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Tag: governors

  • Governors, security agents work out solution to IPOB

    Governors, security agents work out solution to IPOB

    There is a consensus that the military operations in some parts in Abia State must not be allowed to plunge the country into chaos. As part of efforts to douse the tension, Southeast governors are meeting today and an emergency security meeting will be held in Jos. Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna; Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi and Yusufu Idegu, Jos report.

    DESPITE the decision of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu not to attend the meeting of the Southeast Governors Forum, the parley will go on as scheduled, it was learnt yerter.

    The governors are to appraise the face-off between the Nigerian Army and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in Aba and Umuahia, Abia states.

    The Director of Media & Communication at the forum’s secretariat, Mr. Mike Udah, confirmed the meeting in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abakaliki.

    Udah said that he had not received any contrary information, even as IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu had indicated in media reports that he would not attend the meeting.

    Udah said: “I have not received any contrary information from my superiors on the convening of the meeting due to Kanu’s reported absence.

    “The Southeast governors are desirous to ensure that such an incident does not re-occur and bring lasting peace in the zone.”

    The forum, under the chairmanship of Ebonyi Governor David Umahi, had earlier inaugurated a seven-man committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the clash and report back to it during the meeting.

    Udah denied some media reports that the governors condemned the army’s invasion of both cities, which portrayed it as being against the Federal Government.

    He, however, said that the governors were consulting with relevant stakeholders, including the military hierarchy, to permanently resolve the issue.

    Uwazuruike: IPOB activities against Igbo interest

    THE Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) leader, Ralph Uwazuruike, yesterday condemned the activities of IPOB activities in the Southeast.

    The MASSOB chief said IPOB’s approach negates the rule of engagement of the Biafra struggle.

    Uwazurike, who spoke yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital,  said the activities of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, could only lead to an unplanned war which, according to him, was not on the card for the Biafra struggle.

    He said the interest of the Biafra movement was to secure the interest, lives and property of Igbo people and not to start another war.

    Uwazurike alleged that Kanu’s major interest was to destroy MASSOB’s agenda, explaining that the hallmark of any freedom fighter was to submit to being arrested.

    He said: “A real freedom fighter submits to arrest but Kanu has told his members to burn down the country if he is re-arrested, a true indication that he was paid to destabilise MASSOB.”

    Uwazurike also accused the Federal Government of popularising Kanu, adding that “if the government had ignored Kanu, the situation would not have escalated.’’

    He attributed Kanu’s popularity to the relevance given to him by the Federal Government and called on all Igbo leaders to condemn the IPOB activities as it had no agenda.

    Uwazurike said: “The IPOB has no agenda and I advise Igbo leaders to condemn its activities. Nnamdi Kanu has no agenda and he is only thriving on the relevance given to him by the government.

    “I recruited him and I know his capacities and he is not a leader. I have 25 steps towards actualising Biafra and Kanu does not have even one agenda.”

    Uwazurike condemned attacks on northerners over the ongoing military manoeuvre, code-named, Operation Python Dance II in the Southeast.

    According to him, any attack on northerners will be counter-productive as many Igbos are resident settlers in the North.

    IPOB agitation a child’s play, says Okorocha

    AGITATIONS by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for a sovereign republic in the Southeast are mere child’s play, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha said yesterday.

    Okorocha, who doubles as the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), spoke in Makurdi, Benue State, after leading a delegation of the forum on a visit to Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs), and victims of the floods that ravaged homes and farmlands in the Northcentral state.

    He said no reasonable Igbo was backing the agitation for secession.

    His words: “I have always said that IPOB is an agitation group, but the captioning is bad when you talk of sovereignty within a sovereign nation and also talking of secession.

    “Let me assure you that no Ibo person, or man is in support of secession and people must see this as a childish act. We must stand up to address it before it becomes a national problem.

    “As for us leaders in that area, it will be insane for anyone to think that the IPOB leader will ask us to follow him to seek secession.

    “So, Nigerians must learn to address it specifically. If you are addressing IPOB, you should be specific and not to address it as if it is an Igbo affair.”

    Okorocha, who personally donated N10 million to the victims, also sympathised with Benue State over the disaster, stressing that his team was on a fact-finding mission to pave the way for a larger visit of the APC governors.

    Northern youths to Kanu: don’t endanger your kinsmen

     

    Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), an umbrella for youth organisations in the North has lashed out at the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

    It described him as an over-ambitious agitator scheming to be President of Biafra State at the expense of his people’s lives.

    The AYF urged Kanu and his supporters to stop endangering the lives of their brothers residing in other parts of the country, especially in the North.

    It said no effort must be spared to avoid any attack that may trigger reprisals, accusing IPOB of plotting to plunge the country into a war.

    The group said it refused to be provoked with the latest provocative actions by IPOB members.

    A statement by the group’ National President, Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu entitled: “Southeast: Time for reason to prevail”, noted that the self-acclaimed IPOB leader does not have the interest of Igbo at heart, alleging that his actions could endanger the lives and properties of his kinsmen sojourning outside the Southeast.

    The AYF leaders urged stakeholders to immediately wage into the situation in the Southeast to nip in the bud possible escalation of the fast-spreading rumour on the social media.

    He said the intervention became imperative with the approach of the October 1 earlier deadline given by the various groups.

