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Tag: President Buhari

  • ‎The Necessity for enhanced Pension corruption battle under President Buhari

    Last month, April 2017, the news was everywhere on how security agencies showed up at the premises of the Pension Commission, PENCOM, Headquarters. That this happened a little after the erstwhile Director General of the commission, Mrs Chinelo Anohu- Amazu, was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari raised a lot of suspicion of fraud. The popular guess was that some whistle blowers might have embraced the new trend of exposing sleaze in government. Nevertheless, as most Nigerians anxiously awaited the names of those involved in the story, they felt disappointed when the  Department of State Services, DSS stated  that its operatives did not raid the Pension Commission (PENCOM) Office but were there to guide against a situation where sensitive documents would be tampered with ahead of the resumption of the new management.  For me, this was a good move on information management by the DSS but be that as it may, to most Nigerians,  there is rarely smoke without fire as there exist many opinions that the fraud in the Nigerian pension system has not ceased. If so, then the big question is how long will it take Nigeria to get it right on pension reforms especially in a country where pensioners still conduct regular protests on unpaid pension allowances?
    From experience, the fraud in the pension system has been huge embarrassment for the nation. Far more worrying is that when we thought Nigeria was almost reducing corruption in the pension system through what was largely termed a good reform process that focused on almost eradicating sleaze, it was suddenly aborted under very controversial circumstances. Emphatically, the greatest progress in pension reform happened in 2013 under the former Chairman of the then Pension Reform Task Team, (PRTT), Mr Abdulrasheed Maina. No doubt, at that important moment in Nigeria, Mr. Maina demonstrated ability to institutionalize the fight against corruption in the pension system through many innovations and strategies that assisted his team to recover 1.63 Trillion naira and delist about seventy thousand ghost workers from only about five pension institutions that were investigated. The outstanding ninety seven pension institutions and outfits that the Pension Reform Task Team declared had multiple trillions of naira awaiting recovery of stolen funds were not investigated before the Task Team members were forcefully removed.
    The story of Abdulrasheed Maina and his task Team on pension team has been told in diverse versions but what still stands as unchangeable truth is that it was immediately, Maina announced to State House correspondents at Abuja in 2013 that his team had uncovered that up to N3.3 trillion pension fund was stolen by what he described as Pension cabal and would soon publish names of the agencies alongside the people involved in the scam that his problems began. So, if really Maina’s remarks that mullti trillions of naira of stolen pension funds were yet to be recovered, then that means what we might have considered excellent performance by the Pension task team in recovering about 1.63trillion naira might just have been a scratch on the surface of pension fund theft in Nigeria. For any objective observer of a corrupt society, the conclusion would be that Maina spoke too soon and that could have been why the conspiracy against him became untamable and deafening with accusations of sorts.
    So, when the news surfaced that operatives of the security agencies arrived at PENCOM house to halt any move by some persons to remove some documents, what seemed apparent was that there could be a possibility that the pension reform has travelled back to the pre Abdulrasheed Maina days and that the old dirty fraud schemes which his Task Team  tried to confront might have reemerged in the pension system. Afterall, the forces that unjustly pulled down Maina and his Team are yet to be rigorously investigated. In fact, the strange thing about the Maina led Pension Task Team is that it was disbanded over baseless allegations despite the reality that it was recovering from private pockets trillions of naira for the Nigerian government.
    Indeed, if the truth be told, the original story of Maina on embezzling 195 billion naira though now publicly refuted by his major accuser, Senator Kabiru Gaya   was cleverly crafted  to cause false information gain acceptance and provide reasons for his removal. The effort of Maina’s enemies to play on gullible Nigerians was considered largely successful with the assistance of a section of the media.  For this set of Nigerians, castigating Maina was a perfect weapon of distraction from fighting corruption. Also, for some persons in government that were enjoying the pension loot directly or indirectly, calling Maina a criminal for recovering stolen fund was a ploy to influence perception against him. Of course, these ignoble Nigerians succeeded but with Senator Gaya recent disclosure, the people that spread the story against Maina then, were not interested in the facts; they were interested in removing Maina because he was fighting against their selfish interests. Sadly, those against the corruption battle in the pension scheme were very skilled in their acts to the extent that it was not difficult for them to blow out of proportion what was highly reconcilable difference between the Senate Committee and the Pension Task  Team.
    Consequently, Maina and his Task Team received slaps from many quarters. Specifically, the mass media played huge role through various means especially in the use of the press to adversely influence public opinion, thereby creating a dent to the character of Maina, by painting a picture of him as a ‘corrupt man’ who embezzled public funds for his personal advantage. Even the Nigerian Government which the Maina led Task Team helped to redefine the complexion of pension reform and recovered money for removed him from office without any justifiable reason. Even those that instigated Maina’s removal seemingly emerged victorious at the end of the day they would have felt happy and free from probe when relieved of his job. The only gain for Maina was his narrow escape from an assassination attempt.
    Beyond the flimsy accusations that almost ruined Maina’s reputation and nearly put him at a disadvantage, the truth is that even though the media dubiously delivered her verdict of sorts on Maina, the decision of the past government to remove him was a weak unprogressive decision. Indeed, with the new facts on the 195 billion naira fake accusation on Maina, it is very clear that all those that pressurized the government to terminate Maina’s work had contrast interests against the Nation’s fight on corruption. Otherwise, it would have just taken simple common sense of the Senate Leadership under David Mark to realize the absurdity of the position advanced by the Etuk led Senate Committee against Maina.  Unfortunately, as at then, nothing else mattered than removing Maina, thus the position of the Senator Etuk led Committee probably provided a perfect platform to make the Senate ignore worthy evidence.
    Maina’s story is a good example that truth is like a banana peel that will always find its way to the top of the river no matter how suppressed. Thus, it is good to now read from one of the Senators, that acted as the Committee’s Deputy Chairman which discredited and demonized Maina that what the 7th Senate Committee did was not far from engagement in anti facts or use of half truths. If so, then Nigerians and their leadership have a task to decide fairly on whether or not Maina’s  led Task Team still has a role to play in the anti corruption fight on pension reforms. However, what remains obvious is that Nigerian pensioners cannot be suffering from delayed payment of allowances whereas trillions of naira relating to stolen pensions funds are still in the personal treasury of the pension cabal. The necessity of enhanced action on stolen pension fund recovery by the Buhari administration cannot be overemphasied. Perhaps an investigation into what killed the Maina led Pension Task Team will offer new useful lessons.
    Ademola Olaniyi, a retired Civil Servant writes from Abuja

