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Tag: new dawn

  • Dokubo: New dawn for Amnesty Programme

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of Professor Charles Quaker Dokubo as Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in March, is perhaps the most cheery news this year for the people of Niger Delta. It demonstrated the President’s commitment to turn around the sad narrative of a long deprived and impoverished oil-rich region, using the Amnesty Programme as a purveyor.

    His choice of a new pilot for the programme further indicates President Buhari’s determination to clean the mess at the Amnesty Office from where unpleasant reports had emanated. Born in Abonnema, Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dokubo, an erudite professor of international repute, is not a stranger to the Niger Delta debacle. With a first degree in Modern History & Politics from the University of Teesside, Middleborough; a Masters in Peace Studies, University of Bradford, and a doctorate in Nuclear Weapon Proliferation and Control, he has a thorough grasp of the Niger Delta situation. He is deeply-rooted and experienced for the office, setting out from the top-flight Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Lagos, where he was a Research Professor.

    An epitome of excellence, Professor Dokubo is conscious of the gargantuan task on his shoulders.  He has a firm resolve to make a difference. “Today, we are gathered here to take a major step in the on-going efforts by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari to deepen peace, safety and security in the Niger Delta, using the instrumentalities of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for former agitators in the region. I am truly delighted by the confidence the President has reposed in me to take the Amnesty Programme, particularly the critical reintegration phase to the next level. Previous heads of the programme, in my humble view, have done their bit and possibly their best. It behoves us to improve on what was bequeathed to us based on lessons learnt so far. The President and indeed all Nigerians expect a much more robust and impactful Amnesty Programme,” he remarked at the inauguration of committee he constituted to review the PAP on assumption of office.

    Barely two months of mounting the saddle, there is palpable anxiety, particularly from ex-agitators and delegates for educational programmes within the country and offshore. It is understandable. They had been owed arrears of stipends, tuition fees and allowances before Professor Dokubo assumed office. There are also several pending issues which they want sorted out promptly. But they need to show understanding and exercise a measure of patience.

    Against the backdrop of the circumstances that necessitated his appointment, he does not need to be forewarned to avoid the proverbial banana peel by treading cautiously. Standing as a wedge, he has to draw a bold and clear line from the past. He has a vision and mission: refocus the Amnesty Programme to its original mandate. But in charting a new course, he has to avoid the pitfalls of the past.

    On assumption of office, he received handover notes which contained a maze of words and figures that threw up questions without answers. Professor Dokubo had to clear the fog in the operations of the Amnesty Office before taking further steps in his transformation agenda. This, no doubt, required a bit of time, support and patience of stakeholders. Therefore, he was not expected to go on a voyage to disaster by blasting on full throttle immediately after his appointment.

    Despite his intimidating academic credentials and vast experience, Professor Dokubo has displayed uncommon humility and broadmindedness by not assuming a monopoly of  knowledge. His first move after perusing the handover documents unveiled the new face of the Amnesty Programme, as he opened a window of access to his thoughts: “I wish to use the opportunity of the inauguration of this committee to underscore the compelling need to recalibrate and reboot the Presidential Amnesty Programme to meet current realities in the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large. I have said it severally that when Mr. President graciously appointed me to head the Amnesty Programme, I do not intend to run a one-man show. I am very conscious of the fact that the region, like most other parts of Nigeria, is a repository of intellectuals and innovative thinkers. Given my resolve to put my best foot forward in carrying out the assignment our great nation has given me, it is pursuant to this resolve that I have invited some of the best minds I know to help me and, indeed, the Federal Government of Nigeria, to begin the process of charting a new course for the Amnesty Programme,” he told members of the Professor Ayibaemi Spiff-led Review Committee.

    The committee was mandated to take a critical look at the handover notes and ascertain the current status of the programme; ascertain current level of compliance with the original mandate of the PAP, recommend programme or policy reviews, where necessary, and review all contracts awarded by the Amnesty Office since 2015, with a view to determine the level of work done, monies paid, beneficiaries and extent of work done.

    Other terms of reference included, recommending a payment schedule for only qualified contractors, determining financial assets and liabilities of the Amnesty Office; conducting a thorough assessment of all departments in the office and offer useful suggestions on how to improve on their performance; determine the current status of all reintegration centres built or still under construction across the states in the Niger Delta; ascertain the current status of the database of the Amnesty Office to determine its certainty and sanctity; determine the current status of all on-going vocational, educational and post-training programmes of the office within the country and offshore, and to assess the current relationship between the Amnesty Office and PAP’s critical stakeholders with a view to making the relationship more robust.

    With the recent submission of the committee’s report, Professor Dokubo has set the ball rolling. He has embarked on consultative visits, meeting the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and other top government officials. Two weeks ago, he met with Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark and hosted members of the executive committee of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) led by its national chairman, Air Comdr. Idongesit Ikanga (retd). He is in the process of meeting other critical stakeholders.

    A chain of activities is expected to take place in the next few weeks, with stakeholders’ engagement topping the schedule. Facilitation of processes for outstanding school fees and allowances is also receiving the desired attention, alongside a reintegration implementation review. While about 100 beneficiaries are projected for deployment to the Oil and Gas Vocational Training Centre at Agadagba, Ondo State in the three months, plans are also underway to deploy same number of beneficiaries to the Basic Skills Vocational Training Centre, Kaiama, in Bayelsa State.

    The Amnesty Office is also taking the initiative to collaborate with International Development Agencies on a One-Year Work Abroad project; African Teachers Exchange programmes, internship opportunities, and a Nigeria Work Engagement/Employment programme through Human Resource Trade Fair. Verification of students in local institutions will also commence soon.

    Clearly, Professor Dokubo is focused on delivering quality service to the people of Niger Delta and Nigeria. He is resolute in keeping hope alive. It’s a new dawn for the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

     

    • Ganagana is Special Assistant (Media) to Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme.

  • It’s a new dawn for Nigeria in fight against HIV/AIDS —Tallen

    Nigeria still hold the unenviable position as the second most burden HIV/AIDS nation globally, with little funding from government to address the situation. Mrs Pauline Tallen, the Chairperson of the newly inaugurated Board of the National Agency for  Control of Aids Agency, in this interview with our correspondents, Vincent Ikuomola and Oluwasegun Victor, spoke about the board’s determination to turns things around, especially on the need to increase number of people on treatment.

    Do you have any particular agenda for this position that your in now?

    As the chairman of the NACA Board, what are you bringing to the table?

    What we are bringing to the table is a new spirit of advocacy; serious advocacy, serious awareness and to ensure that the spread of HIV- yes we know that AIDS is deadly but people can live with it and survive and love their normal lives, if people accept that their situation and the reality of it.

    I’m most worried about the status of Nigeria on the world map with regards to the prevalence of AIDS. It is quiet disturbing and not much is being done as regards addressing the situation. Yes, something is being done but out of almost three (3) million that are affected, we are treating only one million.

    What happens to the rest? And even the one million that we are treating is in reliance with foreign donors. It is not acceptable. I know that the president has inherited so many problems in every field but I know that he respects the sanctity of life. He knows very well that as a leaders, one of the greatest responsibilities that you can do for your citizens is to protect lives and property and ensure the health of the citizens because the health of the citizens translates into a very productive citizenry.

    I am very much pretty sure that we are going to enjoy the political will of the president to turn things around. This week is very critical for us, apart from the Council on AIDS, we are receiving the Executive Director of USAIDS and the President has accepted to receive him. He did not delegate that to the Minister of Health, that alone shows that he is committed to turn things around for NACA and address burning issues that are on ground.

    Government will throw its weight on this, I’m speaking with confidence because I know that the political will is there. Once we have the political will, we are sure that we will turn things around.

    South Africa has the highest prevalence rate of AIDS in the world but South Africa is addressing it very well. I want Nigerians to know that the political will is there and things will be better. There is much that the civil servants can do but with the board, we have a higher authority and we shall do the right thing.

