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Tag: step on toes

  • N115bn debt: I’ll step on toes, says Adamawa Governor-elect

    The Adamawa State Governor-elect, Rt. Hon Ahmadu Fintiri, has vowed to ‘step on toes’ over the debt profile of the state. Fintiri made the vow on Saturday while receiving the report of a transition committee which he constituted to review the activities of the Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow government and offer advice on the constitution of his own government. “In the days after the election, many well-meaning individuals had voiced their concerns about the shenanigans of the outgoing government and the need to call them to order,” he said.

    Fintiri said it was unfortunate that Bindow had been taking overdraft to pay salary of civil servants without judicial application of incomes of the state. Fintiri said, “Posterity will not forgive us if we fail to ask the right questions about how a state that received a combined income of N332 billion is hopelessly neck deep in debt and has to take overdrafts to pay salary in the last four years. Let me restate the call on our people to join me in the task of correcting the ills of the past. In doing so, we shall not hesitate to step on toes.”

    The Chairman of the Adamawa Transition Committee, Aliyu Isma’la Numan, had said in his speech during the submission of the committee’s final report at the Muna Hotel in Yola Saturday afternoon, that the “combined total debt that accrued over the last four years in the state stand at N115 billion.”

    He explained that out of the sum, N97 billion is owed by the state, comprising outstanding external and domestic loans of N55.5 billion, outstanding contractor claims of N22.3 billion, arrears of pensions and gratuity and death benefit of N16.4 billion, and salary arrears and other staff claims of N2.7 billion; while the local government councils owe N18 billion.

     

  • I’ll step on toes to end football crises – Dalung

    I’ll step on toes to end football crises – Dalung

    The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung has vowed to step on toes to bring an end to the crises in Nigeria football.

    In a release issued by the his Senior Special Assistant (Media) Nneka Ikem-Anibeze, Dalung said the crises could scare potential investors away.

    “I keep asking myself, after all the victories, what is behind the crises in the  Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)? ” I want to borrow this phrase from Amaju. He said he will have to step on toes to move Nigeria’s football forward. I will trample on toes,” warned Dalung at the 71st General Assembly of the NFF held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

    He also urged the NFF to source for funds from anywhere and pay the players, coaches and officials all their outstanding allowances, bonuses and salaries from the Golden Eaglets, the Super Falcons, Super Eagles and the Falconets and the U-23 team.

    “I have heard series of complaints from players and coaches of how their salaries and allowances were not paid. From previous reports of crisis from the players camp, the issue has always been that officials took players money! Please pay them their money. An angel said to the three wise men  behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy. This is Christmas season. Bring glad tidings to the players. Pay them all outstanding bonuses and allowances before Christmas”.

    Earlier, Dalung had congratulated the NFF for the successes recorded in the U-17 World Cup in Chile and the recent U-23 African Championship in Senegal where Nigeria’s two teams won gold.

    “However, if the NFF domesticates crises, you drive away investors. So, I urge you to avoid crises. To the members of the federation and the General Assembly, there is no need to unnecessarily attack the leadership when there’s no genuine reason to do so. I am an undertaker and I will continue to do so. We will chastise you when you do wrong” Dalung warned.

    The assembly comprised 88 delegates, including chairmen and secretaries of the Football Associations of the 36 states and the FCT, the leagues, referees association, coaches association and players union.

  • I’ll step on toes to overhaul education sector, says Wike

    I’ll step on toes to overhaul education sector, says Wike

    The Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, yesterday said he will step on toes to transform the ministry.

    Wike was speaking, following the sudden sack of Education Minister, Prof Ruqqayatu Rufa’I, and his take over of the ministry.

    He directed the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to enforce the use of standardised textbooks in primary and secondary schools.

    Wike spoke in Abuja when the Governing Board of the vouncil visited him in his office.

    He urged the council to assert its authority as the agency of government for approving the textbooks used in schools.

    The minister decried a situation where worthless books are recommended for use in schools because of perceived relationship with the authors.

    Wike said: “NERDC is responsible for developing the curriculum and should be in the best position to recommend appropriate books. But this is not the case. You must assert your authority and reclaim your mandate.”

    In the face of dwindling budgetary provision, Wike advised the council to generate additional funds internally and to prioritise its programmes in line with available resources and objectives.

    He stressed that resources can hardly be sufficient any time, adding that several agencies spend the bulk of their resources on conferences and workshops.

    Wike promised to support the council to achieve its objectives, but urged the NERDC borad to avoid anything that would lead to in-fighting in its management.

    NERDC Board Chairman Dr Stephen Dike said paucity of fund was affecting the council in discharging its mandate,

    He urged the minister to mobilise the private sector and donor agencies to contribute to reposition the agency’s research efforts.

    “We have done well in curriculum development, but not so well with research and development, because it requires a lot of funding,” Dr Dike said.

  • You must step on toes to lead in Nigeria, says Obasanjo

    You must step on toes to lead in Nigeria, says Obasanjo

    Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday said it is inevitable for a leader who wants to succeed in Nigeria to step on toes.

    He said those who lack the courage to step on toes for the right reason should not aspire to any leadership position.

    The former President spoke in Abeokuta at an event organised by the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Ogun State to honour and celebrate him as an international Icon, statesman, living legend and leader.