    The northern youth groups withdrew their live-our-region threat served on Igbo resident-settlers in the North following interventions by some concerned leaders in the North, including the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    According to the statement: “We are working to curtail any reprisal in the north following  the rising tension in the Southeast and North in particular, because of the sad news of the destruction of human lives and property in Abia and Rivers states, by IPOB members allegedly targeted at non-indigenes.

     “We wish to call on our people in the North and all over the country  to show high level of maturity, intelligence and patriotism, and avoid been provoked to behave in  the same manner like the aggressors who have ulterior motive of throwing the whole country into chaos.  Let us be different and show that we are a people that are peace- loving and hospitable to those among us.

    “As a group of youths devoted to the prosperity of Nigeria as an indivisible entity we refused to be provoked by a semi illiterate loser from London, who found his way back to Nigeria and conned his gullible people into accepting him as their so called freedom fighter and hero and even Messiah to many.

    “Nnamdi Kanu and the vast majority of his followers were not born when Nigeria fought the civil war to keep us all as one. Millions lost their lives. These ill-informed persons do not know the misery, death and destruction that war brings. It is therefore too easy for them to beat the drums of war.

    “Let it be known that as the umbrella organisation of all youths in the North,  we are working to see that there is no reprisal anywhere in the North to the activities of IPOB terrorists who are oblivious of the fact that if reprisal attacks were to happen in the North, our Igbo brothers and sisters living in the region will sustain far worse losses than anybody else.

    “However, we are not unaware of the fact that the sanctity of the lives of Nigerians and that of Igbo in the North in particular and anywhere in the country and the security of their properties have never been Nnamdi Kanu’s concerns!

    “The man is busy basking in the delusion that he will one day be the head of state of a nation that he is fighting to install and the wellbeing of the people is never his concern.

    “It is very important to alert well-meaning Nigerians that we must not allow ourselves to be used as pawns to achieve an agenda of balkanising Nigeria. We are committed to the oneness of the country and we believe that the country is better off as one indissoluble country.

    “We must therefore avoid reprisals, and remain calm and law-abiding at all times not to play into the hands of the secessionist foot soldiers. We are committed to making sure all Nigerians are happy and safe anywhere in the country and in the North in particular.

    “Going forward we want to align with our northern leaders and northern governors that the North is totally committed to the unity of the country and the oneness of Nigeria is not negotiable. Let us be wise and ignore the merchants of war,” the AYF said.

    IPC condemns invasion of Abia NUJ secretariat

     

    The Lagos office of the International Press Centre (IPC) yesterday condemned Tuesday’s invasion of Abia State NUJ Secretariat by troops of the Operation Python Dance II. 

    Relying on media reports, the IPC said: “The military personnel reportedly beat up journalists at sight and destroyed their working tools, furniture, documents and other property yet to be quantified.”

    In a statement by its Director Lanre Arogundade, the IPC described the unprovoked attack as shameful and a clampdown on democracy as the list of attacked journalists recently seems to grow daily with the worrisome trend becoming more condemnable.

    The statement reads: “If the military wants to exercise its authority and strength, it should be channeled into assisting the media to make progress in a democratic era and not victimising media professionals.

    “IPC therefore calls on the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to thoroughly probe the incident so that all the personnel involved would be made to face the law.”

    Besides, Arogundade said the military authorities should replace all damaged equipment in the Abia State NUJ secretariat.

     

    Umuahia NBA urges withdrawal of soldiers

     

    The Umuahia branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday urged the immediate withdrawal of troops deployed in the Abia State capital to avoid hitting up the polity.

    Urging the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to immediately redeploy the soldiers operating under Operation Python Dance II, said there was no security threat in Umuahia to warrant military operation.

    He said that the unfolding development Abia between soldiers and members of the public underscored the urgency to reconsider the necessity of Operation Python Dance II.

    The NBA branch chairman, Nnamdi Eluwa told reporters at a news conference that the Army would lose its meaning, value and worth in the minds of the society if the soldiers in Abia were not withdrawn and redeployed.

    Eluwa stressed that the Umuahia branch of NBA would not support any enterprise that would violate the fundamental human rights of Abia people.

    He said: “It is our position that there is no security threat in Umuahia and its environs to warrant the deployment of soldiers to intimidate and molest innocent Nigerians who are going about their lawful business.

    “We condemn in strong terms the unfortunate attack on journalists in Umuahia and raiding of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat by officers of Nigerian Army on September 12.

    “The attack on members of the NUJ by the Army to say the least is an attack on the people of Abia.” Eluwa said there was no need for massive deployment of soldiers in the Southeast as the area is peaceful.

     

    Curfew in Jos, soldiers deployed.

     

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong will today chair an emergency security meeting for the Government House in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

    The governor summoned the meeting last night following rising tension in the Tin City. He announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew (6pm to 6am) on the city to douse the tension.

    Billed for the meeting are representatives of the Igbo and Hausa communities in Jos as well all the security agencies in the state.

    The security meeting is a follow up security strategy to avoid the growing tension degenerating into violence between the Igbos and the Hausas.

    The meeting between the two ethnic groups became necessary as the tension in the state was generated with rumours of some non-indigenes being killed in Aba, Abia State as well as the plan for reprisals in Jos.

    The special military troops in Jos, code-named Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) said it has deployed its men to the flash points in Jos, particularly at Chobe, Apata, Katako, Bauchi road, Tafawa Balewa, Farin Gada, Gadabiu, Zaria road.

