Tag: Independence

Reactions as Nigeria marks 62nd Independence Day tomorrow

As Nigeria marks its 62nd Independent Anniversary, some Nigerians said that the 23 years of uninterrupted democratic administration is worth celebrating.

A cross-section of Nigerians who spoke in Damaturu and Dutse expressed joy over the feat achieved towards entrenching sustainable democratic governance in the country.

They said the stability in the democratic process and political achievements outweighed contemporary challenges confronting the country in its 62 years of independence.

The Anglican Bishop of Dutse, Rev. Marcus Dan Binta noted that the forefathers laboured hard to keep the country together since independence.

He said Nigerians should thank God and appreciate the leaders for their efforts to bring progress and unity in the country.

“I must confess that of recent we are seeing a Nigeria quiet different from the one we used to know. As we mark the 62nd Independence Anniversary, we should pray God for peace, unity and prosperity in the country.

“We have some politicians with good agenda but at the end, what we see is quite different from what they come to tell us during their campaigns.

“While we appreciate God these 62 years, honestly I am happy, there is good hope for Nigerians.

“We are not saying that Nigeria is totally bad. There are good people who can bring positive change to the country.

“During this elections for Nigeria to grow, let us choose leaders that have the fear of God, people with integrity and credibility, there is still hope for this nation,” the clergyman said.

Also commenting, Maryam Ibrahim, the Coordinator, Safe Nigeria Now, an NGO, decried lack of internal democracy in some political parties in the country.

Ibrahim, who is also the Secretary, Jigawa Social Protection Platform, said the recent primaries conducted by political parties was a source of concern.

She urged political parties to abide by their respective constitutions and the electoral laws to further entrench democratic culture in the country.

The political activist said the ammended Electoral Act 2022, gave hope to the electorate toward ensuring that their votes count.

“A lot of Nigerians aspire inclusion of youth in governance,” she said, and faulted party delegates for alledged malpractices in the primaries.

She also advocated laws to regulate conduct of party primaries to make it credible and transparent.

In the same vein; Ali Abbas, an Associate Professor, Political Science Department, Yobe State University, said Nigerians have every reason to celebrate 62 years of independence.

He said, “this is the first time in the history of our country that we enjoyed democracy for 23 years without military intervention.

“This means our democracy is consolidating. The only process of acquiring power is through democratic process, as provided by the constitution. Politically Nigeria is maturing”.

Abbas identified successful implementation of the electoral reform as another milestone towards entrenching democratic governance in the country.

This, he said, would address pre and post-election violence which previously characterised electoral processes.

The academic don warned politicians against promoting religious and sectional politics, and urged them to foster peace and unity in the country.

He noted that such undemocratic attitudes were inimical to sustainable growth and posed threat to national security.

“Insecurity is a serious challenge to political stability and development in Nigeria. Our election concern should be centred around electing transformational leaders, who understand their mandates, and who can discharge such mandates without fear or favour.

“Leaders who understand the problems of Nigerians and who can solve the problems systematically but firmly.

“There are issues of mistrust, misperception and miss understanding among Nigerians. The country needs a unifier, who can bring all Nigerians on board,” he added.

“Security is paramount, it should not be only physical but that of social, economic, religious, cultural among others.

“There should also be a shared development across all regions, ethnicities, religions and political divides.

“Development should not be restricted to a certain parts of the country while the others are retrogressing.

“So the people should think properly and appreciate democracy collectively,” he said.
He also commended the past and present leadership for laying foundation for infrastructure development for sustainable social and economic development in the country.

Oct. 1: President Buhari addresses nation Saturday

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari will on Saturday address the nation as part of activities commemorating the 62nd Independence Anniversary of the country, at 7.00am.

Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, confirmed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

He said: ”Television, radio stations and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and Radio Nigeria for the broadcast.”

September 30, 2022
FG releases programmes to mark 62nd Independence Anniversary

The Federal Government on Wednesday released the line up of programmes to commemorate the country’s 62nd Independence Anniversary.

Joe Mutah, the Chief Press Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Culture, in a statement in Abuja said the activities would commence with a press conference on Thursday at the National Press Centre in Abuja.

He said a church service would hold on Sunday at the National Christian Centre located in the Central Business District of Abuja.

According to Mutah, a public lecture will also take place at the State House Conference Hall on Sept. 29 while Special Juma’at prayers will hold at the National Mosque in Abuja.

The commemoration would be rounded off on Oct. 1 with a presidential broadcast while a military parade would take place at the Eagle Square at 10am.

