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Tag: President Buhari

  • Groups sign ‘Abuja Accord’ to support Nigeria’s unity against religious, ethnic bigotry

    The National Inter- Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace ( NIFROP) has rallied together civil society organizations, NGOs, FBOs etc to  sign a pact for national cohesion, unity, peace and stability tagged:  ‘Abuja Accord’ to win the war against religious and ethnic bigotry in our national life .
    The peace treaty was signed on Thursday after a two-day International Conference held at Abua .
    The groups in a communique issued at the end of the programme, urged Nigerians to eschew ethno-religious sentiments and resolve to embrace national cohesion, stability, peace and unity as articulated by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
    The combined groups mutually reached and endorsed the following resolutions:
     It congratulated the President Muhammadu Buhari for supervising the conduct of a successful, free, fair and credible 2019 general elections. He was applauded for disabling the plots and exiting the fears of Nigerians over a possible disruption of 2019 general elections and, seamlessly dislodging the potent phobia of electoral violence during and after the ballots.
       We also commend and congratulate the masses of Nigeria for their steadfastness in Nigeria’s democracy and peaceful conduct throughout the duration and segments of the 2019 general elections.
    The parley noted with great delight the slight improvement in voter-turnout, expressed in the enthusiasm of Nigerians to vote leaders of their choice at various levels. It is surely, a step towards dismantling the leech of voter-apathy in the democratic process and urged all Nigerians to intensify efforts to finally bury the ghost of electoral apathy.
    The meeting resolved that the President Buhari-led Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) today has demonstrated a clear direction and focus on national re-engineering and recovery of Nigeria in the spheres of social revival, economic prosperity, security and anti-corruption sub-sectors. This deserves encouragement and espousal by all compatriots for him to go the proverbial extra mile.
      The Group noted the abundant evidences in the determination and commitment of the present government in its drive for peace,  unity, the indissolubility and indivisibility of Nigeria,  by fostering dialogue for  national cohesion on thorny issues like ethno-religious tolerance  and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians of different ethno-religious and political persuasions.
       The parley noted with excitement the indelible imprints of the Buhari Presidency in hitherto neglected areas such as his ardent pursuit of food security and diversification of the economy through the promotion of mechanized agriculture and the soft loans to Nigerian farmers to boost robust agricultural engagements all over the county.
     The Groups pinpointed to Nigeria’s enlivened redemption journey with the revival of the railways transport; upgrade of national power generation and distribution from 2,300 megawatts of national grid in May 2015 to over 7,100 megawatts by end of 2018. We implored Mr. President to sustain these remedial actions.
     The increment in workers’ salaries with the President signing a New Minimum Wage Bill a fortnight ago and the expanding windows of the Social Investment Program (SIP) and the popular N-Power Jobs among many other similar schemes for the poorest of poor Nigerians are silent strategies of the administration in redistributing the country’s commonwealth, to majority of less privileged Nigerians, hitherto hijacked and concentrated in the hands of a few ruling elites.
        The Abuja Accord also resolved that for Nigeria as a nation, it is incumbent on her citizens to necessarily embrace the new breeze of “Change,” as spearheaded by President Buhari. Nigerians are invited to boldly make a statement to the entire world by supporting initiatives, policies and programmes which lubricate this “Change,” as it is clear the FGN alone cannot make the desired impact. The cooperation and support of the citizenry is indispensable.
    Therefore, Nigerians are challenged to imbibe new thoughts, values, perceptions and interpretations of national issues detached from personal proclivities or mundane contemplations. National interest should henceforth, be elevated above clannish or sectional interests.
        To this end, all Nigerians, old or young are prodded to consciously work in the direction of assisting the central and various state governments in implanting a boisterous agenda of   national cohesion, stability, peace and unity in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria.
        These are only the firm pillars of a prosperous and burgeoning Nigeria.  We cannot wish otherwise because these are the tripods that will foster rapid growth and development; whilst we de-emphasize pushy ethnic and religious sentiments, with the personal idiosyncratic approach to national issues. We are first of all, Nigerians before members of any community in the country.
          Consequently, the Abuja Accord intensely and strongly condemned the resurgence of violence and killings in some parts of the country for whatever reasons. No nation attains its height of progress through such beastly manifestations.
          It appreciated the inevitability of disputes or disagreements among people and communities. But it advocated for dialogue and amicable settlement as better, decent and more respectful weapon to adopt when such disagreements erupts or in conflict situations.  It confers dignity on the feuding parties and the image of the country.