  • MUSWEN prays for President Buhari

    The Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN), has offered prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari, his government and the nation.

    The prayer was held during its 13th Regular Meeting at Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by its Central Working Committee (CWC).

    The CWC comprise of Muslim Communities/Councils of the six states of the Southwest, the major Muslim organisations domiciled in the region including Muslim women and youth organisations.

    The group thanked to Allah for responding to the prayers of Nigerians and bringing back the President in improved health.

    A statement by its Executive Secretary Prof Dawud Noibi, MUSWEN expressed profound faith in the fact that the span of life of a person is not determined by the wishes or claims of detractors by but by Allah’s decree, urging President Buhari and Nigerians to put trust in Allah and ignore the whispers of rumour mongers.

    The religious leaders also thanked Allah for giving the country and the armed forces victory over the Boko Haram menace and beseeched Him to complete the victory not only over the misguided insurgents but also over all other forms of threat to the security, unity and progress of the nation.

    They also prayed that the remaining Chibok girls be brought back safely.

    They hailed the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, for holding the forth for President Buhari so diligently over the period of the President’s absence.

    “Members took the advantage of the occasion to express condolences to the family of the former military governor of the old Western Region of Nigeria, Major General Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd) as well as the people of Ekiti State and the Southest on the occasion of his death. They pray that Allah grants his family and the nation the fortitude to bear the loss,” the statement said.

  • APC, Atiku, El-Rufai salute President Buhari

    APC, Atiku, El-Rufai salute President Buhari

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) “heartily welcomed” President Muhammadu Buhari back to the country yesterday after his medical vacation in the United Kingdom.

    The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary ,Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, was optimistic that  Buhari “is now well rested and has returned with new vigour and optimism to fix the challenges facing our people and fulfill the promises our party made to Nigerians during the 2015 elections.”

    It thanked the President for “following due process and properly handing over to his deputy, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and thereby saving the country the needless controversies and crises that we experienced in the past.”

    The party also commended Osinbajo for “competently holding forte on behalf of Mr. President and for his loyalty and commitment to the Change Agenda of our party”, and Nigerians for  ”praying for the health and safe return of the President.”

    The APC noted  that “government is fully committed to the party’s manifesto of Change, couched on true transformation in every area of national life.”

    Atiku welcomes Buhari home, urges unity

    Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, expressed joy and relief at the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from the United Kingdom.

