The Nation Newspaper

Tag: people

  • Who is to blame for Nigeria’s woes: the people or the leaders? (2)

    Leaders are more to blame. Our leaders abandoned the law and taught the people to do the same

    Leader, things have been happening. First, I heard this morning that President Buhari is back.   I want to welcome him back from what the president’s men have persistently said has been nothing but a vacation but which rumour mongers have persistently said is a sick leave. Let us bring both groups together and just say the man went to a health spa. Believe me, I am myself due for one of such trips. First, however, I need to work for another five years or so to be able to afford one…

    Secondly, I want to say ‘Happy Celebrations’ to all women on their international day once again. The 8th of this month was International Women’s Day (IWD). I also want to congratulate them on the fact that the Federal Government has finally given them what this column had been clamouring for on their behalf for years – a bank just for women that would grant them access to small loans. I say ‘hurray’ to that! I also say ‘brrrrr’ (that’s me sticking out my tongue) to those who laughed at me when I proposed it. I think we will talk some more about this some other time.

    Over the week, I received some reactions to last week’s article on the topic above. I want to reproduce two of them for you. As usual, I have used my licence to tamper with a few things but not with the sense expressed therein.

    …Your snippet on Leaders (and Followers) in The Nation today is good. It is the followership that transposes the form of leadership it desires… The core values of the followers are entrenched in vital institutions of the state to check the excesses of a tyrannical leader. We saw the U. S. courts clip the wings of Trump with respect to his travel bans. T. J. 08039134335.

    …You can’t blame the leaders and the led and be a good judge. Both cannot be the cause and the effect at the same time. If a father did not bring up his children properly you don’t blame the father and children at the same time. Journalists should quit speaking from both sides of the mouth. Only one side is the cause and is to blame. Make your research, find out which side it is and say it. This shadow boxing journalism should stop. M. 08037061410.

    Two views, two perspectives, both of which I appreciate. While I like the understanding that Prof T. J. brought into the reading of the article, I rather felt with Mr. M. on his frustration over not getting a direct hit on the subject matter. This does not mean I agree with either of them. Unfortunately, what is wrong with Nigeria is a lot more complex than all that now. This column and very many others have gone to great pains over time to expound on the problem of Nigeria to look for answers. Indeed, many of us may not even get the kind of answers we are looking for in a while. Let me start by addressing Mr. M’s frustrations.

    To start with, journalists typically ‘speak from both sides of the mouth’ for very good reasons sir. As a result of their painstaking research, many people find that very many factors contribute to a phenomenon. Take the phenomenon of child upbringing Mr. M refers to. It is not always that a parent who works hard at bringing up the child achieves desired results in the child. In deciding who is to blame for a fallen child, all factors must be considered – parental influence, education, peer pressure, genetics, child’s intelligence, societal influence, etc. Have you not seen the child of bad parents making good, and that of religious leaders turning bad?

    So, when people do their research, they often come against this wall of fact: that most phenomena are multifactorial. The task of such researchers is not to prescribe a particular belief to the reader. Rather, it is to gently lead the reader up the staircase of knowledge to the landing, from where he, the reader, can make an informed judgment to continue upstairs on his own. He can reach this target fact by the simple process of inferencing. Thus, write-ups are not only for giving the reader pleasure but they also put power in his/her hands. This is why it is possible for many people to read many interpretations to a piece.

    However, when Mr. M. asks to know which one is predominant among the factors responsible for Nigeria’s current state, he is unconsciously transferring his Power of Attorney to me to decide for him. That I will, in a while, if he would wait awhile. He should note though that I will charge him. In the article in question, I referred slightly in passing to the chicken and egg story but it actually illustrates the Nigerian story. The egg hatches the chicken which in turn lays the egg… but you know that story. The problem now is that all the eggheads have not been able to put their heads together to crack the riddle of which was hatched or laid first: the chicken or the egg.

    The Nigerian story is like that riddle. Who is to blame, the people for getting bad leaders or the leaders for making the followers they want? Leaders have the responsibility of structuring the state and the people have the right to throw them out when they fail. Responsibility and right go hand in hand. However, the Nigerian situation is not normal. There has been neither responsibility in the leadership nor right in the followership until now. We have traced why this has been so in other articles on this column and other columns.