      We pray for the souls of our brothers and sisters who have lost their lives in these unfortunate and senseless crises to rest in the bosom of Almighty God. We also wish the wounded quick recovery from their injuries, as we collectively pray for a cessation of the crises and against its resurgence anywhere in the country.
           The Abuja Accord found it expedient to call on leaders of Nigeria at the lower rung; whether political, traditional or religious to be more circumspect in their utterances and actions on potentially explosive national issues. They have a moral obligation to support the Buhari Presidency on its path of Nigerian redemption.
       Abuja parley extremely frowned at recent comments from religious and traditional leaders which infused ethno-religious sentiments in the lobbying for the constitution of President Buhari’s next cabinet and the emergence of the leadership of the 9th National Assembly (NASS).
      The unhealthy informal debate between the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). The two apex religious bodies in Nigeria seem at daggers drawn on a Christian or Muslim Senate President or Speaker of the House of Representatives, much against the trumpeted dictum of the new order of #NextLevel in Nigeria.
     The Abuja Conference expressed extreme displeasure at voicing such sentiments on a Christian or Muslim President of the Senate or Speaker of the House of Representatives as a descent into the retrogressive past, which Nigerians are unwilling to romance or accommodate today in any nuance.
       It was resolved that all religious leaders in the country should humbly and respectfully abstain from public partisan comments or leadership recommendations on the basis of religion.
    Also, the Abuja Accord endorsed the resolution to humbly inform these religious leaders that it is against the spirit of inter-faith and religious harmony and national cohesion among Nigerians to display such abhorrent postures.
         More so, as such recommendations are not the direct business of religious leaders, whose recognizable and godly duty is to pray fervently for the emergence of good leaders in the country. They should be concerned more about good leaders who would promote the idea of one Nigeria, as against the subsisting irrational segregation on religious fault lines.
        Furthermore, the Abuja Accord also reached a resolution that all ethnic warlords and bigots who have identified the consistent castigation of security agencies as failing in taming insecurity in the country as their only noble duty to give peace a chance. They are counseled to allow security agents do their jobs undistracted by the often influenced dishonest views they propagate to the disservice of Nigeria.
     It was acknowledged that traditional rulers and ethnic champions have greater roles to play in quelling crises in their respective domains than mere open rebuke of heads of security agencies over perceived wrongs. The penchant of traditional/ethnic leaders in constant interference with the governance process is also detestable and should be discarded.
     And where there are genuine concerns about lapses in the operation of security agencies, these traditional leaders have the onerous responsibility to approach the heads of the security agency concerned to raise his observations and recommendations in a manner that confers dignity on all parties.
    Such platforms will not erode the confidence of Nigerians in the job of these security agencies and oddly, ennoble the ethnic warmongers with a false sense of triumph over the Nigerian state as currently obtained. When leaders are disposed to national issues, especially on security in this porous manner, it does not lay the template for building the virile and great nation of our dreams.
    Going forward, the Abuja Accord has resolved that President Buhari must necessarily serve Nigerians an all-round hard working cabinet as he takes the oath of office for his second term on May 29, 2019.
    Mr. President is encouraged to search deeply and far to engage members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) who are competent, resourceful and committed to his “Change” and #NextLevel” mantra to assist him accomplish his wonderful dreams for Nigeria in the remaining four years.
    Therefore, the Groups resolved to impress it on President Buhari to constitute his 2019 cabinet that will only work for Nigeria and not for an ethnic group or religion or section of the country.
    The President should disregard ethnicity or religion in the consideration of the formation of his 2019 cabinet. He should shut his doors and ears to all ethnic and religious lobbyists and appoint competent Nigerian men and women, on merit to help him pilot the affairs of the nation.
        The President was also advised to apply the same yardstick in the constitution of chairmen and members of boards of federal agencies and parastaltals, which are the major support pillars to ministries in execution of government policies, programmes and projects. This Group is insistent that Nigeria should come first, as against any ethnicity or religion.
    Abuja Accord observed with dismay the shameful outings of some MDAs in the preceding years who returned unspent budgetary votes amounting to hundreds of billions of naira to government coffers at the end of fiscal years. This ugly scenario occurred even in MDAs covering sectors with severe developmental challenges; but whose heads were barren of initiatives to utilize the funds released to them to better the wellbeing of Nigerians.
    The President must be aware that the years 2019-2023 are the periods of fresh renewed hope as argued by Nigerians with his second mandate. And it behooves on him to shake-off all ungodly and distracting influences to redeem Nigeria from the clutches of people and sentiments which have tethered the country to the strings of servitude for decades.

