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Tag: Nigeria

  • What will Nigeria celebrate at 100?

    What will Nigeria celebrate at 100?

    Nigeria will be 100 years on January 1, 2014. The Federal Government is proposing a centenary celebration. However, opinion is divided on the relevance of the celebration in a country that has failed to resolve the fundamental issues germane to nation-building and peaceful co-existence. AUGUSTINE AVWODE and JEREMIAH OKE report.

     

    ON January 1, next year, the Federal Government will roll out the drums to celebrate Nigeria’s 100 years of existence. It is a milestone. Thus, President Goodluck Jonathan has set up a 19-man Planning Committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim to fashion out a programme commemorating the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates by the colonial governor, Lord Frederick Lugard.

    In his letter to the Senate, President Jonathan said the committee had articulated a framework for the celebrations, which had already been presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and governors at the National Economic Council for their input.

    The letter reads in part: “You may wish to recall that on the 1st of January 1914, the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria were formally amalgamated into one country. This implies that the 1st of January, 2014 marks one hundred years of our union as a nation. Notwithstanding our challenges, it is considered that this is a significant anniversary deserving of celebration by the citizens and government of Nigeria.

    “It is against this background that I constituted a 19-member planning committee for the centenary celebrations, under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    “The purpose of this letter is to request a convenient date for the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to receive a full briefing on the proposed programme for the centenary celebrations, so that your input will also be accommodated in the framework.”

    The Committee had actually moved a step ahead before Anyim appeared before the senators. On January 14, Anyim had unveiled the programme at a private sector stakeholders’ engagement forum, where he outlined major aspects of the celebration. These include the centenary torch lighting, unveiling of the centenary logo, launching of the centenary official portal, and the presentation of the centenary documentary by President Jonathan. Also, the Abuja Centenary City is being proposed for the Federal Capital Territory.

    Anyim said the president will also flag off the 100 centenary projects and introduce the company that wins the exclusive right to the centenary project.

    However, it appears many Nigerians are not enthusiastic about the celebration. In the Senate, the lawmakers made it clear that government could go ahead, provided it would not commit public funds into it. Senate President David Mark emphasized that his understanding of Anyim’s presentation was that the federal government would not finance the programmes.

    “Government is not committing a dime to the centenary celebration; that is my understanding, so far. Government has no commitment at all, except for the land in exchange for the swoop, whatever the arrangement is. Truly then, we have no reason for this briefing. Where do we participate and how do we come in?

    “It is entirely a private sector commercial exercise or business. If the idea is just to keep us abreast of what government is doing then, there is no need for question and answer or further discussion.

    Mark was quick to point out that he was still not comfortable because of the possibility the government coming back to be involved one way or another in the financing. He pointed to the plan to mobilise youths across the country for the purpose and wondered who would pay them.

    “But my worry is let it not appear that somewhere along the line we have been committed and then there is financial involvement”, he said.

    Mark’s concern was more with who picks the bill, but Nigerians are evaluating the convoluted trajectory the country has gone through in the last 99 years, than painting the town red. While acknowledging the fact that 100 years in the life of a man, or any institution is a major landmark, they argue that the challenges confronting the country have limited the enthusiasm.

    Former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Dozie Ikedife, who dissected the country, wondered whether people were being prepared to celebrate success or failure of nationhood.

    “No doubt, 100 years is a landmark in the life of any nation. But have we really earned our economic independence? Or are we just shouting independence? Are we really a country, united in purpose and vision , or we are a gathering of people who are managing to tolerate one another just for the sake of living together? What we should do, really, is to sit down and evaluate our journey so far with the aim of making up for our failures as a country and as a nation. It is certainly not a time for the celebration of the mere existence of a country,” he said.

    Former President-General of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof Kimse Okoko, agreed with this submission. He queried the proposed celebration, stressing that the 1914 amalgamation is the bedrock of Nigeria’s problems, including ethnic antagonism, insecurity, infrastructural decay, and lopsided federalism.

    “The 1914 amalgamation has been detrimental to some of the ethnic nationalities. It was a forced amalgamation that is largely responsible for the problems confronting Nigeria now. The antagonism that we frequently experience among the various ethnic nationalities is as a result of the forced amalgamation. Our priority today is how we can evolve a united country. We are at a crossroads; the security situation is in a mess and it has been difficult to forge a truly unified country.

