₦airaland Forum

On Thursday 17th June 2021, the FCT Tax Practitioners Association elected a new executive members that will lead the association for the next two years.


The immediate past Chairman of the association Dr Kennedy Iwundu while handing over to the new Chairman of the association, Mr Joseph Odua urged the new exco to continue on the fight of ensuring that tax payers and tax consultants rights and privileges are protected in line with the provisions of the tax laws.


It could be recalled that Dr Kennedy Iwundu was elected on June 2017 and was re-elected in June 2019. His tenure came to an end June 2021.

FCT Tax Practitioners Association is made up of ICAN, ANAN and,CITN members who are tax consultants in FCT, Abuja.


The association has been very proactive especially under the leadership of Dr Kennedy Iwundu in ensuring that relevant tax authorities carry out tax administration in line with the provisions of tax laws and policies.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement (INM) has called on the Chief of Army Staff, Major Gen Farouk Yahaya to reintroduce special operations towards curbing the escalating rate of crime and criminalities experienced in the South-East.

The group made the call on Wednesday at a press conference comprising of stakeholders from each state in the region.

In his address titled 'The Call for Special Operations in South-East Nigeria by the Nigerian Army', Secretary-General, JohnBosco Ike, said this is necessary to curtail the worrisome rise in insecurity in the zone by various secessionist agitations.

Ike said they can no longer watch in silence as innocent lives are truncated for selfish reasons by a group whose agenda promotes their selfish interest to the detriment of all Igbos in Nigeria.

He noted that the urgent intervention of the Nigerian Army is necessary to restore law and order.

The group recalled the impact of army operations such as Operations Crocodile Smile and Python Dance that successfully addressed security challenges such as kidnappings, ritual killings, and other criminalities in the region.

While commending troops for previous interventions, the group vowed to stage a peaceful protest to the National Assembly and the Army headquarters in the full glare of the public if the Army fail to rescue its people.

Read the full address below:

We welcome you all to this press conference with all protocols duly observed. We recognize the presence of critical stakeholders in this press conference with gratitude given the short notice.

We must agree that events in South-East Nigeria are indeed worrisome given the acts of criminality that have gained prominence in recent times. Therefore, as concerned stakeholders in the South East region, with members representing every state in the region, called this press conference to press home demand for the immediate intervention of the Nigerian Army towards curtailing the declining state of security perpetuated by some groups and individuals whose motives remain suspect and from all indications meant to distort the socio-economic development of the South East region.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement would not watch in silence as innocent lives are truncated for selfish reasons by a group whose agenda promotes their selfish interest to the detriment of all Igbos in Nigeria.

We are worried and therefore left with no option to seek the urgent intervention of the Nigerian Army in the restoration of law and order in the South East region of Nigeria. However, we have consulted widely with our members from wide and far and conclude that there is an urgent need for the intervention of the Nigerian Army through the reintroduction of special operations.

Our considered opinion is that the reintroduction of special operations as in times past would go a long way in addressing the various secessionist agitations that are being propagated by a group of opportunists who do not mean well for the South East region.

We recall the impact of army operations such as Operations Crocodile Smile and Python Dance that successfully addresses security challenges such as kidnappings, ritual killings, and other criminalities in the South East region.

We must admit that the success of the various operations cannot be overemphasized, and the relative peace and tranquillity that pervaded the South East region as a result of the intervention was indeed welcomed by critical stakeholders, including the Igbos in Nigeria Movement.

It is, therefore, on the strength of the success of previous operations that the leadership of the Igbos in Nigeria Movement is making this passionate appeal to the leadership of the Nigerian Army to see to the reintroduction of army operations in South-East Nigeria.

This is cognizant that the South East region is presently under siege. Therefore, it will be a great disservice to the peaceful and loving people of the South East region if the leadership of the Nigerian Army does not introduce once again special operations in these trying times.

The leadership of the Nigerian Army must also realize that its previous special operations had brought about peace and stability in the region, which the people of the South East region were appreciative of.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement wish to state that should the leadership of the Nigerian Army fail to act on our request in reintroducing special operations to curb the growing tension in the South East region, we shall be left with no choice but to stage a peaceful protest to the National Assembly and the Army headquarters in the full glare of the public.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement wishes to remind the leadership of the Nigerian Army that the South East region is a part of Nigeria. As such, there should be efforts at deploying strategies towards addressing the security challenges in the region by the Nigerian Army through special operations.

The leadership of the Nigerian Army cannot feign ignorance of the security challenges in the South East region. Consequently, the leadership of the Nigerian Army cannot state that it can't make interventions towards addressing the security challenges in the region.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement, in the light of the above, stated is making this passionate plea to the leadership of the Nigerian Army to come to the rescue of the South East region by reintroducing special operations in fairness to the people of the South East region.

Our plea is hinged on the necessity to see to the restoration of peace, which would go a long way in the socio-economic well-being of the South East region. Our faith and belief in the Nigerian Army remain sacrosanct.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement is using this medium to appreciate the leadership of the Nigerian Army for its various interventions in times past that has resulted in peace and tranquillity in the South East region.

We desire that in the coming weeks and months, the leadership of the Nigerian Army shall deem it necessary and urgent to see to the reintroduction of special operations to address the security challenges in the South East region.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement remains supportive of the operations of the Nigerian Army over the years. Consequently, our appreciation knows no bound in this regard.

At this point, we also solicit the support of other critical stakeholders to see to the materialization of this request in the interest of peace and tranquillity.

We thank you all for your time and attention.

The National Anti- Corruption Watch (NACW) has urged the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami not to interfere in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's probe of Brigadier General Jafaru Mohammed, the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Following Mohammed's petition to the AGF, the group urged Malami against using his office to shield persons of interest in corruption probes from being investigated.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Aboki Sulyman, on Tuesday, the NACW said Mohammed must be accountable, especially for industrial-scale looting of the money meant for purchasing arms and military hardware under the National Security Adviser.

Rather than hamper investigation, the group urged the AGF to prevail on Jafaru Mohammed to cooperate with investigators so that he can speed up his appearance in court if indicted.

The group, however, vowed to follow up the probe, adding that it would recourse to all available legal means to ensure that justice must prevail.

Read the full statement below:

The National Anti- Corruption Watch (NACW) is concerned to learn about the petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by one Brigadier General Jafaru Mohammed, the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

We are worried that, of all possible defences, Jafaru Mohammed alleged “witch-hunt and personal vendetta” as a reason for the EFCC investigation. This is nothing but a shallow attempt at turning the truth on its head.

NACW appeals to the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to whom Jafaru Mohammed’s petition was addressed, not to lend his office out for shielding persons of interest in corruption probes from being investigated.

We expect the Minister of Justice and Nigerians at large to note that the kind of blackmail contained in the said petition is a staple of those that once looted this country to the point of bankruptcy. While not advocating for the rights and freedom of citizens to be arbitrarily abridged, it is pertinent to also insist that those found to have been tainted with corruption in the course of serving the country are properly investigated and tried when indicted.

Nigerians must not forget too soon that the industrial-scale looting of the money meant for purchasing arms and military hardware under the National Security Adviser, whom Jafaru Mohammed served, was responsible in large part for the security challenges facing the country today. It is therefore a travesty that the person who held the purse while our commonwealth was looted can now be alleging witch-hunt and vendetta.

NACW, therefore, calls on the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami to allow the investigation of Brigadier General Jafaru Mohammed to continue without distractions as this is what his petition amounts to.

