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Tag: 2019

  • Nigeria and the Obasanjo factor – The 1979, 1999 and 2019 Thresholds – ErumaGborie

    By Prince Randolph ErumaGborie

    Nigeria is a country in desperate search of nationhood. Our national anthem which was given to us by the Obasanjo administration as a military Head of State seems in my mind the most precise articulation of our national aspiration and I chose to reproduce same here for ease of reference.
    Arise, O compatriots Nigeria’s call obey to serve our fatherland with love and strength and faith. The labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain, to serve with heart and might one nation bound in freedom Peace and unity.

    Oh God of creation, direct our noble cause Guide thou our leaders right Help our youth the truth to know In love and honesty to grow And living just and true Great lofty heights attain To build a nation where peace And justice shall reign

    There is no Nigerian ever that is as privileged as our beloved Chief from Owu, who God lifted up to prominence and significance with a mandate to play a pivotal role in the destiny of the Nigerian match to nationhood. I dare say he is the Principality over the Nigerian State. From his career in the Military where he was positioned to receive the instrument of surrender to end the Nigerian Civil War, to his ascendance as Military Head of State that willingly handing over power to a Civilian Government, to becoming an Elected President of this great country; his life has no parallel.

    His latest attainment of his PHD at an age of 80 years from the Nigerian Open University is the icing on the cake of a life that is sterling.
    The foregoing should give him a lot of satisfaction with a huge sense of accomplishment that should at this time make him a very generous man in thoughts, words, and deeds whilst enjoying a life of reverence and retirement for such an impactful life. A blessed man as he both in age and accomplishment in my native homeland of Uvwie Delta State by tradition is revered which I think is the same for all homelands all over Nigeria culturally.

    His latest moves which included the tweet….. ‘na dem dey rush us’ have however left me breathless and I have been wondering… Is Obasanjo a Blessing or a Curse to the Nigerian State? Let me state upfront, that I am not allowed to disrespect or bring dishonour in anyway or form by this discourse to his person and stature. As a Nigerian, I am only exercising my right of citizenship that empowers me to scrutinize, analyse and draw conclusions on acts of omission and commission of the leadership of this country with a view to seeking out positive redirection of the state of affairs.

    That Nigeria is in a very bad shape is not in question whether you are in APC or PDP or anywhere else. At least we should all be in agreement on this singular fact by the prevailing experiences, circumstances and failures which in my mind is a collective one that should be assigned to the collective called leadership. President Olusegun Obasanjo with all of the roles he has played in the evolution of the Nigerian State is indeed the most crucial leader of all and is thus most responsible for this rather sad outcome.
    God indeed entrusted the responsibility to midwife the greatness of this country into the hands of Dr Olusegun Obasanjo. The two times he had been in charge where periods of great prospects. He worked so hard to make the reality of greatness so visible at these times for Nigeria. On both occasions, a new dawn beckoned on us. But alas the greatness which he so tirelessly worked hard to realise were all aborted by the succeeding regimes he so steadfastly midwifed.

    The first scenario of 1979 was grave enough to have instructed the General on the best possible outcome to seek for the future of Nigeria. It was his call to make on who succeeds him in Office as President. It was quite obvious that Chief Obafemi Awolowo would make the best choice but for his ethnic affinity to the General which would not serve the sensitivities of the time – a Yoruba man cannot be succeeding a Yoruba man; and not for a Country that has just survived a civil war.

    The second best from every direction would have been Alhaji Maitama Sule who clearly had his eyes fixed on serving in the capacity of President. The General in his ‘wisdom’ preferred Alhaji Shehu Shagari who had his eyes fixed on becoming a Senator. No wonder he was overwhelmed by the duties of the Office of President and the great opportunity of the Second Republic was thus aborted with its life sniffed off by the hands of General Buhari and all of the great works of General Obasanjo was brought to naught.
    The second scenario came exactly 20 years later in 1999 with the re-emergence of Obasanjo as a democratically elected President. The nation was at a cross road after the horrendous military years of Buhari/Idiagbon jackboot, Babangida rigmarole, and brutal Abacha. Once again and against all odds, President Obasanjo pulled the country from its knees and ‘great lofty heights were attained’. One of such great accomplishment was that Nigeria became a debt free country under his watch. A status I never could imagine we would ever see in my life time.

