₦airaland Forum

Wilma Aguele: Goodnight to A Great Woman Who wore her Hero's cape with ease and awakened the hero in the rest of us mortals

By: Benedict Aguele

The late journalist and television personality James Audu on his programme on the NTA, used to say “to every human there is a time to be born and a time to die, but in between there is a privilege to live, to live to the glory of the creator and the benefit of humanity”.

For my sister, mentor, mother and friend, Wilma Aguele has come the time to be born and the time to die, but I am consoled that she lived 59 long years to the glory of her creator and for the benefit of humanity.

“MD”, as she was fondly called by close friends and family, was an uncommon personality and a woman of too many parts that her sad loss to the cold hands of death leaves a sour taste in the mouth and a stark realization that we never fully comprehend the dimensions of her personality and the reach of her impact in this world.

One is only able to get a glimpse into the extent of her immense personality, the true picture of which we would never fully appreciate.

MD was a unifier, who cherished and promoted the sanctity of the bond that holds family together, and the responsibility it places on family members to love and look out for one another.

So honest and large hearted was MD that she never elicited hatred in anyone, but was a merchant of undying love and care for all who encountered her.


No one ever encountered her in any setting whatsoever and came off feeling small in any way whatsoever; she made all better than they were.


She had a fertile mind that grew people to greatness, much more Jan the literal fields she planted and harvested as an accomplished farmer and agriculturists of national repute.

MD was a pioneer in many ways, as she lived as a strong and independent woman long before the term feminism was a thing, not to talk of being the buzzword it is today.


I am at a loss for words to describe my state of mind right now, but I am ultimately consoled that she lived a good life and fought the good fight and her example will continue to dwell with us down to our offspring.


I am held firm in the faith that God will provide another glue to hold the bonds of unity among the Aguele's more so the spirit she showed selflessly continues to live with us.

Benedict Aguele.

Popular Nigerian clergy, Bishop Prince Madaki, has revealed that God has anointed Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to takeover from President Muhammad Buhari in Aso Villa, come 2023.

According to a statement he personally signed on Friday, Madaki said it would take God Himself to reverse the presidency of Governor Bello, whom he described as the "chosen one".

Bishop Madaki, who is the President of Concerned Middlebelt Christian Forum of Nigeria, was reacting to the media report that the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) may have zoned its 2023 presidential ticket to the south, the move, if found to be true, could jeopardize the ambition of the youthful Governor of Kogi.

The clergy said the APC would be making a great mistake if they field a candidate other than Bello, pointing that it was "some of his (Bello) colleagues at the PGF that are pushing for this zoning".

"Let me sound this and sound it well too, nobody fights God's chosen one and succeeds. God has anointed Governor Yahaya Bello to be the next President of this country and there is nothing anyone can do about it. It is only God who can reverse this.

"Gov. Yahaya Bello will be president in 2023 and those conspiring against him are only telling God to do more for him. It doesn't matter if he is the youngest of them all. It doesn't also matter if he is not as rich as others. But God has chosen him.

"In the book of Judges 7:13-25, we were told that Gideon was the youngest from the poorest family of Manasseh, yet, God chose him and used him to bring down the dreaded army of Midianite and returned glory to Israel", the Clergy said.

While eulogizing the victory of Bello over insecurity in Kogi, the Clergy also admitted that, President Buhari has done his best in fighting insurgencies, saying, "if not for a man like PMB, Boko Haram and bandits would have taken over the country since 2016".

He stressed that, like Gideon defeated the Midianites that have been terrorizing his people, God has also called Bello to consolidate on the records of President Buhari, by dealing with the issue of insecurity once and for all and bringing insurgencies to its bearest minimum, adding that, "if he could do it successfully in Kogi, he can also do it for Nigeria".

Describing the APC presidential aspirant as a God fearing man who would unite the country; Bishop Madaki said Bello would not steal a dime from Nigeria, "instead, he will use his energy and courage to fix some of the things that are not in place in the country".

By Best Agbese


Is it truly "a man's World?" It is known that, the effects of great power and strong ideology in the production of meaning in a country, though often hidden, gradually come to form an integral part of social systems and structures. Within Nigeria’s sociopolitical space, from a position of control and power, most politicians often seek to project their selfish ideologies as the norm into popular discourses that influence social systems and structures. They, for instance, propagate narratives of themselves as laced with high integrity and in favour of the masses and national interest, yet underneath exist apathy, animosity, personal interests and ambitions for control and power. In profanity, they become gender dogmatic; pushing the wrong notion to upcoming female political aspirants that, the top position are destined for the male politicians, and only an assistant position can be considered as zenith achievement for any female politician.

This were men that started their political visions as vibrant youths, with endearing positive changes in creating a better Nigeria, but soon themselves became swallowed up in the ocean of diverse corruption, forgetting the dust of foundation they stepped. Should the political abuse of positions be allowed to continue? Should gender inequality ravage our vision of peace, unity, and development in this country? We say “NO” to all these.

During political elections, these narratives are subtly pushed into campaign promises and electioneering strategies. The subtlety of these politicians can also be considered as a concept of hegemony in which a dominant group seeks to procure the consent of a subservient group to its existing social order, position and expectations. Counter narratives in resistance to such unfavourable political negotiation by politicians have however also arisen in Nigeria’s sociopolitical discourses. These unscrupulous actions are particularly considered unfit for Clean governance and lacking in integrity.

Nigeria since over sixty years of independence has experienced growth and setbacks simultaneously, with every leader. Although there have been great moments in history when the people have been proud of their choice of leadership or the leaders that have taken over the government. Nigeria has however experienced major setbacks with certain leaderships that have at some point forced the people to regret their choice of leadership. Nigeria’s government has undergone several changes like most governments of leading nations in the world today but unlike most of these nations, Nigeria has failed to make room for a female president, which one can agree the nation is well overdue for. With the changes that have occurred in history over the years, the world at large has undergone changes, realizing the role that misogyny has played in standing as a road block to the elevation of man kind and the height of achievement man can attain. These changes have been evident in several leading nations where women are in power and are driving the nations to the next level, establishing their place in the international system.

This begs the question, ‘Why have Nigeria not had a female president yet?’ One that we are long overdue for. A female president whose capacity and capabilities will move Nigeria to the next level and establish her place in the international system, someone who will restore the lost glory of our Nation. Nigeria deserves a woman who puts her people first, someone who understands the struggle and does not take for granted the faith the people put in her.
Who is that, better suited for a service of such magnitude other than the woman the youths are clamoring for; Ambassador Funmi Ayike.
The Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director (CEO/MD) of the business conglomerate, FunmiAyinke Nig.Ltd, Engr. Mrs. Dr. Amb. Funmilayo Waheed Adekojo, FNSE is a force that has to be reckoned with. A woman who has uniquely carved a performance excellence identity for herself in the field of mechanical engineering in Nigeria and beyond.

She is woman who prides herself as thoroughly trained and learned, a competent engineer and manager per excellence, who has with years of hard work and thorough academic dedication positively impacted her generation and the nation at large. She has proven herself time and again with the many projects that she has successfully handled both in private and public sectors The CEO/MD, FunmiAyinke Nig.Ltd is said to have found her passion for hard work in the course of her National Yourh Service Corp programme.
In her service year, she had initially served with the Ministry of Works and Housing, Gumel, Jigawa state and had later, at some point, sought a transfer to the Works and Services Department, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Engr. Funmi Atinke’s Outstanding engineering prowess compelled the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) to employ her services for the Mechanical Engineering Unit at the Works and Services Department of the institution. She was assigned and she in no small ways, did her job amazingly well, she perfectly handled the multi-tasks involved in the diverse aspects of engineering and administration for the university.
Her extraordinary competence led the school to handing her some administrative responsibilities which she again diligently took on and handled responsibly, the school eventually elevated her to the position of a trusted member, her works were in no way too little to be recognized.

Another one of her partnership in public projects is the Tetfund project, a partnership that she had dedicated time to seeing through to excellence and the results of these partnership can speak for themselves and her level of competence.

Apart from her ability to completely deliver with projects handed over to her, Ambassador Funmi Ayinke is a philanthropist whose care for the needy stands out as remarkable. She has over the years, committed a substantial part of her wealth to solving societal challenges within her reach and reaching out to the poor, the needy and the less privileged who she reaches out through a program founded and funded by her known as FunmiAyinke Humanity Foundation, a job that she best describes as her second passion.

Ambassador Funmi Ayinke has proven herself to be an industrious woman as her business has gone wide, solving not just engineering problems but is also in the oil and gas sector as FunmiAyinke Nig. Ltd. Is a dependable and an ally in running of several lines of filing stations, supply, installation and maintenance of fuel pumps all across the nation.

One thing that endears the youth to Engr. Dr. Mrs. Funmilayo Ayinke however, is her fondness of and commitment to youth development and empowerment. She runs a sponsored weekly online Talent Hunt programme which attracts more than 30,000 participants. She ensures the training of Nigerian Youths on this platform in several fields on self-rediscovery and exploration of the inherent hidden treasures in the youths. The weekly Talent Hunt program after a while it becomes a competition, where only the best five candidates receive cash gift every weekend.

Over the years, Ambassador Funmilayo Ayinke has been recognized by many and has been awarded for her service to humanity and her dedication to improving the state of affairs in the way she possibly can.

Engr. Dr. Mrs. Funmilayo Waheed Adekojo has been recognized, with the “Icon of Societal Development Award,” from the Progressive Student Movement. Today marks another day for the public recognition and acknowledgement of Engr. Dr. Mrs. Funmilayo Waheed Adekojo for her profound service to humanity at home and abroad.

The NigerianNews has found this rare bundle of talents and endless source of nourishment to humanity, Engr. Dr. Mrs. Funmilayo Waheed Adekojo worthy of special recognition with the conferment of the award of the “ Nigerian Woman of the Year 2021.” The award is in recognition of her immensely relentless contributions to the development of the engineering profession, impactful philanthropy, humanitarian services, job creation and women/youth empowerment schemes in Nigeria.

We all should know that it’s truly both Gender’s world. It’s about speaking for equity in our political space. It’s about giving the female child a voice of getting to the apogee of any political positions. It’s about letting our youths know that what a man can do, a woman can truly do it better.

One can agree that by every measuring yardstick, Ambassador Funmilayo Ayinke fits the profile of a woman’s visions and goals would take Nigeria to the next level . Nigeria does not only need a competent female, Nigeria needs a technocrat who could transform the nation for the better, as one can agree that a technocrat government is one that pushes the nation forward until it eventually takes its place in the world .
A female technocrat is definitely the answer we’ve all been looking for, the answer Nigeria needs. It is no wonder the youths are yearning for her. The answer is now here, Nigeria has the answer in Ambassador Funmi Ayinke. Now is time to give a woman the National seat.


Agbese is an author based in Scotland.

Media Entrepreneur, Dumebi Kachikwu, on Thursday, berated the Federal Government over its nonchalant attitude towards the deteriorating plight of university education in the country.

Kachikwu who is the Chairman of Roots Television Nigeria, in a statement by his media office in Abuja, said it is high time President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration wakes up to its responsibilities and obligations to the youths by doing the needful to reinvigorate education in Nigeria.

According to him, such a move, which demands urgent deployment of massive resources coupled with innovative and progressive policies, would save millions of Nigerian students whose lives, hopes and destinies are being mortgaged by the innumerable strikes embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other academic and non-academic unions in federal government-owned tertiary institutions.

Lecturers in Nigerian public universities had on February 14, 2022 declared a month’s warning strike over what they termed Federal Government insincerity in implementing agreements reached with the union.

The young and dynamic presidential aspirant lamented that the cumulative downtime for academic activities due to ASUU strikes put at over three years since 1999, had led to unnecessary waste of youthful energies and assets which could have tremendously revved up national development if properly harnessed and put to use.

Kachikwu said: “This is why Nigerians presently yearn for a government that will build the youths and not the current crop of indifference leaders destroying them.

“This is why one of my first priorities, if voted in as President in 2023, would be to fix our education system from primary to tertiary without sparing resources.

“By then, strikes will no longer be attractive because public institutions will be fully revamped and the age old yearnings of lecturers and management would be realised through massive funding to provide conducive environment for learning, eliminate insecurity, provision of cutting-edge teaching aids and equipment and ensuring adequate welfare for teaching and non-teaching staff.

“Education is an investment and no amount of effort and financial resources can be too much in providing non-stop education for our upcoming, vibrant and talented youths, who definitely will lead this country tomorrow.

“Those in authorities today are handling the issue of tertiary education with levity partly because they are privileged to have the resources to acquire higher education for their children and wards in foreign countries.

“However, the truth is that the foreign-trained children of the rich are a tiny fraction when compared to millions of students in public universities who have no such privileges.

“It is my firm view that efforts at revamping the economy, stabilising the polity, curbing insecurity and providing needed infrastructure, among others, will remain a pipe dream, if the actions, policies and indifference of the Federal Government now denying a critical mass of Nigerians higher education is not immediately arrested and redressed.

“We need to constantly train and retrain our youths to make them fit and proper to assume leadership roles which is critical to continuous national development and this is why I Want To Serve.”

END

Signed

Dumebi Kachikwu’s Media Office, Abuja

By: Hon. Innocent Lagi, Esq

It is expectedly, a confounding idea, that former President, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan would contest the 2023 election.

