The Nation Newspaper

Tag: leadership

  • Sultan Abubakar @10: Leadership as goodness

    Any deep reflection on Amirul Mumineen Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the 20th Sultan of Sokoto who this week marks 10 years anniversary as the Sultan (and who on August 24 also  turned 60!) must necessarily reopen a leadership discourse in Nigeria. The spectre of leadership, we all know, permanently  haunts Nigeria since Africa’s master story teller, late Professor Chinua Achebe and the author of the classic novel, Things Fall Apart observed in his 1983 reflection that “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership”. Witness him: “There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian character. There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else”. Certainly leadership still remains a knotty issue in Nigeria as rightly observed by Achebe.Very few countries parade a remarkable number and mix of leaders in Africa and indeed in the world; spiritual, traditional and modern, and temporal, active and retired alike. However even at that, we should not forget that both in the past and in the present, Nigeria and indeed Africa still harbour traditional and modern political leaders who in their respective rights personify the historic needs and aspirations of their peoples. It’s time we recognized and celebrated leaders who stand to live up to expectations of their communities and serve as worthy ambassadors of their people. Paris Hilton enjoins us to “ live everyday like its a birthday”. A visitor to the palace of His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, would bear witness to his daily value-adding activities sustaining the great legacies of over 200 years old Sokoto Caliphate founded in 1804 by a great Islamic scholar, Usman dan Fodio. Ten years anniversary of Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar LLD, CFR, mni, offers another important opportunity to acknowledge the unifying leadership role of the head of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (Society for the Support of Islam – JNI), and president-general of the Nigerian National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

    At 60, President Muhammadu Buhari in his tribute rightly singled out “…the uncommon leadership style, patriotism and wisdom” in Sultan’s “consistent advocacy for security, peace and unity of Nigeria”. Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, as President Buhari observed stands out as bridge builder at a time many “leaders” kept mute as critical national assets including the remaining few bridges are under attack. The Sultan’s voice has been commendably loud on burning national issues; good governance, girl-child education, infant and child mortality, and agriculture. Recently the United States’ Secretary of State, John Kerry, visited Nigeria. It was not surprising that his destination for an historic lecture on diversity and tolerance was Sokoto under the “Leadership as Goodness” by Sultan Saad Abubakar.

    At the palace of the Sultan,  John Kerry first Secretary of State to visit the seat of the caliphate, lauded the efforts of the Sultan in promoting religious tolerance and understanding among Nigerians. He said that the Sultanate Council was building a community of tolerance for peace, progress and political stability in Nigeria adding that, the United States would continue to identify itself with the Sultanate in strengthening religious tolerance and understanding among Nigerians. The visit offered another opportunity for the

    Sultan to reaffirm the sultanate’s commitment to the promotion of  peaceful coexistence among Nigerians for the overall political growth of the country maintaining that “religious tolerance and understanding among Nigerians remained the principal objective of the Sultanate in mobilising Nigerians to tolerate one another for peace, progress and political stability of the country”. It is worthy of recall that both Sultan Saad and John Cardinal Onaiyekan, then Roman Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, were jointly nominated for the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize (“for their efforts at campaigning against the misuse of religion”) alongside former US President Bill Clinton and the European Union.

    As part of the activities marking the coronation of the new Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare 11, the Sultan organized a special durbar brought to Benin in honour of the new Oba. Will our political leaders ever torn in wars of attrition learn from from this lesson of the Sultan’s leadership as goodness and cooperation?

