The Nation Newspaper

Tag: leadership

  • 2019: Atiku visits Makarfi, says leadership must change hands

    •Claims Nigeria under APC is headquarters of world poverty

    Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said yesterday that Nigeria’s leadership must change hands next year for the country to make a head way.

    Atiku, during a visit to his fellow PDP presidential aspirant, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi in Kaduna, claimed that poverty has grown in the country under the APC government.

    The Waziri Adamawa hailed  Makarfi for steering the party through turbulence when he held sway as national caretaker committee chairman.

    The former VP said with Makarfi’s feat in leading the party out of the woods showed that the former governor has great potentials as a leader, saying that is why it is necessary for them to come together to sustain the nation’s democracy.

    He said:”The misadministration of the APC government is very evident; we have the highest record of unemployment since 1999, we have the highest inflation, we have multiple exchange rate that discourages foreign investment. We have the highest level of insecurity since 1999.

    “We are disunited this time more than ever before, people are more angry, people are poorer more than anytime. I mean Nigeria is the headquarters of poverty in the world.

    “This is unthinkable, for a country that is endowed with human and natural resources like ours, just because of lack of clear headed leadership and direction; this is where we find ourselves.

    “So, it is obvious that we just have to change the leadership of this country.”

    When asked whether the PDP had the magic wand to change the country’s status quo, Atiku said, “of course, have you forgotten that PDP governed this country since 1999 and we witnessed progressive development in all sectors of the economy.”

    Speaking on his visit to Makarfi, he said, “we are all members of the same family and we are working together to ensure that PDP produces the best candidate for the next election, so that, PDP can be returned to power.

    “I am a democrat and I have always worked with anyone that emerged, so I am ready to work with anyone that emerges through credible elections.”

    Responding, Makarfi reminded the former VP of their various struggles working for the party in the past, noting that Atiku is capable and qualified to lead the party.

    Senator Makarfi said he has nothing to lose if Atiku picks the party’s presidential ticket.

    “I am ready to work with any of the fellow aspirants that emerges, that is why I even said that, because I am willing to work with some of them, I won’t even step into their states.

    “I am not averse to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar becoming the party’s candidate, just like he is not also averse to me becoming the party’s candidate. It is a family issue, we are talking and we will keep on talking”. Makarfi said.

     

  • 2019: Sokoto PDP threatened as Tambuwal, Bafarawa differ on succession, leadership

    There are indications that the battle for Sokoto State governorship candidature within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is likely to tear incumbent Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and former Governor Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa apart.

    Either way, the battle for political relevance in the caliphate’s PDP may threaten the chances of the party due to the uncompromising interests of the two sides over succession and party leadership.

    For the opposition APC in the state, which is tactically putting its act together, it is a welcome drama that portends signs of victory.

    The two forces, who are both aspiring for the office of the president, seem not to be on the same page on the choice of governorship candidate and party leadership, it was learnt.

    Coming from the same state, both have picked nomination forms for the presidential race and there seems to be no sign of concession in sight.

    A source within the party also hinted that Governor Tambuwal has two battles to face at the state and national level.

    “While he is contending with the burden of  shopping for a successor in the state, the immediate past HoRs Speaker is also having it tough making an inroad for the PDP presidential ticket at the top level.”

    Tambuwal is said to be working towards anointing his immediate past Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Alhaji Mannir Dan Iya.

    Besides, the governor had, long before his defection to PDP, been known to favour his immediate past Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Sa’idu Umar, as his possible successor. But close to his defection, the name of Senator Abdullahi Danbaba Dambuwa, who also moved to PDP, became the chorus as possible candidate.

    Similarly, the governor has began to move for the change of party leadership in the state with the likely choice of Alhaji Mukhtari Maigona, who recently defected to PDP, as substitute for incumbent Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma, who has occupied the position for over 4 years after leaving the Democratic Peoples Party(DPP).

    However, Bafarawa is said to have kicked against the alleged move by Tambuwal to change Milgoma who hitherto, had been on same track with the former governor since the ANPP days.