    The significance of this was that Nigeria on balance sheet was one of the best Countries on earth. The privatization of the Telecommunication industry was to reference Nigeria as one of the best destination for global capital. But yet again, 2007 came and by the ‘wisdom’ of President Obasanjo, the reins of Power was put in the hands of a very sick President Yaradua that is supported by a chosen ‘clueless’ Goodluck Jonathan.

    It is significant to note that the power hand over by Obasanjo this time around was not like the first. He was unwilling to go and was forced to make this decision after a botched attempt to institute an unconstitutional third term, having lost faith in his Vice President Abubakar Atiku.

    Once again the great opportunity at greatness for Nigeria was aborted with the events that followed 2007 till date. We have tumbled from the ‘lofty heights’ and we are right now on the precipice. Never since the civil war has there been so much letting of blood in the land – the blood of the innocent, weak and the vulnerable. All of the leadership that existed since 2007 are Obasanjo’s as he endorsed all of them before their ascendance.

    The reality before us is that this ‘wisdom’ of Obasanjo that consistently works so hard to deliver Nigeria at the bank of greatness only to hand it over for abortion must now be called to question. Whatever is the intricate details of that ‘wisdom’ can be analysed and a positive outcome drawn out to the benefit of our country Nigeria. Reason we need to scrutinize the latest moves of Baba Iyabo.

    We are at another 20 years in 2019 – the previous are the 1979 and 1999 dates. Should Nigeria rely on the ‘wisdom’ of Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo to direct affairs again? There are two sides to this question and it will be wise for Nigerians to look closely at both carefully before taking the plunge this time.
    The first part is to see if Dr Olusegun Obasanjo, with his experience from the past two crucial points is best positioned to direct the third opportunity. So his rejection of President Buhari and vindictive rejection of Former Vice President Atiku should be taken as holy grails and await his choice for 2019; or see the second part as using his rejection as a compass in the right direction, in the choice of leadership that might work at the least better than the previous outcomes of 1979 and 1999 periods in this experiment to seek out great leadership for Nigeria.

    Without waiting for his choice of who to support in 2019 and working on breaking this cycle of leadership failure, Nigeria must now chart a new direction and taking the rejection compass as a guide which in the circumstance looks so much as an attractive option. As it stands today from the Obasanjo stable, and with the rejection compass, the choice should

    be between Buhari and Atiku for Nigerian in 2019. Maybe by this we will get it right by going against the ‘wisdom’ of Obasanjo this time.
    On a personal note, Our Dear Baba, it must be so much pain to see your works and legacies destroyed time and time again. It is certainly not your intention to be your own nemesis as evidenced by the above narrative. A worthy successor in 2007 with the vision of continuing in the direction you have lead the country would have seen Nigeria today consolidating on the great lofty heights attained’ under your watch with your legacies preserved, protected and projected into the next generation. The period since then would largely be considered wasted years and a step back into the abyss. Please spare us the agony of another round of failed efforts. All that we need as a country to grow into the ideals espoused in our anthem abound with us but for the leadership question. Unshackle Nigeria from your ‘wisdom’ this one more time and let Nigeria rise beyond you.

    This is an appeal to you Your Excellency, Dr, Chief, General, Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo GCFR, Former Head of State and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Having said this much about personalities, let me stretch this discuss and thoughts a little bit further to add that the future of Nigeria would need to be moved away from our reliance on building of strong personalities to the effective efforts of nation building. The election of 2019 should move from this rather pedestrian level of APC versus PDP or Buhari Versus Atiku and the rest aspirants to the discussion of issues, which as at today is not the case with about 6 months to the Elections.
    Quite central to all of the issues confronting Nigeria is the Leadership Question. Should we not have a system that is more productive and less wasteful as this one currently in place? Waste is such a central issue that listening to an experienced former Governor Peter Obi should advice us against the current state of affairs. A lot is being said about restructuring of our political structure that would enable the unleashing of the potentials of Nigeria. However, we are yet to see clear cut substance to this discuss that nails it for all contending sections of the State. The last National Conference of the Jonathan Administration made some progress at reaching a consensus of some sort but the issue of waste in my mind was not well addressed.

    My humble submission is that the election of 2019 presents for Nigeria an opportunity to take seriously the issue of restructuring to its logical conclusion. A constitutional process that would reduce the footprint of election for politicians at all levels must be the first step.

    The current footprint completely supports corruption. Any system that requires the electorate in Katsina to vote for a Buhari or a Jonathan is unlikely to be fair. Election in Katsina should strictly be between a Buhari and a Yaradua for all intent and purpose because the people of Katsina would know and do best between a Buhari and a Yaradua rather than a cause between Buhari and Jonathan.

