The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • FG lauds Obaseki’s education reform

    The federal government has commended the giant strides of the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, in the education sector, specifically the policy options that have created over 7,000 digital teachers across the state and the high school attendance rate in the state.

    Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu, gave the commendation on Monday at the 2018 Alaghodaro Summit in Benin City, the Edo State, capital, an event organised to mark the second-year anniversary of the Obaseki-led administration.

    Adamu who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, restated the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s commitment to sustaining the funding of the basic education sub-sector through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

    He commended the giant strides of the Edo State Government and the appreciable impact made in the basic education sector in the last two years.

    Adamu said that of the about 10 million out-of-school children in the country, Edo State has one of the lowest of that number.

    “We should not forget the challenges facing the basic education sub-sector in Nigeria with over 10 million out-of-school children. Edo State has one of the lowest numbers of out-of-school children in Nigeria,” he said.

    The minister said the success made so far by the Obaseki-led administration is commendable and holds a great promise of moving the education sector to a greater height.

    He assured that the federal government  would continue to support Edo and other state governments in meeting their basic education obligations.

    Adamu called on state governments to access their counterpart funds through UBEC as the federal government has made huge amount of money available to develop the basic education sub-sector in all the states.

    The minister urged state governments to access and utilise the funds to transform the nation’s basic education sector.

     

  • Buhari lists conditions for restructuring

    …Why Nigerians in diaspora won’t vote in 2019

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday gave conditions to be fulfilled before the government can go into restructuring of the country.

    He pointed out that there should be proper definition of what Nigerians want before the government can delve into restructuring the country.

    The President also noted that many Nigerians who have been calling for restructuring have been doing so without defining what the restructuring should be.

    Read Also:Jail terms no longer deterrence for illicit financial flow, says Buhari

    Buhari, who spoke during the interactive session with Nigerians living in France, was in the country for the Peace Forum attended by about 70 world leaders in Paris.

    The Nigerian community, which was made up of Nigerian Diaspora Organization (NIDO), All Progressives Congress (APC) members in France, students and friends of Nigeria, asked the President questions ranging from restructuring, security, anti-corruption, education and opportunity for Nigerians in diaspora to vote in 2019 general elections.

    The President said; “There are too many people talking lazily about restructuring in Nigeria. Unfortunately, people are not asking them individually what do they mean by restructuring? What form do they want restructuring to take?

    “Do they want us to have something like the three regions we used to have? And now we have 36 states and the FCT. What form do they want? They are just talking loosely about restructuring.

    “Let them define it and then we see how we can peacefully do it in the interest of Nigerians.

    “They are just saying they want Nigeria restructured and they don’t have the clue of what the form the restructuring should be.

    “So, anybody who talks to you about restructuring in Nigeria, ask him what he means and the form he wants it to take,” he stated.

    He also gave reasons why Nigerians in diaspora might not vote in the 2019 general elections.

    According to him, it will be very difficult for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to put in place structures to accommodate them with just about three months to the 2019 elections.

    Noting that the increasing Nigeria population in the diaspora supports the calls for their participation in electing Nigeria leaders, he said that it might not happen in the 2019 general elections as INEC had been more focused on strengthening and consolidating on its achievements to conduct credible elections within the country.

    But he said that Nigerians in diaspora would definitely participate in future elections.

    Buhari said “We want to secure the Nigeria votes first before we go foreign. We are going to strengthen the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be more independent and viable ….  so that they can recruit more committed and educated Nigerians to be in charge and use technologies to get the votes from all the constituencies.

    “So, with the way the economy is now, I think with the elections in three months’ time, it will be very difficult for INEC and the government to organize quality survey of those that are outside,” he said.

    Responding to the question on education in Nigeria, the President said that his administration is doing its best to invest more in infrastructures, education and other sectors.

    The Nigerian elites, he said, disappointed Nigeria and the Nigerian masses under the sixteen years administrations of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    According to him, so much waste has gone down the drain from the huge resources earned in during the PDP administrations in the country between 1999 and 2015.