    South Africa started it and now they are treating all those with HIV/AIDS for free. I believe that can do it. We are already reaching out to our brothers in the upper and lower houses of the National Assembly  and all the chairmen of committees on health, they are people that we have working with for the past 20 years since the ban on politics was lifted, some of them are my brothers and friends and they have given me their word that they will do anything possible to gives us the necessary support. So the political will is there. We will not always y the grace of God rely of foreign donors. Assuming if they pull back today, what do we do?

    So your appointment is to come and revolutionalise  the system?

    By the grace of God.

    Apart from advocacy, which other areas do you plan to go into?

    We are planning to go into mother and child transmission issues. This is a very important and strategic areas that we must address, not only treating the mother but the unborn child, and some are lucky because I’ve seen cases where some infected mothers give birth to free children. God works in mysterious ways.

    I was Commissioner for Health in my state of Plateau between 1994 and 1995. I worked closely with these people. I’m not new to these areas and their exceptional cases.

    But for those that are born and unfortunately gets infected, that child got it through not fault of his/hers and needs to be treated and must be on medication for life.  That is an area that we must strongly address and ensure that the drugs are there at all times to reach out to those people.

    How about engagement with international donors?

    These are people that have been supporting and assisting us, we must hold them in in high esteem and we must reach out to them and to their higher authorities to sustain that relationship and even have more. We hope to reach out more too. Other international donors that are not with us now, I am prepared to reach to them.

    What do you intend to do with regards to transparency in the disbursement of donor funds?

    I will definitely put my feet down and ensure that we closely monitor that. It it is part of what I just discuss with you colleagues.

    Like the theme of this year’s council meeting is on finance and ensuring that we have value for money that we receive. I want to assure all of our donor agencies that under my watch, I will ensure transparency and that all funds released for this project will be closely followed and properly executed to make the lives of our people better.

    Majority of these three million Nigerians infected with HIV are women who are socially disadvantage, as a foremost female politician, what are you going to do to reach out to them?

    I don’t really want to believe that a majority of people with HIV are women. It’s maybe because the women have subjected themselves to test to know their status. The men have more multiple sex partners and most of them don’t want to subject themselves to screening to know their health status.

    The statistics before us, as a mother and female politician, I am most pained that more women have found themselves in this.  That is why I say we will intensify advocacy and we must not be addressed to talk and enlighten people about this.

    At the early stage, there was much political will. So we will intensify advocacy as political will is the main thing. People should know that AIDS is real and is living with us because now people don’t talk much about AIDS again, but things like cancer. I know cancer is more deadly but with AIDS, if you know your status, you can live your normal life. But that doesn’t mean that we should not talk about it because people are dying in our villages and most youths are wasting away. You don’t even know the statistics of people dying in the villages particularly among the low income class. This is because they don’t have access to good nutrition and access to medications.

    The government has not being forthcoming in the area of assuming responsibility for HIV/AIDS response and this has led to low funding of treatment in the country, how do you ensure that the issue of funding is addressed once and for all? 

    Mr President has the political will. He has the power to give out funds where it is most needed. If he sees the critical need for this,  he will put everything on the table to achieve this.

  • ‘Deeper Life retreat promises new dawn’

    The General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Folorunsho Kumuyi, has said this year’s Easter retreat promises a new era of great blessings.

    The retreat begins today all over the world. It will end on Easter Sunday.

    Announcing the holding of the retreat through satellite on Monday, Pastor Kumuyi urged members to attend the three- day annual event, which promises manifold spiritual and physical blessings.

    He enjoined them never to permit anything, however desirable, to hinder them from receiving what God would do in their lives.

    Pastor Kumuyi said the retreat offers an opportunity for getting even with God and preparing every heaven-bound saint to keenly await the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

    He advised members to invite those outside the fold of God’s kingdom to attend, saying God’s blessings await those who heed His entreaty to return to Him in penitence and repentance.

    The Easter retreat is an annual programme of the church. It holds in all local governments of the country, in nearly 50 African countries and the rest of the world. The theme of this year’s retreat is: “Heirs of His Kingdom”.

    Pastor Kumuyi will minister from the Deeper Life Conference Centre, Km 42, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    The messages and ministrations will be broadcast by satellite to other retreat venues in Nigeria and abroad.

    This year’s retreat will feature on kingdom perspectives, teachings on salvation from sin, righteousness of life, living to please God at all times, and serving God whole heartedly.

  • New dawn for maritime academy

    A few days ago, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, (MAN), Oron hosted two strategic and supervisory arms of the government as part of its bid to structure and reposition the premier maritime training institution for global competitiveness. Edet Okpo reports.

    With words of commendation and strong vote of confidence by the National Assembly and Governing Council of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron in Akwa Ibom State on the Rector, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (rtd),  there is no doubt that the Academy is set for a new dawn.

    In the last one week, the academy  hosted two strategic and supervisory arms of government, with each coming with lofty packages aimed at reinforcing the Federal Government’s determination to fast-track processes towards holistically restructuring and repositioning the premier maritime training institution for global competitiveness.

    On Wednesday, March 13, members of the newly inaugurated Governing Council, led by their Chairman, Chief Ademola Seriki, were at the academy on what he described as ‘’inaugural visit/facility tour and familiarisation with Management staff”. Conversely, the aim of the five-member Council comprising renowned maritime experts, technocrats and seasoned civil servants of high professional and patriotic pedigree, was to enable members see things for themselves and unveil their template of action in tandem with government’s blueprint.

    On, Friday, March 16, the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration also came to the academy. The committee’s visit, on the other hand, could not have been said to be inaugural. According to Hon. Mohammed Bago, who led the committee, it was its “statutory oversight and supervisory functions over the Academy that fall under its duties”. It is on record that the committee has been visiting the academy almost quarterly. But last week’s visit, as Hon. Bago put it, was “to ascertain  to what extent the directives given on previous visits were complied with the what changes or new developments may have occurred since the last visit, and to deliberate on prevailing issues with the Rector as well as scrutinise his programme of action”.

    The volume of generous commendations freely poured on Commodore Effedua by the visitors were clear indications of how proactive, capable and meticulous the Rector has been in practically interpreting the Federal Government’s template  and other stakeholders for making the academy an attractive global brand. The rector has not only changed the hitherto dull physical outlook of the academy, but has utilised his leadership and administrative acumen in either adjusting or overhauling some internal processes that previously hindered productivity directly or indirectly. This is surprising because Commodore Effedua was a member of the defunct Interim Management Committee commissioned to develop modalities upon which the academy shall operate.

    The two inspection visits in one week simply conveyed the message on how committed and determined the Federal Government and stakeholders are about transforming the academy into a world class institution. It would be recalled that the Federal Government had last year engaged the services of an Interim Management Committee to fine-tune modalities for the needed changes  the academy required and thereafter made recommendations to the government. It is, therefore, gladdening to see how well the Rector understands the recommendations and how soon some of the best results have started to come.

    With what Chief Seriki saw during the visit, he expressed deep satisfaction on the state of some facilities in the academy and maintained that the institution stands a chance of becoming a global competitor if the needed changes were made in all ramifications and fast enough to let the impact be felt.

    He, however, stressed that attention must be given to obsolete equipment in some professional departments, such as marine engineering workshop, and nautical science. “We are greatly impressed by what we have seen; but I must also say that there is great need for improvement. Our intention is to leave this place better than we met it because we want to be part of the positive history of this academy. The Federal Government’s vision  for this academy is quite encouraging. However, we have a lot to do and all hand must be on deck. Support must be given to all arrangements and modalities put in place to towards the realisation of that goal,” the chairman maintained.

    He also said considering the level of innovation and sophistication in the global market, it was time cadets of the academy were exposed to the latest trends in the global space. “All we do  must be in tandem with the Federal Government’s template at holistic transformation of the academy and its products for global competitiveness. It is our resolve to negotiate with the National Assembly on matters of provision of facility, funding and other  relevant support for the effective running of the academy. More, really, has to be done in terms of upgrading of facilities. We must be seen to be doers not talkers,” the chairman urged.