    Further still the resources Buhari needs to convince the people of Baylesa to vote for him against a Jonathan makes a charade of electioneering. This is the underlining factor that is fuelling our corrupt political system as the resources needed are so much for mere mortals to contemplate. This is also the reason why we have the quality of participants dwindling right from those of our founding father till date.

    We urgently need to reverse this by narrowing the footprint of electioneering framework that would support the mobilization of the right quality of leadership as the kind that Dr Olusegun Obasanjo would wish to have as successors and are responsible enough to avoid the abortion of our potentials and possibilities ‘to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign’.

    The Structure that supported the emergence of our best in the 1st Republic hold a lot of prospects and there is nothing wrong in taking the important lessons from that experience as the building blocks for a new and viable political structure for a better Nigeria.
    Prince Randolph ErumaGborie randolpherumagborie@gmail.com

  • I am ready for 2019- Funke Adesiyan

    Nollywood actress and politician, Funke Adesiyan known for her controversial views on social media has declared that she is ready for 2019 elections.

    The busty entrepreneur and entertainer made this known on her Instagram page.

    The ‘Eti Keta’ actress once contested for a seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly under the umbrella of the People Democratic Party (PDP) to represent Ibadan South East State Constituency in 2015 . She however lost the election.

    No one If she will be re-contesting in 2019, but her declaration has sparked the interest of her fans.

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BmiSRednsao/?taken-by=funkeadesiyan

    Adesiyan recently recounted how she collapsed after herdsmen invaded her farm.

    According to her:” I remember this day 2016. 3 months prior, I’d just acquired 5 hectares of land at Ijebu Omu for watermelon farming. I was in such a high spirit looking forward to planting the new hybrid seedlings that had just surfaced. I was sleeping at a room apartment I rented in the village so I could be closer to farmland. We went to work. Cleared the land, sunk the borehole, layed the pipes for irrigation so water can be sufficient as watermelon feeds hugely on water and environment. We planted. I left the farm maintenance to the farm manager. I was so tired that I needed to take a holiday so bad but Ranti, my friend who just struck a deal with a Nigerian-Indian company who needed tomato suppliers who can be consistent was waiting. So we headed to Iseyin from Ijebu to see the expansion on our Tomato farm.I stopped in Ibadan on my way from Iseyin to have a drink with my constituents and my favourite Amala Turaya at Yemetu.

    “On getting to Lagos, I had only 5days to prepare for my China trip as my partners from Iran and Pakistan wanted us to tour Hunan, a province popular for it’s tea Cultivation. As a “soji girl” that I am, I exploit all money making avenues around me. I needed to shop for my milk and Sardines that I will sell in China to cover my hotel bills. (Ogbon lo gba) So I spent one whole month in China from Shanghai to Yiwu to Hunan to Sixuan to Pinyin to Hanzhou and finally Guangzhou where I met my beautiful Abuja babe, Mobola. I was tired and drained mentally and physically. I had a week stopover in Dubai which I’d to cancel cos I just wanted to be in the strong embrace of my #ejika the best man any woman can ask for.As I turned my phone on at Dubai airport, text messages came in from my watermelon farm manager that #fulaniherdsmen had come into my farm and their cows had destroyed our watermelon that was due for Cultivation oh how i cried! I collapsed right there at Dubai airport. I was rushed to the emergency hospital and was on admission for the 5days I didn’t want to spend! (Man proposes….) This Picture was taken the 2nd day by my Doctor”,she revealed.

     

    I collapsed after Fulani Herdsmen invaded my farm- Funke Adesiyan

     

     

  • Why I may consider running for president in 2019 – Al-Mustapha

    Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, says he will join the presidential race if prevailed upon by Nigerians to do so.

    Al-Mustapha, a retired major, gave the indication Wednesday in Kaduna in an interview shortly after a meeting with United Christian Leaders Eagle Eye Forum which backed him to join the 2019 presidential race.

    “I am not going to announce myself contesting for a presidential seat, but if people say so that, is the wishes of the people.

    ”I am not a power tasty person, if I am, I would have lost my personality long before now, but when people gather to speak and the decision is by them, then it is a call to serve,” he said.

    According to him, his focus is the protection of the right of Nigerians as provided under the law.

    Al-Mustapha also spoke on the security situation in the country and called for the reintroduction of toll gates, which he described as an effective buffer of uncovering illegal weapons and movement of criminals.

    He also called for the overhaul of the Police Act to strengthen policing at the local level in the country.