    Recently under his chairmanship of the Heritage Council of Alumni Association of the National institute, AANI, there was a policy dialogue that involved the participation of seven ministers of the federal republic. The sultan’s speech remains a timely food for thought for change for good governance. Some of his observations are worth being reproduced here:  ”….the burden is on the part of those in authority to appreciate that they hold power in trust for the common people of the country. Those in government must be open minded, flexible  and receptive to new ideas as government is all about the people. If the mass of people are groaning and saying they are suffering economic deprivations, those in authority must listen and prepare to initiate policy changes for the betterment of all. In managing change government must be open to suggestions and even prepare to do a policy review for the security and welfare of all. Even change is constant in a change process! The country we all know is never short of robust policy measures including the ones contained in 2016 federal budget. The challenging and overreaching issue is policy implementation. No better institution is better positioned to assist the government in policy implementation than NIPSS and AANI. NIPSS was set up in 1979 by the Federal Government to serve as a high level centre for reflection, research, and policy dialogue. Today, the National Institute has graduated over 1500 participants. No topic of national importance that has not been researched upon whether in public finance, mining and minerals development, industrial development, power sector reforms, housing and road construction among others. Its time government gets committed to effectively utilize the huge enormous knowledge resources available at NIPSS. We are confident that this policy dialogue can share from the wealth of experience of AANI members with respect to implementation strategies for 2016 budget. We suggest that all the resolutions at the end of this historic Town Hall meeting should be forwarded to the office of the Vice President to assist in the realization of the laudable objectives of the 2016 budget. Lastly we will like to emphasis that the effectiveness of this Town  Hall meeting rests on its impact on the welfare of the citizens. According to the 1999 constitution, the primary objective of governance in the current democratic dispensation is welfare and security of the citizens. Shaykh Abdullahi Ibn Foduye, 1807, defined “Leadership as Service to the People.” According to him “Seeing to the welfare of people is more effective than the use of force.  It has been said that the crown of a leader is his integrity, his stronghold is his impartiality and his wealth is the welfare of his people”. Therefore all hands must be on deck to ensure that government delivers on its mandate for better life for the citizens”.

    Wishing his eminence many more years of worthy leadership for humanity.

     

    • Aremu is Secretary General, Alumni Association of the National institute, AANI.
  • APC chieftain hailed for leadership qualities

    APC chieftain hailed for leadership qualities

    Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, Otunba Ladi Olo, has described Otunba Dengel Anifowoshe, the chairman of chairmen of the party in the 57 local governments and local council development areas, as a leader the party and the state should be proud of.

    He hailed Anifowoshe for the roles he had played in fostering unity, peace and love among the party leaders and members.

    Olo said Anifowoshe, who is also the chairman of the party in Bariga LCDA, coordinated the party’s activities in a manner that promoted peace and unity among members and leaders.

    He said the man should be celebrated during his birthday.

    Otunba Olo, a property consultant and chartered accountant, who addressed reporters during the activities lined up to celebrate Anifowoshe’s birthday holding in Lagos, said the decision of the APC leaders led by the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the state Chairman, Otunba Oladele Ajomale, to appoint Anifowoshe was a move that should be applauded, as he had not disappointed them.

    He added: “How he has been managing the party at the grassroots level is commendable. How he is grooming leaders that will take over is also worthy of emulation. Little wonder he is one of the leaders. He is an associate of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.”

  • ‘Position yourselves for leadership’

    ‘Position yourselves for leadership’

    Former governor of Anambra State Peter Obi has inspired Kogi State pupils, telling them they need proper education in addition to intellectual and moral grooming to become leaders of tomorrow.

    The ex-governor was speaking at LGEA Primary School, Olamaboro Local Government Area, Kogi State, urging the pupils to be steadfast with their education.

    A the visit, Obi interacted with the schoolchildren, allowing them to ask questions, and assured them that though education might seem difficult to acquire, it has lasting value and influence.

    Obi presented a cheque of N1m to help in the rehabilitation of the school.

    The people of the community came out in large numbers to receive him prayed for him.

    Speaking, the leader of the community, Oche Agbo Okpabi Linus said that words and actions were not enough to thank Mr. Obi for the visit, saying that it was the first time the community is hosting a high-ranking personality.

    The community leader said they were humbled by Obi’s mission, which, according to him, was entirely humanitarian.

  • Enter Leadership Politician of the Year

    Since he assumed office as the speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara has left no one in doubt that he was poised to leave an indelible mark in the sand of times.

    Within the short period that he has presided over the affairs of the House, Dogara has brought dignity and prestige, not only to the office of the Speaker, but to the House of Representatives as an institution.

    But this is not surprising to close observers of the Dogara speakership. Having won a keenly contested election, he made a solemn promise to his colleagues, and indeed Nigerians, that under his leadership,  they “shall wage an unrelenting legislative war on Nigeria’s problems”. And this war, he has continued to wage legislatively to confront Nigeria’s myriad of problems.

    Speaker Dogara’s stellar performance so far is as a result of a combination of his upbringing and his leadership skill, honed over time from experiences gathered in various positions he held both as a member of the House of Representatives and as a lawyer.