    He said that there was nothing to show for the earnings including the $16 billion said to have been spent on power.

    He urged Nigerian elites, both at home and diaspora, to do more in contributing to the educational sector of the country, expressing surprise that the elites tolerated the fall in standards and structures of educational institutions despite the huge oil earnings.

    He said; “So, really I have seen it all and I was disappointed in the Nigerian elites. What have they done in these sixteen years?”

    “What do we have with our oil production down to half a million and the price per barrel went down to about $30, what could we have done with the infrastructure?

    “You should find out the damage done by the main opposition now to the economy and the integrity of the country.

    “So, we are now trying to improve infrastructures and do more in education and other areas.

    “We are currently reviewing investments in the entire infrastructure of the country like road, rail and power, including investing more in education. We will certainly need to do more in education,’’ he said.

    He added “I am doing my best now to utilize our resources to develop the country. We are already getting results on road, rail and power. My frustration is that some people still have plenty stolen money stashed in Europe, U S and other countries.’’

    According to him, return of stolen assets in some safe heavens will bolster the administration’s current effort of investing more in critical infrastructure that directly impact on the livelihood of Nigerians.

    He said that the war against terrorism will be reinforced with new weapons and hardware for the military

    The challenge of abduction and kidnapping in some parts of the country, he said, will receive more attention with better gathering of intelligence.

    According to him, God and technology in form of card readers and Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) won the Presidential elections for him in 2015 despite not succeeding in three earlier times.

    “We campaigned on three key issues; security, improving the economy, and fighting corruption, and we have not been controverted by anyone that we have not recorded some results,’’ he said.

    Speaking earlier, the Nigerian Ambassador to France, Dr. Modupe Irele, said that the Nigerian community in France had demonstrated high sense of responsibility, dedication and morality.

    According to her, the large number of professionals had been encouraged to also contribute to the country’s development.

    “Nigerians here are law abiding, peaceful and resourceful,’’ she said.

    President Buhari’s commitment to change, she noted, will make Nigeria the envy of other African countries.

    Speaking to journalists at the end of the interactive session, Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, said that it was very important for President Buhari to attend the Peace Forum in Paris.

    He said “President Muhammadu Buhari has been preaching for peace, especially when he came on board, he met our country religiously and ethnically divided.

    “I think it is important that he meets with other world leaders to discuss how peace can be promoted among the nations and various people of the world.

    “There is no way you can promote peace where there is massive corruption. Massive corruption deprives people of development, and if there is no development, there won’t be any peace.” he said

    Willy Obiano of Anambra State said that it is important for Nigeria to be emphasizing peace.

    In the education sector, he said that the state has invested a lot of money into the sector in the last four years.

    He said “We revamped 1482 primary and secondary schools. We have sent our teachers to Singapore and Germany for training.

    “More importantly, what my administration has done in Anambra State with respect to education is to reach the … end of Anambra State.” he said

    House of Reps member, Nasir Ali Ahmed, representing Nasarawa Federal constituency of Kano State, said that the interactive session was a very successful meeting.

    He hoped that a lot of the Nigerians living in France will come back home to contribute their quota to Nigeria’s development.

    Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, a Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs, recently nominated Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Diaspora Commission, who facilitated the meeting, said that a lot of Nigerians living in France are already doing many things at home for the economy.

    “So, we will continue to engage with them and continue to stress the positivity about our country, Nigeria,” she said

    Stressing that there are some Nigerians in prisons in France, she said that Nigerians are being encouraged to obey the laws of the land wherever they go.

    She also pointed out that the new commission is not a charity organization, but aims to tap into the enormous resources of Nigerians in the diaspora.

  • Buhari’s certificate controversy and integrity question

    It last, President Muhammadu Buhari finally gets his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate after weeks of brouhaha generated by the president’s decision to ask the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to find his school leaving certificate.

    Many said the President would have saved the nation the drama had he made efforts to get the certificate the day he knew he would be running for election again. But, he waited till the period the certificate would be required to authenticate his candidature in the coming general elections. This is not fair enough.