    So, when the Vice President asked the people to stop adulating looting leaders, what he was saying was that there was a very limited way of stopping the looting available to the central government. It was now the people’s turn to step up by turning their backs on the leaders who loot. He was declaring open the People’s Court. The people should begin to exercise their rights and try the looters in their own Courts of Logic that says anyone who loots the treasury is spending for his family alone what an entire community should use for roads, electricity and industry.

    However, given the propensity of the Nigerian people to find themselves drawn, using all kinds of logic, to leaders who have looted, it sounds very much like a tall order. Nigerians as a race are hungry, deprived, poor, uneducated, needy, ignorant, lazy, shiftless, dependent, illogical, unenterprising, stupid, superstitious, and any other thing you want to add but you cannot subtract. These things make them follow the line of least resistance. They also make them liable and blameable.

    While I have heard that a people would often get the leaders they deserve, Prof, I hardly think any group deserves dictators like Idi Amin of Uganda, Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, Eyadema of Togo, etc. A nation wants leaders who would help the people think right, act right and teach them to follow the law.

    However, leaders fail when they do not use the power entrusted to them to restructure the society and make the people see better than they do. Leaders are supposed to be far-sighted, intelligent, visionary, enterprising, idealistic, hardworking, and anything else you want to add. This is why they are supposed to be able to save the people from themselves, not sink them deeper into corrupt desperation.

    This, Mr. M., is why I think leaders are more to blame. Our leaders abandoned the law and taught the people to do the same. Now, my bill to you, Mr. M. for making me exercise your power of attorney is that you must continue to read PU.

  • ‘Niger Governor surrounded by people who feed him with lies’

    ‘Niger Governor surrounded by people who feed him with lies’

    The Chairman of Niger state Science and Technical Schools Board, Alhaji Abubakar Katcha has resigned his appointment alleging that “people in the system are not being truthful to themselves.”
    According to him, it is difficult to operate under darkness and frustration adding that all his efforts to reposition the board is being sabotaged.
    Katcha said that the Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has good intention for the board, but he is surrounded by people who always feed him with wrong information and do not wish him or the state well.
    In a letter informing the public of his resignation, he said, “The appointment which was given to me by Mr. Governor on 20th December 2016 was actually in good faith but I resigned on the 7th Febuary, 2017 based on reasons beyond not control.”

    ” When people in the system are not being truthful to themselves, the only solution for any man of integrity after series of efforts to put things right failed, is to resign because it will be difficult to operate under darkness and fraustration, the end will be no success.
    “Mr. Governor has good intention for the board but he is surrounded by people that always feed him with wrong information but do not wish him or the state well, they always pretend to be good people but for their own selfish interest. These people do not want the Governor to succeed.”
    The former Chairman lamented that the cabals around the governor always block honest and truthful persons from getting free access to him.

    “Before my appointment, no access to him on on one and as a Chairman of the Board, no access to him even once. For that reason, I deemed it fit and tendered my resignation to him and not to be a party of what is happening.”
    He appreciated the governor for the opportunity given to him to render his service, but said ” unfortunately, I cannot continue.”

  • BUKY ASEHINDE – It’s fun working with creative people

    BUKY ASEHINDE – It’s fun working with creative people

    Buky Asehinde studied Biochemistry at the University Of Westminster in UK. Interestingly, she found her passion in the creative sector where she now works with other creatives. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, the founder of Bellafricana discloses how it all began, the challenges and how she has helped many discover new opportunities. 

    When did you start this?

    We started by using local fabrics for gift items. I noticed that there were lots of talents in Nigeria who were doing amazing things and trying to restore the wealth of the nation. The main challenge that they are having is understanding the business beyond the main things; knowing how to get the right customers who would patronise them. So, that was how everything started, and right now we bridge the gap between the creative businesses and producers who do things locally.

    What services do you offer these people?

    What we do is a lot of online marketing for them because we believe that this is where it all starts. For a business to be patronised, you need to be visible and we leverage on online marketing. We do a lot of social media marketing and content marketing. We do a lot of articles on what you do and how to find you. Asides that, we also leverage on collaborations. We do a lot of strategic collaborations because what we say to them is that we want to make you money as well as save you money; get you things that you need for your business at discounted rates. So, you do not have to pay so much money for particular things that you need by doing a lot of partnerships.

    What are some of the memorable moments doing this?

    The key memorable moment is seeing more businesses have new customers because one of the greatest things that were happening to members under us was giving a lot of testimonies; amazing customers for the members under us. They have been giving a lot of testimonials, not just customers here locally but customers around the world getting to know more about them. Also, this has affected their crafts. Another thing that they do is that they are planning to save the next generation.  If your craft is making you millions, then you are happy and the next generation would also be happy to chase their craft. So they would be doing more things chasing what they love. This is making sure that the next generation of creatives are saved.  So, a lot of people are happy doing this.