    Milgoma, it will be recalled, has never separated from Bafarawa, as he is clipped to the direction and vision of the former governor, who is his benefactor.

    “As I speak with you, Tambuwal is seeking consensus on the issue of presidential ticket by requesting Bafarawa to give him a chance, but the former governor is not giving in,” the source said.

  • Abia South seat: Between the old and new breed leadership

    ALTHOUGH the 2019 Senatorial Election is still months away, the race for Abia South seat has become hot and interesting. Already, it is the most intriguing in Abia State, considering the aspirants that have so far come out in most of the leading political parties and the issues that currently dominate discussion amongst the electorates.

    Of all the three senatorial districts in the Southeast state, this zone, Abia South, has so far attracted the highest number of aspirants for the 2019 elections. They include the incumbent Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who is poised to contest for a fourth term in office; Chief Chinwe Nwanganga, Professor Ikechi Mgbeoji, Dr. Solomon Ogunji, and Rt. Hon. Emeka Stanley, all on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    On the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the leading aspirants include Sir Mac Wabara, the former Managing Director of the defunct Hallmark Bank, and an internationally acclaimed Petroleum Engineer, Chinedu Onyeizu.

    On the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), there are strong indications that Chief Chris Nkwonta will run under the platform of APGA. The Akwete, Ukwa East billionaire ran against Senator Abaribe in 2015 but lost.

    Just 38, Chinedu Onyeizu represents the new breed in the politics of Abia South. Born November 23, 1980 at Abayi – Ohanze village in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, Onyeizu, an engineer of international repute, plans to fly the flag of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the senatorial election for Abia South seat. Young, fresh and intellectually deep, Onyeizu has, since he came out to dare, never ceased to attract attention.

    Close watchers of the unfolding campaign intrigues in the area say most of the other ‘experienced’ aspirants for the plum seat at the Red Chamber, including the big and the mighty in the politics of Abia South, are already jittery over Onyeizu’s immediate acceptability and growing popularity amongst the youths and increasing percentage of the old.  So, why would a young man like that, with little or no political experience, become such an instant factor to reckon with in a race that parades old political lords and known money bags?

    So many factors could be adduced for this. The first is, perhaps the personality, himself. Onyeizu, according to the people that have associated with him at close quarters, is a brilliant example of a determined youth, eager to make a difference when it matters most. It could not be said of him that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. No! He was brought up in a middle class family of five (3 boys and 2 girls). His father is a licensed land surveyor and his late mum was a secondary school principal. He had his primary and secondary school education in Aba, and later attended Federal University Owerri (FUTO) where he graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor’s Degree (B.Eng.) in Petroleum Engineering. Between then and now, young Onyeizu has travelled far and near in search of the mythical Golden Fleece and everywhere he went to, he has made visible marks that confirmed his destiny to reach the very top. His has been a story of excellence wrapped up in a humble soul.

    He did his NYSC service in Bayelsa State and his meritorious service during this period earned him the Best Corps Member award (given by the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State) amongst the 2003 Batch A set of corps members. As a young university graduate, he single-handedly invited a team of 10 expatriate ophthalmologists for a free eye surgery camp in Bayelsa State. His humanitarian project restored sight to 67 cataract blind people in the society.

    In 2006, Chinedu Onyeizu was recognised as the Best Young Engineer in West Africa by PENWELL Petroleum Group – a U.K. based organisation during the 2006 Offshore West Africa Conference in Abuja. He developed and presented a GIS model that is capable of detecting and transmitting real time data on vulnerability of the environment to spill in a Niger Delta oilfield.

    Well exposed, he has had the privilege of studying at prestigious universities like Harvard University in Boston, Herriot-Watt University in Scotland, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts for postgraduate degrees.

    He started his professional career as a Natural Gas Research Associate with the Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) in 2004 and joined Chevron Nigeria Limited in 2007 where he worked in various petroleum upstream projects. With a scope of expertise that includes Petroleum Asset development, Strategy Planning, Power and Energy Policy development, and Project Management at senior executive levels, it would be fool hardy for the so called experienced politicians and money bags to dismiss Onyeizu as ‘inexperienced, since the youths and the working class young adults, the critical segment of the voting population, are eager for real change in the politics of this oil producing senatorial district.

