The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Political

  • Political participation is a must: Our mumu never do???

    As soon as any man says of the affairs of the State “What does it matter to
    me? The State may be given up for lost”
    ―Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the Social Contract.

    WHAT makes a society a decent society and how do we ensure we get the best people to run the affairs of our country? Without the right mix of people leading our country, I am afraid the promise land may take a very long time to reach. We have more than enough capable hands in Nigeria however they appear reluctant to come forward.

    Two thousand years ago, Aristotle observed that “Man is a political Animal”. He was not just referring to men. He was referring to both men and women. So why is that when it comes to political participation, we are short of capable men and women in a country with a population of about 188 million or more. It can’t continue like this. We need to take some proactive steps to turn this appalling situation around. It has been argued that political participation is driven primarily by innate motivation relating to one’s belief that one can lead, govern or influence government. How do people participate in politics? Political participation can be grouped into two headings –Conventional participation which is the traditional ways of influencing the government namely voting, joining a party, campaigning, actively supporting a party and even running for office.

    The unconventional participation is the employment of non-traditional methods for instance an attempt to influence or challenge the government through civil disobedience, peaceful protest, violent protest and other deviant ways. I am focusing on the conventional type of participation since I believe Nigeria needs more of her capable citizens to come to her rescue. If we want to make a difference in our community, state or country then there is no better way other than joining a party and becoming more actively involved. Nigeria needs more noble and capable people to run its affairs. “Our MUMU never do???????” In reality though, the degree to which one is actively involved in politics depends on one’s social economic class, political ideology, family, education and the skill to deal with individuals from different social backgrounds. However, the vast majority of Nigerians are poor, uninformed, unemployed and struggling to survive. So it is not surprising that the level of political participation is Nigeria is abysmally low when we were told by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that about 67.5 million were registered to vote in the 2015 general elections in country of about 188 million or more.

    And out of the 67.5 million registered voters about 30 million actually voted. What is even alarming is that with the apparent pervasive hardship and inequities in the last 20 years in Nigeria, one would have expected a higher percentage of highly educated elites from noble background to participate more in the running of the affairs of our country. But sadly, they have chosen to sit docile, remain silent and somewhat unperturbed with all the happenings in the country. As it is, it may appear challenging to envisage a better Nigeria, let alone how to go about actualizing such a vision. The answer can only be for more of us to become actively involved in politics, A close look at our political culture in regard to active participation reveals that most Nigerians generally regard party membership as unimportant.

    Whilst they are not actively engaged in politics, they can be found on social media- Facebook, Chat forums, online tweeters, public places and such strongly expressing their views about Nigeria but fail to join any political party and participate constructively. These kinds of ineffective non-electoral participation can only achieve so much. This phenomenon reflects a lackadaisical and apathetic attitude towards how our country is governed. Such attitude lacks good sense since the more politically docile the people, the worse will be the quality of our governance and thus allowing for mediocre leaders to emerge. Also, paradoxically, it seems a lot of these educated, enlightened, social media bloggers, online tweeting Nigerians who have strong views about how Nigeria should be governed see no nexus between not getting actively involved and the appalling state of affairs and it is out of ignorance.

    It is as if they fail to realize or refuse to accept unfortunately, that the so called “uncouth”, good for nothing”, retrogressive, “semi illiterate embezzlers, “dollar hoarding politicians are the ones controlling the affairs of the nation. The noble, honest and capable citizens who could make a huge and positive impact on the governance and development of our country appear to not realise that by not getting involved in politics especially in a developing nation like ours comes everything that is bad. Furthermore, women participation in Nigerian politics is extremely unimpressive. There are relatively few women prominently active in politics.

    The reason for this phenomenon is our culture’s condescending view on women’s capabilities. In Nigeria, our culture does not encourage women to go into politics. They are culturally assigned to cater to the needs of their husbands and children. Nigerian girls are at disadvantage when it comes to access to basic education. A lot of our young girls are prevented from furthering their education due to poverty, teenage pregnancy and early marriage. For example, in the Northern part of the country, women are less likely to attain a high level of education.