    “We should concentrate our efforts in forging a united country where all segments are truly respected and where their aspirations can be met. And the only way to do this is to restructure the country along the lines of true federalism. That is the only route to realizing our potential as a country. True federalism, and, that is what we should pursue than celebrating what has been the cause of our problems”, Okoko insisted.

    Veteran unionist Chief Frank Kokori threw his weight behind the Senate. He cautioned against extravagant spending of public funds on such a project, adding that there are many things that the federal government should consider, rather than celebrating centenary of the amalgamation in elaborate way.

    “Though the Senate did not totally condemn the proposal, because a hundred years is worth celebrating, but it has to be checked to avoid the frivolous spending of our money. But we are all happy to hear that the project will be sponsored by the private sector or individuals. However, there is no way government will not spend a little; it should spend judiciously and wisely”, he added.

    A member of House of Representatives, Mr. Abiodun Awoleye (Ibadan North Constituency) said he supported the project, if public fund is not committed to it.

    “They can go ahead, if it will not involve spending the people’s money because it is a good development. I agree with them that it is worth celebrating but, personally, my fear is that there is no way such a project will be done without the government being part of those to fund it.

    “Though we have challenges of insecurity across the country, celebrating it could also bring back the primary objective of the amalgamation, which was to forge one, big united and strong country out of the regions. But it will be disastrous, if they use public money ”, Awoleye said.

    Eminent politician Alhaji Balarabe Musa disagreed with the concept. He said Nigerians are not happy with the situation in the country, adding that another jamboree will multiply their woes. The former governor of Kaduna State said the celebration may promote corruption in government.

    “Normally, I would have supported the celebration, but not in elaborate way, in spite of the situation in the country, because a hundred years is not a joke in the history of the nation. But this government is corrupt and they are looking for every means to squander our resources.

    “Obviously, there are problems, but we are still one nation and no country of the world is crisis-free. So, it worths celebration.But in this context, I don’t think it is advisable to celebrate it because this government is corrupt and I am sure they will abuse it. That abuse should not be supported by a rightful thinking person.

    “When they say they will not use government money to sponsor it, government’s money will be committed to the project. The private sector they are talking about, how was it created? They were created for corruption and they use them for corruption. They plan to celebrate it for their own ego and pocket, nothing else. So, let us condemn it because we can use public money for better things”, he added.

     

     

     

  • Fashola signs MOU with Lagos business school

    Fashola signs MOU with Lagos business school

     

     

     

  • Mixed reactions trail Egyptian referee’s sack

    Mixed reactions trail Egyptian referee’s sack

    Football fans have expressed mixed reactions to the sack of Egyptian Referee, Ghead Grisha, who officiated in the Nigeria match against Zambia at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations South Africa.

    The Confederation of Africa Football sacked the referee on Sunday following the award of a dubious penalty to Zambia for a foul the Eagles committed outside the 18-yard box during Friday’s match.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the Super Eagles played a 1-1 draw with the Chipolopolo of Zambia in the group C match played at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit.

    Some fans told NAN that they were glad over the referee’s sack, while others regarded it as harsh, saying that he could have been given a two-match ban.

    Dr. Hammed Odeyemi, a football instructor at the National Institute of Sports, Lagos welcomed the development, saying the decision would serve as a deterrent to referees who are partial judges.

    “With this development, referees in Africa will check their excesses and measure up to the international standards. Of course, the sack is a wakeup call to referees to be cautious in their decisions.

    “It will also give a good image to African football in the world,’’ he said.

    Odeyemi urged African referees to go for more courses and be careful in their judgments on the pitch, to reposition African football and in international soccer competitions.

    A lawyer, Adewale Akande, said the referee deserved the punishment, adding that there was no excuse for ignorance in law.

    “The sacking is very orderly as there is no room for ignorance in the court of law,’’ he said.

    Akande, however, urged the Super Eagles to put up a more fighting spirit in their encounter against Ethiopia on Tuesday, to go far in the tournament.

