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  • How Shell assists contractors, creates jobs, others, by Okunbor

    Shell companies in Nigeria – Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC), Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and Shell Nigeria Gas Limited (SNG), said they have boosted Nigerian contractors’ operations and supported community development projects with N312.3 billion in 2017.

    Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria and SPDC Managing Director, Osagie Okunbor, disclosed this yesterday at the 2018 Shell in Nigeria Briefing Notes’ presentation in Lagos. The briefing unveiled shell companies’ activities and contributions to the nation’s economy in 2017.

    Okunbor said Shell operated ventures produced an average of 631,000 barrels of oil equivalent daily (boe/d) in 2017, spent $228million (about N82.3 billion) on community-driven projects from 2006 and supported Nigerian contractors with N230 billion in 2017.

    The SPDC and SNEPCo, he said, contributed $1.9 billion to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from 2002 to 2017,  adding that some 290 Nigerian contractors, have received loans worth more than N472 billion under the Shell Contractor Support Fund, which was set up by Shell companies in Nigeria to help vendors and suppliers in the oil and gas industry secure funds at reduced interest rates, relaxed collateral requirements and quicker processing time.

    According to him, Shell companies in Nigeria awarded contracts worth over N230 billion to Nigerian contractors in 2017, representing 94 per cent of the total contracts in that year. Shell companies started their intervention in 2011 with the Shell Kobo Fund, which gave way to the Shell Contractor Support Fund the following year with seven participating financial institutions, which have since set aside more than N690 billion for contract execution by Nigerian companies.

    Okunbor listed the engaging banks as Access, Skye, Zenith  and Stanbic IBTC, as well as First Bank, Standard Chartered  and Guaranty Trust Bank.

    “We’re pleased to support Nigerian contractors to play greater roles in the oil and gas industry,” said Okunbor, adding: “As pioneers in the industry, we have taken deliberate steps to award contracts to Nigerian vendors and worked with them to grow their capacity, cost efficiency and delivery timelines.

    “We discovered, however, that access to finance has been a challenge, and the search for solution led to the Shell Contractor Support Fund,” he explained.

    Nigerian ownership of key assets, such as rigs, helicopters and marine vessels, Okunbor said, is also a focus with Shell companies providing technical and financial support to companies across a range of sectors, including transportation, manufacturing and Research and Development.

    On social investment, Okunbor said Shell companies have continued to work with government, communities and the civil society to fund and implement projects and programmes that have lasting impacts on people’s lives in the Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria as whole.

    He said since 2006, the SPDC JV  has disbursed more than N41 billion to 37 active Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) clusters in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Abia states, adding that a GMoU is an agreement that brings a group (or cluster) of communities together with representatives of state and local governments, SPDC and NGOs, with the SPDC  JV providing five-year funding for communities to implement development projects of their choice.

    The Shell boss said social investment activities of the companies focus on community and enterprise development, education, health, access-to-energy and road safety, pointing out that in 2017, SPDC JV, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company and Shell Nigeria Gas, spent more than N18 billion on direct social investment projects. Nigeria, he noted, has the largest concentration of social investment spending in the Shell Group.

    Okunbor said Shell’s flagship oil field, Bonga, has delivered a total of 763 million barrels of oil between its first production in 2005 and end of 2017, adding that the company has expanded the field with further drilling of wells in Bonga Phases 2 and 3 and through a subsea tie-back, which unlocked the nearby Bonga North West field in August 2014.

    Also at the briefing, SNEPCo’s Managing Director, Bayo Ojulari, said Bonga‘s success story is not only that it is Nigeria’s first oil and gas production project in more than 1,000 metres of water depth, or that it increased Nigeria’s oil production capacity by 10 per cent in 2005, but that it is a Nigerian venture delivered by Nigerians, using global expertise and processes offered by Shell that have launched Nigeria into the league of notable deepwater players.

