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Tag: Gbonigi

  • Gbonigi, others call for true federalism

    Gbonigi, others call for true federalism

    •Yoruba group urges Southwest states to ban grazing

    LEADERS of a socio-cultural group, Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), have called for the country’s restructuring to reflect true federalism.

    Addressing a news conference on the state of the nation at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan yesterday, the group, led by Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference.

    Senator Mojisoluwa  Akinfenwa, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Prof.  Tunde Adeniran, Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu, former Lagos State Deputy governor Chief Kofowola Akerele-Bucknor , Chief Olabisi Sangodoyin, Dr. Kunle Olajide and many others attended the event.

    The forum advised the President to put together “a strong team of patriotic economists to help navigate through the country’s economic challenges”.

    It said the activities of armed Fulani herdsmen in the Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria constituted threat to national security.

    According to the group, the attitude of the Federal Government and the security agencies in confronting the “criminals who roam the streets of Nigeria with automatic weapons in broad daylight send mixed signals and may compel citizens to take necessary measures to defend themselves”.

    “We are very unhappy that the President has remained silent even in the face of the heinous crimes committed by this group such as the Agatu massacre in Benue State and the Enugu massacre, just to mention a few,”the forum leader said.

    Gbonigi maintained that the President must publicly condemn the atrocities being committed by the herdsmen with the passion he had shown with lesser crimes.

    appointment shows that the Northwest, which is the President zone has 26 positions or 44 per cent of all appointments made by the President so far, Northeast has nine positions or 15 per cent, Northcentral has six positions or 10per cent, Southwest has seven positions or 11. 8 per cent, Southsouth has eight positions or 13.56per cent and the Southeast three positions or five per cent.

    “This brings the total for the North to 41 positions or 69.5per centand the South is left with 18 positions or 30.5per cent.”

    On the economy, the YUF leader noted that the economy in the last one has continued to perform dismally leading to contraction.

    He added that inflation rate soared to 13.7 per cent in April  from 12 percent a month earlier.

    “The Foreign investors are fleeing our shores in droves. The production of crude oil, our major source of revenue, has collapsed from a projected 2.2million barrels per day to just about 1.4 million barrels per day due to Niger Delta militancy.

    “Power generation level in the country has dropped to 2320 megawatts (mw) as compared to a previously attained high of over 4000mw. Our external reserves have dipped to below $27billion from about $32billion a year ago. These are dire statistics,” the group said.

    But he hailedBuhari on the fight against corruption, calling on the National Assembly to amend the laws establishing the anti-graft bodies with a view to placing the agencies under the supervision of the judiciary due to constant abuse by the Executive.

  • Ekwueme, Clark, Gbonigi, other southern leaders reject proposed Grazing Bill

    Ekwueme, Clark, Gbonigi, other southern leaders reject proposed Grazing Bill

    Nouthern Nigeria leaders, under the aegis of Southern Nigeria People’s Assembly (SNPA), have condemned the rumoured existence of a bill in the National Assembly seeking the establishment of grazing reserves across Nigeria.

    They described the move as anachronistic and antiquated, adding that private commercial ventures should not be elevated into national or government business.

    The statement, which was read by the Coordinating Secretary of SNPA, Dr. Ifedi Okwenna, in Asaba, the Delta State capital, deplored the rampaging attack, raping and killing of innocent Nigerians, especially the recent killings in Enugu, Benue and other states by the notorious Fulani herdsmen.

    Among the people at the three-day meeting were former Vice President Alex Ekwueme (represented by former Anambra State governor, Chukuwuemeka Ezeife; Ijaw National Leader Chief Edwin Clark, represented by Senator Roland Owie and Senator Femi Okorounmu, who  stood in for Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi.

    Ekwueme represented the South East while Clark and Gbonigi represented the South-South and the South West respectively.

    They said that the grazing bill portends danger to the nation as it will institute a source of permanent conflict in the land, especially the federal structure of the country and the 1999 Constitution, which vested the power to hold land in the 36 states of the country and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

    The leaders said: “The President should deal decisively with the issue of Fulani herdsmen in the manner government is dealing with the insurgency problem, that if unchecked, has the capacity to snowball to another Boko Haram.