    According to the media officer of the Special Task Force, Captain Umar, “residents can be assured that we are on top of the situation and we can guarantee every resident to go about their normal business without fear. The tension is unnecessary, needless and ineffective because we are on ground.

     

    Army probes video on rights abuse

    Investigations into the video clip of alleged human rights’ violations by soldiers which has been trending on the social media has stated, the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army Headquarters said yesterday.

    The stand of the army was contained in a statement signed by Col. Sagir Musa, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relation, 82 Division.

    The statement said the military was looking for the source and actors in the clip.

    It reads: “The attention of the Headquarters, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, has been drawn to a video clip trending on social media and other platforms purportedly showing troops humiliating some people at a check point in Abia State, Nigeria.

    “The issue is being investigated with the view to ascertain the source and the actors in the clip. Our code of conduct and rules of engagement are quite clear and any officer or soldier that infringed on any of such directive if found guilty, will face full wrath of the military justice system.

    “We would like inform the public that 82 Division is also aware of the planned misinformation and propaganda arrangement by the secessionists Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    “They intend to churn out prerecorded video clips aimed at discrediting the Nigerian Army, causing disaffection among the citizens of this country. They will be using bogus, manipulated and photo-shopped photographs as well as video clips. The public should be wary of such mischief, scrutinize and report same to the Nigerian Army or any of security agencies.

    “The Division wishes to reassure the public that it is determined to ensuring the safety of lives and properties in its area of operational responsibility, particularly the entire Southeast geo-political zone as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “We do not condone any act of indiscipline in the conduct of our operations and training exercises. Any claim of rights violation would be investigated and when confirmed, appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against the erring personnel”.

  • Pay your workers, Buhari tells governors

    Pay your workers, Buhari tells governors

    President Muhammadu Buhari has urged state governors to ensure payment of outstanding salaries of workers in their states.

    He made the plea during a courtesy visit of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.

    “There are Nigerians that haven’t been paid for six months; there are Nigerians that have not been paid their retirement benefits for years.

    “I’m appealing to the governors, (that was why we voted money, we borrowed money), please make sure anybody under you, pay them because most of them depend on that salary to pay rent, school fees.

    “I would like to convince you that I’m living with the problems of this country day-by-day, and mostly those of the ordinary people,”  President Buhari stated.

    He pointed out that the mismanagement of the national revenue over the years was responsible for the current economic challenges facing the nation.

    He said that he will continue to pursue programmes and projects that will better the lives of Nigerians in all spheres of live.

    According to him, Nigeria should be able to use its population strength, as the biggest black nation in the world, to its advantage.

    The President also assured that all hands are on deck to completely secure the country so as to develop it further.

    Speaking earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto, thanked God for bringing the President back in sound health and urged the President to tightened his belt and take on the mantle of leadership.

    He said with a monarch from each of the political zone assuring Buhari of their support, the President should take the comments as honest and the tonic he needs to work hard for the nation.

    He said, “We will continue to preach peace and stability, justice, transparency and accountability and anti corruption.”

    Speaking for the South West, the  Oni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwunsi, also thanked God for the safe return of the President and for restoring his health.

    He said “From south west we thank God for your life and we pledged  to support you from our communities because we are closer to our people. We will continue to preach to our people that we should continue to foster peace in our country, we will continue to caution our youths against  hate speeches.

    “We cannot leave the development of the country all to the government but we have to work hand in hand. We assure you that we support all your initiatives.” he said

    Speaking for the North West, the  Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said the traditional rulers identify with Buhari’s commitment for national security.

  • Dont release final Paris Club refund yet to governors-NLC

    Dont release final Paris Club refund yet to governors-NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to release the third and final tranche of the Paris Club refund to state governors until they make a concrete commitment to use the money to settle outstanding salaries, allowances and pension of workers and retirees in the country.

    The congress also demanded an immediate and comprehensive audit of all monies so far spent in government effort at reviving the power sector in the country since 1999 which it said has failed to yield result, but rather produced several billionaires as a result of diversion of the funds.

    In a communique made available to newsmen at the end of its Central Working Committee meeting, the Congress is asking the government to immediately inaugurate the National Minimum Wage negotiating committee in view of the impoverishment of the Nigerian worker.

    The communique signed by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and General Secretary, Dr, Peter Oyo-Eson also wants the federal government to compel state governors to properly account for the bail out funds they received from the federal government as well as the two tranches of the Paris Club refund which was supposed to be used for the payment of salaries and pensions, but diverted to other uses.

    The Congress regretted that government has not lived up the expectation of Nigerians and are in the habit of reneging on signed agreements with unions, pointing out that the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities was avoidable.

    The congress said that “many of the discussions around restructuring have not paid adequate attention to the question of ealth distrinbution in thr Nigerian society. It resolved to set up a committee toharmonise the various views expressed at the meeting with a view to articulating a congress position on the issue for subsequent presentation to the organuised labour.

    “It reviewed the contoinous non payment of months of outstanding salaries of workers in some states of the federation as well as various arears of pension which has also run into several months which is the actual situation despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s passion to addressthis matter since he assumed office by giving bail out to governors to clear thius shameful state of affairs with the nation”s workforce. 