    The former Vice President said  Buhari’s safe return is a happy moment not only as fellow party member, but also as a Nigerian that has tremendous goodwill and best wishes for the President.

    According to the Turakin Adamawa, the return of the President at this time would put to an end to the uncertainty and the conspiracy theories that attended his 50 days absence.

    Atiku Abubakar explained that, with the President’s return, Nigerians should unite behind their common interests and speak with one voice instead of nursing bitterness against one another because of political differences.

    The former Vice President prays to God to bless the President with many more years of good health and energy to serve his country successfully.

    El-Rufai takes to Facebook

    An excited Kaduna State Governor  Nasir el-Rufai  said on Facebook: “The President is back. He has landed safely in Kaduna and received by Deputy Governor, Barnabas Yusuf Bala,  and senior KDSG officials. The government and people of Kaduna State are proud to receive our First Citizen back to his home to face the task of rebuilding Nigeria. Alhamdulillah. Jumaat Mubarak to everyone.”

  • President Buhari condoles Dalung

    President Buhari condoles Dalung

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Minister of Youth and Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung on the death of his wife, Mrs. Briskila Dalung who died after a brief illness in the early hours of January 29, 2017 in Jos.

    In a telephone call made to Barrister Dalung by the President  on Monday night from London where he is currently on a short vacation, he prayed God to grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.

    President  Buhari regretted the death of Mrs Dalung which came at such an unripe age and prayed that God will forgive her sins and give the family she left behind the fortitude to bear the loss.

    The President  promised his unflinching support to the family of Dalung in their moment of grief.

    Mrs Dalung is survived by her husband and 5 children.

  • Re: President Buhari’s strides in the year 2016’

    Re: President Buhari’s strides in the year 2016’