Nigeria wants Malami to allow EFCC to function without Interference as this is the only approach that will enable to the country rout corruption, which has remained the greatest problem facing the country. Rather than hampering investigation into the activities of the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Attorney-General should rather prevail on Jafaru Mohammed to cooperate with investigators so that he can speed up his appearance in court if indicted.

NACW consequently puts the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice on notice that we would be closely watching the handling of Jafaru Mohammed’s petition to ensure that is it not used as smokescreen for eroding the independence of EFCC and cripple its ability to thoroughly investigate corruption. If Nigerians can establish interference on the part of the AGF, NACW will recourse to all available legal means to ensure that such unacceptable behaviour is halted before it does damage the credibility of the anti-corruption agency.

By Tommy Oshie
 
A driver took his passengers on a journey. He actually bragged that it would be a fun-filled pleasurable ride. But in no long time into the journey the vehicle was lurching on the hills and falling steeply on the slopes without control; the vehicle got to a point of no movement. The passengers got disturbed how the vehicle finally got stuck in the mud and could not maneuver nor even rev. It became more disappointing how the passengers discovered that the driver had long fallen asleep and his assistants not even knowing what to do. Trust passengers and how they can start spewing expletives more so as they just alighted from a previous vehicle of a certain good driver on the propaganda that this present driver would solve their eagerness and take them to the New Jerusalem. Unfortunately, they have found themselves in Gehenna. The passengers are looking downcast particularly as they look from the rear mirror viewing where they are coming from and how they can get out of the present perdition. The quest for a skillful driver to take them out of the quagmire is now on the lips of everyone. They now recall that the driver whose vehicle they alighted from was actually the person who knows the route.
The message is that you should be careful not to lose a good man because another person promised to be better.
The above allegory points out the present situation of Nigeria. There came a time in Nigeria when the only panacea to the country’s problems was in the hands of the 2015 elections. Nigerians were made to understand that they were in needless sufferings. Nigerians were brainwashed to become self sorry and that an incoming messiah tincture against the sitting president was difficult to diffuse. By then there was a strong fiat that the sitting President must not be re-elected. The opportunity cost of his re-election was that Nigeria must be divided between those who wanted him and those who did not. Decorum was actually flung away to the winds. Incidentally, Boko Haram bombings were given media amplifiers. Instead of partnering with the system the opposition saw that it was mission accomplished.
They celebrated the collective pain and presented themselves as the best alternative. Lest it is forgotten, the kidnapping of Chibok girls personally rested squarely on someone’s head rather than a national calamity. The opposition even made mouth-watering promises to those helping them to give the system a bad name and would obliterate them within six months once they come to power. What a strange team of mutual benefit!
And that was how he was battered in the media; maltreated by those he treated well; betrayed by those he thought actually loved him. To cut a long story short, that was how Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was voted out as the President of Nigeria in 2015. And all he could say was ‘Peace be with you’.
The fulcrum of this piece does not bother on the inexhaustible achievements of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan nor does it dwell on how to compare or contrast with this present government even though at times there is need to look at the rear mirror to know where we are coming from. Let us look at one of his monumental policies that would have made Nigeria great again. Early in his government, Goodluck wanted to vitiate the oil industry to market determinants. That move almost brought his government down. That move provoked a sponsored industrial strike action which success can only be akin to that of the colonial days. The said industrial action was actually spearheaded by the people in power today. They goaded us to do more about the strike. They analysed, and gave talks on how Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was impoverishing Nigerians. The message then was that subsidy was actually a fraud and that the price of fuel was supposed to be ordinarily cheap.
Today the table has turned. They did not even have to refer to any document to adopt his policy on the petroleum industry, even though they do not know how to go about it.
ASUU could be judged to be one of the best discordant agents in Goodluck’s government, accusing it of not doing well in education. Six years gone after Goodluck, the 2020 ASUU strike is unprecedented. Is that Goodluck’s government too? Has education been fixed?
Nepotism! The present government is characterized with nepotism. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan never had such characteristics. As a matter of fact, when he went back home after he lost the 2015 elections, his people almost hurled stones at him. What was his sin? He did not give them juicy positions. The northerners benefited from Goodluck more than his own region. His educational programmes and investments in the north can only be compared to that of Sir Ahmadu Bello of blessed memory.
The freedom of speech in pre-2015 is now hate speech. Should we talk about the consumer price index? Has banditry not dwarfed Boko Harm? While Boko Harm holds a particular area as their stronghold, kidnappers and bandits have unlimited territories. Even with your spare parts in your trunk, you don’t wish your car to break down on the highway. Even with your fence twice as high you still live in grip of fear in your house. You cannot even look out from your windows. ICPC is investigating missing 50 billion dollars and 500 billion naira from the TSA without a trace. This is not happening in Goodluck’s government. The list is inexhaustible abeg.
That same Goodluck was almost not bold enough to enter certain states in the north despite his huge security, but today he makes triumphant entries into same states with chants of hossanah. There are cries of Ka dawo! Ka dawo! everywhere, meaning just come back. This is evident in Sokoto, Kano, Bauchi, Maiduguri, you name them. Apologies drench the air wherever he goes today in the north. It could be recalled how Governor Ganduje mentioned that Sanusi Lamido was appointed the Emir of Kano just to embarrass Goodluck. Today, same Ganduje is screaming out his own apologies. Senator Ali Ndume has sent his apologies. Kawu Baraje made an open act of contrition on how he drove away Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
This is not a cheap drive to remind Nigerians of the present socio-economic calamities and to dangle alternatives. But truth be told, he is presently the most welcomed visitor to the State House. That is the good spirit that has endeared Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to the generality of Nigerians and the reason Ka dawo rents the air when he visits the north.
Right now, the country is in some dire straits. It is boxed to a corner. There is a serious political fog on who to bell the cat. All the passengers on the vehicle are now looking at the rear mirror. Questions are being thrown at one another: how did we get here? Where did we miss it? Why did we reject a good driver for a wrong choice? How can we get someone to maneuvre this vehicle away from here? Where can we get that very good driver we rejected, apologize to him so that he comes back to help us out?
The person to emerge as a President cone 2023 has become a delicate national discourse that goes to touch on the corporate existence of Nigeria. This serious debate has placed Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at an indispensable pedestal. No need to grope. Him becoming President would usher in an interregnum for Nigeria to gasp a breath and reboot a new national issue. His coming back would have curried an effortless national reconciliation. It is very important at this stage particularly now that the Buhari government has killed the communia, the fellowship of this country as it is now a laissez-faire leadership.
Truth be told, the Nigeria populace is having venerational memories of the person of Goodluck Jonathan. With his status now, he needs no godfather outside the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) 1999. As a matter of fact, the godfathers are also on that vehicle begging him for mercy. The other passengers on the vehicles that are looking behind to Goodluck are the military, civil servants, agberos, contactors, housewives, ASUU, ASUP, civil societies, banks, IDPs, farmers, members of the intelligentsia, judges, etc. The list is endless abeg.
 
Oshie Tom is a legal practitioner, researcher and public affairs analyst.

Tinubu support group have described Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as fit as a fiddle while debunking the rumour on the internet that Tinubu is seriously ill.

Speaking in a press release, the group's Head of Media and Publicity, Oluwatosin Johnson said Asiwaju was never sick but on a trip abroad. He added that he was asking God to forgive those who enjoy to wish people bad.

“ Asiwaju is as fit as a fiddle,” He added: “There was nothing wrong before he left the country.

" It's very shocking and sad that there are people with speculations about Asiwaju's health. This is a sign of the lack of trust people have for leadership in the country.