    For how long should the Buhari’s certificate brouhaha continue to dominate public discourse? Is Mr. President comfortable about this sordid development?

    The President came under heavy public criticism and this is justifiable, because Buhari failed to read the public barometer to know people are looking forward to debates on how present problems facing the country could be tackled. At that time when candidates are rolling out their programmes, Buhari allowed his academic certificate to become the issue.

    The President, for the umpteenth time, submitted an affidavit to INEC in place of his WAEC results. In the document, he claimed that his credentials were still with the secretary of the Nigerian army.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vilified the president for failing to tender his academic credentials. The major opposition party noted that the president’s failure to present his school certificates invalidated his claim of being a man of true integrity.

    A prominent lawyer, Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), also said the President was about to make the same mistake he made in 2015, when he said his certificate was with the military.

    Agbakoba was quoted to have said: “It is a fairly serious matter that the court would have to interpret. Any Nigerian concerned with upholding the constitution could take the matter to court and they won’t be considered a meddlesome interloper in the matter. Let the court decide.”

    Yinka Odumakin, spokesperson of Afenifere, did not mince word when he said Buhari should compel the military, as the sitting president, to produce his original certificate as demanded by the law of the land.

    Odumakin, while contending that it amounted to perjury for anyone to claim what he did not have in an affidavit, said: “We expect INEC not to process his presidential nomination form until he (Buhari) releases it (certificate). He can sign an Executive Order for the military to release it.”

    The claim that Buhari’s original or photocopies of his academic certificates not being in his care, but rather with the military, predates his emergence as Nigeria’s leader in 2015.

    The military further compounded the President’s certificate controversy when it openly refuted the claim that Buhari’s O’Level certificate was in its records.

    Former Director of Army Public Relations, Olajide Laleye, in January 2015, told journalists in Abuja that the Nigerian Army did not have copies of Buhari’s O’Level certificate or statement of results.

    He however, said that records of his entry indicated that the President obtained a West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1961.

    Records available indicate that Buhari applied to join the military as a form six student of the Provincial Secondary School Katsina, on October 18, 1961. His application was duly endorsed by the principal of the school, who also wrote a report on him and recommended him to be suitable for the military.

    Buhari’s public comment about his academic certificate, certainly, was aimed at silencing his detractors and political enemies who had embarked on a mission to cast slur on his much-touted integrity.

    The President, during a press briefing in January 2014, disclosed that he took the WASC examination with registration number 820002. The then candidate Buhari said the duplicate copies of his academic certificates were with the military, but the original copies of his documents were missing.

    Days to the botched February 14, 2015 presidential election, a public interest group, the Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative (ASRADI) wrote letters to both the Nigerian Army and INEC, requesting for details of the credentials submitted by Buhari.

    Invoking the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, the group, in two separate letters, signed by its Executive Director, Deolu Oyinlola, then requested that the two institutions clear the air over the issue of Buhari’s certificates and credentials, by answering the key questions they asked in their correspondences.

    However, the event of last week where the registrar of WAEC personally presented the attestation of result to the President has put to rest the lingering controversy surrounding Buhari’s academic records. Those urging INEC to disqualify Buhari can now stop their agitations and face the real issues that concern Nigerians. Nigerians are hoping that INEC organise credible, transparent and peaceful elections, and ensure that the will the people prevail.

    It is incontrovertible that Buhari’s blundering failure to act in good conscience and produce his WAEC certificate to INEC questioned his credibility as a leader, and also impugned on his moral character. The earlier the President repudiates some of his political gaffes, the better for him and for his campaign. If there is any time his campaign of “Change Begins With Me” should have a meaning, it is definitely this period when he is going to the poll to show Nigerians that he still possesses the integrity that brought him to power in 2015.

     

    • Mahmud, a student, writes from Niger State

  • PDP accuses Buhari of shielding Oshiomhole from investigation

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has described as reprehensible, revelations that President Muhammadu Buhari was shielding the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole from being investigated by the Department of State Service (DSS).