More unsettling, of course, is the possibility that the President would be running on the platform of the APC against his party, the PDP. Naturally, his party should be perplexed with such a prospect and unexpectedly, a group within the ruling party, a powerful bloc is excited that its plans may come to fruition; the pressure it had mounted on President Goodluck Jonathan to cross and contest on the APC platform is now bearing fruit. Strange as this may sound to the ears of Europeans and Americans, in Nigeria it seems a familiar trajectory of politicians who easily cross over from one political party to another: as at today, APC has more former PDP National Chairmen and officials as members than PDP has; APC is populated by former PDP Governors, PDP legislators including, former Senate Presidents and Speakers of the House of Representatives. Even former President Olusegun Obasanjo worked to help APC defeat PDP in 2015.Indeed, the two most prominent PDP 2023 presidential hopefuls, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state, were also very instrumental to the victory of the APC in 2015. Opposition to President Goodluck Jonathan’s candidature is coming from both the PDP and APC. The case against Jonathan’s comeback, on the surface appear very solid and make the Jonathan’s ambition implausible. First, is the argument that such a gambit would diminish his rising international profile as champion of democracy in Africa; what happens to his image if he does not win the election, in the general election or even loses the primary elections of the APC. What shame to him! He would have become like General Yakubu Gowan who was encouraged to run for presidency from Wusasa, Zaria, his adopted hometown – only to be defeated at the very basic level by some unknown quantity, whose name, most people have forgotten. Furthermore, he is perceived as a weakling, who ran a government, whose Ministers worked at cross purposes and could not be controlled or called to order. The current attempt by some leaders of the APC to get him to contest elections on the platform of APC it is also argued, is a sign of such weakness. His formidable opponents accuse him of being controlled by women: His wife, Diezani, Petroleum Minister and corruption poster girl, Stella Oduah, Aviation Minister, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala among others.Most Nigerians or at least the vocal ones believe that he led a lack lustre government which squandered the nation’s resources and did virtually nothing to improve the infrastructure of the country. He is accused of leading a corrupt government, ignored and was complicit in increasing security challenges, for he sat back in disbelief when over two hundred Chibok girls were kidnapped. Had he acted decisively, perhaps, the nation and the world would have been saved some horrors.By far the greatest angst of his opponents is the belief that his candidature would short change the South – as he would have to give up the presidency after four years – he is statute barred and power would return to the North. He is accused of allowing himself to become a puppet and tool in the hands of Northern political elite who seek to perpetually dominate Nigeria. This, his opponents, argue is a dexterous ploy by the Northern oligarchy or cabal to keep ruling Nigeria and maintain its privileges by proxy.The opponents of President Jonathan’s alleged ambition cite section 137 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. In 2017, the National Assembly altered the Constitution; – State Houses of Assembly concurred and was assented to by President Buhari restricts any President that completes the tenure for which another person was elected to only one additional term. Some lawyers argue that the 2017 alteration affects Jonathan. However, does the alteration have retroactive effect? What would have happened had Jonathan won the 2015 election? This may yet be another matter for the courts to settle – but some lawyers cite unrelated Supreme Court judgments which hold that laws such as the 2017 4th alteration of the constitution cannot have retroactive effect.The debate that has ensued from the prospects of President Jonathan contesting the 2023 elections on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) again bring to the fore the propensity of the Nigeria politician to be self-serving and not patriotic. For instance, most of those who sign post the abnormality of Jonathan contesting on the platform of the APC are themselves former members, government officials and party offices of (PDP), who don’t believe that “what is good for the goose is good also for the gander’’! It is disheartening that most of the reasons adduced against Jonathan have very little to do with the progress of Nigeria! Very little thought is also given to the fragile state of the country. Like the ostrich with their heads hidden in the mud, they imagine that no one can see their monstrous bodies above the soil.It is absurd that Jonathan is being accused of being “too nice to the North” Had his successor in office been “nice” too to the South, the tension in the country would not have been so high! Nigeria requires, now more than ever a personality that would not be seen as championing an ethnic or sectional cause.Nigeria has never been as divided as it is today. The 1966-1970 Civil war which took the divided Nigeria into so many pieces and so sharply. The divisions have widened: its not simply about Nigeria versus the Igbos, now there are conflicts and rumours of conflicts between the Hausa and Fulani; several separatists groups have emerged and, should Nigeria break, it might be like humpty dumpty’s fall as no one may be able to put the pieces together! True, President Jonathan paid attention to the North! The North West had nine ( with Sokoto and Zamfara providing two Ministers) Top key security positions also went to the north; several universities were established in the North, the Kaduna – Abuja standard gauge rail line prioritized and was completed and Almajiri’s schools were established to take kids off the streets! Besides the fact that these interventions demonstrated his “Nigerianess”, there is no evidence to show that these projects were done at the expense of other regions. In any case, his intervention in the education sector only proved that he had some measure of understanding of the facts promoting insecurity in the North, hence the programmes aimed at taking kids off the streets to schools. There are those who seek to incite ethnic hatred against President Jonathan arguing that he failed to make a Yoruba person Speaker of the House of the Representatives in 2011. President Buhari could not make a Yoruba person speaker in 2015, and in 2011, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu used his foot soldiers, such as Hon. Olufemi Hakeem Gbajabiamila to scuttle the efforts of the PDP leadership to make Hon. Mulikat Akande, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Of course, President Jonathan lived to pay the price for this act of not imposing the presiding officer of the House. Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, now Governor of Sokoto state, paid Tinubu handsomely well by leading the rebellion of PDP House of Representatives against Jonathan. The House under Tambuwal, played the opposition and put President Jonathan on the spot. He later led some members to decamp to the APC, after championing the creation of a faction, NPDP, of PDP. Himself and Dr Bukola Saraki, did weaken the PDP to make the APC win the 2015 election.The charge that President Jonathan performed badly as president in terms of creating infrastructure surely rings hollow now. In comparative terms, while President Jonathan was in charge, non-oil revenue increased, GDP growth averaged 6%; fertilizer middle men were displaced; education budget increased; the naira was fairly stable as Forex supply issues were fixed; Nigeria became the top destination for FDI; power generation increased and expansion of power transmission lines started; single digit inflation prevailed and local manufacturers were supported. In addition, the Nollywood sector was recognised and supported as new auto policy and National Industrial Policies were drafted and approved. Of course, the expansion and rehabilitation of the rail lines were undertaken and, the narrow gauge rail lines that were abandoned by the military in the 80’s were revamped and rail lines came back to life under his regime.Much has been said about the volteface in President Goodluck Jonathan going to the APC. The fact is that every PDP member is a potential APC member – and until recently, except the Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu group, every APC member is a potential PDP member.Interestingly, of late, some ardent Tinubu supporters are speaking of opting for the PDP. In the ranks of PDP today are many top notch APC members, including Governors. In the ranks of the APC today, are several notable PDP members including former chairmen, - Audu Ogbe, Barnabas Gamade, Kawu Baraje etc. Several PDP National Secretaries, State Chairmen, Ministers, former Speakers of both Houses of Representatives and State Houses Assemblies as well as former Senate Presidents are today in the APC.The reasons for this are obvious, unlike the West and the United States, political parties serve only one purpose: A vehicle or platform to contest elections. The Military government of General Ibrahim Babangida set the standard by creating political parties, whose constitutions were written by the Military. Office buildings were constructed and the parties were supposed to be “a little to the left” and “ a little to the right”. General Sani Abacha perfected the system and created five political parties, which late Bola Ige described as the five leprous fingers of Abacha. The PDP was created from the G8 efforts to ease out the Military – and its primary purpose has long been achieved. Similarly, the APC was a purpose built vehicle to get the PDP out of power. Desperate groups with different and often conflicted interests, banded together to take out the PDP. The name Progressive, we clearly does not fit the party as its anti-liberal postures have paled PDP’s indiscretions into insignificance! APC can no longer lay pretence to any form of liberation.These two parties, the APC and PDP, as with other political parties in Nigeria have no soul – no philosophies and no ideologies. Secondly, you need to cross check before you ascribe any party to any politician in Nigeria - or you may discover that he may have “defected”, “ported” or “decamped” the previous night! Vice President Abubakar Atiku for instance has been a member of the PDP, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), PDP, APC and now PDP.What matters now!Nigeria is in a terrible shape today. The prestigious Foreign Relations magazines categorizes Nigeria as a failed state. Large swathes of territories in all parts of Nigeria are under the control of bandits, terrorists, kidnappers or better still, non state actors. Nigeria has become a killing filed. Today one in every five out of school kids in the world is in Nigeria.The economy is in tatters and government does not appear to know what to do. Nigeria, arguably, is the headquarters of light weapons and small arms in the hands of non state actors. There is palpable fear that terrorists – in Niger and Nasarawa states could make a call on Abuja any time from now.Of truth, there is the urgent need to reset Nigeria and allow for a rethink and restrategization. All the pretenders to the presidency from the South in the APC do not have the capacity and cannot be trusted to hold Nigeria together. Taking the Presidency of Nigeria to the South West would only heighten tension – and Vice President Osinbajo has demonstrated clearly that he does not understand Nigeria, would promote bigotry and corruption and opaqueness.The late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari and co who started flying the Jonathan kite before he died understood clearly that Nigeria’s chance of staying together is in Jonathan taking power and dealing fairly with all groups - what clearly neither AsiwajuTinubu or Vice President Osinbajo would be able to pull through. In terms of temperament, Jonathan stands head above shoulders taller than any Nigerian in living memory. Jonathan, it was who could go on with the job while absorbing virulent attack. Not even appointees of his were allowed to bound his opponents. El Rufai in particular took his anti-Jonathan stance to treasonable levels.One of the factors that has fuelled the separatist agitations across the country is the intolerance of the present regime of criticism and freedom of expression. During Jonathan’s regime, there was absolute freedom of expression including press freedom.Rather therefore than antagonise Jonathan, Nigerians ought to rally round him to pull this country from the brink and provide the room for discussion.




Hon. Innocent Lagi, a former member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, and Former Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of Nasarawa State, lives in Abuja.

Governance is a continuum that requires multi-partisan commitment to a set of standards and expectations, which the society must never fall below. Nigeria has tended to suffer from breaks in this supposed continuum, where individuals seek personal glory over the good of the collective, which has tended to manifest in each successive leadership deviating from the policies, programmes and projects of their predecessors.
President Muhammadu Buhari came at a very crucial moment in Nigeria’s history and ensured that he continued with the projects of his predecessor and what Nigeria needs now is consolidation of the gains made during his presidency. As the Nigerian military makes progress on the battlefront, there is a need for a complementary healing of the wounds off the battlefields to truly bring the conflicts to an end, and build buffers within the populace to ensure prevent reoccurrence or sliding back to these crises.
2023 presents another opportunity, and a very crucial make-or-mar one at that, not just for us to choose our leader but to choose one who will lead Nigeria into the future considering the widening cleavages across ethnic and religious lines. Nigeria needs a unifier more than anything else at this point in her history and no one else fits the bill better than Former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a man who has shown in word and deed that he is a believer in the oneness of Nigeria and her growth to meet the aspirations of a diverse people.
The question for 2023 is how do we choose a President and Commander in Chief who will bring us back from the brink, defuse the tensions amongst our peoples and reset the national operating system to meet the needs of a 21st century society that is multicultural and multi-religious. We have a serious challenge before us, and we need someone who understands the nation and its present mood to lead us into a new future.
Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan did not just make the declaration that “my ambition is not worth the blood any citizen”, he displayed this by proactively taking away any uncertainties that unscrupulous elements could have taken advantage of to foment crisis immediately following the 2015 elections. Such a person, who has shown both in and out of office that his only concern is the development of Nigeria, is best suited for the unique interplay of circumstances in Nigeria’s current situation.
Thankfully, President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that he does not intend to stay beyond his constitutionally allowed second term in office, which makes it imperative that there is continuity and taking the “Next Level” plank on which he ran for the second term in 2019 to the “next level”. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who willingly and timeously conceded victory to President Buhari, and set the stage for a seamless transition for the first time in Nigeria’s history, is the best man to consolidate on the progress made thus far. He has shown that he holds no grudges against former political rivals and remains the most Pan Nigerian in the sea of possible candidates in the running, considering the fact that there is a growing clamour for presidency to return to the south.
Some have argued that a Jonathan presidency would be shortchanging the south, with him having a single term left under the 1999 constitution. This line of argument fails to take into consideration the fact that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua did not even complete his first term no to talk of doing eight years to balance out the north/south rotation. As it stands now, the 8year Buhari presidency still leaves the north in deficit, so the best berth in evening out this imbalance to allow for another northerner to do an 8year term which would then give 18years each for the north and south in the fourth republic.
The elite of the country have a chance to show that they believe in Nigeria beyond personal interests and preserving their stranglehold on tiny blocks within the corridors of power, whereas the whole shrinks under the weight of insurgencies, separatist movements and other divisive interests. These divisive interests will only increase if another dogfight is allowed to ensue in the buildup to the 2023 election. We need a consensus among the elite going forward, to highlight the things that unite us, rather than a battle that would put the spotlight on things that divide us. If we must defeat the forces against us for good, by sustaining the progress made in the last 8years, we cannot afford to gamble by putting Nigeria through the strains of another divisive campaign season, we need to go the 1999 route to reboot our patriotic spirit.
To achieve this we in this movement say that Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is a God sent at this point in time and provides the best opportunity if we are still interested in keeping the nation one and growing going forward. The polity needs to be reminded of the fact that the competition for development has gone global we cannot sustain a system where the component parts of Nigeria see each other as complementary parts of a whole, rather than competitors for limited resources that will only decline if not actively grown.

The Coalition for Education and Justice (CEJ) has welcomed the refusal of Prince Abubakar Audu University Ayingba, Kogi State, to partake in the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities strike, noting that it is another proof of Governor Yahaya Bello’s incredible reforms in the educational sector.

The group said since he assumed office in 2016, Governor Bello has done tremendously well in education, improving condition of service in tertiary institutions, such as the total financial autonomy at PAAU as regards its internally generated revenue.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday in Abuja, Executive Director, Dr. Linus Obetta, said the institution’s refusal to join their colleagues is in appreciation of the notable attention received from the state government for seamless and uninterrupted academic programmes.

Due to this stable calendar facilitated by Governor Bello, Dr. Obetta added that graduates of the university are better equipped to contribute to sustainable growth and development in the country.

He, therefore, charged other state governors and indeed the Federal Government to emulate the governor’s working template in the educational sector to avoid persistent industrial action which has grounded academic activities in the nation.

While applauding the university authorities for resisting the pressure of ASUU, the Coalition for Education and Justice urged Governor Bello to sustain this sterling strides and continue to show support for the institution.

Read full statement below:

The leadership of the Coalition for Education and Justice, a civil society group in the vanguard of entrenching a regime of sustainable development in the educational sector in Nigeria through the instrument of advocacy and other critical engagements, welcomes you all to this press conference.

We wish to state that as stakeholders in the critical educational sector in Nigeria, we have on numerous occasions advocated for an educational system in Nigeria that meets global standards in terms of academic curricular engagement, as well as a suitable remuneration for academic staff of educational institutions across the country.

The one-month strike action recently embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in this critical point of our drive for educational excellence is detrimental to attaining set goals and a disruption of the academic calendar in tertiary institutions across the country.

While we believe ASUU acted within their constitutional mandate, the more significant implication of their strike action is that it would increase the burden already experienced in our educational sector.

In all our numerous advocacies as a group, we have emphasized the need for the leadership of ASUU to devise other means of negotiating for better work conditions in tertiary institutions across the country. The constant use of strike action by ASUU defeats logic so much that we are tempted to believe more than meets the eyes in the recent strike action.
Our emphasis on roundtable talks is hinged on the consequences that are associated with strike actions that leave students frustrated and idle, which in turn culminates an increase in social vices in the country.

It is our considered opinion that the leadership of ASUU is failing to realize that there is so much catching up to make in our educational sector, and any attempt at further disrupting the academic calendar through strike actions can be viewed as counterproductive.

On this premise, we wish to commend the authorities of the Prince Abubakar Audu University in Kogi State for its refusal to join the one-month warning strike embarked on by ASUU. This is a welcome development that reinforces the stance of the visitor of the university, Governor Yahaya Bello.

We have it on good authority that the action of the authorities of Prince Abubakar Audu University is hinged on the notable condition of service in the university, amongst which is the total financial autonomy it enjoys as regards its internally generated revenue. This is indeed noteworthy of the Governor of Kogi State. He has done tremendously well in the educational sector in the state since he assumed leadership in 2016.

The Coalition for Education and Justice wishes to put it on record that Prince Abubakar Audu University is the only public institution in the country that is not a part of the one-month warning strike action embarked by ASUU.

We gathered from reliable sources that the refusal of the university to join the strike action is in appreciation of the notable attention it has received from the Kogi state government in support for the seamless and uninterrupted academic programmes in the university.

The Prince Abubakar Audu University in Kogi state has remained a pacesetter in educational excellence in the country with notable innovations that has positioned it as a first among equals in the educational system in the country that has seen graduates of the university excelling in their chosen careers within and outside the shores of the country.

It is also noteworthy that under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello, the university has enjoyed an uninterrupted academic calendar that has placed it in an enviable position as a citadel of learning of repute.

The Coalition for Education and Justice wishes to state in unequivocal terms that the action of the Prince Abubakar Audu University is exemplary and should be imbibed by other public universities in our quest for the rapid development in the educational sector in the country.
It is also instructive to state that the governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, has once again set a worthy template in the operations of state-owned universities that other governors should emulate in the country.

It is our considered view that should the Kogi template be implemented across the board, the educational sector in the country would experience tremendous growth and sustainability that would reflect in the quality of graduates coming out from our ivory towers.