    Chief Seriki praised the Federal Government for its commitment to fully translate the vision of the academy. He, therefore, unveiled the steps to be taken by the Governing Council. These will include effective engagement and functional partnership with maritime-related agencies and organisations in the oil and gas industry,  such as Mobil, NLNG, IMO, Ship Owners Association of Nigeria and NIMASA. Such partnership is to facilitate arrangement for the provision of facilities, technical services, capacity-building and engagement of qualified cadets from the academy.

    Places visited by the Governing Council during the inspection included Marine Engineering Department; Medical Centre; Jetty and classroom blocks.

    Others were the Academic Block, Mechatronics and Autotronics Laboratory, Strength of Material Laboratory, Thermodynamics Air-conditioning/Refrigeration Laboratory, Maritime Safety Department, Basic Course Centre; Auditorium and E-library/ICT Recourse Centre.

    The Council also inspected on-going projects in Phase 3, comprising staff quarters and hostel blocks.

    Members of the Committee were also praised the Rector for the chnages they noticed between their last visit and the current one. According to the Chairman, Mohammed Bago, it was obvious that Commodore Effedua understood the history and the circumstances in the academy and has responded to them with practical steps that pointed to a greater future.

    “Let me say that what we have seen today is a complete deviation from what it used to be. It is clear that deliberate steps have been taken to comply with earlier directives. On that note, I must on behalf of my committee commend the Rector for the strides he has recorded in so short a time and to encourage him not to rest on his oars until the battle is won. We are very impressed with the progress so far recorded.”

    Assuring the academy’s management of attention to critical matters,  Hon. Bago, however, made some recommendations for the smooth running of the academy. One of them is that the  academy’s staff strength may have to be reduced or some workers redeployed to where they are more relevant and productive than bloating up the system with workers, who had nothing useful to offer.

    The chairman’s further clarifications were that those due for promotion must necessarily be promoted; those due for retirement should be retried, and those found to be redundant should be amicably disengaged with due entitlements paid.

    According to Hon. Bago, “attention should be given to uncompleted and abandoned projects in the academy. Those projects built years ago and left halfway can be remodeled according to modern needs and necessities. It doesn’t  make sense to have projects scattered all over the place yet none is functioning. “That is why I insist that priority be paid to settling contractors as soon as they have delivered. There must also be a system of quality assurance and control so that projects can last for the purpose they were meant. The cardinal aim is the training of cadets for regional and global competitiveness; giving them all the leverage they need to excel; otherwise, we have failed and posterity shall not forgive us in that regard,”he said.

    Some projects recommended by the House Committee for remodelling included swimming pool, lecture theatre, E-library and resource centre and auditorium, and conversion of the abandoned Nautical Science block.

    Further reasons given  for the directive were that some of them had remained in that state for too long or were not of expected quality. To boost the Iinternally generated revenue (IGR) profile of the academy, the chairman also directed the Rector to convert some buildings to commercial use.

    Hon. Bago saw the academy as thriving on a triangle of gossip, bad people, and the progressives – all of whom, he said, should be identified by the management of the academy. The committee promised that it would use its office to create new windows for the rapid transformation of the academy and remove financial roadblocks that could hinder speedy attention to issues.

    The rector was also mandated to develop a plan of action and forward it to the committee for monitoring to ensure that he gets the needed support.

    Other Committee members on the visit included Hon. Solomon Adaelu, Hon. Muazu Lawal, Hon. Kabiru M, Achida and Hon. Fago.

    In his response, the Rector expressed  gratitude to the Committee for its passion and patriotic devotion to matters affecting the academy and promised to do all within his powers  to make the needed difference in the institution. He said he was happy that the House Committee could bear the pains to come down for sight-seeing.

    From the Academy Management were the Regimental Unit Commander, Capt. A. I. Yakubu, Deputy Registrar/Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Peter Netson, Acting Head of Bursary/Director, Finance and Account, Mr. Okon Bassey Okon, Director of Works and Services, Jide Kupoluyi, Procurement Officer/Director of Audit, Pastor Sunday Udoh, Chief lecturer/SA to the Director, Mr. John Adeyanju and Capt. Kponu, among others.

    At the end of the two high-profile visits, the conclusion was that the academy is, indeed, on its path to greatness, especially with the excellent vision and demonstrable capacity of Commodore Effedua.

     

    • Okpo is an Uyo-based public affairs commentator
  • A new dawn in democratic representation

    A new dawn in democratic representation

    We are gathered here to inaugurate 389 councillors representing the same number of wards in the state. This will be followed by the inauguration of the parliaments from whence will emerge the governments in the Local Government Councils, Local Council Development Areas, Area Councils and Administrative Offices in the state.

    The councillors emerged after a keenly contested election on January 27, 2018, following many years of delay tactics employed by those who are afraid of their inevitable defeat and rejection at the polls by the grassroots.

    It is most pleasing to see democratic government return to the local governments after many tryst with caretaker committees and executive secretaryship.

    The process culminating in today’s ceremony is in fulfilment of Section 7 (1) of the Nigerian constitution that requires that ‘The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every State shall, subject to section 8 of this Constitution, ensure their existence under a Law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils.’

    There have been genuine concern as well as malicious opposition to the adoption of parliamentary system of government at the local government, when in contrast, we have the executive system at the national and state levels. Such fears and worries are unfounded.

    First, our decision is not against the constitution, as quoted earlier. Nowhere did it mention executive or parliamentary – only that it must be democratic – and parliamentary system is as democratic as you can ever get.

    You will recall that in 2012, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria asked for memoranda on the review of the 1999 Constitution.  A 15-man committee was set up in Osun under the chairmanship of Barrister Gbadegesin Adedeji to aggregate the opinion and views from the state. The committee held public sittings for three weeks during which members of the public, institutions, nongovernmental organisations and others made submissions.

    In the end, it was the overwhelming wish of the people, as stated in the committee’s report, that parliamentary system of government be adopted at all levels of government. What we have done therefore is to defer to the wish of the people in their clamour for parliamentary system of government.

    Secondly, parliamentary system is more democratic, compared to the executive, in that the executive system tends towards dictatorship, arbitrariness and absolutism, since power is concentrated in one man’s hand, with little or no check. Whereas, in a parliamentary system, the executive emerges from and is formed in the parliament, making the members of parliament to be members of the executive as well and the leadership of the executive to be first among equals, primus inter pares.

    In a parliamentary system, decisions are taken collectively and must be agreed upon by the majority in the house while members of the executive who are also parliamentarians can and are daily called to answer questions on any executive action taken.

    Thirdly, because the executive members are appointed from parliament, a lot of cost is saved, compared to when fresh persons have to be appointed as ministers, commissioners, chairmen of councils etc. This system also saves campaign cost and reduces the impetus for corruption considering that a candidate only need to campaign in his or her constituency, unlike in the executive system where a presidential candidate must tour the whole country and a governorship candidate must tour the whole state while a chairmanship candidate must tour the entire local council.

    The final reason we preferred parliamentary system is that it affirmed the supremacy of the political party. The party is an institution that is greater than an individual.  It is a body that personifies the views, ideology, beliefs and tendency of a political association. When a citizen joins a party, it is because he or she agrees for what it stands for. Indeed, parties campaign for elections on the strength of their tendency and field candidates that embody and will represent the party in every way. This brings stability, reliability, predictability and order to the political system. This is why studies have consistently shown that parliamentary systems are more stable and less prone to corruption, compared to the executive system.

    Those who are familiar with the British Parliament and our experience in the First Republic will attest to the fact that parliamentary system deepens democracy and offers far greater political representation and governance effectiveness than any other system.

    This is the system the councillors being inaugurated today are getting into. You must therefore listen to your people and give them access. Your status has placed you in a position of leadership, but not in a position of supremacy and tyranny over the people.

    You must also see yourselves as change agents that will transform governance at your local communities and deepen democratic practice with quality representation of your people.

    Your first task therefore is to maintain sanitation of the environment. You must bring an end to the filth that tends to overrun our communities if care is not taken. You must take ownership of waste management by working with the relevant government agencies and private operators to make our state to be spic and span, neat and beautiful to behold.