    An online medium, The Cable, had reported that Oshiomhole was on Sunday, arrested by the DSS in Abuja and grilled for about nine hours for alleged involvement in bribery and other corrupt practices.

    A statement Wednesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the party was privy to the pressure being mounted on the DSS by President Buhari to let the party chair off the hook.

    The opposition party attributed the President’s alleged intervention to fears that the DSS investigation would unearth the complicity of the Presidency and other key APC members in the alleged scam.

    The statement said, “Information available to the PDP reveals that apart from the billions of naira, he allegedly stole from the coffers of Edo State when he was governor.

    “Oshiomhole is facing charges of allegedly collecting billions of naira from some ministers and other APC sources in Adamawa, Rivers, Kano and Imo states to manipulate the 2019 electoral process.

    “This is in addition to allegedly collecting billions of naira from Presidency sources to influence electoral officers, independent observers and certain polling organizations ahead of the 2019 election, part of which was allegedly diverted for personal use of some APC leaders.

    “The PDP had always alerted Nigerians to the corruption allegation burden on the APC Chairman and the continued official cover provided him by the Buhari Presidency, including stalling his investigation and prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged stealing of billions of naira from Edo State coffers.

    “If the Buhari Presidency has nothing to hide; if it is not complicit in the alleged scam, it should allow the DSS and EFCC a free hand to investigate and prosecute his party’s factional chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, particularly now that all issues are laid bare before Nigerians.

    “As long as the DSS and the EFCC are not allowed to put Oshiomhole into the dock, the Buhari Presidency does not have the moral rectitude to speak on corruption.

    “This is especially as the involvement of the DSS shows that the corruption burden of the APC Chairman has already become a security risk to our nation.

    “Finally, the PDP cautions that in no circumstance should the Presidency escort Adams Oshiomhole out of the country, just like it did for the disgraced Buhari’s former Minister of Finance”.

  • Minimum wage: Buhari has not endorsed N30,000 – Presidency

    The Presidency has frowned at the misinterpretation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s remarks when he received the report of the Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage from the committee’s chairman, Ama Pepple, on Tuesday.

    A presidential source, who preferred not to be named, said the president did not endorse N30,000 as proposed by committee as being reported by some sections of the media.

    He, however, stated that President Buhari had expressed his commitment to ensuring the implementation of a new National Minimum Wage.

    “But the president’s speech at the event was immediately made available to the media and nowhere indicated that the president endorsed N30,000 Minimum wage.

    “It is not the duty of the president only to endorse a new national minimum wage. The process involves the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the National Economic Council (NEC) and the National Assembly.

    “It is imperative for us to always avoid misinterpreting a written speech,’’ he added.

    At the submission of the report of the Tripartite Committee that negotiated a new minimum wage with labour and other stakeholders, President Buhari pledged that the Federal Government would soon transmit an Executive bill (on National Minimum Wage) to the National Assembly for its passage within the shortest possible time.

    He said: “Our plan is to transmit the Executive bill to the National Assembly for its passage within the shortest possible time.

    “I am fully committed to having a new National Minimum Wage Act in the very near future.’’

    Buhari also expressed delight that the committee had successfully completed its assignment in a peaceful and non-controversial manner.

    “Let me use this opportunity to recognise the leadership of the organised labour and private sector as well as representatives of State and Federal Governments for all your hard work.

    “The fact that we are here today, is a notable achievement.

    “As the Executive Arm commences its review of your submission, we will continue to engage you all in closing any open areas presented in this report.

    Read also: I’m fully committed to having new National Minimum Wage, says Buhari

    “I, therefore, would like to ask for your patience and understanding in the coming weeks.”

    The President, however, enjoined the leadership of the labour unions as well as the Nigerian workers to avoid being used as political weapons.

    “May I therefore, employ workers and their leaders not to allow themselves to be used as political weapons,’’ he said.

    In her remarks, Pepple explained that the recommendation made by the committee was predicated on the high cost of living, occasioned by the exchange rate as well as the rising inflation rate in the country.