“We find the idle chatter on some online sites about the alleged ill-health of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu amusing. That some idle minds have continued to perpetuate this absolute falsehoold to the point of the ridiculous is disgusting. They deserve our prayers for wishing what is not for someone else.

“For the records, Tinubu is in great shape and his associates who see him and speak with him know this. He traveled abroad will return to the country any moment and those that wish him dead will be put to shame.” the group concluded.

No Nigerian persecuted over religion, group replies ex-US Secretary of State

The Young Christian Forum of Nigeria (YCFN) has rubbished a report by the former United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, wherein he alleged that 1,500 Christians was killed in the last six months.

The group, in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Roland Effah, on Tuesday said no Nigerian was persecuted for their religious belief as claimed by Pompeo.

Describing the report as misleading, the YCN noted that the motive is to cause religious disharmony in the country, pitting Christians against other groups.

Effah said by this action, Pompeo has displayed his bias and irritability with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in its efforts so far at ensuring religious harmony in Nigeria.

According to the Christian forum, Mike Pompeo is out on a slander campaign, given that any empirical evidence cannot back his position.

The group, therefore, advised Pompeo to consult religious stakeholders in the country whenever he feels the urge to contribute to the discourse about Nigeria and desist from illogical conclusions.

It warned the ex-US Secretary of State and his co-travellers to desist from their despicable plot as Nigerians are not that gullible not to see the handwriting on the wall.

The group, however, urged Nigerians to rise in defence of their county in these trying times and not allow despicable elements to succeed in sowing the seed of discord amongst them.

Read the full statement below:

The leadership of the Young Christian Forum of Nigeria warmly welcome all and sundry to this press conference converged in light of the recent report released by Mike Pompeo, a former secretary of state of the United States of America, wherein he mischievously alleged that Christians in Nigeria had been targeted for extinction, adding that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, is not doing enough to protect religious freedom.

The Young Christian Forum of Nigeria views such allegations as a collective insult of the sensibilities of the various religious groups in Nigeria because the report is laced with mischief and a well-orchestrated attempt at puncturing religious harmony in Nigeria.

A critical look at the report reveals that Mike Pompeo ventured into an area he lacked adequate knowledge. It is, therefore, bemusing that a former high ranking official of the United States of America could issue such a misleading report without minding the consequences of his actions on the psyche of the adherents of various religious groups in Nigeria.

Thus, our considered opinion that Mike Pompeo has, by his action, displayed his bias and irritability with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in its efforts so far at ensuring religious harmony in Nigeria.

The Young Christian Forum of Nigeria also frowns at the deliberate attack on the Muhammadu Buhari led administration, where he alleged that the Buhari administration had suppressed the news of the killings of Christians by masking it as a farmer-herder crisis. This is unfortunate.

Our position remains that Mike Pompeo is out on a slander campaign, given that any empirical evidence cannot back his position. Instead, a display of ignorance and playing to the gallery with an issue of such sensitivity.

Mike Pompeo is hell-bent on sowing the seed of discord amongst the various religious groups in the country for reasons best known to him and his paymasters for whatever it is worth.

The Young Christian Forum of Nigeria uses this medium to send a message to Mike Pompeo that he can't be more Nigerian than Nigerians. He should do well to cross-check information gleaned from blogs and his paid foot soldiers to preserve whatever is left of his reputation.

The Young Christian Forum of Nigeria wishes to advise Mike Pompeo to devout more time and energy in studying the history of the farmers-herder conflict in Nigeria to realise that it predates the Muhammadu Buhari administration. He must also do well to recognise that the press in Nigeria is vibrant, and there is no way such killings can go unreported, as he has alluded in his mischief laced report.

Consequently, the Young Christain Forum of Nigeria wishes to state unequivocal terms that no Nigerian has been denied their rights to religious beliefs or practice, nor are Nigerians persecuted because of their faith.

As members of that critical constituency, it is vital to remind Mike Pompeo to consult religious stakeholders in the country whenever he feels the urge to contribute to the discourse about Nigeria. He should desist from illogical conclusions and outright insinuations as in this case.

The Young Christian Forum states that from all indications, the overarching objective of Mike Pompeo is causing religious disharmony in Nigeria, which in our considered opinion has been on the cards since his stint as the Secretary of State in the former administration in the United States of America.

We, therefore, wish to warn Mike Pompeo and his co-travellers to desist from their despicable plot as Nigerians are not that gullible not to see the handwriting on the wall. We also advise that they channel their energies and resources towards more charitable ventures that would impact positively rather than negatively.

As critical stakeholders in Nigeria, the Young Christian Forum of Nigeria debunks the allusions made by Mike Pompeo in his report as there is no iota of truth in it. It, therefore, remains a figment of his imagination.

We, therefore, urge all religious groups in Nigeria to continue to have religious tolerance as the watchword in our quest for sustainable growth and development. We must resist the urge to fall for the disjointed narrative pushed forward by the likes of Mike Pompeo, who are ignorant and mischievous in their public posturing.

We as Nigerians must rise in defence of our county in these trying times. And never shall we allow despicable elements to succeed in sowing the seed of discord amongst us.

We thank you for your time and attention and urge you all to take this message of hope to your various constituencies. May God continue to bless Nigeria and protect us from our adversaries from near and far.

This is indeed a deliberate attempt at causing religious disharmony in Nigeria

Thank you.

By Ernest Adadu

While taking a vivid look at the article being published on the spiteful statements made by the immediate past United States Secretary of State and former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency , Mike Pompeo, all I saw was nothing but a tool (Pompeo) that is craving for relevance, and being used by the news agency to propagate pernicious propaganda aimed at the heart of Nigeria's unity by creating extreme religious bigotry among the peaceful citizens, and to also disrupt President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The article written by Mike Pompeo on the 10th of June is nothing but a tool aimed at breeding discord and blindly criticizing the patriotic leaders of our dear country Nigeria. It is nothing but false political propaganda created to serve no good deed.

He stated that at least 1,500 Christians have been killed in Nigeria in the last six months. This is an awful fabrication of facts. Yes, there are several issues of insecurity rocking the nation, but it is not nearly as bad as Mike Pompeo paints it to be. It is shameful for him to have stated such false facts without providing proof or a source of reference.

I was perplexed to my very core when I read what was written in the fallacious article, as it was obvious that Mike Pompeo wished to blindly attack the Nigerian Government without cause or reason, and I asked myself, "WHY?".

It is remarkable to know that the level of insecurity in Nigeria has drastically reduced overtime. The alarming Boko haram insurgency has been dealt with in a pragmatic approach taken by President Muhammadu Buhari. Many successes have been recorded under his leadership as he has been steadfast in the discharge of his duty, and providing aid to civil authority.

The issue of Muslims fighting Christians is a matter that has been present throughout history from the 7th century. The matter has encouraged a variety of views throughout history, but greeting the matter with the idiosyncrasy of condemning one party over the other is one that breeds hatred and hostility. Owing to the delicate nature of such a matter, it would have been wise for Pompeo to guard his statements regarding the killings of Christians in Nigeria.

Nigeria is on the edge presently, and statements that would further encourage discord and hostility between the two major religions in the country should be avoided.

It was myopic of Mike Pompeo not to have pointed out the fact that Christians are not the only ones being slaughtered in the country. Several faithful Muslims have also been killed in various parts of the country. It is obvious that his intents are born out of mischief.

He also failed to point out the fact that these acts were carried out by terrorists and bandits who do not discriminate when they kill. They do not care about what group or religion their victims belong to. They carry out their acts without mercy, no matter who you are.