    One of the major challenges that we have is getting some of this people to be focused and you find many saying that they are busy, yet they cannot get quality pictures. That is a challenge. Everything you do online, the quality of the picture, is very important. It must speak for itself; if the picture of what you are selling to me is not patronising then you won’t get my attention. The other challenge, of course, is manpower. There are a lot of people across the country who need help but they can’t help anybody.

    It is better to hand pick people that you work with because it is not every creative that is ready for expansion. So, if I am able to market for you and get you more customers, then are you able to fill the need of the customers. Is your supply capacity able to meet the demand coming to you? These are some of the challenges that we have, but strategically we have been handling this very well.

    Let’s talk about the new project that you are working on

    We are having a first of its kind event in April. It’s called Bellaafrica Creatives Exhibitions and Awards. The initiative is basically to celebrate creative works in Nigeria. We have realised that there are lots of talents in Africa, however many have not been able to have genuine products that are accepted globally. We believe that when some are doing amazing brands other people would be motivated by this.

    Now, we are having a programme that has been endorsed by the Nigerian Export Promotion council, Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and some other organisations. The awards are going to cut across fourteen categories. It includes art and craft, best emerging artists, fashion brand, beauty brand, food produce, packaging home and lifestyle brands and it actually cuts across different kinds of categories.

    We are very focused on small businesses because we believe that they are the ones that would provide jobs for this economy and for this nation. Job creation starts from them, and that is why we are focused on a lot of MSMES.

    What were you doing before this?

    I moved back to Nigeria in 2012 and immediately after I did my NYSC. The business started pretty much immediately after NYSC. I studied Biochemistry at the University of Westminster in London but somehow I didn’t quite make use of the course.

    So, why did you study Biochemistry?

    I was really passionate about Chemistry and Engineering. So I ended up doing Biochemistry. That was because I wasn’t able to move out of London where I was located and I guess it was also wrong information. Then, I thought Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry were the same. Along the line, I realised that I wasn’t really interested in Biology but to be honest, I would say that studying Biochemistry is who I am today because a lot of the practical things that I learnt were by studying Biochemistry in terms of presentations, having critical thinking abilities and so many other things.

    Did you want to work with Biochemistry and there were no jobs?

    To be honest, I did not want to work with Biochemistry at all. I moved more in line with what I was passionate about. I was passionate about aesthetics, beautifying space and doing something beautiful and I just happened to find myself loving local fabrics. So anything made with local fabric was exciting and the whole idea of what I am doing now is still in line with that.

    Do you design these things yourself?

    I started designing things myself initially but now I am more focused with helping people who do that. Initially, what I was doing was coming up with ideas, designing for people to help me do things like shorts, tops, casual wears and also gift items using local fabrics.

    How did that experience go?

    Well, the experience was exciting and very interesting. However, it did stop at the point when I realised that there was a major challenge. Yes, funding was a lot of things but along the line, I met one of my greatest mentors who happens to be my husband now, Tobi Asehinde, a digital marketing consultant. He was the one who told me a phrase that I would never forget. That is: ‘You don’t have to have a product before you can sell a product.’ That was how everything started because I realised that I can sell a product without having the funds but getting the customers to pay for what I needed.

    What are some of the things that you share in common with your husband?

    One of the biggest things we share in common is passion for business and entrepreneurship. We don’t believe that funds cannot be found; we look for how to get the right customers. So, it is about being an entrepreneur, having the right business and attracting the right customers for that business.

    Where do you see your business in the next five years?

    In the next five years, I see myself having a Bellaafricana Village, where everything locally produced can be found. A goldmine for our tourism, culture, space and all the business that we are creating right now would be found there. I strongly believe that this would add to the nation’s wealth

  • ‘People don’t attend churches that cannot meet needs’

    ‘People don’t attend churches that cannot meet needs’

    Founder of Laughter Foundation International Ministries, otherwise known as babies’ factory, Pastor Gbenga Oso, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the uniqueness of the church on the eve of its 20th anniversary. Excerpts: 

    There are people who believe the church should have been a ministry. What would be your reaction to them?

    For me, I don’t see any difference between ministry and church. Either church or ministry, there is only one goal – that people should go to the kingdom of God.

