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Tag: Nigerians

  • The truth that Nigerians do not wish to hear

    The truth that Nigerians do not wish to hear

    • By Femi Fani-Kayode.

    Sadly most Nigerians will not read or appreciate this contribution because frankly it is beyond them. 

    Worst still many of them, particularly in the younger generation, find it difficult to read more than three lines even though it is to their own shame and detriment. 

    For those that have the gravitas, insight, foresight, profundity and intellectual virility to read and comprehend the counsel I have offered in this write-up I urge you to bookmark it and wait and see what unfolds unless and until we quickly identify and recognise the problem and address the issues raised.  

    There are two reasons for the mass abductions and kidnappings that we are witnessing in our country today. 

    Firstly to garner cash which is then sent abroad to buy more arms and fund terror and secondly to destabilise our country and to discredit and undermine the credibility of our President and the Federal Government. 

    I hope and pray that someone is listening because this is precisely what we witnessed when the Chibok girls and other children were abducted over the years and the motives are the same. 

    Those that think it is only about the acquisition of money are naive and ignorant. 

    There is far more to it than that and there are numerous shady and sinister characters, international criminal cartels, foreign Governments and intelligence agencies and local accomplices and facilitators that are involved in this great evil. 

    Nigeria has been targetted for destruction, division and disintegration by those that see us as a threat to their regional hegemony, strategic national interests and imperialist aspirations but most of us still don’t get it and perhaps never will. 

    They do not want a strong, united, prosperous and regionally dominant Nigeria but would rather turn us into a pathetic and pitiful shadow of our former selves, a cowardly and quivering caricature of what we once were and a weak, divided, incredulous and headless pawn and set us up for self-destructive economic and military annihilation. 

    They know that a strong Nigeria, like a strong South Africa, would stand up to them in the arena of world politics and international affairs and ensure that our collective interests as Nigerians and Africans would be protected and they do not want this. 

    As a matter of fact for us to achieve that enviable status is not just their greatest fear but their worse nightmare.

    They ask themselves in their corporate boardrooms, presidential palaces, cabinet meetings and legislative chambers, who can stand up to a strong Nigeria? 

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    They wonder where else they would get their free mineral resources and be in a position to manipulate and dictate to servile leaders if not Nigeria?

    And if Nigeria were to fail, fall and go the way they want us to who would stand and speak for Africa and the black man in the comity of nations?

    If the truth be told without a strong, flourishing and virile Nigeria Africa is nothing and the black man is nowhere and this is precisely why the powers that be, when it comes to  world politics and the international community, do not want us to succeed. 

    As far as they are concerned we are too weak, corrupt, ignorant, primitive, backward, servile, self-hating and dumb to achieve anything meaningful and we are more than happy to spend the next 100 years as a nation and a people that seek nothing but validation, leadership and guidance from them. 

    Yet how wrong they are. They have no idea who and what we are and deep down they fear us and recognise the fact that an unbound and unfettered Nigeria with strong, bold, articulate, confident and fearless leaders that do not seek their approval or validation and that have no interest in remaining as their slaves would be their worse nightmare. Such leaders would be dangerous to their evil cause and their attempt to sow the seeds of civil war, hardship and economic paralysis in our country. 

    It is time that we confront the matter with an iron hand and fight back to save Nigeria. 

    It is time for us to get off our knees, to throw away the begging bowl, to stop constantly seeking validation from those that do not wish us well, to stop blindly implementing their disastrous economic models which seek to impoverish and destroy our people, to uproot and reject their well-planted seeds of division and to stop tolerating their subversive activities. 

    Ask yourself, who funds the terrorists and bandits and where do they get their weapons from? 

    They did it in Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Algeria, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, Syria and so many other countries over the years and decades and now they are doing it here.

    Ask yourself who was behind the attack on a mosque in which worshippers were killed on Friday  in Kaduna and what was the purpose of this abominable and condemnable act of terror if not to destabilise us and create panic and chaos in our nation?

    Again how is it that just a few days after the mass abduction of women in Gamburu Ngala, Borno state and just one day after the kidnapping of 280 female students in Kuriga, Kaduna state yet another 15 students were abducted in Gidan Bakuso, Sokoto state just yesterday.

    All this nonsense must stop and we must desist from refusing to acknowledge that we now have and indeed have always had a major problem which needs to be acknowledged and be solved. 

    None of these things happen by chance and what we are witnessing is a deep seated and long term conspiracy to literally end our nation as we know it and throw us into a state of fear, poverty, anomie, anarchy, fratricidal butchery and carnage. 

    Worst of all is the fact that our so called “best friends” and “allies” in the west and the international community are the ones behjnd it.

    We need help and if we can get it from the Russians, the Chinese and even the Iranians in order to restore our peace, self respect, freedom, dignity and prosperity we should do so. 

    Asking the West for help either in intelligence gathering, advice or covert Military operations when it comes to the fight against the terrorists and insurgents in Nigeria is like asking the big bad wolf to save little Red Riding Hood.

    It cannot work because ultimately they are the hidden hand behind our numerous travails and they are the enemy. 

    May God open our eyes and deliver our nation and may we cultivate the fortitude and courage to come together as a people, eschew our differences, resist the evil and save our nation.