    He added that Nigerians were expecting more than their output so far in the tournament.

    Temitope Akinrinmisi, a banker, said tthe referee’s decision was wrong and he had to pay for it because it cost most Nigerians their happiness on a match they were expecting to win.

    “The match portrays poor officiating that characterised most African leagues. I think the development is an indication that there are changes in African football,’’ he said.

    Akinrinmisi, however, said that the CAF’s decision to sack the referee could have been re-considered as no one was above mistake.

    “Nobody is above mistake, I feel that the body should have softened their stance on the referee by just sanctioning him for some matches, for others to learn,’’ he said.

  • NIGERIA VS ZAMBIA REFEREE: CAF expels Gehad

    NIGERIA VS ZAMBIA REFEREE: CAF expels Gehad

    Sequel to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF)’s threat of protesting against the biased officiating of the center referee that officiated the Nigeria versus Zambia match in Mboembela, Nelspruit on Friday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Committee on Referees has sent packing Egyptian referee, Grisha Gehad, who was in charge of the match.

    The Super Eagles versus defending Champions Chipolopolo match ended in a 1-1 draw, but the equalizing goal for the Southern Africans was the result of a questionable spot kick call by the referee Gehad, who replays showed, had wrongly adjudged SS Lazio of Italy midfielder Ogenyi Onazi as having held the arms of a goal-bound Zambian attacker in the 83rd minute of the game.

    A very competent source close to CAF told SportingLife under condition of anonymity that the referee has been sent back to his home country, Egypt.

    “The center referee that officiated the Nigeria versus Zambia second group match that ended in a 1-1 score draw has been sent packing.

    “The Egyptian referee, Grisha Gehad, who was in charge of the match between Nigeria and Zambia has been sent packing. Ghead, who was in charge of the match between Nigeria and Zambia has been sent packing. He was sent home because of his mishandling of the match”, the source told SportingLife.

    “The penalty call by the referee was wrong. If there was a foul, it was definitely outside the 18-yard box and not a penalty. Referees are not allowed to re-write the rules of the game”, a top CAF executive member was quoted as saying by the source.

  • A missionary’s passion for change

    Armed with just N70 and a copy of the Bible, former juju maestro, Rev Idowu Animasahun, walked into Badeku, a sleepy village in the suburb of Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, 25 years ago full of hope.

    Badeku, like most rustic villages, lacked electricity, pipe-borne water, good roads or any social amenity. Yet, the widely travelled Apola King was undeterred.

    He was just consumed with compassion and passion for souls. He was confident the mainly idol-worshipping residents would turn to God.

    Animasahun, who left behind a glamorous life as a celebrated musician, started a weekly fellowship in the muddy house he was offered on arrival.

    The fellowship gave birth to World Hope Ministry, a multi-faceted mission organisation that has since spread roots to other parts of Nigeria and Africa.

    As he was preaching, he was also doing good in the village. The enchanted villagers were amazed by the wonders of the gospel, turning themselves in large numbers to the gospel.

    Through Animasahun, the first private clinic in the village started. That was in 1998. World of Hope Maternity Centre became a huge succour for the village women.

    “There was a government hospital when we came here but it was not functional. On many occasions there were no doctors because of the distance. Sick people couldn’t get drugs and it was becoming a big challenge and that was why we decided to establish a clinic,” Animasahun explained.

    When The Nation visited the clinic, the midwife, Mrs. Olamide Onidare, said the institution takes between 10 and 15 deliveries every month.

    She added that even though fees charged at the clinic is low; most of the villagers still find it hard to pay.

    “We charge two thousand five hundred for every successful delivery, but most of the women who come here cannot afford it. There is nothing we can do because we are running this clinic to help the villagers and not to make profit,” she stated.

    The mission also established nursery, primary and secondary schools in the village. The nursery and primary school has over 100 students while the secondary school, which was established about four years ago, has about 70 students.

    While students in the primary section pay a meagre N2, 500, their counterparts in the secondary section are charged only N6, 500 every term. Yet, most of them cannot afford the meagre fees.

    Twenty five years down the line, Animasahun is impressed with the spiritual and infrastructural transformation in the village.