September 21, 2022
How Ghana surrendered its independence to the US – By Owei Lakemfa

GHANA, the shining Black Star which in 1957 lit the way to independence for all of Africa, is today, a slave colony of the United States, US. The declaration 65 years ago by its leader, Kwame Nkrumah that: “The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa”, gave momentum to the independence movements across the continent.

Ghana followed up its declaration by providing offices and bases for liberation movements in the continent.

For this reason and the moves by Nkrumah to unite the continent into a single United States of Africa, his stiff opposition to Apartheid, transforming Ghana into the universal headquarters of the Pan Africanist movement and seeking to make Africa independent of external powers, his administration was overthrown.

The coup that toppled the Nkrumah administration was planned by the American Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, whose Deputy Director, Ray Cline, co-ordinated it from Washington, while its station chief in Ghana, Howard Bane, saw to its execution. Over 1,600 Ghanaians were killed in the coup with many injured.

The primary tasks of the coup plotters were to reverse all the gains made by the Nkrumah leadership, expel all liberation fighters given refuge and hand over the country to external forces.

One of the major beneficiaries of the 1966 coup was Edward Akufo-Addo who was named the Chief Justice. Four years into the coup, he was named the President of Ghana.

Today, 50 years after he left office, his son, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as President of Ghana, is continuing the demolition work by surrendering the independence of Ghana to the same American establishment that executed the criminal February 24, 1966 coup.

The current President Akufo-Addo had in April 2018 sworn that Ghana has “not offered a military base, and will not offer a military base to the United States of America”. But it is a matter of nomenclature as the military base was baptised as West Africa Logistics Network,WALN. Under it, America is given the right to run Ghana as a colony although the latter still maintains the privilege of marking March 6 as ‘Independence Day’.

As part of the Agreement, Ghana, through an American contractor, McDan, has handed over Terminal 1 of the Kotoka International Airport in Accra to the Americans free of charge!

The ‘Agreement’ itself is worse than the humiliating Japanese piece of surrender to the US after defeat in the Second World War. It grants American soldiers and civilian contractors the privileges, exemptions and immunity equivalent to diplomatic missions under the Vienna Convention. American soldiers can wear their uniforms and carry arms in Ghana as if they are in the US and can enter and exit Ghana without passports just with their identity cards! That is a right even Ghanaians don’t have!

Agreed facilities and areas provided by Ghana, like the runway, can be of exclusive use by American forces who are also authorised to exercise all rights and authorities for the use, operation, defence, or control of such places, including using force.

Also, the Americans can undertake construction activities on, and make alterations and improvements to agreed facilities and areas like the airport and seaport and are authorised to control entry to such places.

The agreement also provides that Ghana furnishes, without rental, all agreed facilities and areas while the Americans are afforded priority in access to and use of facilities that have been provided for joint use. Buildings constructed by US forces shall become the property of Ghana, provided that it “shall be used by United States forces until no longer needed by United States forces”.

The Americans are also empowered to retain title to all equipment, material, supplies, relocatable structures and other moveable property.

Under the Agreement, US forces are authorised to preposition and store defence equipment, supplies and materials – which does not exclude chemical and biological weapons and laboratories. They also have the right to remove such items from the territory of Ghana.

Ghana is obliged to ensure the protection, safety and security of American forces, contractors, property and official information. In other words, Ghanaian officials and citizens can be hunted like Julian Assange for alleged leakage of US information.

The agreement says if the Americans are not physically present at their facilities and areas, such places “shall remain locked and secure, and security for such facilities and areas shall be provided by Ghana”.

The Americans have the powers to conclude contracts for the acquisition of goods and services, including construction, in Ghana in accordance with United States laws and regulations.

Ghana agreed that the acquisition of goods and services in the country by or on behalf of American forces shall not be subject to any taxes, customs duties or similar charges.

Also, the Americans are not liable to pay any tax(including VAT) and are empowered to “import into, and export out of, and use in Ghana any personal property, equipment, supplies, material, technology, training or services in connection with this Agreement”.

Such importation or exportation are exempted from any inspection, licence, other restrictions, customs duties, taxes or any other charges assessed within Ghana. In other words, any American soldier can smuggle anything in and out of Ghana.

The agreement also provides that aircraft, vehicles and vessels operated by US forces may enter, exit and move freely within the territory and territorial waters of Ghana. So, America can wage war on Ghanaian territory. Also, such aircraft, vehicles and vessels are not subject to the payment of landing, parking or port fees, compulsory pilotage, navigation or over flight charges; or tolls or other use charges, including lighter age and harbour dues levied by Ghana.

Ghana also agreed to accept American driving licences and the Americans are empowered to operate telecommunication systems, and the right to use all necessary radio spectrum free of cost.