I strongly admit and concur that any government that cannot discharge this basic obligation of Protecting Lives and Property, losses any iota of legitimacy. President Muhammadu Buhari has been fervent in his handling of security issues in Nigeria that has led to massive killing and wanton destruction of property across the country, and making every region habitable to everyone irrespective of their religious view as opposed to what Pompeo insinuated.

In addressing the challenge to the survival of religion tolerance in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari made it pertinent to consider, and also worked on security issues and problems that have affected or capable of affecting the attitude, confidence and cooperation of all groups and segments that make up the Nigerian federation, without leaving out the necessity to explore the gaps and gray areas in the national constitution that are responsible for various religion problems and crises.


However, knowing that sensitive issues like that of religion intolerance is a weaponry that has fostered National and International Terrorist attacks on many Nations, Pompeo should have known better to verify every information gotten, or seen on the internet before relying on a creek in-house media as a source of verifiable information. This act makes a man like him reeks of low intelligence.

He also accused the Nigerian government of “downplaying the attacks and characterizing them as conflicts between herders and farmers rather than as religiously motivated acts of terror.” One can never call a spade a bucket. We have all seen that there is no religious motivation behind the killings in Nigeria. These killings are merely carried out by merciless bandits and terrorists who know nothing about Islam or Christianity.


Pompeo cited the case of Leah Sharibu who has remained in captivity in the hands of the Boko Haram sect due to the fact that she refused to convert to Islam. He claimed that the young lady has remained in captivity over three years without consequence. By this, he insinuates that the Nigerian government failed to act merely because she is a Christian who refused to convert to Islam. This is an odoriferous innuendo that Mike Pompeo has so witlessly expressed.

He also made other claims about the matter, one of which he gave a self-declared statistic stating that Christians murdered in the country had risen to 60 percent in 2020 and was most likely going to get worse in recent times. This he stated without providing concrete evidence to his claim.

We should educate Pompeo and help his amnesia about his statement on the presence of radical Islamic jihadist groups in northern Nigeria.
Firstly, he should know that radical Islamic jihadist groups are all over the world. Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) is all over African countries and have registered their presence through different attacks.

Has he forgotten so soon?
The memorable 9/11 attack on the twin tower by Alqueada, that was masterminded and executed on American soil?

The numerous attacks by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or Daesh, which is detailed as follows:

A car bomb in Iraq that killed 28 Shia pilgrims and injured 60 others as they were returning from Karbala, while in the capital Baghdad a roadside bomb exploded near a minibus, killing four pilgrims and wounding 15.

A suicide bomber exploded targeting civilians in a commercial shop on a busy tourist destination and business center in Turkey, March 2016.

ISIL took responsibility for a stabbing that killed a French police officer and his companion in France, June 2016.

29-year-old Omar Mateen killed 49 people and wounded 53 others in a mass shooting inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida in United State, June 2016.

Between November 2–3, five were killed in Stadttempel , Vienna , including the perpetrator. The Vienna Police Department confirmed that the attacker was an Islamic State sympathizer, and that the attack was motivated by Islamic extremism. This happened in Austria, November 2020.

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant targeted Shia Muslims on 21 January 2021 in a clothing market in Tayaran Square, Baghdad. US, UN, EU and the Pope condemn the attack calling it a senseless act of violence. Iraq, January 2021


Attacks where everywhere, United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, Canada, etc which were dated to 2021.
However, with the above references and many more, should we now conclude just like Mr Mike, that all these attacks are on Christians, and every President in the attacked country supports religion intolerance?

It is obvious that Mike Pompeo’s statements were borne out of hatred for the Islamic religion. It is important for him to realize that words are powerful. If he has any problem with the Islamic religion, he should keep it to himself and not sow seeds of discord in other countries. If he has nothing good to say about the country, it will be in his best interest to keep silent on the matter and focus on his own country.

At the end of his article, Mike Pompeo issued several lame threats to the federal government of the country. He stated that if the Nigerian government failed to carry out swift actions to put an end to the persecution of Christians, there would be consequences in the form of sanctions and increased diplomatic pressure.

The Buhari led administration has been working tirelessly to safeguard the lives and properties of all Nigerian citizens no matter the religion you practice. It is an insult on Mike Pompeo’s part to disregard the efforts put in by the current administration and try to create unnecessary agitation in the country.

At this point, sanctions and diplomatic pressure isn’t what Nigeria needs. What the country needs is support from other countries. Mike Pompeo would do well to call for support in the country rather that criticize its leaders and proclaim unnecessary threats.

President Muhammadu Buhari is efficiently leading the fight against insecurity in Nigeria along with the service chiefs and the Nigerian Military. Let us all join hands to support them rather than throw incessant criticisms at them.

Adadu is a student of peace and conflict resolution and wrote from Gwarimpa.

TSG Hails APC Caretaker Committee For Releasing Congresses Time Table, Demand date for National Convention

The Tinubu Support Group(TSG) has hailed the the All Progressive Congress (APC) National Caretaker Committee for the release of time table for congresses.

The group through its Director General, Umar Ibrahim Muhammed in a statement on Sunday said the decision of the Committee to release the time table for the congresses at this time is commendable.

“We as a Pro-Tinubu 2023 group wish to sincerely commend the National Caretaker Committee for the decision to release the time table for congresses from ward level to the Zonal levels at this time".

“We are glad and we must affirm our deep satisfaction with the decision of the leadership of our great party to finally set procedures for the National Congresses that will produce new leaders of our great party from the Ward level to state and to the National level",

While urging party members, stakeholders on the need to keep the flag of the party flying, the group said: “ We restate that APC is the best for Nigerians. At this moment, we should be expanding our energies in positioning our party and gearing up for continuous leadership at the national level. We must show Nigerians that we are the real deal.

“But, we are also aware, and assured that everything is being done by the leaders of the party, towards ensuring a seamless nomination process that will be credible and accepted by majority of the party members and Nigerians in general.” the group said

The group commended President Buhari's efforts in trying to unite Nigeria and further described Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the best candidate to succeed Him in 2023.

Eventhough the process is beginning after 2 postponement and coming out after president's statement of given them till end of June, 2021 on Arise Television interview.we hope that the process will be seamless and truly reflect the wishes of party members as we equally need a definate date for National Convention proper.

“Asiwaju has done a lot for Nigeria and Nigerians irrespective of religion and tribe. He has built bridges across the country which single him out as the best candidate to continue the good work of President Buhari," the group concluded

By: Taiwo Akerele

28 years ago, as a 17 years old boy back then in Igarra Edo state, we saw hundreds of adults peacefully queuing up in an organized manner under a very convivial atmosphere to cast their votes for their choice candidates in a military organized transition in west Africa major economy, Nigeria.

That elections was annulled after a few days when a winner had clearly emerged in the person of Chief MKO Abiola. 28 years after, and 22 years after we returned to full fledged democracy, how has Nigeria fared in entrenching democratic values and ethos? Do we still que up peacefully to cast our votes? Are elections better organized?

Do we now have a better issues based campaign culture? Our elected officials accountable to the people? Is democracy working to grow the economy and improve the quality of lives of the citizens? Are the political parties have agenda that can be measured in terms of output and outcome? What has become of our local government systems across the country today? How has the judiciary fared? How far with their agitation for autonomy? How prepared Is the electoral commission to conduct credible elections similar to what we had in 1993 witnessed and attested by all and sundry as free and fair and credible.

Twenty eight years after June 12, how is the national budget working for the people especially in the area of research and development, innovation science and technology? What percentage of our national budget do we dedicate to basic education as against global recommendation?

