The Nation Newspaper

Tag: human

  • Crime reporters hold seminar on drug, human trafficking

    THE Crime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria recently held a one-day seminar to mark the International Day Against Drug and Human Trafficking with the theme, “Changing the Narrative in Nigeria.”

    One of the distinguished lecturers at the event, DCI Segun Adegoke, PCO, Ikoyi Immigration Passport Office, condemned drug and human trafficking in his presentation and advised Nigerians to keep away from these practices.

    He said: “The principal effect of drugs is that they interfere with the way the brain works. They disturb the thinking process, data processing by the brain and the way the person perceives things and reacts to the environment.”

  • Ika urged to harness human, economic resources

    The coordinator of an Ika pressure group, Ika Village Square (IVS), Eugene Uzum, has urged his kinsmen to harness its human and natural resources to develop the area.

    Uzum, a lawyer, who addressed reporters in Asaba, the Delta State capital, on the coming Ika Economic Summit with the theme:” Harnessing the Economic Potentials of Ika Nation through Strategic Partnership”, said the group aims “at promoting, articulating and sustaining the collective interests of the Ika nation in the politics of Nigeria.”

    He said the group has concluded a tour to identify the economic opportunities as well as the challenges facing its component parts and proffering solutions.

    Uzum said core values of IVS is based on the selflessness and sacrifices of members towards the development of Ika nation.

    He said Ika land is blessed with human and natural resources, including solid minerals, such as Kaolin, Coal, Bitumen, Potash and Granite.

  • ‘Nigeria’s human capital can compete anywhere’

    ‘Nigeria’s human capital can compete anywhere’

    Dr Kabir Kabo Usman, the Director-General, Centre for Management Development (CMD), has been in the saddle at the nation’s foremost human resources management outfit, created by the Federal Government under Act No 51 of 1976.

    However, Nigeria is yet to achieve optimum human capital development as glib quacks with briefcase companies have been masquerading as trainers and management consultants while the CMD with an annual budget of N28million has been buffeted by various challenges.

    Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, CMD’s boss who rendered account of his stewardship in the last few years said the Centre is making meaningful impact that would make his tenure and exit in less than one year from now a crucial chapter in Nigeria’s quest for human capital development.

    “I could remember on the 8th of January, 2010, when the Minister (of National Planning, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman) said, “You have been appointed the Director General! Go and transform the Centre for Management Development.” That was a very big challenge for me because I need to think in terms of a strategic plan, possibly a three-year plan or a five-year plan to get to the destination of the Centre,” he recounted.

    Usman who also doubles as the member of the Governing Board and Pro Chancellor of African Business School (ABS) is one of the fully accredited leading independent Business Schools in Africa, while thankful for the opportunity to serve at the highest level of CMD, said he met some challenges when he took over the helms of affairs but nonetheless remains eternally grateful for contributing his bit.

    “There were quite a lot of things I had to focus on. And I was trying my best to keep it simple. I said well, looking at the current situation, there might be about six key areas of my own interest to contribute my quota to transform the Centre and make it world class.”

    One of the first tasks he tackled headlong was staff development. To do that he had to undertake staff skills audit to ascertain their competences and capabilities.

    “We discovered there were capacity gaps, skills shortage areas and we really have to work very hard with a lot of my members of the team, with particular reference to very key directors. We have gone round the country to try to look for collaboration and partnerships particularly with relevant agencies that are coming to support us; from the UNDP, Chinese Counsellor and USAID, DFID, EU and others.”

    To reposition the Centre, he also had to look at its mandate as well as the Act of the Council (National Council for Management Development).

    “Part of our critical mandate is to advise the Minister of Budget and National Planning and we also have to make sure that there is quality assurance put in place about training in Nigeria in areas of management development in the country,” he stressed.

    “So that is what we had to do in the areas of addressing that to make sure that the Centre is relevant and is producing the result that is enshrined in our mandate.”