The leadership of the Coalition for Education and Justice extends its appreciation to the authorities of Prince Abubakar Audu University for its trailblazing record in ensuring that graduates of the university are well equipped to contribute to sustainable growth and development in the country.

We are consequently not surprised that the university has continued to attract the best hands into its fold, which has gone a long way in boosting the quality of teaching at play in the university and the steady and uninterrupted academic programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The Coalition for Education and Justice commends the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in availing the leadership of the Prince Abubakar Audu University of the necessary support in advancing educational excellence under an atmosphere suitable for learning through ways too numerous to mention.

It is our firm position that the Prince Abubakar Audu example is worthy of emulation. We urge the relevant authorities in the educational sector in the country to recognize the sterling strides recorded and implemented in the university.

Thank you all for your attention.

God bless.

....Call-up-letters out on Sunday

All the Prospective Corps Members and other Camp participants for the 2022 Batch 'A' Orientation Exercise would undergo compulsory COVID-19 RDT Test, and only those that test negative would be allowed entry into the camps.

NYSC Director-General, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim disclosed this today during a live joint webinar by NYSC/NCDC organised for the 2022 Batch 'A' Prospective Corps Members.

The DG disclosed that those that test positive to COVID-19 would be handed over to the NCDC and State Ministry of Health Officials for treatment.

General lbrahim revealed that the collaboration with NCDC has yielded good results, adding that since the partnership started, no casualty has been recorded in any of the Scheme's Orientation Camps across the country.

The Director-General lauded the Federal Government, Presidential Committee on COVID-19 and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for their support for the Scheme, especially in the conduct of hitch-free Orientation Camps since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.

Ibrahim advised the PCMs to be security conscious, avoid night journeys, while also counselling them to break any journey that would extend beyond 6:00pm.

"You can pass the night in any NYSC Orientation camp, NYSC Secretariats, Corps Members' Lodge, Military and security formations.

"I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity because NYSC is a platform for those that are serious.

Posting and other services in NYSC are free, don't give bribe for posting", he said.

The DG stated further that Call-up letters for the 2022 Batch 'A' Orientation Exercise would be ready on Sunday February 20, 2022.

In her submission, the NCDC/NYSC Project Lead for Safe Camp Reopening, Dr Ladun Okunromade said adequate preparations have been put in place for the safe conduct of the 2022 Batch 'A' Orientation Exercise.

She said different variants of COVID-19 are ravaging the world, while Nigeria has recorded over 1,300 cases of Lassa Fever with 46 deaths and 20 healthcare workers infected.

Okunromade advised the Prospective Corps Members and other camp participants to come to camp with facemasks, hand sanitisers; obey physical distancing, maintain personal hygiene and also adhere to all COVID-19 safety guidelines.

The NCDC Director-General, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa in his address said "there will be facilities for vaccination in the camp for those that will take either the first or second dose or third jabs and they to sight their vaccination cards".

He urged all camp participants to come to the Orientation camps with their vaccination cards.

"This is the 7th edition of safe Camp Re-opening Webinar. We will continue to work hard to facilitate the safe re-opening for all camp participants.

The virus is still with us and we must continue to take both personal and collective responsibility to ensure our safety", he stated.

Also during the webinar, Corps Member Ajilese Aliyu Adebayo FC/21C/0113 commended the NYSC Management for the safety measures put in place during his Orientation course at the NYSC FCT Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja.

2023: Dumebi Kachikwu Joins Presidential Race.

Media Mogul and Chairman of Roots Television Nigeria, Dumebi Kachikwu has finally confirmed he will be in the twenty twenty three Presidential race.

His confirmation came on Thursday through a video released on his Roots TV platform entitled 'Nigerian Syndrome'.

In the video, the business mogul traced the genesis of Nigeria's problems to her colonial masters who he says set Nigeria up to fail by creating the country along religious and ethnic lines.

He also lamented the fact that Nigerians were so accepting of bad and abnormal leadership and called it the 'Nigerian Syndrome'.

A Press Statement released by his Media Office in Abuja quotes Mr. Kachikwu as promising to articulate his vision for Nigeria in a few weeks in what he calls 'MY OPENING ARGUMENT'.

He is yet to indicate under which political party he intends to run.

The North-West Grassroots Support Network (NW-GSN) has rejected an alleged plot by some northern governors to zone the All Progressives Congress’ national chairmanship to the north-central.

According to the group, the north-west is more deserving of the position at this material time.

In a press statement signed by Alhaji Adamu Yakubu and issued in Kaduna today, the NW-GSN said any attempt to impose a candidate from north-central on the faithful will be resisted and could potentially lead to a further crisis in the party.

Yakubu, therefore, urged all APC stakeholders to disregard a story in a national daily that claimed that some Progressive Governors have endorsed a particular candidate.

He urged all chairmanship aspirants from the northwest to continue with their consultations and mobilize their supporters to the national convention.

The North-West Grassroots Support Network, however, expressed confidence that at the end of the February 26th event, the zone will return back home with the national chairmanship position.

Read full statement below:

The North-West Grassroots Support Network (NESG) is disappointed to note the speculative kite flying by some northern governors to the effect that the position of the national chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has been zoned to the north-central geo-political zone.

While not dismissing the array of competent candidates for the position in the north-central or any other geo-political zone, we want to categorically point out that the north-west is more entitled to the position of APC national chairman at this material time than any other zone.

We therefore wondered why some selfish governors and their aides will chose to go to town with uniamgainable and calculated falsehood to deceive members of the public on the position of things. This strategy of flying a kite in the media about the zoning of the position is in our view a waste of effort.

APC is an association of democrats and we know that other aspirants, some even from the north west, have toured the entire country to share their ideas, philosophy and programs to move the APC forward. Some of such aspirants have received the endorsement of as many as 35 states.

Consequently, we are compelled to ask if these so-called governors have also been authorized to speak for states where the party has no governor? Have the governors’ dictatorial tendencies got to a stage where they assume jurisdiction over states they do not have the mandate to govern?

Why are these so called governors more interested in causing disharmony within the ranks of the party against the known democratic tenets that anticipate that delegates to the national convention are allowed to vote for candidates of their choice?

The story therefore credited to a national daily that some Progressive Governors have constituted themselves into the party and endorsed a particular candidate is totally misleading. The story should be disregarded by APC stakeholders as the fake news that it.

The North-West Grassroots Support Network urge all aspirants from the north-west contesting for the position of the National Chairman at the upcoming convention to continue with their consultations and mobilize their supporters to the national convention. They should not yield their constitutionally guaranteed freedom to aspiration to political opportunists who have employed everything from falsehood to scare tactics to personalize the APC that we all built together.

For the avoidance of doubt, the north west will not return back home from the National Convention with anything less than the position of the National Chairman of the party and no so called progresive governor pursuing a narrow self interest can stop the party.

APC National Convention: Group backs Buni-led CECPC, blast ex-PGF DG, Lukman for anti-party activities

A pro-All Progressives Congress (APC) group, APC Great Minds, has written a rejoinder to the open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari by the sacked Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum, Salihu Moh. Lukman.

Recall that Lukman had in his letter on Tuesday, alleged plans to sabotage the scheduled February 26 national convention of the APC, referring to the Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) as "undertaker", which was not doing enough to show that it was ready to conduct a hitch free exercise.

The group in the fierce rejoinder released by its spokesperson, Gbenga Olawepo, on Wednesday, described Lukman's allegations as "breath of bitterness", stressing that the he has been working against the leadership of the party since he was "unceremoniously removed" as PGF DG.

While expressing optimism in the ability of the National Leader of the party, President Muhammadu Buhari, to build the party into a fortress, the group urged doomsayers like Dr Lukman to "jettison their doomsday prophecies and embrace the ambience of peace and greatness that Mai Mala Buni has built around the party."

They admonished the party members and leaders to keep supporting the Mai Mala Buni led CECPC in order to pilot the party into victory in 2023.

The rejoinder reads: "Re- APC Convention: Caretaker or Undertaker
Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari

"Our attention has been drawn to the foul breath of bitterness oozing from the sacked Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum, Salihu Moh. Lukman. Initially, Dr. Lukman was using the officialdom of the PGF to attack the leadership of the party he claims to belong to until he was sacked from that office by the enraged APC Governors who considered him unfit to continue to hold the office of the Director General of the PGF.

"Since the garb of the PGF DG has been unceremoniously removed from his neck, he has decided to further untame his pen of fury against the leadership of the party again, this time as a “Freelance APC Campaigner”.

"Since discipline and respect to party authorities are not his forte, our organization has decided to school Dr Lukman since he is idiosyncratic in attacking the party hierarchy.

"The claim by Dr Lukman, a hired gun of the 3rd Force proponents bent on killing the party, that there is no sign of a Convention is not only laughable but indicative of the fact that the erstwhile PGF DG is a confusion merchant. The Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) rolled out a timetable towards actualizing a Convention to remember. The Committee has received reports from the Reconciliation Committee and have issued Certificates of Return to the State Chairmen.

"On the setting up of sub-committees ahead of the Convention, the date for the release of the list of Sub-Committees was slated for February 19, 2022. But Dr Lukman is already crying wolf on February 15

"Regularly, the Secretary of the CECPC, Sen. John Akpan Udoedehe, has been briefing newsmen on the level of preparedness of the Committee for the Convention. But Dr Lukman said the Committee has not been communicating. How else do you communicate? APC is an organized party and not a confused circle like the orchestrators of the 3rd Force mirage.

"The author of confusion said in his open letter that there are speculations of postponement and a grand plan to ensure the Convention does not hold. He even went further to accuse the CECPC Chairman, Gov. Mai Mala Buni of sit-tightism and an agenda to self-perpetuate. These allegations are frivolous, malicious, unintelligent, narrow and indicative of the scheming by the hirers of Lukman. Gov. Mai Mala Buni has been the best thing to have happened to our dear party at a tumultuous time. He has grown the party to 41 million members , 9 million more than the entire population of Ghana. He has digitalized the party and brought in high profile members into the party. He has successfully conducted Congresses at the Wards, Local Government and State levels. And he has reconciled the party significantly as well as set the stage for a great Convention. He would be remembered by history as one of the greatest leaders our party got to know.

"On the issue of zoning and sale of forms, we are very much aware of the fact that our forms are ready. But party leaders are working on the issue of the possibility of zoning. The issue of whether the party will adopt zoning or not must be resolved before the aspirants would know what forms to buy. You can’t make people buy forms and then zone the positions away from their zones. If there won’t be zoning, aspirants will know what to do.

"The fears of Lukman are the fears of his paymasters who drove him into trouble, ran him out of PGF Secretariat, ran him into disrepute and now running him against the tides of time. APC has never been stronger than it is now. We have 22 Governors that are committed to the party and leaders across the geopolitical zones are poised to ensure the party remains unplugged from her support base which is populated by the masses of Nigeria.

"It is characteristic falsehood that the party is waning. We are waxing stronger. It is expectedly discomforting to Dr Lukman that the party is not heading to the doom he prophesied 2 years ago.

"The National Leader of the party, President Muhammadu Buhari is working with other stakeholders of the party to build APC into a fortress. We urge the likes of Dr Lukman to jettison their doomsday prophecies and embrace the ambience of peace and greatness that Mai Mala Buni has built around the party.

"We urge our party members and leaders to keep supporting the Mai Mala Buni led CECPC in order to pilot the party into triumph come 2023."

https://www.blueprint.ng/apc-national-convention-group-backs-buni-led-cecpc-blasts-ex-pgf-dg-lukman-for-anti-party-activities/

As controversies continue to trill the proposed national convention of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), some aspirants have written to President Muhammad Buhari, expressing confidence in the Governor Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

This is coming on the heels of an open letter by the estranged Director General (DG) of the Progressive Governors' Forum (PGF), Salihu Moh. Lukman, to the President, on Tuesday.
The former DG of PGF, in his letter, had intimated Buhari of plans to sabotage the scheduled February 26 national convention of APC, referring to Gov Buni's committee as an "undertaker", which was not doing enough to show that it was ready to conduct a free, fair and credible exercise.

But in a swift response through another open letter to President Buhari on Wednesday, aspirants in the forthcoming national convention, under the aegis of the Forum of APC Aspirants for 2022 National Convention, alleged that the Lukman was engaging in some unholy activities, which also include, "undermining the APC at the behest of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)".

The letter signed by a leading aspirant for the position of national youth leader, Barr. Maxwell Yakubu Gowon, on behalf of other aspirants; said the Buni led convention committee had not done anything to suggest that the aspirants would loose confidence in the process.

Read the full text of the open letter here:


"Re: APC Convention: Caretaker or Undertaker
Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari


"The Forum of APC Aspirants for 2022 National Convention writes to intimate Your Excellency on the true state of affairs with the National Convention of our great party, the All Progressive Congress (APC). We had initially decided against burdening Mr. President with the humdrum of the party’s working in the belief that the APC has enough statements in its fold to resolve ongoing issues while allowing Your Excellency on piloting the affairs of Nigeria.

"However, the revisionist open letter authored by the immediate past Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Salihu Moh. Lukman, who identified as a “Freelance APC Campaigner.” Without trivializing the present battle for the soul of the APC, it is pertinent to clarify from the onset that Lukman is yet to recover from the disgraceful circumstances of his exit as Director General of PGF and the only straw he can hold on to is to vilify the person and office of the Chairman of the the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), His Excellency Mai Mala Buni and other members of the Committee.

"Incidentally, Lukman is neither an aspirant nor a candidate of our party for the Convention and for any election in the future. In fact, the shady details about his forced exit from his most recent position was about how he was undermining the APC at the behest of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

"There is documentary evidence in the media about how Lukman hounded the APC, its leadership, CECPC members and even party members for failing to align with the questionable position he was championing for certain State Governors that are eager to hijack the party structure for their 2023 ambitions. These inordinate ambitions of these governors run contrary to the legacy of humility that Your Excellency have demonstrated in your brand of leadership. For these people to achieve their aim, they will necessarily violate or contravene Mr. President’s directive of allowing due process to prevail and for the right thing to always be done.

"We are perplexed that Lukman is today pontificating and creating the impression that he means well for the party. If he truly means well, even as a lowly administrator of PGF, he would have leveraged that position to appeal to his former employers, the APC state governors, to respect party democracy and allow the will of most party members to prevail at the state chapters of the party. Whatever crises the party faces nationally today were birthed at the state levels owing to the overbearing disposition of some state governors. It is therefore perplexing that Lukman who timidly watched the state governors damage the party is now crying murder and attempting to re-write history as we know it and exonerate the state governors.

"We find it ridiculous that the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), which under the leadership of His Excellency Buni worked tirelessly to resolve some of the crisis in the party, was criminally maligned by Lukman. He accused the Committee of being highhanded and yet expect the same Committee to disregard the views strongly expressed by the party’s stakeholders pertaining to conditions that must be met to have a successful convention. It is pertinent to state that the clamour from stakeholders have been majorly about redressing the damages done by the governors at the state chapters, which would make mockery of democracy and our great party if the mistake is made of progressing with the convention without first addressing them. The CECPC refusal to plunge the party further into crisis by succumbing to the whims of the governors, for whom Lukman speaks, is the reason that the Committee and its leadership came under the kind of scathing attack contained in the open letter.

"Your Excellency, there have been diverse legal views expressed about the potential consequences of holding the Convention without first undoing the damage that some governors have inflicted on their state chapters of the party. As at the time of writing, some of the state chapters are still mired in legal tussles before the courts. It is interesting that the Reconciliation Committee, headed by Senator Abdulahi Adamu, based on its fair assessment of the extent to which it has been able to carry out its assignment, called for the postponement of the National Convention until the disagreeing factions in the party are better reconciled. It is most unfortunate that someone who claims to have the party’s interest at heart cannot reconcile themselves to the germane need to return the party into a united organization.

