The Nation Newspaper

Tag: strides

  • Aregbesola: Giant strides at 60!

    Although democracy has become so acceptable in this part of the world that we now regard service as an established fact, it is important that lovers of good governance use the opportunity that Aregbesola’s birth anniversary presents to briefly reflect on the real definition of service to the people and what the people stand to gain from the presence or absence of it. For instance, why did Aregbesola leave his comfort zone in Lagos where all things were bright and beautiful to become a symbol of resistance to a system that was well-stocked with characteristic fancies and unusual features in Osun?  Why did he choose to become a story of courage to a struggling state which, pre-November 27, 2010, was fraught with false starts, painful groping and failing fortunes, indeed a system which wheel of progress was already on its way back to the bottom of the hill?

    When, in his essay, ‘The three types of legitimate rule’, Max Weber particularly pointed in the direction of charisma as an essential ingredient a leader must possess if he must succeed, he probably might have had the likes of Aregbesola in mind. But Weber’s option of courage amidst the tragedy and the savagery of primordial sentiments has again brought to the fore the way we are as a state and as a people. A few questions will suffice. Why have professional hoppers who derisively described Aregbesola an uneducated mind so lost memory of historical facts that this gentleman, noted for technical finesse and political astuteness, once had a stint as a teacher at Imesi-Ile High School in the 1970s? Why is this achiever, who has within a short period of six years set the ‘Land of Virtue’ on fire with his dreams, being tagged a ‘debtor-governor’ when, indeed, in the universal space called salary palaver, Osun is just a sample space for other states in Nigeria? Again, why are they equating his vision for Osun with a mission to Islamize the state even as the governor has consistently wondered why trying to be a good Muslim should be misconstrued for ‘conversion campaign’?

    Some crooked beings even go as far as referring to him as Bola Tinubu’s ‘Ajele’ (Sole Administrator) in Osun. Agreed, he is! So what? Well, the sad side of our Nigerian-ness is that there’s nothing one can do to immunize desperate politicians from wallowing in delusional insinuations. Be that as it may, it is a settled premise that Tinubu is a leader whose creative ingenuity and ceaseless potentials shine through by the day. Driven by pure interest and manifest integrity, the Jagaban Borgu is a principled, dependable and caring historian of sort who positively and masterfully replenishes his stock each day through his deeds and actions. It needs to be noted that, despite the “petty envy and outright jealousy by those that feel dwindled by his greatness”, Tinubu is one politician who cannot do any evil beyond his devotion to his political party and commitment to humanity.

    In any case, as ‘Ajele’ which the opposition has nicknamed him, Aregbesola is very proud of his relationship with the ‘Governor Emeritus’ of Lagos State, his leader and mentor. Little wonder many refer to him as the ‘Symbol’.

    An American politician, Benjamin Franklin, once remarked: “human felicity is produced not as much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen as by little advantages that occur every day.” One noteworthy reality is that politics is about the economy and economy is about the people. It is about prioritization and allocation of values. Put succinctly, politics is about the people. It is about generational prosperity and usefulness to humanity. Without being immodest, Osun’s developmental strides have presented Aregbesola as a worthy product of Tinubu’s school of politics. An activist whose primary concern is how to build a super system, not super human,  Aregbesola has happily and healthily given pleasure to others by ‘rambunctiously’ spearheading the technological transformation of Osun into “a developed, cleaner, safer and more beautiful state”. The man behind the ‘O’ Revolution in Osun is an outstanding politician of authority who has by his pursuit of causes with unblemished peculiarities shut the mouths of enchanters whose remit is in sounding like broken bottles for reasons not unconnected with selfish ambitions and personal gains.

    Mention his accomplishments! Is it in the education sector where, as at last count, a total of 55 new structures, comprising 20 Elementary, 22 Middle, and 13 High School have been added to existing structures while a total of 82 school blocks, comprising 1,534 classrooms across the state have been refurbished by his administration? Or the Elementary School Feeding Scheme, (O’MEALS) which has also greatly reduced unemployment by absorbing no fewer than 20,000 food vendors, in addition to providing certain categories of pupils with highly nutritious meals on a daily basis? Or the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) which, with its mopping up of more than 40,000 youths off our streets and productively engaging them, has succeeded in reducing the scourge of unemployment among our youths? Have we forgotten the creation of additional 31 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), 3 Area Councils and two Administrative Offices for the overall purpose of bringing government closer to the people? Or the procurement of 25 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) and 100 Patrol Vehicles which has greatly helped in making Osun “the safest state in Nigeria”? Of course, the list is endless!