Other than contractual claims, no claims for damage, loss or destruction of property, or death or injury to any military personnel and civilian employees shall be entertained. So, American forces can damage property or kill Ghanaians without being charged. Any third party claims, say by a Ghanaian citizen, will be handled by the American Government in accordance with US laws and regulations.

The agreement can only be terminated by one year’s written notice to the other party through diplomatic channels. There is of course no reciprocal agreement giving Ghana any right or privilege in the US; it is purely an ‘Agreement’ between a slave and slave master.

The Supreme Court of Ghana had on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 ruled as unmeritorious, a suit against this slavish agreement brought by the Ashanti Regional Youth Organiser of the opposition NDC, Brogya Genfi. This was how Ghana surrendered its independence to the US.

August 13, 2022
Niger Republic honours Buhari’s aides, Dangote, 4 other Nigerians with highest civilian awards

The Republic of Niger has honoured six Nigerians with the country’s highest national awards as part of activities to mark the country’s Independence Day on August 3rd.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the six Nigerians so honoured on Wednesday include two presidential aides, two businessmen and two state governors.

Those honoured from the Presidency were Sarki Abba, Senior Special Assistant (Household and Domestic Affairs) to President Muhammadu Buhari, and the State Chief of Protocol, Amb. Lawal Kazaure.

Businessmen honoured are Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group and Abdulsamad Rabi’u, President, BUA Group.

The two governors honoured are Alhaji Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa and Mohammed Bello Matawalle of Zamfara.

They were awarded the “Order of Merit of Niger’’ and “Great Master of National Awards’’.

Presenting the awards, President Mohammed Bazoum said his country cherished Nigeria as one of its closest neighbours and friends.

In various citations he read, Bazoum praised the efforts of “Brother Nigerians’’ who had made great strides in increasing understanding between the two nations and for acting as agents of social and economic development.

Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu, was one of those who graced the occasion.

Malam Garba Shehu, spokesman for President Muhammadu Buhari stated in Abuja on Wednesday that the awards were in recognition of the recipients’ roles in the promotion of better relations between the two countries.

Aug. 3 is a day set aside to mark Niger’s independence from France in 1960.

The Francophone country also marks the day as “Tree Planting Day’’ as its nationals have been planting trees on the anniversary since 1975 to fight desertification.

August 3, 2022
Liberia: A Dream Deferred – By Owei Lakemfa

Liberia, which along with Ethiopia are the two African countries never colonized, marked its Bicentennial as an emergent country, and this Tuesday, July 26, 2022, observed its 75th Independence Anniversary. On that historic date, the five most prominent persons on the dais who are from four countries, were of contrasting nature.

Liberian President George Manneh Weah, the 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year, seemed subdued as he delivered his speech which was long on protocols but short on content. The Liberian Vice President Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor is the former First Lady, whose ex-husband, Charles Taylor   is held hostage in the Frankland Prison, United Kingdom as a warning to African leaders that those who refuse to do the biddings of Western powers can end up in a correctional centre.

The third was President Adama Barrow of the Gambia who since been helped to power in 2017, has kept a low profile.

The fourth eminent personality was President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, of Guinea-Bissau, and new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS who is a beneficiary of coup plotters. Just on May 16, 2022, Embaló carried out a successful internal coup by disbanding   the National Assembly in which his ruling party was a minority.

The fifth person was His Excellency Mohammadu Buhari of Nigeria who went to talk about the sanctity of the ballot box while Nigeria militarily maintains a dictator in power in Guinea Bissau and in whose country, politics is run like a criminal enterprise. In fact, the theme to mark this Liberian Independence “Fostering Unity, Protecting our Peace for Development and Prosperity” would have been more appropriate for Nigeria whose unity is being threatened, peace, being shattered and development and prosperity are arrested by a visionless, parasitic, unpatriotic and utterly incompetent political class.

Liberia is a long suffering nation which has had a stunted growth. Yet it is a country founded on dreams of freedom, human dignity and advancement. The inhuman Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade was so seemingly final that victims were said to be on a journey of no return. It was assumed that once the slave ships left our shores, there was no return for the victims. However, given the repression and oppression, depersonalisation and dehumanization and a foggy future, many freed slaves in America and their descendants saw no future in the United States, US. To them, the so-called ‘American Dream’ was in reality, an American Nightmare.

So some of them decided to reverse the ‘Point of No Return’ to an actual return to Africa, the land of their fathers. There were also White men like Presidents Abraham Lincoln and James Monroe who supported this return to Africa, but for a different reason. They thought that the continued stay of free Blacks in the US would continue to encourage slave revolts, so the best option was to encourage a return to Africa. For this purpose, the American Colonization Society, ACS was established to secure land and repatriate free African Americans who in those days were known as free Negroes or Afro Americans.

