as the unresolved questions on how over $2bn was spent by former Jonathan’s administration to fight Boko Haram. The government also ought to tell Nigerians whether and how the legal requirements for approving the extra-budgetary allocations were met.”

  • Obiano’s victory ends battle for Anambra seat

    Obiano’s victory ends battle for Anambra seat

    Governor Willy Obiano’s declaration as winner of the Anambra State election by the Independent National Electoral Commission ((INEC) yesterday ended the battle for the coveted seat in the Southeast state. RAYMOND MORDI and NWANOSIKE ONU write on the factors that shaped the election in which the incumbent trounced 35 challengers. 

    Incumbent Governor Willie Obiano of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) won last Saturday’s governorship election convincingly. He defeated his opponents in all the 21 local government with 234,071 votes, representing 55.42 per cent of the total valid votes cast.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer in the race, Dr. Tony Nwoye trailed him with 98,752 votes. Mr. Oseloka Obaze of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) followed closely with 70,293 votes.

    Obiano had the highest number of votes in his Anambra East Local Government Area. His APC challenger is also from the local government area.

    The governor got 20,510 votes in the local government, while Nwoye trailed behind with 5,248 votes. Obaze garnered 1,132 votes in the council, which has 72, 886 registered voters.

    At the height of polls’ collation, the Chief Returning Officer and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Zana Akpogu, declared that Obiano have satisfied the requirements of the law and “is hereby declared winner.”

    Obiano declared that his triumph at the election is a victory for the people and not for himself or APGA. He said it is the time to build a new world for the people of Anambra, thanking them for having confidence in him, to leading the state to the promise land.

    The United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate, Osita Chidoka, who came fourth in the race, said he lost because he refused to share money like others.

    In his reaction, the political godfather of Anambra, Chief Chris Uba, said his party, the PDP, lost the election because of the impunity and the hijack of the party by former Governor Peter Obi.

    He said the last time the PDP produced a governor in Anambra was in 2003, when he made Dr. Chris Ngige governor. He described Obaze as a foreigner imposed on the party by Obi, noting that was painful for the PDP to come a distant behind APGA and APC in Anambra.

    He, however, warned the PDP to either correct the impunity during the forthcoming national convention of the party on December 9 or remain same. He said Obi should apologise to members of the party on the pages of five newspapers and he (Uba) would know what to do.

    With the landslide victory, the people have shown more confidence in Obiano and APGA as a political platform. The APGA flag bearer defeated his APC counterpart in Senator Chris Ngige’s polling unit in Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra Central Senatorial District; in Senator Uche Ekwunife’s unit at Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra Central; and Prince Arthur Eze’s polling unit in Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area, also Anambra Central.

    The Chairman of the Willie Obiano Campaign Organisation, Chief Victor Umeh, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the way and manner the commission went about the process accounted for the difference.

    Umeh said that all the ad hoc staff and collation officers that took part in the election were selected by the commission in such a way that their identities were not known until the last minute.

    The returning officer, a former National Chairman of APGA, who said the party feared that the election might be rigged by the APC-controlled Federal Government in favour of its candidate, noted that the electoral umpire  shocked the people with the best election that has ever been held in the state.

    He said: “We already knew that Governor Obiano have won the election yesterday, but there was palpable tension that the result will be changed overnight. But the results declared here today suggest that the process was transparent: nothing was changed.

    “All the results we received from the local government collation centres yesterday were the actual results declared here today. This is what we wish for the country; to have an electoral process where the people will decide who becomes their leader. If we get it right continuously in this regard, this country will always have leaders that will serve them.”

    According to Umeh, last Saturday was not the first time APGA will be securing a landslide victory in a governorship election, recalling that “in 2013, Obiano won in 20 out the 21 local government areas in the state. But he won in all the 21 councils this time around, because of the great work he did in virtually all the communities. So, you can see that the mandate was unanimous: no local government shied away from giving him maximum support.

    “Again, APGA has shown that it is the dominant party here; the people believe in it because it represents their political life. By the time Obiano completes his second term, the party would have governed the state for 16 years.’’

    Umeh said APGA has offered good governance in the last 12 years, thereby making the state secure and stable.

    Confirming his early belief that the people will not gamble, by voting for somebody they do not know, he added: “Good governance is very rare in Nigeria; any place you see it the citizens will grab it. That’s what the people of Anambra haws done.”

     

    Why Obiano won

    One of the biggest factors that aided Governor Will Obiano’s victory is incumbency. Naturally, Obiano exploited it throughout the electioneering campaign period. His billboards and posters were the most visible throughout the major roads in the state. One can hardly find billboards and posters of the other candidates on major roads in the state. Opponents have accused the party of destroying their billboards and posters.

    In terms of performance, Obiano may not have performed to everyone’s expectation, but he exploited the fact that he is in power by embarking on last minute developmental projects to garner votes in areas his opponents are expected to have block votes.

    In his campaign, Obiano tried to whip up the same sentiments that worked for the party in previous elections. One of such is to position APGA as an Igbo party. Owing to this sentiment, APGA has been winning elections since 2003. Though former Governor Peter Obi and the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s son, Emeka Jnr., have refuted the claims of APGA that the former warlord warned the Igbo not to abandon the party, their words have certainly not made impact in the minds of the people of Anambra, who take APGA as their own.

    Besides, the party is well rooted in the state. So, it has its own die-hard supporters, who believe he has done well under the circumstance he finds himself.