    The argument today is that amongst the candidates, Onyeizu is, if the hard truth is to be told, the only one that has the real experience to advance the course of Abia South in particular and Abia State in general, as an oil producing community. He is the only one that has the critical knowledge for proper development and utilization of this natural resource. Until his emergence, all that the so-called experienced politicians, like the incumbent Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe or the other money bags like Mac Wabara, the former Managing Director of the defunct Hallmark Bank, have to present is their huge bags of money or long years of service in the public sector. The fear they have as the 2019 election campaign begins, is that this young man, Onyeizu, has today offered something fresh and new! Something that is most needed by the people so much blessed but so much denied of the benefits of their God-given blessing.

    Given his background and track record, his supporters would have little or no difficulty in marketing him to the critical electorates. Though the youngest, he has the critical experience that counts. In 2016, while studying for his MBA at MIT, Onyeizu developed and shared a policy and technology based model capable of transforming Nigeria’s petroleum industry. His model promises to position Nigeria as a global hub for crude oil refining and distribution in West Africa and the rest of the world. His work received global recognition and was later published by MIT on the October 2017 edition of MIT Expert blog. He later founded an organisation – Africa Policy Evaluation and Research Associates (AfriPERA) – focused on working with national and regional governments and institutions on developing and reviewing policies on energy, power, agriculture and economy for the development of Africa and other emerging economies.

    No wonder even the high and mighty are already fidgeting as this young promising aspirant steps out? The questions all informed analyst will soon begin to ask must include: Why would such an aspirant, with clear vision and potential, not inspire and attract the youths, young adults, the aged and even the grassroots who have been deceived for long by the so-called experienced politicians and money bags? Your guess is as good as mine. Today’s voters, especially the youths and the other segments who feel betrayed, are no longer gullible. For them, the Abia South Senatorial election in 2019 will be a battle between the expired old leaders and the vibrant youths who are ready to hit the road running. They know what is good for them and are no longer ready to be deceived by the same set of leaders that have used them to fly high for years but have nothing tangible to offer the common people at the grassroots.

    • Nwaobia wrote in from Lagos

  • RMD, others tasks managers on leadership

    VETERAN Nollywood actor Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sam Adeyemi, Niyi Adesanya, and other top shots have tasked task Business Managers on the need for  Leadership roles in the society.

    This call was given at the two-day mentorship event tagged Niyi Adesanya Leadership BootCamp which was organised by Fifth Gear Consulting in Lagos.

    Other speakers at the event included John Obara, CEO, Systemspecs represented by Deremi Atanda, Executive Director, Systemspecs, Ubong King, renowned Public Speaker, Iview Martins Ogbonmwan, Human Resource Expert, Emmanuel Utomi and Iwu Akinyoyenu among others.

    According to the experts, critical among the leadership values that will transform organizations is the mind-set of service and a desire to create environment for workforce to thrive.

    Speaking at the event, Richard Mofe-Damijo, who is also an ex-commissioner in Delta State and popularly known as RMD noted that the entire failure of governance in Africa is a reflection of whom we are as a people.

    Dr. Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Church also noted that a rethink of the African belief system is critical to a big shift in leadership in all areas.

    “There’s a wrong cultural influence on leadership in Africa that starts from our homes and families,” Adeyemi said.

    “That thinking that being a leader makes you superior to followers is something we have held on to for too long and it must change.”

    Human Resource Manager, Ivie Martins Ogbonmwan charged employers of labours to embrace new cultures. She noted although millennials highly misunderstood in the workspace however, employers of labour should make provisions for flexibility of work hours, trainings, mentorship and team work.