    Obasanjo told his audience including a former President of Ghana,Mr.John Kuffor ,that he has no apology or explanation to make for some of the drastic decisions he took while in office ,particularly when he served as an army officer.

    Those decisions,according to him,were taken in the best interest of moving the country forward.

    He said only his conscience and the interest of the majority of Nigerians determined his public and private decisions.

    Obasanjo said: “The issue of leadership is a great issue particularly for a country like this(Nigeria) if we are going to move forward. And you can’t be a leader if you will not step on toes. Even if you are a leader in a church or in the mosque if you have to do what is right, you will occasionally step on toes.

    “Leadership is a responsibility and as for me what I’m going to do I consider three reasons: can I defend it before people? will my conscience ever remain clear after doing it? and what I’m going to do will it serve the majority good?

    He also said he has never participated in the planning and execution of coup in the country.He said he was always invited to participate in government by those behind the coups.

    “I always sat down jeje and they would call me,” Obasanjo said.

    He urged Nigerians to put the civil war behind them,saying it is shocking that 43 years after the war some Nigerians are still “mourning and groaning” about it.

    The former President spoke in reaction to the speech of Mr Ben Gbulie ,who fought on the side of the defunct Biafra.

    Gbulie,who spoke on Obasanjo as a Military strategist, said the Igbos fought the war in self defence and to save their people from extermination by the then Federal Government.

    But Obasanjo who received the instrument of surrender from the Biafran military said the entire war was unnecessary.”

    He said: I have always said that the whole episode is unnecessary but we should also remember one thing: action and reaction in physics are equal and opposite both in human interaction.No reaction is greater than action, you know that and I know that and I believe the time has come when all of us in this country we should put the civil war behind us whether you call it Biafra, whether you call yourself rebel I believe enough is a enough about Nigeria civil war.”

    Other speakers included Senate President, David Mark; former Interim Head of State, Ernest Shonekan; former Ghanaian President, John Kuffour; former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili; former Special Adviser to Obasanjo on National Assembly matters, Senator Ita Giwa; former Agriculture Minister under Obasanjo, Alhaji Adamu Bello; and the former president’s childhood friend, Oba Michael Omobolade, the Olubara of Ibara,Abeokuta.

    They all agreed described Obasanjo as a dedicated Nigerian leader, peace loving and an individual, whose love for the country is unrivalled.

    Factional Chairman of PDP in Ogun State, Dipo Odujirin told the gathering that the event tagged – Celebrating Baba Obasanjo – was meant honour him while alive, as against the general practice of honouring people only at their death.

    He said the event was to highlight the many contributions of Obasanjo to the growth of the country and the sustainance of its unity.

    Shonekan, who was the event’s Chairman, said Obasanjo came from a humble background, rose above his unviable background and other obstacles to attain positions of political relevance, where he impacted positively on the country.

    Kufour, who was the guest speaker, reflected on the relationship between his country and Nigeria, which he said was enhanced during his time and that of Obasnjo as leaders of both countries. He cited instances where Nigeria,under Obasanjo assisted Ghana in overcoming its challenges when he assumed office in 2001

    He described Obadanjo as a pan-Africanist and a great diplomat who helped to maintain peace in the continent.

    Speaking on the topic: Obasanjo – His early years, Omolade, who was Obasanjo’s class mamte at Baptist Boys High School,Abeokuta, said the two of them were united not only by being mates in school, but by poverty.

    The traditional ruler said they had to engage in menial jobs to raise funds for their school fees and other basic needs. He described Obasanjo an intelligent and shrewd person, who never allows any challenge to bother him.

    He recalled when Obasanjo visited his palace 24 hours after his release from prison, knocked on the door and announced himself as a prisoner, thus making fun of himself.

    Speaking on the topic, Obasanjo: The gusty administrator, Ezekwesili described Obasanjo as a leader, who is an embodiment of all the contraditctions in leadership. Citing instnaces where Obasanjo exhibited what she called attributes of a true leader, Ezekwesili said Obasanjo would always support any cause he believes in.

    Ezekwesili debunked rumour that Obasanjo fathered her during the Civil War. She said she was born at the Island Maternity in Lagos in 1963, years before the war.

    Dignitaries who came to celebrate Chief Obasanjo popularly Ebora of Owu Kingdom included the SENATE President, David Mark, Governor Ibikunle Amosun represented by his Deputy, Prince Segun Adesegun, Obasanjo’s former Minister, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, former President of Ghana, Mr John Kufour, former of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Minister of Police Affairs, Retired Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, PDP Chieftain in Ogun State, Chief Bode Mustapha, Senator Gbenga Obadara, Adamawa State Governor, Muritala Nyako, the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs) Alaba Lawson, Ekiti State former Governor, Engr. Olusegun Oni, his Ondo State counterpart, Dr Segun Agagu, Alhaja Salmot Badru, Vice – Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Rahmon Bello, Mr Ben Gbulie, and retired Rear Admiral Akin Aduwo among others.

    Other in the gathering were Police Affairs Minister, Caleb Olubolade, Communication Minister, Mobolaji Johnson and Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State.The PDP Chairman, Bamanga Turku was represented by his Special Assistant, Ishola Filani.