    • Chief Fani-Kayode, the Sadaukin Shinkafi and the Wakilin Doka Potiskum, is a lawyer, a former Minister of Aviation and a former Minister of Culture and Tourism.
  • 31 million Nigerians expected to be in food crisis – Report

    31 million Nigerians expected to be in food crisis – Report

    • Says 24 million Nigerians currently in food crisis
    • Customs intercepts 880 bags of beans, 584 bags of onions, others

    About 31.5 million people, including 83,846 IDPs in 26 states and the FCT, are expected to be in crisis or worse between June and August 2024, a report, Cadre Harmonisé, has said.

    The report also stated that 24.7 million people including 14,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will be in food crisis or worse between March and May 2024.

    Cadre Harmonisé is a food and nutrition insecurity analysis by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with technical partners including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

    Analysiing the result further, it noted that about 1.1 million people in Adamawa State are expected to be in crisis or worse between June and August 2024, and about 2.1 million people in Borno are expected to be in crisis or worse between June and August this year, while 1.5 million people in Yobe are expected to be in crisis or worse between June and August this year.

    Also, deteriorated food consumption situation was also observed among populations in the inaccessible areas and the IDPs in Adanawa, Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.

    It noted that the deteriorating food consumption results from a significant spike in food prices due to high production and transportation costs caused by the removal of fuel subsidies and its resultant impact on inflation and consumer price index rates on both food and basic non-food items.

    The report noted that the high cost of transport,  inflation rate, and the volatile dollar-naira exchange rate have negatively affected households’ income.

    In the projected period (June to August 2024), poor microeconomic conditions and conflicts are expected to drive limited access to livelihood opportunities.

    “The nutrition situation in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) and northwest states of Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara revealed the prevalence of malnutrition for Under-5 children to be in crisis in the current situation.

    However, the report said key drivers of the crisis include conflict and insecurity, fuel scarcity, naira devaluation currency crisis, and rising inflation and Consumer Price Index (CPI) rates.

    In his remarks, Country Representative of the FAO to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Koffy Kouacou Dominique, said the FAO will continue to support the Cadre Harmonisé process, especially in terms of funding as well as technical support and capacity building, across the country.

    Dominique, who was represented by the Deputy FAO Country Representative, Suleiman Abubakar, said the Cadre Harmonisé analysis produces the most reliable and widely acceptable data/results for humanitarian programming and food security.

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    Also, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Temitope Fashedemi, who was represented by the Director of Special duties, Adedayo Modupe, said the government has put machinery in place to address the challenges to food and nutrition insecurity.

    Meanwhile, the Seme border command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, Ikeja  has intercepted  880 bags of white beans, 584 bags of onions and 400 sacks of grains on the verge of being smuggled into Benin Republic.

    The unit also intercepted export bound trucks loaded with 18 bags of dry pepper at Ajilete/Idiroko Road in Ogun State.

    During a press briefing in Lagos yesterday, its Area Controller, Hussein Ejibunu, said instead of seizing the food items, the unit ensured the trucks were re-directed to the Nigerian markets where they were sold to Nigerians by the owners.

    The Customs chief also raised the alarm over smugglers new defined means of smuggling foreign parboiled rice in petroleum Jerry cans.

    According to him, the act is not only illegal but also exposes the potential consumers to the risk of eating contaminated grains that have ingested poisonous properties possibly from premium motor spirit (PMS), diesel or other petroleum products.

    “Due to violation of various sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, and the federal government import and export prohibition guidelines, we vigorously and relentlessly prosecuted our anti-smuggling campaign which resulted in a total number of 93 seizures, arrest of nine suspects made to prevent smuggling and protect our national economy. The seizures made are worth a total duty paid value of N751.1million.

    “As usual, rice was top on the list of our February 2024 seizures in terms of volume and value. A total of 3,779 X 50kg bags of suspected foreign rice equivalent to over seven trailer loads worth over N365 million were seized from various parts of the South West.

    “Other items seized in the month under review include one locally made gun and six pieces of empty cartridges at Abeokuta road, 731 parcels of Indian hemp weighing 482kg, 1 X 40ft container found to contain 286 cartons of new rubber slippers, seven units of used motorcycles, 28,000 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) and 2,420 pieces of used tyres.

    “Worthy of note is the interception of export bound three trucks headed to the Republic of Benin laden with 880 bags of white beans, 584 bags of onions and 18 bags of dry pepper at Ajilete/Idiroko road in Ogun state.

    “Instead of seizing the food items, this Unit ensured the trucks were re-directed to the Nigerian markets where they were sold to Nigerians by the owners. The seizures made are worth a total duty paid value of N751.1million,” he stated.

    Ejibunu also disclosed that N78.16 million was recovered as revenue into the federation account through the issuance of Demand Notice (DN) on Customs duties that were discovered to be underpaid.

    “We also prevented the smuggling of eleven exotic used vehicles worth over N200 million into the country through our area of responsibility. Smugglers of these vehicles met our stiff resistance against their duty evasion and deviant behaviour.”

    Ejibunu added that the “sum of N78,164,255.20 was recovered as revenue into the federation account through the issuance of demand notices (DN) on Customs duties that were discovered to be underpaid.

    “These outcomes were achieved despite the unrepentant behaviour of economic saboteurs who deploy many tricks and antics to beat our checks but they failed.

    As we approach the Easter celebration, he said, “we have strengthened our intelligence-led anti-smuggling operations strategies to forestall any attempt by smugglers and duty evaders to circumvent the law.”