    Born  in 1967 in Tafawa Balewa Province of Bauchi State, Dogara rose from a very humble background to the apex of legislative leadership, largely through a stint of hard work and favour from God. He was first elected into the House of Representatives in 2007 from one of the most diverse constituencies  in the country where Christians, Moslems, and many ethnic groups co-exist in peace. It is this pot-pourri of ethnic and religious mix that made it easy for him to easily win the confidence is his colleagues across religious and political divides.

    Under his leadership, the House of Representatives has improved in leaps and bounds. Apart from setting up a committee to review obsolete and outdated laws, the House, under the guidance of Dogara, set a record by passing for first reading, 130 bills in one day.

    It is imperative to point out that  in the 7th Assembly, which was rated high in terms of bills passage, 700 bills were presented in four years, while in just one session, about 600 bills were presented in the Green Chamber for consideration under the present leadership and almost 100 of them scaled third reading as at June 9.

    It is not only in the area of lawmaking that the Speaker has excelled. As far as Dogara is concerned, to lead is to serve. And service he has been doing to not only his colleagues in the House of Representatives, but to his constituents, his state and indeed, the nation. He has used his vantage position as the speaker to draw attention to the deprivation and want of the people in the north east who have bore the brunt of the terrorist activities.

    In this regard, the Speaker  for the first time in the history of the House stepped down from his exalted chair and presented a motion on the urgent need for the rehabilitation, recovery, resettlement and reconstruction of the north east. Again, he is sponsoring a bill seeking to establish the North East Development Commission (NEDC) which will soon be passed into law.

    Not only that, Dogara, has also been advocating for the convocation of an international donor conference for the rebuilding of the violence ravaged north east. This, is in addition to his humanitarian visits to Internally Displaced Persons camps across the country where he takes the message of hope to the people apart from providing succour to them.

    To him, public office is not meant for personal gains but for public good.  It is Dogara’s philosophy that leaders should at all times live exemplary lives of service, sacrifice and selflessness.

    The Speaker always says that justice is needed in building a civil society, and that for societies to grow, leaders must understand the workings of justice which is necessary in any democracy for equality to thrive. Infact, he strongly believes that establishing both principles is necessary for Nigeria to make any meaningful progress.

    Dogara’s argument is that for any society to grow and develop, the process of development must start from the base to the top because where you start from the top, you are digging a grave. He noted that in Nigeria, we have not only dug a grave for democracy but are possibly in the process of burying it, obviously  referring to the poor running of  local governments in the country.

    It is also his believe that democracy, which is the best system of government ever to be invented by man, promises nothing to its citizens other than life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That it is these tools of democracy that free citizens can leverage on and harness their potentials to build a greater, peaceful and prosperous society.

    His practice of politics is that which is without bitterness. He believes in  consensus-building and compromise. It is his political philosophy that  leadership is not a zero sum game and that at all levels and at all times, inclusiveness must be the guiding principles of leadership so that greater good can be delivered for the greater number of the people.

    In a show of his political sagacity and dexterity, Dogara conceded the House Leadership position to his opponent in the Speakership election; an act which helped in no small way in stabilising the House  in the last one year.

    The recent show of solidarity to the Speaker by his colleagues when the House reconvened from its annual recess in September is worth a mention here because it once again proved the doubting Thomases wrong and is an attestation to Dogara’s political prowess and wide acceptablity amongst his colleagues inspite of calculated and desperate attempts  by his traducers to discredit him and tarnish his hard-earned reputation by feeding the rather gullible public with total falsehood, lies and  by distortion of facts. Thank God that Nigerians have since realised the antics of these disgruntled elements and unscrupulous individuals who are pursuing personal vendatta against him.

    Undoubtedly, these ignoble individuals thought that by telling and propagating the same lies again and again against Dogara, Nigerians will take it and believe them hook line and sinker. Unfortunately for them, they have forgotten that even Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s infamous war propagandist, had cautioned againts such when asserted that, “there will come a day when all the lies will collapse under their own weight, and the truth will triumph again.” This is the moment of truth.

    For all the years he spent in the National Assembly before becoming Speaker last year, Dogara, had built for himself a well known reputation as an incorruptible lawmaker. Indeed, it is a well-known fact that in the 6th Assembly when he chaired the House Committee on Customs and Excise, Hon. Dogara, rejected $5 million bribe and went ahead to conduct one of the most credible and thorough investigations that resulted in the reform of the Customs Service. What more can one say about him?