The coastal shores of present day Liberia was secured and from January 7, 1822-1861, 15,000 freed American slaves and 3,198 freed Afro- Caribbean slaves returned there. The freedom loving returnees tried to build a modern country on the continent. They also named their capital Monrovia in honour of President Monroe. Their motto was:   “The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here.”

Twenty five years after setting foot on Liberian soil, the freedom lovers on July 26, 1847 proclaimed themselves an independent country. It is that anniversary, Liberians gathered to celebrate this week. On January 3, 1848, they elected Joseph Jenkins Robert as their first President.

Tragically, the lofty dreams of the founders of Liberia, due to self-inflicted injuries, became a dream deferred. The new returnees simply replicated the negative policies and actions of the American society, with the victims, this time being the indigenous people they met. Some of these had lived in what became Liberia for over seven centuries before the new arrivals.

When the US Declaration of Independence proclaimed that all men are born free, the White establishment did not accept the Black Americans as humans who are born free and therefore have a right to equality. So also did the new arrivals who became known as Americo-Liberians not recognise other Liberians as equal human beings. In fact, until 1904, the indigenous Liberians were excluded from citizenship of their country.

The bulk of the Americo-Liberians created a different identity refusing to integrate the locals just as the White American establishment had refused to integrate the Black People. They also denied them the ballot, discriminated against them, excluded them from economic opportunities and worse still, began turning the indigenes into slaves and forcing them to work in plantations especially those of rubber. The American industry needed rubber and the Americo-Liberians decided to help set up rubber plantations and use slave or forced labour.

So prevalent was the new slave system in Liberia that the League of Nations established the Christy Commission which established that the Liberian Government was neck deep in it. Consequently, President Charles D.B. King, the 17th President of Liberia and Vice President Allen N. Yancy, were forced to resign.

The mention of President King reminds me of the corruption in the Americo-Liberian establishment and the perfidy of its ruling True Whig Party whose rigging of the 1927 elections is the worst in world history. In that election, there were about 15,000 registered voters; the opposition candidate, Thomas Faulkner secured 9,000 votes while the incumbent President Charles King scored, wait for it, 243,000 votes! That is over sixteen times the number of voters.

The minority Americo-Liberians ruled for 133 years until the April 1980 coup that brought Samuel Doe to power. That itself was the beginning of instability leading to a Civil War which claimed 250,000 lives or eight per-cent of the population. The follow-up elected Presidency of Taylor was truncated and President Charles Taylor was lured into exile in Nigeria by President Olusegun Obasanjo. The latter turned round to betray Taylor into the hands of Western powers in the name of a request by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. She was Doe’s Finance Minister and main fund raiser for the Taylor insurgency. The Sirleaf Presidency was characterised by nepotism; she appointed relatives into juicy positions where they looted the impoverished country. She appointed her sons Charles Sirleaf as the Governor of the Liberian Central Bank,    Robert Sirleaf as the Chief Executive of the National Oil Company and   Fombah Sirleaf as the head of the National Security Agency.

It remains to be seen whether in the next 25 years, Liberia would mark its Bicentennial Independence, as a country fulfilling its initial dream.

July 30, 2022
Ukraine’s turbulent history since independence in 1991

Russian forces fired missiles at several Ukrainian cities and landed troops on its south coast on Thursday, right after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in eastern Ukraine.

Here is a timeline of the main events in Ukraine’s political history since it won independence from Moscow in 1991.

1991: Leonid Kravchuk, leader of the Soviet republic of Ukraine, declares independence from Moscow. In a referendum and presidential election, Ukrainians approve independence and elect Kravchuk president.

1994: Leonid Kuchma beats Kravchuk in a presidential election deemed largely free and fair by observers.

1999: Kuchma is re-elected in a vote riddled with irregularities.

2004: Pro-Russian candidate Viktor Yanukovich is declared president but allegations of vote-rigging trigger protests in what becomes known as the Orange Revolution, forcing a re-run of the vote. A pro-Western former prime minister, Viktor Yushchenko, is elected president.

1994: Leonid Kuchma beats Kravchuk in a presidential election deemed largely free and fair by observers.

1999: Kuchma is re-elected in a vote riddled with irregularities.

2004: Pro-Russian candidate Viktor Yanukovich is declared president but allegations of vote-rigging trigger protests in what becomes known as the Orange Revolution, forcing a re-run of the vote. A pro-Western former prime minister, Viktor Yushchenko, is elected president.