    In a piece entitled ‘President Buhari’s strides in the year 2016’, published a few days ago in a number of print and electronic media, Garba Shehu, who is the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media, flagrantly stood the truth on its head and in that connection coldly insulted the sensibility of many Nigerians. Like many government spokespersons, Shehu served truth in that hyperbolic chronicle of “uncommon achievements” recorded in the better-forgotten year 2016. Indeed, Buhari’s spokesman’s celebratory narrative further aptly supports the claim that no one will hear the truth from those who are paid to distort it.
    What Shehu described as the ‘strides’ recorded by his principal in the last 12 months are faltering steps that could at best be styled as numbing drama of tokenistic performances. The performances of the Buhari administration in the outgone year do not qualify as great moves that resulted significantly in the improvement of the human condition in Nigeria. The space of good, meaningful governance covered by the federal government in the year in question, as the lives and businesses of Nigerians persuasively reveal, cannot be spoken of as positively wide in the manner that that governmental piper cheeped.
    Let’s consider the issue of security in the country which Shehu ululated about as one that has ‘improved significantly’. Anyone who has not been bitten by the pitiless bug of untruth knows that the success the army recorded against the nihilistic Boko Haram insurgent in the North-east is not an appropriate means of speaking of improved security across the federation. Dislodging Boko Haram from its operational base and freeing some swathes of land in its possession does not and cannot by any means translate to improvement in security across the country. Even the trumpeted enhancement of security in the North-east is so incipient that it constitutes poor judgement on the part of government to begin to wax lyrical on total victory.
    A proper review of the security situation across the country in the year 2016 will reveal a picture of a country assailed by manifold security challenges. We are talking of a year in which Fulani herdsmen from within and outside the country went on a killing binge. The herdsmen violently passed through Enugu, Plateau, Zamfara, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states. Many were the lives they cut short in their ruinous journeys across those states. What shall we say of the episodic melodrama of kidnappings and armed robbery? All of these increased disturbingly in that year to heighten the feeling of insecurity around the country. The prohibitive, yet avoidable, killings of many Nigerians in the past year within their own country further exposed the incapacity of those whose responsibility it is to protect the peoples of the land. The creepy silence and inaction of President Buhari in times of carnage and his insalubrious insensitivity to the pains of the grieving cannot be considered as security-enhancing measures. Therefore, it is unjustifiably insulting for Shehu, under the pretext of justifying his pay, to invent a narrative of substantial improvement in security in the country.
    Additionally, the deathly blows the Operation Lafiya Dole dealt the insurgent group in the ongoing campaign against the throttlehold of terrorism in the North-east do not translate into total defeat of the sect and their destructive ideology. Their fighting ability might have been degraded, but the truth is that the group has not been extirpated. In my view, no pronouncement of total defeat of that evil band can be genuine until the displaced people of that region are resettled successfully in their land. The improvement of security in that enclave cannot be celebrated until the people can resume normal living – trading, observing their various rituals of celebrations, worshipping in their mosques and churches, and schoolchildren attending schools without the slightest trepidation that some unstable minds will make mincemeat of their flesh with Improvised Explosive Devices.
    On the economy, Mr Shehu lanced our flaky flesh with the bayonet of half-truth. We harvested, he orated hyperbolically, in 2016 ‘the success of the important economic policy decisions of the government’. Contrary to his claim, the year was one in which many Nigerians appreciated the fact that the government does not have a practicable economic blueprint. Even its response to the recession which equally began in that year did more to compound the economic aches that weaken the purchasing powers of many families. It was the year of massive cuts in salaries across varied companies and the loss of about 1.7 million jobs within nine months (January to September) according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The agency also revealed that the number of those employed rose marginally from 69 million at the beginning of the year to 69.47 million by September ending while the labour force population rose by 2.18 million from 78.48 million to 80.66 million. Yet, the administration’s spokesman wants Nigerians to believe that the ineffectual stirrings of the government in the economic sphere are some of the fetching flowers in the bouquet of the ‘strides’ achieved in 2016.
    Another embroidered fact from that narrative concerns the Social Investment Programme of the government, of which the Conditional Cash Transfer to the most vulnerable Nigerians and the N-Power scheme for unemployed youths stand out. How programmes that have not been properly thought through and that have yet to yield any valuable result qualify for celebration is perplexing. A careful observation of the way the government is going about the implementation of the programmes shows that the government does not yet understand how to properly implement them. The delay in their take-off and the loose thinking that characterises their operations are glaring evidence of lack of brilliant organisation. Many of the states are not even well informed about the programmes. The government unwittingly gives the impression that it is just out to throw some bones to the people as a means of eliciting applause. The Shehu write-up does no less.
    It is important to point out that the increasing proclivity of the Buhari administration to always praise its unformed and inchoate efforts is seriously hamstringing it from being able to understand that it is punching below its weight. Since it thinks it is recording significant ‘strides’ in all critical sectors, it cannot appreciate the fact that the thinking that undergirds its governance philosophy is weak. That urge to tell itself that its ideas are the best and celebrate tokenism hinders it from gaining a good understanding of its limitations.
    The bald truth is that the strides of the government in the last 19 months are more uninspiring. They are strides that birth transition without lasting transformation. Nigeria is in urgent need of transformational strides in all areas. The depressing reality is that the strides recorded in 2016 did far very little to move the country near notable transformation. If the president, whose spokesman reminded us is a taciturn, will speak through his works, let them be invaluably substantial transformational performances.
    •Ademola is a public affairs analyst and researcher. He writes from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

