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Tag: Niger

  • ‘There’s need for handshake across Niger’

    ‘There’s need for handshake across Niger’

    A politician and social commentator, Chief Ofili Okonkwo, in this interview with Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu and Musa Odoshimokhe, speaks on the need for political collaboration between the Southeast and the Southwest geo-political zones, the need for a new constitution and why Nigerians should not discriminate against one another.

    Can you shed light on the proposed handshake across the Niger?

    The occurrence of the Niger is one of the wonders of nature; it defines the landscape of Nigeria. The colonial masters, when they came, christened Nigeria as a country. And how did they do that? There is a river that took its source from the Fouta Djallon highlands and it passed through our country lands to vanish into the Atlantic. If it chooses to go a direct route from the Fouta Djallon Mountain into the Atlantic, it will take 150 miles, but it chose to go through the country Nigeria. Today, that defined Nigeria. It did not define the country Guinea where it took its source. It did not define Burkina Faso either. That is just the wonder of destinies. As it moved, it got to the heart of that geographical expression, another wonder of nature came in from the Adamawa Plateau and the met at the centre of that geographical expression and they left a confluence there. And from the confluence in Lokoja, you could not tell the difference between the waters from River Benue and Niger, they united into expanse of waters and enter the Delta. And for the past five decades, Nigeria has sustained itself from the bowel of the Delta, where you have black gold. The colonial people who left their country looking for fortunes came there, saw this wonders of nature said this is River Niger area and named it Nigeria. They defined this geographical expression by this wonder of nature and in 1960 we secured our political independence. The River Benue coming from the Cameroun did not define Cameroun, came into Nigeria collecting different tributaries. The Niger also came into Lokoja with a major tributary called Kaduna River among others. At least from both side they collected different tributaries linking different tribes and ethnic groups. And where do we connect, we talk about Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, the founding fathers, who fought for independence. For you and I, we must now come together and see where we can now redefine our country. In that sense, this handshake is symbolic to redefine Nigeria. And as we do that, you ponder on it, whether you are defined by your Yoruba background or first as a human person. You ask yourself am I defined as Ibo or first as a human person. When you were born, firstly you were not born as a Yoruba; you were born as a person, who has a goal as a human person. If we must agree that what matters is the humanity. That is why we should sit down regardless of ethnic origin, regardless of difference in tongues and move together because we share the same humanity. And you will be surprise that if I have an accident and being taken into intensive care unit, it may be the blood of a Yoruba man that will work with my system. So, when you see all these wonders and we can now begin to check ourselves. This is the time to begin to change our mindset to align with the position of the founding fathers because this is our future.

    What is the political motive behind the handshake mantra?

    The handshake does not even symbolize the sacrifice made by Late Col. Adekunle Fajuyi. Fajuyi made the ultimate sacrifice, it has never been acknowledged and that is because of whom we are. Everything is taken for partisan politics. What Fajuyi did went beyond the vows of marriage. When you took your wife to the altar, it is until death do us part. He said you cannot kill my guest in my presence, if you kill him, kill me. That is the ultimate sacrifice, so it goes beyond the matrimonial vows. Our generation must now find its own mission. We can look at our lives but, we don’t need to go back but move ahead to achieve the essence of humanity. And when you look at it, the Benue/Niger Rivers, putting its arms up to the north to embrace them the people, this is symbolic. The true transformation of this territory called Nigeria cannot be realized and until we begin to make the necessary sacrifice. We should not look at the Hausa/Fulani ethnic difference. We don’t have to look at the Biron, Kanuri from ethnic perspective, but see them as our brothers. This is the era of knowledge, everybody along geography and ethnic background must stay away from that concept. The air you are breathing does not belong to the Yoruba or other tribes and the sooner we get away from all these ethnic bias the better for the country.

    How do we remove the age long suspicion between the East and the West that has affected their political co-habitation?