    The Bonga turnaround maintenance in March and April 2017, he said, was a significant milestone in SNEPCo’s operations. “This was the most complex and largest of the three previous turnaround maintenances in the 12-year history of Bonga, and has helped to ensure safe and sustained production and reduced unscheduled production deferments. More than 1,000 people and more than 50 Nigerian contractor and sub-contractor companies participated in the exercise,” he added.

    The SNG Managing Director, Ed Ubong, also gave scorecard of his company.

  • Onnoghen, Bulkachuwa, Malami, others advocate reform of tax laws

    Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen, President, Court of Appeal (PCA) Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami, Chairman, Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC) Kefas Magaji and others have given  hints  on how the country can raise its dwindling revenue.

    Onnoghen, Bulkachuwa, Malami, Magaji, Director General, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Afam Ezekude and his counterpart in the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, (NILDS), Prof. Ladi Hamalai suggested a holistic reform of the nation tax legal regime to ensure more Nigerians are captured within the tax system.

    They are  of the view that a robust and efficient tax legal regime will aid the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to effectively apply existing tax laws, which in turn, will result in enhanced tax earnings for the country.

    They spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at the opening session of a workshop on the reform of the FIRS (Establishment) Act, 2007, held by the NLRC.

    The CJN, epresented by Justice Kumai Akaahs of the Supreme Court, noted that the nation urgently needed to diversify its sources of revenue to remain afloat in view of the dwindling income from oil.

    Onnoghen said: “I think it is about time that our tax laws are reformed in such a way that it is not just only wage earners (those who work in the office) that pay tax.

    “We must ensure that everybody, who is engaged in any economic activity also pays his/her tax, ” the CJN said.

    The PCA, who was represented by Justice Emmanuel Agim of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, noted that the success of any reform initiative in the tax sector was dependent on the disposition of the implementing agency.

    Bulkachuwa said: “Law reform must be a continuous process. It helps the laws of the land to meet the change circumstances of the society so as not to render law irrelevant to the new circumstances of the time.

    “The starting point for an effective reform is a demonstrated commitment by the principal enforcing authority to the ethical, transparent, efficient and effective application of the existing law particularly, the underlying principles.

    “Without this, while reform may generate legislative and structural changes, it will not be effective. This will ensure that proposals for reform, which comes mainly from the principal enforcer of the law, are genuine, well informed and experience inspiring,” the PCA said.

    Malami praised the NLRC for the initiative, which he said  was in line with the nation’s need to diversify its revenue sources.

    The AGF, who was represented by the Director, International Comparative Law Department, Mrs. Stella Anuka, urged the workshop participants to ensure that all existing inadequacies in the current FIRS Act were identified and thoroughly addressed.

  • ’Police, others can’t search Wike’s houses’

    THE Federal High Court, Abuja, has said the Police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  and Department of State Services (DSS) cannot search any house belonging to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

    Wike, in 2017, approached the court for an order restraining the inspector general, the Police, EFCC and DSS from searching any of his houses.

    Delivering judgment yesterday, Justice Ahmed Mohammed noted that the defendants agreed that Wike cannot be investigated following Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Justice Mohammed said combining this with sections 149 and 150 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA) 2015, three situations had been prohibited.

    The first, he noted, is that no civil or criminal proceedings can be instituted against the plaintiff.

    He explained that anyone  covered by those provisions shall not be arrested, and thirdly, any court process re-quiring appearance of such a person shall not be applied.

    Justice Mohammed maintained that parties, in their submissions, lost the purport and intendment of Section 308 (1) (c).

    According to him, a careful reading shows that the constitution has prohibited court process requiring the appearance of a governor before any panel.

    He held that the argument  that Wike’s residence could be searched without his presence is untenable.

    The judge said it was wrong for the defendants to import meaning or interpretation not included in Section 308.

    He held that the essence of the section is to accord immunity to a governor not to disrupt governance.

    The judge dismissed their objections and held that Wike’s suit succeeded because it had merit.

    Wike asked for six reliefs. The judge granted three, noting that the others not granted are embedded in the three granted.