    As Leadership Newspaper confers this honour on one of Nigeria’s leading legislative icons, this will no doubt spur him to strive harder to impact on the people of Nigeria whose interest is his major concern. It is well deserved.

    Indeed, it was in recognition of Dogara’s political prowess and sterling leadership qualities that in June, he was conferred with the pretigious Zik Leadership award for Public Service for year 2015.

    Interestingly, the Leadership Newspaper Group have also said they chose him for the prestigious award in recognition of his gallant display of political astuteness, quality of social capital and his cosmopilitan disposition.

     

    • Hassan is Special Adviser, Media & Public Affairs to Speaker Dogara.
  • ‘Why we gave Bayelsa NSCDC boss leadership award’

    ‘Why we gave Bayelsa NSCDC boss leadership award’

    A civil society group under the aegis of the Pan-African Leadership Transparency Centre (PALTC), Abuja, has honoured the Bayelsa State command of the Nigeria Security and a Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to Yenagoa.

    The award of excellence in leadership was given to the Commandant, Mr. Desmond Agu. They said they were monitoring all the activities of Agu, his achievements and leadership qualities since he assumed the command of NSCDC in Bayelsa. The visitors confessed that they read most of the activities of Agu in the Niger Delta Report.

    The National Coordinator, PALTC, Mr. Valentine Agba; the centre’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Lekpo Gideon; Field Coordinator, John Tondi, media crew and other members of the group came with the award and a certificate for Agu.

    Gideon said Agu stood tall among his contemporaries adding that he had proved worthy of a leader. He said the commandant’s vas experience was uncommon; his humane disposition inspiring and his competence intimidating.

    He said: “Mr. Agu is a distinguished icon, a professional expert, the most proactive civil Defence commandant and one of the best in the country.”

    Gideon said PALTC was impressed at how Agu transformed an almost moribund NSCDC command in the state into a force to reckon with. He said Agu inherited a command that operated in a rented decrepit building but was able to build a permanent and world-class structure that impacted positively on the image of NSCDC.

    “After careful analysis from the period he took over the Bayelsa State command of NSCDC, we discovered that Agu worked very hard to improve the command, turned it around and gave it a modern facelift. He worked very hard with diplomacy to provide critical infrastructures to improve the activities of his men and officers.

    “He has achieved relevance, respect and recognition through hard work and dedication to his calling. His antecedents, recommendations and attributes earned him the prestigious leadership award”, he said.

    Also corroborating the sentiments expressed by PALTC, Agu’s Second-in-Command, Udoeyo Anielka, said the award was not surprising to men and officers of the command.

    Addressing his boss, he said: “We can testify that you met nothing on ground. But your singular effort, fighting like a lion, you have brought us to the mainstream and we are now a force to reckon with.

    “There is nothing done in this state that civil defence is not called upon. We have the synergy with other security agencies. We work as a team and that is why we are succeeding”.

    Also in his remarks, the Deputy Commandant and Head of Intelligence and Investigation, George Anyanwu, said al the officers in the command had been encouraged by the award.

    He said apart from his achievements, Agu had shown love to the downtrodden. He said despite his busy schedule, Agu was fond of showing humility by attending social engagements involving his officers.

    In his address, the commandant who was elated by the recognition, described the award as the greatest among over 35 awards he had so far received. He said in all other states like Enugu, Delta and Plateau, he worked before coming to Bayelsa, he was driven by patriotism.

    He extolled the virtues of the Commandant-General and thanked him for having confidence in him. He promised never to disappoint the commandant-general and the country while discharging his functions.

    “I have served my country and this organisation with sincerity. I believe that was what touched this organisation to recognise me in this manner. Since I came to Bayelsa, NSCDC has achieved a lot.

    “We have a good relationship with other security agencies. We have destroyed more than 1000 illegal refineries in the state. We have prosecuted many cases and some cases are still in the court.

    “The command is one of the best commands as far as the NSCDC is concerned. I thank my commander-general for finding me worthy to be posted in this state. I will not fail you. I will serve my nation with all my heart. I will serve the nation with sincerity.

    “I can’t achieve this without the support of my subordinates. I dedicate this award to my subordinates. To whom much is given, much is expected.