  • Nigerians and silver bullets

    Nigerians and silver bullets

    A little over 13 years ago, a 53-country Gallup poll scored Nigeria 70 points – rating it the most optimistic nation on earth. It even outperformed Britain which only managed 44 points. People were incredulous given that the country was still grappling with the old demons of poverty, corruption and violence.

    Last year, the Global Happiness Ranking after analysing data for four years beginning with 2020, placed the country 95th out of 146 countries polled worldwide and sixth in Africa.

    Many would compare the findings above with their reality and cry: lies, damned lies and statistics! Today, the buzzwords are ‘hunger’ and ‘hardship.’ They are in most newspaper headlines; on the lips of many people. It’s not dissimilar to the situation in early 2023. What with the fuel scarcity and Godwin Emefiele’s disappearing naira.

    Pain has never been popular anywhere in the world. Even the most stoic people just bear it and carry on, waiting for better days. In a notoriously impatient nation uncommon economic challenges have created an air of crisis. Everyone wants a solution and they want it now.

    You can say the current problems have come about because fuel subsidy was removed and the naira floated. You can even hark back to the N30 trillion ways and means outlay which the Central Bank under Godwin Emefiele afforded the Muhammadu Buhari administration and, in so doing, snuffing life out of the naira.

    What you cannot ignore is that many are cashing in to make a bad situation worse. Some are doing so to make a point and justify their political choices; others, simply out of spite and hate.

    Such is the breakdown of trust between government and the governed that not many believe anything that comes from officialdom. That’s why claims of sabotage are often quickly dismissed as propaganda and excuses. Of course, we know the economic problems are down to more fundamental structural issues.

    They have been long in the making and would require an extended period to unmake. It’s the politically-incorrect thing to say in an environment where many expect a silver bullet to be deployed to bring dramatic change.

    You hear people tell the president to do something urgently. They warn the country is sitting on a keg of gunpowder, about to be blown to smithereens. For all the alarm bells they have rung, I am yet to hear anything that approximates a magic formula. I suspect that’s because no one has it.

    Instead, there have been a few short, medium term and long term solutions proffered. The trouble with these is the assumption that our problems are down to systems of governance only, ignoring the human dimensions to our troubles. It is for this typically Nigerian factor that methods which work optimally elsewhere, fail woefully down here.

    One of the more interesting proposals is the move by 60 members of the House of Representatives to return the country to the parliamentary system of governance.

    Spokesman for the so-called Parliamentary Group, Abdulsamad Dasuki, which has introduced a constitution amendment bill, argues that the failings of the presidential system are glaring.

    He said: “Among these imperfections are the high cost of governance, leaving fewer resources for crucial areas like infrastructure, education, and healthcare, and consequently hindering the nation’s development progress, and the excessive powers vested in the members of the executive, who are appointees and not directly accountable to the people.”

    If proponents successfully navigate the long road to passage, the amendment would take effect in 2031.

    The strongest selling point of their plan is cost-cutting. Perhaps the 2031 vintage of the parliamentary system would work if foreigners are imported to implement it. We’ve travelled this road in the First Republic and it all unravelled in just five years.

    The same factors of ethnicity, regional competition, personal ambitions, corruption, violence and incompetence which the military used as excuses to intervene in January 1966 are still there today. If this system was the cure-all that the country needed, the military under the late General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi wouldn’t have introduced a unitary system. They would have returned power to the next in line following the death of then Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa.

    As part of the process that preceded the Second Republic, a Constituent Assembly presided over by the late Justice Udo Udoma engaged in lengthy debates that ultimately rejected the parliamentary system and plumped for the American presidential model. Many of the members were active participants in the First Republic – with experience in the system that some would have us believe is Nigeria’s solution today.

    The British parliamentary system is 223 years old and still going strong. The American presidential system invented in 1787 is even older. Both nations have had their challenges. The United States fought its civil war. They never changed their way of governance – beyond occasional amendments; they changed those who ran the system.

    For all its imperfections, Nigeria’s democracy has been self-cleansing. The Fourth Republic is 25 years old. In 2015 an incumbent president lost to the opposition candidate and handed over peacefully. Some would have us junk this model completely because of present challenges. The replacement would be something we last experimented with 60 years ago.

    At least, we can credit the Parliamentary Group for proposing that which can be actualised through lawful means. In the last few weeks we’ve also received proposals from the lunatic fringe in the form of calls for military intervention.

    Although the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has strongly denounced those soliciting soldiers to embark on treasonable actions, yesterday Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, reiterated the military’s commitment to defending democracy and constitution.

    While many may not have taken the coup talk seriously, whatever unease may have existed probably came from the recent rash of such excursions in the likes of Niger, Mali, Gabon and others.

    An even stronger reason for dismissing it is because there was such solicitation by the Anyone-but-Tinubu gang in the days following the declaration of the results of the February 2023 presidential elections. Their goal was to scuttle the inauguration of the winner. They never got over their loss and see in current challenges an opportunity for regime change.

    Only the total clueless would consider the military a viable option. Nigeria is not Niger. It is a strategic and massive country with over 200 million people. The world won’t stand for military the meddling in its governance. It would be swiftly turned into a pariah with the pain flowing to us all.