    But he is aware there are far more grounds to cover. If he had all the money in this world, he said he would provide better medical and educational services completely free for the indigent villagers.

    Like most mission agencies, funding remains a big challenge.

    “It has not been easy for us. We have to subsidise because these are poor people who cannot afford to pay for these services. At the hospital where many of them put to bed, they cannot even pay the token we charge them.

    “It is the same thing at the primary and secondary schools. They cannot pay and we cannot afford to send them away because they don’t have anywhere to go,” he said.

    He called on government, Christians and individuals to support mission works.

    “Missionary work is a collective responsibility. We must show concern for the plight of these people because that is what the gospel is about.”

  • Gospel artistes bag awards

    Last year ended on a bright note for distinguished gospel acts who smiled home with awards at the 2nd edition of the Nigeria Gospel Music Awards (NGMA Awards).

    Some of the winners at the event organised by the Academy of Gospel Music in Nigeria include high-flying Frank Edwards who won three awards.

    Edwards won in the “artiste of the year”, “best male vocalist” and ‘song of the year” categories.

    Emmanuel Benjamin, popularly known as Eben, won “best gospel rock artiste and the “album the the year” awards.

    Other winners include Wole Oni (best music producer); Asu Ekiye (best indigenous contemporary category); Joe Praize (alternative category); Onos (best female vocalist); Henri Soul (new revelation of the year); Femi Oyeleye (best male artiste in the Disapora) and Lyn (next rated artiste) and Kayode Olusoji (traditional gospel act).

    Joe Praize said: “From now on you people should expect the very best of music from Joe Praize.”

    Onos described the honour a morale-booster, stating “in 2013 as I am preparing to release a new album and video, excellence will be my watch word. No mediocre works from me henceforth.”

  • ‘What Nigeria should learn from South Africa’

    ‘What Nigeria should learn from South Africa’

     

     

    A Nigerian professor of mass communication, Abiodun Salawu was recently appointed Mazisi Kunene Chair at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. In this online interview with Lekan Otufodunrin, Professor Salawu speaks on his plan for his new assignment and experience teaching and living in South Africa.

     What is your reaction to your appointment as the Mazisi Kunene Chair at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa?

    I am delighted to have been appointed into the Chair. I was actually invited to the position by the university. I was in the United States attending a conference when I received the e-mail inviting into the position. I never saw the advert. The university had been advertising the position since 2010. If I had seen the advert, I wouldn’t have felt that I qualified for the job. Why? This is because one of the requirements for the job is that that the applicant should be a speaker of one or more Nguni languages. Nguni languages comprise isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele and isiSwati. I don’t speak any of these languages. In fact, at the interview which I attended for the job, I asked them why they sought me out for the job, they refused to tell me. What I could only guess was that they must have known about my work in indigenous language media in Africa. To me, the Chair appointment serves as recognition of my work in that area and I appreciate the University of KwaZulu-Natal for that.

    What do you hope to accomplish during your tenure as Chair?

     I hope to promote the works of Mazisi Kunene and creative writings in African languages in general. Special attention will be paid to oral poetry which is a genre that late Professor Kunene is known for. We will also invest our energy into research on African language media, either it is the print, broadcast or the internet. All these media will also be studied in relation to their application for development purposes. All these we hope to achieve through postgraduate students research, seminars, workshops and conferences. We hope to have a quantum of publications on the issues mentioned.

    You are supposed to focus on African oramedia and the modern media using African languages is there a future for African languages?

     There is future for African languages as long as the speakers of the languages still live. Even though we are in the age of globalisation, diversity is still imperative. Language is the single most characteristic of any people. So, as long as we do not want to lose our identity, we cannot wish away our languages. Any language can be used for anything as long as we are ready to develop it. In Ethiopia today, Amharic is the dominant language, over and above English language. It is the major language of government, business and the media.

    What is your view of how new media is used in Africa?

    There has been a huge penetration of new media in Africa and it is still rising. From the simple mobile phones to the most complex of the new media technologies, Africans are doing reasonably well. It is hoped that the use could be better with more broad bandwidth and better adoption of the innovation by more people. Many people are still not into the culture of the internet, but we do hope there will be a change for the better. I am particularly glad that quite a reasonable number of people, particularly the youth, are on the social media.