    Aregbesola’s intervention in the hospitality sector has also not gone unnoticed. For instance, Osun now has more than 400 hotels, out of which more than 15 are in ‘Category A’ (equivalent to a ‘3-star’ hotel). Before this administration came on board, the state could only boast of less than half of this figure. Added to these are more than 80 tourist attractions in the state. The establishment of Osun Microcredit Agency has also gone a long way in reducing unemployment as well as alleviating poverty in the state. Taken together, these  laudable initiatives have  helped  a great deal  in shoring up the state’s internal revenue base, particularly, at a time Nigeria  is painfully haemorrhaging from dwindling economic fortunes as a result of global oil glut.

    According to Woodrow Wilson, “a man has come to himself only when he has found the best that is in him, and has satisfied his heart with the highest achievement he is fit for.”

    So, which is easier to say:  ‘Aregbesola has no money in any bank anywhere in the world’, or to say: ‘he has not drawn salary since he became governor of the State of Osun’? Or that he has only two buildings: one in Egbeda, Lagos; and the other one in Ikeja-Lagos, given to him as ‘retirement benefit’ by Lagos State Government for serving as its Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure between 1999 and 2007? Of course, this is where plunderers who latch on the rebellious twists and turns of seeming adversity or perceived inadequacy of the moment to judge Aregbesola’s government are missing it. Today, we discuss Obafemi Awolowo in glowing terms, not because of the money he stashed in any local or foreign bank; or the number of houses he built. Rather, it’s because of his transparent commitment to the development of Yorubaland in particular and Nigeria in general.

    As ‘Ogbeni’ floats through the years ahead with grace and good cheer, may principalities and powers, assigned to rubbish our leader’s efforts, scatter!

     

    • Komolafe writes in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State.

  • Masari’s focused strides in Katsina

    Aminu Masari,the governor of Katsina State embodies the key essentials of a remarkable leader. He is decisive in taking very tough decisions, has empathy, guiding subordinates through challenges,he is focused,always planning ahead and most importantly is his unquestionable commitment to changing the fortunes of his dear Katsina State.His appearance belies the real Masari,that is blunt and never afraid of going against the current.

    Nigeria only took notice of him when in 2003 he became the Speaker,House of Representatives.How he managed the House,that has every semblance with Fuji House of Commotion,a soap opera,is a testimony to his leadership.You must be patient and accommodating to manage all shades of characters- the good,the bad and the ugly,that are called honourables. When Olusegun Obasanjo embarked upon his third term project,Masari,like Senator George Akume another unsung hero of the anti third term  war, were effective in crushing the coup against the constitution.If Obasanjo was ever guilty of plotting a coup,the third term project was undoubtedly the one he should have been tried for.

    According to Masari “If you want to exploit people, deny them education.And in the North education is being denied to the public because public schools there have collapsed.The only schools functioning are private schools,but how many parents can afford them? Secondly, the public health system has also collapsed. So now people have to provide water, security, education, health care system and every other thing for themselves”. In a fundamental sense this quote  encapsulates the consistency of his vision and believe.In 2013,when he made that statement he had two years before,lost the governorship elections to Ibrahim Shema.And another two years before he will contest and win the governorship election.But Masari unlike most politicians,who lack convictions  has kept faith,and is faithfully serving implementing these critical sectors.In Katsina State Masari is known as mai chika alkawari- someone whose word is his bond.He has the memory of an elephant- he never forgets.

    The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund(UNICEF),puts the number of out of school children in katsina State at over 620,000 and 55% of this number  are girls.Of this number 74% have never seen the four walls of a school and 5% are drop outs.The implications not just for Katsina State,but for the entire country is grave.The effect of our failure to educate the girl child is already obvious, in the unacceptable high infant mortality rates,recycled poverty and the low life expectancy rate.