  • Pro bono lawyers hold leadership, capacity conference

    Two leading attorneys, Hannah McCrea and Nyasa Hickey of Brooklyn Defender Services, United States, will facilitate a training for pro bono lawyers at a conference tagged: Leadership and capacity building conference for pro bono lawyers and legal aid service providers in Nigeria.

    The conference, which will hold in Lagos and Abuja, is organised by three lawyers who are Mandela Washington Fellows: Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem, Janet Gbam and Oboirien Katumi under the auspices of Network of Pro Bono Lawyers.

    The conference is supported by the US Embassy, Nigeria; CLEEN Foundation and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

    On August 14, there will be a visit to Ikoyi and Kirikiri prisons, to be followed by meetings with stakeholders and government officials.

    On August 15, there will be a day-long regional conference at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Conference Center, Alausa.

    There will be another day-long regional conference at the National Human Rights Commission, Maitama, Abuja on August 20.

    The resource persons will be joined by leading experts in the criminal justice sector in Nigeria, including Mr. Chino Obiagwu of the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), Dr. Benson Olugbuo of CLEEN Foundation and NHRC Director Legal Services Mr. Olaniyi Omodara.

    A statement by Adetola-Kazeem, Director, Prisoners’ Rights Advocacy Initiative, said the conference will be chaired by Justice Habeeb Abiru of the Court of Appeal.

    It will identify major barriers to accessing legal aid facing indigent defendants; and identify and build expertise within the pro bono community surrounding how to access clients and provide quality, high-volume legal services.

    It will facilitate the creation of network of pro bono lawyers in Nigeria, allowing professionals to share information, build partnerships and tackle challenges and collaborate on future training initiatives, among other objectives.

     

  • Leadership, defection, and  elections

    There is an old saying that a people or  a nation deserve  the leadership  it  has. I want to take issues with that statement today. The title of this piece already is a pointer to how I intend to proceed. In  many  nations of the world this week, leaders  have had to face protests  and outright opposition to their leadership  styles from  both  fervent    supporters  and   traditional  opponents alike. This  is more  so  in  Nigeria where lawmakers  from  the ruling party defected to the main  opposition party  for various reasons  of dissatisfaction with the ruling style of the Nigerian president. Also  in  the  US  it has become the norm in the American  media  to call  the present US President  Donald  Trump  a serial  liar  and a former Intelligence  chief  went  further  and asked  that the president be charged with  treason for daring to parley  with  Russian President Vladmir Putin. We  shall  look at these two  events and issues  in  Nigeria  along with  the intervention of the Nigerian Vice President in the traffic chaos  that literally blocked  access to Nigeria’s  major  port, the Apapa Wharf. We  then look at two  events also  in Asia  indeed, Malaysia  and Pakistan  and  see  what  we can learn  from there in the context  of today’s topic.

    Let  me first  of all make some remarks  that  I  feel  are general to all these issues even though  each  of them  is distinct in terms of its leadership style and context. Leadership to me should be responsive,  firm,  pragmatic, flexible  and decisive. It must be ready to take risks  and be ready  to apologise and  admit  obvious failures in the process of leading  its followership.   Modern   leadership  should  never  be like that of   Frederick  the Great of Prussia who  infamously    once said –‘ My  people and I have reached an understanding which satisfies us both. They  are to say what they  like and I am  to do  as I  wish.’ Of  course Frederick  led  a monarchy which is literally  extinct  or powerless nowadays except  perhaps in Britain and Thailand,   and the   governance  vogue  globally   nowadays is democracy.  But there is no denying that some elected leaders  behave like hereditary  monarchs  once they  have  taken over the apparatus  of power in elective democracies, and that is not only wrong  but pathetically so.  Unfortunately  that  seems to be the situation in Nigeria  and   the defections   from the  ruling party    are a direct  sequence of that. More  of that later.