    Besides, he also had to establish zonal offices across the six geopolitical zones including: Makurdi, Kano, Gombe, Uyo, Owerri as well as Ibadan.

    “We also looked at CMD Office in Lagos and we made it operational. We brought in a lot of (activities) work. We did training for the Nigeria Police Force. We also had workshops and trainings about public private partnership, procurement, strategic leadership and middle management in terms of manpower.”

    According to him, upon critical assessment of the Centre, the management realised that the five departments were inadequate hence had to increase them to eight departments.

    Justifying the rationale for the increase, the Kano-state born technocrat said, this became necessary “Because we needed ICT so that we can improve the quality of methodology in terms of trainings in the e-learning platforms.”

    The Centre, he recalled, also looked at the accreditation of all management consultants operating in the country with a view to sieve those doing legit businesses to the quacks.

    “We have trained at least one thousand management consultants from 2010 to date and they are certified. For the Management Development Institutions and also the consultants that are operating across the country; we trained and certified over two hundred of them. So that they are doing the correct things and there are certain benchmark that is comparable to international standard. We work together with the International Standard of Americas and the ones in Europe to make sure that we are delivering training in that level.”

  • I ‘ll focus on human capital development, says Obaseki

    I ‘ll focus on human capital development, says Obaseki

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Godwin Obaseki, yesterday commended the Oshiomhole administration for building roads and infrastructures in the last seven and half years. He said if voted in as governor his administration will focus more on human capital development.

    Addressing APC supporters at Afuze and Sabongida Ora, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas, Obaseki said: “The College of Physical Education is now a degree awarding institution, I will make sure we put more money into the college to make it a world class institution in terms of physical education.

    “As part of our job creation, we will create jobs even from sports. Governor Oshiomhole has done well in the last seven and half years, but we have a lot to do.

    “We focused on education, health, roads and water, but the incoming administration will now focus more on human development. We want to create 200,000 jobs for our youths. The jobs we will create in Owan is not only from agriculture, we will create jobs through mining. They are over 25 mining licenses in Owan East and we are collaborating with the Minister of Solid Minerals to make sure we invite investors here. In the next one year we will bring investors to Owan East.”

    In his remark, Oshiomhole said beating the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, will be the easy for the APC.

    Oshiomhole added, however, that the PDP may adopt a new message in the event that Matthew Iduoriyekemwen becomes its flag bearer, following the recent Federal High Court ruling that recognized, Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic national chairman of the PDP.

    He pointed out that the founding fathers of the PDP are dumping the party every day for the APC, due to the emergence of Ize-Iyamu.

  • I ‘ll focus on human capital development, says Obaseki

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Godwin Obaseki, yesterday commended the Oshiomhole administration for building roads and infrastructures in the last seven and half years. He said if voted in as governor his administration will focus more on human capital development.

    Addressing APC supporters at Afuze and Sabongida Ora, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas, Obaseki said: “The College of Physical Education is now a degree awarding institution, I will make sure we put more money into the college to make it a world class institution in terms of physical education.

    “As part of our job creation, we will create jobs even from sports. Governor Oshiomhole has done well in the last seven and half years, but we have a lot to do.

    “We focused on education, health, roads and water, but the incoming administration will now focus more on human development. We want to create 200,000 jobs for our youths. The jobs we will create in Owan is not only from agriculture, we will create jobs through mining. They are over 25 mining licenses in Owan East and we are collaborating with the Minister of Solid Minerals to make sure we invite investors here. In the next one year we will bring investors to Owan East.”

    In his remark, Oshiomhole said beating the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, will be the easy for the APC.

    Oshiomhole added, however, that the PDP may adopt a new message in the event that Matthew Iduoriyekemwen becomes its flag bearer, following the recent Federal High Court ruling that recognized, Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic national chairman of the PDP.

    He pointed out that the founding fathers of the PDP are dumping the party every day for the APC, due to the emergence of Ize-Iyamu.