    Why did you relocate to South Africa?

    I relocated to South Africa because of the better infrastructures in the country. Today, it has the best infrastructures on the continent; certain aspects of these, some people call world class. The research environment is also an attraction. There are motivations and facilities for research.

    What is the difference between being a lecturer in South Africa and Nigeria?

    This goes back to my last statement. The infrastructures and facilities are there to enable you do your work without much hassles. Colleagues in the Sciences appreciate this better as they require certain equipment and facilities in their laboratories to do their work. For us in the Humanities, we appreciate more the abundant online resources that we have to do our work. Provision of basic office facilities is also appreciated.

    What do you miss about Nigeria?

     I miss the culture of our people. I miss the culture of respect for elders, of appreciation of good deeds, of communalism and of industry. I miss listening to high standard Yoruba on certain radio/television programmes and movies. I also miss our foods –amala, ewedu, yam, fried plantain etc.

     Have you experienced any form of xenophobia during your stay in South Africa?

    I won’t say I haven’t, but in a subtle way. Such things do not really bother me much because I know there is xenophobia, tribalism, racism all over the world. As long as we are different in one form or the other, there will always be discrimination. I believe there is a kind of xenophobia that is pervasive everywhere in the world – people would definitely want to protect the interest of their own against the ‘outsiders’. Even in Nigeria, an Igbo man may not have priority over a Yoruba man in a Yoruba community. The same goes for a Yoruba man in Igbo land or a Hausa man in Urhobo land and on and on. The only times it becomes a problem is when it takes the form of violence, that is when resentment against the outsiders is expressed in violence. That was what happened in South Africa in May 2008 when a number of foreigners were killed. This has remained a dent on the image of the country and that tag of xenophobia has remained till today. Apart from this, I believe we also need to avoid any kind of xenophobia that is scandalous. There is a limit to which one can go in sacrificing merit for ethnic affinity or whatever.

    How would you describe living in South Africa?

    It is a more organised living.

    What has Nigeria got to learn from South Africa?

     It is not for no reason that certain South African universities remain the top universities in Africa. Nigeria can learn organisation of higher education from South Africa. Research is a priority in South Africa and there is huge provision of funds to facilitate, motivate and incentivize it. Many of our colleagues in Nigeria do not have (regular) opportunities to attend international conferences, but this is what an average lecturer in South Africa takes for granted.

    We can also do better with little or no disruption in our academic calendars as a result of staff strikes. Since I came here, I have not heard of staff (either academic or non-academic) going on strike. May be, we can just say such is rare here. Of course, there are grievances but they hardly result into industrial actions. I guess we need to find a way of managing conflict in our public institutions. This requires sincerity. The campuses in South Africa are much more peaceful than our own campuses. The fear of student cultism is remote. Even when students go on strike, it is not usually prolonged; and the grievances may be about lack of study loans. There was a time when students at University of Fort Hare demonstrated and one of the things they were demonstrating about was lack of internet in their residences.

    Nigeria may also learn appreciation of indigenous languages from South Africans. It is still a paradox to me that peoples who were subjugated for decades under apartheid system refuse to surrender their languages. The long period of colonization affected some other aspects of their culture but really not their languages. In fact, universities here make use of African languages of their respective domains in their corporate symbols – websites, letterheads, signboards etc. This, I believe, is due to the national language policy which Nigeria can benefit from.

     

  • AFCON: Nigeria, Zambia duel ends in 1-1 draw

    AFCON: Nigeria, Zambia duel ends in 1-1 draw

    Super Eagles of Nigeria on Friday settled for a 1-1 draw with the Chipolopolo of Zambia in the ongoing African Nations Cup in South Africa.

    The much anticipated group C encounter between two of the continent’s soccer heavyweights failed to live up to expectation, although the defending champions had a greater ball possession than their opponent.

    Super Eagles lost a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 26th minutes when Mikel Obi failed to convert a penalty awarded by the Egyptian referee after Ahmed Musa was brought down in the Zambian box.

    After a poor first half performance, Nigeria came out stronger in the second 45 minutes and deservedly took the lead through the Russia-based Emmanuel Emenike who side-stepped two Zambian defenders and slotted the ball into the net for his second goal in the competition.