    Secondly, you must also take charge of the various markets in your communities. You will organise the people and get them to buy and sell only in the markets and eliminate any form of street trading. Street trading is primitive, dangerous, contributes to garbage accumulation and impedes road traffic. There must be no room for it again.

    Thirdly, but not less important, is revenue generation. You will galvanise all resources at your disposal to generate revenue for the government. We all take the government for granted in the past, but as we all see now, without revenue there can be no government. You must therefore generate revenue from all taxable adults and businesses within your various constituencies.

    Lastly, you must take your election seriously as an opportunity to serve the people and not for frivolous engagement and primitive accumulation. You must not be self serving, but be constantly public-spirited.

    Do not see your position as an instrument for perpetrating musical chairs in which leaderships of your councils are removed and installed at will, through conspiracy and subterfuge. The party remains supreme and must guide all actions, policies and positions, in the true spirit of parliamentarism. The falcon, to paraphrase WB Yeats, must hear the falconer, in order that things might stay together (and not fall apart) so that anarchy is not loosed upon the world.

    I must thank all those who worked to make this project a reality. Immense thanks go to the participating political parties and the political class in the state for agreeing to the rules of the game and for making the election a huge success. In particular, I must commend our political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) for representing the people very well and for presiding over a progressive government which has brought an unprecedented development to our state. I must also thank the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) for its impartiality, fairness, diligence and for being truly independent.

    Lastly but more importantly, I commend and salute the good people of Osun who have wholeheartedly and unwaveringly given us the opportunity to serve. We will continue to serve and will not disappoint you.

    Once again, I congratulate all our councillors and the chairpersons that will emerge later.

    • Ogbeni Aregbesola, Governor of Osun, made this remarks at the swearing-in ceremony of 389 councillors that will form the parliaments of the local governments in the state on Tuesday February 6, 2018.

     

  • New dawn for Southwest integration

    New dawn for Southwest integration

    Southwest governors have stepped up the process of regional integration in the geo-political zone. They have resolved to leverage on their collective resources to improve its economy and the wellbeing of their people. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN reports. 

    Southwest governors have been praised for their new regional integration plan on agriculture and security.

    Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti have resolved to shun political differences and work together for the development of the region.

    The governors under the aegis of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission have approved the constitution of a joint task force to contain security threats and to guarantee the safety of lives, and prosperity of the people. The governors also plan to convene a regional agric summit in Ibadan, the headquarter of the region, aimed at improving food security and the establishment of Western Nigeria Export Development Initiative.

    Analysts believe the driving force is the desire for strong and implementable decisions that would put the Southwest region back on the part of irreversible progress. The governors have vowed not to allow artificial boundaries of states, religions, and political affiliations to distract them. They promised to encourage member states to improve bilateral and multilateral co-operation to foster regional development.

    Observers say there is power in togetherness. Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, who is also Chairman, Southwest Governors Forum, underscored the importance of regional integration when he said: “Indeed, there is power in getting together. The necessity is even more compelling in our region, where God has, in His wisdom, created us together as one people, with the same historical and cultural orientation, and even a myth of common ancestry.

    “Therefore, in many cases, our problems and challenges, even our natural advantages and physical endowments are uniquely peculiar. Let’s face it. We cannot continue to pretend that we can deal with the issues confronting our region and her people on a case-by-case, insular State basis. It will not work, and we cannot, no matter how hard we try, achieve long-term sustainable development and radical transformation in Yoruba land.

    “Therefore, the key to leveraging our uniqueness is the regional approach to dealing with our afflictions, overcoming our difficulties, as well as creating a sustainable pathway to progress together. State-by state solutions, desirable as they might seem, are no longer enough. The capacity to optimise the space for development lies in collective thinking and actions, as well as effective collaborative governance.”

    Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, the only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor in the Southwest, agreed with Ajimobi when he said the development of the Southwest should be the priority of those piloting the affairs of the states and stressed the need to start playing politics of development and politics that will bring food to the table of an average South Westerner.

    According to him, the Southwest governors have agreed that “beyond our differences, the people must come first, the region must come first, and we must have unity of purpose beyond politics, an economic base that we can all be proud of, regardless our differences, and we have agreed to use this collaboration to improve on our infrastructure, security, commerce, agriculture and beyond. I am sure we will stand together to achieve this for the people.

    “We know we cannot finish it all, but we must be seen to be doing it. We must be seen to bell the cat and sustain the gain for our people. All states, including Ekiti, have subscribed, agreed that regional integration is the best and the way for our people and we shall do everything humanly possible not to go back. It is forward for Southwest, it is forward for the people, and forward for the Yoruba race.”

    An economist and banker, Dr Akintunde Akinpelu, said the inclusion of Lagos State in Oodua Investment Company Limited, jointly owned by the states in the Southwest, will accelerate the pace of growth and development of the region and fast-track the its integration. He said bringing Lagos into the fold will boost regional integration and increase the pace of economic development in the region.

    According to him, the good financial rating of Lagos in the global market will assist in the growth and development of the Southwest. The collaboration would foster comparative advantage where the states would provide what they have for the general development of the region.

    Akinpelu noted that the growth and development, which the region desperately yearns for must be devoid of political inclination and considerations. He stressed that the growth and development of the region should supersede political leanings especially now that Nigeria is feeling the adverse effect of global oil price slide.

    “With the pace and standard set by Lagos in terms of infrastructural growth and development, the integration is a quick one. It would make it easy for other states to pursue Lagos and effectively implement a system of rail transportation and boost our agricultural production. For instance, Oyo, Ekiti,  Osun and Ogun would increase food production; Ondo would provide us with various mineral resources that can be tapped while the finances can be sourced from Lagos”.

    He said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has promised to invest billions of naira to acquire vast acres of lands in Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ogun for modern, technologically-driven farming. “Both raw and processed products from such farms would be brought back to Lagos for effective sales, given the remarkable and huge market potential of the state.

    “This is commendable and realisable within effective partnership with his brother governors. So the states can benefit from one another by creating jobs and providing food security.”

    Economic experts have predicted a new dawn for the southwest with the admission of Lagos into the Odu’a group and described it as a major landmark in the effort of the South-Western states of Nigeria towards regional integration.

    They believe that the drive towards regional integration in Southwest cannot be effectively pursued if all the states in the region do not combine their resources, work together and maximise their comparative advantages in order to build a strong regional infrastructural and social links among the states.

    An economist, Mr Bayo Onifade said Lagos with its huge population, its vibrant economic base and being the centre of economic and business activities in Nigeria, is uniquely placed to contribute to the development and growth of the Odu’a Investment Company as well as integration of Southwest in general.

    Onifade said: “The full economic potential of Southwest will be harnessed and transformed the region economically and socially. The zone can produce the food needs of the nation and even export to other countries. For example, the Lagos-Kebbi partnership on rice production can be replicated in the Southwest on other agricultural products now that Lagos has joined the Odu’a investment. The states can harness their resources and introduce mechanised farming that would attract unemployed youths to farming and as well boost agricultural production in the region”.

    He said the bottom line of the regional integration is the economic rejuvenation of the region. He recalled that The Western Region was the pace setter in the country during the First Republic.  The first Premier, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo laid a solid economic foundation for the region. He created what is known as economic empire for the region which is today being managed by Odu’a Investment Company.  The company generates revenue for the states in the Southwest.

    “ The Odu’a Investments needs total overhauling. It is heart warming when the governors of the Odu’a Investment owner states announced recently that they have resolved on a five-year plan to raise the revenue base of the conglomerate from N4 billion to N20 billion in 2019. They took the decision to reposition the company having realised that it is the engine room of economic growth and development of the southwest”.

    He commended the decision of the Odu’a states to jointly tackle the problem of insecurity in the region; it is a welcome development. “A network approach is needed to achieve maximum success in this regard. If uniform security measures are put in place, criminals will not have a hidden place in the Southwest. For instance, kidnapping is rampant in the Southwest because some states like Lagos, Ogun and Ondo have riverine areas. If the states can jointly police these areas effectively, it will minimise kidnapping. It is even cost-effective than each state doing it in its own way. The end result is that the region will attract more investors whether local or foreign.”.