    In 2016 budget education got the lion share of 22 billion naira,a clear statement of actions,beyond intentions.At the center of the strategy has been creating a conducive environment for learning – rehabilitation,construction of classrooms and equipping of laboratories.Increase in enrollment had put tremendous pressure on facilities and on learning itself,as the teachers are not just enough. Masari’s other headache is furniture for about 700,000 pupils.The Government Unity School,Malumfashi – open to students from the north,has been completely turned around.Same with the Science School Malumfashi.The ambitious model for Katsina State schools.For the first time in 15 years teachers who had been neglected were promoted.And more than 2,000 teachers have been employed, but it needs a further 7,000 teachers.Presently classrooms are overcrowded- 80 pupils,instead of the more manageable 35.Majority are naturally sitting on the ground.The decision to engage the services of the Ahmadu Bello University Department of Education to train teachers shows a holistic approach.

    Katsina State economy is agrarian,depending largely on allocation from the Federation account.Internally generated revenue (IGR) is totally non existent. Thus the only way it can meet its challenges is prudent management of resources and elimination of waste.And Masari hasn’t shied away from doing the needful. The first programme that was yanked is the Ramadan feeding Programme which hither to benefited only a tinny segment of the society.His conscience wouldn’t allow him in the face of the numerous challenges to continue the programme.He said “Can you imagine a governor that has not provided basic requirement of primary education, but is going to spend billions feeding people during Ramadan?Give them good education and they will find their level.” Thats the essential Masari that Katsina indigenes must contend with.

    The 2017 budget has a capital expenditure of 92 billion naira,of which a substantial part of it is devoted to education,health,water supply,security and agriculture,as he still has his eyes fixed on them.Key again is working with agencies like UNICEF,that has embarked on an Enrollment Drive Campaign.An estimated N120 billion is needed to turn around the educational and health sector.Katsina State has the highest maternal mortality rate.The reason why the government is tackling the healthcare sector. The 23 General Hospitals and 30 Healthcare centers are being given a comprehensive turnaround. Already the Katsina State Teaching Hospital,the target is to facilitate the establishment of a college of medicine in the state university,to address issues of manpower.

    Experience,not necessarily age can be of benefit. But Masari is combining both.The Masari Dialogue and Amnesty Programme was initially scoffed at by his political opponents who had over the years watched while bandits overran ten (10) Local Government Areas of the state, rustled cattle and committed all kinds of criminality and with impunity. When force didn’t work,he went back to the drawing board.The result was the surrender of more than 104 AK 47 rifles by the bandits,through the Amnesty programme.More fundamental is that the bandits signed off to the state governments rehabilitation programme.Katsina State is now a safer place.

    Masari fears a revolution in Nigeria.To him it is delusional to think it can’t happen. But is this what has informed his social commitment to the poor? Are his economic and social policies  informed more by enlightened self interest or self preservation?The concern seems genuine,considering the passion,with which he tackles the issue of job creation. To some extent the consequences might have also pushed him to continuously work at bettering the lot of the poor. He told the Ambassador of South Korea on a visit to the state “What we seek are simple machines, equipment and tools that can be used by our rural dwellers to make pencils, exercise books, erasers, and so on, that they can sell and improve their lives.” The Empowerment Scheme is also informed by this compassion and a perspective fear of what might be if their situation,alienation and deprivation are not addressed. He said “violence can occur and maybe this time, it may not be religion,but between the rich and the poor and the rich will be determined by the type of clothes he wears, the house he lives, the car he drives and the area where he lives”. A very frightening future if the life of the rural poor is not improved upon.

    Being a team player he has spread the challenge. His deputy has been saddled with ensuring that the agricultural sector is revived. The governor wants about 800,000 hectares cultivated.The business of government is making the inputs like fertilizers, good quality seeds available at affordable price and at the right time. With 61 water bodies suitable for irrigation the target is for Katsina State to become number one in cotton and rice production. He has commissioned the National Research Institute of Chemical Technology to build a tomato processing plant at Danja. The Danja Sugar Factory, is expected to commence operation soon. This will reduce farm waste, earn the farmers better money and save Nigeria the scarce foreign exchange. The Central Bank puts the importation of tomato paste at over 1 billion dollars.There are plans to construct a dam at Danja.So far 2 billion naira has been spent on rehabilitation and construction of dams.

    So much has been  written about the face off between him and Ibrahim Shema his predecessor.Masari from his narrative was pushed to the wall,by the refusal of the immediate past regime to answer questions about the finances of the state under his watch. He said “It was not our intention to set up the commission of enquiry,but the previous administration refused to give us explanations on the missing funds”. Before the former governor got an injection against the Justice Muhammad Surajo Commission the testimony of his Aide – de -Camp Shehu Koko of how he disbursed 680million naira to security agencies during the 2015 elections raises serious questions about the job description of ADC’s. How can an officer of the law be involved in disbursing money for whatever project.These are areas that moving forward the police authorities must address.ADC’s job should be protection of their principals.