    “The defendants cannot, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers, privies or, in any manner howsoever apply for, obtain, issue or in any way or manner howsoever execute any court process requiring the appearance of the plaintiff, who is the governor of Rivers.

    “A declaration that by virtue of the combined effect of Section 308 of the Constitution and sections 149 and 150 of ACJA, the defendants cannot in any manner apply for, obtain, issue or execute any search warrant at the residence of the plaintiff in Abuja or in any of the plaintiff’s residence in any other place or locations in Nigeria.

    “An order that the defendants cannot by the combined effect of Section 308 of the Constitution and sections 149 and 150 of ACJA, apply for, obtain, issue or execute any search warrant at the residence of the plaintiff in Abuja or in any of the plaintiff’s residence in any other place or locations in Nigeria.”

    The suit was filed in June last year  by Sylva Ogwemoh (SAN), on behalf of Wike.

    Ogwemoh argued that Section 308, with its immunity clause, was put in place to allow governors concentrate on governance.

    But the defendants argued that they had the right to search Wike’s residence in his absence.

  • Ultimatum from ex-PDP chiefs: Buhari’s men await next move from Saraki, Tambuwal, others

    Strategists of President Muhammadu Buhari are awaiting the next line of action from leaders of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), following an ultimatum the latter issued to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for a meeting.

    In a four-page letter the defunct nPDP leaders addressed to the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, dated April 27, 2018, they alleged that their members had been relegated to the background in the APC in spite of their contributions to the success of the party.

    But despite the seven-day ultimatum, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Odigie-Oyegun and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) are yet to meet on the protest letter.

    There were indications that the party leadership was tactically awaiting the return of President Muhammadu Buhari, the leader of the party, before taking a decision.

    But some Buhari’s strategists who spoke with our correspondent last night said they were not “losing sleep” over the ultimatum, adding that it was anticipated and they had guarded against it.

    They are only awaiting the next step of the nPDP leaders after the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum for counter-response.

    Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that the party is overwhelmed with activities, including the governorship primary in Ekiti State, the conduct of local government congresses, state congresses and the forthcoming national convention.

    It was learnt that managing the aftermath of the Ward Congresses in some states had been herculean for the party which is trying to ensure peace and reconciliation among its members.

    A member of the NWC said the leadership of the party might not discuss and respond to the nPDP letter in isolation.

    “Apart from being busy, the issues raised in the letter are weighty and all other organs might have to be involved,” the source said.

    Another party source, however, said: “The party appears to be tactically awaiting the return of the President because most of the issues raised border on the disposition of the Presidency.

    “You cannot get a letter and go to town with a response without hearing from the other side. With feedback from the President, the party will be in a good stead to lay the cards on the table.

    “Even on the eve of the President’s departure to the United Kingdom, he had audience with some of the key leaders of nPDP who joined hands to form the APC coalition.

    “No one knew whether or not the April 27 letter came up for discussion.”

    When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi, simply said: “The party has not had the opportunity to discuss the letter.”

    A source in Buhari’s camp, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are not losing sleep over the ultimatum, because we know their ultimate target is exit from APC. We had anticipated it long time ago and we have our plans on how to curtail them.

    “The letter was just the first stage of a pre-planned agenda to embarrass APC and President Buhari.

    “They have lined up more activities before they finally defect. We got all the intelligence report long before hand.

    “On the alleged side-lining of the nPDP members, we will respond with appropriate statistics at the right time. The letter was misleading and inaccurate.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Unlike in 2014, the political dynamics are different this time around because Buhari is a covert strategist.”

    A leader of the nPDP said: “We cannot talk of the next step now until Buhari comes back to the country. We want his reaction to our notes too.

    “His body language will determine our next move, which is being jealously kept.”

    The nPDP leaders lodged their protest in a letter dated April 27, 2018 which was delivered to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja yesterday.

    The letter was signed by a former National Chairman (nPDP), Alh. Abubakar Kawu Baraje and ex- National Secretary (nPDP) Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

    Those copied include President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    In the said letter, they listed seven grievances on why the coalition which led to the birth of APC was not working.