    Al-Mustapha particularly said local government councils must be allowed to work effectively, so as to tackle local challenges including security.

    He described the efforts of the EFCC in fighting corruption “as a small monkey given a thread to arrest an elephant, but abandoned it and is busy destroying the animal kingdom.

    “If you have to fight corruption in Nigeria, you have to tackle it from multifaceted angles; the EFCC is not strong enough to fight corruption.

    “It requires a bigger body that has the capacity of intelligence that can reach out to the international community to get our stolen funds stashed abroad and equally prosecute rather than relying on the regular Police to do that.”

    On the Abacha loot, the former CSO to the late Head of State said, he knew nothing about it.

    “The fact that some of Nigerian leaders were corrupt does not mean that everyone that serve in government is a thief. Some of us can stand and challenge any institution or individual any day any time.

    “Stealing is not what you require, but its service to the nation that matters. Any money that you steal not to render service to the people makes the owner an illiterate, vision less storekeeper.”

    Earlier, Chairman of the United Christian Leaders Eagle Eye Forum, Aminchi Habu, said the forum, after critical analysis and observations has endorsed Mr Al-Mustapha to contest in the upcoming presidential election in 2019.

    He said the forum will stand with Mr Al-Mustapha once he makes up his mind to run for the presidency because of his integrity.

     

  • BREAKING: I’m considering running against Buhari in 2019 — Saraki

    BREAKING: I’m considering running against Buhari in 2019 — Saraki

    The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has said that he is considering running against President Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election billed for February, 2019.

    The former governor of Kwara state said he can make the change that Nigeria and Nigerians desire.

    He disclosed this in an interview with Bloomberg.

    “I am consulting and actively considering it. I believe I can make the change,” he was quoted by Bloomberg.

    Saraki, a former chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, defected to the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party. The governors of Benue and Kwara have also defected to the PDP. Fourteen other senators also dumped the APC for PDP and African Democratic Congress (ADC), a party associated with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    The PDP is expected to hold its primary election in October.

    Saraki also claimed that the PDP has learnt its lesson from the loss in 2015 and stand a chance of leading Nigeria in the right direction.

    “We (PDP) have the opportunity with the right kind of presidential candidate and president to provide the leadership for the party. The party has a good opportunity to lead the country in the right direction,” he said.

  • Buhari not under foreign pressure to jettison 2019 ambition – Presidency

    Buhari not under foreign pressure to jettison 2019 ambition – Presidency

    The Presidency on Tuesday denied reports circulating in some sections of the media that President Muhammadu Buhari was under pressure to back out of the 2019 presidential election.

    It described as fiction the newspaper report with the headline; ‘Pressure mounts on Buhari not to seek re-election.’

    Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a statement, condemned the publication, describing it as ‘fake news’.

    He maintained that the author of the ‘tendentious story’ was being mischievous or got procured by anti-democratic elements, and then penned the mischief.

    The statement read: “It is necessary to respond to a tendentious story published today as cover choice by Daily Independent Newspaper.

    “Under the headline, ‘Pressure mounts on Buhari not to seek re-election,’ the fiction parading as news claims that foreign powers, including the European Union, United States of America, United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia, are putting pressure on President Buhari not to seek re-election, due to some concocted reasons.

    “We thought fake news was the sole preserve of the social media in this season.

    “Alas, a traditional medium has caught the bug. Obviously, the author of the story just got a brain wave, or got procured by anti-democratic elements, and then penned the mischief.

    “If there are quarters in which President Buhari is held in very high esteem, and the work he is doing for Nigeria highly lauded, it is in the countries mentioned. Some of them are equally bastions of democracy, and will not interfere in the democratic affairs of a sovereign country. The newspaper should simply tell its story to the marines.’’

    According to him, President Buhari is not a flippant or frivolous individual, as he gave deep thought to the prospect, before announcing his bid for a second term in office.

    “It is only those who fear that their goose would be cooked, if they meet with him at the polls that are trying to dissuade him from running by all means, including sponsored newspaper stories.

    “By saying it got feelers that President Buhari may opt out of the 2019 presidential election, Daily Independent embarrassed itself, and all those who love good journalism.

    “The newspaper can surely do better,’’ he added

  • Okorocha’s intimidation, bitter politics cannot stop my ambition in 2019 – Madumere

    The embattled Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, has insisted that the incumbent governor, Rochas Okorocha cannot intimidate him to abandon his ambition of succeeding him in 2019.