  • Presidency to air documentary on Buhari administration

    The Media and Publicity Department of the State House says it has put together a 58-minute documentary on the efforts of the President Buhari administration in tackling the challenges it met on the ground.

    Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

    According to the presidential aide, the documentary, entitled, ‘FIRST TERM OF PRESIDENT BUHARI: IS CHANGE HERE?’,  gives more insight into various attempts by the administration to make Nigeria a better place.

    Read also: DG VON to Ndigbo: Add million votes to Buhari’s 12M Vote-banks

    “It is made up of interviews from officials of the administration with first-hand information on how the challenges are being tackled.

    “This documentary will air on Channels Television on Jan. 1, 2019 (New Year Day) between 8 and 9 p.m. and on the Network Service of the NTA on Jan. 2, 2019 at the same time belt,’’ he added.(NAN)

  • Centre urges President Buhari to sign Disability Bill Act into law

    Centre for Citizens with Disabilities has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Disability Bill Act into law to reduce the burden faced by People With Disabilities (PWDs) in the country.

    The Centre’s Executive Director, Mr David Anyaele, made the appeal in an interview the Nation on Wednesday in Lagos.

    “We are calling on President Buhari to fulfill his promise by signing the Disability Bill into law.

    “We strongly believe that the President must recognize that the cost of living with disabilities is enormous.

    “The hostile environment is excruciating; it is only signing the Act into law that will enable stakeholders to begin to create inclusive society and reduce the burden.

    “This is what we want to achieve with the bill,” he said.

    Earlier, in a statement, the director said that the National Assembly had transmitted the National Disability Bill to the president for assent.

    According to him, the bill was transmitted on Dec. 18 by the clerk of the National Assembly in line with the centre’s demand for the urgent transmission of the bill to the president.

    He said that this was the fourth time the disability bill would be transmitted to the president for assent since 1999 by the National Assembly.

    “Over 25 million men and women with disabilities and their families are appealing to Nigerians for support to secure the president’s assent.

    Read Also: CAN begins moves to uplift persons with disabilities

    “As the presidential candidate of APC, the president promised on March 21, 2015, at Lafia, Nasarawa State, to end all forms of discrimination against PWDs in Nigeria if elected as the President through passage of the disability bill.

    “The time for the President to fulfill his promise is now; already, he has appointed two senior special assistants and special assistant on disability matters.”

    Nation reports that some of the salient features of the revised bill include criminalisation of any form of discrimination against PWDs and ensuring adequate publicity, promotion of public awareness on the rights of PWDs.

    Others include making provision for accessibility to public buildings and related facilities; provision for a five-year period within which all public buildings and structures are to be adaptable for use by PWDs.

    Also, accessibility to transportation including road, sea ports, railways and air and related facilities; protecting the liberty of PWDs and criminalising their use in alms begging.

  • Amnesty International report dampening morale of soldiers- Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja declared the operations of Amnesty International in Nigeria appeared to be damaging the morale of soldiers fighting terrorism.

    Expressing worries over the role of the organisation on the war against terror in Nigeria, he said its action has created the impression Nigeria was fighting two wars on terror- Boko Haram and Amnesty International.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, urged the leadership of the international organization to always scrutinise its advocacy in Nigeria, especially as it relates to the war against terrorism.

    The statement reads: “While President Muhammadu Buhari cherishes and encourages the noble ideals on which institutions like Amnesty International are founded, the organisation’s operations in Nigeria seem geared towards damaging the morale of the Nigerian military.

    “The Federal Government is increasingly concerned about the role that Amnesty International is playing in the war against terror in Nigeria.