    Nigeria of 2024 is a totally different proposition from the country it was in the heydays of coups in the 70s and 80s. The world has changed politically and technologically. We saw in the experience of Turkey how in 2016 a putsch was frustrated by the populace using social and traditional media.

    Despite our frustrations with politicians and the process, the last time Nigeria was under the military was 25 years ago. It is the longest stretch of civil rule ever in this country and evidence of our commitment to democracy. The reactionary forces who would love to take us back forget that when soldiers intervene, they don’t just sack individuals, they overthrow the constitution with all the rights it guarantees.

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    They bulldoze every political institution – be they presidents, senators, Reps, governors, state assemblymen, local government chairmen etc. It doesn’t matter whether the office holders are APC, PDP, Labour Party or APGA. That’s why people must be careful what they wish for.

    Perhaps, the most annoying aspect of military intervention is the presumption. A bunch of unelected gun-toting soldiers impose themselves without our consent. They govern without proof that they can do a better job than those they ousted.

    A history of modern Nigeria can be titled: ‘How the Armed Forces Underdeveloped a Nation.’ They come promising to clean up but end up worse than the bandits they toppled. Long after his death, Nigeria keeps receiving repatriated millions of dollars looted by General Sani Abacha whilst he was Head of State.

    Some West African countries that allowed they to be seduced are learning the hard way. Take Guinea for instance. In September 2021, General Mamady Doumbouya overthrew President Alpha Conde.

    The junta banned all demonstrations in 2022 and arrested several opposition leaders, civil society members and journalists. Internet restrictions imposed three months ago were lifted recently, just days after unions declared a general strike over rampant inflation and hardship. The Guinean military haven’t been an improvement on the flawed democracy they truncated.

    Every country goes through trying times. In the 80s, it was as if half of Ghana emptied into Nigeria. When they were humiliated and chased out of this country, departing in cramped lorries, with their belongings stuffed in Ghana-Must-Go bags; they left to begin the long process of fixing their home. It wasn’t long before Nigerians started flocking there to buy property and enjoy stable electricity.

    It’s time we accepted that only hard graft and staying the course will get us out of the woods, not aimless chasing after silver bullets.

  • Economy: Nigerians, governors must accept responsibility, stop blame game—VC

    Economy: Nigerians, governors must accept responsibility, stop blame game—VC

    The Vice-Chancellor of Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State, Professor Mahfouz Adedimeji has urged Nigerians and state governors to accept responsibility and stop the blame game as a result of the high cost of living in the country.

    Adedimeji also stressed the need for governors and Nigerians to play their part in improving the economy and seek solutions to the current economic hardship.

    Speaking at the public lecture to mark the first anniversary of Professor Olayinka Karim as the Vice-Chancellor of Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State, Adedimeji said servanthood leadership style would help to tackle the current challenges facing leadership roles across the country.

    According to him, “Servant leadership is applicable in the Nigeria system and it is possible. It was done before and it can also be done now, it only requires courage of character, sacrifice, empathy, discipline and prioritising the needs of Nigerians over and above the needs of those who are in power.

    “We know the president is making a lot of efforts in recent times and we know that if anything will be good we will experience a certain level of discomfort in the beginning. I want to appeal to our leaders to attend to the needs of the people first, many people are indeed suffering, and our governors must take a bold step to show people that they care.

    “I want to urge Nigerians to accept responsibility, we should avoid the blame game, do what you can at your level, everybody is a leader, the concept of leadership is at the doorstep of everybody, before you look at Abuja, look at what is happening in your house, look inward. Nigerians are the ones looting palliative, which tells greatly on our characters. Let us think of what we can do and work out solutions. Nigerians should also change themselves before we blame the leaders, they are a reflection of the society.”

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    Earlier in her address, Professor Kareem disclosed that she was motivated to pursue her Vice-Chancellorship ambition because of the influence of the likes of Professor Grace Alele-Williams, who was the first female Vice-Chancellor in the country.

    She added that her passion for service was responsible for her achievements within 12 months in office, pledging to do more in a bid to make Fountain University a global brand.

  • Economy will get better, Tinubu assures Nigerians

    Economy will get better, Tinubu assures Nigerians

    • •Speaker Abbas urges  patience with govt

    The economic situation will improve and pains will give way to prosperity, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assured Nigerians yesterday.

    Urging citizens not to despair, he said things would get better.

    Also, House Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas urged Nigerians to exercise patience and cooperate with the government in its bid to effectively implement the economic reforms that will soothe the pains.

    President Tinubu and the Speaker spoke on the prospect of economic recovery yesterday as workers staged protests in state capitals and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over the high cost of living.

    The President said: “We must assure Nigerians that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

    “We might be going through a difficult period now, but when you look at the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and people manning the ship of this country, including Central Bank of Nigeria (governor), they have collaborated and in the spirit of development and progress, we are glad that good effort is being made to retool, re-engineer the finances of the country and make growth our hallmark.”

    The President spoke during the unveiling of the handbook on Expatriate Employment Levy (EEL).

    Abbas, who spoke when he received the leadership of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) led by Comrade Muhammad Usman in his office, said: “My appeal to you as the National President of PASAN is to please, help to tell your other colleagues in the Labour leadership to give this government a little more time.

    “There are so many things that are under consideration, things that the government is trying to come up with for the benefit of Nigerians.

    “So, please, help us to tell them to exercise patience that something very good will come out very soon.”