    They are generally less educated than their male counterparts. On the whole, Nigerian women participate less than the more educated men in politics. The few ones that have managed to scale the barrier are voiceless and not expected to be heard. However, a few countries in Sub Saharan Africa namely Rwanda, Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania have raised the bar. They have done considerable well by having more than 30% in their parliaments but Nigeria has a bad record. Nigeria the so called “Giant of Africa” has less than 7% of women in the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the 2015 general elections, the percentage of women who participated was not up to 10% of the total candidates that contested. And less than 7% were elected to both the National Assembly and the Senate. As a nation should we not be encouraging women to take an interest in politics and entering onto the political platform? It is recommended that the government should employ a type of gender quota system to increase the number of women in government.

    It can be done! The President should appoint more capable women to meet the National Gender Policy’s 35% recommendation. The National Gender Policy (NGP) recommends at least 35% affirmative action for both elective political positions and appointive public service respectively but that has not been the case. For a better Nigeria, education for girls should be made a priority, more women should be encouraged and empowered to make political and public life a career. Let’s just do the right thing! It will go a long way. No more lip service from the government but action, sustained action. So fellow Nigerians, It is time to recognise and accept that joining a political party and becoming more actively involved in politics will significantly improve the quality of our society. Being a citizen who is politically ignorant; or who criticizes on social media and votes in elections but does not participate actively in politics; or who goes to bars, lounges, beer parlours complaining about Nigeria; or who goes to churches, or attending holy ghost night vigils looking for miracles, listening to their pastor telling them that “it is well with them”, and that their miracle day is coming, “and that complete restoration is nigh”, will achieve nothing. Why expend a lot of energy criticising politicians and political affairs and engaging unproductively when individuals could use that energy more productively by participating actively in politics The country is broke – for obvious reasons.

    There is no constant electricity supply, no security or robust transportation system. How, then, can local and foreign investors be persuaded to setup industries that will create employment? God is not going to come down to build our roads for us; provide electricity, or provide quality education. We have to do it ourselves by stepping forward, and by electing capable leaders with vision.

    If we want to make a difference, and create that change, then there is no better way than to get involved politically. Wake up from your slumber Nigerians! Be politically active; become a card-carrying member of a party of your choice; attend town hall meetings; enquire about your party’s activities; influence your party positively with your great ideas; register to vote. JUST GET INVOLVED! Nigeria needs more noble and capable hands to run its affairs. OUR MUMU NEVER DO???????? •Jide Loye is an international lawyer and legal consultant on laws of war. He practices law in Abuja, Nigeria. Political participation is a must: Our mumu never do??? It is as if they fail to realize or refuse to accept unfortunately, that the so called “uncouth”, good for nothing”, retrogressive, “semi illiterate embezzlers, “dollar hoarding politicians are the ones controlling the affairs of the nation. The noble, honest and capable citizens who could make a huge and positive impact on the governance and development of our country appear to not realise that by not getting involved in politics especially in a developing nation like ours comes everything that is bad ’ ’ Melaye on the threshold of negative history Saturday Jide LOYE

  • I’m following Ojukwu’s political footsteps, says Ngige

    I’m following Ojukwu’s political footsteps, says Ngige

    Minister of Labour Chris Ngige said at the weekend that he is following the late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu’s footsteps.

    He said his advice in 2015 that the Igbo should not put all their political eggs in one basket was borne out of what he learnt from the late Ojukwu.

    Reacting to a statement credited to the leadership of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASOB), Ngige said  Ojukwu, in 1982 left the Igbo-dominated Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) for the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) because of his belief that it was not politically wise to put your eggs in one basket.

    He said: “I am only practising what the late leader of Ndigbo, Dim odumegwu Ojukwu, taught us. I wish to put on record that my position is exactly the same position our late leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, took in 1982 when he left the Igbo-dominated NPP to join the NPN.

    “Ikemba reasoned that while the Igbo supported Zik’s (Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s) NPP, there was also the wisdom in spreading our political net to the waters of the ruling party. Ikemba did so to ensure that Ndigbo was not all boxed into a regional party or enclave, which can disconnect or limit their participation in the nation’s apex political conclave.

    “If Ojukwu thought that doing otherwise was myopic in 1982, why is a section of the Igbo crucifying Ngige for preaching and practising the wise counsel of our eternal leader, Ikemba.

    “It is, therefore, clear that the ‘new’ leadership of MASSOB needs a clearer and undistorted interpretation of the truth in my position, which is that it is politically unwise for us to repeat in future elections, the 2015 presidential election voting pattern, where all our eggs were dumped in one basket; the basket failed and the eggs all got broken.