  • Address human factor in building collapse, urges ATOPCON

    Address human factor in building collapse, urges ATOPCON

    The immediate past Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Toyin Ayinde, has said the spate of building collapse in the country is a signal that quality is being compromised.

    Ayinde, who spoke at this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), stated that aside the quantity of building materials, labour is also a vital aspect of quality.

    Ayinde was represented at the AGM by Mr. Moses Ogunleye.

    Ayinde, who noted that though  town planners, like other professionals in the build industry are facing challenges, said it was rather unfortunate that the industry is at the receiving end.

    “When incidents of building collapse still stare us in the face, it is a signal that quality is being sacrificed, but that really is the essence of ATOPCON, an association intended to foster quality consultancy services and healthy peer review,” he said.

    Ayinde, therefore, charged the experts and others to ensure that the level of awareness for quality must be raised if professionals were to remain relevant to the built environment.

    ATOPCON, he maintained, needs to enlighten professionals and other colleagues who might just see the association as another elitist movement designed to strangulate some people out of practice.

    Rather, the former commissioner said the association was seeking to bring together experienced professionals, who could learn from one another, and thus cause an improvement in service delivery.

    “There is no better time to convince more people to be committed to quality practice. There, indeed, lies our future. Sustainable systems have always survived on quality service, and ours should not be different. I therefore urge us to begin to think through the various challenges faced in the built environment and the construction industry, and to evolve viable solutions that will make us the pride of the society,”Ayinde said.

    Similarly, a Mass Communication lecturer at the University of Ilorin, Dr. Kadijat Kadiri-Bello, while delivering a lecture titled: “Rebranding town planning firms,” said there was the need for town planners to rebrand and take their place in the built environment.

    This, she cautioned, was not just about change in name, logo or colour, but also about professionals being open to adopting a consistent definition of branding, including evolving and sustaining transparency within their operations.

    ATOPCON’s immediate past Lagos chairman, Mr. Joseph Akande, said it had become imperative for the body to evolve new ways to deliver services. If imbibed, Akande said, it would lead to great improvements in the image and integrity of town planners before the general public, clients and professional colleagues.

    ATOPCON President, Mr. Olaide Afolabi emphasised that the aim of the association is to ensure the evolvement and nurturing of sustainable human settlement and cities.

    This, he explained, would be achieved if its members promote  urban and regional planning practice.

    “Our message to the Lagos State government is that it should  continue its efforts in the development of the city into a true mega city and ensure physical planning is used as an important and vital tool in guiding development plans, schemes and policies within the city.

    ‘’As is obtained in other climes, countries with sound, proactive physical planning and policies develop rapidly and sustainably.  Lagos cannot afford to be left out in creating an enduring liveable city and, as town planning consultants, we have to live up to the calling of our profession and its ethics,” Afolabi said.

  • Human trafficking

    In the last couple of weeks, I have had cause to be attracted to some of the experiences shared by victims of human trafficking. Going through such harrowing encounters that nearly led to the death of the victims, the impression one got is that they will serve as a sufficient deterrent to those who may still be nursing the feeling of embarking on such hazardous trips.

    One of such chilling accounts that should ordinarily frighten even the most uncaring was captured by Citizen Osita Osemene who was deceived into fleeing this country due to frustration and the promise of all the goodies of life that abound in the foreign lands of Europe. In a recent interview in a national daily, Osemene who had been led by his deadly encounter to establish a Non Governmental Organization to fight human trafficking gave a detailed account of the numerous risks associated with such trips.

    He spoke on the harsh economic realities in the country after graduating from the university, the lure of better prospects outside the shores of this country as presented by his guides as some of the issues that made him to embark on such a hazardous trip. But all the prospects painted for him were to become a mirage shortly after. The journey, which was supposed to be by air turned out its direct opposite. He was later ferried to Kano from where a very tortuous journey by road to Niger and Libya was to commence.