2005: Yushchenko takes power with promises to lead Ukraine out of the Kremlin’s orbit, towards NATO and the EU. He appoints former energy company boss Yulia Tymoshenko as prime minister but after in-fighting in the pro-Western camp, she is sacked.

2008: NATO promises Ukraine it will one day join the alliance.

2010: Yanukovich defeats Tymoshenko in a presidential election. Russia and Ukraine clinch a gas pricing deal in exchange for extending the lease for the Russian navy in a Ukrainian Black Seaport.

2013: Yanukovich’s government suspends trade and association talks with the EU in November and opts to revive economic ties with Moscow, triggering months of mass rallies in Kyiv.

2014: The protests, largely focused around Kyiv’s Maidan square, turn violent. Dozens of protesters are killed.

February 2014: The parliament votes to remove Yanukovich, who flees. Within days, armed men seize parliament in the Ukrainian region of Crimea and raise the Russian flag. Moscow annexes the territory after a March 16 referendum which shows overwhelming support in Crimea for joining the Russian Federation

April 2014: Pro-Russian separatists in the eastern region of Donbass declare independence. Fighting breaks out, which has continued sporadically into 2022, despite frequent ceasefires.

May 2014: Businessman Petro Poroshenko wins a presidential election with a pro-Western agenda.

July: 2014: A missile brings down passenger plane MH17 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, killing all 298 people on board. Investigators trace back the weapon used to Russia, which denies involvement.

2017: An association agreement between Ukraine and the EU opens markets for free trade of goods and services, and visa-free travel to the EU for Ukrainians.

2019: A new Ukrainian Orthodox church wins formal recognition, angering the Kremlin

Former comic actor Volodymyr Zelenskiy defeats Poroshenko in an April presidential election on promises to tackle corruption and end the war in eastern Ukraine. His Servant of the People party wins a July parliamentary election.

U.S. President Donald Trump asks Zelenskiy in July to investigate Joe Biden, his rival in the U.S. presidential race, and Biden’s son Hunter over possible business dealings in Ukraine. The call leads to a failed attempt to impeach Trump.

March 2020: Ukraine goes into its first lockdown to curb COVID-19.

June 2020: The IMF approves a $5 billion lifeline to help Ukraine stave off default during a pandemic-induced recession.

Jan. 2021: Zelenskiy appeals to Biden, now U.S. president, to let Ukraine join NATO.

Feb. 2021: Zelenskiy’s government imposes sanctions on Viktor Medvedchuk, an opposition leader and the Kremlin’s most prominent ally in Ukraine.

Spring 2021: Russia masses troops near Ukraine’s borders in what it says are training exercises.

Oct. 2021: Ukraine uses a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone for the first time in eastern Ukraine, angering Russia.

Autumn 2021: Russia again begins massing troops near Ukraine.

Dec. 7, 2021: Biden warns Russia of sweeping Western economic sanctions if it invades Ukraine.

Dec. 17: Russia presents detailed security demands including a legally binding guarantee that NATO will give up any military activity in eastern Europe and Ukraine.

Jan. 14: A cyberattack warning Ukrainians to “be afraid and expect the worst” hits Ukrainian government websites.

Jan. 17: Russian forces start arriving in Belarus, to the north of Ukraine, for joint drills.

Jan. 24: NATO puts forces on standby and reinforces eastern Europe with more ships and fighter jets.

Jan. 26: Washington presents a written response to Russia’s security demands, repeating a commitment to NATO’s “open-door” policy while offering “pragmatic” discussions of Moscow’s concerns.

Jan. 28: President Vladimir Putin says Russia’s main security demands have not been addressed.

Feb. 2: The United States says it will send 3,000 extra troops to Poland and Romania to help shield NATO allies in eastern Europe from any spillover from the crisis.

Feb. 4: Putin, at the Beijing Winter Olympics, wins Chinese support for his demand that Ukraine not be allowed to join NATO.

Feb. 7: French President Emmanuel Macron sees some hope for a diplomatic resolution of the crisis after meeting Putin in the Kremlin. Macron then visits Kyiv and praises the “sang-froid” of Zelenskiy and the Ukrainian people.

Feb. 9: Biden says “things could go crazy quickly” as the U.S. State Department advises Americans in Ukraine to leave immediately. Other countries also urge their nationals to leave.

Feb. 14: Zelenskiy urges Ukrainians to fly flags and sing the national anthem in unison on Feb. 16, a date some Western media say Russia could invade.

Feb. 15: Russia says some of its troops are returning to base after exercises near Ukraine and mocks Western warnings about a looming invasion. Russia’s parliament asks Putin to recognise as independent two Russian-backed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.

Feb. 18: U.S. ambassador to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Michael Carpenter says Russia has probably massed between 169,000-190,000 personnel in and near Ukraine.