    “I wish to add that there is enough opportunity for the Igbo to make up whatever perceived loss they currently encounter. But our leaders need to shun the creeping political narrowness and play politics more astutely.

    “What matters most is not how ‘big’ the positions we occupy. Rather, what we are able to achieve for the Igbo with what we occupy.

    “Today, work is ongoing on all the major Federal roads in the Southeast: Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Umuahia-Abia-Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt-Owerri, Oba-Nnewi– Arondizuogu-Okigwe, to mention a few. Julius Berger has been mobilised with N6 billion for the 2nd River Niger Bridge. There is also the Benin-Onitsha rail line with a separate bridge across the Niger, which was not originally in the Goodluck Jonathan-PDP coastal rail master plan.”

    Ngige said the current development going in the Southeast could not be achieved with the “big” positions (SGF, Deputy Senate President and Speaker, Ministers of Finance, Health, Aviation, National Chairman of ruling party, Head of Army and police, among others) that Ndigbo occupied under the Jonathan administration for six years.

    The minister said the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration was doing so in just one budget cycle, that is, between May 2016 and May 2017, “knowing well that 2015 budget was Jonathan’s”.

    He reminded the “new” MASSOB leadership that when he was Anambra State governor, he was the only governor in the zone who protected the organisation against harassment by the security agencies because of their non-violent approach to its struggle.

    “I did not only protect MASOB from undue harassment by security agencies, I sent them food from the state treasury and employed its members in the formidable Anambra Vigilante Service. This was to give stability to the security architecture of the state.The founder of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazurike is alive and can testify to this.”

    He advised the “new” MASSOB leadership to show some respect to elders who have contributed to the wellbeing of Ndigbo.

  • LASIEC partners IPAC to end political violence

    Worried by the violence arising from the conduct of party primaries ahead the July 22, council polls, the Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Ayotunde Phillips (retd), has appealed to the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to assist the commission to end the violence.

    She made the appeal during a meeting held by the commission with members of the executive of IPAC at the Commission’s Yaba, Lagos office.

    The LASIEC chief said the violence was capable of negatively impacting on the elections if the situation was not quickly checked, adding that a LASIEC official was injured during one of the fracas.

    She promised to beef up security at its headquarters to prevent political thugs from invading it.

    The commission, she said, could not interfere in the conduct of primaries of political parties because the law does not empower it to do so.

    IPAC Chairman Mr. Kola Ajayi blamed the violence on lack of internal democracy among the political parties, pointing out the police had an important role to play in checking the incidents of violence.

    Ajayi said the body was planning a rally to campaign against political violence.

  • Akande links economic, political challenges to ‘obsolete constitution’

    Akande links economic, political challenges to ‘obsolete constitution’

    Former Interim National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Adebisi Akande has linked the socio-political and economic challenges bedevilling the country to its obsolete constitution.

    Speaking at the 2017 Distinguished Role Model Award of The Wings Schools, Iwo in honour of the late educationist and administrator, Ben Adisa Akinola, the former Osun State governor said Nigeria would have grown to its zenith, if not hampered by constitutional pitfalls.

    Akande, who was the chairman of the event, faulted the 1999 Constitution, which, he maintained, had created unwarranted challenges to the country and its federating components.

    He said: “There are many aspects in the constitution that are never workable to Nigerian socio-economic and political structures. There are anomalies, lapses and imbalance posing serious challenges to the nation’s constitution and the way it is can lead Nigeria back to greater poverty.

    “The constitution that can move Nigeria forward is the constitution that recognises the culture of the people in relation to their occupation.

    “The background of economic life of any community should be the type of its own culture. No nation practising federalism develops in a circumstance, where all or larger percentage of existing power is concentrated into a single hand.

    “For instance in Osun State today, one can’t drive five kilometres of roads leading to borders of Kwara, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti states without potholes. The same applies to other states of the federation as many of them have been rendered subservient to the power that be at the centre.”

    According to him, until the constitution was “passionately and circumstantially” reviewed in consonance with the needs of various constituents, the nation would remain stagnant.

    Akande stressed the need for power to be properly distributed and devolved from the central to the federating units as being practised in other countries of the world.

    The APC chieftain said: “Nigeria Constitution (1999) serves as a platform for social economic inequality and now constitutes the major obstacle to peace among various generating country. Those who wrote the constitution did not realise that political denomination and subjugation breed revolt, community disharmony and national insecurity.