    The deputy governor made the assertion on Wednesday, while addressing scores of Imo citizens in Owerri, the state capital.

    Madumere also used the forum to commend the people of the state for coming out en masse in his defence despite a barrage of intimidation and molestation coming from government’s agents.

    He also used the forum to commend Nigerians for speaking out, stating that he was proud to be a Nigerian, following the patriotic efforts of Imolites and Nigerians at large to call evil by its name.

    Madumere said, “I am proud to be an Imolite. For the first time, we tore down the wall of our political leanings to call evil by its name. I commend the patriotic spirit of the Mbaise lawmakers, Hon. Mike Iheanetu, Hon. Bruno Ukoha and Ichie Ken Agbim, who rejected huge sums of money to say no to an evil plot against an innocent person. I commend the lawmakers from my Mbaitoli-Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Hon. Ifeanyi Nnataronye and Hon. Uche Oguike, choosing to bear the pain of being suspended for showing solidarity to me, knowing I had done nothing wrong.

    “I must say that I am proud of our brother lawmakers from the Oru East and Oru West local government areas, Hon. Nkenna Nzeruo and Donatus Onuigwe, who are also suffering today for rejecting their bribes; saying no to blood oath-taking; and for refusing to join in the impunity.”

    He further appreciated other notable Nigerians who also spoke against the unfortunate incident of the ill-fated actions of the state House of Assembly.

    “I hail Chief Ikedi Ohakim, a former governor of Imo State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, a former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Femi Falana (SAN) and Senator Victor Umeh among many others.”

    Madumere also reiterated his resolve to continue to stand for justice, equity and fair play, insisting that keeping quiet in times of injustice for temporary comfort was like piling up the devastation of unquantifiable measure of evil.

    “Rise up and fight for your right. Do not allow anyone to usurp your freedom of expression, association and freedom to aspire to be whatever you wish to be. We must fight for equity, fair play and justice. It is only when we have these ingredients in our society that we can make the needed progress.” he added.

    Recall that the Imo State House of Assembly had concluded impeachment move against Madumere and was at the verge of swearing-in a new Deputy Governor but the process was halted by a court judgement.

  • 2019 Election: Korede Bello tasks youths to obtain PVCs

    2019 Election: Korede Bello tasks youths to obtain PVCs

    Korede Bello, the Nigeria Award winning Music Artiste, has called on Nigerian youths to obtain Permanent voters cards (PVC) ahead of 2019 general election.

    He made the call at a sensitisation campaign by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) tagged ‘Youth Votes Count’ Campus Outreach at Bayero University Kano, on Tuesday.

    The programme was organised within the framework of European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria by INEC with Technical assistance from European Centre for Electoral Support.

    Bello, who, is also an INEC Ambasador, urged the youth to go and vote “for our conscience we have also been told that we are the future of Nigeria,

    Another INEC Ambasador, a Hausa film actress, Nafisa Abdullahi, advised youths to believe in themselves and in their ability to make difference in politics not to sell their votes.

    “This coming election is our opportunity to change things, your destiny is what you make use of it so use it wisely your vote is your right, it is your power, so Iam begging you to use your vote wisely and collect your PVCs ”

    In his remarks, the Deputy Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Nigeria, Mr Richard Young, called on youths to get their PVCs before the deadline for the registration.

    “Eighteen to thirty years you don’t see them in great numbers at the polling units and this need to be addressed as Nigeria has a great Democracy.

    “This is the opportunity to bring about the change you want to see and stay away from religious violence to ensure a peaceful, non-violence transparent, free and fair election,”he said.

    In his remarks, the Pro-chancellor of Bayero University, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, commended the National Commissioners of INEC, Partners of Ambassador of European Union for choosing Buk as the North-West Zone.

    “All of us are INEC, the success of INEC is our success, we should insist to have free and fair election by avoiding violence and thuggery, go out to vote and let our votes count”.

    Also speaking, the INEC registers chairman, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu represented by Hajiya Amina Zakari, urged youths to mobilize themselves, register and get their PVCs to enable them cast their votes.

    She, however, appealed to the general public who had yet to register or to collect their PVCs to do so before the next general elections.

    According to her, the Programme mainly focused on the continuous voter registration exercise especially among youths who are the future leaders.

  • 2019: The revolution is already here – Femi Aribisala

    Femi Aribisala

    ‘Many years ago, as a member of the Nigerian delegation to the Nonaligned Conference, I engaged a Nigerian vice-president in discussion on Nigerian politics. I cannot recall now the exact subject-matter, but I remember saying at some juncture: “Nigerians won’t stand for that, Sir.” The vice-president became visibly irritated: “What are they going to do?” he asked pointedly. “What can they do about it?”