    She said that the committee also considered micro-economic indicators including the revenue and expenditure profile of the government.

    Pepple expressed the hope that the implementation of the recommended minimum wage would boost the purchasing power of the working class, increase consumption expenditure, and stimulate economic growth

  • Buhari, COCIN Executives meet in Aso Rock 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with the Executive Council of the Church of Christ in Nation (COCIN).

    The meeting started around 11.31 a.m at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

    Read Also:Nigeria safer under Buhari than past govts, says minister

    Opening prayer was said by Rev. Dr. Obed Dachung.

    Among those at the meeting included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.

    Also in the Council chamber was the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung and Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

     

    Details Later…

  • FG launches 2019 Armed Forces emblem fund with N10m

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday launched the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem and Appeal Fund with N10 million.

    The event took place at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    Read Also:Armed Forces winning war against terrorism – DHQ

    The event was an annual tradition towards acknowledging and appreciating the gallantry and sacrifices of veterans in the first and second world wars, peace keeping operations around the world and internal security operations, including the ongoing campaign against terrorism in Nigeria.

    January 15th of every year is celebrated as the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

    From Wednesday 31st of October 2018 to 15th January 2019, top government officials and other Nigerians are expected to hang the emblem on their clothes as a mark of appreciating the efforts of the soldiers.

    Buhari, during the launching, urged corporate organisations particularly service providers and other business concerns to support the veterans’ cause through voluntary donations, employment opportunities and welfare support.

    He appealed to political actors to be decorous in their conduct and utterances in order not to fan the embers of disunity.

    He said ‘we would have no country to lead if our acts of deliberate incitement lead to the disintegration of our dear nation,’’ the President said in his address at the Council Chambers.

    ‘‘Let us put Nigeria first and realise that in every contest there must be one winner,’’ he added.

    President Buhari reminded the nation that the celebration was a painful reminder of the perils of war and the need for the nation to avoid a recurrence.

    “The celebration forcefully reminds us of the resolve of our citizens to remain in one united country, Nigeria.

    “It also points out the fact that we had been through a bitter and unfortunate war that led to the loss of millions of our compatriots and the need to do all within our powers to avoid a reoccurrence of war,’’ he said.

    President Buhari also used the occasion to appreciate the gallantry and sacrifices of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the campaign against insurgency and other internal security operations.

    Noting that the efforts of the armed forces have led to the return of normalcy in affected parts of the nation, the President regretted the recent murder of two young and promising aid workers; Saifura Khorsa and Hauwa Liman by Boko Haram terrorists.

    ‘‘It is painful that this happened despite all the efforts of government to effect release of the two victims.

    ‘‘We condemn the callous and cowardly act in its entirety and call on all citizens and friends to forge a united front against this common enemy of our destiny.

    ‘‘Once more, I extend the heartfelt condolences of the Government and people of Nigeria to the families and friends of these martyrs,’’ the President said.

    The Nigerian leader pledged that the resettlement and rehabilitation of citizens affected by the war on terror will continue, commending Dangote Foundation for its partnership with Government in the rebuilding process in Borno State.

    The President, therefore, called on other corporate organisations to borrow a leaf from this noble initiative as Government alone cannot satisfy all the needs, given her limited resources.

    He also expressed delight that businesses operating in Nigeria are beginning to give special consideration to members of the Armed Forces and veterans.

    ‘‘Specifically, some airlines operating in Nigeria offer discounts to members of the Armed Forces.  This gesture is commendable and in line with my call for recognition, consideration and appreciation of our Armed Forces.

    ‘‘I urge more business ventures to chip in by assisting the Security Forces in whatever way they can,’’ he said.

    The President thanked charity organisations for taking up the task of catering for the welfare of veterans and members of the armed forces, adding that the nation owe a debt of gratitude to men and women of the armed forces who have the responsibility of securing the Nation, and ensuring a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

    On the Bill to amend the Nigerian Legion Act to a proposed “Veterans Federation of Nigeria” Act, the President urged the 8th National Assembly to give the proposed legislation, which seeks to ensure proper welfare and health condition of military veterans, quick attention.