Feb. 19: Russia’s strategic nuclear forces hold exercises overseen by Putin.

Feb. 21: Macron says Biden and Putin have agreed in principle to a summit over Ukraine.

In a televised address, Putin says Ukraine is an integral part of Russian history, has never had a history of genuine statehood, is managed by foreign powers, and has a puppet regime. Putin signs agreements to recognise breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent and order Russian troops there.

Feb. 22: U.S., UK, and their allies enact sanctions on Russian parliament members, banks, and other assets. Germany halts the final certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that was still waiting for approval.

Putin, in a television address, demands Ukraine demilitarise and says the Minsk peace agreement over breakaway republics no longer exists, blaming Kyiv for killing the deal.

Feb. 23: Russian-backed separatist leaders ask Russia for help in repelling aggression from the Ukrainian army.

Feb. 24: Russian President Putin authorizes “special military operations” in eastern Ukraine and asks Ukrainian forces to lay down their arms in a televised address. Russian forces begin missile and artillery attacks on Ukrainian forces and air bases, striking areas in major cities.

February 28, 2022
Energy I exude on stage is natural- Bright Chimezie

Veteran musician, Bright Chimezie, who was born on October 1, 1960, the same day Nigeria gained independence, said the energy he exude on stage is natural.

In his words:”I feel good that I turned 61 yesterday. Thankfully, I am strong, energetic and my career is still blossoming. I am very grateful for my family. I have a song that says that in life, there are sweet days and also ‘unsweet’ days. I can’t detail the past 60 years of my life but I can say I am strong, bubbly and I have a peaceful life. I still dance and bounce when performing and the secret is that I have never done anything else outside Zigima Sound, which is my signature. I also try to fine-tune my brand consistently. The energetic vibe that people see on stage is natural.

“I tell some of the young singers coming up that they need to learn some ‘leg work’ moves from me. Most of them have copied me but I forgive them because they are my children. I need to tutor them about the art of ‘zigimatic leg work’ which comes naturally to me. Most of the trendy dance steps that young artistes do now have been in existence a long time ago. For example, King Sunny Ade was and is still a fantastic dancer. I am also a fantastic dancer. The advent of technology has made people think that young artistes created those dance steps but we did and we should be duly respected for that”, he told Punch.

October 2, 2021
Nigerians should have no business with poverty, joblessness after 61 years of independence – Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says there is no reason the masses in Nigeria are battling extreme poverty when the country is blessed with an abundance of resources.

Atiku, in his Independence Day statement on Friday, said it was regrettable that despite the nation’s vast oil resources, extreme poverty and joblessness have remained persistent.

“There is no excuse that 61 years after independence, extreme poverty is still staring the ordinary citizen in the face,” he lamented.

The former vice president called on the government at all levels to push policies that would lead to improved standards of living for the average Nigerian.

“If this is done, I am confident that the future ahead of us will be brighter and better,” he stated.

Atiku also urged Nigerian leaders at all levels to make the nation’s democracy work for all through justice, equity, fairness and equal spread of development across the country.

He advocated for bipartisan initiatives by political leaders to address the spate of insecurity compounded by joblessness and poor living conditions.

While submitting that the country has come a long way, he urged Nigerians not to surrender to the besetting challenges.

The chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was of the opinion that citizens must work together in truth and justice, to overcome the challenges as a stronger and more united country.

October 1, 2021
Nigeria @ 61: Sen. Uba calls for collective resolve against forces of destruction

Senator Andy Uba, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the coming Anambra State governorship election, has called for peace, unity and a “collective fight against forces of destruction and bloodletting, previously unknown to our society, but shockingly taking over our dear state, Anambra.”

According to a statement issued by Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, director, Media and Publicity of his campaign, Senator made the call in his Independence Day message to the people of Anambra State, on October 1, 2021, as Nigeria marks its 61st Independence anniversary.

According to Uba, “What we are witnessing in our state in recent times is strange, an aberration, which is unacceptable. Violence and destruction is not who we are as a people. Killing a fellow human being is a taboo in our culture. Anambra is a peaceful, convivial state. This justifies its nickname ‘The Light of the Nation’. We should not allow our light to lose its rich illuminating presence on account of politics or any other interest.

“We should stand together to denounce, resist and chase this ugly monster away from Anambra. This independence celebration presents us with a unique opportunity to pursue our own independence in Anambra. Independence from violent crimes. Independence from stagnated progress and hopelessness. Independence from poor governance culture and political timidity. And most importantly, independence from leadership failure that has sadly made Anambra a bad example in different fronts.