    He added: “I know of a lot of palliatives, reviews of salaries and welfare packages that are most likely coming on board in the near future.

    “Please, communicate to them that we know their pains and their problems and we will not let them down. They should give us more time.”

    The President lauded the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for the various progressive innovations he introduced, saying they have received applause at home and abroad.

    President Tinubu, who described the EEL scheme as another game changer, highlighted its advantages.

    These include better employment opportunities for Nigerians with foreign companies, bridging the wage gap between Nigerian employees and expatriates in foreign companies operating in Nigeria and boosting national security.

    He said: “We expect revenue generation improvement, improved naturalisation and indigenisation, employment of more Nigerians by foreign companies operating in this country, balancing of employment opportunities between Nigerians and expatriates, and closing the wage gap between the expatriate and the Nigerian labour force by making it more attractive to hire Nigerians.

    “I’ve been further assured that the project can plug loopholes and gaps that have bedevilled the country in dealing with security challenges, and the movement of foreigners in and out of the country.

    “Interestingly, this scheme will wield the dual fold of revenue generation as well as addressing employment challenges.”

    President Tinubu, however, warned operators of the scheme against turning it into another bureaucratic bottleneck, which is capable of frustrating potential investors.

    He said: “I declare my support for the Expatriate Employment Levy scheme and I will continue to encourage the operators, practitioners of immigration matters and expatriate quotas.

    “But don’t use it as a bottleneck, don’t use it to frustrate potential investors.

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    “There will be clear lines of implementation and effective acceleration of aims and objectives of this programme.

    “Immigration matters and expatriate quotas, and relevant stakeholders, have to be effectively guided to make Nigeria the focus of the objective of this EEL.”

    The Minister of Interior highlighted some of the features of the EEL scheme, saying that it would create employment opportunities and competitive advantages for Nigerians working in foreign companies in the country.

    He said the project was in tandem with the President’s eight-point agenda, especially on security and economic growth.

    Tunji-Ojo said: “The main essence is to be sure that if you are bringing an expatriate to work in Nigeria, it should be a job that no Nigeria has the skill to do.

    “That’s the major objective of this particular initiative; balancing employment opportunities between Nigerians and expatriates and, of course, closing wage gaps between expatriates and the Nigerian labor force by making it more attractive to hire Nigerians

    “Part of the motivation is to reduce the dependence of companies on foreign personnel and to also reduce the rate at which renewal of expatriate quotas has been sought after by companies.

    “We want to see a scenario whereby once an expatriate comes, there will be a knowledge transition period of which Nigeria should be able to be trained to take over this responsibility and create opportunities for our teeming youths.”

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior,  Adams Oshiomhole, said the initiative would strengthen the position of Nigerians when it comes to competitive employment

    He said: “We all have to share with Mr. President the burden of putting in place appropriate policies that will ensure that more Nigerians are engaged in jobs that are good paying.

    “That is the way to fight and defeat poverty in the long run.”

  • Tinubu deserves Nigerians’ support, says ex-NPN spokesman Ogundokun

    Tinubu deserves Nigerians’ support, says ex-NPN spokesman Ogundokun

    • ‘Economic hardship global challenge’

    A former National Publicity Secretary of defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Chief Abiola Ogundokun, has urged Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to get the nation out of its challenges.

    He said this is the right thing to do in the current circumstance, rather than asking him to quit office.

    In a statement, the former party spokesman said the President deserves to be praised for steadying the ship of state, adding that the current economic hardship is not peculiar to the country but a global issue.

    He said President Tinubu inherited a badly managed economy, stressing that some of the challenges currently shaking the country had been there for many years.

    Ogundokun described the current wave of protests across the country as “sinister intentions of unpatriotic elements who are bent on destabilising the nation for their personal gains”.

    “We must be educated about the fact that if we allow fifth columnists to hide under the right to protest and they succeed in destabilising the country, the current situation will rather get worse,” he said.

    The former NPN spokesman said the time has come for elder statesmen and women to offer credible and patriotic solutions and advice on how the country can progress.

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    Ogundokun condemned the calls for the President’s resignation, saying: “I personally want to use this medium to appeal to elder statesmen, like my friend and brother, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; my colleague and friend, Chief Edwin Clark; my brothers, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, to put Nigeria first in these critical times and shun the temptation to elevate personal disagreements at par with national interest.

    “There is an economic slowdown contagion across the globe, which calls for concerted efforts by all to salvage the situation for the benefit of Nigerians and Nigeria.

    “This is not the time to politicise governance, as is being promoted by unpatriotic elements masquerading as rights advocates. I appeal to Nigerians to be more aware of these and other issues, especially the need to afford the President more time to fix some of the endemic challenges facing Nigeria,” the statement said.

    “Let us move forward and put Nigeria first and bury the hatchet of hatred, failure and animosity towards one another and come together to assist the current administration with solutions and recommendations to achieve all that it has outlined in the Renewed Hope Agenda because condemnation is not the solution,” the statement said.

  • ‘Nigerians should support security operatives’

    ‘Nigerians should support security operatives’

    Nigerians have been urged to be patient with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-administration.

    Guests and speakers from within and outside the country made this plea during the Mawlid Nabiyy organized by the Aljamahatul Qadiriyyah Islamic Movement, Lagos State Chapter at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

    Chief Missioner/Founder of Al-Abrar Foundation, Sheikh Adam Muhammad Raji Adebayo called on Muslims to return to Allah, noting it’s the antidote to the current hardship being faced in the country.