    Powerless Nigerians

    What indeed can Nigerians do about the policies of our government? The official answer is: “absolutely nothing!” Nigerians are deemed powerless and are held with obvious contempt by our leaders. We never seem inclined to fight for our rights. Sister-Africans like the Algerians and the Zimbabweans fought for their independence. Nigerians did not.

    When the price of bread went through the roof in Egypt in 1977, there was widespread rioting. But in Nigeria, the naira has had a free-fall. The exchange-rate was 1.60 naira to one dollar in 1986; by 2015, it was 197 naira to one dollar. It is now 360 naira to one dollar. Nevertheless, there has been no upheaval. In spite of the devastating effect on the price of bread, there have been no bread-riots in Nigeria.

    When an election was annulled in Algeria in 1991, the denied victors went to the trenches and fought a lengthy guerilla-war that cost over 200,000 lives. But when an election was annulled in Nigeria in 1993, we did not fight. When the military overthrow an elected government in Nigeria, we accept it without contradiction. It merely provides a welcome opportunity for the musical chairs of new political appointments.

    Poverty and profligacy

    Today, Nigeria earns barely $50 billion a year. Our economy is down in the dumps. There is galloping unemployment. Those in public employment are owed back salaries; while pensioners are owed their pensions. The PHCN suffers from chronic epilepsy, leaving the country in gross darkness. There is a relay-race of strikes. Even, doctors and health-workers are not exempted. With the growing ban of okada riders nationwide, some Nigerians are now forced to walk to work. Many can hardly afford a square meal a day.

    In the midst of this hardship, rich Nigerians are busy flaunting their stolen wealth. They are buying summer-houses in Dubai; building hotels in Lagos; buying yachts in New Orleans; celebrating birthday parties in Seychelles; marrying wives in the Bahamas. Our pastors have become mega. They now fly around in private jets, drive in a cortege of Jeeps and preach “the gospel” while cruising down the Atlantic with the “crème de la crème.”

    Some fly in former prime-ministers of foreign countries just to dedicate spanking church-buildings costing billions of naira. Others call for dubious billion-naira donations in order to build church-auditoriums measured in kilometers. Meanwhile, their congregations remain mired in poverty. Many are even hungry-poor.

    Revolution-ready

    Seeing the writing on the wall, many are convinced Nigeria is now ripe for a violent revolution. We have seen “the Arab spring” in the Middle East. They believe “a Nigerian summer” is also on the horizon.

    Some years back, Pastor T.B. Joshua of Synagogue Church of All Nations lent his voice to those predicting that a revolution in Nigeria is in the offing. During a televised broadcast, he declared: “I am seeing a revolution. I am seeing people take to the street. At the beginning of that protest, it might be stopped. Eventually, it will become so big that it cannot be stopped.”

    T.B. Joshua is known for making curiously accurate predictions. He reportedly predicted the death of the former President of Zambia, Levy Mwanawasa, in 2008. He is also said to have predicted the election of John Atta Mills as President of Ghana that same year. But is it true that a revolution is just around the corner in Nigeria? Is it true that Nigeria is more than ready for its own homegrown social and political upheaval?

    I don’t think so! There is no revolution coming in Nigeria for the simple reason that the revolution already came a long time ago. It came in a way that defied our political science textbooks. Maybe that accounts for our failure to recognise it. In the Nigeria of today, the revolution is crime.

    Karma time

    There is a revolution already underway in Nigeria. The revolutionaries are armed-robbers, pen-robbers, “OPC,” “Bakassi boys,” “area-boys,” “yahoo-yahoo boys” and 419 scammers. They are money-grubbing market-women; carpenters; plumbers; doctors and university lecturers.

    National treasuries are being emptied. Banks are getting robbed. Homes are being burgled. Oil pipelines are being vandalised. Everybody is grabbing his share of the national cake. Everybody is busy ripping-off everyone else. From the policeman who holds car-owners hostage for “happy weekend” gratifications; to the mechanic who uses fake spare-parts; to the pharmacist who sells expired drugs; Nigeria is now a country of generalised criminality from top to bottom.

    In Nigeria, corrupt public-officials have murdered sleep. They live the barricaded life. Their walls are concrete and electrocuted. Their bodyguards are armed to the teeth. Their cars are smoke-screened. Their agbadas are bullet-proofed. Their children are home-schooled for fear of kidnappers. Even their mothers and grandmothers are under lock-and-key in the villages.