    “While President Muhammadu Buhari cherishes and encourages the noble ideals on which institutions like Amnesty International are founded, the organisation’s operations in Nigeria seem geared towards damaging the morale of the Nigerian military.

    “It often appears as if the Nigerian government is fighting two wars on terror: against Boko Haram and against Amnesty International.

    “The obvious bias and inaccuracies in Amnesty International’s recent country reports on Nigeria risk Amnesty’s reputation as an impartial international organisation.

    “President Buhari appeals to the leadership of Amnesty International to scrutinise its advocacy in Nigeria, especially as it relates to the war against terrorism.”

     

  • I’ve no rift with my father for supporting Buhari – Obasanjo’s son

    …insist it will be unfair to compare Obasanjo, Buhari government

     

    Son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo who is supporting President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office, Olujonwo Obasanjo has said his decision to support the President has not created any rift between him and his father, saying in supporting the President he was only looking at the future of Nigerian youths.

    The younger Obasanjo who spoke at a media interactive session organised by the APC Press Corp said despite supporting different Presidential candidates, the Obasanjo family remain one United and loving family, adding that supporting different candidates has not stopped them from being a family.

    Read Also:Oshiomhole: Obasanjo planning to rule by proxy

    He was however quick to add that it will be unfair for anybody to compare the present regime of President Buhari with the one that was headed by his father saying both government came into office under different circumstances.

    He said: “When we get to certain point in our lives, you are responsible for the decisions you take. With all due respect, my father is my father and will remain my father despite our political differences. At the end of the day, this election will end. Does that stop him being my father? Are you saying we cannot sit down and have dinner together and discuss issues?

    “As a nation, we need to progress mentally and quit looking at politics as a do or die or as something that separates us. Politics is meant to unite us. We can disagree to agree; we can have genuine argument. You see things from my point of view, I see things from your point of view and we see how we can work together.

    “That is the type of politics we are trying to promote and the message we are trying to send across. We are looking to promote certain values in politics. That is why we are in politics. It is very important that we rise above religion, ethnicity and primordial sentiments for the interest of this nation as a whole.

    “Politics is not a battle, it is not war. We should stop looking at it from the stand point of who is superior. I have an ideology and an opinion, my father has his and we are not in conflict, we are still a family, a loving family with my dad.”

    On whether his father has tried to influence his decision since announcing his decision to support President Buhari, he said: “I am as an individual and as an adult. I am here as someone who believe in this Government. This Government is diversifying the economy from an oil based economy and has made agriculture fashionable.
    “Today, people talk about farming and no longer look at it in a degrading manner. People now look at the value chain when you talk about farming. For me, it is all about the impact that this government has made. As a nation, we must look beyond oil and think outside the box by looking at other areas which is what this Government has come to do.

    “Nigeria is a nation blessed in several ways and not just oil and this government is promoting youth involvement in all sectors. As a young man, I am looking at future and I believe in this Government and I am supporting Mr. President. So, I cannot speak for my father.

    “Everybody’s parent wanted them to be one thing or the other, probably different from what they are today. But at certain stage in our lives, we choose our part. That does not amount to disrespecting your parents.”

    On why he is supporting the President, he said “We believe that by promoting the ideology of Mr. President, we are also promoting his achievement. We will be putting the fact forward and allow the electorates decide what is best for them.

    “Alot been going on in the social media. But at the end of the day, it is the grass root that matters. One of the things the President faced when he came into office was the security challenges in this country. Several local governments were under Boko Haram.

    “We will always have security challenges, but it is important that we have a leader who is sincere, trustworthy and make sure that our resources are applied towards fighting for this nation. You can see that from the successes we have recorded, Me President has done a tremendous Job within a short time.”

    On what he will be telling Nigerians who would want him to compare the Buhari government and that of his father, he said “I think that will be unfair because what each leader met on ground and came in under different circumstances. It will not be an unfair comparison.”

     

     

  • Manufacturers, artisans, market women mobilise to welcome President Buhari in Edo

    Members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Edo State, artisans and market women have commenced mobilisation of their members for the scheduled visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Edo State for the commissioning of the Edo-Azura Power Plant on Tuesday, November 27.

    The President is also to attend the Chief of Army Staff Conference, holding in Edo State, on the same day.