    “The antidote to this hardship is for us to go back to our creator. We should seek His assistance on the current hardship. Importantly, we should seek forgiveness from Allah because all of us have committed sins one way or the other,” he said.

    The scholar enjoined Muslims to emulate the Prophet in their deeds and words.

    He added that the Mawlid Nabiyy celebration offers a platform for members of the Qadiriyyah movement to bond together.

    The Chief Host and Khalifah Qadiriyyah Lagos, Sheikh Soliu Jamiu Amasa, noted that citizens have a role to play in tackling the hardship.

    He said: “We should pray for our nation. We should pray for our leaders. When we support our leaders with prayer, they will get it right and everything will be okay.

    “The government cannot do everything. So, at our individual level, we should be our brother’s keeper to see through this current economic downturn. On security, we should assist security agencies with relevant information. We all need to be security conscious in our various communities. We should also learn to tolerate ourselves and live in harmony.”

    Former Chairman of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Alhaji Kashim Imam, who chaired the event, commended the movement for bringing thousands of Muslims together for the annual Mawlid Nabiyy, saying the celebration is unprecedented by all standards of measurement.

    “We have leaders who have come from all over the country present here; from Kano, Abuja, Maiduguri, and so on. May Allah accept this as an act of Ibadah from all of us. May Allah grant our country peace. May Allah grant our country prosperity. May Allah guide our leaders, in particular the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. May Allah give him good health. May Allah make our country overcome all the economic challenges that we are facing,” he prayed.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ibrahim Layode, who represented Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, also lauded the movement, saying the state acknowledges the great activities they are doing which promote peace and development.

    “On behalf of the Lagos State Government, I congratulate the Qadriyyah movement on this important occasion. As a group, we have seen a lot of great activities the Qadriyyah movement has done in the state. We thank you for your efforts.

    “As a government, we will continue to support organisations that are promoting peace and development in our state. We will extend our various welfare and society safety programmes to members of your group as an integral part of the state.”

    The Commissioner said the government is working hard to ease things for people as soon as possible, urging for more understanding and patience.

    Layode said: “I urge parents here to continue to educate and talk to their wards, the young people. They should appeal to them to be calm and understanding with the government. Things will get better soon.

    “Our religious scholars should also help us include this appeal in their sermon. We understand there is economic downturn, and it’s everywhere across the world.

    The rate may differ.

    The government is working round the clock to address the issue and bring ease to our people. Let’s try and understand with the government.”

    Read Also: Train girls to lead, says Tinubu’s aide, governor’swife

    Iyaloja General of Lagos State and President Bola Tinubu’s daughter, Chief Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, was decorated with turban as Iya Adinni of Qadiriyyah in Nigeria and Africa, for her contributions towards the development of Islam through the Sufi movement.

    Chief Tinubu-Ojo also sued for patience, charging Nigerians to keep hope alive that everything would be better very soon.

    “My message to all Nigerians is to please exercise a little more patience. Everything will be alright; it’s just a matter of time. We need to keep our hope alive. There is economic downturn all over the world, and not in Nigeria alone. But we pray Allah will see us through.”

    The grand Khalifa of Tijaniyya for Lagos State, Sheikh Aminullah Abd’Salam Akoshile, said the hardship is a test from Allah, noting Muslims should be patient and prayerful.

    “The reality with us currently is that we have hunger ravaging the country, and there is hardship. But it’s part of the test of Allah. He said in the Qur’an that he would occasionally test us with hunger and other things. And there would be glad tidings for those who are patient.

    “We need prayer. Therefore, we should continue to pray for our leaders and our country. We will come out of this.”

  • A nation held down by criminals

    A nation held down by criminals

    President Goodluck Jonathan in his independent message to Nigerians on the occasion of the nation’s 51st independence anniversary had on behalf of Nigerians thanked our founding fathers who “brought joy and hope to the hearts of our people  after six decades of colonial rule  by working together to  restore dignity and honour  to a multicultural and multilingual nation of diverse people with more than 250 distinct languages and ethnic groups”. This was achieved in spite of the initial lack of consensus on the national question with Nnamdi Azikiwe and his group canvassing for unitary system, Obafemi Awolowo and his Yoruba group insisting on federalism while Abubakar Tafawa Balewa  who believed  “Nigerian unity is a British invention” and Ahmadu Bello who expressed grief over  “the mistake of 1914” settled for confederacy.  But at the end, realizing their responsibility to those that look up to them for direction, these illustrious Nigerian pathfinders settled for a federal arrangement that allowed groups to develop at their own pace without interference from federating members.

    Then came in January 1966, a bunch of criminals who like those “the gods want to destroy, they first made mad”, visited violence on themselves killing their best officers and their wives on their beds before descending on politicians – their benefactors who besides sending them for military training abroad set up military institutions for them at home. Forgetting that being the custodian of the nation’s constitution was a responsibility, they defied the constitutional provisions, imposed themselves as rulers and in a moment of madness turned a multicultural and multi-ethnic state into a unitary state. Six months later, a more vicious criminal group embarked on vengeance killing that eventually led to 33 months of civil war.