    Another factor responsible for Obiano’s re-election is the zoning arrangement. In the spirit of the zoning arrangement, the two other major parties – the APC and the PDP – picked their candidates from Anambra North, which is favoured to occupy the governorship seat in the next four years. But the odds favoured Obiano, who is entitled to only one more term of four years.

    Although both Nwoye and Obaze who are from Anambra North like the incumbent signed an undertaking pledging to do only one term to complete the eight years allotted to the zone, electorates from Anambra South were more favourably disposed to back Obiano as a matter of expediency.

    Observers say the political titans from the zone were more comfortable with Obiano, because his continuation would provide the shortest route for the zone to grab power.

     

    President Buhari

    Despite being the national leader of the ruling party, the President did not interfere in the conduct of the Anambra elections. His father-for-all role was on display when he ordered the reinstatement of the security details of Obiano, who were withdrawn by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, few days to the election.

     

    INEC

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is one of the major beneficiaries of the Anambra governorship election, having conducted it without the usual hiccups that always characterized the exercise in the country.

    Though there were few complaints of late arrival of materials in some places and malfunction of the card reader machines, but the election has been adjudged the best so far in the land.

     

    Obiano

    He is the incumbent governor of the state, who was pressurised to relinquish his office by the opposition. But his dogged nature, sincerity and straight forwardness paved the way for him during the election on Saturday

    Many people had written him off in the election, but his open mind and politics of anti party by some members of other political parties gave him victory.

     

    Police

    The masses had lost confidence in the Nigeria police especially,  when it comes to issues of conducting elections in the country because of the way they bully,  harass and intimidate innocent souls.

    But the comportment of the police men including rank and file and maturity displayed by them had given  the people a new hope in the police

     

    APGA

    The party has really proved with the Obiano victory that it is no longer a party, but a movement for the voters in Anambra State. The party defeated the PDP, despite the backing of Obi, who dumped APGA for the then ruling PDP after ruling the state for two consecutive terms.

  • Adamawa arms 500 hunters, others to battle insurgency

    The Adamawa State government has empowered 500 hunters and vigilance group members in Madagali Local Government Area to fight insurgency.

    Chairman of Madagali council Yusuf Mohammed spoke in an interview with reporters yesterday. Mohammed said the hunters, who know the terrain, are being supported with cartridges and feeding allowances to sustain their contribution in the fight.

    According to him, there were about six attacks in the last one week, with the latest on Wednesday in Sabon Gari village.

    Mohammed lauded efforts of security agents and local hunters in repelling the attacks.

    He called on the Federal Government and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to deploy more military personnel in the area, which he said was experiencing growing attacks due to its closeness to Sambisa forest.

    “Our area is under siege, our people now live in fear; we can’t go to the farm or travel with ease.

    “I plead for more deployment of military and other security agents,” Mohammed said.

    The government has confirmed Wednesday’s attack in Sabon-Gari in Madagali council.

    Commissioner for Information and Strategy Ahmad Sajoh said two of the insurgents were killed.

  • APGA, PDP, APC: Warming up for battle

    APGA, PDP, APC: Warming up for battle

    Who wins the governorship election in Anambra State on Saturday? Correspondent NWANOSIKE ONU examines the preparations of the major political parties for the poll.

    The governorship election in Anambra State is just two days away.

    Already, the atmosphere is charged. There is tension in the Southeast state.

    Fears are rife that violence may mar the exercise. This may be to the warning by the members of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB)’s threat that they will disrupt the poll.

    Many people are migrating to Anambra. The hotels are fully booked. Security personnel from Abuja and other states have started arriving the state.

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has visited the state and challenged electoral officers to prepare for a good job.

    He warned them not to compromise the standard of the commission, reminding them of what befell those who violated the rules in 2015 general elections.

    However, the INEC boss told them that he would throw a party for them, if the standard is maintained during the election.

    The candidates of the leading political parties are becoming jittery. Propaganda is thriving. Spin doctors are re-moulding opinions.

    Five days ago,  the flag bearers were being assessed at a live debate organised by the Channnels Television.

    During the debate the former Minister of Aviation and one-time Corps Marshal of the federal road safety commission (FRSC), Chief Osita Chidoka, wanted to steal the show with his eloquence. Although others did well, the United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate appeared outstanding.

    Others at the debate were the candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr Tony Nwoye, Governor Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),  Oseloka Obaze of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr Godwin Ezeemo of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA).

    The campaigns will come to an end today.

    The candidates have an axe to grind with Obiano. There was a war of words over the removal of campaign posters.

    While the other parties are accusing the (APGA) led-government of being the mastermind of such action, the party’s defence is that it is all blackmail.

    Nwoye is not relenting in his bid to emerge victorious. But, eyes are also on Obaze. He has been criticising Obiano throughout the campaigns. He is a highly organised technocrat-turned politician. He is full of appeal. The former governor, Peter Obi, has assisted him a great deal. He has tried to create a hollow in the governor’s record.

    Ezeemo is counting on his philanthropic gestures to deliver the seat to his party.

    Despite impressing the public with his oratorical skills during the debate, Chidoka faces predictable hurdles on Saturday. He may take the fifth position.

    The observer groups have arrived the state. Some of them are holding seminars and workshops for the reporters and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the election.

    The attention of the political parties has shifted to the wards and local government areas. They have set up election committees with a mandate to deliver them to the parties.

    Obi, who has vowed to stop Obiano at all cost, is not leaving any stone unturned to realise his motive. But, the PDP is a divided party. Many PDP chieftains, who are working underground for Obiano, are checkmating Obi and his foot soldiers.