    Masari,like most Northerners,believe in moving forward,so as not to get bugged down,but not in this particular case.Those close to him insist that the money involved is “just too much” for the governor to over look.The money in question is put at about 1O billion naira Sure -P Funds.His admonition to “Governors and local government chairmen who behave like emperors, doing whatever they like with the wealth of the people because they depend on Federation Account and not Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).” shows the depth of his anger.

  • Strides, challenges of Otuoke varsity VC

    One major concern of Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, the Vice-Chancellor, of the Federal University in Otuoke, the community of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, is the status of the university’s programmes.

    Aluko is the pioneer vice-chancellor of the institution, which started operation in 2011. The American-trained professor took over the leadership of the newly-established ivory tower on February 16, 2011.

    In fact, he took over the university when there was nothing on ground. But his minder’s touch, experience and exposure have built the institution to an enviable height especially when juxtaposed with other universities established the same time.

    Students’ population has increased; staff statistics is excellent; academic infrastructure has improved and there has been a friendly relationship between the university and its host community despite some challenges. With the standard of learning and character established by Aluko, the university will in no distant time become one of the top ranking ivory towers in the country.

    But Aluko is still worried. He is disturbed by the status of programmes offered in the university. Because the institution is new, all its courses as at last year were yet to be accredited. An accreditation panel visited the university late last year.

    Aluko said the school went through accreditation for 12 of its programmes. “And my hope, my aim and ambition is either to have full accreditation or to have  at least 80 to 90%of our programmes accredited preferably 100%.

    “But sometimes when you don’t have full accreditation it’s equally an opportunity to improve on  those things they have not given you to gain accreditation for,” he said.

    In social sciences, the university runs six programmes such as Accounting and Finance; English and Communication Studies, Economics and Development Studies, Political Science, History, Sociology and Anthropology. Aluko has also developed six programmes in sciences such as Chemistry, Micro-biology, Computer Science, Physics Mathematics and Statistics.

    All of the courses are undergoing accreditation at the same time. The professor said: “This is really like a university accreditation. In some other universities, sometimes it will be certain programmes, but in a new university like this, where none of them have been accredited, it is serious.”

    Indeed, it is a big challenge for Aluko because this is the first time the programmes are undergoing accreditation.

    Undoubtedly, Aluko worked very hard to achieve the standard of student ratio, staff mix,  facilities, classrooms and laboratories, library, safety and security and campus cleanliness, among other requirements needed for accreditation.

    On the relationship between the university and its host community, Aluko described it as testing. He acknowledged that the community made tremendous sacrifice including raising money to erect eight start-up buildings.

    He, however, said the community has unlimited expectations from the university, which he said sometimes were beyond  the institution.

    “We are a federal university and not a community university, not Bayelsa university, not a Niger Delta university. We are a federal university and also part of international community.”

    On the issues of finance, Aluko said: “Finance has been the major challenge here. We were lucky that we had N1.5billion  take-off fund that other universities did not have and that was what we used to provide facelift in this place.

    “But overhead has been a challenge because we have never gotten more than N6million  which is inadequate. We don’t have electricity here since August 2014.

    “So we generally run on generator. We have 13 diesel generators for a total of 1.95 megawatts and 8 transformers for a total of 2.55megawatts. We spend N2million monthly on generator.”

  • Strides, challenges of Otuoke varsity VC

    One major concern of Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, the Vice-Chancellor, of the Federal University located in Otuoke, the community of former President Goodluck Jonathan, in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, is the status of the university’s programmes.

    Aluko is the pioneer vice-chancellor of the institution which started operation in 2011. The American-trained professor took over the leadership of the newly-established ivory tower on February 16, 2011.

    In fact, he took over the university when there was nothing on ground. But his minder’s touch, experience and exposure have built the institution to an enviable height especially when juxtaposed with other universities established the same time.

    Students’ population has increased; staff statistics is excellent; academic infrastructure has improved and there has been a friendly relationship between the university and its host community despite some challenges. With the standard of learning and character established by Aluko, the university will in no distant time become one of the top ranking ivory towers in the country.