For me these are issues that should dominate our reflections as we celebrate the June 12 anniversary in our dear country Nigeria.

Thank you

Taiwo Akerele
Country Reps PolicyHouse international and chairman Association of Nigerian Authors Abuja chapter contributed this from Manhattan New York city.

By: Benedict Aguele

Nigerians woke up to a shocking media statement by the minister of information & culture Lai Mohammed who announced that the federal government of Nigeria had suspended indefinitely the operation of the Twitter social media app in the country citing the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.


Before the suspension of the platform’s services in Nigeria Twitter had earlier deleted tweets and video from the verified handle of President Muhammad Buhari making threats of punishment to a sect called IPOB in the South-Eastern part of the country after he blamed them for attacks on government buildings.


He then referenced Nigeria’s civil war events in the 1960s, which seemed to offend many Nigerians.


Many Nigerians have since found other means to log on to the platform via VPN because for many of them it is their only source of earnings rather than resulting in criminality.




In a country that has not only failed to provide employment for its youth but has also failed to address the many issues, the country is currently grappling with.


The suspension Is a complete misplaced priority the government should rather focus on making Nigerian work for Nigerians.

The Member representing Ikeja federal constituency, Hon. James Faleke has reacted to a news making the rounds that he was among those sponsoring APC members protesting against nomination of Cardinal Odumbaku son as Chairman in Ojodu LCDA.

In a statement signed by the Lawmaker, Faleke exonerated himself, advising Lagosians to jettison the news.

He reiterated the need to set the facts and record straight for the fact that such a fake story may be taken on its face value by some unwary and gullible persons.

According to the Lawmaker "I am a member of APC, the party that is so precious to me, it is impossible to now turn the mind of our party members against our party leaders.

"I have moved on because Asiwaju has told us to tell our people to let go and calm them down. we've communicated same to our people. though they are bitter about it and that may have led them to express themselves in the manner they did".


The Lagos lawmaker also said he could not have sponsored such a protest where he too has been labeled a target by the organizers and his house was threatened to be razed down on wednesday morning by party members in ojodu.

He further assured his believes in the right of Lagosians to freedom of expression, assembly, and protest where and when necessary, as he has always canvassed the need for people to explore peaceful channels to ventilate their views and demands.

"For the fact that empowerment buses donated to constituents who are transporters are seen during protest does not mean it was done by me, He said.

He urged those spreading rumours to however stop because our leader has assured us he will act.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE TECHNICAL SESSION OF DIAMOND GROUP HELD ON FRIDAY 25TH MAY, 2021.

Arising from the 2nd Technical Session of Diamond Group on the theme: Restructuring and its Implication to the Nigerian Polity, the group observed that :

• The consistent agitation for restructuring by the citizenry is borne out of the perceived injustice and imbalance that define governance and public service in Nigeria.

• The pervasive insecurity and other ills ravaging the country cannot be disconnected from the extremely poor governance and maladministration that have become synonymous with public service over the years.

After critical examination of the concept of restructuring and the several offshoots of the agitations from all parts of Nigeria including recent political developments in the country, the group resolves as follows:

1. That the concept of restructuring is never a poisoned chalice that some parts of the country made it look like, and that as a matter of fact, it is an integral part of the panacea for the troubles of Nigeria

2. That as beautiful as the concept of restructuring is, without the citizenry internalising the ideals of citizenship, restructuring their mindset by disciplining themselves in accordance with ethical principles and moral conducts, deriving the envisaged benefits from the reworking of the structure of the country will be a mirage

3. That the group supports in totality, the Southern Governors resolutions on true federalism and good governance, ban of open grazing and other fine details of the accord reached by the Governors in Asaba, Delta State

4. Further, that the group considers repulsive the vexatious response of the Federal Government to the Southern Governors resolutions.

5. That the group considers the outburst of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami as totally unenlightened, and highly provocative

6. That the group equally condemns in strong terms the attempt by unknown gunmen to destabilize the southeastern part of Nigeria and make it ungovernable.

7. That the Federal Government should desist from chasing shadows, deal decisively with the challenges militating against the peace and prosperity of our dear country by restructuring the country, channeling the energy of the people to nation building, healing the fracture lines in the polity and generally emplace good governance to turn the fortunes of the country around.

Signed:

Toyyib Olaniyi Musa-Omoloja

Archdiamond, Diamond Group, Nigeria.

Exclusive: How Lagos Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat Imposed His 2015 Coordinator, PA’s Elder Sister On Eredo, Epe Local Governments


A new twist has been added to the ongoing controversy trailing the outcome of All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Government primary election held last Saturday.
The deputy governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat who has been accused of planning his 2023 political ambition of becoming the governor of Lagos state working in cahoot with some politicians to impose some chairmen that will be loyal and do his bidding.

The allegation against the three chairmen in Epe, Eredo and Ikosi-Ejirin was that they worked against his political aspiration in 2015, while he contested the Governorship primary, against former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
The modus operandi of Hamzat and his henchmen was to scuttle the process once it’s clear that they won’t win. And this they were able to do successfully in a number of local governments and Local Council Development Areas across the state last Saturday.

According to the results signed by the returning officer, Miss Omowumi Ogbara who covered Epe and sighted by Newsnow, only two wards conducted the primary before It was disrupted. The results shows that the incumbent chairman of Epe local government, Mr. Adesanya Adedoyin, who is also an aspirant won in the two wards by wide margin, scoring 803 votes to defeat his closest rival, Animasaun, who polled 304 votes.
In Eredo and Ikosi-Ejirin, primary election did not hold. It was disrupted by Hon. Dahunsi Ogunkelu, aka ‘Sketel”, representing Epe Constituency 2 at the Lagos House of Assembly. Ogunkelu was on rampage while the primary election lasted and was overheard telling Hamzat after the deed has been done that , “ mission accomplished sir. A ti daru, meaning, we have scuttled everything.”

Now, instead of conducting another primary, Hamzat has gone ahead to Assure his candidates that it was a done deal. In Eredo, his Coordinator for Governorship project in 2015, Ismail Akinloye has received the LASEIC nomination form, without contesting a primary election.
In Epe, his personal assistant’s elder sister, one Suzan Olayemi Animashahun has been imposed as the party's candidate.

In Ikosi-Ejirin, Wale Anamo from Ijebu-Ode is Hamzat’s Candidate. Wale, who has now added ‘Raji’ to his name to conform with Epe’s typical name, is a total stranger in the community, where he is now being imposed as the party's Chairmanship candidate, by Hamzat.

Despite the fact that the local government primary election was disrupted across the three local governments in Epe, Hamzat has been able to use his contact to give the LASIEC nomination forms to some of the aspirants loyal to him. Sources informed Newsnow that there was wild jubilation in the camp of Hamzat yesterday, celebrating that everything has been ‘ signed, sealed and delivered’ with Asiwaju’s imprimatur.

The three chairmen are however undaunted. They have insisted that they would retrieve their mandate from the usurpers. In a Facebook post on behalf of his colleagues, Spokesman of the group, Niyi Saliu , who’s also the incumbent chairman of Eredo and an aspirant said; “ This daylight robbery will not stand. I appeal to all our supporters to remain calm. We will do everything lawful to reclaim our mandates. We are persuaded that all is not lost , especially given the assurance by our leader and national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who hinted recently during the south west meeting with governors that he’s not imposing anybody. We are excited that he has through that pronouncement deflated the ego of those dropping his name to perpetuate illegality in our party. Our leaders have also assured us that everything will be resolved amicably.”. He said.
Saliu maintained that Epe, Eredo and Ikosi-Ejirin performed creditably well during the last Lagos East Senatorial election won by Senator Tokunbo Abiru to lift APC to overwhelming success.