    The anti-Obaze PDP chieftains include Hon. Ben Nwankwo, who represents Orumba North and South Constituency in the House of Representatives and Chief Ifeanyi Ubah of Capital Oil and Gas. Scrores of PDP chieftains have defected to APGA.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has relocated to his native Alor, Idemili South Area. He is committeed to the success of his party.

    He held a rally at Alor on last week, where he spoke about the readiness of  the APC to deliver Nwoye to Ndi- Anambra.

    One of the APC chieftains who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Obi was not keen about the winner of the poll. His only motive is to ensure that Obiano’s second term bid is scuttled.

    However, Obiano has won the hearts of civil servants, following the prompt payment of salaries before the end of every month. He has also promised more welfare packages tor them, if re-elected.

    The populist tendency has made him the toast of the workers, who now refer to him as the “Alert Governor.”

    Obiano is not indifferent to stomach infrastructure. He has been distributing bags of rice to workers and pensioners during the  festive period. Pensioners are singing his praise.

    The fear in some quarters, especially in APGA, is that the election may not be free and fair as promised by the INEC.

    Last week, its national chairman, Ozonkpu Victor Oye, raised the alarm that two truckloads of INEC materials were intercepted in a hotel in Okpuno, Awka South Local Government Area.

    But, the electoral umpire denied it, saying that it was a figment of imagination.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, described the allegation as baseless.

    Will the poll be marred by violence? Will voters turn out en masse? Will it be free and fair? Saturday will tell.

     

  • PDP chairman: Governors battle ex-governors, others

    PDP chairman: Governors battle ex-governors, others

    PDP chairman: Governors battle ex-governors, others

    Secondus gains more support

    The battle for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman continued at the weekend with governors insisting on their  right to back a candidate.

    They said they might unveil their candidate before the December 9 convention.

    The governors, who have been criticised by some former governors for plotting to impose a candidate on the party, however, said their backing for a candidate would be without prejudice to other aspirants.

    They would like the party to allow the delegates to vote and determine who should lead them.

    They faulted the position of some former governors, members of the Board of Trustees (BOT), members of the National Caucus and ex-ministers who wanted behind-the-scene deals for some candidates.

    But there were indications that a former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, may be the favourite candidate.

    The governors, sources said, joined issues with a former National Chairman of the party, Sen. Ahmadu Ali, a BOT leader, Prof. Jerry Gana, ex-Deputy President of the Senate Ibrahim Mantu and other leaders at the Caucus meeting of the party in Abuja.

    The foundation leaders warned the governors against impunity and taking sides in order to get the best for the party.

    But some of the governors challenged some of the BOT leaders, ex-governors and Caucus members that they brought impunity into the party which made it to lose the 2015 election.

    A source at the session said: “The governors were unhappy that the body language of the elders was tilting towards a consensus for Prof. Tunde Adeniran from the South-West.

    “They warned the leaders against ‘working to the answer’, as the case in the past. They also vowed to resist any plot to impose a candidate.”

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose was said to have been more forthcoming at the session.

    He was quoted as saying: “The governors have the right to support a candidate as party members/ leaders but all candidates should go for the election and the delegates will vote.”

    In a tactical reference to Adeniran’s candidacy, Fayose reportedly said the governors could not stick out their necks for a candidate whose ward did not even know he is contesting for national chairman.

    The source added: “A former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, also advised the session to allow the delegates to elect a new chairman for the party.”

    The governors later asked aggrieved ex-governors, BOT and caucus members to also choose their own candidates for the election at the National Convention.

    A BOT member, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “Our fears border on the fact that we may have a highly monetised national convention. These governors have London-Paris Club refund to throw at delegates to impose a candidate on PDP. We simply advise them to allow a free process instead of being parties to the contest.

    “We also have the choice either to remain in the party or quit if they have their way. The governors are not after a free and fair process, they want to hijack the party ahead of 2019 presidential race.”

    Another source said the PDP governors may back Secondus.

    A governor, who spoke with our correspondent last night, said Secondus enjoyed the support of most of his colleagues from the Southsouth, Southeast and some leaders from the Southwest.

    Secondus and other candidates may battle for the votes of Northern delegates.

    The governor said: “Most of the governors, especially those from the Southsouth and the Southeast, are trying to build consensus around Secondus who is experienced in party management.

    “We do not have time on our side as a party to put in place a national chairman who will learn on the job.

    “But we agreed that we will not impose Secondus, he has to vie for the office with other candidates. We want the delegates from all the 36 states and the FCT to elect our new chairman.

    “If at the end of the day our choice of Secondus is wrong, the delegates will decide.”

  • Battle to revive the economy

    We are winning the battle to revive the economy. We are fighting corruption like never before. We are tackling insecurity with renewed vigour. The bottom line is that as things continue to improve, Nigerians will begin to feel the impact in their daily lives.” – Lai Mohammed.

    It is just as well Lai Mohammed admitted that the battle to revive the economy is an ongoing enterprise. It is far from being won. He was honourable enough to also admit Nigerians are yet to feel the impact of government activities on their daily lives. But since ‘hope rises eternal in the human breast’, one can safely conclude that his, is a message of hope to his fellow compatriots, 70% of whom live below $1.3 a day as a result of betrayal by our successive leaders.