"On the fallacy that there are uncertainties meant to delay or prevent the convention from holding so that His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni will manipulate his emergence as the substantive National Chairman of the party, we find this to be a case of fertile imagination taken to the point of hallucination. Although, H.E Buni, being a member of the party has every right to aspire to any office he wishes to occupy but the truth is out in the open. He has not mounted billboards or placed posters like the aspirants to the post of national chairman or other offices have done. Also, he would have approached Your Excellency to seek your blessings if he was interested in continuing as the Party’s substantive national chairman. Therefore, that some governors, through Lukman, can lie so bare-facedly to Mr. President speaks volume of the treachery they are capable of and the extent to which they have gone to undermine the party for selfish interests and inordinate agenda.

"The open letter attempted to convolute the facts when it claimed that “the CECPC leadership is using sophisticated strategies to force the hands of party leaders, including blackmails and wildcat promises of electoral opportunity to emerge as candidates of our party for the 2023 elections.” This is democracy. People have been making contacts, holding consultations, and trying to build alliances ahead of the party’s primaries. Interestingly, even those for whom Lukman runs errands are engaged in these activities, which leaves one wondering why they think they have the monopoly of carrying on with their own strategizing while the rest of us cannot do the same. This is yet another proof that what Lukman is canvassing for is a new form of dictatorship whereby certain people evolve themselves into a class of leaders that are above the law and subject to different sets of rules that apply to only them. This, Your Excellency, is disparately at variance with what you stand for and have demonstrated to Nigerians repeatedly.

"Mr. President, the danger the APC faces now is from the actions and activities of characters like Lukman, who have perfected their defection to other political parties and are only still claiming membership of the APC only so that they can destroy it from within. His open letter is a strategy to distract attention from the damage that his sponsors are doing to the party. They know that the best thing for the APC at this point is to stop seeing and treating them as members, which implies that they should no longer be allowed to be part of decision making to the extent that they have arranged and perfected their defection to other parties after they would have irredeemably damaged our party.

"Contrary to the lies that the likes of Lukman have promoted about the current leadership of the party, Forum of APC Aspirants for 2022 National Convention is pleased to assert that H.E. Buni’s CEPCP is a major reason we still have confidence that the party can still be healed and repositioned in time for it to excel in the 2023 elections. The CEPCP Chairman performed creditably in the way he has handled preparations for the convention by consulting with aspirants before key decisions are taken. Results of his administrative and reconciliatory efforts include the stability that has returned to the state chapters as manifested by last week’s swearing-in of state chairmen and the subsequent inauguration of state excos across the 36 states of the federation. A hurried national convention would have denied the party this opportunity of rebuilding itself up from the base and this is what those that are keen on destroying the APC want to prevent.

"In conclusion, we would have urged Your Excellency, in your capacity as the leader of our great party, to order an investigation of the disgraced former Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Salihu Moh. Lukman to find out the extent to which he is complicit of the allegation that he is being funded by the opposition PDP to undermine the APC. But we came to the realization that this would be playing into the plot to distract the APC at the highest level, which is not needed at this point. The designation of “Freelance APC Campaigner” he assigned to himself is enough proof that he has already expelled from the party since the concept of freelance campaigner is alien to the party.

"Our prayer, however, is that Mr. President should pass a vote of confidence in His Excellency Mai Mala Buni-CEPCP’s ability to organize the National Convention that will usher in a new dawn for the APC. This expression of confidence in the Committee will re-assure us that we are in a party of rule of law and internal democracy.

"Thank you Mr. President. May God continue to guide you aright.


"Signed:
Barrister Maxwell Yakubu Gowon
For 2022 Convention NEC Aspirants.
Feb 16, 2022".

*North-Central, Not South Deserves Presidency, Middle-Belt Group Cautions Southern Presidency Agitators*

The Middle Belt Conscience Guard (MBCG) says the region deserves a shot at the presidency at the next elections in return for its numerous contributions to peace and development of the country.

The group noted that the zone has suffered neglect since the return of democracy in 1999, yet to test power at the national level despite its massive role in the emergence of leaders.

Speaking at a press conference today in Abuja, its General Secretary, Elder Omale Ben Amedu, said a power shift to the south would not only be misplaced but a great disservice to the North-Central part of the country.

Judging by competence, capacity and pedigree, Elder Amedu said Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State is the most suitable choice to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Recall that the governor had earlier today met with President Buhari and harped on North-Central presidency for the sake of equity and justice.

Throwing their weight behind the governor, the Middle Belt Conscience Guard said only someone from the region can unite the nation amidst threats of secession from ther other zones.

The group said after a stakeholders meeting, it was concluded that with Governor Bello, Nigeria will be in safe hands.

The Middle-Belt forum, however, distanced itself from individuals and groups from the region canvassing for power shift to the South, noting that they are bereft of ideas.

It, therefore, urged all stakeholders, sons and daughters of the zone to show their support for Bello as he proven to be tailor-made for the job.

Read full statement below:

Ladies and Gentlemen, the leadership of the Middle Belt Conscience Guard, warmly welcome you all to this press conference convoked to highlight the crucial discourse in the country amid the clamour for the region in the country that should produce the next president.

As a body, we are constrained to lend our voice to this debate in the national interest and, given the dynamics involved in such an enterprise, which might have unpleasant consequences if not carefully handled.

As we may be aware, the polity is charged with various agitations, some of appropriate content and some of the unreasonable content. However, what we must not fail to come to terms is the fact that given the geographical spread of the country, and its inherent peculiarities, power shift to the southern part of the country would not only be misplaced, it would be a great disservice to the North Central part of the country.

It must be stated in unequivocal terms that the North Central part of Nigeria, which by nomenclature can still be regarded as the Middle Belt, has been integral to the country's socio-economic development since the return of democracy in 1999.

It is also on record that the North Central region in Nigeria has always played the beautiful bride during elections. Its commitment to the Nigerian cause has never been in doubt during and after the elections in Nigeria.

It, therefore, beats the imagination for any individual or group from the Middle Belt region to canvass for power shift to the South, while the Middle Belt/North Central has not enjoyed such privilege despite its numerous contributions to the peace and unity of the country without any form of grumblings.

It suffices to add that the history book is replete with instances where the Middle Belt/North Central region held the ace during the elections. In its characteristics manner, it ensured a peaceful process in the overarching interest of the country.
It is our considered view that those Middle Belters that are canvassing for power shift to the South are bereft of ideas because the Middle Belt/North Central boasts of very credible candidates with the capacity to translate our hopes and aspirations into tangible realities.

We also wish to place it on record that the presidential aspiration of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State indeed has the blessings of the Middle Belt region because he is one of us and highly regarded for his exploits, not just in Kogi state but the entire Middle Belt/North Central region.

His pedigree speaks volumes of a man committed to advancing the country's cause by unifying all regions and ensuring that the country experiences tangible growth and development, which has been his hallmark in his capacity as the Governor of Kogi state.

It would thus amount to betrayal for groups and individuals from the Middle Belt region to agitate for power shift to the South. It is not only preposterous; it goes further to state that those at the vanguard of such agitations are not true sons and daughters of the region.

Consequently, we are appalled at such disposition, which amounts to a lack of strategy and foresight. We are tempted to believe that pecuniary gains might have propelled the agitations.

The fact that the Middle Belt has not enjoyed such benefits since the return of democracy in 1999 makes it more curious why Nigerians should disregard any form of agitation from groups parading themselves as representing the interest of the Middle Belt in the buildup to the general elections in 2023.

Either they have sold their conscience in return for a plate of porridge, or they have elected to heat the polity unnecessarily in the puerile attempt to cast aspersion on the credibility of the array of qualified aspirants from the Middle Belt/North Central region.

The Middle Belt Conscience Guard wishes to use this medium to inform the generality of the public that the agitation for power shift to the South by these perceived groups parading themselves as representing the interest of the Middle Belt is misplaced and should be disregarded in its entirety for lacking in merit and common sense.

This is aside from the fact that It will also amount to a betrayal of the Ebira nation and other minority groups in the north for anyone to begin to canvass for power shift to the south when the Middle Belt people are yet to have their turn as far as this country is concerned.

The Middle Belt Conscience Guard also believe that at this moment, it is only someone from the Middle Belt that will be able to unite the country. With the kind of leadership that Nigerians have confirmed that Governor Yahaya Bello has provided in Kogi State, one can only be assured that Nigeria will be in safe hands.

Thus, our support for the presidential aspiration of Governor Yahaya Bello is unflinching. We hold firmly that given the present circumstances in the country, Governor Yahaya Bello has all it takes to address the myriads of challenges confronting the country at this critical point of our existence.

We also wish to state that this position is hinged on the various high-level stakeholders' consultation with well-meaning individuals and groups in the Middle Belt region, who were unanimous in their choice of Governor Yahaya Bello as the best candidate from the region to lead Nigeria to the path of sustainable growth and development.

We are also using this medium to warn those parading themselves as representing the interest of the Middle Belt to desist from such enterprise that is aimed at casting the Middle Belt/ North Central region as lacking credible candidates and unrecognized as a stakeholder in the scheme of things in the country.

Our firm position is that the Middle Belt/North Central is deserving of a shot at governance at the national level in return for its numerous contributions to peace and development in Nigeria. And the aspiration of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state indeed presents us with that unique opportunity that we must grab with both hands.

We thank you all for your time and attention. We desire that Governor Yahaya Bello's aspiration to lead our great country would gather the required momentum in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Thanks, and God Bless Nigeria.

Ahead of the All Progressives Congress’ February 26th national convention, Governors of Jigawa, Kebbi and the Ekiti States have been fingered to be behind the plot to impose candidates on the party through the backdoor.

The APC Youth Development and Solidarity Forum said Governors Badaru Abubakar, Kayode Fayemi and Atiku Bagudu have perfected plans to impose Senator Sani Musa as the party’s national chairman.

Recall that President Buhari had reportedly rejected the proposal of two governors to adopt a certain aspirant as the next national chairman of the party

It was gathered that President Buhari advised the governors to take their proposal to the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), their fellow governors and other party leaders for consideration.

The back door approach of the two governors is said to have widened the cracks in the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) which is scheduled to hold a make or break meeting today in Abuja on the zoning of party offices.

And speaking at a press conference today in Abuja, Chief Tobias Ogbeh, the secretary-general of the APC-YDSF warned the governors against presenting a “fake” excos list to President Buhari against the will of the faithful.

According to Ogbeh, the ultimate goal is to hand Senator Musa the party chairmanship position in return for a Bagudu-Fayemi presidential ticket.

The group, however, vowed to resist any attempt by the governors, particularly Badaru, Bagudu and others to subvert the will of the party.

Ogbeh urged all APC members to reject such plan to shortchange the rest of the country with the governors’ “devilish and demonic plan for the party”.

While calling on delegates to closely monitor the convention, the group urged Governor Mai Bala Buni to openly renounce the evil plot.

Read full statement below:

Gentlemen of the press, we are constrained to invite you for this press briefing following our discovery of a plot to sabotage the All Progressive Congress (APC) by some desperate individuals that are working internally to implode the party. Ordinarily, affairs of the APC should be left as its internal matters except that the people we are raising this alarm about today are not really after the APC. What they are after is the soul of Nigeria, which they want to own for their evil intent.

All the evil that this cabal has perpetrated in the past months are geared towards illegally winning public offices at the highest level so that they can continue to pillage the country and make a mockery of the progress that an APC government at the center has brought to Nigeria by reversing all the gains made in the past six years. It is for this reason that we are raising the alarm now so that Nigerians will know that people with less than sincere interest are on the verge of hijacking the APC and consequently impose a presidential candidate on Nigerians, use the popularity of the APC to win election and then capture power to the detriment of Nigerians. Therefore, the matter is no longer an internal issue of the APC.

You are all witnesses to how the APC has been plunged into needless crisis because of the overbearing activities of these people, notably among them are some governors from the northern states. At the core of this crisis is the dictatorial tendencies of these governors amidst a democracy. They run the party’s state chapters as extensions of their families or personal businesses. The actual members of the APC were left without say in the affairs of the party and that is hardly the way democracy is meant to work.

The members who were shortchanged by this overbearing intrusion of the state governors and their proxies had been hopeful that two critical committees (the Caretaker Extraordinary and Convention Planning Committee and the Reconciliation Committee) would have provided respite when the elective National Convention takes place. But alas, the convention was hijacked before it even held. These same governors and their minions have in their known fashion hijacked the entire exercise, which was proven to the world by the way they fixed a February 26, 2022, date for the event in flagrant disregard for the preferences expressed by stakeholders.

Sadly, things are now clearer. The governors in question never bothered about what stakeholders thought, wanted, or demanded, because for them the National Convention is a fait accompli. Rather than being a forum at which delegates would elect party officials in the hope of righting the wrongs done at the state chapters, the convention envisaged by these political vampires is one at which they will merely browbeat and coerce delegates to rubber stamp the criminal decisions that have taken, one that would undermine the 2023 General Elections because the party’s internal democracy in the APC would have been bastardized. Nigerians would be deprived of having an APC presidential candidate that passed the rigors of primary election.

Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state and their other desperate allies that include serving Ministers have perfected plans to ensure that Senator Sani Musa is imposed as APC National Chairman alongside other lackeys that would be named to other positions at the convention. Senator Sani Musa would in turn deliver Bagudu as APC presidential flagbearer and Kayode Fayemi as his running mate. They have cooked up what they called “unity list” to package their evil plot as something positive and desirable for the party and the country when the contrary is the case.

We want APC stakeholders and Nigerians to know that these state governors are working against the interest interest of the country. As things stand we are collectively staring a full-blown state capture in the face as these band of governors paid a nocturnal visit to the Presidential Villa last Friday night with their purported “unity list” that they are now desperately promoting. At this point it is fair to point out that the Attorney general of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami is with them alongside a few unpatriotic ministers that are equally playing the overlords in states that are not controlled by the APC.

In addition to pressuring President Muhammadu Buhari to allow their criminal intent to materialize, these people have also perfected other plans to make mockery of the convention that has remained a source of controversy. The convention phase of their plan involves deploying state share of the Abacha Loot as bribe to induce all delegates to looking the other way and give the stamp of approval to whatever criminality is presented as the outcome of the gathering. A second leg of this phase is the arrest, intimidation and harassment of delegates that refuse to be bought over.

A further layer is that these people that are working against the nation’s nascent democracy and have sworn to bring down the APC should they fail to get their way at the convention by their interest not being enforced on all party men and women. This threat is already rattling some high-ranking members and leaders of the party, who are beginning to pivot toward allowing these governors and some ministers to have their way.

The APC Youth Development and Solidarity Forum therefore wishes to alert all APC members and delegates to the evil plot of the governors. We unequivocally remind these plotters that they cannnot impose their cronies and minions at the party’s helm of affairs against the wishes of other party men and women. The APC has too many enlightened minds to be so easily enslaved as these modern-day emperors think.

We are equally calling on All APC members to come to the proposed convention fully prepared to reject the plan by these few individuals to shortchange the rest of the country through their devilish and demonic plan for the party. Party members, who elected delegates in states chapters where genuine congresses were allowed, should closely monitor the conduct of their delegates at the convention and mete out sanctions to anyone that sells the party short in exchange for bribe.