    But Aluko is still worried. He is disturbed by the status of programmes offered in the university. Because the institution is new, all its courses as at last year were yet to be accredited. An accreditation panel visited the university late last year.

    Aluko said the school went through accreditation for 12 of its programmes. “And my hope, my aim and ambition is either to have full accreditation or to have  at least 80 to 90%of our programs accredited preferably 100%.

    “But sometimes when you don’t have full accreditation is equally an opportunity to improve on  those things they have not given you to gain accreditation for”, he said.

    In social sciences, the university runs six programmes such as Accounting and Finance; English and Communication Studies, Economics and Development Studies, Political Science, History, Sociology and Anthropology. Aluko has also developed six programmes in sciences such as Chemistry, Micro-biology, Computer Science, Physics Mathematics and Statistics.

    All of the courses are undergoing accreditation at the same time. The professor said: “This is really like a university accreditation. In some other universities, sometimes it will be certain programmes, but in a new university like this, where none of them have been accredited, it is serious.”

    Indeed, it is a big challenge for Aluko because this is the first time the programmes are undergoing accreditation.

    Undoubtedly, Aluko worked very hard to achieve the standard of student ratio, staff mix,  facilities, classrooms and laboratories, library, safety and security and campus cleanliness, among other requirements needed for accreditation.

    On the relationship between the university and its host community, Aluko described it as testing. He acknowledged that the community made tremendous sacrifice including raising money to erect eight start-up buildings.

    He, however, said the community has unlimited expectations from the university, which he said sometimes were beyond  the institution.

    “We are a federal university and not a community university, not Bayelsa university, not a Niger Delta university. We are a federal university and also part of international community.”

    On the issues of finance, Aluko said: “Finance has been the major challenge here. We were lucky that we had N1.5billion  take-off fund that other universities did not have and that was what we used to provide facelift in this place.

    “But overhead has been a challenge because we have never gotten more than N6million  which is inadequate. We don’t have electricity here since August 2014.

    “So we generally run on generator. We have 13 diesel generators for a total of 1.95 megawatts and 8 transformers for a total of 2.55megawatts. We spend N2million monthly on generator.”

  • Rivers records giant economic strides

    Rivers records giant economic strides

    The biting economic crunch occasioned by high volatility in oil prices, whose resultant effect include but not limited to shrinking oil revenue receipts, inadequate investment in social infrastructure, among others, has literally left many so-called buoyant oil-dependent economies across the globe in dire straits.

    Unfortunately, Nigeria, also a major oil-producer, is no exception as it is already suffering the negative effect of the decline in oil revenues. For some time now, allocation from the Federation Account has been anything but adequate even as the excess crude oil fund has been virtually depleted with most states of the federation finding it difficult to pay salaries and wages and not to forget the rippling adverse effect on economic growth and development.

    But some states like Rivers have fared better, thanks to their ingenuity. Described as unarguably Nigeria’s treasure base and fastest developing state, Rivers, in the last few years, has undergone rapid turn-around in agriculture, social and physical infrastructure, education, human capital development, sports, health services and many more; such that many economic watchers marvel at the ease with which the state executes projects as though they are going out of fashion!

    In the view of experts who traversed the length and breadth of the state, Rivers is brimming with possibilities. One way it has been able to achieve its many laudable feats, is through strict adherence to ingenious management and fiscal prudency.

    The recent report by the international rating agency-Standard and Poor’s where its annual rating for 2014 affirmed the ”B” rating of Rivers State, with a long term ”stable” outlook easily buttress, this fact.

    The annual rating meeting was conducted in September 2014, by the firm in conjunction with the Rivers State Ministry of Finance.

    It will be recalled that only last month, the Fitch Rating Agency also affirmed the BB- rating of the State (AA-National rating) with a long-term ”stable” outlook.

    Addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt, the state capital, the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside, expressed delight with the rating, adding that ”the report underscores the strong commitment and zeal of Governor Ameachi to bequeath a lasting legacy with the reform effort in the public finance sector of Rivers State.”

    Peterside said that the key rating, drivers is the continued effect by the government to reform and modernise its public finance architecture through ongoing automation project called State Integrated Financial Management and Information System (SIFMIS), being implemented with the support and funding from the World Bank.

    ”This project when completed will enhance the level of transparency whilst improving financial reporting especially in light of the ongoing transition to International Public Section Accounting Standards (IPSAS) in 2015 and 2016,”the Commissioner said.