    Let me ask you, why did you leave all the beautiful women from the West to marry from the South-south? Why did I give out my two children to people in the West? Nobody spoke to convince me about it. Let me tell you that I did not see them as Yoruba; I see them as human beings, who share the same value. So, what I am saying how does it connect to you? Does it make sense and as long as it continues to make sense with all the wonders of the world that would have to be the path to follow. The new generation, men of simple but modest means, who are groom by sincere wisdom, these are people who will shape the tomorrow and not the noise makers. I speak for myself and for my in laws, they allowed their children to come and marry daughters. I must say that we are proud of the interaction and we succeeded in achieving this through the free concept that humanity is involved. I think this one is a step in the right direction. Now, we are looking up to up to a beautiful country, but something is making it less attractive. The weight of the concept of the Nigerian elites and the way it is growing indicate that people must rise now and begin to ask why things are not done in proper ways. For instance, I voted for President Muhammadu Buhari, but Buhari as head of state does not own Nigeria. I and everybody else have a stake in the country, the country has moved away from the principle it was put together by our founded fathers. Why must we be shedding blood? Why can’t we find a common ground to communicate and why can’t we say to Buhari whatever you are doing that has not helped the bloodletting, it is time to stop. I am ready to reclaim my country. Buhari does not own Nigeria, he was voted for, he was elected and after his tenure Nigeria will again elect another person. Your being elected as President does not give you ownership of Nigeria. And if things are going in way that every day I look around, there is blood; I should come out to say that is not in my name. The mandate given cannot continue to spill blood in the country and if out of 170 million Nigerians, 100 million Nigerians say the same thing then there is a problem.

    Are the leaders of the Southeast and Southwest now thinking of a handshake because their alliances with the North have failed?

    I don’t know of the north or south. What I know is my country called Nigeria. Most of the Fulani people that I had approached, I have listened to them and that we must now sit down and think through this issue. And we beg that God gives us the wisdom and power so solve this national problem. We have to sit down to address ourselves to this unnecessary wanton destruction of lives in the land. I don’t like this sound of restructuring; I don’t like this sound of devolution of power. What imposes these issues that you and I are now calling for this strenuous advocacy for both restructuring and devolution is a simple sheet of paper called the constitution. That is where our problem lies and for the simple reason even when I ask the question, how many of us will still insist that the 1999 constitution is the will of the people? The constitution does not represent me; it does not represent anybody that I know or anybody that knows me. But, I have been governed by that constitution in the last 19 years. Any serious country will think twice. This is because we have allowed tribe and tongues to divide us. If we remove this small elements it would not have lasted this long. I believe that if we were reasonable and attentive people, the constitution would not have lasted for more than five years. We would say this was a transition document and we would give ourselves another one which is a document of the people. So, can’t we now say it is a constitutional document which must not last more than 20 years, so that by May next year we would have a new constitution in place? The geographical regions of Nigeria will be the negotiation units. We had the units during the 1951 Macpherson Constitution. They went up to the village level, when it was fashioning a path for the country. In the 1954 constitution we had 36 items in the exclusive list, today we have 68. It is unitary constitution that we had imposed on a federal government. It will never work, so no matter what you do it is an illegality. There is no way you can procure legitimacy from an illegality.

    What is the solution to the fear of domination and marginalisation?

    To grow and transform, we need a free society and that is why the American constitution says that all men are created equal and endowed by the creator with certain inalienable rights, among them the right to life. So, everybody must recognize that in a free society. If you don’t allow me, you are also in prison like I am because if you lock me up cannot go far. Any human being that you subject to enslavement becomes a freedom fighter. In every passing day, except you free him, he will continue to fight from freedom. The resources that you require to keep that person in subjugation begin to grow every day. You cannot continue to subjugate him and until he regains his freedom, he will not relent.

    Different tribes contest elections in Lagos and hold political offices. What manner of handshake are we talking about when Yoruba do not have similar opportunity in the Southeast?