    And secondly, we meet the physical needs of people. That was what Jesus did when He was here. There were three basic things He did when He was here. He would preach, heal the sick and do deliverance. Then, there were times he fed people with physical foods.

    So, Jesus was meeting the spiritual and physical needs of people, which is what a church or ministry is expected to do. If they are sick, they must be healed and live healthy lives. If they don’t have children, they must have children. That is what church or ministry exists to do.

    But there is the argument that need-oriented ministries and churches tend to raise people to use, rather than love God. What do you say to this?

    A Church or ministry is expected to meet the spiritual and physical needs of people. Doing one without the other means you won’t see people in the church.

    The major thing that draws people to God is meeting their physical needs. When you see churches and ministries with population today, it is because they are meeting the physical needs of people. People don’t go to church mostly because they want to hear the word of God or love God. They are going because they have a challenge, which they believe can be addressed in such a church or ministry.

    But after you have baited in people, what do you do with them?

    In this church, apart from the fact that the main focus is for people to have children, I always say it is not the major emphasis. The major emphasis is to make the kingdom of God and go to heaven because there is life after here.

    If someone has all the children and goes to hell, it is just a waste of efforts on the part of the pastor and waste of life with the person involved. So, we tell people here that they must serve God, shun ungodliness and love people.

    After then, they must have the good things of life. They must have children and have money to take care of them. So, the two are combined. But preaching to people without meeting their needs is not what Jesus sent us to do.

    He didn’t do that. He will first of us preach to them and meet their physical needs. And that is what we are doing.

    Those with specialised ministries or churches like this impose consultation fees or ask people to do something before sharing testimonies. Is that what obtains here?

    That kind of thing is not found in the bible. It is not part of what we do here at all. During the times of Jesus, he didn’t take money from anybody for consultation or something. We don’t ask people to do that either. People see me when they have to see me; of course, there are procedures because of security and all that.

    When they have testimonies, we just ask them to write everything in a sheet of paper. We look through and take the ones we consider major. Most times, we always don’t know what they want to say and we never ask them to sow anything.

    There are people that do things and there are people that don’t do. What they do depends on what they have. But we have never asked them to do anything or bring anything at all. It is not part of our culture here.

    At 20, why is the church not involved in any relationship with Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) or Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN)? Is that deliberate or you have something against the bodies?

    No, we don’t have anything against them. We are a member of CAN, though not registered and all that. If there is a need to do that, we will do. Their officials come here and all that. If there are procedures to follow to register….

    … They haven’t told you or you didn’t ask?

    Well, they haven’t told me but if I feel the need to do that, we will do it. But if PFN or CAN is doing anything, we will support from here. It is not compulsory all of us register. It is not compulsory, but if there is a reason to register, we will do that. We believe we are a member of the body of Christ in this nation. And if we have to register, we will do that. If anything is needed, we are part of it.

    You also don’t invite ministers from outside the church. Is that also deliberate?

    That is because this is a highly specialised ministry. We have what we are aiming at; basically praying for people that want children and all that. It is a specialised ministry and God has to have prepared you to be able to do it.

    Besides, we have people we have trained in-house to handle our ministrations over the years. So, we don’t really need ministers from outside here.

    And you don’t honour invitations from other churches too?

    I do, but not always most of the time. I just like to face the thing God asked me to do. My joy is to see people that come here receive their breakthrough and all that.

    Once in a while, I go to other places but not many times.

    Does that mean those who already have children have no place in this church?

    They do, because the kingdom of God is the basic here. But we have some other programmes in the church, though not the basic. Childbearing is the basic. We know that if members have children and no money to take care of them, they will suffer.

    So, first Sunday of every month, after service, we hold a service for like 30 minutes to pray for their careers and businesses. We call it the billionaires’ service. If they don’t become billionaires, they will become multi-millionaires.

    We also pray for singles to get married because they are many of them eligible but it is not happening for them. Whether we like it or not, there are reasons beyond them responsible for this.

    We also have a prayer service for pregnant women. Women must carry pregnancies for 40 weeks and many of them lose their pregnancies. But we don’t have that here because we pray for them and encourage them to go to good hospitals.

     

  • Who is to blame for Nigeria’s woes: the people or the leaders?