    On how to reposition the Odu’a Group, its former Group Managing Director, Dr Adebayo Jimoh, said there must be no government interference in the management of the new Odu’a. “A lot of sacrifice has to be made because it is like forming a new institution, which has to come with best practices and refined with business portfolio. It has to focus on business that is in the growth sector of the economy such as agriculture, real estate, tourism and with good corporate social responsibility to support youth empowerment programme.

    “In the old Odu’a Investment Group, each state has 20 per cent equity. But Adebayo said the new equity must be redefined with the entry of Lagos through its investment company that will now be part of Odu’a Group. I suspect the equity may no longer be equal. They should target a win-win approach in equity distribution, because Ibile Holding is a strong investment basket of Lagos.

    As far back as 1950s, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo had realised that aggressive state investment is necessary condition for rapid economic development, especially where there is weak indigenous capital base. Odu’a group of companies is an agglomeration of several companies formed by the Awo’s administration in the Western Region. They include Western Nigerian Development Corporation (WNDC), the Finance Corporation and the Western Nigeria Housing Corporation.

    WNDC spread its tentacles to manufacturing, banking, insurance, hotels and catering, property development and real estate. It floated a large number of companies and industries wholly owned by government or held in partnership with several foreign investors.

    Also Oodua Group set up the National Bank of Nigeria, Wema Bank, the Nigeria General Insurance Company, Great Nigeria Insurance Company, Lagos Airport Hotel, Vegetables Oil, Cocoa Industries, Odu’a textiles, Union Beverages, Wrought Iron Ltd, Sungas Company, Wemabod Estates, Western Livestock, Fisheries Service Ltd, Caxton Press, Epe Plywood, Askar Paints, Crafts and Bags Ltd, Nipol Plastics, Phoenix Motors and several others. More than half of these companies are still viable today and have been consolidated in the Odu’a Group of Companies.

    It is a tragedy that it has been  squandered by succeeding generations, particularly during the military era and the PDP years of the locusts in Southwest.

    The Odu’a Group has already provided a solid base for economic integration and development in the Southwest. The region’s governors must be determined to revitalise the group, realise the vision of its founding fathers and transform it into a vehicle for regional transformation.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Akeredolu: New dawn, new challenges

    Akeredolu: New dawn, new challenges

    Ondo State Governor-elect Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) will succeed out-going Governor Olusegun Mimiko next year. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the challenges that will confront the new administration.

    Like a flash of lightening, the eight years of the Olusegun Mimiko administration will expire in February, next year. For the governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the euphoria of victory would have also withered down in the face of the daunting challenges. As an era ends, a new epoch is unfolding in the Ondo State.

    Akeredolu’s triumph at the historic poll underscored the audacity of courage. Four years ago, he had played his hands on the plough and he has not looked back. Although he was rejected by the electorate in the 2012 election as the candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), he returned to the drawing board. The Owo-born lawyer-turned politician started the race to 2016, shortly after his defeat by Mimiko. As the inheritor of the most formidable opposition structure, he fortified the political machinery and swung into intense mobilisation.

    Besides, Akeredolu sealed a pact with the people across the 18 local governments. Since charity begins at home, he rallied his Owo kinsmen to support his bid. After overcoming the hurdles at the controversial primary, he intensified his campaigns across the three districts. His loyal foot soldiers were very active on the field. The protracted litigation, which prevented his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart and colleague at the bar, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), from campaigning, was to his ultimate advantage. Although the candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) appeared formidable, it was evident that he was soliciting for votes on a weak platform. The structures of the far-flung party at the grassroots were irredeemably weak. Other smaller parties were just warming the register of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The Akeredolu Campaign Organisation was almost transformed into a movement. Thus, in a free and fair election, he was a candidate to beat. It is to his credit and that of the APC family that the distressed state has now retraced its steps back to the progressive fold, 14 years after the invasion of conservative interlopers. However, as the APC chieftain inherits power and prestige of the office, he also inherits the burden of governance in a highly enlightened and sophisticated state where voters are thirsty for dividends of democracy. As the government is under intense pressure to perform, it may be handicapped by dwindling revenue.

    The APC raised the hope of the people during the campaigns. The performance of President Muhammadu Buhari was not one of the issues that shaped the contest, but the manifestos of the candidate. According to observers, it will be difficult for any elected politician to escape the electoral wrath of Ondo voters, if the promises made to them before the election are not kept. In fact, the position of the aggrieved civil servants, teachers and local government employees on the way forward played a significant role in the achievement of power shift by the main opposition party.

    Akeredolu will be assuming the reins at a critical time in national history. The nation and the state are in economic recession. There is a reduction in the federal allocation and internally generated revenue is at a low ebb. Although Ondo is an oil-producing state, the impact has not been felt significantly in the last 10 years. Youth unemployment remains a time-bomb and a trigger for insecurity. Many critical sectors lay prostrate. Although some achievements were recorded by the out-going administration, many felt that the state deserved a better deal. Dissecting the health sector, the governor-elect observed that, although the state has some hospitals, they lacked doctors and nurses.

    In the last six months, workers have been agonising over the non-payment of salaries. This has worsen the industrial relations between the government and workers’ unions. A commentator, Mojeed Jamiu, who highlighted the challenges of governance in Ondo State, lamented that, since government is a continuum, the workers will now intensify their agitation for improved welfare under the new administration. Chiding the Mimiko administration for its failure, he said: “A government that could not pay workers’ salaries in the last six months will not pay them in the remaining two months before vacating office.”

    The voting analysis showed that many youths voted for the APC. During the campaigns, Akeredolu lamented the growing youth unemployment, which he also described as a national challenge. Ondo State has a large number of jobless graduates, who cannot be accommodated in the civil service and government parastatals. His promise of employment gave them hope. In four years’ time, analysts will beam a searchlight on the administration to see if there will be a gap between expectation and reality. One of the youths, who was among the jubilating crowd, told reporters in Akure, the state capital, that “if Akeredolu can provide jobs for us, we will believe that we have voted wisely.”

    According to experts, one of the ways to end unemployment is to encourage productive activities through industrialisation. The onus is on the Akeredolu administration to fulfill its promise of industrial revival. Some industries across the state are moribund. Gone were the days when the Oluwa Glass, Igbokoda, Oil Palm Company, Okitipupa, and Ceramics at Ifon were sources of pride to the state. Also, the new governor should be able to attract investors to the state. This can be done through the provision of an enabling atmosphere for the investment to thrive.

    In Nigeria, the bane of development is the incidence of abandoned projects. Successive administrations have often distanced themselves from laudable projects of their predecessors. Many expect Akeredolu to maintain a clean break from the past by completing the on-going projects of the Mimiko administration. The infrastructure battle is better fought when no project is abandoned. Besides, the APC government should convince the people about its progressive leaning by fulfilling its promise of infrastructural development. Many roads across the three districts are bad. The people expect Akeredolu to convert the state into a huge construction site as reward for conferring the mandate on him. The sitting of the projects should also reflect merit, geographical representation and the collective interest of the state. Although Owo, his home town, is one of the strongholds of the APC-and the ancient town overwhelmingly voted for him, Akeredolu should not be perceived as the governor of Owo, but the governor of Ondo State.

    Old politicians in the Southwest are of the opinion that the new helmsman will succeed, if he mirrors one of their mentors, former Governor Adekunle Ajasin, who incidentally hailed from Owo. The eminent politician put the state first in all his actions and dealings. Under his administration, all the sub-divisions-Ekiti, Owo, Akoko, Akure, Ondo, Ikale, Ilaje and Ijaw-were carried along. Appointments also reflected the geographical spread. If the progressive blue-print of the Second Republic-free education, free health, full employment and rural development-is fully implemented by  Akeredolu, the state will be catapulted to an horizon of progress. To implement them, the new governor should do two things.