We further call on Governor Mai Mala Buni as the chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary and Convention Planning Committee to distance himself from this evil plot and not allow himself to be hypnotized by these marabouts keepers who in the 21st Century do not believe in Nigeria’s democracy. History would be unkind to anyone that fails to disavow the evil represented by these people that are out to destroy the APC and take the entire country down in pursuit of their selfish wishes.

We also appeal to President Buhari to be very careful with these governors and dubious Ministers in his cabinet. Mr. President should not allow them to destroy the APC as the party currently stands as the only hope of the common man. The destruction of the APC is automatically the destruction of his legacies.

Our position in the APC Youth Development and Solidarity Forum is straightforward. On internal party democracy we stand.

By Chidiebere Uzodinma

I am one of those who have expressed delight since the governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, declared interest in contesting the country's presidency in 2023. My excitement was borne out of the potential of a Yahaya Bello presidency and what the country stands to benefit from at the end of the day.

We must admit that the country's challenges indeed require that we go for a leader with a brave heart and ready to confront those issues that have held us back as a country for long. We also need that leader who matches words with action and understands the urgency of now in fixing Nigeria.

This is not a time for kid gloving issues regarding putting Nigeria on the path of sustainable growth and development. I would say we have experimented and trivialized the issues at stake. This should be a source of concern for any Nigerian worth the name. We need to reminisce on how the country has descended from its enviable position as the giant of Africa. If we have the above at the back of our minds, then a Yahaya Bello presidency is what the country needs come 2023.

Taking cues from Kogi State before him and the Kogi State of today, one would indeed agree that a lot of concerted efforts were at play. One would also agree that for Governor Yahaya Bello to be able to turn things around in a once-moribund state speaks volumes about his capacity and his style of governance, which in my opinion, should be replicated across the country.

Those of us in the know of the state of affairs in Kogi State before he assumed leadership are still in awe of how he could achieve tangible results. This is aside from the fact that he indeed stepped on tows and dammed the consequences so long his decisions were in the best interest of the state and not the interests of a select few.

I recall he was very clear about what he wanted from the onset. This much he made clear in his inaugural speech wherein he stated thus: "My Administration shall exist for the sole purpose of serving the superseding interests of the people of Kogi State to the very best of its capabilities. We also undertake to never lend our capacities to servicing the avarice of anyone or group–whether from Kogi State or elsewhere. There is no greater evil than Corruption, and nothing champions that evil more than Impunity…Corruption and Impunity made sure our people repeatedly arrived at a promised future and found it bereft of substance, or the promised better life.”

This is very apt and has guided his conduct since he assumed leadership of Kogi State. Let us take this position to the centre stage of governance in the country. We would conclude that Kogi state mirrors that larger Nigerian society where the emphasis has been on serving and servicing the avarice of select individuals and groups and the detriment of a population that is fallen deep into despondency.

My argument remains that if he could do it in Kogi state, then doing the same in the country in his capacity as president would not be a herculean task. The country is bleeding, and all we need is that effort from an individual who understands that there is a lot at stake.

This is what the Yahaya Bello presidency represents, in my candid opinion. It behoves all well-meaning Nigerians to wake up from the deep slumber and rally support for a Yahaya Bello presidency that is well-positioned to address our challenges by questioning the norm and insisting on the proper approach governance that would emphasize the collective good.

He might not have a massive war chest like others. He might not be as popular as others that have indicated interest. However, we can't take away that he is committed, resourceful, and ready for the daunting task of taking the country out of the doldrums.

He is not a fan of the politics of religion or ethnicity. He is a firm believer that what is good for the goose should be good for the gander. I believe the Yahaya Bello presidency is one golden opportunity we must grab with both hands. His enthusiasm is infectious; his desire to set Nigeria on the path of greatness is legendary. And his commitment to step on toes in the interest of the country is not in doubt.

The ball is now in our court; we can play right or wrong. However, we must be ready for the consequences of our actions. We can elect to stay with the norm or request a new order where every citizen of our great country, regardless of their religion or ethnicity, would have a say in the governance process in the country.

The Yahaya Bello revolution is real. It behoves all well-meaning Nigerians to join forces towards the actualization of an ambition for the country's good. I can bet that those who desire the country remains in its present state would constitute themselves into clogs in the wheels of our progress by engaging in smear campaigns against Yahaya Bello. The public space would be filled with all manner of derogatory attributes in the bid to blackmail him into jettisoning his presidential ambition. But if only they knew how thick his skin is.

Lest I forgot, one of the attributes of Governor Yahaya Bello is the ability to stay focused and go for whatever he believes is in the best interest of the country. He doesn’t suffer fools gladly.
The future of Nigeria is important, and we march towards the 2023 general elections; the choice is ours to take the bulls by the horns in ensuring that the country moves forward. How would this be possible? A Yahaya Bello presidency suffices.

Uzodinma wrote this article Owerri.

A member of the National Youth Service Corps, Ihenyen Ehinome Joy (AD/20B/1932), serving in Adamawa State, has converted an abandoned building to a Clinic in Kpogno Community, a remote village in Girei LGA of Adamawa State.


The idea of the Clinic came up when the corps member was participating as an enumeration officer in the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) which entailed corps members touring remote villages of the state to enumerate and register Primary School pupils for the school feeding Programme.
While registering the pupils in this village (Kpogno), Joy observed that several people, particularly the children and the elderly, were not looking healthy enough. After some enquiries, she realized that the rural dwellers had to travel 14 kilometers away to access the nearest Clinic at another village called Borong.
She became disturbed and took it upon herself to change the ugly situation.
Using her orientation on NYSC's Community Development Service (CDS) Programme, she strategized, secured the necessary support and approval of the NYSC scheme, mobilized the relevant stakeholders, particularly the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and most importantly collaborated with the people of the community.
Seeing and trusted her as a messiah, the Community happily and willingly donated a four bedroom dilapidated building for the project in addition to other contributions towards its success.
And finally it is mission accomplished for Copa Joy!!! As the people of Kpogno Community no longer have to travel 14 kilometers to access simple medical care. Copa Joy, an indigene from far away Edo State, Ekpoma LGA, has come to their rescue through the human scheme, NYSC.
To ensure continued sustenance, management and viability of the health care centre, corps member Joy partnered with the State Primary Healthcare through the Girei LGA PHC which is to continue providing drugs, services as well as other medical consumables and non consumables.

NYSC Trust Fund: Unemployed Graduates Back Bill, Laud NASS, NYSC For Prioritizing Job Creation

The Coalition of Unemployed Graduates in Nigeria (CUGN) has applauded the bill seeking to create the National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund, noting that it has the potential to generate one million jobs annually if passed into law.

The group, which made this known today at a press conference in Abuja, also said the Trust Fund will potentially address youth unemployment and enhance economic prosperity.

In his address, convener, Comrade Emmanuel Odenmalu, said the Trust Fund is a unique opportunity for the country to harness the potentials of its bustling youthful population for sustainable growth and development.

According to Odenmalu, if passed, the NYSC Trust Fund will provide “funding mediums for our teeming youths in the country in furtherance of its Skill and Entrepreneurship Development initiative for corp members while in service and after service”.

Comrade Odenmalu, therefore, thanked the NYSC for conceiving the idea, adding that it is a “function of strategic thoughts on rejigging our job creation drive towards socio-economic development”.

While commending the National Assembly for ensuring that the bill passed second reading, the group urged the legislators to ensure its speedy passage.

The youths, however, urged “Nigerians from all walks of life to lend their support to the proposed NYSC Trust Fund bill as the benefits are innumerable and of great concern to the teeming youths in the country”.

Read full statement below:

We welcome you all to this press conference in light of the recent happenings in the country regarding the efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in addressing youth unemployment in the country.

We must admit that these are indeed trying times in the country with the escalating number of graduates from our tertiary institutions without meaningful forms of employment. These figures keep rising daily, and it is expedient that concerted efforts must be made to address this societal challenge.

We must also admit that Nigerian youths are industrious and able to bring about innovations that translate to wealth creation. In our opinion, this has not been possible because successive governments did not create an enabling environment neither were policies introduced to address the national concern.

This consequently gave rise to more and more unemployed graduates roaming the streets searching for jobs that have remained elusive. The attendant implication is the resort to crime and other forms of criminality to make ends meet.

As an association, our joy knew no bounds when the National Youth Service Corps leadership proposed a Trust Fund to aim to provide funding mediums for our teeming youths in the country in furtherance of its Skill and Entrepreneurship Development initiative for corp members while in service and after service.

It is thus a statement of the fact that the NYSC Trust Fund, when passed into law, has the potential to create one million jobs annually. This is on the heels that universities and polytechnics admit close to 2 million students each academic year and produce about 600,000 graduates.

A cursory analysis of the number of graduates that passes through the NYSC scheme yearly and if a modest 300,000 of such graduates are equipped with skills and funds to startup businesses; the impact would be tremendous as the multiplier effect would be felt across the country.

It is instructive to state that we might not understand that once this number of agile population is left in limbo, the effect would also be felt across the country most negatively.

The Coalition of Unemployed Graduates in Nigeria sees the NYSC Trust Fund as that unique opportunity for the country to harness the potentials of the bustling youthful population in the country into strength in our quest for sustainable growth and development.

The urgency of now requires that all hands be on deck to address the unemployment crisis in the country. And the unique offering proposed in the NYSC Trust Fund is a source of joy for the Coalition of Unemployed Graduates in Nigeria.

Our opinion is that the NYSC Trust Fund is long overdue. The benefits that would be derived would go a long way in addressing youth unemployment. It would also contribute a great deal to economic prosperity in the country.

We are using this medium to express our gratitude to the leadership of the National Youth Service Corp for proposing this brilliant initiative which, in our opinion, is a function of strategic thoughts on rejigging our job creation drive towards socio-economic development.

It must also be stated that the contributions to the national development of the youths would take centre stage as the country would record tangible innovations and businesses that would set the country on the path of greatness once again.

We must not fail to appreciate the members of the National Assembly in their laudable efforts in ensuring that the NYSC Trust Fund bill scaled second reading. The robust deliberations on the floor of the House of Representatives indeed give hope to the millions of youths that stand to benefit from this laudable initiative if passed into law.

We do not doubt the commitment of the National Assembly as the passing into law of the NYSC Trust Fund is a national concern that must be accorded the necessary urgency it deserves. We also wish to inform the members of the House of Representatives to be open-minded when it receives submission from well-meaning Nigerians at the public hearing of the bill due to the avalanche of positive reviews arising from the introduction of the bill in recent times.

We, therefore, call on Nigerians from all walks of life to lend their support to the proposed NYSC Trust Fund bill as the benefits are innumerable and of great concern to the teeming youths in the country.

As an organization, our support remains unflinching. We wish to state that this is indeed one of the best decisions by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in addressing youth unemployment in the country.

We remain optimistic that at the end of the day, the NYSC Trust Fund bill would receive the speedy attention that it deserves as it has been well received by the generality of Nigerians, especially parents and guardians that toiled day and night to ensure a better future for their children.

We once again commend all concerned stakeholders and make a passionate appeal to all and sundry to key into this game-changer in ensuring that Nigeria experiences a rebirth in our desire to translate the hopes and aspirations of our teeming youths into tangible realities.

We thank you all for your time and attention.

God bless.

By Rotimi Ola

The Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami, has been in the news of late. There have been scathing remarks on his personality in recent times. That the attacks have been sustained vigorously smacks of a sinister motive either to score a cheap political point or to cause a payback for some of the policies introduced by the Justice Ministry, especially the assets recovery initiative that has recorded tremendous success.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the Justice Minister has been in the news of late through a well-conceived effort at rubbishing his image, casting shadows on the gains recorded in assets recovery. This is understandable given the parlance that when you fight corruption, it fights back more vigorously.

I followed the events closely and concluded that to be able to stand firm in addressing some of the issues affecting our growth and development, such individuals must be prepared for fire and brimstone. Therefore the Abubakar Malami episode didn’t come to me as a surprise. However, his continuous push has continually impressed me despite the challenges encountered.

I must add that it takes courage to achieve what he has achieved so far. It also takes an individual that has elected to stand on the side of the truth to be still standing tall despite the barrage of attacks on his person.

Most times, I wonder what his staying power is. I am sad because of our disposition to issues in the country. We are quick to pull down even when we know that such would take the country back donkey years. We are also not mindful that for us to make progress as a country there are certain attributes we must jettison.

For Abubakar Malami, he is paying the price for standing by Nigeria. The price is heavy and indeed a great sacrifice that must be made when one imagines the recoveries that have been made so far, which is mind-boggling.

The Justice Minister has been outstanding in discharging his duties as the Chief Law Officer of the country. His avowed stance on protecting the spirit of the constitution has been remarkable. This has fetched him numerous accolades across the country and outside the country's shores.

Still, on the contentious assets recovery, one initiative that I found brilliant is the idea to establish an assets recovery management agency. Accordingly, the agency is expected to manage all recovered assets. What has been the practice was that the proceeds of crime were scattered all over and mainly in the hands of different and multiple agencies of government, inclusive of the Police, the Directorate of State Services, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, including the Ministry of Justice.

According to the Justice Minister, “what this law seeks to do is to move the fight against corruption to the next level; next level of transparency; next level of accountability and in essence, have in place an agency of government that is exclusively responsible for anything proceeds of crime.” If this is not brilliant, I don’t know what else to call it.

I am glad that Nigeria is blessed with an individual whose knowledge of the law is outstanding. I dare to say his appointment as Justice Minister is one of the best decisions of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. His commitment has been unflinching, as well as the emphasis on transparency and accountability.

It is thus my considered opinion that those that have elected to throw caution in the wind by sponsoring the smear campaign against him should have a rethink. Instead, they should channel their energies and resources into charitable enterprises that would benefit the ordinary citizens in the country.

I do not think the Justice Minister would succumb to the blackmail and intimidation. More as it seems a waste of time, issues must be placed in proper perspectives because the reason for the Justice Minister's attack is that it is no longer business as usual.

We need to be circumspect and be careful not to ruin whatever is left of this country. if the proceeds of crime that have been recovered so far do not give us a reason to believe in the country, at least those that have elected to stand by the country should be spared the trauma of character assassination.

I can only wonder if the Justice Minister had continued with the previous trend where everything goes. This country would have evaporated. The last time I checked, it was estimated that the Muhammadu Buhari administration, through concerted efforts, had recovered about 1 trillion naira of stolen funds and assets since 2015. All final forfeitures are being deployed in the Government’s special Infrastructure and Social Investment Programmes.

We must admit that these are no mean feat and the man behind the drive is the Justice Minister. Little wonder why he has been the subject of veracious attacks in recent times? Whether we like it or yes, one thing remains, which is the fact that Abubakar Malami has displayed an unalloyed commitment to the Nigerian cause.

I can go on non-stop on some other notable interventions by the Justice Ministry under Abubakar Malami, whose impact has been far-reaching in addressing most of the issues confronting us as a nation. He has been a nightmare to those who have corruptly themselves through the assets recovery initiative. He has ensured transparency in the conduct of government business. And the list goes on.

My advice to the Justice Minister is to continue to stand tall even in the face of adversaries. He should not lose sight of the goal. Those that have elected to be unreasonable should continue with the tirade. The interest of Nigeria comes first, and that is what Abubakar Malami has demonstrated so far.

Lest we forget, the race is not for the swift but brave hearts. I salute his courage, discipline and strength of character. These are indeed attributes of a leader.

Ola is a public affairs analyst based in Lagos.