    The Commissioner said that the rating cites the current declining federal allocation as a key factor that could impact the liquidity position of the state, thereby bringing increased pressure on the states’ finances and infrastructure investments.

    According to the Finance Commissioner, a potential bright spot in the light of recent liquidity squeeze, however, is the relentless effort to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), while curbing operating expenses towards the end of current tenure just as it reckoned that the overall financial outlook of the state remains stable despite these systemic fiscal challenges.

    Recall that Rivers State first attained International credit rating in 2008 and ever since, it has remained the first and only state in Nigeria to maintain a dual International credit rating.

    Besides foreign observers, local observers have also acknowledged that Rivers State has recorded giant strides in virtually all spheres of human endeavour.

    For instance, several communities in Rivers State have taken stock of numerous people-oriented projects embarked upon by  Governor Chibuike Amaechi since he assumed office in 2007.

    The communities showered encomiums on Amaechi during his ‘Meet the People’ tour of Obio/Akpor communities recently.

    In almost all the communities, the people thanked Governor Amaechi for empowering the people of Obio/Akpor LGA through the Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir Tony Okocha and the Caretaker Committee CTC Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, Dr. Lawrence Chukwu in skills acquisition, provision of vehicles, payment of Sure-P, monetary assistance for business and trading purposes for widows and indigent persons in the communities.

    Speaking on behalf of the people of Mgbuesilaru, Rumuodara, Eliowhani and Iriebe communities which make up Ward 2 of the LGA, Ward Leader, Chimenem Nnanta Weli, said the people were happy with the landmark achievement of Governor Amaechi in the area.

    In Ward 3- Rumuokwurusi and Atali towns, the people pledged to continually support the governor in his giant strides towards the transformation of the state.

    A joint address by the Chairman, Rumuokwurusi Town Council, Kingsley Onuoma Ejekwu and Chairman, Atali Town Council, Chief Dareth Oparati read, “We wish to thank you for the various projects your administration sited in our Ward, which include; the ongoing dualisation of Rumuokwurusi-Igwuruta road, two model primary schools in Rumuokwurusi, one in Atali, one model health centre, construction of two Electric Power Sub-stations, recognition and appointment of one of our sons, Sir Nelson Wali, to the Board of Internal Revenue in the state, the secured, peaceful and enabling environment, construction of Atali Civic Centre and empowerment of our women in various skills acquisition programmes, among others.”

    While commenting on the giant strides of Amaechi-led administration thus far, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, Commissioner for Information, noted that: “The administration, policy on infrastructure has been robust as government has completed 90 per cent of the Phase1A of the Rivers State Monorail…Now Rivers is open for business.”

    Expectedly, while situating some of the laudable socio-economic developments in his domain, Governor Amaechi during a state-wide broadcast recently recalled that the modest achievements recorded under his administration thus far is a fulfillment of electoral promises he made seven years ago when he assumed office as the Chief Executive Officer of the famed Garden City.

    Going down memory lane, Governor Amaechi recalled: “When we came to office in October, 2007, we committed ourselves to building a Rivers State of possibilities where none will be discriminated against. We set for ourselves a target and a goal to leave our state better than we found it. It was, indeed, a big challenge but seven years after, we can present a commendable score sheet to the Glory of God.”

    Upbeat, Amaechi noted that at the dawn of his administration, the state was confronting the pressing issue of insecurity, a monster that remained intractable for years.

    “We lost our dignity as armed gangs roamed our streets, maimed and killed our children and relations at will. Their armed leaders became our lords and masters. They were law unto themselves. The first casualty was our life, then the economy of our state, then, our hope of giving our children a better tomorrow seemed bleak. Protected by their arms, our children became conscripts in a war they never triggered. Weeping parents, disembowelled and dismembered bodies littered our communities and waterfronts. We knew as a government that we had a responsibility to protect lives and properties. We were clear in our minds that we owed it to you the electorate to fulfill our oath of office. We were not going to let any challenge hinder us. So we chose to confront the criminals who had stolen our peace. Not because we were strong, but because we loved our people. We chased them, not with arms and ammunitions, but with bravery and the boldness of our fathers. We soon made our streets safe again, life returned to our biggest city, Port Harcourt, and our communities. Our economy again began to blossom and those investors chased away began a return to our state. Today, our State thrives as Nigeria’s second biggest economy.”