“I wish to state with pride that Anambra has overtime, made Igboland and Nigeria proud by the uncommon exhibition of excellence in leadership by our forebears. And It is my desire that we do not regress further, but rather retrace our steps to the path of greatness to ensure that Anambra excels and make its hardworking people proud again – just like our great visionary forebears did in the past.

“May I remind you that our dear state, Anambra, ‘The Light of the Nation’, is truly blessed in every sense of the word. Rich in culture, fertile for agriculture and populated with people of great ingenuity in commerce, literature, science, sports, leadership and entrepreneurship. The tonic we need to soar is responsible leadership. And if our forebears lifted this flag of leadership excellence at the national level in the past – even before Nigeria’s independence – we can do the same, with a collective resolve to say no to mediocrity.

“We won’t forget in a hurry the contributions of our great leaders from Anambra in securing Nigeria’s flag independence in 1960.
For instance, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr. Akwaeke Nwafor-Orizu, both at different times President of the country and Senate President, respectively. I salute also the late M.C.K Ajuluchukwu, Mbazulike Amaechi, Igwe Osita Agwuna and Dr. Okechukwu Ikejiani, among others, who at the time sustained the fire for Nigeria’s nationalism.

“I also salute the people’s General, Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, for his leadership and sacrifices for our people. My respect also for the then administrator for the East Central State, late Ukpabi Asika, from Onitsha.

“Also, in the Second Republic, we remember and salute the candour of Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme, from our dear state and Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, erstwhile Speaker of the House of Representatives. We will always remember with fondness our own charismatic Oyi, late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, from Ogbunike, who was also a former Senate President.

“Anambra has always been a state of people of character, ideas and front-row leadership. We are not known for irresponsibility, violence, leadership failure or negative examples. Let us, therefore, extricate our state from these negative tendencies, by declaring our independence from them. Happy Independence and may Anambra progress.

Signed: Hon. Victor Afam Ogene
for, and on behalf of the Senator Andy Uba
Governorship Campaign Organisation, SAUGCO

October 1, 2021
Nigeria: What They Said About Another 60 Years – Azu Ishiekwene

Azu Ishiekwene

This is the time of year when we moan about everything wrong with Nigeria. Quite often, we do so not necessarily from a place of spite but out of frustration and hopelessness.

It’s true that the life of a nation is not necessarily measured in biological age. But most might agree that if potential, that hackneyed word so often ascribed to Nigeria, was a child, it should have come of age at 61.

Yet, even by the most gracious of accounts, this Nigerian child is stunted, a problem offspring not only to its parents, but also an enigma, if not a source of perplexity, to its friends and neighbours.

I’ve been reading two books in the last few weeks set on the eve of the celebration of Nigeria’s milestone independence anniversaries. Both are anguished collections lamenting the country’s unfinished greatness and highlighting a dream deferred.

“Nigeria at fifty,” edited by Attahiru Jega and Jacqueline W. Farris, and “Remaking Nigeria: Sixty years sixty voices”, edited by Chido Onumah, are wide-ranging and extraordinary reflections on the country’s odyssey. They were published 10 years apart, but you’ll hardly notice the difference in tone or resonance.

If you changed a few names, places and dates, the essays would still read like the story of the hopes, frustrations and missed opportunities told a million times on the eve of every independence anniversary in at least the last 50 years or more.

Even the October 1 speeches once so full of promise and highfalutin phrases have lost every pretence to substance and quality. They have become a yearly rehearsal of empty boasts and microphone chewing – a hollow ritual.

Once, Independence Day speeches inspired hope. ln 1960, for example, Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa said at the dawn of independence that after the long, harrowing wait, with nation after nation overtaking Nigeria, he was sure that “Nigeria now stands well-built upon firm foundations.”

The speeches also made you laugh; like when President Shehu Shagari spent the bulk of his first October 1 speech reminding us that colonialists’ oppression was still prevalent, when his political rivals at home were still seething that his own electoral victory that year was stolen!

The speeches sometimes depressed you, too. Like President Goodluck Jonathan trying in his speech to excuse MEND from the horrific October 1 bombing at Eagle Square. But now, even depression is a golden era. The speeches mean nothing, stirring only the worst of emotions – indifference.

This year, I thought there was no use treading the beaten path. Perhaps we could use fresh voices from folks who might still be here in another 50 or 60 years, just to get a sense of the future they see, the future they hope for, and what they’re doing to bring it about.

Instead of waiting to hear what President Muhammadu Buhari would say on October 1 when I know it would be the same tepid stuff from the last six years, I invited a number of Nigerians between 25 and 35, to share their visions of the shape of things to come and what consequential role they think they may play in bringing about that future.