    Osemene gave a detailed but scary account of the numerous life-threatening encounters he had on the way; how many of his colleagues were duped, died on the way due to hunger, starvation and dehydration and how they had to drink their own urine to stay alive. It was a tale of man’s inhumanity to man; a verity of the hobbesian state of nature where life had at once become nasty, short and brutish.

    His story also gave an insight into the kind of job women who were part of the trip were into. At a point in the tortuous journey to Libya, the surviving women were sold into prostitution slavery at the price of $3,000 and the y would have to pay their buyers $9,000 to regain their freedom. Of course, the only way to this is through prostitution with all the associated health risks.

    It was an experience that would scare even the most daring. At the end, he took consolation on the fact that he was one of the lucky ones not eaten up by the beasts of the desert as he managed to return home without reaching his promised Eldorado. That was the story of a Nigerian graduate who was lured to flee the country for supposedly greener pastures in Europe.

    With such tales which have become regular features of the print and electronic media, the expectation is that the penchant with which hapless Nigerians are lured into foreign lands by sundry syndicates would have been on the decrease. This is more so given the plethora of sensitization programmes regularly mounted by various agencies of the government to drum home the risks associated with such trips and discourage them. There have also been mounting efforts to make it difficult for the trade to thrive through surveillance leading to the arrest and prosecution of offenders.

    But even with these renewed efforts at stemming the phenomenon, it would appear much progress is yet to be made. Not only are there recurring attempts by sundry syndicates to smuggle young men and women out of this country in search of non-existing greener pastures, it would appear that efforts to discourage Nigerians from such dangerous trips are yet to be fully internalized.

    If anything, the confessions of one of the four women, Cecelia Bankole, saved last week from being trafficked to Libya, illustrates how little such messages have permeated the grassroots. It was a shocking tale of how Cecelia, a 26-year old hairdresser had to dump her two children on her husband for the botched trip despite her (husband’s) disapproval of it.

    Cecelia’s mother’s account of the circumstances leading to her approval of the trip did not help matters. According to her, she had to accompany the four to the point they were arrested because she wanted to know one Ganiat Ajilola who was taking them on the trip. Hear her “I was informed that one big madam whom Ganiat Ajilola was working for in Libya needs hair dressers to help her manage her shop. Upon hearing that people will be going abroad, I volunteered my daughter because she is a hairdresser. I begged her husband but he declined to allow her go on the trip. But I have prayed about it and God said she should go. That is why I am encouraging her”, the prophetess stated.

    This singular case in more ways than one, underscores the difficulties in the current fight against human trafficking. It does not only betray the high level of ignorance that pervade the entire landscape in respect of the dangers associated with such trips, but exposes the vulnerability of the average family to the deceptive but enticing stories of those in the human trafficking ring. Above all, it illustrates most poignantly, the desperation of our people for money at the slightest offer of some opportunity without giving deep thought to what such tales offer.

    Here was a married woman with two kids. All of a sudden, someone came around to float a story that one big madam in Libya needed hairdressers to manage her shop. Her mother who should be more circumspect in handling such stories immediately fell for it to the extent she had to persuade her son in-law to allow her go on the trip. Apparently attracted by the promise that her daughter, an apprentice hairdresser would be managing a shop in far away Libya, the woman threw all decorum to the dogs and was prepared to stake the fate of her two grandchildren for the trip to be.

    This woman who claimed to be a prophetess said she prayed over the matter and God revealed to her that her daughter should embark on the journey. That could as well be. Now the reality of the journey has dawned on her, it might be interesting to know her feelings on the encounter she claimed to have had with God regarding the trip. If God really spoke to her, she would have been told that the journey which she persuaded her daughter to embark on and for which she had to dump her grandchildren was a colossal disaster waiting to happen.

    With the experience shared by Osemene, the fate that awaited Cecelia and her colleagues was quite predictable. They were going to be sold into prostitution slavery if they were lucky to survive the vicissitudes of the desert journey. They should thank their God and the police from saving them from the claws of death. And it should serve as a lesson to all.