    ‘‘As Grand Patron of the Nigerian Legion (Veterans), I wish to pledge my continued support and that of the Federal Government to the organisation.

    ‘‘My appreciation goes to State Governors who are patrons in their respective states for the support they are giving to the Legion.  I enjoin them not to relent but improve on this,’’ he said.

    President Buhari called on all Nigerians and others resident in Nigeria to procure and wear the emblems with pride to identify with those who laid down their lives for peace and security of our fatherland.

    At the brief ceremony were the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, members of the Federal Executive Council, Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, senior officers and veterans.

  • 2019: You’re going nowhere, Tinubu tells Atiku

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday said that the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),  Atiku Abubakar is going nowhere in the 2019 election.

    Tinubu, who was a former Governor of Lagos state, was reacting to the meeting of Atiku in Dubai over 2019 election.

    Read Also:PDP alleges smear campaign against Atiku

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, Atiku can meet anywhere to strategize but Nigerians will not vote for him.

    When asked if he was jittery about Atiku meeting in Dubai to unseat Buhari, he said “We don’t fear, whether it is in the jungle, or is in Dubai or is in Abu Dhabi, people are free to meet and strategize in any way they form but we are not going back to the illusion of the PDP.

    “It is not possible, Nigerians will not do that. They say slow and steady wins the race; we inherited that from our forefathers and knowledgeable people.

    “We can’t go back to the pit that we inherited for 16 years. They can strategies from anywhere but a leopard cannot change it skin,” he said.

    Asked if he is in support of Oshiomhole’s removal, he said “No. We all have to respect the party supremacy. You were all here when we had the Congress, we elected the new executives, the convention we had it, the NEC was formed and we surrendered to avoid conflict, to avoid domination, to avoid abuses of power, we surrendered our rights, all rights to the National Working Committee headed by Adams Oshiomohole.

    “That the National Working Committee should set up electoral bodies to supervise various state congresses and elections. ’We signed off for it’. So, if it is not in our individual favour, so be it.

    “We gave three options, consensus, where there is no consensus because if you are more than two or three and you cannot agree to one candidate, you go to the next level.

    “The next level is the stakeholders delegate and you have to be supervised by the National Working Committee of the party, national election committee of the party. That shows party supremacy or the freest option, the less cumbersome is to open direct primary, line up and count the number, 1, 2, 3.  If you win, you win and if you fail, go home.

    “Then appeal committee was set up to listen to all appeals, internal mechanism for conflict resolution. It was there, you cannot turn round against that, you cannot turn against all of that.

    “No. Party is supreme, party must be respected, abuses will not do it and anger will not do it. It is party politics, somebody will win and somebody will lose, too bad.” he stated

    On the purpose of his visit to the Presidential Villa, he said, “The meeting is about the nation, the country, our people, peace, stability and economic progress.”

  • ACF scribe salutes Buhari’s order to end killings

    The Secretary General of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mr. Anthony N.Z Sani has saluted President Muhammadu Buhari’s marching order to the security agencies, intelligence community, as well as political, religious and traditional rulers to put an end to the killings in the country.

    ACF scribe in his personal reaction to the President’s speech in Kaduna on Tuesday said, there was swarm of locust in the land, which the country seemed not to know the pests, let alone developing appropriate pesticides to control them.

    He however said that the President’s order to the concerned authorities seems to be a new resolve and determination to put an end to the killings, which he described as a national malaise.

    According to Sani, “My reactions to yesterday’s visit to Kaduna by President Buhari is that the visit underscores the concern of this regime to security challenges posed by gunmen, kidnapping and the herdsmen phenomenon, and the resolve by the federal government to confront the menace with all sense of seriousness.

    “Mr. President is concerned that past failure to bring perpetrators of the killings to justice through diligent investigations that could lead to successful prosecutions has tended to encourage sense of impunity in the polity. This is made worst when such challenges are given ethnic and religious coloration, thereby providing veritable platforms for criminals to hide and commit heinous crime, knowing it is impossible to prosecute ethnicity and religion. Hence the significance of the address by the president to not only security agents, intelligence community but also to both traditional and religious as well as political leaders.