    It is perception, no place in Igboland can be compared to Lagos, so the opportunities that Lagos offered is because of its unique position in the whole country. So, if a Lagos man finds what he wants in my state he will be there. In Lagos, all tribes are here so Lagos is unique. There is no seas outlet in the East but, they are the commercial power of Nigeria. So, the current geographic zone called southeast has been boxed up. Look at what they are doing even the railways is not passing through the East, they have been marginalized. They are the only zone that has five states instead of six. When we came out of the war, my father houses were impounded, all we had was twenty pound. That is where I came from, some people who had more than twenty pound got only twenty pound. The people who did not have account did not get anything. Those who had 18 pounds got 18 pounds, but those who had two million pounds got 20 pounds. So, this handshake means that we can speak for each other. For instance, when M.K.O Abiola won and was shortchanged, what I understand by the handshake is that when NADECO came up the East will join and say this is not going to happen to Abiola. We will all join hands to fight injustice. The Niger Delta produces the sustenance for Nigeria, but what is your role? Their land is destroyed by the exploration of that region. Their livelihood option is completely being removed. The handshake to me mean what Fajuyi demonstrated, you cannot come to my house and kill my guest and leave me. That was the honour of the highest order. We must now begin to appreciate people who made that supreme sacrifice.

    Can this handshake eventually lead to the election of a president from Igboland?

    I don’t think so. The closest person to an Ibo President was Jonathan. When he became President he was no longer an Ibo man. He was the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. From what I have said so far, you will understand that my system is different and if we have a CEO, no matter the pigmentation, no matter his state of origin or the enabling environment, what matter is the ability to respond to the need of Nigeria. My children are trained in some of the best universities but, they are not coming home, I want to create a forum for them to draw knowledge. Anybody who can make them do it is my President. The time had come when we can look and say what are the fundamentals to make this country great and we keep our eyes on them. You will not be the President because he is a Yoruba man; you cannot give what you don’t understand. And you cannot give what you don’t have. So, we will look for people. It is difficult for youths in their 20s and 40s to connect with a man who cannot use a laptop. It is difficult because they don’t speak the same language. So, if it is Buhari’s son that fit that position, let him bring him but, for God sake it is time for Buhari to go. In my 30s, he became the manager of the affairs of Nigeria. In my 40s he was in his 50s then, he claimed my position and now in my 60, he is in 70s is still there and I will even die without having a shoot. He came as a military head of state and back in his 70s as civilian head of state. Is it not time for us to simply say it is enough?

  • Niger to renovate 12 more schools in 2018

    Niger to renovate 12 more schools in 2018

    Hajiya Fatima Madugu, the Niger State Commissioner for Education, says the state government is to renovate six vocational and technical schools and six day secondary schools in 2018.

    Madugu said in Minna on Tuesday that the renovation was part of the second phase of the government’s school development programme which started in 2017.

    Reports say that the state government had spent N4.3 billion on renovation and provision of furniture in some selected schools in the first phase of the programme.

    The commissioner said that the programme involved renovation and furnishing of schools as well as training of teachers.

    Read also: Sokoto distributes 45,926 desks to schools

    She said that this was part of the state government’s efforts to provide a conducive environment for teaching and learning in order to improve educational standard in the state.

    “One technical and one vocational school will be selected for renovation in each of the three zones in the state and six day schools will also be upgraded.

    “We want to renovate the facilities in our technical and vocational schools and provide them with modern equipment and infrastructure to facilitate a conducive learning environment.

    “The workshops and training centres of these schools will also be upgraded to enable the students to acquire different skills.’’

    She disclosed that the ministry would also be training teachers on modern teaching techniques.

    According to her, principals and vice principals across the seven zonal offices in the state are already undergoing training.

    “Training of teachers is an initiative of the ministry. We have started with principals and vice-principals; they are being trained on modern teaching techniques.

    “They are are also being trained on how to administer schools. We are done with three zones; two zones are left.

    “Once we are done with the principals and the vice-principals, we will start with our teachers,’’ the commissioner said.

    NAN

  • On the handshake across the Niger

    I was not a little amused when I read in the papers of the cosmetic gesture of some old time politicians reaching out to each other at a forum in Enugu. It was a meeting of old timers as far as the self appointed representatives of the Yoruba nation are concerned. These are the remnants of the old Action Group of the 50’s and 60’s of the last century.  They have kept faith. On   the other side were leading Igbo leaders most of whom did not participate in the old time political gymnastics of the last century, although they are rightful inheritors of the ideals, convictions and ambitions of their worthy forbears.