    The people’s behaviour in celebrating treasury looting is still reprehensible because they are adoring today what will make them cry tomorrow. However, the leaders’ behaviour is more condemnable because they are knowingly and recklessly leading the people to destroy themselves

    Dear Reader, there are so many emotions coursing through my veins, along with what I hope is red blood, that I don’t know which one I should indulge first. Well, there’s the very shocking news that Spain has appointed a very beautiful woman as its, wait for it, Minister for Sex. Now, I say, that is a very hot one. Have you seen her picture? Man, she is hot, and her job is even hotter. She is charged with the onerous duty of jacking up the population of the country which they say has been dwindling since 2008. For the life of me, I don’t know how Spain hopes that this beautiful woman can turn the nation’s population situation around. I mean, she is just one woman! Well, we can only wait for the logic of her appointment to mature.

    Then there was the hilarious story that an Eighty-two year old (82) Nigerian justice was being screened for an ambassadorial position. Seriously! That was one big hoot for me; but the bigger hoot was the sentence that said the ‘Screening Committee was shocked’ (!!!) when the old man ‘refused to recite the national anthem’. Believe me, I am shocked that the committee was not as shocked by an 82-year-old being nominated as by his refusal to recite an anthem. Wonders will never end, they say.

    Let me see now, if I am lucky enough to hit 82, I don’t think I will be wasting my time remembering the anthem of a country. I will be lucky if I know the name of the country I’m living in. So, what can that old man be thinking of seeking this kind of appointment? More importantly, I’m thinking, what is President Buhari thinking of nominating someone of that age? Most importantly, what is the committee thinking of by going ahead to screen an eighty-two year-old man for a job outside the country, even if it only takes him to Cotonou? What is this country, a circus?!

    Then, during the week, I heard again that people have now ditched putting looted money in overhead tanks or underground soak-away. The government has wizened to those tricks. So now, looters have resorted to hiding their money in coffins. Really!!! I mean, how sick, desperate and twisted can Nigerians really be, I ask myself? Obviously, very.

    To top my emotions, I came across the news that the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had admonished Nigerians to stop ‘celebrating’ treasury looters. Now, say I, what is our VP trying to do, cause disaffection between looters and their worshippers? Does he not know that indeed most people steal these monies so that they can attract hordes of worshippers to themselves? Sir, the average Nigerian would not go after money as they do if there was no one to worship or envy them, and that is the half-truth. I don’t know the other half.

    Seriously, I have heard so many arguments on this I am almost believing them. Examples: Nigerian leaders are bad but the followers are just as bad. Therefore, the followers are as much to blame as the leaders. Another version says that actually, it is the followers that make the leaders bad. Yet another version says the leaders are the contagions. They contaminate everything they touch – whether they are political, social or religious leaders. They are all the same. Now, I’ve heard everything. So, where were we? Oh yes, we were trying to settle the question of which is influencing the other more: the leadership or the followership.

    I have been in gatherings where people have argued back and forth on this question as if they were trying to settle once and for all the question of which came first: the chicken or the egg. How shall we ever know except we ask Papa Noah just what he placed in his ark – two eggs or two chickens? Until then, we have to hold our peace and calmly examine the issues.

    I honestly cannot argue for any side but I can wax historical and lyrical. I remember that there was a time in this country, around the sixties and seventies, I think, when leadership positions – whether in corporations, civil service, army, etc., — were held very delicately. At that time, a good name was more important than gold because it opened even more doors. Now, the reverse is the case. The gold is esteemed to bring in the name. This is why people are going after the money like mad.

    Listen, both the leadership and the followership have failed dishonourably but one definitely bit the dust before the other. Most people who come to power are under the illusion that it is ‘what the people want.’ In truth, the real power does belong to the people. Most times, however, a few force their will on the ‘people’ by hijacking the machineries of power until the people rise with one voice as happened in France in the eighteenth century when the entire country rejected the dynasty of the reigning king and queen. It also happened in Russia when the people got rid of the reigning Czar and instituted a more people-based government.

    However, in those and more cases, the people were led by their hunger and anger, both of which were vulcanised together by a vociferous group on behalf of the people into one coalesced ball of fiery action. In other words, even a revolution needs a leader. However, in sane climes, the leader steers the state but the people rule his heart and hand. What is known today as the western world has been able to endure because the people rule the hand of the ruler. Twisted paradox, no?

    The point is that the people are important only if they are well informed about their rights and obligations in the land, and responsibly discharge both. This was the first thing America’s early leaders ensured: the people’s rights and obligations. Nigeria’s leaders since independence have never consciously tried to bring up the people to a position of knowledge about their rights and obligations in order to empower them to take responsible and informed decisions. This is why it is so easy for the new elites to simply fall in line with the will of the country’s leaders rather than the will of the people.