    They include lack of concession of any position to nPDP in power sharing; no significant patronage and appointments to executive positions in various government agencies; fewer appointments of nPDP members into boards of various government agencies; opposition to the emergence of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives; general lack of consultation, non-recognition and even persecution of former New PDP members and leaders; and harassment, intimidation and persecution of former New PDP leaders by the government.

  • Sultan, Sanusi, Dangote, Buratai, others grace Sheik Rabiu’s burial in Kano

    The remains of the Khalifa of the Tijjaniyya sect in West Africa and Khadimul Islam, Sheik Isiaka Rabiu, were committed to mother earth in Kano yesterday amid tears from thousands of sympathisers who thronged his palatial home at Goron Dutse in Dala Local Government Area of the state.

    The remains of the Sheik was brought before a large congregation of Islamic faithful in an ambulance at the Sheikh Muhammad Rabiu Mosque, named after his late father, Mohammadu Rabiu.

    The funeral prayer was led by Sheik Tijjani Aliyu Sisa, the Chief Imam of Kaulaha Mosque in Senegal, who stood in for Sheik Inyass before an unprecedented crowd that gathered at his residence, at exactly 2.33pm before he was finally buried at 2.45 pm.

    Sheik Rabiu died after a protracted illness at a London hospital on Monday at the age of 93 years.

    A well groomed Islamic scholar who had a memory of the Glorious Qur’an at the tender age of 14, he will be remembered for his doggedness in the pursuit of Islamic ideals and support for Qur’anic memorization.

    The Chief Imam of Kofar Mata, Sheikh Nasir Adam, described the late Khalifa as a dedicated and committed gentleman who served as an embodiment of justice, and a philanthropist to the core.

    As a close confidant to the late Sheik, the Chief Imam said the vacuum created by his death would be very difficult to fill.

    On his part, a business associate, Alhaji Sabiu Bako, described the late Rabiu as a very simple and humble reservoir of knowledge and, above all, a philanthropist who assisted most of the business tycoons in Kano and beyond to become what they are today.

    The late Rabiu was prominent as a result of his credential as someone who memorised the Glorious Qur’an at the age of 14; a feat that stood him out among his peers.

    Among those, who graced the funeral prayers were the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar; the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi 11; the Chief of Army Staff, Brigadier Yusuf Tuýkur Burutai; Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; his deputy, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar; Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar; the Chairman Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; former Speaker House of Representatives, Alhaji Gali Umar Na’abba and former Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido.

    Traditional rulers who attended the funerals included the Emir of Daura, Umar Farouk, and that of Ringim Sayyadi, Mahmoud Ringim, among others.

    The late Khalifa is survived by 42 children and so many grandchildren.

    The funeral prayer was conducted amidst tight security.

  • Nation-building a collective task, say Oyebode, Utomi, others

    Can Nigeria ever attain its political and economic goals?

    How can citizens realise the country of their dreams? What is the role of lawyers?

    These and more were some of the issues discussed at the professional development seminar and colloquium of the National Association of Catholic Lawyers (NACL) in Lagos.

    The seminar had the theme: Exploring emerging areas of law practice, while the colloquium had the theme: The Nigeria its people desire, deserve and demand: Citizens and government’s collective task of building a sustainable, responsive and accountable new Nigeria.

    Retired professor of international law Akin Oyebode, who spoke on A people’s Constitution as an instrument of growth and development in a new Nigeria, said until it gets to a point where citizens begin to interrogate the law, the country would not make progress.

    He urged lawyers to do more in holding the government accountable, adding that there was the need for a review of the Constitution to make it truly people oriented.

    Oyebode regretted that corruption was “very much” part of legal practice, indicating that it was a reason he chose not to practice.

    “You have to sacrifice your principles in order to get the job done. Some clients want lawyers who can see the judge. The jury is still out on the role of lawyer in fighting corruption,” he said.