As activities continue to gather towards 2023 general elections, some women from the South-East geopolitical zone, have thrown their weight behind Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
The group, under the aegis of Igbo Women Forum, boasted that they would do all within  its powers, to mobilise at least 25 million votes for Bello in the 2023 presidential election.
To prove their words, the group said it would be holding "a mother of all rallies in Abuja", to declare their support for the Governor of Kogi State.
A statement on Sunday by its President, Lady Uju Obi, revealed that, "among other qualities Governor Bello possesses, is his priority for the nation’s unity and security". 
Obi noted that, "unlike other aspirants, Alhaji Bello has shown the capacity to quell the rising tide of terrorism, kidnapping and other criminal vices across the nation. 
"Another trait that stands out about the Kogi State Governor is his national appeal as he is loved by most Nigerians - irrespective of religion, tribe and ethnicity. 
"This isn’t surprising, as Governor Bello has carried everyone along in his government, not minding the usual sentiments", Lady Obi said. 
She recalled that, despite being a devout Muslim, Christians flock the Governor, perhaps the reason he built a chaplain inside the government house. 
At 46, she also believed that Bello would represent a paradigm shift from the era of old, tired and seemingly sick rulers. 
She said, "Bello isn’t just a youth, he has proven his mettle at the highest level and will need little time to hit the ground running". 
The Igbo women, however, urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to forfeit the mooted idea of zoning its presidential ticket to the south. 
They said, in their zone (South-East), for instance, most of the aspirants are selfish and have not done as much for the masses, like Bello has done, especially, for women and youths. 
The group also vowed to rally round all the Igbo contestants, especially the delegates, to shun ethnic sentiment and support the best man for the job.
To them, Governor Bello is a God's sent and the only man who can take Nigeria to the promised land. 
The women also believed Governor Bello was the only person who could make the Igbos President of Nigeria in this current democratic dispensation.

By Michael Udeh

Suppose there is one bell that should constantly be ringing in Nigeria. In that case, it should be the National Open University Bell for the impact of the educational institution in Nigeria. I gave hope to those who never dreamt of acquiring degrees in their lifetimes. It is the first open and distant learning institution in the West African sub-region.

In Nigeria, attaining tertiary education seems to be outside the reach of some of these with the desire, and these individuals, one way or the other, have been forced to jettison the idea. But not anymore with the offerings by the National Open University of Nigeria through its flexible and affordable learning modules. I know of Emeka, Ayo, Aminu, and many others who have built a career through the National Open University of Nigeria. The interesting thing is that you can work and study simultaneously.

The National Open University indeed changed learning in Nigeria. It is estimated to be the only tertiary institution in Nigeria with the highest enrolled students. When the Open University system was conceptualized in 1983, nobody expressed confidence. Nobody wanted to be associated with the university. Because of this, there was a crisis of confidence in the university. By 25th April 1984, the government decided to suspend it.

In 2001, the government under former President Olusegun Obasanjo revisited it, and today its impact has been phenomenal. The dynamic nature of studying at NOUN cannot be overemphasized, as it has tailored its learning mode remotely without face-to-face contact with an instructor in a classroom.

The NOUN has made learning very easy and interesting .Students are free from the constraints of time and place compared to conventional universities. It offers increased access to quality education and skill development to students and those who are medically unfit to attend classes daily with no age barrier.

A unique nature of NOUN is that it is learner-centred; this means it has shifted from the conventional method of teaching and learning to employ other tools such as printed course readers, tutor-and computer-marked assignments, feedback systems and individualized counselling units to effective learning outcomes. This is brilliant.

It also runs a very flexible learning mode, where students can learn at their own pace. A student can defer a semester if they are facing financial constraints. A student can also reduce a semester's course load if they cannot handle all the courses at once. These are unique attributes.

Since its inception, NOUN's approach to learning has been to promote the ODL system of education, thus establishing study centres to allow every citizen to acquire education through technology-based learning, which the ODL mode provides.

As of the last count, there are 78 study centres spread across the country's six geo-political zones, offering over 750 courses and about 50 programmes. Graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria can now be mobilized for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and for NOUN law graduates to attend law school.
We must admit that open, and distance education plays a crucial role in human capital development in Nigeria. In particular, education and all education-oriented activities and investments are required to accumulate human capital. It creates an opportunity for a nation to develop its human capital, especially those who missed the chance to secure education earlier in their lives. It also creates an avenue for citizens to be educated, productive and creative and avails them of the opportunity to contribute their quota to the nation's development.
This is on the heels that education has shifted from the traditional form of education towards new teaching and learning methods through the explosion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The continuous advances in information technology have enabled the realization of a more distributed structure of knowledge transfer through the development of e-education.
The emergence and proliferation of new information and communication technologies (ICT) had introduced an unstoppable revolution into education, particularly in teaching and learning. With the National Open University of Nigeria, e-education had added another dimension to the issue of access by removing distance from education and helping individuals who can to access education anywhere, anytime, at their own pace and any place.
One of the tangible achievements of the National Open University of Nigeria is that inmates in correctional centres across the country also have access to studying at the institution. As of the last count, no fewer than 3,000 prisoners serving different terms across the nation's prisons are currently studying at the National Open University of Nigeria.
For example, in 2021, eighteen inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Service studying with the National Open University of Nigeria Corrections’ Special Study Centers have graduated in various disciplines. In 2014, the best graduating student of NOUN was an inmate in Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Enugu, and the feat was repeated in 2018 by another inmate in the same Custodial Centre. And the story continues with several inmates pursuing undergraduate and graduate courses at the institution.
The technological innovations at the National Open University of Nigeria have been top-notch because students have been availed of quality education at their pace. This is exceptionally instructive, and the benefits of these are innumerable.
It is thus a statement of the fact that the contributions of the institution in the educational sector in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. It can be therefore said that the reality of underdevelopment in Africa is undeniable. The link between education and the level of economic development in any society has long been established. African countries remain underdeveloped due to a large percentage of illiterates and unskilled workforce within the adult population.
There is growing recognition that knowledge is the primary driver of development. Higher education, which aims to produce a higher level of skills and knowledge, is pivotal to any nation's socio-economic and technological development. We must recognize the lack of capacity in conventional universities to meet the growing demand for tertiary education.
Open and distance learning is considered as a way out of the problem. Against this backdrop, it has become abundantly clear that for university education to live up to its billing in the production of high-quality human resources, the government has to seriously consider exploiting other avenues of providing access to university education in addition to the face-to-face mode and called for a paradigm shift which will facilitate a steady mainstreaming of the open and distance learning mode as a strategy for increasing access.
Open and distance mode can provide knowledge and skills to all corners of the country, ‘reaching the unreached’ thereby enabling the country to realize Education for All goals. People no longer need to move to educational institutions to seek knowledge and expertise; these are packaged and brought to them through open and distance learning. Thus, The vision of the National Open University of Nigeria is to be regarded as the foremost university providing highly accessible and enhanced quality education anchored by social justice, equity, equality and national cohesion through a comprehensive reach that transcends all barriers.
NOUN's vision and mission depict the mandate of providing access and ensuring quality in the educational services rendered to the students. NOUN reflects a novel development in the provision of higher education in Nigeria. It is the first full-fledged University that operates in an exclusively open and distance-learning (ODL) mode of education and delivers its course materials via print in addition to information and communication technology (ICT).
In fulfilling its mandate as articulated in its vision and mission, NOUN has taken practical steps to promote equal educational opportunity through a comprehensive reach that transcends all barriers. It has provided education to reach the hitherto un-reached segment of the population, especially those denied access based on one social consideration or the other, including girls and women, the physically challenged, those in employment, those who have passed the age of admission into regular universities, married adolescent girls, girls and women who dropped out of school, prison inmates, ethnic minority groups as well as other disadvantaged people.
NOUN came to the rescue and allowed them to embark on courses of their choice within their vicinity and without contradicting any societal dictates. They are being trained and given the opportunity to contribute their quota to national development.
Education for all and elimination of adult illiteracy will most likely translate into more employment prospects and ultimately better quality of life for the people, which is the essence of national development. Therefore, reaching the unreached and marginalized in education is imperative for countries intent on bridging the development gap. These and many more are the contributions of the National Open University of Nigeria to the educational sector in Nigeria.


Udeh is an educationist and wrote this article from the United Kingdom.

The Coalition for Human Rights and Rule of Law, on Thursday, threw its weight behind the assets recovery drive of the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The AGF had been in the media recently over an alleged award of "a multi billion naira assets recovery contract to a company and its lawyers secretly".

But the Coalition, in a statement signed by its President, Gabriel Agibi and made available to newsmen on Thursday, said the media report was being orchestrated by enemies of the Minister who are " agents of corruption" that did not want the Federal Government to recover assets.

"The consistency of the attacks indicates a sinister motive to cause a submission to the whims and caprices of a select few who are bent on subverting the judicial process in Nigeria in ways too numerous to mention.

"As stakeholders in the justice sector, we are tempted to believe that the stance of the AGF with regards to assets recovery has not gone down well with some individuals hence the puerile attempt at blackmail and intimidation", the group alleged.

The Coalition said it was aware that the asset recovery drive of the Federal Government had indeed "ruffled some feathers", hence the target of the AGF, whose responsibility it was to ensure the successful implementation of the asset recovery drive.

Read the full text below:

"The coalition of human rights and the rule of law is issuing this press statement in light of the well-orchestrated campaign of calumny ostensibly launched by agents of corruption to misrepresent the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami.

The consistency of the attacks indicates a sinister motive to cause a submission to the whims and caprices of a select few who are bent on subverting the judicial process in Nigeria in ways too numerous to mention.

As stakeholders in the justice sector, we are tempted to believe that the stance of the AGF with regards to assets recovery has not gone down well with some individuals hence the puerile attempt at blackmail and intimidation.

It is an unfortunate episode in the annals of the country as to why some individuals who, for reasons best known to them, have arrogated certain powers and privileges. As such, they have carried on like mini gods by blackmailing those who have put the country's interest first.

We are aware that the asset recovery drive of the federal government had indeed ruffled some feathers, hence the target of the AGF, whose responsibility it is to ensure the successful implementation of the asset recovery drive of the federal government.

The Coalition for Human Rights and Rule of Law wishes to inform members of the general public of these attempts that have been targeted at the personality of the AGF through fictitious publications by some select media houses, as well as blogs and other information dissemination platforms.

The members of the unsuspecting general public are advised to ignore these publications as some select individuals sponsor them to blackmail and intimidate the AGF into submission by dumping the asset recovery efforts of the federal government.

We state in unequivocal terms that the assets recovery initiative of the federal government has received commendations both nationally and internationally. This much has been evident in the quantum of recoveries made so far through the display of transparency and accountability.

The Coalition for Human Rights and Rule of Law vehemently states that the attempt at jeopardizing the federal government's efforts towards the successful implementation/execution of its assets recovery initiative shall not be tolerated.

We consequently wish to bring to the attention of media houses of this nefarious plot by these individuals to rubbish the image of the AGF. It is our considered opinion that the offence of the AGF is ensuring that the process of asset recovery is in line with global best practices.

This stance has not gone down well with some select individuals who are afraid of the repercussion of their actions. As such, they have constituted themselves into clogs in the wheels of the country's progress.

The Coalition for Human Rights and Rule of Law wishes to use this medium to commend the federal government on its efforts at assets recovery. We also commend the attorney general and minister of justice for his commitment that has recorded tremendous results so far.

We urge him not to relent in the drive that has gathered momentum regardless of the attempts at blackmailing him into submission to their dictates that are not in the country's overall interest. We call on members of the general public to rally support for the efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari administration towards assets recovery in the country.

It is indeed a collective enterprise that requires all hands to be on deck. Those behind the well-orchestrated attempts at blackmailing the attorney general and minister of justice are advised to desist from such despicable conduct in the country's interest of peace and tranquillity".

The Coalition of All Progressive Congress (APC) Women Groups, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to postpone indefinitely the National Convention of the party fixed for February, this year.

This was contained in a statement signed by Dr. Cecilia Ikechukwu and other members which was made available to newsmen on Wednesday.

According to the coalition, fixing the National Convention this February is akin to building a superstructure on unstable soil.

It said there are several unresolved contentious that are consequential but left unaddressed before progressing to other unsustainable phases.

"Your Excellency, currently the party has faction in 14 states, which is because the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) under His Excellency, Mai Malam Buni has done a good job in reconciling factions in other states and re-organization the party.

"The party is yet to recover from the attendant losses from elections that were ordinarily guaranteed in Rivers and Zamfara state during the 2019 General Elections.

"Instead of learning the hard lessons contained in those avoidable experiences, the State Governors and the colluding party leaders are rather adamant on repeating the show of shame on a national scale by fixing a date for the National Convention without first resolving the damaging issues on ground.

"As it was with Rivers and Zamfara States, there are legal implications for how the party is progressing with going into a national convention with all the issues surrounding the party.

"We fear the APC is now firmly placed to lose all the positions our members will context for, not at the polls but on legal technicality as was the case in those two states," the group stated.

Consequently, the women group appealed "that the convention be postponed indefinitely to allow the CEPC resolve these issues within the next three (3) days and come up with a comprehensive report on how to navigate the murky waters the APC currently finds itself.

"That the Abdullahi Adamu committee be disbanded immediately, and a new committee set up, since this committee has serially failed in its mandate.

"That Mr. President unites the APC stakeholders and lead them to counter the influence the cabals that want to destroy the party from within at all costs.

It is our firm belief that these steps, if urgently taken, can pull the APC from the brink, although the window for saving the party is fast closing. Please Mr. President, save the APC from implosion," the statement stated.

Postpone February convention, APC UK tells party's NEC



As the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) prepares for its national convention, the United Kingdom (UK) chapter has advised the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party to stay action.

Instead, the UK chapter advised that the party should consolidate on the successes of the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), and also win more grounds in reconciling aggrieved members.

APC had pinned its national convention for 26th February, 2022, after several efforts to unite various factions across state chapters.

But Dr. Philip Idaewor, Chairman of the
APC in United Kingdom, in a press statement on Tuesday, wants the NEC to shift the national convention to a later date.

"The Chapter urged APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to immediately postpone the National Convention from the Saturday February 26 date for pending critical issues to be addressed, especially now that the reconciliation committee led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu has requested for one week extension to complete its work", the statement reads in part.

It said the UK Chapter had earlier weighed in on the matter some months ago, where it categorically urged the party to align with best practices in deciding the Convention date, which should be scheduled with the Convention to elect the party’s presidential flag bearer.

According to the statement, the proposition would ensure the highest participation of the members in the diaspora as they would not dissipate logistics for travelling to Nigeria twice for the same event.

APC UK Chapter called on the party’s NEC to summon courage and postpone the Convention in overall interest of all stakeholders to promote unity, harmony and cohesion within the party. It noted that rushing into a Convention within the space of the next three weeks would only further fracture the party.

According to the diaspora APC group, "reports from home (Nigeria) about how the APC has multiple factions in many of its state chapters do not project confidence that the party would have a smooth sail in the General Elections due next year. The logical thing is to allow the reconciliation committee to finish its assignment as there is no gain in progressing error".

It expressed worry that "APC stakeholders would have simply slaved for others to enjoy if the party holds the convention in February as it will merely be solidifying the rancorous situation that is present at state levels".

It said the APC UK is aware that such state level acrimony has cost the party elections in at least two states in the past and that a national loss is inevitable unless members of the NEC listen to party loyalists and save the soul of the party.

It noted that the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) as led by Governor Buni had performed creditably, which has left the APC UK wondering why the committee was not allowed more time to complete the good work it is doing.

"It has singularly brought reconciliation to several state chapters, and we are confident that he makes factional politics a thing of the past when his committee is given more time to restore sanity to the party", the statement added.