    Hence, as far back as the country can remember, the people have been taking decisions in public matters such as elections on the basis of readily assessable parameters such as direct access to the country’s resources. Anyone who is given this access is as venerated today as the early cave Nigerians did the white colonial men. They are the super heroes. This is why they are neither questioned nor condemned in the ‘people’s’ eyes.

    Reader, the paragraphs above have been given as an attempt to explain what is going on in the country. It is not meant to excuse bad behaviour on anybody’s part. The people’s behaviour in celebrating treasury looting is still reprehensible because they are adoring today what will make them cry tomorrow. However, the leaders’ behaviour is more condemnable because they are knowingly and recklessly leading the people to destroy themselves.

    The onus for change lies with everybody. It seems more realistic to me however when the leaders are seen to be serious with the desire to lead by taking serious actions against looting. China, I hear, summarily executes such people. Better one man dies than millions be contaminated. We here can jail them. However, when Nigeria pats looters on the back, the only message that is passed is ALOOTER CONTINUA. Now, I must go reconcile my housekeeping accounts before I become…

  • PDP without the people

    With the ruling of the Court of Appeal in favor of Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, a very dark cloud now pervades the future of the former ruling party. Even then, the appeal by the Markarfi faction at the Supreme Court against the ruling has further raised the stakes in this make or mar legal tussle.

    Arising from the turn of events is the seeming preference by the disputants for the final resolution of the case through the courts. As things stand, they have submitted themselves to the winner-takes-all scenario that is bound to be the final outcome of the Supreme Court ruling.

    For such a two party zero sum game, the options are very clear. So also, the pay-offs. One party is bound to win and maximally too while the other stands to lose completely. Ordinarily, rational calculations should instruct that such game scenarios could be very catastrophic. And a better situation would be that in which both parties seek solutions that will minimize their losses in the event of the worst outcome: a compromise position that is more likely to save the party.

    But events have shown the contending parties do not want a political solution to the crisis. And if such options had been on the table, they could have been activated to resolve the crisis while it was before the appeal court. Curiously, each party stuck to its own position awaiting the appeal court decision.

    Apparently, the Markarfi group believed it had better chances of winning the suit given that the convention in which the caretaker committee emerged was in keeping with the party’s constitution. It also had all the organs of the party: the board of trustees, the governors, its former ministers and the overwhelming majority of the party members including the state officers with it. They could not fathom how one man could impose himself on the majority.

    In the ensuing crisis, Sheriff remained essentially a general without troops supported by a band of people he appointed by himself. The source of his strength and confidence remained largely doubtful even as the other group severally accused him of being sponsored by the government in power to weaken the opposition. His conduct during the last governorship elections in both Edo and Ondo states went at lengths to give fillip to this accusation. All these may have embittered the Markarfi group to the extent of not having anything to do with him as he could no longer be trusted. The outcome of this loss of faith is the current situation in which the Supreme Court would have to resolve the legitimacy of the two groups to lead the party.

    But court verdict is unlikely to produce an outcome that will see the party regain its unity and strength so soon after, especially given that some governorship elections are around the corner. That is why political solution has been mooted in some quarters despite the intransigence and defiance of Sheriff.

    There were suggestions from some quarters especially those in Sheriff’s camp that the Markarfi group should not have appealed the judgment to allow common grounds to be evolved to move the party forward. While some of his loyalists had been bragging and arrogantly making uncomplimentary statements against key personages of the Markarfi group, Sheriff was also reported to have boasted how he will deny some PDP governors the ticket of the party in future elections.

    He was later to deny those statements emanated from him. He spoke very copiously in very reconciliatory terms of his plans to reposition the party and return it to the people. Which people? For him, the path to this lies in the organization of a national convention to elect national officers. But how can that stand in the face of the impositions that marred the congresses he earlier supervised?

    The Markarfi group is privy to his undemocratic credentials and would not trust him. Not after engaging the party in a protracted legal battle even when he does not enjoy the support of key party organs. Not with his posturing before the last convention of the party in which he contrived all manner of subterfuge to have himself returned unopposed as the party chairman with eventual eye to install himself as the presidential candidate of the party come 2019.

    The Markarfi group knows his antecedents and anti- democratic credentials and would never allow that scenario. They are unlikely to take seriously any promise coming from Sheriff. His pledge to organize the national convention of the party will be taken as a disguise to install his stooges within the party hierarchy. If he succeeds in doing this, the party would have become his personal property.