    Sanya Oni’s Policy column returns next week

  • Open letter to President Buhari

    Open letter to President Buhari

    I write this letter in response to the growing anxieties and pains stalking the land, especially the unintended fire storm which my comments elicited on the social blogosphere some few days back. Candidly, I only wanted to express my frustrations at the shape and turn of things in the country and take you to task on previously given assurances that you feel the pains which Nigerians are grappling with. While thanking you most profusely for feeling our pains, we would be better off, if there are immediate remedial steps which can bail us from further hardships. The pains for want of a better word are unimaginable and any hint of its continuing will not augur well for us as a people.
    To be sure, it is such a good thing for you to give us assurances of feeling our pains but until and unless it translates into tangible improvement of our individual and collective lives, then it means next to nothing for the vast army of despondent and hungry Nigerians who have been battered and almost swept away into oblivion by no fault of theirs. Under these circumstances, nothing can resonate and revive them as a change of fortune. Only a drastic change in the economic situation will make living any meaningful in today’s Nigeria.
    The truth of the matter, sir, is that never have we witnessed on this scale the excruciating pains and feelings of hopelessness now pervasive, not even the hardship of the second republic comes any close. Never have we sunken to this depths of despair with prospects of further decline. We feel captured, vanquished, obviously betrayed and worried as citizens of this country. Every Nigerian is worried and it is not unusual to hear tales of lamentations when two or more of our country men and women congregate these days. The tales are so frightening and mind-wreaking that even the rich are not immune. These are indeed perilous times.
    As we stagger under the weight of spiralling inflation, reversed and dashed opportunities, continued decline in crude oil prices, massive unemployment, recession and increasing blame game, where lies the much needed salvation? Mr. President, am afraid that nothing but the reversal of this painful experience will do. Perhaps, you are trying your best but it only becomes meaningful when Nigerians can feed and experience a new lease of life.
    We are paying for the sins of the past, mainly of running a mono-cultural economy which is mainly oil based but only creative imagination is required to bail us out at the moment. As the current President, history will summon you to its judgement room to answer some certain questions. What immediate steps did you put in place to stem the slide would be one of such questions? History beckons and nobody but you would be put on the spot.
    I recall that you rode into office on the popular assumption that having spent a dozen years chasing the Presidency because of a well articulated plan to reform, revamp and revitalise our national economy. You are a little into your mid-term cycle and before long, another cycle of electioneering campaigns will commence. What are your achievements in the interim? I ask because it is not yet certain that much has changed in the experience of the ordinary Nigerian.
    The task of rebooting the economy is entirely yours and no amount of excuses or tepidity will do the needful. What is required is a clear understanding and necessary intervention to take us out of the woods. Nothing short of that will suffice. We are hungry. We want access to cheap food. We want opportunities. We want jobs and security. We want the state to response to threats before they blow out of proportions. In other words, the rhapsody of change, which you promised is yet to be fully or even partially fulfilled. Before long, there would be need for us to compare and contrast notes. It would be done with the best of intentions and the overall interest of the Nigerian peoples at heart.
    Courage and purposeful leadership are required to steer our national ship into an oasis of plenty from this long trek in the wilderness of want and lack. Offset the debt of promises you freely made to us during the last campaigns. The tide of history will not permit for inexorable march in the direction of failed promises. I can assure you that the Nigerian youths would score you objectively and reasonable before long.
    I recall that you promised to jettison the odious practices of the past by building a more equitable and egalitarian Nigeria during the campaigns. The poetry of electioneering is over and you are now faced and confronted with the daunting task of governance, which is not easy but it is your call. You must make needed sacrifices, your famed integrity will be called to question, decisions must be made with the consequences in mind and finally, it is expected of you to bequeath a value system that will take us forward into the future.
    As a retired soldier, I leave you with the Cadet Prayer at West Point Military Academy in the United States: “Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half-truth when the whole truth can be won”. Embrace the whole truth and do not let people within your immediate circle deceive or delude you into believing otherwise-Nigerians are tired and pained at heart. Come to our rescue. Fix our country and our lives, that’s all we ask for by voting you into office.
    Thank you for your time and do have a wonderful experience fixing the Nigerian situation.

    •Moremi Ojudu

  • Buhari won’t be alone in 2019, says Presidency

    Buhari won’t be alone in 2019, says Presidency

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mal. Garba Shehu on Monday dismissed suggestions that the masses will desert President Buhari in 2019.

    A former CPC member, Alhaji Buba Galadima had claimed that President Buhari would be abandoned by the people in 2019.

    In a statement issued in Abuja, Garba Shehu described the suggestion as unfounded and utterly ridiculous.

    According to him, the ordinary Nigerians are the backbone of his mandate and the only reason he ran for the office is to protect them against the rapacious merchants of corruption, who have held Nigeria back for decades.

    He said that Galadima’s calculation and prediction is utterly confused and misleading.

    The masses, he said, are solidly behind Buhari because he is not stealing their money and their future.

    He stressed that the President’s enormous goodwill remains ever strong because the people are convinced the President is acting in their best interest, despite the temporary unintended consequences of reforms.

    He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari is far from isolation. He enjoys a very strategic relationship with ordinary Nigerians. This relationship is as solid as the proverbial rock. If Buba Galadima thinks that because he has no role and no job in this government that means president is isolated he is putting himself up to ridicule.”

    He said that Galadima cannot speak for the masses as far as their steadfast loyalty to Buhari is concerned.

    Acknowledging that Galadima was entitled to advance his own political agenda, Malam Garba said Galadima didn’t have the right to decide for ordinary voters.

    He recalled that Buba Galadima’s disagreement with President Buhari was based on principle.

    He explained that President Buhari is committed to level playing field and would not want anyone to link his name to injustice.

    The Presidential media aide said Galadima’s disagreement with Buhari started in 2011 when a group within the party, orchestrated an organizational mess by which the CPC embarked on the imposition and substitution of candidates for cash payments at the expense of those duly and democratically elected.