    “The bad constitution of 1999 has now begun to stimulate demand for ethnic self-determination and economic security, otherwise being called resource control or restructuring. Whatever name you call it, community disharmony is a burden on national security and it is dangerous for economic development and peace.

    “What we are saying, for instance, is that the constitution which (according to 1999 census ) gave Lagos State (with 5,725,153 population) 20 local governments,  also gave Kano State (with 5,810,494 population) 44 local governments. The same constitution, which gave Anambra (with 2, 796,510 population) 21 local governments, also gave Jigawa (with 2, 875,559 population) 27 local governments.

    “Such constitutional provisions seem capable of denying the federating components of Nigeria most importantly on their equal opportunity for accessing the national revenue allocations. Such agitations may not be healthy for community harmony, national security to influence the change for the better.”

    On the late Akinola, Akande urged the people of Iwo and other Nigerians to emulate the good deeds of the man.

    The guest speakers, Prof. Olasupo Akano and Prof. Lai Olurode, former Dean, Faculty of School Sciences, University of Lagos, described the late Akinola as a patriotic son of Iwo, “who during his life time strived towards the development of our town”.

    Secretary to the Osun State Government Alhaji Moshood Adeoti said the legacy the late Akinola left behind in the education sector would not be forgotten.

  • ‘Fiscal stimulus, political’ll drive economic recovery plan’

    For the Federal Government’s Economic Growth and Recovery Plan (EGRP) to revive the  ailing economy, there is a need for the government to introduce fiscal stimulus in key sectors and industries and also muster the necessary political will to implement the plan.

    The President/Chairman of Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of Training and Development (NITAD), Mrs. Janet Jolaoso, stated this at the 21th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Institute held in Lagos, during the week.

    President Muhammadu Buhari launched the EGRP in Abuja, recently, for a period of three years, covering 2017 to 2020. The medium term plan broadly targeted the restoration of growth, human development and a globally-competitive economy, in an effort to combat recession and reposition the economy on the path of sustained growth.

    Mrs. Jolaoso said while the Institute supported the President’s new economic recovery plan, “we implore the Federal Government to muster the necessary political will, which has always been a challenge in the implementation of otherwise laudable policies and plans.”

    She also said the government should create an enabling environment for local and foreign investors to do business in the country. She said to exit recession, it was necessary to turn Nigeria to an investors’ destination while not relenting on the fight against corruption.

    Mrs. Jolaoso further called for the introduction of fiscal stimulus in power, manufacturing, financial services, mining, rail and roads to stimulate activities in those sectors, and in turn, create jobs for competent Nigerians.

    She said it was no longer news that Nigeria is in a recession. According to her, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently projected a contraction of 1.8 per cent for 2016 “The Federal Government while not officially contesting the IMF estimates and assessment, still clings to the faint hope that the economy will show recovery in the third quarter of this year,” Jolaoso said.

    She, however, said it was heart-warming that after almost a year of negative growth that resulted in the collapse of businesses, the economy is looking up, signalling an end of recession as confirmed by London-based organisation, World Economics.

    According to Jolaoso, the organisation’s report indicated that the Market Growth Index grew to 58.5 in April as the Sales Growth Index ticked up to 56.7, its highest value since 2015, giving an indication of rapid growth.

    “This report was confirmed by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning that the statistical analysis and economic experts’ assessments clearly indicated that the economy was coming out of recession,” Jolaoso stated.

    She however, added that what was needed to give the growth more push was political will and fiscal stimulus for some critical sectors.

  • Prison visit: Political detainees’ wives urge Fayose to release husbands

    Prison visit: Political detainees’ wives urge Fayose to release husbands

    Wives, children and associates of some political detainees held at Federal Prisons, Ado Ekiti, have called on Governor Ayo Fayose to release them having spent years in detention on alleged trumped-up charges.

    They made the plea on Wednesday during Fayose’s tour of prison facilities during which the governor also pardoned some inmates. Some All Progressives Congress (APC) members detained in prison are standing trial for their alleged complicity in the murder of Fayose’s ally and former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Omolafe Aderiye, an allegation they denied.

    Those on trial include the state leader of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Adeniyi Adedipe; two former state chairmen of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Bayo Aderiye and Rotimi Olanbiwonnu; Sola Durodola, Ajayi Kayode, Oso Farotimi and Sola Adenijo.