For now, it’s not clear how the APC wants to wriggle out of the logjam it created through the botched local government primary election.

Sources within the party hinted that Tinubu who was not too happy with the way the party officials and electoral officers bungled the process will convene the meeting of the Governors Advisory Council, GAC, tomorrow (Thursday) to resolve the imbroglio.

The CEO Kidiaye Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd, Kenneth Osadiaye has advised on strategy to mitigate marginal field challenges that investors and operators of marginal oil fields face.

According to Kenneth Osadiaye, the Nigerian oil and gas market is expected to register a CAGR of more than 2% during the forecast period of 2021 – 2026. In addition to the country-wide economic impact of COVID-19, crude producers are faced with a decline in both price and demand for crude, thus, resulting in an oil glut.

In its industry circular as of 30 March 2020, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) stated that it considers the situation occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic a force majeure and has directed all operators to limit the number of personnel at project sites. This has the potential of leading to a breach of specific contract terms.

"However, some of the major factors driving the market include increasing investments in the upstream sector and the development of large-scale and modular refineries in the country. Oil and gas production had been hampered in Nigeria in the past few years due to the attack on oil and gas infrastructure by militants.

"Furthermore, oil theft has been one of the major issues faced by the oil and gas market in Nigeria, which resulted in huge losses to operating companies in the country. Such factors are expected to have a negative impact on the market growth during the forecast period."

The National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN has called on The House of Representatives to
focus more on strategies that would strengthen the legislative framework of the
NYSC and to put in place a better incentives for young Nigerians to maintain the
tradition of exploring the numerous opportunities in the diversity of Nigerian
culture.

This was made known during a press conference held in Abuja to address issue of scrapping the age-long NYSC scheme.

According to the Vice President, Nigeria Youth Council of Nigeria, Amb Akoshile Mukhtar, he said Nigeria is at a critical point in her history and what is most required at this
moment is careful introspection and continuous engagement among the
various component units and stakeholders.

"We were shocked that the hallowed floor of the Federal House ofRepresentatives of Nigeria would be weaponized to further a parochial and divisionist agenda couched in the move to scrap the National Youth Service
Corps (NYSC) citing security challenges as the reason.
"The call to scrap the NYSC scheme which serves as a transition year for many
Nigerian youth, with the N33,000 allowance serving as a key financial stabilizer
for many of these poor Nigerians, is a negative message to them that government doesn’t care about them.

"We are well aware that this move has been covertly sponsored by agents of destabilization, who have misguided the respected House of Representatives,
which has in time past and on several occasions taken the side of the Nigerian
masses even at huge political cost.

"We do not deny the fact that there are security challenges in Nigeria , but we would have expected the House to be more engaged in finding solutions to support our troops on the frontlines and boost their morale, rather than using the legislative privilege to declare
victory for enemies of Nigeria by calling for scrapping of a national scheme like
NYSC.
"As representatives of the youth we are bold to say that the NYSC has done far much more good than harm to national development and sustaining the scheme should be the priority of lawmakers rather than calling for it to be
scrapped. Governance is a service to the citizenry and the only presence of government known to many Nigerians in the remote areas of Nigeria is the youth Corp member s posted there as community school teacher or healthcare professional.

"It would be a gross disservice and an inhuman attack on the very fabric of our national unity to move against such a scheme. It is on record that, through all the turbulence that has characterized our country ,the NYSC scheme has continued to run year after year uninterrupted for close to 5-decades. We shouldn’t be debating whether to sustain such a unifying programme that other institutions of government ought to emulate for sustained
progress and deeper penetration for impact on the lives of the average citizen.

"We stand firmly in support of President Muhammadu Buhari, a President who has
given more institutional and practical s upport to the Nigerian youth through
programmes such as the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund and the numerous
social investment programmes. All stakeholders should support in ensuring that
his vision for a crop of independent youth is realized.
"Finally, the NYCN Passes a vote of Credence in the continuous existence of the
NYSC, its Management and urge that all stakeholders should support in
ensuring that his vision for a crop of independent youth is realized.
God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria," he concluded.

NANS ZONE B LEADERSHIP SUMMIT; Redefining the Modules Integrating the Paradigm.


Franklin Benjamin, A United states polymath, leading writer, political philosopher, humorist and civic activist once asserted that
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”.
This is true because ignorance is a bane for development and a path to destruction.

The knowledge of “Education according to without values, C. S. Lewis which as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.” formed the crux that necessitated the convergence of Students Leaders, SU Presidents of Tertiary Institutions across the 11 states of South-south and South East, Nigeria at University of Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

The Conference which had the theme - EDUCATION; THE PATHWAY TO REDEFINING LEADERSHIP was graced by notable speakers including the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva, Acting Vice chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Stephen Okodudu, Chairman Enforcement and Recovery, Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Leo Leo Umanah who spoke indepthly on creating Right values, and the need for mental calibration.

In his opening remarks, the Coordinator of NANS ZONE B, Comr. Etinyene Offongekpe expressed appreciation to the students for coming together to seek possible ways to addressing the country’s challenges, this he said will redefine leadership on the right perspective.

The Minister of State for petroleum resources, Chief Timipre Sylva during his keynote presentation noted that Nigerians are the solution to the problem facing the country and once we come to the realization of that established fact, change our mindsets and actions, integrate new modules and activate new strategies, Nigeria will be better than what it is today.

He commended the leadership of NANS Zone B ably led by Comr. Etinyene Friday Offongekpe for having the best interest of the country at heart and for putting up such event.
This he said will go a long way to repositioning leadership as the new generation prepares to take over.

In his goodwill message, the Revolutionary president of NANS, Comr. Asefon Sunday Dayo appreciated the Minister for playing fatherly roles and for always finding time to interact and seek ways to improve our nation.

Highpoint of the event include the official induction of the Honorable Minister of State for petroleum resources into the prestigious NANS Hall of Fame, first ever to be inducted.

By EMMANUEL ANI

The recent appointment of the Chief of Army Staff has generated reactions in the polity regarding the suitability of Major General Farouk Yahaya for the plum but demanding job. The interesting part is that some that are ignorant of the dynamics involved in such appointments have taken centre stage with insinuations and illogical conclusions so much so that it defeats common sense.

I had initially refrained from commenting on this contentious issue. However, I had a change of mind when the mischief became heightened with the tendency to mislead members of the unsuspecting general public.

I recall that upon the death of the former Chief of Army Staff and ten others in the unfortunate air crash in Kaduna, some persons, instead of respecting the sensibilities of families and relatives of the deceased officers that died in the line of duty, elected to scorn and curse. This is most unfortunate. This is how bad things have turned in our dear country.

These individuals didn’t stop there. They took their diatribe further by whipping ethnic and religious sentiments on who the next Chief of Army Staff should be. They consequently pushed forward names along ethnic lines like they are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

President Muhammadu Buhari eventually announced a new Chief of Army Staff. They went berserk, throwing all manner of diatribes on why the new man should have been from a particular part of the country. Even those that know nothing about the Nigerian Army suddenly became experts and analysts on how the President deliberately refused to appoint a certain officer as Chief of Army Staff. This is sad.

From all intents and purpose, the mischief gained traction in the public space because they succeeded in assuming that membership of the Security Council in Nigeria should be based on ethnicity and religion and not competence. I hate to do this, but I have to do it to put issues in proper perspective as someone knowledgeable in the security architecture in the country.