    In  the US   there is no defection  from  the ruling Republican Party  yet because of what the opposition media led by CNN and New York  Times  have   done  in  successfully  branding the incumbent US president a liar but  there is no denying that such branding  has given a huge dent in credibility  and  respect  both at home and abroad  to  the image of both the US  and  its president   as   unserious entities      who  cannot  be taken  seriously in  the comity  of nations. In  Asia  as I said  before we look  at  the  election  in Pakistan  where  a new PM  is  coming into  office  from  the background of  an  election  so  violent that on election day   a   bomb exploded  and killed  over 30  people  at a polling booth. In  Nigeria  too an    unusual   defection  took  place from the  toothless leadership shown  so far in  controlling   the way tankers and trailers have taken over the traffic  and   bridges   in  the port  city of Lagos when the VP   came   calling  and    gave orders   that  the traffic should flow around  the  Apapa /Badagry   Expressway  and  Lagos,     within 72  hours  and that  really  happened.   Nevertheless   the main commercial  artery   of  Nigeria, the Apapa  Expresway  remains blocked by  a retinue  of trailers   and  oil  tankers  blocking  the entire length of  the three  lane gate way  to Nigeria’s major port. In  a great  way  the  Nigerian VP Prof  Yemi Osinbajo  showed  that Nigerian  leaders can    be responsive    and have empathy    for  the long suffering Nigerian  masses   when   they   want,  and on behalf  of long suffering Lagos commuters, car owners and those who  earn a living by travelling in  the   chaotic  Lagos traffic   daily,  I thank  him  for his yeoman  intervention,  concern  and execution  of the traffic movement  order  which has brought life  peace  of  mind  and  good health in a few  days to many residents of Nigeria’s commercial capital.

    Now   to   Malaysia where we have the oldest leader of  a modern   democracy,    PM  Ahmad Manathir  aged 92  and newly elected, we appraise  his pragmatic  approach  to international  relations and  regional power politics in the Pacific     from  a recent CNN interview.

    We  now go back  to the  defections  from  the APC  in  the Federal Legislature  which is a sign of a sensitive and alert  democracy  and which  the presidency  has described as inconsequential and the new APC Chairman  has waved off as  incapable of  affecting the   party’s  fortunes  at the coming  2019 presidential  elections. Maybe that was why the president called  the defections seasonal. There is no denying however  that some  of the defectors  saw  red and are ready  to leave certainty  for uncertainty because  they  saw  no solution  to their grievances. But  the governments problems known to Nigerians as untreated by the present government  include the Fulani  herdsmen killings, Insecurity, lopsided  federal  appointments  especially  of   the leadership    of our security apparatus  These  are  issues  the ruling party should  address  urgently  to avert  more  defections  as no  leadership  worth its salt  can ignore  protests  from its  fold as that will  be akin to going to sleep  while a  spark  of fire has been seen on a thatched roof.

    In  the case  of the US President Donald  Trump’s leadership  he has shown flexibility on important issues but  is being branded as unpredictable and confused  by his opponents. This week  he met the President of the European Commission and rescinded  his tariffs on steel and aluminium literally, with both sides pledging to a future of free  and fair trade, But  his detractors saw  no merit  in this since he too has called the media the No 1 Enemy  of the people.  Funny  enough Trump’s  core   supporters  have not defected or abandoned him  as even  the CNN polls   acknowledged  but  there is need  for the US president  to be more accommodating of opposing view points especially  when  offered  in good faith.

    In    Pakistan  it  is clear  that  the military  have  taken care  of both the Bhutto  and Nawaz Sharif political  dynasties  and have backed former  Cricket  star  Imran  Khan  as Pakistan ‘s new PM. We  shall  soon see  how long the romance can last.  Even  then the Bhuttos and  Sharifs  have a  long  history  of taking on the military   in  Pakistan  and either returning  to power or getting killed in the process.  Time will  tell  what  the outcome  of this last  election will be.