    The theme of the meeting is very interesting as it reminds one of the political actors of that formative period.  Prominent were Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Sardauna of Sokoto and Sir Abubakar Balewa. These eminent Nigerians not only battled the British who hurriedly abdicated their positions and ran away in 1960, but also fought among themselves to the detriment of the Nigerian nation state.

    The rivalries between the West and the East, the West and the North, the North and East were enough to kill a nation and dismember its institutions. The leading characters, Awolowo, Azikwe and the Sardauna held different political views and targets. Perhaps the only thing they agreed on was that Nigeria, a geographical expression, would be free one day. The time, system of government and other essential parameters of nationhood were not agreed.

    Erroneously, Awolowo held the view that a grand combination of what was then East and West and splinters of ethnic groupings in the Middle Belt of the North could run a democratic government in Nigeria. He sold the idea to Azikwe who was in many cases smarter by liaising with the northern rulers while warming up to Awolowo. In this circumstance, there was neither coherence nor trust among the political gladiators as to how to wrestle power from the British or what form of government could ultimately emerge in Nigeria.

    It has been unfortunate that there was and perhaps is element of suspicion or mistrust between leaders of East and of the West. The problem is that there are certain elements whose business and material well-being have always been in the front burner of their political life. This policy of end justifies the means has been responsible for the incoherence and lack of unity between the two major regions of Nigeria.

    Going through the list of attendees from the West, the only new hands are Femi Fani-Kayode who is curiously representing the Ekiti State governor and Olusegun Mimiko the young political operator of our time. The others are hangouts from yesterday’s team. On the other hand and as has been noted elsewhere, those from the eastern side were not participants in yesteryears power game – No Njokus, no Azikwes, no Alvan Ikokus, no Michael Okparas etc. but can we say frankly that these new breed eastern politicians are different from what we had some 50, 60 years ago?.

    Today, most southern Nigerians are calling for restructuring which is a euphemism for resource control. What we all forget perhaps is the incidence of geography and especially climate change. Controlling our resources, being our political blueprint today, may result into economic challenges for our children tomorrow.

    The Nigerian federation is a delicate one. But once we have agreed or forced to agree to be together, we have no choice but to be accommodating. Unfortunately, there are many opportunists who do not think beyond their well-being and that of their family. This is the reason why many cannot keep their word, why their word is not their honour, and why they shift with the wind.

    We have to admit this fact. If past politicians had been as candid and honourable as Awolowo and Balewa, we would not be where we are now. An appropriate political philosophy should have been found to administer our country. Our quest for materialism has always overshadowed the national interest. This is why we are pulling our country in different directions. We went through an agonizing three years civil war fighting for causes that could be negotiated but because we put our ethnic interest above everything else, we have not yet learnt our lesson. The last administration brought into the open the illusion of our claim to be a nation. Leading functionaries of the federal government, especially the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the Minister of Finance literarily shut out certain ethnic groups from certain positions in their spheres of influence. To some extent and until recently, the present federal government was pursuing that unwholesome policy. All these crude and primitive practices do not engender national coherence and harmony.

    I am certain some participants in the Enugu forum would be laughing knowing fully well that they were engaged in a big joke. Could anyone deny that this get-together could not have happened during the last Jonathan administration when the South-south and the Southeast got more than 70 percent of the national cake? Was there any hue and cry from those two regions or indeed from any part of Nigeria? The issue is when it comes to juicy political positions or big contracts, our ethnic jingoism comes to the open. Until we divorce ourselves of narrow ethnicity, of primitive exclusiveness, we cannot make it as a nation.

    Some have suggested that the present practicing politicians, especially those who have occupied our space for decades should now vacate the scene and let the ‘new generation’ take over. The fact is who are these new generation? They are the offshoot of narrow ethnicity, people of tribal fringes and other social misfits. What we need is a comprehensive overhaul of our attitude, our beliefs and our orientation. But can this happen in this generation??

    • Asiwaju Fasuan MON; JP writes from Ado-Ekiti.
  • INEC registers 95,434 voters in Niger, deploys 742 personnel

    INEC registers 95,434 voters in Niger, deploys 742 personnel

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Niger on Thursday said it deployed 742 personnel to political wards across the state  to ensure massive registration of eligible voters.