    Those were the days when peace of mind could be bought with hypocritical acts of philanthropy. Some small-change is thrown at a few beggars. One or two vagrants are fed with crumbs from the table. But that just won’t do any more. It is karma time.

    Enter Boko Haram

    This revolutionary criminality has found its most profound expression in the Boko Haram; a virulent terrorist scourge that now holds the country hostage. In spite of the fact that Northerners have ruled Nigeria for no less than 40 out of a total 58 years of independence, the North remains the most impoverished part of the country. It is full of uneducated and unemployed youth. The public health system has collapsed. The educational system is bankrupt. The pervasive feature is grinding poverty among the rank-and-file.

    Northern politicians have done well for themselves. They have pocketed a considerable amount of public funds. They have awarded themselves choice oil-blocks. They have literally privatized a number of public enterprises to themselves. They have summer houses abroad. They have mansions down South in Banana Island, Ikoyi and Victoria Island in Lagos. But they have done precious little to develop the North.

    The North-west has produced more Nigerian presidents than any other region. Nevertheless, it is one of the most pauperized areas of the country. According to a reportt by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, 7 out of 10 women in North-West Nigeria between the ages of 20-29 can neither read nor write.

    The North-east is hardly better, especially given the incidence of armed insurgency. By the same account, the maternal mortality rate in the North-East is said to be three times above the national average. But Northern politicians don’t seem to care. They send their children to school abroad: they deliver their babies in Britain and the United States.

    All this provides fertile ground for Boko Haram to flourish. To date, innocent men, women and children are senselessly murdered in the North by this group of marauders, without discernible probable cause. Neither is there any respite down South. Kidnapping is now a major industry. If they don’t get you, they go after your parents or your relatives.

    The exempted

    Several years ago, Shettima Ali Munguno, 87-year-old former petroleum minister of Nigeria, was also abducted by the Boko Haram. But then, surprisingly, he was promptly released without ransom. Many speculated he must be a Boko Haram sympathiser to have been so favoured. But I am of a different persuasion. I am convinced the Shettima was released because his curriculum vitae was read to the Boko Haram. They then discovered that they had mistakenly kidnapped the wrong man.

    I remember when the Shettima was in government. He had the national reputation of being scrupulously honest. It was widely acknowledged that he would never steal public funds. In fact, there was a rumour that his people hated him at the time for that very reason. Why should everyone be a thief at the federal level and only the representative of Borno is clean?

    Presumably, his people wanted a representative thief in Lagos. Therefore, when a chorus of Nigerians appealed to the Boko Haram on the basis of the impeccable credentials of the Shettima, he was promptly released. He is not the kind of person the Boko Haram revolution is against.

    Alhaji Kashim Shettima, then Governor of Borno State, gave this testimony about Shettima Ali Munguno: “Those who help orphans and the poor have special place before Allah and this makes our elder statesman, Shettima Ali Monguno, a special person before Allah because over the years, he has dedicated his lifetime to catering for the orphans, widows and the needy. He feeds them, clothes them, takes care of their health and other social needs. He is a righteous old man as all humans can testify, leaving Allah to be the judge; he is associated with honesty and integrity. This means Allah cannot be happy with anyone that hurts this good servant of his.”

    Be afraid

    The message is clear: the Shettima Ali Mungunos of Nigeria have nothing to fear. But the corrupt politicians who have grown fat by stealing public funds; the jet-setting mega-pastors who make merchandise of men; the businessmen who specialize in fraud; they need to be very afraid. There is a target on their foreheads. Fear will continue to surround them on every side.

    In Nigeria, the pauperized many have sent a memo to the criminally-rich few: “We will not allow you to enjoy your ill-gotten gains in peace. We will hound you and pursue you everywhere you go. When you buy your Jeeps, we will snatch them. When you send your children to expensive schools, we will kidnap them. When you retreat to your billion-naira homes, you will have to sleep with one eye open. With every knock, you will panic and tremble fearing it could be nemesis at the door.”

    Professor Osita Eze, the late Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, told me an interesting, probably apocryphal, story. He said when the late president of Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was brought back home on his sick bed from Saudi Arabia in the dead of night in February 2010; a contingent of armed soldiers surrounded the houses of prominent members of government in Abuja.

    In panic, one of them quickly phoned his godfather, to seek advice as to what to do. The godfather said to him: “Let me make some enquiries and then call you back.”