    It is not surprising the group has gone ahead to appeal the judgment, thus foreclosing all the ideas being nursed by Sheriff until the appeal runs its full course. This has added new complications to the power tussle between the two groups. And as things stand, it appears to have foreclosed any political solution to the matter irrespective of on-going consultations by some of its leaders.

    If such consultations could not produce any result while the case was at the appeal court, it is doubtful given the intransigence and arrogance of Sheriff he will be cooperative now his position has been strengthened by the court ruling. He has even had the national secretariat of the party unlocked for him by the police.

    The Supreme Court will have to determine between Sheriff and Markarfi the authentic leader of the party. If the caretaker committee is given a clean bill of health, things will bounce back to normal. That is the group that has the backing of the governors, the board of trustees, National Assembly members and almost entirely all the state executive of the party. That is the PDP.

    But the situation will turn out chaotic if the ruling is in favor of the Sheriff faction. Sheriff will inherit the party without the people. He would proceed immediately to issue orders, directing all organs of the party to fall in line as severe disciplinary measures await all those who disobey his orders. He would have become all in all, acting in any manner that pleased him.

    Then, two of the tripod on which the party’s name- Peoples Democratic Party stands- the people and democracy would have taken flight. But then, if the party loses the people that make it up, it would have ipso facto lost its claim to any democratic credentials. And when these two key elements are exorcized from the party, nothing else would have been left. He could go ahead to rebuild the party according to his own terms and dictates but he is unlikely to secure the support of those he is edging out through the instrumentality of court ruling.

    The party will not fare any better. That is one dimension that could incapacitate the party. The second plank of the calamity that will likely befall the party will result from the refusal of the other group to have anything to do with Sheriff. There is the possibility of the other group ditching the party. Already suggestions have been rife to that effect.

    That will see to the emergence of a new political party only for Sheriff to be left with the carcass of the PDP. Thus, in all the scenarios should Sheriff emerge victorious, what has emerged is that the party would be worse for it. There is the potent possibility of disintegration with deleterious repercussion for democracy.

    Given the above, will the interest of democracy be better served by the disintegration of the former ruling party? And given the tendency in this clime for people to gravitate towards the ruling party for self-serving reasons, would it not amount to a quick sail to one party state in real terms?

    These are the issues to consider. They may not be part of the legal issues to be determined by the Supreme Court. But can the apex court afford to ignore the overall effect of its decision on the sustenance of democracy on these shores? And what role if any, should public or national interest play in the disposal of issues that have wider implications for the successful practice of democracy on these shores?

  • Nigeria needs people of strong character to succeed, says Osinbajo

    Nigeria needs people of strong character to succeed, says Osinbajo

    •Osinbajo, Gowon, Sanusi, Sule, others eulogise Wali 

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday insisted Nigeria needed men and women of strong character to achieve economic and political growth.

    Osinbajo spoke in Abuja while eulogising the late Ambassador Isa Wali, during the 50th anniversary of his death at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

    The event was organised by the Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative (IWEI), an organisation founded in memory of the late diplomat.

    Others, who also spoke well of the former Nigeria high commissioner in Ghana, who died on February 19, 1967, include the former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II,  and elder statesman Maitama Sule.

    Osinbajo described the late Wali as a crusader of social justice, who fought for the rights of people.

    Wali, he said, was a man who had a good sense of justice and shared some universal set of values that helped in development across the globe.

    The Acting President likened him to Martin Luther of the United States of America and Nelson Mandela of South Africa who he said fought for people in their countries.

    Stressing that such people with human values were abundant in Nigeria, he said there was need to identify them to contribute to nation-building.

    He said: “Our nation is in need of people who stand for human values, those who believe in trust-worthiness, integrity, honesty and hard work.

    “We need to have those values and emphasise them because these are values that build nations around the world.

    “Our nation needs more of visionary men and women that are ready to put the nation ahead of them,” he added

    He explained that to move Nigeria where everyone would be proud of, citizens must stand for these values.

    “Ambassador Wali was well ahead of his time. You can see this with his desire to teach his wife how to drive in those days,” he stated

    Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II said the late envoy was in the fore-front of promoting the cause of women and their rights in northern Nigeria as well as children’s dignity.

    According to him, Wali was far ahead of his time, adding that his views were still relevant.

    He noted that Wali spoke against violence against women and polygamy.