    “The Federal government has further released tranches of Paris Club refund to states government with specific appeals to the and commitment by the governors forum to use the refund for the settlement of arrears of salaries and pension owed by various states to their civil servants and retrirees.

    “Despite the President”s laudable intervention notwithstabding, states like Kogi, Benue and Bayelsa are still owing workers 5-10 months in salaries  arrear and pension. There are other states like Kaduna and Zamfara that have refused to disclosed any information about how it had utilized the bailout and Paris Club refund despite demand from unions and the general public.

    “Several efforts by unions and workers in the affected states to knoiw what these state governors are using these funds for have yielded lkittle or no results.”

    It directed ther congress leadership to write the President to ensure that the governors are made to transparently account for the bail out given by the fedral government as well as the two tranches of the Paris Clud refund. 

    ,It resolved to call on the President to direct the Minister of Finance not to release the third anfd final tranche of the Paris club refund til the governors give a concrete  commitment to use it to pay the backlog of salaries and pension through a transparent process.

    “It agreed to lead an engagement rally to states, name and shame states in defdault as well as applaud and support those that are up to date in payment.

    “It direct all workers, pensioner and their families to take advantage of the on going voter registreation exercise to obtain their permanent voters card.

    “The CWC also reviewed the continued poor service delivery nin the power sector and observed hat since rhe current administration came to power in May 2015, it had given N740 Billion to the power sectotr as intervention fund without much to ashow for it. CWC therefore cannot comprehend the rationale behind the administration’s preparedness to give a further N39 billion bailout to DISCos for metering purpose. 

    “There is no guarantee that the DISCOs will not go back cap in hand to government again on the issue of provision of meters as the minister of power recently disclosed that DISCOs need about N220 billion to provide meters to Nigerians.

    “Given that one of the conditions precedent for the privatisartion by the last administration was that the new owners would provide meters for customers within 24 monthsmor so, CWC felt that the defaulting DISCOs ought to fdace sanctions and not additional bailout.

    “CWC therefore call for an urgent and proper auditing of the money spent in the effort to revive the power sector since 1999 which rather than transform into increased light provision has produced tens, if not hundreds of billionaires as a result of the diversion of the funds. Nothing illustrates this better than a recent report which showed that in the almost 18 years of the current democratic dispensation, over 11 trillion has been expended from the public treasury to lift the power sector to no avail.

    “The meeting called on the federal government to inaugurate the minimum wage committee immediately as the committee ought to have been put in place several months ago. 

    “Against the background of the impoverishment of Nigerian workers generally, government and the tripartite partners need to fast track and conclude the work of the committee in time to address the deteriorated purchasing power of the Nigerian worker.

    “It resolved that the ongoing ASUU strike was preventable and regretted that again the federal government has precipitated the strike action as it failed to implement the 2009 agreement it reached with the union. 

    “It called on the government to urgently resolve the issues in dispute to avoid escalating the strike action as other unions in the educational sector who are also affected by the 2009 agreement in the sector are mobilizing to enter the fray. The meeting also called on the government to note that collective agreements are sacrosanct and must be respected by the parties to the agreement.

    The CWC reviewed the allegations and counter allegations of impropriety coming out of the National Health Insurance Scheme. The meeting recalled that the immediate cause of the crisis arose from the public hearing organised by the House of Representatives committee on health on the activities of the NHIS. 

    “The CWC is of the opinion that the Minister of Health who constituted the intra ministerial committee to probe the suspended Executive Secretary and has himself been accused of peddling influence and sundry abuses in the operations of the scheme be investigated. 

    “Natural justice demand the a neutral and transparent process should be put in place by the government to thoroughly investigate these allegations and counter allegations”.

  • Food security and S/West governors

    Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be servant of all” – Jesus Christ (Mark 10:43)

    Last week, tomatoes and vegetables disappeared from Lagos markets. This was attributed to disruption in the regular flow of some food items from the north to the south by the sallah holiday. Our inability to feed ourselves 17 years into the fourth republic is perhaps a clear manifestation of deficit of Christ’s defined attributes of servant-leadership among some of our clowning South-west ‘activists’, the ‘constituted authority and ‘Oshokomole – Ebora tin je jollof’ governors who behave and act as if they are beyond reproach or that leadership is about being hailed by sycophants, thugs and okada commercial motorcyclists.

    But it has not always been like this. We were once blessed selfless leaders and role models with templates for developmental strategies that did not only guarantee self-sufficiency in food production but promises of a more just, egalitarian society. We remember with nostalgia the selfless services of leaders like Obafemi Awolowo, S L Akintola, Anthony Enahoro, Oduola Osuntokun Abraham Adesanya, and their other colleagues who left a lasting legacy in education, health, housing and agriculture with judicious management of the little resources available to them. Their second republic successors such as Olabisi Victor Onabanjo, Lateef Jakande, Bola Ige, Ambrose Alli and Adekunle Ajasin who as governor refused to spend N50, 000 to fix a leaking government house claiming Ondo State could not afford the luxury at the time, followed the footsteps of their illustrious predecessors by providing quality service to their people. The fourth republic threw up Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Niyi Adebayo, Segun Osoba and Pa Bisi Akande who like Jakande used his personal car as official car until the state forced him to abandon it. Like their predecessors, they selflessly served the people and we today remember them with melancholy.