    The defending champions poured forward in search of an equalizer and they were rewarded in the 85th minute when the Egyptian referee awarded a controversial penalty against the Super Eagles.

    Lazio’s Ogenyi Onazi was penalized for pulling down Emmanuel Mayuka, although television replay showed that the Zambian went down on his own.

    Stand-in captain Kennedy Mweene coolly dispatched the resultant penalty to send the Zambians level.

     

  • Nigeria, as it could be made (4)

    If we should go our separate ways, we shan’t stop being the brutes we are nor shall we stop pretending to have answers to everything, except our duplicity and greed. We shan’t stop exulting by sick dialectics like treacherous revolutionaries in a dusk of compromise.

    A simple lust remains our woe; it invalidates the elite class and its infinite abstractions. It amplifies the tragedy of the working class and the Nigerian youth. It is the lust for luxury and unearned greatness.

    Like pond scum over moss, the Nigerian elite ingratiate himself to the predatory ruling class in every circumstance and clime even as he makes a big show of speaking all manner of truths, except “truth” to power. Now that his duplicity drags, like a rickety wheel caught in quicksand, the Nigerian elite will forswear youth. He has chosen to play the daunting-Thomas where resolute will and burning heart commands the infinite perspective and possibility of the Nigerian youth.

    Not a few people, self-acclaimed elite and progressives, have written to fault my call for the Nigerian youth to save Nigeria. They claim the Nigerian youth is incapable of such human qualities like wisdom, altruism, maturity and tolerance. One particular “progressive elite” wrote to say that “Nigeria can never thrive in the hands of the Nigerian youth.” He said leadership and nation-building are serious matters that shouldn’t be left in the hands of youth whose idea of citizenship revolves around the acquisition of the trendiest luxury ride and whims of every political predator and criminal mastermind.

    I am tempted to believe him given the brutal reality of his assertion. But then this”progressive elite” goes on to recommend bloody revolution to wipe out the incumbent ruling class and a secessionist palliative by which “every ethnic group would go its separate way “peacefully or violently” to forge its destiny away from the madness of the Nigerian dream.” This secessionist agenda, he claims, “should be driven by the Nigerian youth whose fire and spark is variously misapplied in the current political enterprise.”

    In a nutshell, our “progressive elite” and lest I forget, an Associate Professor of Political Science, believes the Nigerian youth is incapable of leadership and positive steps at nation-building but this same youth would serve well in a bloody massacre of the ruling class and secessionist agenda of every ethnic group.

    If you are in your youth and you are reading this, then you have known what the almighty elite and articulate hero of practicable politics thinks of you. Maitama Sule, Anthony Enahoro, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa to mention a few, united to build the heritage we destroy, in their youth. But you and I are never considered as worthy of such dignified human endeavours as conscientious leadership and statesmanship, like our late leaders (although Maitama Sule is very much alive). Of course, they had their faults, they made mistakes, but every unforgivable blunder of theirs is acceptable to our next best attribute.

    Today, the Nigerian youth becomes the butt of damaging critiques and interminable cynicism. Are we going to do anything about it? Or shall we continue to wallow in self-pity and hate even as we continually pursue an agenda to self-destruct, according to the whims of the incumbent ruling class?

    We should never serve as cannon fodder by which familiar shady politicians and activists will achieve their secessionist agenda. If every Nigerian soldier, police officer, student, banker, journalist, doctor, accountant – to mention a few – in his youth could endeavour to scorn the call for bloody revolution or secession and rather advise its propagators to recruit their sons and daughters, mothers and wives, fathers and other blood relatives to propagate their agenda, the end result will spell infinite good for you and me. Trust me.

    But many Nigerian youth and self-acclaimed “progressive elite” will continue to pound the drums of violence and bloodshed from their safe havens abroad while they stay far away from the scenes of genocide they incite. Many more have their escape strategies activated and their escape routes marked, in preparation for the hour when Nigerian drowns in the bloodbath they excite.