    On  a CNN interview  Malaysia’s  old PM  Mahathir  Mohamad   made  some  educative  comments on  China and US,  the two  major powers controlling the Pacific region where his nation is located. He said Malaysia is not as strong as China  and must  learn  to trade and make the best  of China’s  bullying on claiming ownership of   the   South  Seas  Islands  of other nations in the area. That  to me is good   diplomatic    pragmatism.  Regarding  his earlier pre – election pledge to hand over to his former pupil  and later opponent,  with  whom  he rallied to  win the last election,   he    nevertheless   promised  to  carry on,  if the people preferred  he should  continue in power,  even  though he had  been elected on a pledge  of handing power over to his   young  ally after two years on account of his old age.  That showed  a veteran  politician’s  love of  power  at  all costs  and   at  any   time.  Which  too is a  defection from  reality which  itself  breeds  ultimate  defection from power  which  seems to  be  sweeping,   in the  legislature, the rank  and file of  the ruling party in Nigeria. Once again long  live the Federal  Republic of Nigeria.

  • Tambuwal blames killings on failure of leadership 

    Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal has blamed the killings in the country on failure of leadership.
    Tambuwal, in a statement he signed and released on Tuesday said the deaths were avoidable and preventable.
    “The worst part of all this is that these deaths are avoidable and the killings preventable. It boils down, at the end of the day, to failure of leadership. Nigeria cannot progress and be part of a 21st Century forward looking world by creating new batches of mourners every other day.
    “This is not the way to go. That is not what Nigerians voted for in 2015. That is not what will build a virile, united, united, politically stable and economically prosperous African Giant,” he said.
    The former House of Representatives Speaker commiserated with families of those slain across the country.
    The statement reads: “I wish to commiserate with the families, friends, colleagues and associates of all our beloved fellow citizens, who lost their lives in the persistent and senseless killings now occuring in all parts of our dear country. Indeed, the growing spate of mindless shedding of innocent blood, especially of policemen and other security personnel on their lawful duty posts, has brought a new dimension to the reprehensible state of insecurity in the country.
    “Last May,three policemen were shot dead in Sokoto State by kidnappers, who abducted a Syrian national they were escorting. A few days later, four police officers were ambushed and killed in Benue State. Last week seven policemen were reportedly gunned down in cold blood in Abuja, and their arms and ammunition taken, by unknown persons.
    “This is happening amidst repeatedly reported cases of attacks on police stations and other security facilities in various parts of the country.
    “The question from every law abiding citizen today is: “Who will protect us, when even those constitutionally charged with the responsibility of protecting our lives and property have, themselves, become vulnerable targets of criminals? Where shall we run to for protection, when the institutions of State put in place to protect us are being progressively dismantled by opportunistic criminality and the trained personnel are also on the run?
    “It bears repeating for me to state here that Nigeria’s security architecture and the strategies currently adopted and deployed for national security, if any, need a comprehensive overhaul. It is not working. The needless waste of life everywhere, both those of trained security personnel and ordinary citizens, is a drain on the nation’s resources and an unacceptable diminution of our valuable human capital.
    “Every policeman or military personnel is someone’s father, mother,brother, sister,uncle, aunt or friend. The number and frequency of deaths is undermining our humanity, making us less sensitive to the gravity of the situation we are in today and also creating a new generation of Nigerians, who may  get accustomed to inhuman acts as the norm.”

  • Adeboye to youths: prepare for leadership

    General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye has challenged youths to

    prepare themselves for the responsibilities that comes with political leadership.

    He spoke last Sunday at a special prayer and thanksgiving for students, teachers, lecturers, professors and their families by the RCCG National Headquarters Throne of Grace Parish at Redemption Way, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

    He said that the Buhari administration has done the needful by assenting to the #NotToYoungToRule bill, pointing out the onus lies with youths to take advantage of the law and prepare themselves adequately for political leadership.

    “Are the Nigeria youths ready and prepared? It is one thing to agitate and it is another thing to be prepared to take advantage of the new law.

    “You don’t wait for opportunity when they come; you prepare before opportunity comes so you can recognise it and manage it,” Adeboye stated.

    He noted that political leadership in the nation has peculiar challenges, which every credible youth interested in politics must be aware of.

    He charged the youths to be ready to get involved, mobilise, organise and take their future and our nation’s destiny into their hands.