    The crisis of leadership in the West started in 2003 when Obasanjo under his dubious mainstreaming policy decided to impose leaders on the West. He was to become a godfather to the likes of Lucky Igbinedion, Segun Agagu, Ayo Fayose, Segun Oni, Gbenga Daniel and Olagunsoye Oyinlola as well as other ambitious individuals such as journalists, academics and other professionals who, following their losses in the primary elections of their parties, were seduced by Obasanjo federal government’s offer of funds, security and vehicles to destabilize south-west.

    Obasanjo’s hand-picked leaders as it turned out, unlike their predecessors, served none but themselves. Igbinedion left Benin City after eight years in office like a war-torn city. Fayose traded a College of Medicine for a fraudulent poulty farm during his first coming; Oni took Ekiti through three years of nightmare while fighting to keep a mandate the courts finally ruled he never won. His major legacy includes foisting three universities, including the one sited in his village on Ekiti that had no resources to effectively run one. Olagunsoye  Oyinlola who admitted to a judicial commission of inquiry of awarding and paying in advance contractors to build stadia around some towns in Osun State and Gbenga Daniel who went around Ogun State with ex-President Jonathan commissioning uncompleted  and yet to take off projects.

    With Obasanjo’s humiliating defeat by Tinubu, some of the immediate and current leadership which represents the mainstream south-west political orientation were expected to have taken after their first and second and republic forbearers. Unfortunately they seem to have found their shoes too big.

    Let us start with Ekiti, the land of honour.  Fayemi no doubt made some impact in education and social welfare. But with Ekiti State as the 35th  out of 36th on the nation’s revenue ladder, diverting N2.7b of the  N25 billion bond  his administration secured from the capital market to build a grandiose government house because the then ‘Osuntokun Lodge lacked many facilities befitting of the residence of a governor  and therefore very inferior’ to other government houses in the country was indefensible when his government could have rehabilitated the run-down  Ikun Dairy farm established by Ajasin in the second republic as part of solution to a geographical region that depends on other geographical zones for the 10,000 heads of cow  it consumes daily.

    Aregbesola, after retrieving his stolen mandate through the courts had enjoyed tremendous support and goodwill of the people, all of which he seems to have frittered away because of his leadership style. Although he swears by Awo’s name, he appears to be his own role model. His rather insensitive comment about the state of mind of Ademola Adeleke who recently defeated his APC candidate in the Osun south senatorial by-election after rightly reminding Ede people that the senatorial seat was not hereditary seem to confirm the fears of those who argue Aregbesola has been wearing a shoe bigger than his leg.

    Ajimobi during his first term, keyed into Buhari’s  green alternative initiative which focuses on commercial agriculture development programme, by allocating tractors, planters and harvesters to each of the 33 local government areas. Most of those equipment are however said to have either been sold off or mismanaged by past caretaker chairmen while he as ‘the constituted authority’ battles those who put him in power especially students of Oyo State tertiary institutions who have been out of schools for the greater part of the year and their civil servants and pensioners parents who have not been paid for several months.

    Ajimobi who started well is also today enmeshed in Ibadan traditional chieftaincy controversy as he apes ill-informed military men who unilaterally made kings out of ‘Baales’ as he creates, by fiat, kings with crowns and sceptres without kingdoms.

    While Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State on his part is striving to turn his state to number one industrial hub in Nigeria with plans to build airport before 2019, two years to the end of his second four years term, his plan towards agriculture that will lead to industrialisation remains a plan. In any case, since people have to eat before the transformation of agriculture from commercialization to industrialization, keying into the Buhari agriculture initiatives designed to achieve food security, alleviate rural poverty and end hunger ought to be the starting point.

    If leadership, as Sun Tzu, (Chinese General, and 544–496BC) has said “is a matter of intelligence, trustworthiness, humaneness, courage, and discipline”, a well-focused Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos who operates as a servant rather than a ‘constituted authority’ better appropriates the virtues of his forbearers. After insisting “there is no alternative to achieving food security other than tilling the land and embrace best practices that will improve efficiency in the agricultural value chain”, he has in practical terms sealed a landmark partnership with Kebbi State government for the development of agricultural commodities such as rice, wheat, groundnut, onion, maize and beef value chain. His government has also acquired 500 hectares of farm land for rice cultivation in Eggua, Ogun State, 84.7 hectares at Okinni in Osogbo for oil palm processing.

  • Governors preach sacrifice, love, unity, tolerance, others

    Governors preach sacrifice, love, unity, tolerance, others

    Governors have urged Muslims to imbibe the values of sacrifice, love and keep  fostering unity as they join their counterparts globally to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, in his message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, said the period of the celebration was a clarion call for Nigerians to imbibe the lessons of the season such as selfless service to God and humanity, sacrifice and sincere commitment to righteous conducts in their private and public life.

    He explained that the significance of the season should be beyond the festivities, adding that as Muslims prepare to offer animal sacrifice in the prescribed days of the festival, the real essence was not in the meat or the blood of the animal but to encourage piety, self-discipline and sacrifice.

    Ambode, therefore, called on all Nigerians to exhibit these values for the good of the country and shun any act capable of heating up the polity or causing distrust among various ethnic groups in the country.

     

    Akeredolu, Ahmed, Ugwuanyi greet Muslims

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) yesterday felicitated with Muslims over this year’s Sallah celebration.

    Akeredolu advised them that even as they wine and dine during this period, they should not forget to extend their hands of love to the downtrodden in the society.