    “Consequently, he should set up a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to investigate all Fulani herdsmen attacks between May 2015 till date and all those found to be directly or remotely involved in those attacks should be arrested and brought to book.”

    The leaders observed that the inability of President Buhari to begin the implementation of the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference was objectionable, as the resolutions, if implemented, may help in resolving many political, socio-economic and security challenges of the country.

    While calling on Nigerians to support Buhari in his anti-corruption drive, war on insurgency and his effort at reviving ailing industries, the Southern leaders urged the president to respect the rule of law, the protection of citizens’ fundamental human rights and the pronouncements of the courts.

    They advised that the war on corruption should neither be vindictive nor selective as selective justice amounts to injustice, and the immediate release of all Nigerians which various courts have given bail and have subsequently met their bail conditions.

    Also, they advised the Northern Elders Forum to desist from infusing in the present administration the “we and they” mentality, which they say usually creates division and confusion in the polity.

    “The Northern Elders Forum should realise that President Muhammadu Buhari is the President of Nigeria and not the President of Northern Nigeria.

    “The government is therefore for the entire Nigeria, and programmes and projects should be for the overall development and growth of the country and not a section of it.”

    They urged government to look into the gaps that existed in the foreign exchange market and bridge it and to also find solutions to the lingering fuel supply gaps and the epileptic electricity supply in the country.

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who was represented by his Special Adviser of Labour, Mr. Mike Okeme, charged the assembly to use the platform to promote the unity of the country as development could only thrive in a peaceful and secured atmosphere.

    He said: “You are here to deliberate and proffer solutions to some of the national issues.

    “As you discuss, you should ensure that you represent the county in a positive light.

    “You should also use this platform to keep Nigeria united.”

  • Gbonigi: we’re operating fake democracy

    Elder statesman and retired Bishop of Akure Anglican Diocese, Rev Bolanle Gbonigi, has taken a swipe at the nation’s democracy.

    The cleric said the present democratic system was below the expectation of the nation’s founding fathers.

    Gbonigi said Nigeria’s democracy fell short of the values expected in a real democracy.

    He blamed leaders for the state of the nation’s democracy and the economic depression facing the country.

    Delivering a public lecture in Akure, the Ondo State capital, at the weekend, Bishop Gbonigi said democracy is on trial and its success depends on political leaders.

    The retired bishop lamented that the glorious days of democracy in the country started to dim when some selfish politicians joined partisan politics.

    His words: “This class of politicians in order to satisfy their selfish desire dethroned altruism and nationality and  enthroned selfish and tribal and ethnic chauvinism.

    “Consequently, we have counterfeit or fake democracy, instead of the genuine or authentic one we once enjoyed.”

    “Our democracy today lacks basic factors that could make it thrive.

    “The success of the present democratic experience lie with the politicians.

    “The 1999 Constitution, which formed the basis of the current democracy, is seriously faulty, hence the need for the amendment of the constitution.

    “Free and fair election is lacking in Nigeria because there were evidences of rigging in some parts of the country during the last general elections.

    “The principle of federalism, which accounted for the progress and development witnessed during the First Republic is lacking in the present Nigerian democratic practice.”

  • Gbonigi, Diya others canvass for equity, justice

    THE Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) has charged leaders at tiers of government to embrace equity, justice and fair play, describing these virtues as the essential mechanisms of good governance.

    The forum made the plea during its meeting to review its progress so far.

    Former Chief of General Staff, Lt. General Oladipo Diya (rtd), former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Archbishop of Methodist Church, Ayo Ladigbolu, in their speeches at the event also urged President Goodluck Jonathan to rectify what they described as ‘the marginalisation of the Yorubas’, as compensation for the massive support he received from them during the 2011 election.

    The members also seized the opportunity to ratify the forum’s constitution, while the nomination of Chief (Mrs). H.I.D Awolowo and Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi as the chairman and deputy chairman respectively were also ratified.