    Feelers from the organised private sector indicate that different professional groups are already prepping their members for the visit, just as market women are gearing up for a presidential welcome.

    A cross-section of members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Edo/Delta chapter, the Benin Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BENCCIMA), and other bodies said that they are ready to welcome the president to the state, and will be on ground to intimate the president with the impact of the current administration’s reforms on their businesses.

    Read also: Buhari’s, Atiku’s campaign chiefs clash at presidential debate

    A member of BENCCIMA, and Youth Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC) Edo State Chapter, Comrade Asuen Valentine, said that a great deal of mobilisation is ongoing across the state to see that the president gets a rousing welcome.

    Valentine, who is also Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/ Chairman, DVD Oil,  added, “We are ready to welcome the president to the state. This, for us, is an opportunity to engage with the President, tell him our concerns and also appreciate him for a number of policies that have positively impacted our operations, especially the move to diversify the economy.”

    Edo Market women leader, Madam Blacky Omoregie, on her part, said that market women are most excited to have the President in the state as his social investment programmes particularly the TraderMoni and MarketMoni have tremendously changed lives across the country.

    “This is the first time market women across the country are having such direct benefit from the government and it is so pleasing. This is why we are mobilising market women across the state to thank the President for all he has been doing and for placing us at the center of such interventions,” she added.

     

  • Why some Nigerians don’t want Buhari re-elected – Amaechi

    •Only court can reject APC candidates list

    The Director-General of Buhari/Osinbajo Re-election Campaign Organisation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, said yesterday that some Nigerians are opposed to the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, because he will not agree to share public funds for personal use.

    But he was confident that given the President’s “impressive performance” in the last three and a half years, the majority of the electorate would vote for him next year, in order to continue with his developmental strides and empowerment of the people.

    Amaechi, who is also the Minister for Transportation and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state and the Southsouth zone, insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had not rejected the list of APC’s candidates from Rivers state for 2019 polls.

    Only the court can do that, he said while presenting a book: “The Niger Delta Paradox: Impoverished in the Midst of Abundance,” written by Monsignor John Wangbu, a Catholic Priest.

    The well-attended event, which was chaired by the immediate Rivers Chairman of APC, Chief Davies Ikanya; also had in attendance the deputy governorship candidate of APC in Rivers, Chief Victor Giadom; the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Prof Henry Ugboma; a member of Rivers House of Assembly, Dr. Innocent Barikor; and Prof. Walter Ihejirika of UNIPORT, among other eminent personalities.

    The transportation minister, when accosted by reporters after the book presentation to comment on the latest developments in Rivers chapter of APC and the way forward, decided to be circumspect.

    His exchange with reporters went thus:

    What is the way forward for Rivers APC?

    Amaechi: “I am not the Chairman of APC.”

    What of INEC’s rejection of the list of candidates of Rivers APC for 2019 general elections?

    “I am not INEC, but does INEC have that power? It is only the court that can say that and there is nothing like that before INEC.

    What is your reaction to the directive of APC’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, that fresh congresses be conducted in Rivers State?

    “I do not know what you are taLking about. I have to see the chairman (of APC).”

    The transportation minister, during the book presentation, said that the problem of Nigeria was not leadership, but followership, stressing that Nigerians must produce what they eat.

    He stated that emphasis must be placed on accountability and consequences for actions taken/punishment for wrongdoings, in order to sanitise the system and have the hope of a better Nigeria.

    Amaechi said: “Why some persons are saying they will not vote for President Buhari next year is because the money available, instead of sharing it, we are working with it for development across Nigeria. If you see a disciplined person like President Buhari, who is saying we cannot continue like this and be sharing money, we need to support him.

    “We need to produce what we eat. Imagine Nigeria importing tomatoes and meat. Before, Nigeria was importing 500,000 eggs per day from South Africa. We are now producing our tomatoes and rice. We have reduced the importation of chicken and eggs.

    “Niger Deltans are impoverished by themselves. The Ogoni man who broke crude oil pipe, is he not aware that there will be environmental crisis? The Ikwerre man who stops the man who is producing crude oil in one of Ikwerre communities, did he remember how much it costs the Federal Government and the Nigerian nation and the loss incurred for the number of days of stoppage of oil production?