Before now, we have had instances where a former president appointed a certain officer to head the Nigerian Army. Suffice to add that the officer wasn’t from the infantry or armoured corps as the prerequisite for heading the Nigerian Army. Was hell let loose? The same former President made another appointment that also forced over 50 senior officers to proceed on retirement. Was hell let loose? The point I am trying to make here is that the President and Commander-in-Chief has the prerogative to choose whomever he deems suitable for the job. That is his constitutional duty, and I don't see any reason why ethnic and religious sentiments should be put forward in the first instance.
Back to the crux of the matter, the present security challenges in the country require that utmost care is taken into consideration when sensitive appointments are made, especially in the Armed Forces. And the appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff is one instance where the President has demonstrated his uncommon neutrality and hunger for the best hand at all times .

I can only wish that these religious and ethnic agitators would take out time to read the profile of Major General Farouk Yahaya. I also hope they can also take out time to digest his exploits in the course of his illustrious carrier in the Nigerian Army. When that is done, would they realize that the President was not guided by ethnic or religious sentiments as mischievously propagated.

A fine officer and a gentleman, no doubt. A former Garrison Commander Headquarters Guards Brigade, former Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), a former Deputy Director Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, a former Deputy Director Army Research and Development and the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield. A former General Officer Commanding 1 Div of the Nigerian Army and former Commander Counter-Insurgency and Counter-Terrorism in North-East Nigeria, amongst others too numerous to mention.

Having all of this in mind, would it be appropriate to state that the President was not meticulous in choosing the Chief of Army Staff? Would the President have sacrificed competence on the altar of religion and ethnicity? I dare say that if only they knew who Major General Farouk Yahaya is, they would bury their heads in shame. Also, if only they are privy to the widespread jubilation across all army formations in the country with the appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya as Chief of Army Staff.

What does this tell us? It tells us that President Muhammadu Buhari has once again displayed an uncommon commitment to addressing the security challenges in the country. And it would have been a topic for discussion if the new Chief of Army Staff does not possess the qualifications and experience to lead the charge against insurgency in North-East Nigeria and other acts of criminalities across Nigeria. But that is not the case and a reason why we must commend the President once again.

I must also emphasize that Major General Farouk Yahaya is not just from Sokoto State; he is one of the A list officers in the Nigerian Army that commands tremendous respect across the board for his work ethic and dedication in service to the country. He is a fine officer that serves as a role model to young officers and one that has left indelible marks in the sands of time in all task assigned to him.

Let me also add here for our reading pleasure that data obtained from the Council on Foreign Relations shows that from April 1, when he took charge of the war against Boko Haram, till when he was appointed as Chief of Army Staff, the number of civilians killed by insurgents dropped by 17 percent, while the number of Boko Haram terrorist killed shot up by 46 percent. What does this tell us? It simply tells us that here is an officer that understands what it means to lead. And his appointment to lead the prestigious Nigerian Army is a step in the right direction.

At this point, those trying to stain his lofty credentials because he is from a particular part of the country should have a rethink and give peace a chance. Needless I mention that he is one of the finest officers in the Nigerian Army, and his appointment is a challenge rather than filling a slot.

I have no doubt whatsoever that the new Chief of Army Staff would hit the ground running because he understands the enormity of the task at hand. And he will deliver in record time; I can bet. So, therefore, let us learn to call a spade a spade. I believe time shall tell, and Nigerians would be grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for his choice of Major General Farouq Yahaya to lead the Nigerian Army.

My charge to the new kid on the block is to remain apolitical, strengthen institutions and lead with the fear of God.

Ani is a security analyst and wrote this piece from UNN, Enugu Campus.

By Philip Agbese

The appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Farouk Yahaya on May 27, 2021, has generally elicited loud endorsements from Nigerians. His appointment followed the sudden demise of his predecessor, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a plane crash, along with 10 other Army personnel in Kaduna a week ago. (May their souls rest in perfect peace).

Gen. Yahaya, one of Nigeria’s finest breed of trained infantry combatants has a rich profile and experience in counter-terrorism combats. A member of the 37 Regular Course of the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Gen. Yahaya was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on September 22nd 1990. Over the decades, Gen. Yahaya has held numerous Staff, Instructional and Command appointments in the Nigerian Army.

But briefly, Gen. Yahaya was a Garrison Commander, Headquarters Guards Brigade, Deputy Director Army Research and Development, Military Secretary, the Chief of Staff, Headquarters of Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield, and the General Officer Commanding, (GoC), 1 Division of the Nigerian Army among multiple others.

Until his elevation in appointment as COAS, Gen. Yahaya’s service records were synonymous with military excellence globally. He was deep into the forests of the theatre of war in the Northeast, functioning in the capacity of Theatre Commander of the renamed Counterterrorism and Counter-Insurgency military outfit code-named “Operation Hadin Kai” (OPHK), literally meaning “cooperation” in Hausa vernacular.

It is indubitable that in the last six years, the Nigerian Army has dealt a fatal blow on incensed Boko Haram insurgents, ISWAP terrorists, armed bandits and other allied cross border armed criminal gangs who have delighted in terrorising parts of the country. And with the confusion and infighting in the camps of Boko Haram and ISWAP, coupled with the assured sustained pressures mounted on these terrorists by troops, the coming of Gen. Yahaya as the new COAS holds every significance in finally blighting the menace of all forms of terrorism in the country.

Gen. Yahaya parades many meritorious service medals and awards. He is definitely a shining Army star in warfare. Farouk Yahaya is an Army General generally honed and polished by the finest of senior Military officers, home and abroad, who are experts in anti-terrorism warfares. Prominently, Gen. Yahaya is an ardent adherent of the leadership school of thought of His Excellency, Ambassador TY Buratai, the retired Army General, who served Nigeria as COAS and leader of the counter-insurgency operations from 2015-2021.

Nigerians have recognized Gen. Buratai as a courageous, fearless, determined, patriotic and loyal professional soldier, who broke the many jinks of terrorists when he served the country. He made them breathless at all times and even military experts have seen his fearless shadows in Gen. Yahaya. There is no gain contradicting the reality that the new COAS is a tested hand in the theatre of war.

President Buhari is famed for the knack of going for the best brains in appointments, especially in sensitive areas. The choice of Gen. Farouk Yahaya as the COAS has also confirmed the President’s principle and doctrine of impeccable credentials, merit and excellent performance above any other consideration.

Apparently, there is no disputation that Gen. Yahaya would not only excel in his new assignment, as an officer who has been part and parcel of the anti-insurgency campaigns in Nigeria. But also, security experts have vouched on his competence to surpass the excellence of his mentor, Gen. Buratai by breaking new records in the prosecution of Nigeria’s renamed counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

However, and observably, the appointment of Gen. Yahaya means many things to different Nigerians and spurted varying dimensions of national discourse. But the dormant and inescapable feature of these perceptions in the public psyche is the trust and convictions in the professional competence and dexterity of the new COAS to finally blight the fires of terrorism in Nigeria.

However, there are a few leftists in Nigeria, who have never failed in the “patriotic” duty to themselves of rubbishing any policy or decision pronounced by the Buhari Presidency. These minority discordant voices are habituated to faulting every decision and at every time, not necessarily based on sound reasons, but from selfish, unpatriotic and self-satisfying prisms. But again, it is the beauty of democracy. So, this clan of Nigerians are blindfolded to the anticipated leadership impacts of Gen. Yahaya in Nigeria’s anti-insurgency campaigns.