"We are worried that, because of the stage of our socio-political evolution, disaffection and disappointment would make those who are worth their salt to decamp from the party even before the National Convention holds. The signs are glaring that the APC cannot survive such large-scale defections.

"The party in the UK and other stakeholders are therefore calling and appealing on the NEC and the CECPC to harken to the voice of reason and postpone the convention while focusing on the much needed fence mending that will see the party to retaining power in 2023.

"The APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari has too much good things going for Nigeria and Nigerians that require continuity for which the party must retain power to continue building the Nigeria of our dreams", it stressed.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a lot of things to a lot of people. Some of his admirers have called him the Father of modern Lagos and some have regarded him as the nightmare of the present leading opposition party in the country, PDP. He has also enjoyed a number of slanderous names by opponents but one thing is for sure, he is someone who has mastered the game of politics. Whether you choose to refer to him as ASIWAJU or JAGABAN, majority of the populace know who you’re referring to. He is arguably the most popular politician from the south western region of the country right and among the most popular persons in the country today. Asiwaju understands politics and he knows it well which is why it is funny when certain articles try to discredit his personae by referring to him as less influential like the one written by Mebele Okugbo.
The author claimed that Tinubu was not instrumental in the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, which is a laughable statement in its entirety for several reasons. One of the reason being that President Buhari had contested 3 times and failed to clinch power till the merger majorly between Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria and Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change and part of the All Nigeria Peoples Party back in 2013. Buhari relied on the expertise of Tinubu who introduced his former cabinet member as the Vice-Presidential candidate which gave the party victory in 2015. How was his involvement not instrumental?
He also claimed that Tinubu is a result of media hype. There is a simple answer to that, Asiwaju left office of the Governor of Lagos State in 2007 right? Show me any of his peers who served between 1999 and 2007 that can either lay claim to as much influence as him politically today or list the amount of leaders that have been mentored or given an opportunity to serve as Asiwaju has done to so many leaders today including Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
On the issue of Edo state election, Obaseki ran a smooth campaign using previous videos where former governor, Adams Oshiomhole had made certain comments about Pastor Ize-Iyamu who used to be in the PDP. It was a miscalculation but a fair one. If both Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu knew they would switch paties, things would have happened differently but that is the game of politics, no permanent friends or enemy, it’s a matter of interest. The election was in no way an indication that Asiwaju is less influential
Tinubu is not the only one who has shown interest in presidency but somehow he is the most talked about among the people eyeing the seat, it only tells you one thing, even his haters are admirers who are too engrossed in their hatred to admit it.
Asiwaju has a date with destiny in 2023.

Femi Akeusola
Member TSG Media Team

_...says few emperors can't dictate to majority over date_

More stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) have joined the clamour for the postponement of the ruling party's planned February 26 national convention.

As highlighted by other faithful, the APC Youth Development and Progressive Forum said some northern governors have hijacked the APC, pushing for a convention that could ultimately destroy the ruling party.

The group made its position known on Monday at a press conference in Abuja calling on its members and other party faithful to boycott the exercise.

It said a boycott is the "only way of saving the day now as it has become apparent that the cabal of some northern governors has shredded the last vestige of democracy around them to give reign to full-blown dictatorship in the APC".

In his address, Secretary-General, Hon. Tobias Ogbeh, said with a lingering factional crisis in over 16 states, the party is headed for destruction should it proceed with the convention.

Ogbeh added that mass defection and legal tussle awaits the party if the February 26th convention is not postponed.

The group, therefore, urged all loyal stakeholders to unite and agree on a genuine way forward, devoid of the destructive tendencies that this cabal has brought into the party

Read the full statement below:

Gentlemen of the press, thank you for joining us at such notice. Your presence here attests to your commitment to the Nigeria project and must say we are proud of the good work you are doing for the nation.

We crave your indulgence to immediately delve into the subject matter of today, which is the need to save Nigeria from spiralling out of control by addressing what is happening in the All Progressive Congress (APC). As the party that is in government, including holding the majority in the National Assembly and controlling more states of the Federation, the fate of Nigeria is tied to the stability of the APC.

As you are aware, like any other political party in this country, the APC is presently weathering its internal issues, which have been made worse by certain northern governors that have declared themselves emperors and absolute rulers that dictate what happens in the party.

The most recent dictatorial act from these overbearing governors is their imposition of a date for the National Convention of the APC, which they are touting to hold on February 26, 2022. It is a date they are tenuously holding onto even when it has been conclusively established that it flies in the face of logic, equity, and fair play. This is because these self-seeking elements have hijacked the party and are now insisting that a convention that is not in the interest of the party must take place on their appointed date.

We would not go into details of all that has been at play in the APC since these are already in the public domain. What is obvious is that these people want the party to fail to oversee the affairs of the party from their secret covens. Serious-minded people and lovers of the party cannot and will not be a party to that kangaroo national convention that they are planning to hold.

All reports available to stakeholders – political, strategic, logistics and security reports - now point to the fact that no convention can take place on February 26, 2022. Those that are peddling this phantom date have other plans as they are certainly not interested in the success of the convention they claim would be taking place on that date. In whose interest are the promoters of the February convention deriving their authority or inspiration knowing fully well that the party is not ripe now?

We want to draw the attention of Nigerians to the following:

With the lingering factional crisis in as many as 16 APC State chapters, even with the deployment of security on an industrial scale, there is no way of preventing the existing crisis from escalating. This implies that the promoters of the February National Convention are encouraging the staging of the event in the expectation of an outbreak of violence. Even when the security operatives can prevent violence at the National Convention, there is no way they can fan out to the 36 states – at least most of these states – prevent the post-convention violence that would be imported to the state chapters from the national event. The only way to prevent this is to postpone the national convention until thorny issues have been addressed.

Pundits and reputable national publications are already predicting massive defections if the National Convention goes ahead. This poses several risks. First is that there would be a contagion as the defecting APC members would snatch up tickets and roles that existing members of their new political parties have heavily invested in. That means within weeks of the convention and the resulting defection, all other promising political parties would be thrown into crisis.

Should the National Convention go ahead on February 26 as these people are planning, it would create a legal conundrum that could prove catastrophic for the nation. We do not want to contemplate the kind of constitutional crisis that would arise if the ruling party is thrown out of the 2023 General Elections based on its candidates being the end product of a contested convention. Nigeria, as we know it would be disrupted.

The gang of northern governors that are behind this twisted hijack of the APC need to be taught a lesson that they cannot package dictatorship in democratic garb and expect it to sell among right-thinking Nigerians. If they get away with this behaviour within the APC it is a matter of time because they give national spread to their irresponsible attitude and the entire country would then be at their mercy. This must not be allowed to happen.

After thoroughly reviewing the situation of the party and bearing in mind that the stability of Nigeria comes before party interest, the APC Youth Development and Progressive Forum hereby call on APC stakeholders and all lovers of democracy to boycott the February 26t APC National Convention. A boycott is the only way of saving the day now as it has become apparent that the cabal of some northern governors has shredded the last vestige of democracy around them to give reign to full-blown dictatorship in the APC.

In calling for this boycott, we hereby put the ruining cabal in the APC on notice that we will follow up with a legal challenge to invalidate whatever criminal outcome they procure from the event, which has already failed even before it held.

We urge all loyal stakeholders of the APC to unite and agree on a germanane way forward, devoid of the destructive tendencies that this cabal has brought into the party.

God bless Nigeria.

FORMER APC REPS MEMBERS MEET TO DISCUSS STATE OF THE PARTY, NATIONAL CONVENTION AND THE ROAD TO 2023


Former members of House of Representatives in the All Progressives Congress(APC) will Thursday, February 3rd, 2022 hold a Round Table/General Meeting in the nation’s capital, Abuja to discuss critical issues affecting the party.
A statement jointly signed by the Protem Chairman of the Forum, Hon Ibrahim Zailani and the Protem Secretary, Hon Idris Yahuza said the purpose of the meeting is " To discuss The State of our Party, Issues, Challenges and the forthcoming APC National Convention- The Role of Former Members of the National Assembly and the Road to 2023".
The Statement urged all Former House of Representatives members in APC to endeavour to attend the meeting in order to be able to aggregate opinions on sundry political issues.

By Philip Agbese

“The rule of law is the basis for any democracy. And without the rule of law in any democracy, you have chaos” --Meles Zenawi, Ethiopian soldier and politician.

Nigerians are exciting lovers of equity, justice and the rule of law. It is the reason, Nigeria’s statute books are replete with laws, which are periodically reviewed. The campaign for justice among Nigerians usually gain ascendency under democratic settings in the country. In the nation’s recent history, ex-President Umaru Yar’Adua was a strong advocate of justice and the rule of law.

The then Attorney -General and Minister for Justice, Chief Mike Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, was the poster boy of the rule of law mantra under the Yar’Adua Presidency. After the expiration of that government, the rule of law seemed to have gone extinct to the angst of Nigerians. Does it therefore mean, the rule of law no longer exists in Nigeria? The answer is No!

Today, the emphasis on the rule of law is replicated by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. From the onset, President Buhari left no Nigerian in doubt about his avowal to run a Government of Nigeria premised on the words and letters of the rule of law.

President Buhari, like the retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of America, Justice Sonia Sotomayor clearly discerned and firmly believed, “… in the rule of law as the foundation for all of our basic rights.” He has been a stickler to this dictum in his leadership of Nigeria.

This mindset pulsated President Buhari’s advocacy and declaration in his inaugural day speech May 29, 2015 that; “The Federal Executive under my watch will not seek to encroach on the duties and functions of the Legislative and Judicial arms of government. The law enforcing authorities will be charged to operate within the Constitution…The judicial system needs reform to cleanse itself from its immediate past…It is only when the three arms act constitutionally that government will be enabled to serve the country optimally and avoid the confusion all too often bedeviling governance today.”

There is no gainsaying, President Buhari has walked his talk on the “Rule of Law” mantra, in his near seven years reign in Nigeria’s Aso Rock, the seat of power. Unlike his predecessors, Nigerians have experienced Mr. President’s due recognition and observance of the constitutional independence of the other arms of government in a democracy. His sermons are always centered on the non-interference with the operations and rights of other arms government as enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria. That’s why he does not wear the toga of President and leader of his Party.

Buhari is tenaciously upholding the sanctity of the rule of rule, even where the people’s offensive indulgence into lawlessness bruises the pride of nation and defames or undermine his Presidency. And the enabler of Buhari’s towering heights in the compliance with the rule of law and the redefinition of the Nigerian Justice system is the current Chief Law Officer of the Federation.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Barrister Abubakar Malami, SAN is law personified. He has fruitfully proven his mettle as an effective chief law officer of the federation. He has created innovative paths in ensuring the smooth administration of justice in Nigeria for effective governance based on the tenets of law as practiced by all democracies globally. He is strengthening old laws and engineering new legislations in areas where there are none.

Abubakar Malami is a translucent compliant with the rule of law. His office is active in offering genuine legal advice to government and appropriate interpretations of legislations in resolving thorny national issues. Minister Malami is silent or less vociferous about his assignments, but has many pluses to his credit. The justice minister has operationalized grandeur institutional reforms in the Nigerian Judiciary which have placed Nigeria in top ranking among nations in Africa attuned to the rule of law.

Barrister Malami has instituted solid sector reforms which have placed the Nigerian justice system on the path of expeditious dispensation of justice for the benefit of Nigerians. The Ministry of Justice has formulated multiple policies, and through the executive, it has sponsored fresh legislations to close up gulfs in existing laws and it has been relentless in offering appropriate legal advices in the prosecution of civil and criminal cases which have saved the FGN several trillions of naira in judgment debts these past six years.

Malami’s reforms in the justice sector reflects in the strengthening of the laws of anti-graft agencies, which have repositioned them for optimum performance. The result is the amazing volume of cases investigated and prosecuted by the EFCC and ICPC under the Buhari Presidency.

Under Minister Malami, Nigeria has domesticated legislations and international agreements, which have led to the passage and signing of Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill 2019 by President Buhari. And through Malami’s professional guidance, Nigeria has signed Agreements and MOUs with numerous countries to ginger international cooperation for the investigation, tracking, freezing and return of stolen assets which is actively operating.

In the area of prisons, the Minister of Justice has constituted a committee with the mandate of formulating policies and strategies for prison decongestion throughout the country. This is besides, the multiple legislations it has instituted before the National Assembly to backup the decongestion of prison formation process. The committee is working assiduously in clearing the backlog of cases of awaiting trials and those who have spent years in incarceration because of failure to pay minor fines imposed on them by the courts.

The Ministry of Justice under Malami has equally prosecuted various civil and criminal cases diligently. And through its sheer expertise, it has saved the FGN trillions of naira that would have been expended on judgment debts.

Justice delayed is justice denied. Nigeria has sustained a culture of interminable duration of cases before the courts. Therefore, Barrister Malami is working hard to end the reign of limitless court trials by defining a reasonable time-frame for justice delivery in Nigeria. What he is contemplating is restricting or pegging a 12-month time limit on the hearing of criminal cases from the High Court to the Supreme Court. Similarly, the succor to Nigerians will also extend to hearing and conclusion of all civil cases within 15 months from the day of its initiation across all the tiers of courts.

The initiation of the whistle blower policy of the Federal Government among other adjudgments effected in Nigeria’s legal system under the Buhari Presidency have strengthened the Nigerian judiciary. Therefore, delivering to Nigerians, an effective, trustworthy and flawless legal system are Malami’s salient reforms in the Judicial sector. Surely, it is another legacy, the Buhari Presidency will bequeath to Nigerians when its tenure eventually runs out in 2023.

Barrister Abubakar Malami will be remembered in Nigeria’s history as an incorruptible law officer who stood and defiantly defended the Constitution of Nigeria. He is likened to the likes of Justice Brenda Marjorie Hale, the Baroness Hale of Richmond, who served as the President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2017-2020) and famed for defending the Constitution. Malami is also famed for defending and protecting the Constitution at all times.

Ambassador Buratai, a national security asset, Nigerian envoy to Congo Iliya , Adekojo laud former COAS.

Nigeria's Ambassador to Congo, Deborah Nana, has described the country's former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd) as a national asset.

This was as renowned project consultant, businesswoman, philanthropist and singer, Engr. Dr. Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo hailed the exploits of the nation's current Ambassador to the Republic of Benin Republic.

The pair recently joined other distinguished Nigerian women to celebrate the former COAS at a book presentation in his honour in Abuja.

Amb. Deborah Samaila Iliya, the wife of late Army general, Samaila Iliya, was the chairlady of the event while Adekojo was the co-presenter.

In her remarks, the envoy said Buratai is the nation's greatest asset due to his strategic endeavors for peace and security.

She further described the former Army Chief as a distinguished gentleman and rare enviable leader.

She said, "Strategic leadership today has played an ever critical role in shaping and tackling global events, most especially the security challenges affecting our nation. Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality, it is the art of communication; it is about action not position. This book draws deep into the qualities; leadership, challenges, overall wealth of experience required to lead successful administration.  

"General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), the Former COAS and Current Ambassador to  Benin Republic, has proven to be a distinguished gentleman, rare enviable leader, who in recent times can be best described as one of the nation's greatest assets in the strategic endeavors for the peace and security of our great nation. When you are a leader, your utmost success is all about growing others; this is what we are celebrating today.

"I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate the author, a celebrated political analyst, seasoned author and security commentator, Best Agbese, for his laudable efforts in further immortalizing his laudable leadership, determination and sacrifices of Gen. Buratai and other military personnel through this great book. It serves as an inspiration to emerging leaders and to many at large".