    His emirate, he said, was considering a family law to make domestic violence against women illegal and set condition to fulfill before a man could marry a second wife.

    The law, he said, would also spell out the roles of the father besides just giving birth to them.

    The emir said societies had seen the consequences of men who were not economically viable and marry many wives, and end up giving birth to children they could not fend for.

    Chairman of the occasion Isaac Sagay said Wali died on duty and was not honoured by the Federal Government.

    He called on the Federal Government to honour the late diplomat to serve as encouragement to other Nigerians.

    On his part, elder statesman Maitama Sule said Nigeria’s problem remained the absence of dedicated and committed people, who were courageous like late Wali.

    According to him, the backwardness of the country now was not part of the Nigerian character.

    He said Nigeria was a decent country, which started on a right-footing with right values and character.

    He added that countries, such as India, Brazil, who were at the same level with Nigeria in the 1960s, have left Nigeria far behind.

    He said: “There is corruption today, even institutions and tradition have been affected. We are no longer ourselves. There is the demise of values.

    “We need to revisit the past. What we need is leadership. We have even politicise the civil service.”

    Minister of Environment Amina Mohammed said there was need for good leadership at all levels and not only in government.

    Besides gender disparity, she said there was need to look at ethnic disparity.

    Dignitaries at the event include former Chief Justices of Nigeria Mohammed Uwais and Aloma Murktar and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Aba.

  • ‘Sensitise the people’

    ‘Sensitise the people’

    Osun State Deputy Governor Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori has called on journalists to use their profession to sensitise the people.

    Mrs. Laoye-Tomori spoke when members of the Association of Christian Journalists (ACJ) visited her in Osogbo. She said journalists were in a better position to influence the people, especially youths.

    She said youths should be enlightened on how to become entrepreneurs, instead of looking for white collar jobs.

    ACJ president Oludayo Ojewole thanked the deputy governor for her support and promised not to let her down.

    The high point of the visit was the conferment of the group’s life matron on Mrs. Laoye-Tomori.

  • It’s a moment for the people

    President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans, and people of the world, thank you.

    Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent. Thank you.

    Today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another, or from one party to another, but we are transferring power from Washington D.C. and giving it back to you, the people.

    For too long, a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered, but the jobs left and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country.

    That all changes starting right here and right now because this moment is your moment. It belongs to you.

    January 20th, 2017 will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again.

    At the centre of this movement is a crucial conviction that a nation exists to serve its citizens.

    For too many of our citizens, a different reality exists. Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories, scattered like too many stones across the landscape, tombstones of our nation; an education system flushed with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge; and the crime and the gangs and the drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealised potential.

    This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.”

    Turning to foreign policy, Mr Trump issued a “new decree” to the world, making it clear his administration would put “America first”.

    We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power. From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first, America first.

    At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other. When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.”

    Together we will make America strong again, we will make America wealthy again, we will make America proud again, we will make America safe again and, yes, together, we will make America great again.”

  • There’ll be sorrow for corrupt people, says Olukoya

    General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Worldwide, Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya has sounded a stern warning to corrupt people, saying they will “reap multiple sorrow”.

    Olukoy spoke early yesterday while giving a 40-point prediction to spiritually guide Christians for 2017.

    He addressed worshippers at the MFM’s Prayer City at a service to herald into 2017.

    He declared 2017 as one of deep sorrow for the wicked, adding that it’s also a year of confused noises and meaningless storm.

    According to him, 2017 will “experience redemption in contention, while it is blowing heavenly final whistle against those attacking genuine God’s people, as several foundations of satanic problems will expire”.

    Noting that prayers would be required to avoid convulsion of the earth, in the form of earthquakes, hurricane, tsunami, he warned that lots of prayers would be required for nations treating the word of God with disdain.

    Giving the theme for 2017 as ‘Year of Indisputable Victory and Uncommon Deliverance ‘, Olukoya predicted that the New Year would witness fighting between the roads and road users, as well as experience incredible and energy sapping battles.

    He predicted that satanic recruitment to capture and cage innocent young girls into foreign sects would  be rampant, as sexual perversion is already on the rise and warned that the year is a bad one for fornicators and adulterers.

    Olukoya gave ten key survival strategies to hold on to in the year to include living a holy life, desist from unbelief, set a goal, be persistent, always seek divine directive and being filled with the Holy Ghost.

    Other keys are to disengage from unprofitable friends, being generous to God, locating one’s weaknesses and addressing them, as well as becoming a prayer and Bible addict.