    He warned that Nigeria was sitting on keg of gunpowder by not addressing the issues that cause crises and lead to insecurity.

    “We’ve lost our sense of values and we’re no longer shockable,” he said.

    A political economist and founder, Centre for Values in Leadership, Prof Pat Utomi, said Nigeria’s biggest challenge was that the government’s legitimacy level was low.

    He said government finds it difficult to implement policies because the people do not believe it is in their interest.

    “No government can be effective without a certain level of legitimacy,” he said.

    He said a government’s legitimacy is shaped by perceptions of fairness, competence and care for the people.

    He said most governments don’t know how to make themselves legitimate, which he said remained a challenge.

    On how Nigeria can rise again, Utomi said it required shared national vision, strategy and values.

    He called for strong participation and representation through ideas and values anchored by political parties that meticulously recruits, socialise and develop their members.

    NACL National President Senator Mike Ajaegbo, while reacting to Prof Oyebode’s views, said the Constitution was still the law despite its imperfections.

    He said what Nigeria needs most is a “moral re-armament”, adding that organised religion should begin to push its people into politics, especially those who can do the job when elected.

    Ajaegbo noted that political parties no longer focus on implementing their manifestoes, adding that the All Progressives Congress (APC) members instead quarrel among themselves.

    “I don’t know the President’s economic policy,” he said, adding that the organised religion must act.

    Speaking on the Youth as agents in restructuring of Nigeria, a professor of International Relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Charles Ukeje, noted that the youth were sadly still outside or at the fringes of the ongoing discourse on the future of the country.

    He urged the youth to get more actively involved in politics.

    “Nigerian youths can no longer afford to distance or completely distance themselves from the political space; whether they are demanding accountability or seeking representational offices.

    “For as long as they distance themselves from politics at every level for so long will the concerns, yearnings and aspirations of young people be met with contempt and forlorn hope,” Ukeje said.

    Dominican University Vice Chancellor, Prof Anthony Akinwale,who spoke on Pseudo religion and ethnicity: A bane to accountability and transparent leadership in Nigeria, noted that sometimes religion and ethnicity are abused.

    “Religious and ethnic sentiments are whipped up to win votes, to grab power and to remain in power.  But on closer examination, the intention is not to be at the service of men and women of my religious or ethnic communities, the intention is to use them to service my ego and my addiction to power.

    “That explains why the fact that a member of my ethnic or religious community is in power does not translate into improved standard of living for members of my ethnic or religious communities. Rather, it translates into his or her living an affluent life while members of the ethnic or religious community of the power holding man or woman live in penury.

    “A public servant who abuses his or her office, acting in ways that are inimical to the common good, evokes the sympathy of his or her ethnic or religious community by simply claiming that he or she is being sanctioned just for being the son or daughter of the ethnic or religious community.

    “Ethnic and religious communities are thus used as den of criminals.  That is why it is my submission that the problem is neither religion nor ethnicity but egotism and power addiction,” he said.

    Akinwale called for a re-envisioned Nigeria that avoids a collapse of distinction which he said has characterised political discourse and behavior.

    “In a re-envisioned Nigeria, the relationship between the citizen and the state needs to be redefined such that the state and its functionaries are transparent and accountable to the citizen.  This redefined relationship will be reflected in a new constitution, and the provisions of the constitution will reflect the ways we address four sets of fundamental questions.

    “What ought to be the relationship between the state and the citizen? What ought to be the relationship between the institutions established by the constitution for the protection of the citizens?  Related to that question is the question of relationship between the different tiers of government in the federation.  And what ought to be the relationship between a citizen and a fellow citizen, that is, the rights and duties of citizen-members of the association among themselves?

    “It takes a constitution that adequately addresses these fundamental questions to protect the citizen’s rights from being violated, either by the state or by his or her fellow citizen, on the grounds of religious, ethnic or gender affiliation.