    Prof. Samuel Egwu, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, made the disclosure in an interview in Minna.

    “We have so far registered about 95, 434 which consists of 61,867 males and 33,747 females and issued them with their permanent voters cards.

    “We also have 132,985 unclaimed PVCs, 366 seeking transfer and 163 un-printed and omitted cases, and 465 cases of lost of permanent voters cards.”

    He said that the commission is also attending to 553 cases of corrections in their permanent voters cards.

    “Those that had earlier registered and had not collected their Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ) should also come forward for collection in our offices across the 25 local government areas of the state,” Egwu added.

    The REC of INEC solicited the support of stakeholders including traditional and religious leaders in mobilizing eligible residents to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voters’ Registration in the state.

    “I urge media organisations to deploy all sustainable and effective mass media strategies to mobilise eligible voters to participate actively in the exercise.

    “We have also reached out to the leaders of various political parties to mobilise more eligible voters to register,” Egwu said.

    He said that educating eligible residents on the importance of acquiring PVC was necessary as it would allow them the opportunity to vote in future elections.

    NAN

  • APC members defect to PDP in Niger

    APC members defect to PDP in Niger

    Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State over the weekend have defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Former Governor of Niger State, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has the readiness of the PDP in tackling APC for the 2019 general elections.

    Speaking during a Zonal Unity Rally at Agaie/Lapai federal constituency held in Agaie local government of Niger state,  Aliyu stated that the PDP would resist all intimidations from the APC adding PDP will bounce back to power in 2019.

    He charged PDP members on unity urging members to be steadfast and faithful to the party to ensure it’s success in 2019.

    The National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Uche Secondus who was represented by the National Financial Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Maibasira appreciated the members of the party in the state for his victory at the convention assuring that his leadership will ensure fairness to all.

    Receiving the 554 decampees, the Niger state Chairman of APC, Barrister Tanko Beji who apologized for the past mistakes of the party urged the party supporters to get their PVC from INEC which they will used in voting out the ruling APC who have failed them.

    He said that the present administration in the state have failed to provide dividend of democracy to the electorates refuting all claims that the projects being done are APC oriented projects,  “all projects on the ground being claimed by APC were that of the PDP and they include roads, schools, hospitals and traditional rulers residents renovations hence they have nothing to show the citizens.”

    Those at the event include the Party Board Of Trustees member, Prof Jerry Gana, former governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, late Engineer Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure’s group, governorship aspirant Engineer Hanafi Muazu Sudan, former National and state lawmakers, commissioners amongst others.

  • Seven die, four injured in Bida-Minna road crash

    Seven die, four injured in Bida-Minna road crash

    Mr Yusuf Garba, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC ) in Niger said on Monday that seven persons died  in an accident on the Bida-Minna road.

    Garba told our reporter in Minna that four persons were also injured in the incident which occurred on Monday morning.

    He said wrong overtaking was responsible for the accident which   involved  a bus with registration number FXT 234 XD  and an articulated vehicle marked  RTD  163XA.

    The sector commander said the injured were taken to the Bida General Hospital for treatment while the relatives of the seven victims who died were buried according to Islamic injunction.

    Garba said the FRSC personnel had  responded promptly to a distress call by a witness immediately after the crash some  36 kilometres  from Bida.

    He urged road users to avoid reckless driving, adding that this was  usually responsible for the problems on the highways.

    The sector commander also called on road users to imbibe the spirit of adhering to  traffic rules and regulations in order to stay alive on the highways. NAN

  • ‘No APC member defected to PDP in Niger’

    ‘No APC member defected to PDP in Niger’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State has said that none of its members has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Its Chairman, Mohammed Imam, said this when reacting to reports that over 1000 members defected to the opposition party in Mashegu local government area.

    According to him,  the PDP is using the report as a political gimmick, adding that it is a political propaganda.

    Imam said: “None of my members have decamped from APC,  instead,  the PDP are the ones de camping enmasse to the APC. I want those who said 1000 people decamped from APC to give us the names of 10 members who decamped in Mashegu.