    This however is not to say that Buhari administration has not made some giant strides. We have seen evidence of this in the reduced threat to the territorial integrity of our nation and in the drive towards food sufficiency for our people. There is therefore no doubt as the minister rightly observed that “discerning and well-meaning Nigerians cannot but appreciate and encourage some of the good works of Buhari’s administration” against the backdrop of obstacles mounted on his path by his APC-dominated self-serving National Assembly, his warring kitchen cabinet members and his PDP detractors who see nepotism, selective anti-corruption crusade and drive to Islamise Nigeria in every policy thrust of his government.

    But I think the minister must not be allowed to get away with the wrong impression that it is only “the naysayers who engaged in past- time of acting as distraction” that are dissatisfied with Buhari and his APC government of change. Nigerians that invested so much in Buhari’s government of change want him not only to fulfil his promises on such issues as restructuring not only as an answer to our crisis of nationhood, but also as a response to periodic invasion of our villages by Fulani herdsmen and our urban centres by kidnappers and lawless street traders and restive groups canvassing for fiscal federalism.

    It is understandable if the minister is unrestrained in his celebration of what he perceived as the success of the Buhari administration’s anti-corruption crusade. The irony however is that what the government has been doing in the last two years is to attack the symptoms rather than the real cause of corruption which is the dysfunctional federal government that controls virtually everything including ‘residual powers’, the defining feature of a federal arrangement. What the Buhari administration has done in the name of fighting corruption therefore is running after common thieves who stole government funds. Paradoxically, ex-President Jonathan has said “stealing government funds is not corruption”. We may not agree with Goodluck Jonathan, but the truth of the matter is that common thieves, the targets of Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade, are not the source of our nightmare but the all-powerful dysfunctional federal centre.

    It was the might of a dysfunctional centre that General Babangida who called himself the evil genius exploited to set up the Technical Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation (TCPC) with a decree in 1988.  Babangida thereafter went on to dispose off the following national assets: Assurance Bank, African Petroleum, Unipetrol, National Oil and Chemical Co. Plc, West African Portland Cement, Ashaka Cement, Northern Nigeria Cement, Nigeria Cement company,    Festac 1977 Hotel,   Nigerdock, Niger Insurance, Nigeria Re-insurance, Savannah Sugar, National Trucks Manufacturing, Electricity  Meter Company, Zaria, Hamdala Hotel and Federal Palace hotel  among many others.

    Similarly, Obasanjo who always like to play god hid under the might of the same dysfunctional centre to foist his 1999 Public Enterprises Privatisation and Commercialisation Act on the country in spite of opposition by many well informed Nigerians. Waving  aside opposition, his administration went on to sell off the following national assets: Delta Steel Company valued at $1.5 billion for $30m; NICON Insurance worth N6b but allegedly bought with fake MoU and fake cheques, Ajaokuta Steel Company valued at $1.5 billion but sold for $30 million, ALSCON valued at $3.2b but sold for $130m, Nigeria Re-Insurance Corp. worth N50b but sold for N1.5b (see Adamu Adamu: “BPE: Behind Closed doors”(Daily Trust,  August 12, 2011).

    The Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that probed the sales of federal government houses was also told of how a German firm, Hans Grenmly bought the Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers built at a whopping $300m in 1986 for a paltry $34m” and how “Sofitel Hotel (NICON Luxury Hotels) built with a German loan Of $139m in 1990 was bought by the federal government which it later sold off for $50m. (This Day, April 23 2008).

    Obasanjo’s monetisation policy finally paved the way for converting all GRAs in the country to private use by members of the ruling elite and the confiscation of Abuja houses including lawmakers’ residential quarters, Senate President’s mansion and other principal officers’ residential buildings, built with taxpayers’ money by bureaucrats, lawmakers and their fronts.

    As against manufacturing, most of those who confiscated our national assets embarked on asset stripping. They found it more profitable to import the labour of other societies while our own qualified children roam the streets. The PDP crooks who hijacked the dysfunctional centre introduced self- serving policies such as reduction of tariffs on imported finished products while increasing tariffs on raw materials to frustrate companies like Michelin and Dunlop out of the country. They gave themselves import tax waivers on luxury items such as state-of-the-art SUVs and bullet proof cars. Fake and substandard products continued to flood our markets in spite of billions of naira budgeted annually by our dysfunctional centre to protect our monitor our borders and protect our markets.

    The above acts of banditry by those who did not understand the policy thrust of our founding fathers that set up the industries and established the GRAs  rather than mere stealing of government funds by common thieves under Goodluck Jonathan, is responsible for massive unemployment, grinding poverty and  deaths from fake drugs and substandard vehicle parts at home and in the desert and on the Atlantic Ocean of thousands of Nigerian youths seeking greener pastures in Europe to escape grinding poverty at home.

    Nigerians believe President Buhari, like Vladimir Putin of Russia is uniquely favoured by history to address the source of our nightmare. Like Putin, Buhari enjoys the goodwill of many Nigerians. And like Putin, he has the strength of character to take on those who have continued to impoverish Nigerians after paying a paltry $1.6 to confiscate assets acquired according to El Rufai, the former BPE helmsman, between 1970 and 2008 at a cost of over $100b.

    If President Buhari in his current battle of reviving the economy, lacks the political will to adopt the Putin paradigm which forced those who, like our ruling class, confiscated Russian assets to cede the same back to the state, he can try the Obama option of spending state funds to keep sick companies afloat in order to create employment and encourage consumption. What we lose, we gain not only through employment of our youths, safety  of our motorists but also savings from billions our dysfunctional centre and the activities of federal institutions that have proved ineffective in protecting our country from influx of substandard goods.