    Fayose could not ensure release of any of the inmates as the Chief Judge, Justice Simon Daramola advised that due process must be followed before the governor could facilitate their pardon and release. There was drama shortly after Fayose arrived as the wives of the detainees knelt down pleading that he release their breadwinners for them to reunite with their families and revive their ‘dead’ businesses.

    They claimed that their husbands knew nothing about the alleged murder. But Fayose said: “We would pardon some inmates, but we have to follow due process. We must have the facts and figures before vetoing their release.

    We have come to see the facilities in the prison and see how we can help. We have seen the facilities here and we are not happy. “The buildings here houses almost 200 people but whatever their offences they are still entitled to good condition of living. We therefore appeal to the Federal Government to upgrade the facilities available for prison inmates in the state here.

    “The walls surrounding the prison are vulnerable, that was why we experienced the last jailbreak, but that would not happen again. As a state government, we will support the prison with an additional building, a borehole, health facilities and toilet facilities.

    “We appeal to the government to live up to their responsibilities. I also appeal to the prison inmates, you must be of good conduct so they can get pardon. Also make sure that you repent truly.” Fayose was joined on the visit by the Commissioner of Police, Abdullahi Chafe and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Owoseni Ajayi and other senior government officials.

  • APC chieftain urges political solution to crisis

    APC chieftain urges political solution to crisis

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Mr. Collins Idahosa, has called on the leadership of the party to step into the crisis between Hon. Sunday Aghedo and Mr. Sunday Adanomo in Ovia Southwest Constituency.

    He said the opposition would take advantage of the division, if it was not properly managed, ahead of the 2019 general elections. He called on the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, to intervene to prevent the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from making inroads to the area, which has been an APC stronghold over the years.

    Idahosa said the crisis in the constituency started when the party could not amicably resolve the political feud between Aghedo, a member of the Edo State House of Assembly and Adanomo, a member of the party.

    He said: “The crisis can be resolved.  It is not a crisis with the opposition, but that between members of the same party. It is the same party. I am using this medium to call on our national and state leaders to step into the matter.

    “We have great leaders in the party who can manage the crisis in order for us not compound the problem ahead of the 2019 elections. Though Adanomo is determined to allow the court to determine the case, which is currently at the Supreme Court level, he should tread with caution; the way he is going about it is not healthy.

    “His recent mobilisation of some youths to demonstrate ahead of the Supreme Court judgment will further create bad blood within the party. So, he should wait for the court to make its pronouncement.

    “If our leaders can still step in and bring the two gentlemen together, we can make progress. Doing this will salvage the dwindling image of the party leadership in crisis management. This can prevent a bad situation in the future; otherwise it might lead to what we don’t expect in the party.”

    Idahosa said the constituency and local governments within the zone were important to the APC, adding that the party could find political solution to the problem.

    He added: “I think a political solution is better than allowing the case to go on; we are members of the same party. The party has the right to withdraw the case from the court. For the fact that we are one, there is no need of washing our dirty clothes outside; the party can handle the matter internally.

    “Aghedo played a very important role in ensuring that the APC won the recent governorship election in Edo State. The party leaders should call them and compensate whoever felt aggrieved. I am calling on Odigie-Oyegun and the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to step into the matter.”

  • Nigeria needs new political economy

    SIR: In spite of the recent launch of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, what ails Nigeria is more profound and fundamental.

    Ordinarily, politics should reflect the persistent search for an economic framework that best serves to improve and enhance the quality of life of the whole population. Structures of political organisation and institutional frameworks are not end in themselves but serve to search and promote appropriate economic order that enhances optimal productivity and sustainable economic activities that bring and add value to the commonwealth and give commensurate returns to all members of the active population.

    Politics in Nigeria has not functioned to trigger relentless drive for a search of appropriate economic framework to unlock national productivity and unleash value creation, which is the definitive aggregate of national wealth.

    Therefore, any meaningful recovery of Nigeria as a functional State must focus exclusively on economic modernisation. To the extent that the economy would be taken as central task, a framework of national consensus and multi-party co-operation instead of competition should be established, to avoid the distraction of politics and power struggles in the central task of economic reconstruction and modernisation. As the framework of multi-party co-operation, political consultation and national consensus would radically alter the existing political process, a constitutional reform is immediately imperative to accommodate the new national priorities.