    The encounter of the four women is a tip of the iceberg on the human trafficking index in this country. As I write, people elsewhere are perfecting plans to flee the country even when they had been told of the risks associated with such illegal trips. Many would even prefer to be out there under any condition than remain in this country. So it not just a matter of ignorance on the dangers associated with such journeys. The desperation can be located in greed and the debilitating living conditions of a majority of our citizens due largely to poverty and a very high level of unemployment.

    In as much as sensitization programmes are relevant to discourage the likes of Bankole, not much will be achieved if the rising poverty in the land due to unemployment is not checked by the government. We have been told of the quantum of jobs the government intends to create. It must now go beyond promises and put the jobs on the table such that the teeming army of the unemployed will feel the impact.

    Above all, the time has come for our leaders to deploy the enormous resources of this country to develop it such that citizens will have less attraction in fleeing at the slightest offer of elusive job opportunities in foreign lands. That is the issue that has been elevated to the public domain by the persisting incidence of human trafficking on these shores.

  • Human capital development key to growth’

    A public affairs analyst, Mr Innocent Osaghe, has spoken on how the nation can surmount its challenges at a symposium organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

    Held at the FirstBank Lecture Theatre, the lecture’s theme was: Developing leadership qualities and positive thinking among university undergraduate.

    Osaghe said lack of thoughtful and competent leadership was the cause of the problems facing the nation, dismissing the belief that the challenges were political or financial.

    He said: “Leadership problem has been the bane of African countries and I believe Nigeria has been worst hit by this factor. There are qualities that must be present in a leader, without which the nation suffers. These are competence, personal drive, character, diligent, hard work and fear of God. All these must be present in anyone aspiring to lead others.”

    Noting that the strength of any nation and its people is determined by the strength of it leaders, Osaghe said thoughtless leaders are  liabilities on the society. Liability leaders, he said, will make a nation unproductive and underdeveloped.

    Despite its endowment with milk and honey, the speaker said Nigeria lacked quality leadership, which is why, he said, poverty remains a scourge in the nation.

    He said countries, such as Qatar, Singapore and Malaysia, which have no resources, fought poverty with visionary leadership and achieved prosperity through human capital development.

    He said the rot in education made the youth to migrate to developed countries in search of knowledge, stressing that the nation’s health and tourism sectors are nothing to write about.

    “Our leaders need to follow the footsteps of their counterparts in Qatar and Singapore. We must develop human capital for the nation to progress to its dream destination in terms of economic growth and physical development,” he said.

    Osaghe hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s character, saying: “When a leader distinguishes himself in behaviour and character, everything will work well with the nation.”

    Earlier, the former Dean of the faculty, Prof Anthony Akinlo, said the seminar was to help students develop good character that would position them as future leaders.

    He said: “So much has been heard about leadership, and yet we are having leadership challenge. Since students are the leaders of tomorrow, we must prepare their minds for that task. This is the reason the faculty put in place this seminar.

    The Dean, Prof Chris Ajila, described the event as a good youth development initiative.

     

  • NIMASA champions human devt, says DG

    The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, has said the agency has championed human development.

    Addressing at a town hall meeting at the weekend in Okerenkoko, Delta State, Akpobolokemi said NIMASA has developed qualified seafarers to man the ships.

    The townhall meeting was organised by the Nigerian Maritime University.

    He said: “As manpower training indigenisation  strategy, NIMASA decided to establish the first Nigerian Maritime University and the Shipyard/Dock Yard facilities, both at Okerenkoko, Delta State. The former President Goodluck Jonathan performed the groundbreaking ceremonies of these facilities and the flag off of activities at the temporary site of the university at Kurutie, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State. Academic Studies will begin at the temporary site in September this year. The College of Science and Technology, Okoloba, Delta State, which has resumed academic studies at its temporary site was established to serve as a demonstration school for the Maritime University.”