    He said Muhammadu Buhari was embarrassed by the incidents and complaints about the imposition and substitution of candidates, adding that he, as a democrat, would not suppress the will of the people to please selfish interests.

    “Consequently he dispensed with the service, such as they are, of Buba Galadima; ran and won the 2015 Elections without them. Let Buba Galadima go to his constituency, stand for election and see what will happen to him,” he stated.

  • What can we still hope from President Buhari?

    The Buhari presidency kicked off on a big note of hope – especially because President Buhari immediately embarked on a war against corruption. But, unhappily, in its one year, it has slumped badly. The eagle that the world gathered to watch soaring above the highest mountains is flapping helplessly among the lowliest shrubs.

    From the way Buhari’s political party base crystallized and fought for his election, we Nigerians had good reason to hope that he would unite our country and mobilize some of the best of our talents to move our country fast and far into success and prosperity. Instead he has chosen to retreat into building an administration led and guided almost wholly by his kinsmen. Even the formerly solid South-west base of his party is being pulverized. The Igbo of the South-east are virtually excluded. The Ijaw of the South-south and the Kanuri of the North-east are being battered by insurgency and war. The many small nationalities of the Middle Belt are being subdued by incessant brutalization by Fulani herdsmen and the herdsmen’s other kinsmen. The same herdsmen are doing all their worst to disrupt orderly farming and rural life in all the states of the South. The old animosities between North and the South have risen to great heights again.  Even in the Hausa-Fulani North-west, the Buhari presidency has managed to generate internal animosities, mostly by excluding some sections – with the result that many respectable north-western voices have been raised in condemnation of the Buhari presidency. In all essence, Nigeria is a lot more divided and more shaky today than it was only a year ago.

    In the midst of all these, and under the impact of poor understanding of economic forces and incompetent management of the economy, Nigeria’s economy is being shattered. Many Nigerians talk of recession, but we appear to be more in a depression today than in a recession. A number of times in recent months, the national electricity grid has plunged all the way close to zero. Businesses are being wiped out. Large numbers of small businesses are finding it impossible to cope. Investment is fleeing from our country, and we are experiencing a process of deindustrialization. Commodity prices are sky-rocketing. Some food prices are doubling within days. The hold of hopeless poverty on the masses of our people is tightening. The National Bureau of Statistics said some months ago that about 70% of Nigerians were living in “absolute poverty” and that that percentage was increasing. The percentage may have risen close to 80% by now.

    In spite of this condition of our country’s economy, President Buhari still opts for war to solve some of the most challenging problems of our country. The presidency says that some 3,000 troops are now fighting the people of the South-south and that the number will be increased to 10,000 by next January. He obviously thinks that those Nigerian national groups hitting now at Nigeria can only be pacified in only two ways – by subduing them with military force, or by bribing or tricking them into surrendering and reconciling with the status quo. He has no thoughts whatsoever of considering serious changes in the status quo in order to bring the troubles to an end. And, as far as we can see, his intention is to raise heavy loans to finance this policy. Some days ago, he placed before the National Assembly a request to be allowed to raise the equivalent of N9.12 trillion from abroad – a loan that will instantly raise Nigeria’s foreign debt by a staggering 150%.

    Altogether, President Buhari is pushing or pulling our country towards something truly frightening. What this will be if he continues with it, only God knows at this point. But President Buhari does not have to continue along this path. There are other options. In the interest of the country that gave him power as president, and in the interest of the over 180 million of us Nigerians, he must now consider other options.

    First, as much as possible, Nigeria must liberate the inherent energies of each Nigerian nationality, or every section of Nigeria, so that it may develop its own homeland in its own way and make its own kind of contribution to the overall progress and prosperity of Nigeria. That means, we need to restructure our federation rationally. The capricious structure given gradually to the Nigerian federation since the 1960s, and the massing of all power and resource control and development in the hands of the federal government, has not worked and it can never work. It is a path to the death of Nigeria. And it needs to be changed expeditiously.

    Secondly, Nigeria must begin to invest heavily in our youths in all corners of our country.  I mean in quality education, in modern job skills training programmes, in entrepreneurial development programmes, in leadership development programmes, in business support programmes, etc. All of these should be a mandated agenda in all our states, and should be strongly shielded from infestation by partisan political germs and viruses. The objective must be that our men and women will soon rank among the world’s best modern workers, best managers, best chief executives of companies, most prolific inventors and business starters, most professional and dignified civil servants, etc.