    Akeredolu should set up a cabinet of talents-a blend of technocrats in politics and credible politicians bubbling with the progressive vision. His cabinet should not be weak in personality, patriotism and fidelity. This was the secret of success in Lagos under former Governors Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola (SAN). Currently, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is successfully building on the foundation. Also, Akeredolu, a pro-democracy activist and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), should preside over a model administration. His government should be a government of transparency and accountability. The governor should mirror the anti-corruption posture of President Muhammadu Buhari. This is in the interest of the state.

    As an APC governor, Akeredolu has a role to play in the Southwest integration agenda. Although the states of the federation cannot collapse into regions, but in the spirit of federalism and pseudo-regional autonomy, the states in each region can collaborate economically and socially in areas where they have comparative advantage. This is challenging. There should be a sort of inevitable reconciliation between Akeredolu and one or two governors, who had slight political differences with him during the electioneering.

    At the state and regional level, the new governor should also initiate reconciliation with aggrieved members of the political family, who protested the selection process that produced him as flag bearer. A government of vendetta is incompatible with the legitimate aspirations and expectations of Ondo people in post-election period.

    After the election, the next priority is governance.  Thanking the people for giving him the mandate, he said: “I will preside over a government that will serve the people.”

    It is gratifying that Akeredolu has waved an olive branch to his rivals and detractors. He said he was ready to be governor of all Ondo State. As the APC leader, he inherits a divided party. The governor has a duty to unite the family and reposition it for future elections. Only a united APC can withstand the challenge posed by the PDP majority in the House of Assembly. In post-election period, the party will also be warming up for ward and state congresses and parliamentary primaries. Akeredolu’s performance in office will either attract voters or sway the votes from the APC during the polls. Many will defect to the APC from the PDP. This will make harmonisation inevitable

    The governor-elect has  reiterated his determination to create jobs through the development of agriculture. This is a welcome development. But, the words should be backed by actions. Lamenting the soaring unemployment in the Sunshine State, he said the menace could also be halted through the revatilisation of moribund industries.

    Akeredolu, who spoke on his plans for Ondo State in a live television programme,  said: “I have promised to create jobs and we will do this through the development of agriculture.”The APC chieftain also promised to end the suffering of workers through regular the revival of regular payment of salaries. He said: “Civil servants have not been paid for months. We will revive the civil service and change the orientation of the civil servants to work.”

    On education, the governor-elect said: “We intend to promote functional education. Students should also learn trades while in school. We will provide a conducive atmosphere for learning in schools. We have to rebuild the schools and encourage teachers to work.”

    Akeredolu acknowledged the health care initiative of the Mimiko administration, saying that he will make health care accessible and affordable. He stressed: “There are mother and child hospitals. It is a good idea. But, the health centres must be accessible and affordable. It should be moved to the doorsteps of the people. We need more health centres from where referrals can be made to the general Hospitals. We need more doctors and nurses.”

    Akeredolu also reiterated his commitment to the proposed school feeding programme, saying that the project will be faithfully implemented. He also said the state will benefit maximally from its alignment with the mainstream politics in this dispensation.

    He added: “There will be a synergy between the Federal Government and Ondo State because it is the same party.”

  • Bello signals a new dawn in Kogi

    Bello signals a new dawn in Kogi

    Bearing all things, there is no doubt that Kogi State has made history today; a new governor has been sworn in; in the person of Alhaji Yahaya Bello. Either by design or commission, providence has brought him to the public lime light.

    I join millions of responsible Kogites to congratulate his Excellency, “Alhaji Yahaya Bello,” his family and his constituents. To me, it is a significant event in that for the first time in the political history of Kogi State, power has moved from the hands of the majority to the minority. It is common experience amongst democratic society that when a minority part of the body come to take power away from the majority part, things get better; things get improved and in most cases, the power is retained longer because of commitment to transparent and productive governance. I hope this will be the case with Yahaya Bello.

    I can say this is the best of all equals for Kogi and its people at this time. While I must commend the efforts of past governors that the state has had, I must also put on record that Kogi State has not experienced the best governance in terms of economic growth and development, social infrastructure, wealth and job creation.

    My agenda therefore for Alhaji Yahaya Bello is very clear; I want to see Kogi State of today launched into local and international investing markets. Opportunities abound in the state which other states in Nigeria are lacking. Ajaokuta Steel Company remains a significant economic growth trigger; Kogi is a strong food basket for the nation (agriculture wise), there is abundance of solid minerals such as coal, mining, etc.

    In the past, I have made efforts to bring my wealth of national and international investments connectivity advantage to Kogi State, but the leadership then was unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel. So, I welcome the new regime to a completely new departure from old political and economic drawing board of the state.

    First, I recommend that he be open minded, an honest explorer and a great marketer of investment opportunities in Kogi State to international investors; he should be a servant of all and not a small god over Kogites, he should build a bridge of peace with all recognizable and respectable community units in the state. He must do away with pride, arrogance, pomposity, self-centeredness and corruption.

    Finally, he should be a governor of vision and fore-sight, given to wisdom, understanding, co-operation, collaboration, consultation and communication. All this constitutes credible road map to better governance and public accountability. In particular, let me draw his Excellency’s attention to the despicable, deplorable and shameful condition of the people of Ibaji community of the state. They are a people without a voice and no one remembers them. Ibaji Local Government is a place increasingly speculated to have rich oil deposit. I think this can be exploited as it is capable of putting the state on the world map of oil producing states.

    Prof. Onalo is the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Credit Administration (ICA).

  • Bello: New dawn in Kogi

    Bello: New dawn in Kogi

    Barring any last-minute judicial pronouncement, Alhaji Yahaya Bello will be inaugurated as the governor of Kogi State tomorrow. Correspondent TONY AKOWE writes on the intrigues, the interplay of forces and the expectations of the people about the new dawn.

    Many  have described it as power shift by divine intervention. But, one thing is certain, history beckons as Yahaya Bello will be inaugurated as the governor of Kogi State on Wednesday. He will be the youngest person to rule the state and the first elected governor from outside the Igala-speaking ethnic group that has been producing governors.

    His  emergence as the governor-elect did not come without its challenges. He lost the primary election organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the late Prince Abubakar Audu. He came second. But, he is a child of destiny. Although many saw his defeat at the primary as a setback, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for him. Audu died before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the election inconclusive. This threw the party into confusion.  But, INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation tactically cleared the way, allowing the APC to substitute its candidate with Bello, because he was the first runner-up at the primary. He participated in the supplementary election from a position of advantage. Bello won the residual poll. However, until the suits against him by aggrieved APC members and the PDP are disposed of by the Supreme Court, Bello will have no respite and his administration, to many,  will lack legitimacy.

    At 41, Bello  will be one of the youngest governors. He is assuming the reins at a time many states are strugling to pay workers’ salaries and pensions. The question many people are asking is:  can he make a difference in Kogi State? Although the Buhari administration  is championing the cause of national revival and rebirth, the same story cannot be said of the states that go cap in hand to Abuja on a monthly basis for hand outs from the Federation Account. However, many people believe that the Kogi State is in dire need of a rebirth. This will no doubt put a huge burden on the shoulders of Bello as he steps into the Lugard House, the seat of power. The governor-elect is not unaware of these challenges and the huge burden he will be inheriting from past government.

    Some stakeholders believe that Bello’s emergence will bring  development to the state. Among those who hold this belief are those who contested the primary with Bello and Audu. They believe that Bello has the potentials to take the state to greater heights. Veteran journalist Yakubu Mohammed said the people expected him to be an agent of change. He said: “We are expecting change in Kogi State because that is what brought him to the position. I think the change mantra would continue in Kogi State. When we are talking about change, it should be change from the old way of doing things to new ways of doing things and the expectation are very high.

    “I didn’t know much about him, until we did primary election together. If you remember, I contested the primary that was supposed to produce the governor of Kogi State. I have aspired to be governor of the state myself and so. I should have an idea of what the people of Kogi are looking for. They are yearning for good leadership, rapid development, equity, Justice and fair play. From his motto of fair plus, we expect that he is going to be fair to all segments of Kogi State and take all the people from the three senatorial district as his own because is going to be the fair of all the people in the state.