    “The private individual in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, who went to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company to collect money. Did he think that the money he collected belonged to Agip? If the money belonged to Agip, he would not be given. The money he collected actually belonged to the Niger Delta. Our agitation is in private pockets.

    “Calculate how much has come to Rivers State, including my administration, and look at the volume of development that has come out of the money, and see whether we are making progress. I am not saying the Federal Government is treating us in the Niger Delta well, but the funds that we have managed to get, what have we done with them? Do not blame politicians, blame yourselves too. The problem is not leadership, but followership. We must ask the right questions. It should not be a land of anything goes.

    “A friend of mine was made the Minister for Environment and she wanted to take up the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) for clean-up of the polluted Ogoni environment. She came to me and asked what she should do. In the Niger Delta, most people do not like development projects, but to share the money. I told her the first thing she would experience would be requests to share the money. I told her that if she smiled or laughed with the people, she would be in trouble. The first day she arrived, the people started demanding money, but she ignored them and she was successful.

     

     

    “The current people (in HYPREP) are having problems, because they are listening to the people. Me, I will not listen, but I will do what is in my mind. I only want to be judged by God and the society. I want to live, knowing that my conscience is clear and I have satisfied myself that I have done the right things. So that I can sleep freely. My conscience worries me a lot.”

    The transportation minister also said  that his successor, Governor Nyesom Wike, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), initially made little efforts to fight kidnappings and killings in Rivers, when he (Wike) observed that President Buhari might declare a state of emergency in the state, in view of the criminal activities, which he said had continued till date and now taking a dangerous dimension.

    He noted that when he was Rivers governor, while people of the state would be sleeping at night, he and the then army commander in Bori Camp, Port Harcourt would be awake, driving round the state’s capital and chasing criminals in bulletproof cars

    He said his wife, Judith, was always complaining about his not sleeping in the night, but he one day decided to ask the then First Lady to join him for the night patrol and she saw criminals trying to shoot at them, she became scared and had to  return  home.

     

  • President Buhari felicitates with Bishop Abraham Olaleye at 60

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Bishop Abraham Olaleye of the Abraham’s Evangelistic Ministry on his 60th birthday, wishing him more glorious years of service to God.

    Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in Abuja at the weekend felicitated with members of Bishop Olaleye’s family, his friends and associates in the ministry.

    The president commended the bishop for “the discipline, focus and sacrifice he makes to ensure that more people get drawn to God and established in Christian faith.’’

    He expressed belief that Olaleye brought courage and strength to many lives, while the wisdom and virtue of his sermons had helped to establish many strong spiritual homes, educational institutions and churches.

    Buhari also saluted the bishop’s courage in speaking against the evils of corruption, graft and bribery which had haunted the country for many years.

    He urged him to remain steadfast in the truth and continue inspiring younger preachers on the right path.

     

     

     

     

  • Letter to President Buhari

    SIR: One wouldn’t have to be very clever to realize that we are going through troubling times as a nation. In fact our situation is very desperate that if at all our nation ever needed saving, that moment is now.  One might say that we have experienced a few successes and made progress on some fronts but I dare say that these few advances have flattered only to deceive, thereby creating a façade of false impressions even as our real problems as a nation seem to multiply and become ever omnipresent.

    The previous administration was a disaster to this country; we witnessed violence, deceit, corruption, rape, unending suffering and gross maladministration on a scale that we had never experienced in the history of this country. The few political safety nets such as zoning that were put in place to foster and consolidate internal democracy in the party were snubbed and swept under the rug  due to selfish interests of a select few. It was these challenges that brought about a complete disruption and realignment of political forces which precedent had never before been witnessed in the history of this nation: the grandest merger of political forces ever seen on the African continent; a convergence of the most unexpected political players on a mission to save this country from the jaws of violence, oppression and tyranny.

    Those valiant souls who supported you in 2015 knew that you were the man with the personality and determination to bring us out of the abyss and they knew that in order to defeat such an insensitive and self-serving administration, deeds and thinking had to be Machiavellian. These people risked their wellbeing, comfort and lives for you they stood by you nevertheless in the face of oppression and certain danger.