    The governor asked the Muslim community to also use the celebration to pray for the prosperity of the Sunshine State and the country.

    Kwara State Governor Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed has congratulated Muslims on the celebration, urging them to be peaceful, generous, law-abiding and prayerful.

    In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, Ahmed said the opportunity by Allah “to enable us witness yet another celebration should be used to pray for peace and unity in the country”.

    Ahmed, who urged Muslims to pray for safe return of pilgrims from the holy land, said Nigerians should be ambassadors of a united and prosperous Nigeria rather than engaging in hate and inciting speeches or fanning embers of disunity.

    Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi felicitated with Muslims on the celebration, urging them to use the period to continue to promote and abide by the core values of Islam for the sustenance of peace, progress and unity.

    Ugwuanyi, in a message, noted that there is every reason for the country to celebrate the goodness of God, pointing out that the continuous engagement of both Christians and Muslims in prayers for the sustainability of the peace, unity and development of the country, has ultimately proved that with God all things are possible.

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has felicitated with Muslims on the celebration.

    In a yesterday, Wike urged Muslims to pray for the unity and peace of the nation as they celebrate.

    The governor called on the Muslim faithful to use the celebration  to re-dedicate themselves  to the ideals of peace, security  and  friendship.

     

    Ajimobi cautions against hate speeches

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi admonished Nigerians to shun acts capable of disrupting the unity, togetherness and peaceful co-existence of the country.

    In his message to Islamic faithful, he said it was only in an atmosphere of peace and unity that the country could achieve the desired greatness.

    Ajimobi, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi layinka, condemned what he called hate speeches and the ember of discord being stoked by ethnic agitators in some parts of the country.

     

    Time to fix Nigeria, says Bello

    Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello said the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration is working hard towards fixing the nation after years of decay and mismanagement.

    Bello urged Nigerians not to allow the zeal and commitment of the present administration to slip away.

    In a message signed by his Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Mr. Jide Orintunsin, the governor stated that the administration will not allow the present opportunities to slip off, adding that all is being put in place towards ensuring that the future generations do not meet a nation of decay and mismanagement.

     

    Umahi seeks unity

    The Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi felicitated with Muslim faithful. He urged them to identify unity and religious tolerance as panacea to achieving peace and growth.

    Umahi, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, described unity and religious tolerance as sine qua non to achieving cohesion and peace in any country.

    He called on Muslim faithful to preach peace as they celebrate.

     

    Fayose urges sacrifice

     Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose yesterday advised Nigerians to be ready to make the necessary sacrifices for the country’s progress.

    In his message through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, the governor urged the people to imbibe the spirit of love, obedience, sacrifices and sharing that the festival teaches.

    “We must appreciate God for sparing our lives and giving us good health to be part of the celebration of this year’s festival. As we celebrate, we must not forget the lessons we need to learn from the event.

     

    Amosun Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun advised Muslim faithful to demonstrate the virtue of selfless sacrifice as they celebrate this year’s  Eid-el-Kabir festival.

    Amosun urged Muslims to live a life that mirror selflessness, love and peace.

    In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Otunba Dayo Adeneye, the governor said Muslim brothers and sisters should reflect on the essence of the festival as they celebrate it.

     

    Lalong: pray for Buhari, economy

    Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong urged Muslim faithful to use the Sallah period for continuous prayers for improve health for President Muhammadu Buhari as well as for the faster recovery of the nation’s economy from recession.

    A message signed by his Director of Press Emmanuel Nanle said: “The governor also expressed delight that with the deepening of the gains of democracy and the consolidation of peace and security by the APC led government, the nation was surely on the threshold of progress.

    “He noted that, as people of faith, Moslem faithful should continue to demonstrate the virtue of love, good neighbourliness and peaceful co-existence always.”

  • Southeast governors welcome President

    The South East Governors Forum has welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari back to Nigeria after his medical vacation in the United Kingdom (UK).

    Chairman of the Forum and Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi on behalf of the forum, thanked God for granting the president a divine healing.

    Umahi, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Uzor, described the President’s healing as a great work of God and wished him total recovery as he resumes duty.

    “I thank Nigerians for praying for the speedy recovery of the president.  This shows that they are becoming more patriotic despite varying political lines.

    “I call for more prayers and dedication to service from Nigerians because we can only achieve greatness through unity of purpose,” the statement read.

    The forum cautioned against hate speeches by Nigerians and reiterated its readiness to protect lives and property of every Nigerian irrespective of tribe or religion.”

  • Governors urged to partner cooperative societies in housing

    The continued shortage of affordable housing in the country remains a sore point for experts and other stakeholders in the built environment.

    The experts, like the Managing Director, M.I. Okoro and Associates, Mr. Meckson Okoro, have not ceased to wonder why, in a nation of over 180 million people, not up to 20 per cent of them can boast of owning their houses.

    Okoro, while presenting a paper at the housing scheme launch of the Perfection Co-operative Estate Phase 1, Ibeju-Lekki, noted that this is a sharp contrast to what obtains in other countries like Singapore and Cuba, among others, where house ownership is a secondary problem because up to 75 percent of such country’s population can boast of their own homes.

    The Perfection Investors Cooperative Society Limited is an independent membership real estate club in Lagos.

    At the event, which held in Lagos, Okoro blamed the  credit system for the housing challenge.