    Thirdly, we must definitively crack the knotty problem of our infrastructures. In particular, we must zero in on electricity, and make partial, haphazard and spasmodic supply of electricity a thing of the past in all parts of our country. This will serve as an incentive to draw countless Nigerians out to scramble for, and push, a modern economic and industrial culture in our country. Centralization of electricity supply has failed our country; we need to diversify in various ways.

    Fourthly, we must create various incentive policies to encourage investment – investments by Nigerians and by foreigners, in all facets of our economy (industrial, commercial, service, agricultural, research and development, tourism, social services, real estate, etc). We must devise ways and means to attract Nigerians scattered all over the world to be part of this investment movement. And we must establish various incentives to encourage businesses in Nigeria to pursue an aggressive export orientation – to produce high quality products that can easily penetrate the most sophisticated markets in the world, and to evolve superior and efficient export management practices.

    Fifthly, we must de-emphasize politics as a means of livelihood among our ambitious citizens. We must drastically reduce the emoluments and perquisites earned in politics and public offices, shut down the unrestricted and uncontrolled access of public officials to public money, revive the public service rules and regulations that guided the handling of public money during the 1950s (rules and regulations that were destroyed by the military regimes in 1966-99), and institute enforceable limitations and controls over political and electoral expenses.

    All these will deal a heavy blow at public corruption in our country – in addition to whatever other methods the Buhari presidency may choose to use to fight corruption. To crush public corruption effectively and abidingly, we need to reform or change the structures, institutions and practices that uphold public corruption in our country. Merely striking at the manifestations and culprits of public corruption at the top cannot really eliminate corruption. If it subdues corruption to some extent now, it cannot ensure that corruption will not return.

    Sixthly and finally, it is time we put to rest the growing influence of religion in our political life. Our country was much more peaceful and stable in the 1950s when religion was not so much a force in our politics. Of course, all should be free to practice and propagate their faith. But the government of a country of religious plurality like Nigeria should not be involved in promoting any religion.

    The developmental strategies summarized above are by no means new to the Nigerian debate. They are from the progressive agenda which germinated in the then Western Region in the 1950s and which reached its maximum flowering in the late 1970s under Chief Awolowo’s leadership.  Though it started in a region of Nigeria, its purposes have never been regional or sectional. Its objective is to reinforce growth and development in all corners of Nigeria, to put the opportunity to prosper within the reach of all Nigerians, and to make Nigeria a prosperous, powerful and great country. It is part of our Nigerian heritage, and it is easily accessible to Nigeria’s topmost servant of today – President Buhari.

  • Chibok girls: CAC lauds President Buhari

    Chibok girls: CAC lauds President Buhari

    President of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Worldwide, Pastor Abraham Olukunle Akinosun, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the release of 21 Chibok girls. He said this is a step in the right direction which gives hope that the remaining girls would soon be released.

    Pastor Akinosun, while addressing journalists on the development, said the entire nation is happy at the news of the girls’ release and he urged the President to expedite action on the release of the remaining girls.

    “We are very happy at the release of the girls. Some were saying Boko Haram prisoners were exchanged for the girls, some said they were freely released, whatever the method used, the end seems to justify the means. All we are after is for the rest of the girls to be released to join their families. That is what will give us lasting happiness,” he said.

    Akinosun commended the federal government and the Nigerian Armed Forces for keeping the insurgents at bay. But he added that government should not think the battle had been completely won until the last bastion of Boko Haram insurgents had been routed. He also called on the federal g overnment to declare a state of emergency on the incidence of kidnapping, which he said is assuming a terrifying dimension.

    “Many people may be blaming the current economic downturn in the country for the upsurge in kidnapping. But as Lord Denning pointed out many years ago, no one is justified to commit evil on the ground of expediency. The Bible also affirms that the wicked have gone astray from their mothers’ womb… (Psalm 58: 3).

  • Has President Buhari lost the plot?

    Many many years ago, when I was only seven or eight years old, my wonderful father, the late Barrister Olatunde Olarewaju Balogun, took a lot of time and trouble to make me learn substantial passages of an epic poem by Lord Macauley entitled ; “Horatius at the bridge”. This is a 19th century English poem inspired by the story of Horatius, an extraordinary hero who is reputed to have saved the ancient city of Rome from conquest and destruction by a marauding horde of invaders led by Lars Porsena of Clusium.