    “While I associate myself with the school of thought that we need strong institutions, I believe we also need strong individuals to run these institutions.  By strong individuals, I do not mean despotic rulers and overbearing officials of state.

    “I mean leaders of multiple competence; leaders who are intellectually, morally and technically competent to govern the affairs of a multi-ethnic and multi-religious entity such as Nigeria.  For when it comes to leadership, intellectual competence is necessary but insufficient, moral competence is necessary but insufficient, and technical competence is necessary but insufficient.

    “Whether or not we will enjoy the benefits of transparent and accountable leadership in Nigeria is contingent on whether or not we are willing and able to seek and to find such leaders of multiple competence.  It takes good education to form such leaders, and good education is itself a tripod: a tripod of intellectual formation, ethical formation and technical formation,” he said.

  • Lawyers sue National Assembly, others over jumbo salary

    Two lawyers, Monday Ubani and John Nwokwu have sued the Senate and House of Representatives at the Federal High Court in Lagos over lawmakers’jumbo salaries and N13.5million running cost.

    Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the National Assembly Service Commission are the other defendants in the suit filed.

    The plaintiffs, in an originating summons, are praying the court to determine whether going by relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution, the National Assembly has the power to fix members’ salaries, wages, remuneration or allowances.

    The lawyers are also asking the court to determine whether RMAFC can delegate its power to determine the salaries or remuneration of the National Assembly or political office holders and/or if such power is subject to usurpation by the National Assembly or any other body.

    They are also asking the court to determine whether the allocation of constituency projects and funds to the tune of N200 million to members of the National Assembly is not ultra vires, illegal and unconstitutional.

    In a supporting affidavit, Ubani contended that based on relevant sections of the Constitution, it is illegal for National Assembly members to continue to collect N13.5 million monthly as running cost, N750,000 as  consolidated salary and allowance and N200 million constituency project allowance as revealed by recent newspaper publications.

    Ubani argued that by virtue of the 1999 Constitution as amended,  RMAFC is the only authority permitted to fixed the salaries, allowances and remuneration of  political office holders, including that of National Assembly members.

    He further argued  that the defendants’ actions have continuously depleted the economy, subjected Nigerians to hardship and exposed the country to recession.

    Ubani alleged that the defendants colluded to rob Nigerians of their common patrimonies, wreck “economic havoc and economic earthquake” on the national development.

    The plaintiffs are asking the court to, among others,  make a declaration that RMAFC is only body responsible for determining the salaries, remuneration and/or allowances of the National Assembly or political office holders.

    The two lawyers are also asking the court for a perpetual injunction restraining the National Assembly whether by themselves, officers, agents, privies, servants or through any person or persons howsoever from further receiving the sum of N13.5 million monthly allowances or running cost or whatever amount as a running cost and N200 million as yearly constituency project.

    They also want the court to make an order that each lawmaker should refund to the Federation Account, the N13.5million and N10million collected as running cost by them from 2015 till date within 14 days of delivery of judgment.

  • 2019: Buhari, Atiku, others for mock poll

    AREWA Consultative Youth Movement (ACYM) is to conduct a mock election for seven intending presidential aspirants.

    President Muhammadu Buhari; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso will partake in the mock poll.

    Others are Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwabo; former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi.

    At a news conference in Abuja yesterday, President of ACYM Kabiru Yusuf said the mock election would be held on the group’s website for 60 days.

    Yusuf explained that the mock election is to ensure that Arewa Youths support a youth-friendly candidate, who identifies with the vision and aspirations of youths for a united Nigeria.

    He urged those yet to be registered to do so, and others to collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs).

    Yusuf noted that it is time for youths to correct leadership problems in the country.

    “We must take the bull by the horns on our own. We must change the narrative that Northern youths are killers. The violence and bloodshed all over the North make the rest of the country see us so.

    “We must work together to change this wrong perception. The disunity between us and youths of other regions must end. We must extend hands of fellowship because we are clearly being isolated in this country. The time to make this correction is now. We must not delay any more.