    Most of those that have ruled our nation ever since have always behaved like outlaws. But General Ibrahim Babangida, the evil genius, who after a palace coup against his boss, hilariously called himself president stood out as the one that carried reign of brigandage to other institutions of society notably, the judiciary, the economy, the intellectual and the press on whose back he rode to power. It was Babangida’s Aso rock professor who fraudulently claimed political parties could be decreed. And it was they that undermined the nation’s political socialization process by assuring him he could ban old political parties which was like cutting the umbilical cord between a mother and his baby.

    Read Also; Fed Govt completes Tincan port road

    His economic wizards include Olu Falae and Kalu Idika Kalu who in spite of Nigerians’ round rejection of IMF loan and its conditionalities insisted there was no “alternative to Structural Adjustment Programme”, (SAP) which opened our nation to imported goods from any part of the world.

    Driven by greed, unpatriotic Nigerians who secured import licences decided to flood the country with substandard goods and fake drugs that killed local manufacturing companies including, electronics, car accessories, textile, ceramics, pharmaceuticals etc. While thousands of Nigerians lost their jobs, criminals were buying land at N1billion per plot in Banana Island and other choice locations in Nigeria.

    For the nation, it was double jeopardy. Under Babangida’s dubious commercialization policies, the federal military government divested government holdings in many otherwise thriving government enterprises. State Military Administrators were equally directed to sell off state-owned public enterprises. Thus, Ikeja Cocoa Industry (CIL) owned by the ODUA Group was sold by Yoruba military administrators for an amount less than the cost of land on which the thriving industry with all its equipment was built.

    New set of criminals emerged in 1999 in form of military-baked ‘new breed’ politicians that followed in the footsteps of their creator who like military invaders, often loot conquered territories. It therefore did not come as a surprise that about 17 of 22 governors elected under PDP and ANPP between 1999 and 2007 were dragged to court by EFCC for financial malfeasance against the states they governed. National Assembly probe of Obasanjo’s ill-implemented privatization policy also confirmed Nigeria’s total investment of about $100b put together between 1959 and 1988 was sold to PDP stalwarts and their cronies for a paltry $1.5b.

    Babangida’s economic wizards found parallel in Obasanjo’s Chukwuma Soludo and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The banking crisis had its origins in the Soludo’s forced consolidation of the sector in 2005-2006. Like Olu Falae and Kalu Idika Kalu, Soludo, foreclosing a place for small banks in society went on with his program of consolidation and recapitalization which reduced the number of banks from about 90 in 2005 to 24 by 2006 and with 20 of them by end–2011, controlling ₦18.2 trillion assets and ₦12.5 trillion in deposit. The CBN also went on to inject ₦620 billion (about US$4.1 billion) of liquidity into the banking sector.

     By September 2011, the recapitalization of the intervened banks was completed with AMCON purchasing all the Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) of the intervened banks while the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) paid N16.18 billion for depositors in the 20 banks.

    It soon became obvious the banking sector had been taken over by a new set of actors. The chief executives of the capitalized banks became too powerful and with too much money at their disposal, compromised everyone while those below also embarked on massive stealing including the alleged 2015 CBN collusion with officials of commercial banks to defraud the country of N8 billion through recirculation of defaced and mutilated currencies (Premium Times of May 31 2015.)

    Of those fingered by Sanusi for tampering with depositors’ funds, it was only Cecelia Ibru who apart from forfeiting assets of N191.4 billion including 94 choice properties around the world, was jailed in October 8 2010 by Justice Dan Abutu for 18 months. Other accused criminals were never brought to justice.

    With incompetent President Buhari, and compromised CBN Governor Emefiele who was recently indicted by a special investigator’s probe report for allocating more forex than applicant’s request, allocating forex to those who never even applied and of fraudulent cash withdrawal of about $2.9billion, it became obvious that the stars of the leading commercial banks that engaged forex round-tripping that allowed them to declare profit in trillions were men with feet of clay.

    Criminals including those who committed treason, economic vampires, intellectual frauds, compromised journalists and sponsors of terrorists and bandits are well known to us but remain untouchable. Their response to the president’s appeal to their humanity in the interest of our beautiful country has yielded no fruit.

    If the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, is trying to attribute the “twin challenges of poverty, insecurity and “the untold hardship” arising from unemployment and hunger” in the northern region” to the painful but necessary decision of Tinubu’s eight months administration while ignoring the over 200 years feudal system that today fuels war of resistance between marginalized Hausa farmers and their Fulani overlords; if importers of second hand clothes, substandard products including fake drugs that contributed to the collapse of local industries continue to sabotage government forex policies out of self-preservation, the president should be reminded that what he needs as an elected sovereign, is not moral  suasion but to borrow a leaf from Niccolo Machiavelli, (Italian statesman,1469-1572) the ‘arch apostle’ of naked force, who believes  for a state to “fulfil its function of promoting the common good and preserving justice”, morality has no place. If in line with Machiavelli, his Yoruba forbears spoke of ‘Afobaje l’Oba npa’, the fate of opponents of his policies is sealed.

    Tinubu asked for the job. His hands are on the straw.  As an elected sovereign, there should be is no looking back.

  • Nigerians lament

    Nigerians lament

    Nigerians felt impact of the two-day strike before it was called off. There were long queues at filling stations, transporters hiked fares and residents resorted to trekking.