    Like the proverbial phoenix which has the capacity to rise from its ashes, Rivers State, to many analysts who have watched keenly the flurry of economic activities in the past few years, has come to signpost for many the birth of a new hope and world of possibilities.

    Even though this truth is self-evident, the state government rather being complacent still has its hands on the plough as it is not resting on its oars at all.

  • Osun’s developmental strides

    The government of Rauf Aregbesola from inception promised to be a peculiar administration; three years later the governor has lived to its promises. The six integral action plans  of the government remained the compass that guides the working and actions of the government in its core mission to battle poverty, banish hunger, unemployment, restore healthy living, promote functional education, and enhance communal peace and progress.

    At the inception, for eight months the governor did not appoint commissioners as was the custom in many states. This action of  the governor did not go down well with the opposition who threatened to take legal action against him.

    When he eventually appointed the commissioners, he gave his explanation: “ I used the first eight months to save enough fund for the projects and programmes of the government; our predecessor took a bank loan that grounded the financial wheel of the administration to the tune of 18.6 billion naira to finance stadia projects when we were not hosting any sport competition. Every effort to renegotiate with the bank where the loan was taken failed until we found another bank that bought over the said debts and granted us a convenient loan to finance our projects.”

    The next surprise was the employment of 20,000 youths under the Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme – OYES. This singular acts was the first of its kind in Nigeria. The ousted government did not waste time in writing off the scheme as ridiculous and insulting for state graduates to be engaged in communal work with ordinary 10, 000 naira per month. They accused the government of deceit over the numbers said to have been engaged.  Aregbesola was not bothered by the negative criticism; rather he asked them to verify the actual numbers under the scheme from First Bank who paid the youths monthly. He also replied the opposition by demanding from them what were they able to do for the same youths for a period of 90 months they were in power in the state.

    Today, the OYES scheme has since received the approvals of the World Bank which in turn  sold the good idea to the Federal government and supported the scheme financially. The federal government has since  kicked off the scheme under the name YESSO. The prophet is said not to enjoy respect at home, the Aregbesola scheme that was ridiculed and disparaged by political opponents is today being celebrated nationwide for reducing joblessness among our youths.

    The government has also mobilised youths into farming via O’REAP. Many have been trained within and outside Nigeria to embrace modern farming techniques. Vast hectares of virgin lands are being cleard for large scale farming, loans schemes and farming equipment as well as fertilizers are also being provided to boost farming in the state. The state is gradually becoming the food basket of the South-west.

    This effort has made Osun to be voted as second best in poverty index in Nigeria. The Federal office of Statistics has also adjudged it as the best among the states with less percentage of unemployed youths.

    An issue that shook the administration was the allegation of islamization of the state by the Aregbesola administration. First, the governor was still trying to resolve the contention between the Christians and the Muslims in the state over the use of hijab by the students in the public schools, when the governor granted public holiday to Muslims in the state in order celebrate Hegira-an Islamic new calendar to usher in New Year 1434. The Christians alleged that Aregbesola was about to convert the state into an Islamic state. His defence was that the Muslim have long being denied the right to enjoy such holiday due to the fact of history that favours the Christians as a result of colonialists’ recognition of Christian holidays at the expense of Muslims.

    He also touched on his mode of dressing which gave room to his critics to accuse him and his government of islamization. He made reference to former governor of Benue State, Reverend Moses Adasu, who for the three years his government lasted wore cassocks and nobody raised an eyebrows. He wondered why people now make an issue about his dressing.

    Almost all his celebrated breakthroughs were misconstrued out of ignorance or envy. Opon-Imo, an educational tablet that has earned the state and the governor international award and recognition was born in controversy. When the tablet was launched, the political elite especially the opposition was acidic in their condemnation of the device. Newspapers’ columnists added insulting articles upon articles ridiculing the government, but like the Wright Brothers were disparaged initially but celebrated till date over invention of aircraft, the Opon Imo has become an international phenomenon, that has earned one award after the other.

    The government educational policy in which schools were reclassified into Elementary, Middle and High schools was similarly misunderstood by some individuals, churches and notably, the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Osun chapter. But when efforts were made to explain the true motives of the government, it became clear that their action was more political especially when they charged the governor with attempting to Islamize the state, whereas the same individuals and organization crying foul hailed the administration from the onset of the school reformation and reclassification exercise. But time eventually proved them wrong that the reclassification was a fulfillment of government continuous educational reform.