    “The education, health and general well-being of Northern youths have never been their priority. They have failed us despite our support for them. It is time to change the storyline.

    “It is in line with this that we shall focus on the 2019 election. It is yet another chance to correct the leadership problems facing the North and Nigeria at large. We will give Nigeria a candidate that will unify our land, obey the rules and rebuild our land.”

  • Ohanaeze, Uba, others seek probe of explosion at Nwodo’s residence 

    Security agencies have been urged  to probe Sunday’s explosion at the Enugu home of Ohanaeze Ndigbo leader Chief John Nwodo with a view to bringing the culprits to book.

    Senator Andy Uba and the Ohanaeze youth wing in separate statements criticized the throwing of explosives at the Nwodo home.

    Uba, Chairman of Senate committee on Interior described the incident as “dastardly”

    To him, the peace of the South east should “not be polluted with incidents such as this one.”

    He sympathised with Chief Nwodo and assured him that “the good people of the Southeast and beyond are with him as he continues to advance the cause of the Igbos.

    Uba urged the President-General to continue to discharge his duties without fear or favour.

    He called upon the security agencies to as a matter of urgency investigate the explosion  leaving no stone unturned.

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Enugu Chapter yesterday paid a solidarity visit to Nwodo.

    Led by its leader Dr Alex Ogbonnia, the 17 local government areas  in Enugu State were represented.

    Ogbonnia described  Nwodo as the conscience of Igbo nation

    He said whoever was trying to repress  Nwodo was wasting his time because the ideological foundation of what he advocated and was fighting for was anchored on truth.

    Nwodo  thanked them for their solidarity visit which he said had emboldened him as it was a sign of acceptability and support.

    Nwodo observed that the country had entered another stage of its struggle for independence and called for total vigilance as the attack was only symbolic and could happen to any other person.

    The Ohanaeze youth wing pleaded with security agencies to fish out the people behind the explosion at the  Nwodo home at Ukehe, Nsukka.

    A member of the youth wing, Chief Chinedu Ugwa,  the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident as strange, saying that the youth wing was in solidarity with Nwodo.

    Ugwa, who is the coordinator of the Ohanaeze Youth Wing in the Southsouth, called for vigilance in Igbo land as the security situation worsens in parts of the country, especially in neighbouring Benue State.

    “We in the youth wing of Ohanaeze are saddened by the development and condemn it. We pray for safety of the President-General of our parent body, Chief John Nnia Nwodo.

    “This incident is unfortunate and we urge our leader not to lose focus on his task of unifying the Igbos and building bridges of peace amongst Igbos across the world.

    “Nwodo is a peace advocate and should put the incident behind him and move on.

    “We frown at it and say no to the act as we await the response of security agencies to unravel the cause of the explosion that went off on Sunday at Nwodo’s house.

    “This is a distraction that should not be allowed to divert the attention of the Ohanaeze leadership from its vision of re-positioning the Igbos in Nigeria to play greater roles in economic development of the country.

    “We earnestly ask the security agencies to reinforce security around Nwodo to enable him function in his office while the perpetrators of this dastardly act should be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

  • How to end herdsmen’s killings, by ACF, Iwuanyanwu, Niger Delta leaders, others

    From many quarters yesterday came kudos for the federal government  over  its latest initiative to stem the spate of killings by herdsmen across the country.

    But it was also told to be more pro-active in dealing with threats ,real and otherwise,to the lives and property of Nigerians.

    Government,on Thursday,adopted the recommendation of the committee set up by the National Economic Council (NEC) to stop movements  by nomadic  herdsmen starting with Adamawa,Benue,Kaduna,Plateau and Taraba –states worst hit  by herdsmen-farmers clashes.

    It said focus will now be on the creation of ranches where cows and their owners can have access to all they require.

    An Igbo leader and entrepreneur,Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Secretary General of  the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mr. Anthony N. Z Sani,Senior Advocate of Nigeria Niyi Akintola, chairman of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT), Chief Edward Ekpoko, and an Urhobo opinion leader, Chief Victor Otomiewo,all agreed that Nigeria has had enough of the recent bloodletting.