    PLATEAU

    In Jos, Plateau State, few stations dispensed, and sold for N700 per litre. Major marketers: Mobil, Oando, Total, etc. sold at N670 while others sold for N700.

    LAGOS

    There were long queues, causing gridlock in Akowonjo, Alimosho, Ikeja, Ilupeju and Ikorodu, and fares were hiked. Agege to Oshodi.

    It was observed NNPC stations at Akowonjo and Alimosho sold for N580 while Mobil on Mushin/Oshodi road sold for N599. NNPC at Jakande Gate sold for N650¸a commercial driver said.

    BENUE   

    There was acute scarcity in Makurdi, Benue State, compounded by epileptic power supply.

    Most petrol stations in Makurdi and environs were shut, while the few selling increased pump price to N850 per litre.

    Independent petrol marketer, Jimmy Onyilo, advised Federal Government to dialogue with NARTO officials to resolve the issues.

    “The cost of maintaining vehicles is high, this is because of bad roads. So, government should dialogue with NARTO, otherwise marketers may not have fuel to sell again,” he said.

    ABIA

    Transport companies increased fares by 50 per cent.

    Fuel stations started adjusting their prices following rumours of planned strike by NARTO. The price ranged from N680 to N700 on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, the few, which opened, sold between N800 and N850.

    But Total at Brass Junction, by Faulks Road, sold for N665 and there was long queue. Some major marketers sold for N850 while others sold for between N900-N1000 per litre.

    While intra-city transporters increased fares by N50 to N100, inter-city companies raised fares by N500 to N1000.

    EBONYI

    Fuel stations sold fuel for between N650 and N700, while fuel stations in Asaba, Delta State, rationed the product. Some were shut for non-availability of fuel.

    IBADAN

    Most fuel stations in Iwo Road, Alakia, Adegbayi enroute Egbeda, Iyana Church, Monatan, Idi Ape, Bashorun, Akobo, Ojurun in Ibadan, Oyo State, sold between N650 and N700 per litre.

    Many also shut to customers saying they didn’t have product.

    Read Also: Economic challenges: Kalu urges Nigerians to be patient, resilient

    EDO

    Petrol sold for between N650 and 700 per litre in Edo State while commuters were forced to trek long distances.

    IMO

    Fuel stations in Imo State sold at N720 and transport fares hiked by 50 per cent.

    RIVERS

    In Rivers, most petrol stations were shut while those that dispensed had long queues. A driver, Okai, complained that a petrol station altered prices intermittently.

    “After I drove round the city to buy the product, I queued at a filling station. Initially they were selling at N770 per litre but before it got to my turn, they stopped selling. The attendant received a call and the price was increased to N840,” he said.

    Some others sold between N900 and N930; many streets and roads in Port Harcourt had black market dealers who sold between N1,000 to N1,100 per litre.

  • Nigerians and the raging recession

    Nigerians and the raging recession

    SIR: The current recession afflicting our nation is a global phenomenon that has multiplier effects of spilling to other economies. Japan, Britain and some other notable countries in the Euro area are currently in recession. Therefore, Nigeria is not alone in this problem as a lot of our people are trying to portray it.

    The important question right now is how the pain from this “wahala” is going to be ameliorated for the citizens. So far, almost every Nigerian is calling on the federal government, and specifically, the president to solve the problem with some sort of a magic wand. Whereas, in other economic climes, efforts being made to make the situation tolerable are primarily on the shoulders of charitable private organizations.

    Despite the inflation and the creeping recession in the United States for instance, foods are still in abundance. Apart from foodstuffs though, every household needs heat in winter, air-conditioner in summer and several other expensive stuffs for day-to-day living.

    Yet, it’s not the government people cry to for assistance. There are charitable organizations such as the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and others under the supervision of various churches and humanitarian groups. 

    Their main mission is to assist the less-privileged in the society with the provision of propane gas for heater, subsidy for electricity and several other services.

    Just last week, the Food Bank of Delaware, a charitable entity in the state of Delaware, brought trailer-loads of assorted foodstuffs, milk and fruits to our neighbourhood. As usual, these stuffs were freely distributed to us as part of the organization’s efforts in alleviating the growing inflation.

    Read Also: This is time for Nigerians to keep hope alive – Comedian Woli Arole

    In regard to the Nigerian environment however, the question one would like to ask is this: What are the big, popular Nigerian churches, mosques, and the many stinking rich billionaires and their many companies doing to assist the less-privileged citizens?

    It’s so sad that amidst the painful recession engulfing the nation, those churches are daily packing millions of Naira in tithes, offerings and proceeds from their private schools and other church businesses to banks. Are they deaf and blind to the economic problems in the land?

    On the other hands, the money-miss-road billionaires are daily seen on the social media flaunting their wealth in the faces of the poverty-stricken people. They are busy showing off by spraying money at parties and gifting women with exotic cars and houses all over the place.

    On the other hand, wedding, birthdays, burial and other social functions are taking place almost every weekend. And some of the invited guests who are barely performing their parental duties are forcing themselves to buy prescribed aso-ebi for those occasions. Yet, the same people are among those gnashing their teeth in frustration over inflation and the economic recession.

    As a people, it’s high time we chose to urgently review our priorities in order to cope with the raging impacts of the current economic recession. Otherwise, we will have no one to blame but ourselves.

    • Femi Olawole, Delaware, United States.