  • We’re winning battle to curb oil glut, says OPEC

    We’re winning battle to curb oil glut, says OPEC

    Output cuts by Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil producers are clearing a supply glut that has weighed on crude prices for three years, ministers said at a meeting on Friday to review the pact that expires next March.

    The OPEC, Russia and several other producers have cut production by about 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) since January.

    The group is considering extending the deal beyond its March expiry, although two sources said Friday’s gathering was unlikely to make a specific recommendation on an extension.

    Ministers on a panel monitoring the pact, comprising Kuwait, Venezuela and Algeria, plus Russia and Oman, were meeting in Vienna after oil prices gained more than 15 percent in the past three months to trade above $56 a barrel. Since our last meeting in July, the oil market has markedly improved,” Kuwaiti Oil Minister Essam al-Marzouq said in an opening speech at the meeting he is chairing. “The market is now evidently well on its way towards rebalancing.”

    Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said OPEC and other producers now needed to work on strategy beyond March.

    “We need not only to keep up the pace but continue our coordinated joint actions in full, but also work out a strategy for the future, to which we will stick starting from April 2018,” he said, adding oil demand was rising at a “high pace”.

    Officials said before Friday’s meeting that the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee would consider extending the supply cut pact. But two OPEC sources said the ministers were not likely to make a specific recommendation for an extension.

    The committee can make policy recommendations for the wider group of OPEC and non-OPEC producers, which meets in November.

    Global oil inventories have shown signs of falling, although OPEC-led efforts to cut stockpiles to their five-year average has taken longer than expected. Oil prices remain at only half their level of mid-2014.

    Kuwait’s minister said there were a “number of positives” in the market, including stock levels in industrialised OECD states in August that were 170 million barrels above the five-year average, down from 340 million barrels in January.

    He also said oil in floating storage was falling and cited a shift of benchmark Brent prices into backwardation, a market condition in which it is more attractive to sell oil immediately rather than storing it for later sale, indicating tighter supplies.

    The Russian minister said ministers would also discuss monitoring exports, although he said the main focus was still on production.

    OPEC officials have said exports have a more direct impact on the international supply than production.

  • Battle for restructuring

    Battle for restructuring

    The Committee on True Federalism set up by the All Progressives Congress (APC) has started receiving memoranda from stakeholders across the six zones. There is no consensus on all the items on the front burner. But, the zonal and sub-zonal meetings are serving as veritable platforms for the ventilation of grievances arising from the lopsided federal structure, Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.

    he pro-restructuring crusade may have started achieving results. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may have endorsed the agitation by setting up a committee to collate views of stakeholders across the six geo-political zones. Political leaders appear to be unanimous that the resolution of the contentious national question is germane to peaceful co-existence among the diverse ethnic groups cohabiting in the highly heterogeneous nation-state.

    At Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, Yoruba leaders maintained during their recent conference on true federalism that disintegration could only be averted by the redesign of the defective federal structure. They merely echoed the puzzle raised by the slain deputy leader of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Chief Bola Ige, almost two decades ago. “Do you Nigerians want to live together in the same country?, Ige asked at a political meeting in Lagos. “ The audience answered ‘yes.’ Then, Ige asked: ‘How; on what terms?’ The Ohaneze Ndigbo, Southsouth Assembly, and Middle Belt leaders are now singing the same chorus. Prominent Northern leaders, including former military President Ibrahim Babangida and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have also echoed the popular view that restructuring is the answer.

    The APC Committee on True Federalism, led by Kaduna State Governor Nosim El-Rufai, has a mandate to review all the ideas on the resolution of the national question. The elements include true federalism, restructuring, devolution of powers, regionalism, resource control. The committee is mandated to articulate and align the public opinion with the party’s campaign manifesto and campaign promises. The stakeholders and interest groups that have submitted memoranda to the committee include individual Nigerians, political parties, professional associations, faith-based groups and civil society organisations.

    The committee has raised posers on these elements to guide the submission of memoranda. These have been outlined by the secretary of the committee, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi from Ekiti. During the deliberations in the Southwest and Southeast and Southsouth, participants have reiterated their support for national unity. However, they pointed out that there should be equity, justice and fair play in a united Nigeria. There is no consensus on the major elements of restructuring and there are indications stakeholders will abide by the majority opinion on the fundamental issues being canvassed.

    The issues put on the front burner by the committee are not different from the ones canvassed by the eminent lawyer, Kola Awodein (SAN) almost 12 years ago at a lecture in Lagos. He noted that central to the preservation of unity and corporate existence of Nigeria are certain unresolved issues. In another paper titled: “Restructuring and Constitutional Review”, delivered at the ‘Yoruba Retreat’ held at Ibadan, Oyo State capital, by the legal luminary, he identified 18 issues and concerns critical to the consolidation of federalism in the country.

    These are: religious crisis and the secularity of the state, restructuring of Nigerian Federation, return to true federalism as embodied in 1960 Independence Constitution, marginalisation and rotation of the

    Presidency, traditional rulers and stability of the nation, ethnicity and need for mutual existence, resource control and revenue allocation, and inconsistencies in the 1999 Constitution.

    Others are abolition of the Land Use Act, repeal and abolition of Petroleum Act, inclusion of the powers of the National Judicial Council, inclusion of national debt in the constitution, adoption of six zone structure, reforms of electoral laws, reform of the civil service, fiscal federalism, definition of true democracy and its implications and the challenge of globalisation and technology.