    Nigerian Maritime University Vice Chancellor Prof. Ongoebi Etebu assured the host communities of the Federal Government’s commitment to the university and urged them to give peace a chance to enable the university begin full academic session in September.

    Those at the townhall meeting included the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof Viola Onwuliri, a member of the Council, Mr. Leke Oyewole, the Deputy Governor of Delta Sate, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, principal officers of the university, an ex-militant leader Mr. Government Tompolo, and community leaders.

  • Election: Human desperation or God’s will?

    At last, the hour for genuine Nigerians to vote the future they desire has started being truncated. This Saturday presidential election has been pushed out of the will of the people. The desperation of those seeking power at all costs and stressing by all means to frustrate the will of God is at work.

    Why are those trying to manipulate the choice of the people able to  push forward their purpose by shifting the elections from the ordained dates to contrary blind dates of their personal favour? Why not surrender to the right choice of the people in a nation where there has been apparent failure of leadership? Will people’s votes still be allowed to bring forth who indeed is meant to be voted for? Is the postponement coming to manifest rigging agenda?

    At the countdown to the general elections, the self-centred nature of our politicians and those in power is evident. It has become apparent that most Nigerian politicians are insincere liars. This is why many make open promises of what they have no mind to implement. All they want is just getting elected and then begin to steal in multiples from public resources to restore the what they spent on campaigns. What happens to the life of citizens would not matter to them until another election season comes.

    Today, Nigeria keeps declining in virtually all fronts – power, educational and healthcare standards, job and financial progression – just name it – in a nation tagged with grand economy. Contrary to INEC’s consistent position to keep it’s ordained day of love, the stressful leadership who could see the reality of the mind of the people, believes that with more days to handle stomach infrastructure, there might be a change of heart to receive unmerited votes.

    Isn’t it distressing that foreigners are those that know the reality in the land more than the owners of the land? The United Kingdom-based The Economist magazine last week revealed its mind in an editorial write-up. It endorsed the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari  (rtd) on its ground that a “former dictator is better choice than a failed president.” Of course, as expected, the presidency became shocked and in its bitterness knocked the endorsement out as “tongue-in-cheek.” Sincere Nigerians are only shocked at the insincerity of the leadership that keeps claiming achievements in the midst of apparent failures.

    Not that undeniable The Economist which is one of the most influential and reliable global publications spared Buhari or President Goodluck Jonathan. In veracity and “with a heavyq heart,” it only chose Buhari as better than Jonathan who it believes “risks presiding over Nigeria’s bloody fragmentation.”

    Why must Jonathan be ruled out if he is truly qualified to win? Who should replace him? Surely, The Economist did not perceive Buhari as a perfect choice. Many Nigerians too do not see him as an angel. But the magazine remarked in its understanding that the incumbent President has been a colossal failure and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) mismanaged Nigeria’s economy in its 16 years in power.

    President Jonathan who himself accepted his generation’s failure at the take – off of his political rally in Lagos was truly branded by the magazine as vastly incompetent, moreso with his failure to tackle the insecurity devastating the country. This must be why a better alternative is needed.

    Indeed, PDP that has been running the country since 1999 has hardly made any viable impact on the nation. The editorial insists Jonathan “has shown little willingness to tackle endemic corruption,” such that when Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor “reported that $20b had been stolen, his reward was to be sacked.”

    Prof. Charles Soludo, also CBN’s former Governor has been consistent in hitting the Jonathan administration of economic gross mismanagement and resources diminishment. Last week, he who knows the nation’s economy lashed back at Finance Minister Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala under who the country cannot recount the loss of N30 trillion – either stolen or mismanaged. This is a hitherto-respected woman heading the nation’s economy, apparently functioning to please World Bank other than her fellow nationalists in joblessness, poverty, deficiency and dearth.