    Sukuk,the Islamic bond that the state of Osun obtained for the pursuit of educational development, turned out to become another controversial issue even by those that ought to know better. CAN alleged that it was part of methods the governor designed to Islamic the state. But government explanation was that the Central Bank of Nigeria and the financial market were behind the bond. Recently, the British Prime Minister declared that his government was set to obtain the Islamic loan. The Federal government has also indicated its willingness to use Islamic loan to finance transport projects in Nigeria. What the opposition thought they could use to rubbish the administration of Aregbesola ended up making him a pacesetter in financial management.

    The government efforts to transform the state into a harmonious environment conducive for living, especially in the core areas are ongoing. The project will cover one kilometre radius of the selected ancient cities of Ile-Ife, Ilesha, Osogbo, Ikirun, Ila Ejigbo, Ede,Iwo and Ikire. Osogbo the state capital has been upgraded to the extent that the opposition now enviously accuse the government of concentrating development in the state capital – an allegation that is far from the truth. The government has negotiated with the UN-Habitat with counterpart fund of N100 million naira.

    The reality on ground today is that the governor has done what no governor has done since the creation of the state in the past 21 years. History will surely remember him as a man of vision and purpose who gave his best to transform his people from the wretchedness to prosperous living.

  • RCCG’s giant strides

    RCCG’s giant strides

    •Pastor Adeboye pulls a great crowd of the faithful again at the church convention

    The ordination of over 10,000 pastors by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at its 61st annual convention draws the church closer to fulfilling the purpose of its mission statement. The yearly event, which took place at the expansive Redemption Camp on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway drew Christian faithful from all over the world and from different Christian denominations.

    Speaking on “Change”, the theme of the convention, the church’s general overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, a mathematics lecturer at the University of Lagos before he was sought out by Josiah Akindayomi, founder of the church went down memory lane: “Before I became born-again, I had a lot of friends. They would always branch at my house to enjoy the type of life we used to live. But as soon as I became born-again, though they were still coming, initially, my offer would not satisfy them and they all ran away.

    “But look at you, the multitude of friends God has given me in their stead.

    Therefore, you lose nothing when you give your life to Jesus and become His friend.”

    The mission statement of one of the world’s fastest growing and most influential churches is to ensure that its members rejoice with Jesus Christ in heaven; towards this end, the RCCG wants as many as possible of its members to sit at the table with Jesus Christ at the last supper. It also wants every family in all countries to wear the RCCG badge.

    Since he joined the church in 1973, initially as an interpreter to the church’s founder, Adeboye, who was ordained as a pastor in 1975, has proved beyond doubt that he is a true man of God.

    Although he speaks truth to power, he believes that should be done away from the prying eyes of the media. As a man who is a cross between the ancient and modern school of theology, Adeboye takes to heart Saint Paul’s injunction to the Romans: “let every soul be subject to the higher powers, for there is no power but of God; the powers that are ordained by God.”

    For him, Christians should be exemplary citizens, showing respect to those in positions of authority. Adeboye has lent the weight of his office to, among others, ministering to the spiritual needs of the nation. If some Nigerians have not gone violent in protesting government’s misrule, if there have not been outright sabotage of government’s policies and programmes; if some Nigerians continue to feed on hope of a better tomorrow, the credit goes to the Adeboyes.

    One of the major highlights of the 61st annual convention was the announcement by ‘Daddy G.O’., as Adeboye is fondly called, of plans by the church to build a new auditorium stretching three kilometres in length and breadth. He appealed for donations for the new auditorium so that the project could be completed before next year’s convention. He pleaded with some of his friends who could support him with N1billion or N500milion to see his secretary. He also called on those who could help with N50million to assist.

    Regular visitors to the monthly Holy Ghost service of the church will no doubt appreciate the need for the new auditorium. Every first Friday of the month, thousands of worshippers congregate at the Redemption Camp for the Holy Ghost service and the camp is the Mecca for many Christians from all over the world for the yearly Holy Ghost Congress.

    As the church embarks on what promises to be a very big and comfortable house for God, we join millions of Redeemers to congratulate it. We enjoin builders of the new edifice not to overlook the basic convenience of worshippers. At the last convention, many congregants turned open grounds to convenience spots. Small matters like adequate and clean conveniences, the issue of environmental sanitation of the camp should be accorded the deserved attention. Once again, congratulations for a spiritual experience.