    “There is absence of mortgage system in Nigeria and the few ones existing have no financial muscle to finance real estate development because of the huge capital requirement of this form of investment. The commercial banks have limited capital to lend for real estate development. Where they have such fund to lend, it will be for a very high interest rate,” he lamented. He added that ignorance is another big problem affecting house ownership.

    “How many people know about cooperative societies as the vehicle to own their houses? Not many really, and even if they knew, ignorance will not allow them to take action. Therefore, the only way forward to owning your houses today since there are not solid mortgage institution to finance real estate is for people to join real estate cooperatives to secure their future to own houses and land. This is where cooperatives like Perfection Real Estate Investors Cooperative Society is of importance,” he said.

    Okoro, an estate surveyor and valuer, advised governors to partner cooperative societies to provide affordable mass housing for their citizens.“The government should work in tandem with cooperative societies because their activities impact the society,” he said, citing corruption, monetisation policy of government and the Land Use Act as some factors affecting real estate development in the nation.

    The guest lecturer/Managing Director Realty Point Limited, Mr. Debo Adejana, said investment in real estate was a gold mine being neglected by Nigerians due to ignorance. He said areas that have developed to become city centres were once remote areas people ran away from.

    He advised that investments into real estate should not be delayed because experience had shown that procrastination took away opportunities for people to either be land or house owners. “Don’t get trapped in the Nigerian real estate dilemma where the trap is not being able to afford what he wants and not wanting what he can afford. Buy land, invest in real estate before you wait, don’t wait to invest in real estate because prices would never go low,” Adejana advised.

    According to him, Ibeju Lekki in Lagos is the fastest growing construction hub in Africa today because people are building massively in the area and it is expected that by 2020 the hub will generate 50,000 jobs.

    Perfection Real Estate Investors Cooperative Society Limited President, Mr. Niyi Adeleye, noted that the economic situation and some policies of the government  depleted purchasing power in real estate.

    He said only about two per cent of Nigerians were investing in real estate, a situation he described as worrisome. “This also means that even when we talk about home ownership for the Nigerian, we are still very far behind,” he said.

    Adeleye said the cooperative society was inaugurated in 2012 to bridge the gap and give more Nigerians the opportunity to join the club to make small contributions towards home and land ownership.

  • South East governors implement below 40 percent of budget —Group

    A group,  Civil Rights Concern (CRC),  yesterday raised the alarm that South East geo-political zone was last among all the zones in the country in  the area of providing infrastructure.

    The group said it was a shame that state governments in the zone never implemented up to 40 percent of their  budgets each year.

    This was disclosed yesterday at the King David Hotels in Awka, during the group’s one day interactive session with the public titled  “Election Manifesto and Livelihoods: Checking Feasibility of Election Promises.”

    The coordinator, Comrade Okey Onyeka, while addressing participants, said no economy could move without provision of essential service to the people.

    Onyeka noted that, though, the governments were trying their  best, he lamented that their best was not enough to the society.

    He further lamented that most of the hospitals in Enugwu-Ukwu, Onitsha, Ekwuluobia and Nnewi in Anambra State, lacked water,toilet facilities, among others.

    Onyeka advocated that governments at all levels, should be monitored closely by associations to make them sit up especially in rural communities like Ayamelum, Ogbaru among other communities in the zone.

    The group however, declared that anybody coming to contest for governorship seat in Anambra State this period had to make commitment to the people for the state to get it right.

    According to him, “activities have been docile in the states especially in the health and education sectors. There are schools where students sit on the floor with dilapidated buildings in the South East and these things are not good when we have governments.

    “If things are not working in Nigeria, that is not enough reason they should not work in some of the states. There are works to do in our states not only in Anambra State but the entire South East.”

  • Governors and South-west integration

    SIR: The South-west governors meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Monday July 24 refers. According to reports, the meeting which was attended by all governors among other resolutions declared zero tolerance for crime in the region, establish Western Nigeria Export Development Initiatives and change name to Western Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

    The governors deserve commendation for their coming together for this meeting in spite of the party differences. However, they need to be told that crime cannot be reduced in view of lack of employment opportunities for school leavers including graduates of tertiary institutions, economic hardship in the land, non-payment of workers’ salaries and emoluments. The blame for the above is laid at the door step of our government. And adage says, idle hands are the devil’s workshop. The menace of Badoo boys in Lagos, kidnapping, violent armed robbery are all outcrops of unemployment and economic hardship in the land. If the youths are gainfully employed, many will not take to crime. Also, public education has to be seriously funded if we really mean to reduce crime in our clime. Some schools in the South-west are under lock and keys. What do the governors expect the students to be doing at home, almost a year when the schools have been closed down?

    On the regional integration of the region, the governors should give fillip to their talks because their meetings are turning into mere talk shops. No practical steps have been taken towards the integration almost eight years since the initiative began.

    The failure of LAUTECH project is a clear indication that the regional integration as being mouthed by our governors is chimera. This is the institution owned by just two states of Oyo and Osun. It has been making steady progress since the days of the military. However, since the coming of civilian rule and particularly since 2003 or thereabout, the centre could no longer hold in the school. The school has been on and off since early 2016 till date due to non-funding by the two states. The irony is that two of the governors pursuing regional integration are visitors to LAUTECH. If the two states could not maintain a university, then how can six states jointly fund any project successfully? Then what regional integration are they talking about? Regional integration includes bilateral agreement, if it is working and successful. To be taken serious on regional integration in the South-west, LAUTECH case is a litmus test for our governors. Their failure or success will determine how far their regional integration project will go.