    They  spoke on a day the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) accused President Muhammadu Buhari of playing the ostrich by the way his government is handling the herdsmen issue.

    But Buhari for the umpteenth time declared that unity has always been his objective  and pledged to  “ continue to do everything within my powers to unite Nigeria.’’

    Chief Iwuanyanwu speaking to The Nation said: “”It is a very strange experience. Nigeria is at war considering the number of people we are losing every day.

    “I think the security agencies  need to tell Nigerians the truth about what is happening, starting from the Boko Haram menace to the issue of herdsmen.

    “Up till now, we don’t know who they are  and where they come from.  I don’t have any doubt in my mind that the problem has internal collusion .

    “I am not even sure that the people who are arrested are the perpetrators of the crime. It looks to me like a well planned operation. Many people believe there is internal collusion and Gen. T.Y. Danjuma was bold enough to say this.

    “This is a war situation and we need  to do something to help those who are suffering.

    “If we continue this way, we are going to destroy this country. The country is on the brink of collapse.

    The case of Benue is very serious  and it has suffered more than Bornu. We have the North East Development Commission that is taking  care of  Bornu. The  same should be done to Benue, Taraba, Nassarawa and Plateau.”

    In a separate interview ,the Secretary General of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mr. Anthony N. Z Sani advised the  federal government to  meet with all the state governors , chairmen of local governments and all stake holders “with a view to coming out with how best the mindless killings could be stopped and give way for the economic activities to thrive.

    “Because of the overwhelming challenges posed by these clashes, any plans and programs of stopping the killings should include short, medium and long terms.

    “Surely, ranches are the best practices in the world, but because of the limited resources and capacity on the part of not only the pastoralists but also on the part of governments at all level, it may be necessary to approach the introduction of the ranches gradually as resources and capacity permit.

    “That is why I commend the decision by the National Economic Council to start the process of introduction of ranches in some five states now with clear understanding by governors and all the stake holders that they need to work together ensure the plans and the programs succeed for the good of all concerned.

    “This is very important because peaceful coexistence is sine qua non for any meaningful socioeconomic development.

    “All Nigerians need peace to be able to sublimate their time and energy in order for both the country and the individuals to thrive.”

    Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Niyi Akintola warned: “This problem is speeding gradually  and we don’t know where it will spread to  tomorrow.I foresee a situation where people  will confront the security agencies  weapon for weapon. We need to increase the strength of the security agencies  and build the  confidence in the people.

    “What is happening in Benue is a confirmation of the postulation of TY Danjuma.  The old man was right.

    “I am worried about the loss of confidence of the people in our security agencies. Tthe mantra now is self defence. The self defence as propagated by Gen  TY Danjuma is now getting  a wider acceptance and approval across the country. The country will need to do more on enlightenment than appealing to the people.  The government has to be proactive.”

    The youth wing of  the Igbo apex socio cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo called for “security screening, registration, and regulation of herdsmen’s activities.”

    It also asked to  herdsmen to “always allow the rule of law to prevail since we are in a democracy and the military, Police, SSS et al; should be given enough logistics and equipment to eradicate the  herdsmen menace.”

    The chairman of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT), Chief Edward Ekpoko, and an Urhobo opinion leader, Chief Victor Otomiewo, said government should tighten internal security.

    “I think the whole herdsmen problem goes beyond dispute over grazing areas, it’s beyond that. The killings in Benue in the last three days, in which they had to go into churches, shooting people, what has that got to do with grazing? I think the thing is just pure insecurity; our  borders are too porous, especially in the north,” Otomiewo told The Nation.

    “It is unfortunate that rather than face the real issues, people are playing politics with the lives of Nigerians. You want Buhari to solve every security problem in every corner of Nigeria, but in the meantime you have governors who are pocketing security vote every month. You have council chairmen who are pocketing security vote, nobody is asking questions about that one.