    Adeboye, who was represented by the Assistant General Overseer, Personnel and Administration, Pastor Johnson Odesola, said Nigerians are in a hurry for development, which puts a lot of pressure on people in positions of authority to deliver on the social contracts they have with the people.

    He stated for young people to take advantage of the new law in the political landscape, they must be exhibit enough political awareness and interest with a view to addressing the myriad of socio-economic challenges facing the country.

    Adeboye further commended Nigerians, who played one role or the other to achieving 19 years of unbroken democratic rule, which according to him remains the best form of government.

    He stated though the socio-economic challenges facing Nigeria are more daunting, the current parlous state is not exclusive to Nigeria as other developing countries are grappling with their share of challenges.

  • ‘Restructure education towards leadership’

    THERE is need to restructure the education system in such a way that youths will be empowered with the right leadership, speakers at the  Time Attendance Management System (TAM) summit have said.

    They challenged the youth, who make up 50 per cent of Nigeria’s population, to  acquire the right leadership skills.

    LEAP Africa founder Mrs Ndidi Nwuneli, who spoke on the theme: ‘Making Nigeria work’, expressed confidence in the youth but feared that poor education might undermine their potential.

    Mrs Nwuneli, who was the keynote speaker, said: “Young people in Nigeria have what it takes to lead as they are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but today and for them to take centre place, they need right education. At present, our education system needs to be revamped because it does not encourage creativity.”

    For them to excel in the new world, Nwuneli said they needed more platforms for youth engagement, exposure to technology and innovation, and respect for human dignity.

    Lagos State Special Adviser on Education Mr. Bank-Olemoh, noted that the Lagos State government engages youths through various programmes, including the ReadySetWork (RSW) an employability and entrepreneurship programme aimed at preparing final year students across the state’s tertiary institutions for the workforce.

    A roundtable on “How to build a new generation of corporate leaders” featured the Pro-Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof Adebayo Ninalowo;  Managing Director,  MRS Oil Nigeria, PLC Mr Andrew Gbodume;  Director,  TVC  Mr Ronan Redmond; and Business Coach,  Stanford Seed, Mrs Emily Linglet as panelists.

    They agreed on the need for policies, platforms and a reform that would focus on knowledge, skill and technology.

    Earlier, TAMS converner Mr. Afolabi  Abiodun, said the forum was to positively engage the youth, thereby attaining the paradigm shift Nigeria needs.

    “Nigeria belongs to the youth and the young ones have to be better equipped, set values and aspirations through global communication and interconnection, Abiodun noted.

    He continued: “It is not about merely saying it is time for youths to lead, we have to earn it. I am a Nigerian youth and you can see the steps I am taking, it doesn’t come as a gift. Those we referred to today as ‘old’ earned it, and the best way we can make Nigeria work again is to also follow that part.”

    At the event, over 50 Nigerians received awards and TAMS ambassadorship. They were include Bank-Olemoh, chairman of the  occasion, Yetunde Ogbomienor and  Lagos State, Local Government Service Commission (LGSECOM), Chairman, Mr Babatunde Rotinwa, among others.

  • Politics, leadership  and  blackmail

    The Nigerian  presidential system  of government is under siege.  Just  as the American  government of  President  Donald  Trump  has  been  since his unexpected  victory  at the 2016  elections of the USA   whose  expensive presidential system  we copied, albeit  under  military  rule. The  Nigerian  political  system  siege is  not only about politicians and leader ship and it is not necessarily because  the 2019 election is around the corner. It  is a siege  of blackmail, self  interest,  political  survival, relevance   and that  most dangerous and subjective   of  all   issues, faith. It  has become in recent times   a real test of our collective faith in our politics, our  political   institutions   and   parties  and is slowly  but steadily taxing our faith  in our unity and   security  as one   people and  one nation. It is sadly   both a dangerous  proposition  and development. That is our food for thought  today.