On her part, Adekojo said Nigerian women should reciprocate Buratai’s gesture as COAS when he saw the creation of the Nigerian Army Female Corps and ensured equality for women and made sure that many female officers and soldiers got their promotion as at when due.

She also said women shouldn’t only pray for the Armed Forces but devise ways to support the Federal Government in the fight against banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.

The founder of FunmiAyinke Foundation, however, assured that she will continue to use her foundation to support the non-kinetic approach in the war against insurgency by lifting many youths and vulnerable women out of poverty.

The philanthropist, also known as Funmi Ayinke, said Nigerians should expect more trailblazing performances from Amb Buratai in the diplomatic world.

The Empowerment for Unemployed Youths Initiative, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts in ensuring youth development in the country.

The Executive Director of the Organisation, Mr Richard Audu who gave the commendation on Thursday at a news conference in Abuja, also commended the National Assembly for considering the NYSC Trust Fund Bill for second reading.

He said that after a critical observation of events under the current administration, it is crystal clear that there is a synergy between the Executive and the Legislature on youth development.

“We have studied events critically, and we wish to state that the indices speak positively about the concerted efforts by both arms of government towards ensuring issues that bother of youth development seem to have been granted special attention by both arms of government.

“We are elated with this development. We desire that this fruitful relationship will eventually yield the desired results in no distant time.

“The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has consistently displayed an unalloyed commitment to addressing issues of national concern, not just youth development issues.

“The National Assembly has, in like manner, complimented the efforts of the executive arm of government by ensuring that matters of national concern are without rancour.

“The recent rejigging of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill is indeed a testament that both chambers of the National Assembly remain committed to the sustenance of our nascent democracy,” she said.

Audi also commended the parliament for its commitment to harnessing the potentials of the youths in the country.

He said that the deliberations on the floor of the House of Representatives at the second reading of the bill seeking to establish the National Youth Service Trust Fund was a clear example.

He said that the green chamber were unanimous about the bill which gives hope to to the aspirations of the Nigerian youths.

“It indicates that the resolve to initiate policies and implement plans towards addressing youth unemployment in the country has a special place in the Executive and Legislative arms of government.

“We are confident that the NYSC Trust Fund Bill, if passed into law, will undoubtedly take over 50million youths out of the unemployment market within the shortest period.

“We are calling on the relevant committees in the House of Representatives to continue to display the strength of character and the unity of purpose in ensuring the smooth passage of the NYSC Trust Fund bill in the overall interest of the unemployed youths in the country,” he said.

Audi said that when the bill in passed into law, it would serve as a vehicle for youths in the country to maximize their potential and their contribute their quota to the growth and development of the country.

He said it would strengthen youth commitment to the sustenance of democracy, considering the invaluable role of the youths in national development.

“We, therefore, call on Mr President and the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ensure that the NYSC Trust Fund Bill becomes an Act for the good and wellbeing of the suffering Nigerian masses.

“The multiplier effect on the value chain of an enterprising youthful population cannot be overemphasised.

“The Empowerment for Unemployed Youths Initiative is using this occasion to drive home the potent point that the potential returns of capturing the opportunity to engage today’s young people in terms of food security, poverty reduction, employment generation, and peace political stability are enormous,” he added.

He urged all Nigerians to support the bill stressing the need for all hands to be on deck to ensure that laudable initiative is given adequate consideration as exhibited by the lower chambers.

BY: PHILIP AGBESE

The announcement didn't come as a surprise. It was greeted with widespread jubilation in the Naval Headquarters. They sang and praised him to the high heavens. Even though not much was known about this gentleman officer in the public space, there was no doubt that a new sheriff was in town in the Naval headquarters.

Vice Admiral Auwal Zubairu Gambo, the Chief of Naval Staff, is a man of few words but plenty of actions. He walks the talk and abhors mediocrity. His penchant to work is infectious. I recall several instances when our paths crossed at several fora. He always painted a picture of an introvert.

He would make comments in passing and leave it there. But to my astonishment, most times, the recommendations or takeaways from such stakeholders gathering would manifest in a week or weeks in the operations of the Nigerian Navy. That was how responsive and proactive he has always been.

The primary responsibility of the Nigerian Navy is to protect the nation’s maritime environment of about 84,000 square nautical miles. The nation’s maritime area of interest includes the entire Gulf of Guinea (GoG), about 574,800 square nautical miles spanning 2,874nm from Senegal to Angola.

It won’t be out of place if the Chief of Naval Staff is labelled a silent achiever. His style is different and a departure from the past. He is uniquely different in his style. This much has been responsible for the successes recorded in the operations of the Nigerian Navy in securing our waterways in recent times.

For example, the efforts of the Nigerian Navy in the protection of our waterways have been outstanding. It is on record that the smuggling, Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF), insurgency, hostage-taking, human and drug trafficking have been reduced to the barest minimum.

Given the sustained operations and exercises the Navy has continuously carried out against the numerous maritime illegalities, the latest piracy report from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) recorded a drastic reduction of piracy in Nigerian waters and the GoG.

According to the report, piracy in the GoG and Nigerian waters is now on a record low, as pirates’ activities in the first nine months of 2021 are the lowest reported in 17 years. And this bears testament to enhanced maritime security and response coordination measures adopted by the Nigerian Navy in recent times.

In my opinion, this is in line with the renewed operational policy of the Nigerian Navy that emphasises “leveraging all factors of national location, technology, training, teamwork and synergy to re-energise the Nigerian Navy and enhance her as a well-motivated and ready naval force in the discharge of her constitutional mandate and other assigned tasks in fulfilment of national security objectives”.

On record, the Nigerian Navy had contributed tremendously to the freedom of navigation in the Gulf of Guinea by strengthening coordination in the fight against insecurity for socioeconomic activities among member states to thrive.

There have also been collaborations between the Nigerian Navy and other strategic partners to enhance maritime security. For example, in the last couple of months, the Nigeria Navy has brought to bear its dominant status in the West African region by sustaining an aggressive presence in the nation's maritime environment, leading to the drastic reduction in acts of criminality in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Nigerian Navy has concluded collaboration efforts with the Ghana Navy to combat piracy further, and maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea as plans are ongoing to establish a standing multinational task force in the Gulf of Guinea. The Nigerian Navy recently hosted the maiden virtual sea power for Africa. The symposium brought together 33 African Navies and six other foreign Navies.

Since his appointment, these and many more initiatives were embarked upon by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Gambo. Lest I forget, the contributions of the Nigerian Navy in the war against insurgency in Nigeria have also been commendable.

It is thus necessary to state that the last year has been a beehive of activities in the Nigerian Navy. The various operational reforms introduced within this short period have placed the Nigerian Navy in a prime position to fulfil its constitutional mandate. These are indeed no mean feats. The Chief of Naval Staff has demonstrated that we can make a difference in every endeavour only if we are committed and patriotic.

Vice Admiral Gambo has lived up to expectations by displaying an uncommon commitment to improving the operations of the Nigerian Navy, and some of us are not surprised with the turn of events. I can bet that President Muhammadu Buhari is as much impressed.

I also gathered from reliable sources within the Nigerian Navy that in the annals of the history of the Nigerian Navy, Vice Admiral Gambo has proven to be one of those that prioritised the welfare of naval officers and ratings. Under him, it was stated that there had been a sustained emphasis on training and sophistication of its operations.

For example, the Nigerian Navy recently acquired a new hydrographic and oceanographic research vessel, NNS LANA, to replace the previous one, which was decommissioned ten years ago. The ship is expected, among other benefits, to allow the Nigerian Navy to have a better knowledge of its maritime territory and its exclusive economic zone; enhance coastal and deep-sea scientific research and studies; provide assistance and supplies to other boats, as well as helicopter winching and towing of ships.

It can also conduct geophysical studies, search and rescue operations, and patrol duties. The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art modern survey equipment and a well-equipped 7.6m surface vehicle for shallow water surveys. Furthermore, the vessel has an Automatic Weather Station, AWS, wet and dry laboratories, scientific and technical workshops, and operating and processing rooms for survey data.

Another area worthy of mention is the U.S Coast Guard training exercise with the Nigerian Navy on Maritime Law enforcement, a part of a series of cooperation between the two countries in the fight against piracy. The training explored various internationally recognised techniques and procedures for maritime law enforcement at sea safely and professionally.

To think all of these happened in just one year in the saddle is most notable that one wonders what to expect in the months and years ahead. Be that as it may, I wish to state that Vice Admiral Gambo has been writing his name in gold in one year at the saddle. He has set the navy on the path of progress and helped to ensure that the nation's territorial waters are not only safe, but economic saboteurs are denied the opportunity of constituting themselves as clogs in the wheels of our progress. This is on the heels that Maritime security has already become a global concern in the present world. Severe threats could be posed if maritime security is jeopardised, as proven by many incidents of such kind.

In conclusion, the Nigerian Navy made significant strides in its operational activities and exercises in the past year under the dynamic leadership of Vice Admiral Auwal Zubairu Gambo. Notable successes were recorded in the number of hours at sea, anti-piracy/sea robbery, anti-COT/illegal bunkering, and anti-smuggling operations, as well as in NN's contribution to joint operations in the hinterland.

Vice Admiral Auwal Zubairu Gambo is indeed a lesson in leadership. The past year has proven this, and we must give credit to whom credit is due. I say a big congratulations to this silent achiever.


Agbese is a security and human rights expert based in the United Kingdom.

By: Bishop Charles Obe

The general elections are due in Nigeria in 2023. And the buildup to the elections is usually electrifying with scheming and political permutations at its best. Also, it's common to find political parties putting their house in order by reconciling warring factions to avoid electoral misfortunes and guaranteeing electoral success.

The same is applicable for individuals who, by their assessment, are suitable for certain positions in the country, ranging from the president to the councillor at the local government councils. And the list becomes endless. Political jingles rent the air. Billboards are not spared either, and the advertising mediums always smile to the bank because it's harvest time.

I love the election period in Nigeria; it allows me to see things from a different perspective and hope for better days in the country. For whatever it is worth, elections are good and, at the same time, terrible because it comes with their attendant consequences, not for the now, but the future with regards to those elected in office to pilot the affairs of the country.

My focus in this piece is on the presidential election. This is the father of all elections, and it is usually twofold; either we get it right or get it wrong. Experience has taught us so over the years.

So, the 2023 elections have again thrown into the ring political titans. Those who feel that their name is enough to aspire for the highest political office in the land have indicated interest. Those who think they control party structures have also shown interest. Those who feel that Nigeria's president should have an ethnic or religious consideration have also signified interest. And those whose track records in governance are also present in this hot race that is not meant for the weary.

After a careful analysis of the contenders, I pitched my tent with the aspiration of Yahaya Bello, the governor of Kogi state. Yahaya Bello is a rare being who would be difficult to discountenance in the affairs of Nigeria. He represents a new age, the age of thinking outside the box in proffering solutions to the governance challenge in the country.

I have heard people talk about his age as a factor that would work against him. I have also heard people say he behaves like he is acting in a movie in Kogi state. But I have heard people talk about how he has been able to confront the monster that held Kogi state moribund for several years and how he could give the people a breath of fresh air.

It is understandable if there are misconceptions regarding his stewardship in the state because people are at liberty to believe what they want to think. But I am not sure this sentiment is shared in Kogi state. I am sure any well-meaning individual from Kogi state would pat Yahaya Bello on the back for a well-done job. For some of us who are resident in the state but non-indigenes, we are marvelled at how this man quickly took charge of the state despite the mountain of issues that held the state down like a leprous finger.

Yahaya Bello is brave and one who is a master strategist. He knew from the word go that the road would not be smooth, and he adequately prepared for it. He changed the narrative, and as expected, the cartel who saw the state's commonwealth as their birthright could not believe their eyes.

I must confess that some of us felt he would run out of steam along the line. But we were continuously disappointed. He not only continued, but he also gathered momentum every passing day. Most people would not realize that he inherited a state in complete comatose, where state allocations are shared without conscience.

The civil service was over-bloated with a backlog of salaries and pensions. The educational sector barely exists on the lips. The security situation was horrible. Infrastructures were dilapidated and with no hope of any revival. The only thing that thrived in the state was gas stations and hotels belonging to government officials. It was so bad that as a public office holder, if you don't own a hotel or a gas station, you are not viewed as a man of the people for failing to employ people in hotels and gas stations. The situation was so bad that the people lost their senses, entirely preferring the life of misery and deprivation that successive governments in the state legalized.

Yahaya Bello braved the odds and changed the situation slowly but steadily. He addressed the rot in the civil service and restored its glory through laudable reforms. He embarked on an infrastructural revolution without the usual religious and ethnic consideration. He made the state uncomfortable for criminal elements that initially turned the state into their havens.

The security model he introduced indeed changed the situation for good. Today, Kogi is a no go zone for criminal elements hence the nickname White Lion. He is undoubtedly the White Lion that Nigeria needs at this critical point of our existence.

Yahaya Bello is individual that does not brook nonsense. He is very detailed. Little wonder why Kogi state remains one of the states where the cost for executing government contracts remains the lowest because the process is rigorous. You must deliver as at when due, else there would be consequences.

I can go on non-stop on the new Kogi state under Yahaya Bello, and I can't but wish that he gets the opportunity to lead this country. Yahaya Bello as President of Nigeria would be interesting and exciting. Nigerians would wake up to realize that those things that held us down would be removed in a record time. You might not like his methodology, but trust me, you would love the results that would come around because he would leave no stone unturned. That is Yahaya Bello for you. Those of us that have been residents in the state for decades can attest to his drive, sense of direction and focus. And lest I forget, he can be comical, especially when he hits the gym.

Today, Kogi state works because of a governor who stamped his feet on the ground to insist that it won’t be business as usual. If we are indeed serious about moving this country forward, we must look in the direction of Yahaya Bello. His name might not be as heavy as some of the big wigs that have indicated an interest in the highest office in the country. However, I can vouch that none of them is as passionate as Yahaya Bello. None of them could have achieved what he achieved under the same circumstance in their various endeavours.

At this point, we must be careful not to believe some of the issues peddled in the media with his stewardship in Kogi state. As an insider and one who witnessed Kogi in its shame and glory, I say emphatically that the situation in Kogi state before Yahaya Bello is the same as what Nigeria is experiencing, but on a larger scale. And if he has shown that it is possible for things to turn around in Kogi state, I do not doubt his ability to lead the country most exceptionally.

The choice is before us as we enter the elections. We must have at the back of our minds that our destiny is in our hands. Yahaya Bello has all it takes to lead the country. His central message is that everything is possible only if we believe and work towards it. Ladies and gentlemen, I recommend a rare gem for Nigeria.


Obe is a servant of the gospel based in Lagos.

A brand's digital PR strategy is an essential part of any marketing campaign. A successful digital PR campaign will build a level of trust, create long-lasting business relationships, and add a sense of professionalism.


Here is Boapr Agency's three keys to successful digital PR campaigns.


The first and most important key is understanding your target market. You need to understand who they are and where they’re interacting online if you want to be able to reach them, communicate with them, and get your product in front of them.

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Whether you’re an agency or you handle your publicity, the principles of effective PR apply the same. You’ll want to make sure your materials are aligned with your overarching marketing strategy, that you know what you’re aiming for in terms of coverage and positioning, and that you know where to share your materials and when.

There is no one-size-fits approach to PR, but these three keys should help keep you on the right track.

Digital PR campaigns can work for big name brands as well as small businesses but only if they follow these three keys.