    “He should look at the pitfalls that befell his predecessors and avoid them and achieve development, shifting the focus from collecting allocations from Abuja to rural development, agricultural development and provide jobs for the teeming youths of the state who are hanging a looking for handout from anybody they can find. Once there is change, let it be for good and not that the change should takes backward. It should take us forward. My appeal is that all Kogi indigenes and non indigenes who live and earn their living from Kogi State should cooperate with him and ensure that there is smooth over and also ensure there is sustainable development in place and let them all queue in it”.

    A former aspirant, Dr Habeeb Yekeen, said: “The first thing is that I wish him the very best. He is throne the party has picked and I believe in party supremacy. As a result of that, we need to support him and we are giving him all the necessary support. Kogi state has gone into a level that require very serious administration and Yahaya Bello alone cannot do it and he should realize it and put together a very serious think tank that can help him. He should be careful and not just pick people who are just going around him because they are looking for position or they are looking for something from him. He should look for people who have the ability to form the think tank.

    “Also, in choosing those who will work with him. In his executive, he should also do the same thing by getting people who have something to offer. He should not just give appointment because somebody supported him or has been visiting him. It will be very difficult to govern a state that has witnessed maladministration over the years, a state that is very much indebted and workers on strike because salaries has not been paid for months. It therefore means that tough strategies is what need to be put in place. He should look for the right people and we will be willing to give him all the necessary support that he may demand from us”.

    An aspirant, Alhaji Sulaiman Baba Ali, said Bello administration will be a complete departure from previous governments. He said: “As somebody who ran against him in the primary, I had the opportunity of meeting him when all the aspirants had a meeting  and we were able to talk and interact at different times. I believe that we are going to have governance unusual. This is going to be a completely different ball game from what we are used to in a very positive manner. I am so sure about that. He is a very young man and about the youngest among all of us, who ran for the primary then and God, in His infinite mercies, decided that he will be the governor.

    “Inspite of what anybody may think or whatever out individual desires may be, I think there is a message there and the message is for Kogi, that there is a change that is going to come and it will be in the interest of all of us to queue behind him, support him and make him succeed. I think he has a fair understanding of what the issues are and I can see that the kind of passion that drove some of us into that race, he share the same passion with us. I am upbeat in my expectations and I think we are going to see a new Kogi in the coming days, in the coming months and in the coming years”.

    Former Managing Director of Daily Times Dr. Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba, lamented the rot in the Kogi State, urging the incoming government to be creative and innovative in its revenue drive. Onukaba, who was an aspirant, said: “Kogi is in a huge mess. Workers are owed months of salary arrears. Roads in the state are in deplorable condition. The public school system, especially at primary school level, has almost collapsed. The state capital, Lokoja, is about the dirtiest city in the country. There is mistrust and suspicion among the constituent groups over recent political developments and over perceived marginalization of some groups in the state. All these have to be addressed urgently. I do not envy anyone taking over at this time. There is so much work to do. The state has not witnessed much development in the last 16 years.  We have got to carry out a thorough staff audit to know if state workers are actually 28,000 and if we really need all of them. We need to begin fixing critical roads, bridges, schools and healthcare centres. The incoming administration must be creative and innovative in its drive for revenue. It must raise internal revenue to the level where it can pay recurrent expenditure.

    “The new government must embark on reconciliation of all Kogites. The people of the state are right now divided and suspicious of one another. The new governor should be a peace maker, a unifier, and a serious leader. Kogi is in crisis. A period of crisis portends danger and opportunity. He can turn this crisis into an opportunity for KOGI’s rebirth through good governance and exemplary leadership”

    A member of the APC Board of Trustees (BoT), Dr. Sanusi Abubakar, said Bello must resolve the acrimony and sentiments across the state and ensure that it becomes a thing of the past. He said: “Let me say that the struggle for power shift in Kogi state has come a long way and a lot of people have died in the struggle. But God gives power to who He wish to give power to  and Hod in. His infinite mercies has given him that power. It is my prayer that the God that has given him this power will give him the wisdom to pilot the affairs of the state and take the state to enviable height because he needs a lot of prayers.

    “Secondly, it is expected that if he is able to perform credibly well, in future all the acrimony, struggle and sentiments that pervade the state will cease to be because a lot of people will now see the need to chooser the best for the state and not along tribal line. It is our prayer that he will not let us down. He knows the burden and what is ahead and so, the expectations are high and being a young man, he. Should be able to wake up and work tirelessly to ensure that what he has so struggled for and eventually gotten is used well”.

    Former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Dr. Tom Adaba said Bello will be coming on board at a time when there is so much disaffections in the state. He stressed: “There has been a lot of ill feelings and misgiving about the marginalisation of the people and everybody, including the Igallas felt there was the need for a change. If the change now comes, we believe that it is meant for our good. The young man has quite a few things going for him. He is sufficiently enlightened and is digitally sound. He has quite some connections in his business world that we  believe will considerably impact on whatever developmental programmes he has for Kogi State.”

    Adana said people have high expectations about the new government. He added: “We believe that his intentions for the state which we see as genuine could help us a great deal in moving this state on to the next level. We have lived in a primitive setting for too long and Kogi does not deserve that especially because of the advantage we have, Kogi being a hub of activities that link up Abuja and being a border to about nine or en states. These are advantages we can take. Lokoja being an old city that has a history behind it.

    “There are certain things here that could easily serve as tourist attraction for the whole of the country and beyond. None of those things have been tapped at all. Kogi state is bountifully blessed with mineral resources which has not been tapped until now and every month, we go cap in hand to the federal government to ask for salaries and handout. We believe that we can be self sufficient and I believe that h his creativity, his strength and his ability, he will be able to make the difference in ensuring that in one or the other,we will be ready to go in die rent direction. These are the areas that I am looking at and I think that all of us in this state will be at an advantage with his coming on board. We are believing that young energetic man who is coming at the helm of affairs will look into all these aspects”.

    A community leader in Olamaboro Local Government Area, Dr. E. S Abah, said Bello will work for the advancement of the state. He said:  “Bello will get rid of all these nonsense about inequality and unify us the more and equity is going to rule. We have high hopes for what he is going to do and we are are he will put his wherewithal in getting Kogi State great and unified in the future. So, we have high hopes in his government and we are all willing to work with Yahaya Bello in this new horizon so that we can live at peace”

    Bello’s associate Hon. Enema Paul said the governor-elect described has a vision to salvage the people from what he described as the “doldrums of poverty.” He added: “He is somebody with a high spirit; he believes that Kogi must be better and that every Kogite must live a life that is up to standard. He is somebody that will never steal the money of Kogi state. The wealth of Kogi State is not for one person or for one family and Bello will make judicious use if the wealth of Kogi state in a way that it will touch every life. Kogites have suffered. We have no roads and nothing to show for it and teachers are on strike. I have personally gone to the none local government in the eastern part of the state and have done an assessment of their educational life style, the health life style, their source is drinking water. Every thing is poor, even as far as the home of the outgoing governor. There is not even a bore hole. You need to go to the schools and you will find out that they are all dilapidated. You see our children on the floor. When they are sitting on the floor, how can they concentrate?

    “Bello is god because the Bible says whoever is a child of God is God. He came divinely, even though we worked hard for it. Bello came as a nobody, as a first timer who was never seen as a moving train. Nobody saw him as a force. But, we have laid our lives, people called us names because we saw the future of the state. God sees our heart, we prayed fervently that His will be done. I have always told people that the late Prince Abubakar Audu had no pride, but is somebody that loved good thing. If you give the definition of pride to an Igalla man because he has taste, an Igalla man will say you have pride. Look at the state capital, it is so dilapidated, with very poor road network. What have they been doing? Ibro did his best and it was total failure and Wada came and made it worse. Why can’t we have good road network? Why must we came into Kogi State and if looks like we are entering one village. They said they have given Lokoja people great water work. “But as far as Bello is concerned, Kogi people will smile because his mandate is divinely given and will be divinely protected. I am an Igalla man. When Bello never believed in this, I will always tell him, sir, you will become governor, but I don’t know how it will happen. Even when we came second in the primary, it surprised everybody that we got over 400 votes from the eastern part of the state and this showed that the Igalla too are tired of the fact that they have been doing it for several years and yet, we are the most disadvantaged people in the state. The best that will happen to the people of Kogi state has come. Bello came divinely and his office is divinely protected. When I see people fighting God, it makes me laugh. Kogi people need to smile, our schools need to be opened for good. Bello is not coming to share money for everybody, but to bring people that have the love of Kogites at heart. Kogi must be greater than the past. The Bible says that our latter will be related than our former. I refer to our past governors as our former, Bello has come and it will be greater and better for the people of Kogi State. We will all enjoy and smile and the best will definitely happen and after four years, we will beg him to come back for another four years. With the blueprint of Kogi state he has has at hand, I can assure you that you will see magic in the first 100 days in office. You will see realities and call them magic”.