    “This is a responsibility for us to do more. We will work harder and this nation will remain united and in peace. Whatever we can do to ensure that Nigeria remains crime-free, we will do it”, he said.

  • CAANU elects new leadership

    Mr Ahmed Tijani Mora of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) has emerged Chairman of the Conference of Alumni Associations of Nigerian Universities (CAANU).

    The group’s election was held during its yearly convention at 100-capacity theatre hall of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ABTU), Bauchi, last week from Thursday through Sunday.

    Other executives that emerged as published in a communiqué issued at the end of the convention, are: Tajudeen Olusegun of Tai Solarin University of Education (first vice chairman); Ifaluyi Isibor of University of Benin (second vice chairman); Muhammad Sani Wada of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (secretary);  Usman Tabari of Kaduna State University (Assistant Secretary)); and Godwin Akpan of University of Uyo (treasurer).

    Others are: Kenneth Ereke of Ebonyi State University (PRO); Billy Onotue of Delta State University (financial secretary); Stephen Ijoh of Benue State University (auditor); Madueke AdiZue of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (Social/Welfare Secretary);  Ramatu Liman of University of Jos (legal adviser); as well as first, second and third ex-Officios-e Bola Ajayi of Federal University of Technology Akure; Akinloye Akande of University of Agriculture (FUAM), Makurdi; and. Ayiwulu Baba Ayiwulu of Nasarawa State University, Keffi respectively.

    the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Ugochukwu Achebe, and the Chancellor, Kogi State University and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, delivered the keynote address, while Bauchi State Governor Muhammed Abdullahi Abubakar who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Alhaji Nasiru Yelwa, declared the convention open.

     

  • CAANU elects new leadership

    Dr Ahmed Tijani Mora of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) has emerged Chairman of the Conference of Alumni Associations of Nigerian Universities (CAANU).

    The group’s election was held during its yearly convention at 100-capacity theatre hall of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ABTU), Bauchi, last week from Thursday through Sunday.

    Other executives that emerged as published in a communiqué issued at the end of the convention, are: Tajudeen Olusegun of Tai Solarin University of Education (first vice chairman); Ifaluyi Isibor of University of Benin (second vice chairman); Muhammad Sani Wada of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (secretary);  Usman Tabari of Kaduna State University (Assistant Secretary)); and Godwin Akpan of University of Uyo (treasurer).

    Others are: Kenneth Ereke of Ebonyi State University (PRO); Billy Onotue of Delta State University (financial secretary); Stephen Ijoh of Benue State University (auditor); Madueke AdiZue of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (Social/Welfare Secretary);  Ramatu Liman of University of Jos (legal adviser); as well as first, second and third ex-Officios-e Bola Ajayi of Federal University of Technology Akure; Akinloye Akande of University of Agriculture (FUAM), Makurdi; and. Ayiwulu Baba Ayiwulu of Nasarawa State University, Keffi respectively.

    the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Ugochukwu Achebe, and the Chancellor, Kogi State University and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, delivered the keynote address, while Bauchi State Governor Muhammed Abdullahi Abubakar who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Alhaji Nasiru Yelwa, declared the convention open.

     

  • Values, history and leadership

    I   read  on the internet  his  week  that  the man who  introduced queuing  into Nigeria is now  trying  to  clean up  the same nation. That  man  or leader of  course is our current  Head  of State President  Muhammadu  Buhari. This time around  however,  according  to  the  report,  he   was  trying to  change Nigeria or tell  Nigerians    to  change, by  trying to  change themselves by inculcating  the values  of honesty, integrity  and  transparency in  their daily  lives.

    On  the surface  and at  face value,  this is a very direct  political    and  moral, appeal.  But  in the context  of  world  politics,  and the topsy  tturvy  terrain   of  Nigerian  history   and  development, it  is  certainly   not  original.   To  me it  is  not  only   diversionary  it  is begging  the question  on the president’s   electoral  mandate  of   change     on which  he secured  the  presidency  of  Nigeria in the 2015  presidential  elections. It  is like telling  Nigerians the buck  does  not stop  on    his  table   but    it  is a collective  responsibility  of  Nigerians   to  change    in  terms  of the way  and manner    in  which      they  apply  the   tenets  of  honesty, integrity,  and   transparency to   their   work   and overall  way  of  life.