    The godfather then dropped the phone, got into his private jet, and quickly ran away to Togo.

  • 2019: Defected lawmakers will campaign for Buhari while in PDP – Presidency

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, has announced that All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers who have decamped will still campaign for the President regardless of their political party.

    According to Enang, the lawmakers did not leave because of the President but as a result of local politics.

    Speaking in a press briefing on Thursday, the Presidential aide said the Executive will continue to treat the defected lawmakers with the respect they deserve.

    He said: “…in all the grievances expressed, none is attributed or directed at President Muhammadu Buhari, nor his actions or any action or omission of the President or the Federal Government.

    “Indeed a great number of them have indicated that even if they pursue their bid on a different political platform they will still campaign for President Buhari for 2019 on the APC platform.

    “The Executive will keep treating the legislators with respect due their person and offices and keep working with them as Legislators for the Federal Republic of Nigeria who make laws for the Executive to execute irrespective of their individual political decisions, while leaving all options open for conciliation.”

    Enang also stated that the Executive will be consulting with the Legislature over matters waiting for consideration such as the “2018 Virement Proposals, approval of borrowings to fund the 2018 Appropriation Bill, approval of the pending 2018 budget of 64 government-owned corporations laid by Mr. President along with the 2018 budget, including a request for approval of appointments.

    “We pray the legislature will find the normal ingenious patriotic means and time to attend to these within the period of the vacation in the interest of the nation which the legislature is passionately committed to.”

  • Why I declared early for 2019 elections – Buhari

    Why I declared early for 2019 elections – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja said he made his intention to contest the 2019 Presidential Elections known early in order to douse rising speculations and give the party, All Progressives Congress (APC) enough time to prepare.

    Buhari, who received members of the Buhari Support Group Centre (BSGC) at the State House, said he noticed that speculations were already constituting distraction to governance and stirring tensions, so he had to declare during the National Executive Committee meeting of the party.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said “I had to announce before the National Executive Committee of our party about my intention to ask for the party’s nomination for next year’s election so that we can save a lot of time and cool tempers.

    “A lot people were trying to make it a habit of being a nuisance to themselves and many Nigerians, so when I came out I said those who are serious let them come out.

    “And I tried to make sure that the party is organized and consolidated so that we start from the bottom to the top, and that Nigerians will be involved in a way that each constituency will pick those that are going to represent them at various levels, whether as Local Government chairmen, in the State Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and finally the president,’’ he said.

    The President said early declaration guaranteed more participation and inclusivity within the party, and further strengthened the bond with supporters and Nigerians.

    “Some of the people thought to be uneducated and unsophisticated are very educated and sophisticated during elections; for those who have money to give they say bring the money we will still do what we want to do,’’ he added.

    President Buhari noted that God’s divine intervention and the use of technology during the 2015 elections exposed the weakness of previous processes where a privileged few sat and allocated figures to constituencies during elections.

    “They just sit and look at a constituency and they award the numbers, then they say anybody who disagrees should go to court; now for somebody who is looking for the next meal where does he get money to pay Senior Advocates of Nigeria?

    “Thank God for technology, with the PVC you know where you registered and it can be shown whether you voted or not,’’ the President said.

    He advised Nigerians to get their voters card for the 2019 elections, and ensure that they vote to please their conscience with pride as citizens.

    The President commended the BSGC for all the sacrifice and steadfastness in championing his candidacy.

    “I thank you very much for the sacrifice you have been making. I am happy to use this opportunity to meet you and thank you for the sacrifices and steadfastness. I don’t think I can thank you enough because by identifying yourself as a group for all these years and getting nothing for it visibly I think its worthy of commendation,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, the Coordinator of the BSGC, Umaru Dembo, said “through thick and thin, rain or sun shine, hot or cold we are here to assure Mr President that since 2014 we have been working, expanding and helping to explain the new life that your government has ushered in for the good people of Nigeria.’’

    He said the BSGC had initiated the documentation of the President’s achievements in a book authored by Dr Sani Muktar Bichi and himself.

    Dembo assured the President of a bottom-up process of mobilising more supporters for the administration, while appreciating him for reversing the trend of impunity, corruption and lawlessness that reigned before 2015.

    Dembo said the BSGC was an umbrella organisation encompassing “Women for Buhari and Osinbajo’’, “A Kasaa Tsare’’, “Northern Youth Assembly,” “Buhari Renewal mandate’’ and others in support of good governance in Nigeria.