    Senator Dino Melaye, who is the Chairman of the Inauguration Committee, said the expectations are very high. Melaye said that past administration succeeded in milking the state dry and leaving it as a glorified local government. The people of the state he said expects the governor to hit the ground running and begin to put smiles on the faces of the people of the state.

    Bello is unaware of he high expectations. He was quoted as saying that Kogi was bleeding as a result of the mismanagement. He said “We would correct all this. Going by the manifesto of our party of diversifying the economy of our country, we equally want to look inwards as a state by improving our IGR (Internally Generated Revenue). What are those areas that are currently being tapped and those that are not tapped? Is what is being tapped maximally utilised? We also want to block all leakages that exist now. Kogi State cannot be sitting on a gold mine and we are where we are today. We also want to look into the educational sector because at present it is seriously down. We want to completely overhaul it. In the health sector, our women and children are dying, that is going to be taken seriously. As for job creation, we cannot continue to employ as a state government. We must create that enabling environment for investors to come in and as such a lot of jobs would be created. Agriculture is going to be of serious priority. We are also going to partner with the Federal Government as well as get foreign and local investors to tap into our mineral resources because we don’t have the exclusive right of tapping into these resources.

    As Bello takes the mantle of leadership, Nigerians are eager to see how he will translate his electoral promises into concrete development for the people.

  • New dawn in Ile-Ife

    New dawn in Ile-Ife

    The Obaship institution has been the genesis of rulership and government of the Yoruba nation. By tradition, it was the belief of the Yoruba that the Oba (king) represents God on earth, and in whichever community he might be, he is a personification and symbol of that community, it is a fact in Yoruba history that any Oba in Yoruba community represents “Oduduwa” the progenitor of the Yoruba race.

    Besides, whoever is selected as Oba in a community becomes the father of all and acts for all. Basically, it is also the tradition to select Obas from the Ruling House, which are the offshoots of early Oduduwa children, just as the Ife kingmakers have selected His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) from Giesi Ruling House, Moore, Ile-Ife.

    “There is traditional evidence that in the ancient days the king of Ile-Ife was the one in whom resided all authority, religious and secular, and that he held “political” sway over the entire Yoruba race and the Benin kingdom,” said a prince from Giesi Ruling House, Moore, Ile-Ife and a barrister & solicitors of supreme court of Nigeria, Michael Kojeyo

    As the world gathered at Ife, today, December 7, to officially witness the ascendancy of  the Ojaja II, Oba Ogunwusi, only few know the quintessential icon of royalty and majestic splendor of  the new King and how he rules like a colossus, even to some South American states who belief Ooni is their pop.

    The monarch known as the head according to tradition, has a divine essence, therefore, making him the god head of Oduduwa dynasties. To the Yoruba people, the Ooni is not only God’s chief representative on earth but earthly head of his people who has spiritual, civil, social, cultural and political power over them.

    The Ooni, as the father, political and spiritual leader of the Yoruba race generally, believes that he derives his status from Oduduwa, the progenitor and ancestor and king of Ile-Ife.

    The authority and authenticity of the Yoruba Obas ruling today derive their “Sceptre” from Ile-Ife. The temple of Oduduwa, which is specially connected with the institution of kingship of the Yorubaland is situated in the palace of the Ooni. The authority of genuine crown of the Yoruba Obas is rested in the hand of the Ooni of Ife.

    Ooni has a special crown, why and for what reasons?

    Ooni special crown is called “ARE CROWN”, it is the symbol of uniqueness fixed on the original crown worn by the first king of Yorubaland and something of which has been included in the crown worn by each successive Ooni of Ile-Ife, to emphasize his succession to the spiritual headship over the Yoruba people.

    “No other king in Yorubaland may wear the same kind of crown, as it is a sign of supreme headship. Just as our new Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Enitan just donning this mysterious crown recently, which is worn only on coronation day and only once a year, the Ooni is instantly transfigured into his true-nature that of Orisa, his visage too becomes dreadful to behold,” Kojeyo told The Nation.

    How he will Ooni rule with the kingmakers, traditional institutions…

    From the beginning, both the ancient and modern world, the kingdom of Ile-Ife was governed and administered by the Ooni and his chiefs until the advent of the British occupation in Nigeria.

    Ooni as the paramount ruler and head of state ruled the territory and governed through the chiefs. These chiefs are in two groups, the inner and the outer chiefs; they operated as the executive or privy council for the government and for general Administration of the kingdom.

    The first group of the outer chiefs consists of Obalufe, Obajio, Obalaran, Jagunosin, Wasin, Ejesi, Obalaye and Akogun. They are eight altogether. The inner chiefs comprise: the Lowa, Jaran, Aguro, Arode, Isanire, Ladin, Lowate and Erebese; they are also eight altogether. On state matters, it is the outer chiefs who sit on the right hand of the Ooni, while the inner chief occupies the left hand.

    Ooni presides over the council of state, the state acts only with his authority. The members of the council are collectively referred to as ILU. Their areas of responsibility of include; religion, public safety, customary legislation, administration of justice, etc.

    All villages, wards and even compounds, the head at each village level being called Baale or chiefs are usually supported by sub-chiefs. They together form sub-council for the management of Ife town.

    Another important institution and part of kingmakers are (ISOROS). They are traditional priest, they are divided into three groups; i. Oduduwa group ii. Obatala group and iii. Oranfe group.

    Their leader is Obadio, the chief priest of Oduduwa, they are important kingmakers and administrators with Ooni in the aspect of spiritual administration of Ile-Ife.

    Also, the Bead crown kings (OBAS) in Ifeland, they are very important and indispensable Body of administrators in governance of Ife kingdom, they are like Ooni’s Governors in their own jurisdiction, towns and settlements.

    Ooni is their president and they are accountable to him directly on the activities, development, security of their domains. These Obas are more than forty in number and they have their different domains.

    The Ajo Ife mefa, these are the assemblies of Six Quarters of Ife, Ajo Iremo, Ajo More, Ajo Ilode, Ajo Ilare, Ajo Okerewe & Ajo Iraye. Each Ajo has representatives from family compound, and they have joint Ajo known as Ajo Ife ‘Mefa’. They are the voices of grassroot people of Ife. They are the general congress or general Assembly, they also play major role in governance of Ifeland.

    Base on an account by Kojeyo, the present postmodern democratic government in Nigeria has re-introduced in Ile-Ife just like other places with modification where necessary in accordance to the advancement of people, political, economy and social lives which leads to the introduction of professionals, Business-moguls, politicians, academia in the administration of Ile-Ife, which came up through different registered organizations and body corporates in the administration of Ile-Ife to mention few; Ife Development Board (IDB), Ife Action Council, Ife Youth Vanguard, National Ife Descendants Students Association (NIDSA), Ife Voice International Organization, Ife Elders Council, these and many more have the mandates of Ife people and Ooni in Council for the purpose of development, peace & progress of Ifeland. Therefore, Ooniship as the core of government in Ile-Ife has distinguished and extra-territorial roles as the “father” of the Yoruba Obas and chiefs, his extra-territorial roles at the Local state National and International level. One of the symbols of Black heritage. Ooni is an Ambassador General of Yorubas world