    No one can deny current dilapidating naira exchange rate which is going speedily to N250 to one dollar. The magazine declared that even the claim that Nigeria’s economy is fast growing, “the prosperity has not been broadly shared: under Mr. Jonathan, poverty has increased. Nigerians typically die eight years younger than their poor neighbours in nearby Ghana.”

    Insecurity is not being well handled for peace to reign across the nation and in the life of the people. The Economist reminds us that President Jonathan “has shown little enthusiasm for tackling insecurity, and even less competence. Quick to offer condolence to France after the attack on Charlie Hedbo, he waited almost two weeks before speaking up about a Boko Haram attack that killed hundreds, perhaps thousands of his compatriots. What a leader without focus, sending sympathy to foreign country while ignoring his own millions that are affected by his poor security system?

    What else do we need to be reminded by outsiders who know the truth more than the citizenship under desperate office holders? We can see foreign media giving us more accurate information than our local media of brown envelopes seekers.

    Not that Buhari is considered faultless. The only thing is that he is the preferred between available two options. The opposition criticizes him for being anxious to rule this nation as he has been contesting since 2003. All the negative things being attached to him are making more people to symphatise with him and turning him to become the weapon of change of the flattened country.

    As The Economist recalled, Buhari was once guilty of human rights abuse while in power with “blood on his hands.” His military rule, according to the editorial, was “nasty, brutish and mercifully short.” Yet, he is seen as an incorruptible and honest leader, whose consistent participation in presidential election since 2003 was an indication that he had now hugged democracy.

    Let it be said that if the right candidate wins and he is not allowed to rule, unless there is divine intervention, the nation will be dumped into storm. If the defeated one manipulates and is enforced to rule, the lost glories of the nation in the last 16 years won’t be recovered as unrighteousness cannot exalt any nation.

    It is the restoration of the lost glories that will make Nigeria to move forward. The very few who are rich, notwithstanding the source of their wealth bother less about the pains and agony of the masses. It is a high level of unrighteousness to steal and partake in usurping the blessing of somebody and then see your own life as successful.

    Nigeria is not being lifted today due to massive corruption of those in power – stealing the good of the land. The most depressing reality is that most of the resources stolen are sown in foreign lands where such are not even needed. More and more of their own people are in poverty as there is no doable job to be done. The unrighteous continues proclaiming Nigeria’s economy as the biggest in Africa as if that is of benefits to the same country which has the same continent’s most massive paucity and infrastructural malfunctions. No matter what is received from the devil, the end will be valueless and inglorious. It is only the true gift of God that will not add sorrow to it.

    If there is going to be war at all, the ultimate winner can never be those who are falsehearted, or the enemies of peace and the deceitfuls whose focus is either on their self wills or the truncation of democracy. Let there be war against corruption, fraud, insurgency and treachery against humanity, then the nation will begin to move out of the valley to higher heights of real good economy in impactful benefits to the settlement of the depressed, disconsolate and miserable masses.

    The Economist rounded-up: Buhari would be able to revive the demoralised military and address insecurity. “If Mr. Buhari can save Nigeria, history might even be kind to him.”

    For militancy and insurgency to be settled, Buhari’s military experience cannot be ignored as it is needed to boost the morale of the military. It is a shame to Nigeria to depend on the Chadian and Camerounian military to resolve the issue which our men are failing to accomplish.

    Will political desperadoes reverse the story of February 14, the day of love to the sadness of June 12, the day of demolition of people’s will? Visiting churches from pillar to post for political campaigns cannot convince genuine children of God to vote wrongly. True Christians go beyond the name we bear. It is more of total dedication of life, full commitment and trust in God to do His will without human fear or nervousness.

    Let the unrighteous seek the mercy of God and be determined to live a new life in the Lord, then there won’t be need for desperation to succeed. Afterall, not all that are prayed for receive desired positive answers.

    We need the Most High to give us a better Nigeria than the one we currently have.