     

    • Adewuyi Adegbite,

    Ayekooto05@gmail.com.

  • Southwest Governors subscribe to 25-year master plan

    Southwest Governors subscribe to 25-year master plan

    Governors of the six southwest states yesterday agreed to work in line with a 25-year master plan.

    The 11-point communique read by host Governor Ibikunle Amosun, said the governors would set up an inter – State security task force to tackle the menace of fulani herdsmen and other crimes, establish agricultural produce export processing facilities, adopted the 25 years Master Development Plan designed by the DAWN, and hold regional agricultural summit in Ibadan, Oyo State, to tackle food challenges.

    They also agreed that the artificial boundaries of states, religions and political affiliation will not act as barrier to the regional development, adding that all the states had been encouraged to improve bilateral cooperation and foster development.

    The forum revealed that it would set up a committee to codify the values and ethos of the Yoruba race, in order to strengthen the identity and unity of the people of the region. It was also decided that the forum would henceforth be known as the Western Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

    Southwest governors yesterday lamented that the splitting of the Old Western Region into six states robbed the people of their spirit of oneness and hampered the pace of socio – economic development.

    The six governors – Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) and Rotimi Akeredolu(Ondo), expressed this sentiment at a meeting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during a regional meeting.

    At the end of the meeting, they approved the 25-year decelopment plan designed by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) and agreed to collaboprate on security of the region, agricultural development and improvement of infrastructure.

    Amosun, who hosted the meeting, said instead of state creation to “build bridges,” it left the Yoruba land  “digging trenches for protection against their own brothers and sisters” as well as fostering boundary disputes and security challenges among them.

    The Governor recalled that many landmark achievements were recorded in Yoruba land when it was under one regional economic umbrella during the time of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as Premier. He advised that  the time had come for them to unite, promote  and re -enact the pre-eminence and achievements of the South-West in the Nigerian federation.

    According to him, the onerous task on the hands of  the Southwest governors today  is to lead the  people to further prosperous living and  “Economic Self-Determination for South-West Nigeria” which formed the meeting’s theme.

    “We will recall those laudable feats made us the envy of other Regions.

    “We have physical infrastructure such as the Cocoa House at Ibadan, which was aptly named after the source of its funding; the Agodi Secretariat at Ibadan; and the different roads that connect our towns and cities some of which are still standing the test of time. We also have the educational infrastructure of which we are still benefitting from today.

    “Indeed, many of us seated in this room are beneficiaries of the Free Education Programme of that time. It is the same Free Education Programme that culminated in the establishment of a University that was once the most beautiful campus in Sub-Sahara Africa, the then University of Ife, and now appropriately named the Obafemi Awolowo University, at Ile-Ife.

    “We cannot also forget the economic infrastructure; we have the O’odua Group as the umbrella Investment House for the commercial enterprise of the Region such as the Sketch Publication; the Wemabod Estates; the Lafia Hotels; the Premier Hotel at Ibadan; the Area J4 Forest Reserve, etc.

    “However, the creation of States from the old Western Region in 1976 which should have been an impetus for further socio-economic development have been allowed to create artificial boundaries between our people.

    “And to further worsen the situation, some of our people are also making themselves available as instruments of division because of their selfish political gains. The consequence is that our people begin to see themselves as a people of one state or the other rather than as a sub-unit of the entity of the Yoruba people.

    “This is not without its attendant challenges of intra and inter-state boundary disputes which have worsened security in some states and, hampered socio-economic development. Instead of building bridges, some of our people are digging trenches for protection against their own brothers and sisters.

    Aregbesola said the old Western Nigeria recorded greater feats when it operated as single state than what obtained today as six states.

    “We must be mindful of the fact that as singular state then, we achieved more than now when we are divided into six states.

    “We must identify our strengths, unify those strengths and explore the strengths for the benefit of our people. We use the development to galvanise our potentials,” Aregbesola said.

    Ajimobi explained that there were gains to be tapped from the numerical strength of the Yoruba,  stressing that should the six Southwest states elect to pull together, they would amount to over 60 million population and fit to become a country.

    “I will like to plead for not only inter-governmental relationship but also inter personal relationship. Six of us combined, we are talking about more than 60 million people and that is more than a country.

    “We are also talking of landmass of 60km square. With that we can stand as a mini country. If you look at each state in Southwest, if we make use of the potentials available to us , we are bigger than many nations in the world.

    “We are as a region, very formidable region, we must not only talk it, we must act it. We reinstate and reinvigorate the concept of Omoluabi. Success is not money but character and industry,” he said.

    Ambode aligned with the economic and political integration of Southwest states as espoused by his colleagues, saying it was of great significance to the nation while his Ekiti State counterpart said the forum represented the interest of the Yoruba nation.

    Fayose said there was the urgent need for the cooperation and collaboration of all the governors to make the region a place of success again.

    For Akeredolu,  the “development agenda for Southwest Nigeria is a great idea”.

    “It is a forum where the governors meet to discuss issues of common interest. It is a great task for all us. We have great challenges and we must be prepared to face these challenges; united we stand, divided we fall. This meeting transcends political interest, we are brothers,”  Akeredolu said.