    Let  us start  from  the presidency in both  Nigeria  and the US . Then  we  will  look  at  the  polemics  between  the Nigerian  Vice  President  and his fellow Christian  leaders questioning his faith. Then  we round up  with the  declared  war  between  the Nigerian  Inspector  General  of  Police  and the import  of that  for our security, rule of  law  and democracy. In     this instance   the Senate  President   has accused  the IGP  of   planning    a charge  against  him  based   on information  he got from his state     governor.  That is an institutional clash between  the law making senate  and the security    managing police force. It  is a sure  recipe  for anarchy   and   insecurity  if  great  care  is not  taken by the presidency  of this nation.

    By  the time I  am  through    you  will  realize that we face an erupting lava  from  a raging political  volcano   similar  to the   natural    one  currently  threatening  the citizens of  Hawaii  in the US  and  eating up their  power lines and houses  with   molten  mud  and  red  hot   smoldering    lava of fire.

    The  first  scenario came from  a  serious allegation this week    against  the Nigeria president that he is not doing enough to protect Nigerian  Christians against Fulani  herdsmen  killing Christians in Benue State  which is predominantly Christian.  The  president replied  that he has Christians in his cabinet  and he can  not preside over  the liquidation of  Christians in  Nigeria. Yet  the facts are there  that many  Nigerians of Benue  state  stock  have been killed by Fulani  herdsmen in recent times. It  is tempting to say  the president  is being blackmailed but the facts are  there and are not  helped  by the fact that the president once noted  wryly  that if he had  not gone  to school  he would have been  like  the Fulani  herdsmen. Anyway  he told the US president  during his last  visit  that  Fulani  herdsmen carry only sticks  and do not use rifles  and guns  as reported  in   the   killings which  again  is debatable   and controversial  in the  light  of the situation on the ground in Nigeria.

    Of  course  in the  US,  the US  president  has adapted  very  fast  to the politics  of  blackmail  he faces in his nation  and has indeed  carried the fight to his attackers  and traducers.  His main fight now is to defend the legitimacy of his election victory against  the wide media  notion that   he was helped by the Russians. He is defending himself vigorously    with a new communication  weapon, twitter  which  he has   adopted against  governance  convention and tradition. He  had  a problem  with his Attorney  General  who recused  himself  from the Russian interference  probe which  is the greatest  threat to the legitimacy  of the Trump  Administration. Another  threat  to his  credibility  is the evidence  now surfacing that he paid a porn  queen  to keep  quiet  after having sex with her just  after  he married his wife  who  about then gave birth to his last  son, a  boy. So  Trump  is in a nasty  fight  for his political  life  and his opponents are  not sparing any  stone unturned  to  dent both  his legitimacy and credibility. Not  unexpectedly  for a successful  businessman familiar  with   litigation and  business  inquests  he is holding his own  and is not allowing his  personal  litigations on adultery  and extra marital  affairs, a taboo in US and  UK politics,  to overshadow  his diplomatic  success in protecting US trade interests, reducing  unemployment  to less than  four per cent and the diplomatic  success  on the Korean Peninsular  where   he is scheduled  to meet  the N Korean leader  for  a historic    denuclearization summit in Singapore  on  June 12. Like  in R L Stevenson ‘s book ‘ Kidnapped’ , Trump,  in facing and assailing his many political  adversaries  has lived  up  to the statement in that book that says – play  me foul, and I play you  tricky!

    We  now look  at the case involving the Nigerian Vice  President Professor Yemi  Osinbajo  and some Catholic leaders doubting  his faith  to his face,  on account  of the killing of Christians  by  Fulani   herdsmen  and   the charge   of  Islamisation  of  Nigeria  by the Buhari  administration, thereby  prompting him  to say  that he will  vacate  his position in a jiffy  if it affects  his  faith. He  made allusion  to his distinguished career  as a professor of the law of evidence before his conversion  as a born again  Christian. While  not holding brief  for him let  state clearly  and unambiguously  that  I  have  a soft  spot  for him   as  a person  and as a leader  in this nation.  Most  especially   for   the   brilliant  way  he led this nation in the many absences of the ailing president.

    • Continued online www.staging.thenationonlineng.net