    “Mr. President’s address has more or less vindicated the wisdom of those who posit that there is a swarm of locust in the land but the nation does not seem to know the pests. Consequently, we have not been able to develop appropriate pesticides needed for the control and the containment. This is an odd thing to say, especially when regard is paid to the fact that  the nation has not been able to identify and prosecute killers of high profile leaders like Chief Bola Ige and many others.

    “Similarly, the many reports by panels and commissions of inquiries into ethno-religious clashes across the nation, especially in Kaduna and Plateau states-have not been implemented, perhaps because they could not identify the culprits who have often tended to hide under religion or ethnicity.

    “The president’s marching order to intelligence communities and security agencies and to both religious and traditional leaders as well as to the political leadership seems to be a new resolve and determination to put an end to this national malaise.

    “That is to say, the president is saying enough of the killings that are giving the nation a bad name across the globe and serving as sand bags to socioeconomic development. We therefore pray that this new resolve would go beyond declaration but will soon find expression by way of putting an end to the dastardly killings of innocent people across the nation in order to bring about peaceful coexistence needed for socioeconomic development,” ACF scribe said.

  • 2019: Between character and certificate

    Sir: In recent weeks, the political train of deceit appeared to have regained some steam in a renewed ruse to make the certificate of President Muhammadu Buhari the bottom line of 2019 presidential election. Permit me to admit that certification of classroom tutoring is the standard testimonial of attendance but at the same time, it is only the mischievous political kindergartens that will think that political diatribe has anything to do with it.

    In her analysis of the critical attributes of leadership in the book: Not For The Faint of the Heart: A Lesson in Courage, Power and Persistence, Wendy Sherman has concluded that courage and integrity are critical attributes that you cannot acquire from the classroom because they are the inert fabrics of human conscience that dictates the power of the negative and power of the positive.

    The truth is, I could not agree any better because at the end of the day, those critical attributes are the building blocks of the sincerity of purpose of political leadership. The tragedy of Nigeria as a country is that for decades now our corrupt and inept electoral system and institutions of governance have only managed to produce ‘certificate’ leaders rather than character leaders. I mean leaders whose exemplary leadership has been legendary in inspiring the next generation of leaders on ethos of governance and responsibility; I mean leaders who are no longer celebrated as community treasures but rather revered as national assets; I mean leaders whose nationalism has conquered clan loyalties and ethnic patriotism.

    It is sonically despicable that President Muhammadu Buhari, a General of the Nigerian Army, a former Head of State whose honour, integrity and exceptional culture of universal humanity has become an international reference point could be slandered in a desperately dubious game of school certificate ridicule. I even heard that the choreographed political racism by the PDP’s social media war machine has alleged that he cannot speak English. Well, I am wondering when poetry of English language and the arrogance of ethnic inheritance of it become the index for evaluating the quality and sincerity of political leadership?

    The truth is that throughout history, great empires that ruled the world at different stages of human civilisation did not have fraternity of English Language; the Mongols, the Othman, the Japanese, the Germans, the Russians and now the Chinese are re-colonizing the entire planet without English language.

    Dear Mr President, loose no sleep, speak no English, have no certificate, it doesn’t matter, that was not why we elected you; Nigerians elected you to liberate them from the colonialism of PDP whose pedigree in official corruption knew no bounds, we elected you to dismantle the architecture of stupendous state impunity, to restore hope from fatalism of absolute  despair, in short, we elected you to pull the country from the brinks and you are doing just that against all odds.

    The truth is, the oil sheikhs of our criminal economy have regrouped for a political vengeance but be assured that the Nigerian electorates are wiser, sophisticated and ready. At the end of the day, the 2019 general election will not be decided on the gaffe of poetry of deception but rather on the strength of character and the integrity of example.

     

    • Prof Shehu A. Zuru,

    Faculty of Law, University of Abuja.