    Saying that “we must become a nation, where we grow what we eat and consume what we produce”, will only make sense with a deliberate policy of industrialisation. If the President, meant that raw onions, tomatoes etc should be ferried from Maiduguri to Lagos, and raw tubers of yam transported from Makurdi to Abuja, then he is merely romanticising about an age that is long gone. To have processing industrial plant in Borno, Benue, Imo and our other resource rich outposts is the best way to guarantee our stable food market, which feeds the rest of us on what we produce. The West African market and, further down, the global horizon, could benefit from our productive potential and earn for us a more sustainable foreign exchange that the volatile oil market cannot guarantee.

     

    • Charles Onunaiju,

    Utako, Abuja

  • Gbajabiamila: Igbo have political, economic powers

    Gbajabiamila: Igbo have political, economic powers

    House of Representatives Leader Femi Gbajabiamila has acknowledged the political and economic strength the Igbo have in Lagos State.

    He said the Igbo in Lagos gave the Peoples Democratic (PDP) the six Federal constituency seats it won in Lagos State.

    Gbajabiamila noted that if the All Progressives Congress (APC) had won the six seats, he might have become the Speaker.

    The lawmaker spoke at the New Year luncheon he hosted for Igbo community in his Surulere Federal Constituency I.

    He said: “Igbo had demonstrated that they do not only have economic power but also political power. Their political power put APC in problems in 2015. What Igbo did has created a problem for me in Surulere because Constituency II was won by the PDP. It’s like they don’t have a representative. I have to share whatever I have with them to carry them along.”

    Igbo leaders, who spoke at the event, regretted that their compatriots  in Lagos did not vote for the ruling party in the state. They promised to vote for the APC in 2019.

    One of them, Dr Ebele Ubani, admitted that the Igbo erred in 2015 by voting against APC.

    He said: “We should  be part of the mainstream politics in Lagos State. Come 2019, there will be a change. I can assure you that the Igbo in Lagos will vote for APC and in subsequent elections.”

    Ubani urged the state’s ruling party not to rely on Igbo elites but to reach out to those who would vote.

    According to him, there are six recognised Igbo groups in Lagos and the party should deal with all of them because they are influential in decision making.

    The Igbo spokesman said there were thousands of professional Igbo groups.

    “We mobilised them in 2015 across Lagos State for election purpose,” he said.

    Ubani sought Gbajabiamila’s assistance for the establishment of Surulere Chamber of Commerce.

    Lagos State APC Publicity Secretary Joe Igbokwe said there was no reason for the Igbo to antagonise the Yoruba political interest.

    He said: “Lagos has been kind to Igbo. I know what the Igbo have in Lagos they don’t have one-tenth of it back home.”

    Igbokwe said he was happy that the Igbo and their Yoruba counterparts were on the same page.

    “We will never degenerate to the 2015 level,” he said.

    Lagos Igbo APC Leader Chris Ekwilo urged APC in Surulere to concede a councillor seat to Ndigbo.

    He said the request was based on Igbo population in the constituency.

    Ekwilo said: “The Igbo worked for the party in the last election in Surulere. As we are preparing for local government poll, carry us along. Members who worked for the party should be compensated. Igbo have many groups that must be carried along to win elections.”

    Dignitaries present at the event included Chairman of Igbo APC in Surulere, Ugoeze Emeida Okoli; House of Assembly member, Desmond Eliot; Alhaja Latifat Gbajabiamila (Femi’s mother); Sole Administrator of Surulere Local Government, Sheriff Balogun and Noriakpa Ferguson, a lawyer.

  • Activist to sue political, religious leaders

    Activist to sue political, religious leaders

    An octogenarian author, activist and social critic, Mrs. Adaobi Whyte, said she will sue political leaders at the International Court in the Hague for allegedly mismanaging the economy.

    Whyte, who spoke while presenting a paper at the inaugural meeting of a non-government organisation (NGO), “Voice of African Organisation” (VAO), in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, said she would also sue pastors and imams for their alleged mental, spiritual and physical exploitation of worshippers through seed sowing, tithe and offering.

    She decried wrong teachings, false religious indoctrination, among others, alleging they turned people to terrorists, who destroyed communities.

    The author, who has written six social, cultural and story books, including the latest, “How Africans vandalise Africa, focusing on Nigeria”, said security agencies and their heads, both serving and retired, would be sued for their alleged roles in promoting insecurity and extrajudicial killings of innocent people.

    She urged individuals, civil society groups, organisations and international bodies to fight the rot and restore sanity.