    Such elite class represents the purely physical evil whose limit we can never be sure of. Our ultimate goal should be to neuter them, everlastingly to be precise. The abolishment of the infinite evil they epitomize should be perpetuated by ample use of the ballot box. We cannot totally abolish the inhumanity of such contemptible characters but like pestilence, we can diminish their influence by securing a fair and healthy socio-political system for all.

    It’s about time we accepted the racism and infinite prejudices of this class of Nigerians as a grievous fact, unpardonable in its intensity, unfortunate in results, and dangerous for the future, but nevertheless a hard fact which only time and conscientious efforts can efface. The Nigerian youth owes it to themselves and subsequent generations to assume that selfless citizenship and leadership that the Nigerian situation so eloquently demands.

    Let us dispel notions of our incapacities to produce such leadership and citizenship by exorcising ourselves of the damaging culture and common insensibilities of modern political civilization. Let us rise to the imperative demand for trained youth leaders of character and intelligence; men and women of ability and missionaries of culture, thoroughly adept at harmonizing traditional and modern civilization in the establishment of precepts of self-sacrifice and the inspiration of common identity and ideals.

    But if such men are to be effective they must have political power; they must be backed by the best public opinion and be able to wield for the attainment of our aims, such weaponry as the experience of the world has taught, are indispensable to human progress.

    Of such weaponry, the greatest perhaps, in the modern world is the power of the ballot. The only effective means to deny the patent weaknesses and shortcomings of the Nigerian youth is to dissociate from such weaknesses and shortcomings. This could be achieved by positive citizenship and incursions into political activity.

    It would never serve us to remain armchair Trotskys like a reader satirically noted penultimate week. It is time for the Nigerian youth to champion the cause of that prosperous future of our dreams by effecting a change of guardianship of the Nigerian State. Let us do away with the predators we have allowed too much leverage on our power plinths. Let us deny their wives and children continued access to our seats of power.

    It is no longer acceptable for us to bemoan our luck and curse the times while we serve as pawns in the designs of every politician and lobbyist with deep pocket. The Nigerian youth should establish a veritable platform to prosecute its pursuit of freedom and self-determination. To achieve this, we need to establish political leverage, like a youthful and citizenry-centred political party and interest group.

    It is not enough for us to declare that the incumbent ruling class is the cause of our social condition and for us to aver that our social condition would spell the doom of any promising political enterprise. We must change in order to effect the change in leadership and governance that we seek.

    To be continued…

  • Malian terrorists want to unsettle Nigeria – FG

    Malian terrorists want to unsettle Nigeria – FG

    The main objective of the terrorists currently operating in northern part of Mali is to unsettle Nigeria, the Federal Government said on Thursday.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, made the remark on Thursday while speaking at the ongoing African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    Defending the deployment of Nigerian troops in Mali, he said that the government is prepared to do all within its power to contain the terrorists’ ambition and ensure the survival of Nigeria.

    He said: “The events in Mali, if we don’t quickly stop it, it will have effect on the whole of West Africa and Nigeria is their prime target. So, we need to act quickly and forcefully in Mali to stop them. We need to contain them, to destroy their capability to be able to launch any counter offensive within the sub region.

    “When you compare our intervention in Sierra Leone, in Liberia to our intervention in Mali today, the intervention in Mali today is to ensure the survival of Nigeria. The intervention in Sierra Leone and Liberia was to enthrone democracy, rule of law and good order.

    “Those two places, the campaign there did not have any security impact directly on Nigeria as such. It is just that we wanted peace in the sub region to ensure refugees did not flood to Nigeria. Even with that, they still came to Nigeria because we had lots that still came to Nigeria. So, these are part of the problems you see.

    “But for Mali, our intervention is borne out of our own national interest, the survival of our own country because terrorists know no boundary. They have no boundary. They move anywhere. Once they are able to cause instability in that area, they move there and the ultimate prize is to destabilize the country.

    “So, our intervention in Mali must be seen in that context, that is to ensure the survival of our country. It is to ensure that we contain the terrorists from spreading from northern Mali to come southwards,” he added.

    Commending France for taking the initiative to intervene, he said that Africans must now take charge henceforth to “ensure that we safeguard the territorial integrity of Mali and to make sure that we are able to stop the terrorists from advancing further because they are a threat, not just to Mali but to Nigeria and all countries in the sub region.”