    Unfortunately    that  really  is not  the point   and  is indeed  a painful leadership  fallacy in  the context  of  Nigerian  politics,  given   the all  pervasive  culture of corruption  and   poor   leadership  that  have   brought  us to  our  knees  in terms  of  poverty  and    economic   deprivation  as a nation.  That  was  what  the war  on  corruption  was  supposed  to  be about and the pivot  or  Commander  in  Chief    of  the    war  was  supposed  to  be this  president.   So    what    happened that  all  of us  are  being  asked  to  take  the  bull  by  the horn when  we don’t have the means and  cannot  even  recognize  the  bull  in  the first  instance? It is like  asking  Nigerians to  commit  mass  suicide and  this is just  not   right  as  Nigerians  put the mantle of  change on this presidency when  they  booted out the   Jonathan  presidency and  chose  the APC and  President  Buhari in the 2015 presidential  elections. The  dog  should  wag  the tail  in the war against  corruption  and in  the  instilling of honest  and  progressive values in  any  society  including  Nigeria. The tail  should  not  wag  the dog as the slogan  that change starts  with  Nigerians clearly demands. That  is the issue  for  discussion today.

    I intend  to  illustrate  my  position    with  the  history  of  a social   club which  is  the   oldest  indigenous  club    in Nigeria  and which   celebrated  its  90th  anniversary  this week.   That  club  is  the Yoruba  Tennis Club   founded  on  September  15  1926. The  club  in  90  years  has  weathered  the  political  storm and uncertainties of first,  colonial  rule, independence, military  rule and  a pervasive  culture  of  corruption in  a nation that is  now  engaged  in  a war  on  corruption . Yet,  the Yoruba  Tennis Club  has never  in its  chequered    history    been  found  wanting in the values  of honesty,  integrity  and above  all   sheer human  courage.

    The   Yoruba Tennis   Club  celebrated  its 90th  Anniversary  with  a long  programme  that  included  several  events  including an anniversary lecture  by  the Vice  President   Professor  Yemi  Osinbajo,  yesterday and  ends   with  a Gala Dance  today. The  Vice  President’s  Lecture  provided a  genuine menu  of  change  that  the government promised  in  sharp  distinction  from the diversion of  asking  Nigerians to  change  themselves  and their  morals  in an environment  reeking from inescapable and  avoidable  corruption  and  poverty. indeed  the VP ‘s  analysis  of  the challenges  facing the nation in this recession goes  to  the point in making  Nigerians  know  that  government  is not sleeping on  change  and that  Nigerians can  expect  some  succour  from  their  sufferings  and economic  woes  sooner  than  later. Most  appropriately  the lecture  has  the title –  Revitalising  the Nigerian  Economy, the  Challenges  and  Opportunities.

    As   pointed  out during  the lecture,  the VP  noted  that  the club, the  YTC,  was  founded  by men  of  integrity and  courage  90  years  ago as  a protest  against  the racial  discrimination of  the colonial  masters who  barred  them  from  membership  of the  now Lagos  Lawn  Tennis  Club  whose  first  Chairman  was  Lord  Lugard,  Nigeria’s  first  colonial  governor. Ironically  and   rather   fortuitously,  the  present  president  of  the Lagos  Lawn  Tennis  Club, a  young  Nigerian   supervised  the  cutting of  the  cake of  the  90th  anniversary  of  the YTC  which  was  founded   on  September  15, 1926  by  bold Nigerians of  integrity  and honesty    who   resented  the  racial  discrimination  of  the colonial  governors  who did  not  allow  them   to  socialize  with  them.  Which    means     that  in  terms  of  social  and  political  change,  Nigerians   need no new  teachings or  masters  on  their  manners  and  values    and  only  expect  government  to  live  up  to  its  responsibilities in  2016, a year  after  the promised  change  of the election  victory  of  2015.

    The VP elucidated professorially on the  solutions  being  put in place  to revitalize  the  Nigerian  economy. He said  government putting in place fiscal  prudence to  curtail  costs; an Efficiency Unit is in  place to ensure  swift  service  delivery;  the  TSA  is  being  used  to  monitor  diversion  of  funds and  fraudulent  collusion between  government  officials and bank  managers; a  flexible  exchange  rate structure is being  put in place while  the Downstream  oil  sector  is being  deregulated.