    Many political scientists agree that the military intervention wrecked havoc on the country. At independence, the founding fathers resolved to operate a federal principle to guarantee unity in diversity. In his book, “Path to Nigeria’s Freedom”, Obafemi Awolowo, identified federalism as the form of government that would be suitable for the geographical expression. Thus, at independence in 1960, Nigeria was a truly federal state hoping to build on its delicate ethnic balance. The military intervention aborted the dream through the imposition of unitary system, which subsequent constitutions failed to properly address. As posited by frontline politician, Chief Bisi Akande, unity in diversity is given an expression when there is a division or sharing of powers in a federation between the central and regional or state governments without creating a lopsided arrangement that permits the usurpation of state powers by the federal authorities. “A totally centralised authority over all functions is not a federal system; it is a unitary arrangement.” he stressed.

    Military intervention led to what the foremost legal scholar, Prof. Itsey sagay (SAN), described as ‘federal absolutism.’ He lamented that the lopsided federal/state power sharing affected seven items. They are the operation of the police, census, mineral resources, labour, trade and industrial relations, registration of business names, electric power and local government funding.

    The flawed federal posturing has persisted, 18 years after the restoration of civil rule. At a lecture in Ibadan in 2008, a political scientist, Prof. Dipo Kolawole, observed that it has been compounded by all manners of injustice by the Federal Government. The former Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti said: “Nigeria is a federation of an excessively strong central government, supposedly partnered by ridiculously weak 36 states with a Federal capital Territory supported by obviously ineffective 774 local governments. All other 801 governments combined are  weaker than the Central Government.”

    Frowing at the distribution of appointments, hee added: “A situation where there is glaring lopsidedness in sensitive federal appointments is antithetical to true federalism. In Nigeria today, with specific reference to the centre, who dominates the Presidency, the Senate, the judiciary and the military? Is there any pretext to federal character principle?

     

    Creation/merger of states:

    Should Nigeria create more states or not; should states be merged? If so, what should be the framework and guidelines?

    State creation has often reduced to the struggle of the elite who want more access to state power and resources. But, there is an evidence that some towns, communities and villages may involve in the agitation for state creation because they want separate local governments. The reason is that council creation is preceded by state creation.

    Although there is a popular argument that state creation should not be considered because many states are not economically viable, the argument has not suppressed the clamour for more states. The agitation is being fuelled by the feeling of marginalization. For example, the Ekiti people in Kwara State who occupy two local governments have not relented in their desire to opt out of the state and re-unite with their kith and kin in Ekiti State, or a separate state is created for them and other Yoruba people in Kogi. Also, the people of Ibadan and Ijebu have been calling for separate states. Ijebu’s and Remo’s claim is that it is the only province that has not been upgraded into a state in the country. However, state creation process is tedious under the 1999 Constitution. Unlike under the military, the procedures are very difficult.

    Derivation principle and Resource control:

    What percentage of federal collectable resources should be given back to their sources, for example, crude oil, solid minerals and Valued Added Tax (VAT)? Should states, regions or zones be allowed to exclusively or personally own, exploit and tap the financial benefits of natural resources in thei domain and just pay taxes to the Federal Government?

    Currently, Item 39 of the Exclusive Legislative List gives the Federal Government the sole and exclusive power to legislate on mines, minerals, including oil fields, oil mining, and natural gas. The picture contrasts sharply with the provisions of the 1960 and 1963 constitutions, which described the three, later, four regions, as “self =-governing regions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Sagay recalled that Section 140, which made provision for the sharing of the proceeds of minerals, including mineral oil, stated that “there shall be paid by the Federal Government to a region a sum equal to 50 percent of the proceeds of any royalty received by the Federation in respect of any minerals extracted in that region and any mining rents derived by the Federal Government from within the region.” Also, 30 percent went into the distributable pool ( for all the regions, including the producing region), 20 percent went to the Federal Government; 30 percent of import duties went to the distributable pool; and  import duty on petrol and diesel consigned to any region was refundable to that region.

    What are the proposed changes in the current revenue allocation formula? What should be the new sharing formula among federal, state and local government that will reflect their share of constitutional responsibilities? Should the Land Use Act be part of the constitution or not and what should be the right of states in the ownership and control of mineral and natural resources on an underground?

    Usually, there is agitation in the oil-producing region. At issue is the lack of a just procedure for sharing the national cake derivable from the coastal region. The founding fathers of Nigerian Nation subscribed to a revenue allocation formula based on principles of derivation (50 percent), need and national interest. It was turned upside down by succeeding regimes, which reduced it, right from the period of the civil war.

     

    Devolution of powers:

    What items on the Exclusive Legislative List should be transferred to the Concurrent List to enable states have direct responsibility on state police, community police and prisons?

    Over time, calls for devolution of more powers from the centre to the federating units have preoccupied the advocates of true federalism. One of the questions begging for answer is whether the distant federal government, the sole distributor of national revenue, should continue to exercise direct powers over the local governments. Many Nigerians are of the opinion that the power-loaded federal government should shed its weight. Many have also asked: what is the role of the Federal Government in agriculture? Who owns the land?

    Also, opinion is divided on state police. This is due to the likely abuse of the institution. However, majority of Nigerians agree that maintenance of public order and public safety in a federal country is a huge task that has made the decentralisation of security more compelling. In Nigeria, governors who are chief security officers lack control over the Commissioners of Police in their states. They rely on the distant Inspector-General to maintain law and order.  In countries like Australia, Canada, United States of America, and India, policing is decentralised, with functions allocated to the tiers of government. Adducing reason for state police, former APC Interim National Chairman Akande said: ”We ought to have even moved from state police to community police by recruiting policemen from the ethnic groups to be served so that they live in the community, speak the language of the people and understand their culture and environment for effective policing.”