    I am proud to say that my father’s tutelage was so thorough and painstaking that well over 60 years later, I am still able to recite a few portions of this famous poem from memory. Some the most stirring passages of Lord Macauley’s immortal poem run thus:

    (…)

    Then out spake brave Horatius

    The Captain of the gate:

    “To every man upon this earth

    Death cometh soon or late.

     

    And how can man die better

    Than facing fearful odds

    For the ashes of his fathers

    And the temples of his gods,

    And for the tender mother

    Who dandled him to rest,

    And for the wife who nurses

    His baby at her breast (…) ?”

    The poem then goes on to narrate how Horatius, (assisted by two other heroes), and unmindful of injury, pain and death, succeeds in holding off the invading army by fighting bravely to ward off the enemy at a narrow bridge pass guarding the only possible access to Rome for long enough for the city patriarchs to mobilize adequate manpower and cut down the bridge in order to save the city from destruction by the ruthless foes who are intent on unleashing havoc on Rome…

    In the end, the two companions who fought side by side with Horatius perish in the fighting, but though badly wounded, our brave hero is able to jump into the river Tiber and swim back to safety, earning tremendous applause and praise from both sides…

    The parallel that comes to mind is that at the time of the 2015 Presidential elections that swept Mr. “do-nothing know-nothing” Ebele Goodluck Jonathan from the Presidency, I was convinced (along with many other fellow Nigerian citizens) that I was watching a Nigerian remake of the Horatius epic sage, with Muhammadu Buhari cast in the role of the heroic defender who has rushed forward at great personal risk to defend the Nigerian nation from a host of dangerous and merciless adversaries, ranging from disease, hunger and poverty to the mind-boggling misdeeds of the rapacious and wicked criminals posing as ministers and government officials during the Jonathan administration era, as they rampaged through the countryside, intent on destroying Nigeria through large-scale theft and unprecedented acts of sabotage…

            Alas!

    At some point in time soon after he was elected to lead the people of Nigeria out of the wilderness, President Buhari appears to have not only lost the plot, but to have also recast himself in a totally different role in a vastly different play, which some harsh critics have rather unkindly begun to describe as a story about the restoration of northern supremacy in Nigeria…

            However, even though it is a well documented fact that President Buhari has so far appeared inclined to discriminate actively in favour of fellow northerners in making appointments to a number of key federal positions, it would appear rather far-fetched to accuse him of seeking to devote all his energy to working for the restoration of northern hegemony in Nigeria…

           Still, the bemused spectator of the on-going Nigerian reality film show cannot help observing that instead of a remake of “Horatius at the bridge” with the fearless hero Buhari cast in the lead role, the film we originally sat down to watch with great relish has suddenly veered into a totally different story, with the lead actor recasting himself as a timid character who is tottering on the edge of the bridge, utterly consumed by the need to avoid falling into the raging waters of the river below instead of striding forward manfully to deal decisive blows on the enemies of the Nigerian nation…

              Suddenly, we have started watching our erstwhile dauntless hero retreating step by step from the raging combat, first by appealing in seemingly anguished helplessness for UN mediation to help recover the Chibok girls from captivity, then by appearing to condone near-treasonous attempts by some leading figures in government to conduct so-called ‘negotiations’ with gangs of rampaging criminals largely funded by an assorted crowd of conspirators headed by fugitives from justice of Niger Delta origin and die-hard Jonathan supporters…

                 Wait a minute folks!

                 What is going on?

    Is this the beautiful film we saved up for years to be able to watch in our national open air cinema theatre?

    Could it be that we have been shown into the wrong cinema theatre by an incompetent usher?

                 Or has the projectionist suddenly substituted reels from a totally different film for the one we thought we were watching originally, in the course of which our knight in shining armour Muhammadu Buhari was supposed to charge forward fearlessly to repel the barbarians at Nigeria’s gates?

                What the effing “F” is going on?

    And now, just as have begun stirring restlessly in our seats, wondering whether or not to start heading towards the exit of the cinema theatre, the film we had been watching has suddenly morphed into a dreadful nightmare in which the lead actor is captured by a dangerous group of extortionists and looters spearheaded by a certain pot-bellied General…, who have openly ganged up to rob the Nigerian nation of her few remaining assets by  braying loudly for the sale of major public corporations at ridiculous prices to members of the mafia group of ugly conspirators under the guise of “saving Nigeria from the effects of recession”…

                   WHAT is actually going on?

    Has president Buhari completely lost the plot?

    Alas, alas, for our poor nation!

     

    • Dr. Balogun, film maker and musician is currently resident in Cotonou, Benin Republic.