    More  importantly,  the  VP said  government will  ensure  that salaries  of government  workers   at  state and federal  level  will  be paid  as and when  due. As    government   knows  now that the  states  cannot  meet  their  needs as they rely on government  allocation  which  has  dwindled as a result of  falling oil  prices in a mono  product economy.  He  said  paying  salaries  of  workers  would stimulate  consumer  spending and  confidence  and chase  away  recession  which  he admits is  peculiar  to each  economy in terms  of  causes  and  effect . Government  is planning  direct  creation of  jobs  for  about 500,000  graduates  to  get  jobs  by  September as  well as a Micro Credit Scheme  for 2m  market  women  and traders. In addition  government  is planning   a  500km  pipeline    to  be  embedded  in  the high seas to  stem  pipeline  vandalisation   and its   negative  effects  on  the economy  and  power  supply. Government  is stepping up on diversifying  the economy   and  is  funding  alternative  sources  of  power  while also working  earnestly  on  solar  energy  power  supply. Indeed  one  can  say  that  government  has woken up on its change sleep  and has put its  hands  to  the plow  to  save  the Nigerian  economy.

    Again,  on  the issue  of  morals,  the VP  commended the Chairman  of  the YTC, Mr  Dele  Martins, lawyer, as  a man  of integrity that the VP said  he  wanted  to recruit as a judge  when the  VP was the Attorney  General  of   Lagos  State. In addition, a Trustee  of the YTC, Alhaji Femi  Okunnu SAN, in his contribution demonstrated  the virtues of boldness and courage which  are  the hall  mark  of  the leadership  that  founded  the YTC.  He  said  government  must  cut  the cost  of governance at the legislative  and  executive  levels  to  improve  the economy.  He  said  the judiciary  has  not reflected  the federal  character in judicial appointments  from around  1978. He  asked  government  to  work  hard on  social  housing.  More  importantly  he said that the insurrection in the  Niger  Delta  will persist as  long  as  the issue  of Resource  Control, which is not the making  of the present Administration is  not  judiciously  resolved  and  urgently  too.

    Earlier  on at the anniversary,  the reviewer  of  the  Club  History,  Dr.  Femi  Olugbile,  commented on  several  aspects  of  the YTC 90  year  old  history.  As  a member  myself I  wish  to  highlight the part of  the club’s  history  that  says the Chairman  of  the club  can  do  no wrong. While  this  may  sound unrealistic and  impossible  at  once,  it  has  been  a   strong   catalyst   for orderliness and  control.  Especially   in   a  club made  up of professors, lawyers and eggheads  in various  professions  as well as captains of industry  and  business. It  is a salutation  that I  have personally  discovered makes for smooth  flow of obedience  from  members  to  tradition and  customs  of  the club as  well as   total  recognition of  the responsible  authority   of  the YTC   Chairman. It  is indeed  a  good  recipe  for political  stability in any  environment  and  not  only a social one   such  as  the  YTC  and is  highly  recommended.  Once   again,  long live  the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Courage in leadership: Shettima example

    It was in September, 2014. Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State had embarked on planned assessment meetings with school authorities in Sudan and the United Kingdom, where 70 students on the state’s sponsorship were undergoing undergraduate studies in Medicine and Geo-Sciences. He had hardly arrived his first destination, when Boko Haram insurgents took over Bama Town, one of the most populated towns in the state, just about 70kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

    Palpable tension was in the air, as news went round that Maiduguri, the seat of power too, was about to be overrun by the sect. Shettima immediately cut short his trip, took the next available flight, and by September 4, 2014, arrived Abuja, where he held strategic meetings on the Bama takeover, including constituting a committee to oversee the distribution of relief materials to the victims of the Bama attack.

    Done with the meeting, he announced his intention to return to Maiduguri, the next day, an intention almost everyone around him, including this writer kicked against. But the arguments he advanced, shocked me: “MallamSamaila (that’s how he calls me), it is better for me to be killed, serving my people, than for Maiduguri, with several internally displaced persons to fall to Boko Haram, while I am away. That will amount to cowardice.”

    Seeing his courage and determination to return, I prayed with him, and wished him well. By the next day, Friday September 5, a day after he returned to Maiduguri, he addressed the citizens of the state, through a state-wide broadcast, and thereafter, moved round the city, the same way, security operatives carry out Show of Force to keep the spirit of the citizens alive, and to let them know he was not a runaway governor.