    “1000 is a very large number. If 1000 people decamped,  we would have felt the impact but here we are calm as if nothing happened. We do not even know about the event. “

    Imam said there is a difference between members and supporters, adding  that those who were were said to have defected cannot be card -carrying members of the party.

    He stressed: “Those people may be supporters who are being mistaken to be members of APC. “

    The APC Chairman said the party has not received any report of defection from any zone.

  • FADAMA III spends N197m on irrigation dam in Niger

    FADAMA III spends N197m on irrigation dam in Niger

    The FADAMA III Additional Financing in Niger, on Monday, said it had spent N197 million on the rehabilitation of irrigation dam in Edozhigi community of Gbako Local Government Area of the state.

    Alhaji Baba Shaba, the Communication Officer of FADAMA III in Niger, made this disclosure in an interview in Minna.

    He explained that the entire irrigation scheme was 870 hectares of land, consisting of primary and secondary canals and only 140 hectares had been rehabilitated.

    Shaba said that the irrigation scheme would assist farmers in the area to cultivate about 20 hactares of rice for dry season farming before the end of January.

    Read also: Banks lend N1.06b to farmers in six months

    He advised the farmers in the areas to take advantage of the irrigation dam to improve on dry season farming, so as to have all year round harvest of rice in the state.

    Shaba added that FADAMA III also spent three million naira to purchase milling and stoner engine for women in Edozhigi, as part of the efforts to empower them to become self-reliant.

    He said that the milling and stoner engine would be used to add value to their farm produce and process them before selling in the market.

    NAN

  • Niger APC sacks majority leader

    Niger APC sacks majority leader

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State has removed Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Ibrahim Dandodo.

    Dandodo, who represents Rijau Constituency, will be replaced with Nura Garba (Kontagora I).

    The sack was contained in a letter to the Assembly, where the party requested it to recognise Dandodo’s removal.

    However, some lawmakers have resisted this move, saying only lawmakers have the powers to elect their leaders.

    This development  has caused a cold war between the party leadership and lawmakers, as the party threatened to deny them tickets in 2019 if they refuse to act upon the letter.

    The lawmakers are standing on the House of Assembly Standing Order, Page 6, which states that the election of the Speaker and his deputy is the responsibility of members, while the rules of the House gives power to lawmakers to select their leaders.

    A lawmaker, who pleaded for anonymity, confirmed the receipt of the letter.

    He said the APC lawmakers were neither consulted nor involved in the decision.

    Efforts to get party’s secretary, Mohammed Liman, to comment were unsuccessful.

  • Italy to deploy 470 troops to tackle traffickers in Niger

    Italy to deploy 470 troops to tackle traffickers in Niger

    Italy aims to deploy up to 470 troops to Niger to help tackle traffickers, the military General Staff said.

    Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on December 24 that some of the 1,400 Italian troops now stationed in Iraq could be transferred to the Sahel region in West Africa, which includes Niger, after victories against Islamist militants in Iraq.

    Gentiloni said the redeployed troops could also help to combat terrorism in the Sahel.

    The military said in a statement that a reconnaissance mission was underway in Niger to help decide the scale of the assistance, which the African country’s government has requested but which still needs to be approved by Italy’s parliament.

    The general staff said if the necessary approval is given, Italy would aim to gradually send up to 470 troops, probably posting an average of 250 over the course of a year.

    Read also: Dogara leads Nigerian delegation  to Italy over Human Trafficking

    “The aim of the mission is to increase the operational capacity of the Niger forces and put them in a position to guarantee stability in the area and fight illegal trafficking of migrants,” the military added.

    Italy’s president dissolved parliament on Thursday ahead of an election due in March, but lawmakers will continue to meet, and could approve Gentiloni’s request to transfer the personnel.

    Italy is especially keen to help tackle the people-smuggling gangs because it has borne the brunt of seaborne illegal migration to Europe from Africa.

    No fewer than 600,000 people have made the perilous journey across the central Mediterranean from Libya in the past four years.

    Arrivals have fallen sharply since officials working for the UN-backed government in Tripoli persuaded smugglers to stop boats leaving and the Libyan coastguard stepped up interceptions at sea.

    (Reuters/NAN)