Keep in mind also, that in about three weeks, it would be exactly one year since the #ENDSARS protests. That event signalled the anguished cry by young people against police brutality, poor governance and lack of accountability.

I thought this might be a good time to set aside the old, broken record, and to hear the voices of another generation, before they spill onto the streets in violent rage.

I asked them four questions: 1) Where do you think Nigeria would be 50-60 years from now? 2) Do you think you have a consequential role to play in it? 3). How? 4). What is the single biggest threat facing Nigeria today and how can we deal with it?

The answers are a breath of fresh air, a far more uplifting – and certainly thought-provoking – collection than anything you can find in the yearly potpourri of warmed-over October 1 speeches.

Elizabeth, a 33-year-old development professional and social justice enthusiast, said:

“I think Nigeria will experience a lot advancement and automation in the next 50-60 years. However, a lot of people will be left behind and there’ll be a huge gap between the haves and the have nots.

“The informal sector and communities at the last mile will have a huge influence on how we do business. For example, I feel they will affect language and the mode of doing business. The formal language may switch from English to Pidgin English, and the concept of suit-and-tie may be history.

“Talking about history, there’ll be a lot of distorted facts and people may hardly use the past to determine the future and just go with the flow.

“As for how, that’s a broad question. But I’m confident I have a consequential role to play. The place to start is not to be part of the problem I see but the solution. Whatever I do no matter how insignificant it looks (positive or negative) has a larger role to play in the scheme of things).

“What’s the single biggest threat facing Nigeria and how can we deal with it? The system is broken to the core. People have mounted several levels of corrupt values in the bid to survive. I would propose focusing on the family as the smallest unit of socialisation, as if the country was made up of only people from my family. I’m just here hoping that one day, evil will destroy itself.”

Nengi, a 25-year-old interested in Human Resources, social issues and psychology, said:

“The challenges we face as a nation are not bound by time. Nigeria has a vast number of ethnic groups sharing various boundaries. This creates a challenge in uniting these ethnic groups and developing a sense of belief in national unity.

“The current government structure does not allow for equal participation and allocation of resources. In essence, power is highly centralised and it creates a general sense of disbelief and disenfranchisement. The challenges that Nigeria would face in the next 50 years are highly dependent on how we handle these foundational issues.

“Without proper dialogue, restructuring, and good representation, Nigeria will face the same issues of insecurity, poverty, and a declining economy. Historically, the Nigerian government does not seem to learn from the past, putting us in a very difficult position of recurring issues. On this note, there will be some progress, but still very similar problems.

“Do I think I have a consequential role to play in solving the problems? Yes, I do. I believe in ripple effects and that collective efforts begin with individual actions in various fields, irrespective of background (ethnic, religious etc.).

“We all have a social responsibility in standing up against bad governance and having the right discussions with people, educating those less exposed and enlightening them on social issues.

“The single biggest threat facing Nigeria is corruption and this is because the system gives room for gross mismanagement. A lot of state-owned resources are not being controlled and managed by the right stakeholders.

“Corruption is not peculiar to Nigeria as popularly believed. The system gives room for financial crimes because of lack of proper checks and balances. The greatest weapon against corruption is proper restructuring of the governmental system, decentralising power and giving more room for inclusion.

Aisha Ibrahim Ata, 29:

“It’s very hard for me to predict the next 50-60 years. Technology might drive growth in certain aspects of the nation. However, this growth may not be significant if the very fundamental challenges of the country remain unsolved.

“But I believe I have a role to play. By carrying out my responsibilities honestly and to the best of my capacity. I believe in the power of the individual. If every Nigerian is able to carry out their duties (be it carpentry, banking, teaching, governance etc.) in the best way possible, it will collectively result in significant changes in the country.

“Insecurity is the biggest problem. The most effective solution to this challenge will be strong government intervention. But on the individual level, the best we can do is be watchful in our neighbourhood and communities.”

Adekunle Adewumi, 30, Lawyer and Bridge Policy fellow:

“Where Nigeria would be 50-60 years from now? Our current reality indicates that there are several projected pathways, some of which spell doom. However, as the eternal optimist I am, I believe that changes to our governance structure will ensure that Nigeria remains a unified entity. I project that within 50 years, Nigeria will regain its status as Africa’s powerhouse.

“I’m hopeful I will have a role to play in shaping how Nigeria develops. The inability to address injustice done both in the past and present, in my opinion, is the greatest threat to Nigeria’s continued existence.

“Nigeria will benefit from some truth and reconciliation process.”

My guess is that in 50-60 years, if Nigeria is saved, it would not be difficult to see from these reflections, who was the true salvation army.

Ishiekwene is Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP

October 1, 2021