    Coincidentally, exactly two years after that traumatic and emotional day, family, friends and well-wishers, numbering about 200, gathered in Maiduguri, to attend a reception in his honour, to mark his Golden Age. Ironically, the event was initially slated for Friday, September 2, the same day and date he was born 50 years ago, but a presidential appointment for the same date, forced organisers of the event, to shift it to Monday, September 5, thus, compelling me also to recall the events of September 5, 2014.

    It will interest Nigerians and other readers to know that the reception was not the typical Owanbe kind of celebration, befitting of the status of a typical Nigerian governor, who attained the age of 50. There were no assorted drinks; we had water, soft drinks and the regular kinds of fruits- Apple and Pear. Not a dime was taken from the coffers of the state government to put the event which lasted for just two hours together. The list of donors and amount donated, were read out to the hearing of all of us seated in the hall. The donors, 30 of them, were coordinated by his spokesman, Isa Umar Gusau.

    And from the funds raised, 50 children, orphaned by Boko Haram, were given life-line, with their school fees paid upfront for the next nine years. And just before we left the hall, Zenith Bank, his former employers, also keyed into the educational empowerment of the children orphaned by Boko Haram, by offering to support additional 50 children, thus, bringing the number of beneficiaries to 100. Immediate past governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, chaired the event. Shettima’s lovely and ever supportive wife, Hajia Nana, was also on hand to lend her motherly support.

    After the presentation of the awards and cutting of the cake, which was also donated, Governor Kashim Shettima, whom I know reluctantly accepted to be treated to the reception, thanked all those who attended, including those who stood by him, especially the kid brothers of his estranged political leader, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, during his (Shettima) political trials.

    He also told the audience what those of us very close to him, had always known about his relationship with Sheriff. Hear him: “During our travails with our political leader, some of our politicians elected to stand on the side of truth and justice. I never fought Ali (Modu) Sheriff. Ali Sheriff fought me. He made himself a tin-god, until God demystified him and put him where he rightly belongs.”

    Fifty years is indeed regarded as a Golden Age. But as late Coco Chanel, an influential French fashion designer puts it, “nature,” gives one the face one deserves at 20, but it is up to one to merit “the face” one has at 50 and even beyond.

    With what I know about Shettima, right from his days at the Zenith Bank, and for the mere fact that since becoming governor in 2011, he has never for once, gathered people to say he was marking his birthday, and for reluctantly accepting to be treated to a reception last Monday, I think he undoubtedly, merits “the face” he has at 50. He has shown courage and leadership, in the last five years as Borno governor. I pray he ends well. Happy Birthday sir!

     

    • Omipidan, is the immediate past Kaduna NUJ, acting chairman.

  • ‘I’ll provide purposeful leadership’

    Residents of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have been assured of purposeful and responsible leadership, if a former supervisor for market and revenue generation, Mr. Peter Ajayi, is voted into power as chairman during the forthcoming local council election.

    This was contained in a press release from the Peter Ajayi Campaign Organisation (PACO). According to the release, which was signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Okunade Adekunle, the former supervisor gave the assurance during his recent interaction with the residents.

    Ajayi, who is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), according to the release, said the residents of the local government deserve more than they have benefitted from successive governments in the council. He added that he would carry along all stakeholders in his government, if given a chance.

    Adekunle stated: “Grassroots development is the bedrock of national development. With Ajayi’s experience in revenue generation, he is in a better position to mobilise resources for the implementation of projects that will impact on the lives of the people.

    “Our government would make sure that the projects to be executed within the LCDA are executed by professional contractors who are residents of the council, thereby boosting the economy of the area, including creation of job opportunities for the teeming youths of the LCDA.

    “The local council under Ajayi’s watch would not engage in projects that do not have a direct bearing on the lives of the people.”

    The release also quoted the aspirant as saying that the people of Ejigbo will be consulted widely before he embarks on any capital project, “because they must have input in the process of policy formulation and implementation”.

    It added that Ajayi’s policies and programmes will centre on youths and women empowerment, infrastructural development, senior citizens’ welfare, education, good health care service delivery, as well as security and creation of an enabling environment for business in the area.