     

    Federating units:

    Should the Nigerian federation be based on regions or zones as units or maintain the current 36 state structure?

    Despite the collapse of the regions into states, there is the retention of loyalty to the regional arrangements that formed the federal union at independence. The clamour for regional economic integration by contiguous states sharing common identities, cultural values and aspirations is a fall out of the internalisation of regionalism without compromising the federal health of the heterogeneous entity. Thus, Awodein canvassed two options, which are focal points of federalist persuasion in contemporary Nigeria. He called for the organisation of the six zones as federating units while retaining the present states as units of government within the zone.

    He also said: “The states should remain as federating units and that the six geo-political zones should be enshrined in the constitution and states within each of these six zones being constitutionally empowered to create a zonal organisation for the management of common services, interest and promotion of economic and political cooperation”.

    But, there are indications that while states prefer regional economic integration, they tend to loath a return to the old political and administrative region. Shouts of gedegbe l’Eko wa has deep meaning. Lagosians do not want to return to Ibadan. At the Southwest stakeholders meeting where the APC Committee collated views, majority rejected the push for regionalism, contrary to the suggestion by the Yoruba Assembly which had held a conference on restructuring at Ibadan. They called for the preservation of the 36 state structures.

     

    Form of government:

    Should Nigeria continue with the presidential system o return to the parliamentary system as practiced in the First Republic or develop a hybrid of the systems?

    The presidential system is expensive and it permits wastage of public resources. In the view of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, it may lead to doom. Under the system, electioneering is also expensive, unlike in a parliamentary system, where costs of administration and seeking office are comparatively lower. Many advocates of good governance have contended that a system of administration that does not provide for adequate measures to curtail executive excesses is prone to abuse and corruption. That is the dark side of presidential democracy in Nigeria. Also, Aregbesola pointed out that party supremacy and party discipline can only be maintained under parliamentary system.

     

    Independent candidacy:

    Should there be a constitutional provision for eligible citizens to contest elections without being members of registered political parties?

    Every politics, as it is said, is local. A community that has confidence in the ability of an individual may become a beneficiary of independent candidacy, if the individual is edged out of the party’s nomination process.

     

    Local government autonomy:

    Should local government areas be independent of states and have direct revenue sourcing from the Federal Government as the third tier of the federation or should they be administrative units of states?

    In Nigeria, states are at liberty to create and dissolve local governments, but the National Assembly reserves the right to list the newly created councils in the constitution. Many were taken aback when President Olusegun Obasanjo stopped allocations due to local councils in Lagos State for three years. The move crippled effective grassroots administration; local councils being the closest tier of government to the people. The push for autonomy of local government has polarised the polity. But, there are puzzles: are councils not administrative units of the state at the grassroots? Is council a third tier in Nigeria? What remains of the state when the local governments are taken away?

     

    Power sharing and rotation:

    Should Nigeria have a policy of rotation of key elected positions on regional o zonal basis for national offices and by senatorial districts for state offices?

    If this is adopted, what will be the place of merit, competence and credibility? Should all these virtues be sacrificed on the altar of zoning?

     

    Type of legislature:

    Does Nigeria need a bi-cameral or uni-cameral, part-time or full-time parliament?

    In the First Republics, legislators served as part-time members of the parliament. They held on to their professions while serving as in the legislature. They were also not collecting bogus salaries.

  • Battle over traditional stool claims one life in Ondo

    Battle over traditional stool claims one life in Ondo

    One person has reportedly died in the crisis  in Ugbo community  at Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, over the Olugbo of Ugbo stool.

    Property estimated at millions of naira were said to have been destroyed.

    It was learnt that buildings, vehicles, boats and other valuables were set ablaze during the clash between supporters of the Olugbo, Oba Frederick Akinruntan, and the former occupant of the stool, Adebanjo Mafimisebi.

    A middle-aged woman, Bidemi Mafimisebi, and others were reportedly injured in the clash, which lasted several hours.

    It was learnt that Mafimisebi, who was removed by the Supreme Court on January 12, after occupying the throne for 25 years, was allegedly scheming to return to the throne.

    After Mafimisebi’s removal, the Ojadele Ruling House, headed by Prince Robert Nana, unanimously selected and presented Akinruntan as the candidate for the vacant stool on November 4, 2008.

    An indigene of the community, who spoke in confidence, said: “Till date, Prince Mafimisebi does not really see Oba Akinruntan as a king.  Mafimisebi believes he was unjustly dethroned.

    “Since this new government came on board, Prince Mafimisebi has been warming his way to use the instrument of government and get back to the throne.”

    It was learnt that the development irked Akinruntan’s supporters, forcing them to burn property belonging to Mafimisebi’s loyalists.

    Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi, who led a government team to the community, said the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu administration had met with the warring sides to resolve the crisis.

    Ajayi said a good step had also been taken to ensure that such a crisis did not recur.

    He urged youths in the area to sheathe their swords for peace to reign.

    Ajayi assured them that the government will always protect their lives and property.

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the command was not aware of the development last night.

    He said since the clash was a traditional matter, the police would allow the parties to settle their differences internally or seek judicial intervention.

    Joseph said: “The police will not dabble in chieftaincy-related issues. But if we notice the situation is getting out of hand, we will come in.”