    Mr. President sir, there’s an ill wind blowing up North and we northerners have been going through the most trying times, and are about to lose everything we stand for. People are being blackmailed and drawn into cultism on a daily basis we are losing our privacy, security and rest of mind to these invaders.

    General T.Y Danjuma deserves all our respect and admiration for being one of the few northern leaders to speak out about this menace and it is high time other leaders follow suit and standup and do something about this nuisance. Your efforts in developing our nation’s infrastructure like roads and the railway system are highly appreciated but the gross insecurity we have witnessed as a people in the North, religious and ethnic clashes, the abuse of confidence and damage to organized society are pointers to the fact that our problem is a moral one and not material. Yes we want railways, electricity and other social amenities but we can’t to have them at the expense of our culture and identity we are an easy going people who lead a very simple way of life and we can’t afford to trade it for anything else.

    The North is almost beaten to submission. We are losing our economy, security culture, influence, values and everything we stand for; we the youths are facing a very bleak future. We are the victims of all this chaos. We the youths have realized that this is no more a PDP, APC or any other political party matter; this is about our future and how we can remain relevant in a fast changing, brave new world.

    Now that the presidency is zoned to the North, we need to use this golden opportunity to gather data, experiment politically, compete fairly and rejuvenate our battered political machinery. Everybody has a part to play irrespective of party affiliations and we need to concentrate on our similarities and not our differences as the political theatre has evolved, new power blocks are struggling to emerge and trying to enlist the support of other non-block political forces and we can’t afford to be left behind in this race.

    Our brethren in the Southwest have managed to scale the initial stages of the democratic hurdle and are now trying to consolidate.For us, we have a backlog and we have so much to do at once; this is our opportunity to mature our politics. It is a process that cannot be faked or bypassed no amount of cosmetology or grandstanding can solve this problem. It has to occur naturally and what we fail to do will surely come back to haunt us in the future and it is we the youths that will pay the ultimate price.

    We the youths have no choice than to build on the hope that out of this chasm, we will emerge buoyant and resilient as we look forward to the infusion of new spirits in the polity.

     

    • Aliyu Aliyu,

    Abuja.

     

  • Why I chose to visit Afrika Shrine in Lagos – President Macron

    President Emmanuel Macron of France attributed his decision to visit the Afrika Shrine in Lagos to his nostalgia for the good memories of the iconic place.

    The President stated this while reacting to questions after a closed door bilateral talks with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

    It is believed that Macron would become the first “real president” to enter the Afrika Shrine synonymous with marijuana smoke, sexy backup dancers and protest music.

    The French President, who was trained as a senior civil servant at the French Embassy in Lagos in 2004, seven years after Fela died, described the Shrine as a cultural and iconic hub.

    Macron, who `confessed’ that he was not a stranger to the club, said he recognised the Shrine as an importance place for lovers of African culture.

    “First, because I wanted to find a good occasion to come back there. I know the place and I have some memories,

    “I have to confess at a time that there was no president around, I hope I will not spoil the party.

    “I think that is such an iconic place for a lot of African people and African culture.

    “And I think very often when you speak of the African culture in Europe, those who succeeded in Europe and in France, which is different most of the times, are not dramatically very famous in Nigeria or in Africa.

    “And there is a bias because you know people are absolutely not the same. I mean Fela, Femi, Seun Kuti are obviously very famous in France and Europe,

    “I mean they are big successes but the Shrine is a cultural hub, an iconic hub and is very important for me first on a personal level, and that is why I want to say with a lot of humility that I recognise the importance of this place, I recognise the place of culture in this current environment,’’ he said.

    President Macron expressed the readiness of French government to promote sport and cultural relations between Nigeria and France to address the problem of unemployment among youths in both countries.

    According to him, African Cultural Season to be hosted in France in 2020 will be inaugurated at the African Shrine tonight, while French sport initiative will be launched in Lagos on Wednesday.

    He said the African Cultural Season which would provide new opportunities to youths, was being financed by the private sector in Nigeria.

    Also speaking on the scheduled visit of French President to the Shrine, President Buhari described it as a very good idea.

    “Of course it is a very good idea and that is why the shrine survives. If it were not good idea people would have forgotten about it since the death of Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

    “People institutionalised it because they value it and that keeps the young men and women very busy”.(NAN)