  • Oshodi – Airport Road: The battle for new look begins

    Oshodi – Airport Road: The battle for new look begins

    After years of neglect, the Airport-Oshodi road is to get a facelift. The redevelopment of the all-important road, kicked-off penultimate Monday by Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode through his Waterfront Infrastructure Development Commissioner Ade Akinsanya, will be completed in 15 months. The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media & Strategy Idowu Ajanaku writes the ambitious project.

    The winning edge a leader exhibits, to stand tall, heads and shoulders above his contemporaries is predicated on his consistent capacity to translate people-oriented vision and dreams into concrete reality. Assembling a team of competent professionals, who also believe in that vision, is imperative.

    Other facilitating factors include the driving desire to prioritise the projects and scale them within a realistic financial framework and time. The other is the involvement of the beneficiaries for their proper use and sustainable maintenance.

    Interestingly, these attributes and more, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has amply demonstrated since mounting the pedestal of political power on May 29, 2015. The accountant-turned politician has to his credit several solid structures on infrastructural development that have endeared him to the hearts of millions of Lagosians over the past two and a half years.

    But one new project that will certainly mark him out as a leader with his thinking cap firmly fixed is the recent kick-off of the long-neglected road that stretches from the Murtala Muhammed Airport to the ever-bustling Oshodi. With an eye on the future, as Lagos gears up to become the third largest economy on the continent by 2020, overtaking the combined resources of 32 others in Africa,  he is fully aware that the advantages are profound, not only for Lagos but the entire country, Nigeria.

    As the busiest airport road in sub-Saharan Africa that welcomes a variety of nationals – including businessmen, investors, entrepreneurs, political bigwigs, entertainers and tourists – from across the globe, its status ought to have been restored long before now. It should have been rebranded as a national pride, with a warm, welcoming embrace signifying the Africaness that Nigeria symbolises.

    In its past state, it definitely left a sour taste in the mouth of an average first-time visitor to the country. It portrayed Nigeria as a country at war with itself! Indeed, not even the airport roads in the war-torn Syria or Beirut are as decrepit and deplorable. But, as a pragmatic leader, Ambode saw it and decided to light a candle, instead of blaming the darkness.

    To up the ante, the state government disclosed that it will not adopt the Federal Government design made decades ago for the reconstruction of 10-lane Oshodi-Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, Instead, the road with a distance of 5.7064 kilometres will boast of two service lanes, 20 lay-bys, interlocking stones walkway and five modern bridges; bolstered with two flyovers and three pedestrian bridges. Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Mr. Adebowale Akinsanya, specifically noted these additional structures at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Welcome Centre Hotel, Airport Road.

    In retrospect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had made attempt to reconstruct the road during his second term tenure in 2003, but the then Minister of Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe, used the federal might to scuttle the ambitious project. He insisted that the road belonged to the Federal Government and the state had no business working on it. It was a similar situation during the Fashola years, all because the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party)-controlled the federal government while the CAN (Action Congress of Nigeria) and later the APC (All Progressives Congress) took over the mantle of leadership. What an aberration for a country in crying need of political and economic restructuring.

    However, hope rose when the former governor, Babatunde Fashola became the Minster for Power, Works and Housing. Surprisingly, deliberate efforts were made to frustrate the state government’s genuine efforts to take charge as the minster became a cog in the wheel of progress.

    His explanation then was that the Federal Government designed an eight-lane dual carriage way to be built with N2 billion in the federal budget. Governor Ambode was left with no option but to address a press conference to ventilate his shock at the turn of events. In fact, it took the prompt intervention of Vice President Yemi Osibanjo through an executive order to set the ball rolling for the project.

    The good news now is that the state government is going to execute the same project using Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). And on completion, it will be a replica of the modern road network that leads to Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. With the advantages of changing the socio-economic landscape of Lagos metropolis, the image of Nigeria as well as easing traffic in the ever-expanding metropolis, it will eventually lead to an increase in foreign investment. Jobs will be created and the quality of life of the average Lagosian improved upon.

    This innovative approach to governance through sustained urban renewal is in tandem with what Asiwaju Tinubu has said of the governor.  He said: “Akinwunmi Ambode has reflected that he is clearly a thinker and doer. I want to say thank you because experience is a great teacher and I am experienced. I am on the spot and I have watched things in Lagos since my tenure ended.”

    In June this year, the Word Bank, represented by its Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Joaquim Vieira Levy commended the massive and impact-making infrastructural development across Lagos State, under the Ambode administration. Levy used the auspicious occasion of the visit to assure that the state’s urban renewal and infrastructure development projects would continue to receive more boost from the World Bank to assist the Government deliver more on key infrastructural.

    The World Bank chief decided to pick Lagos State as its pilot state for its sustainable development assistance scheme. The reason: because Lagos has demonstrated leadership in providing good governance catalysed by infrastructures that have direct positive impact on its citizenry. This is the truth.

    For instance, one Nathaniel Ajayi, a resident of Abesan, a sleepy community in the northern part of Lagos, said of Ambode’s magic wand in transforming Lagos with projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the residents: “I was born in 1993 here in Abesan, I had always dreamt that one day the kind of development I see in Victoria Island, Lekki and Ikeja will take place here. Today our governor has made my dream come true.” Nathaniel spoke at the inauguration of the link bridge at Abesan to ease transportation headaches in that axis.

    What more can one add, but to urge the indefatigable governor not to rest on his oars. Keep up the good job!