To these ethnoreligious bigots and naked campaigners of regionalism, President Buhari has not pleased them in the choice of Gen. Yahaya simply because the tested Army General is not from their part of the country. The expressed sentiment is that Buhari would have attracted their eulogies had he appointed someone from their part of the country, even if he is glaringly incompetent or unqualified.

So, the sabs are massively wailing, lamenting and mouthing foolishly. But it is the normal hypocritic trait in most Nigerians, which has held back the progress of the country for decades. Those wailing loudest and feeling alienated from Buhari’s choice of Gen. Yahaya as COAS on such simplistic grounds of regionality do not respect the same posture when hiring personal security guards. Why do almost all of these ethnic bigots outrightly shirk from hiring personal security guards who are people from their villages?

Many of the bigoted ethnic campaigners who are on a deliberate smear campaign to stain the credentials of excellence of Gen. Farouq Yahaya are laughably questioning President Buhari on why he again failed to appoint an Igbo man into the National Security Council. But the competence of Gen. Yahaya was the compelling reasons Mr. President considered choosing Gen. Yahaya.

Let the truth be told! The National Security Council is neither an arena for ethnic groups nor campaigners, but a serious national security platform for tested and trusted senior Military officers. It is easy to notice the confusion in the camps of these disguised saboteurs. It’s not surprising that none of them is faulting the appointment of Gen. Yahaya based on competence or previously poor service records, but they are rather concerned that he would have been an Igbo, Yoruba or Ijaw Army General. So, they are free to lick their wounds and trumpet louder, the ethnic sentiments against merit and competence.

For those versatile in security issues, Gen. Yahaya’s emergence is one of the best appointments that Mr. President has made since the beginning of the year. Anyone who thinks otherwise should contest this assertion. As someone who has served as GoC and later, Theatre Commander in the Northeast, mandating Gen. Yahaya now to lead the war against the insurgents in Nigeria justifies and fills any imagined vacuum in the anti-terrorism combats.

Nigerians, particularly, troops in the frontlines are expecting Gen. Yahaya to immediately restore the suspended Army core values, which sustained counter-insurgency operations. These include the return of all quarterly exercises, development of a versatile Intelligence gathering network/ instruments, sustenance of the apolitical posturing of soldiers and a tough deal and decisive warfare expeditions against all armed criminal elements across the country.

Nigerians are assured that with the known records of professional competence identified with Gen. Yahaya Farouq, the country is on the sure path of the final defeat of terrorists. The Army warmonger would certainly make Nigeria proud because he is sure prepared to deliver on the task which Nigerians have elected him to do. Nigerians wish him and his team good luck, as they anxiously await the victory and trophy of triumph against terrorists.

Agbese is a publisher and human rights law researcher based in the United Kingdom.

Ojodu LCDA: Groups decry campaign of calumny against Layeni, calls for probe of Odunmbaku.


Groups known as the Centre for Public Accountability CPA, and the Ojodu Development Initiative have urged the All Progressives Congress and the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission LASIEC, to disregard the call by a self styled Ojodu Collectives Group, demanding for the disqualification of Alhaja Layeni Olufunmilayo Kafayat, from participating in the primary election of the party to decide the candidate of the party for the local government elections in the state over allegations of forged secondary school certificate. According to the groups, in a joint statement issued and signed by Executive Director, Olufemi Lawson and Oluwatobi Johnson on Friday in Lagos, not only is Layeni, a leading candidate for the chairmanship of Ojodu Local Council Development Area, she also possess every qualifications to be elected, as the flagbearer of the party, in the forthcoming local government Election.

The groups said it is worried, about the desperation of those who it described as being behind the campaign of calumny against Layeni. The statement accused the outgoing chairman of the local government, Muyiwa Olori, a Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor Ms Toke Benson, and a chieftain of the APC, Cardinal James Odunmbaku of desperation to impose Odunmbaku's son, David Odunmbaku as the next Chairman, of the LCDA.

"We consider it important, for the sake of unsuspecting members of the public, particularly the electorates in Ojodu, to make this public statement, to dispel the lies being peddled by this individuals, against the candidature of Kafayat Layeni. These persons have not only cross the boundaries of all known civility in their campaign of calumny, but have also resulted into commiting series of forgery and perjury, all in the desperation, to impose David Odunmbaku, on the people of the LCDA, even though against the popular wish of the people."

"In the last few days, this group sponsored by David Odunmbaku and his political merchants have made series of attempt, to compromise the authority of Salvation Army School Ebute Meta Lagos, which is the Alma mater of Layeni, in order to get a disclaimer on her attendance of the school. They also went further, by forging letters purportedly written by the West Africa Examination Council WAEC, denouncing the qualification of Kafayat Layeni. Their failed request, which we have further found out to have been intiated using the company belonging the Odunmbaku's family carried a false claim of Layeni, seeking an employment under the company, an incident, that never was. This is not only treacherous of a group and individual, seeking to occupy public position, but also requires an immediate arrest and prosecution of those behind this act of perjury."

"While restating our believe, in the aspiration of Kafayat Layeni, which represents the aspiration of the majority of inhabitants of the LCDA, we sincerely hope that the APC and the relevant security agencies, will immediately invite for questioning and possible prosecution, all those who are found to be involved in this failed attempt at manipulating the will of the people of Ojodu LCDA." the statement concluded.

The Grand Alliance of Ojodu Conscious Indigenes has demanded the disqualification of Hon. James Faleke's Candidate for the Ojodu LCDA Chairmanship election, Alhaja Layeni Olufunmilayo Kafayat. Most ridiculous is the name dropping and grandstanding by Hon James Faleke, that their illegal action, has the full support of the National leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to a press release signed by the group's spokesman, Comrade Kolawole Gbenga, it stated that it's unfortunate that someone aspiring to lead the council could be be parading a fake result.

He further added that the party is a platform which is built on good virtues which must not be exploited by power drunk personalities who will do anything to get political power.

Also, the West African Examination Council (WAEC) has clarified the authenticity of the December 1979 result being paraded by Alhaja Layeni Olufunmilayo Kafayat, saying that the certificate is not genuine.

In the said result, Layeni claimed to have made C6 in English Language, C5 in Government, C4 in Economics, C4 in Mathematics, D7 in Biology, C5 in Commerce and C3 in Accounting. The examination body had stated that the said result did not come from them.

Comrade Kolawole Gbenga, has urged the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to disqualify Layeni from participating in thr primary election to decide the candidate of the party for the general election.

The group also called for a proper and thorough investigation into thr case since falsification of result is a serious crime under the Nigerian Legal System.

By: Taiwo Akerele


Today again creates another window for the world and its leaders to reflect on the condition of children across the globe, the fate of their education, the security of the learning environment, the key issue of nutrition and global child rights and freedom of learning and knowledge acquisition.


The global pandemic, COVID-19 has forced millions of children all over the world to learn from home, how conducive these homes are. These bring to the fore the need for concerted efforts to ensure that families are catered for by governments in the area of jobs creation, shelter and adequate feeding which has resultant effect on the condition of the child.


In Nigeria, the conditions are even worse and this day, the 27th of May 2021, is an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on key policies that have direct bearing on learning, literacy development and the rights of the child.

Today, we have an opportunity to review the impact of school feeding and how this program fared in terms of impact and outcome, today we have an opportunity to look at the issue of nutrition and the child rights law already passed by the national assembly and some states across Nigeria. How has the law been implemented and a far reaching impact on the targeted populace.

Today Nigeria is faced with the crisis of out of school children estimated at 10.5 million by the UNICEF (2019/2020) which Policy House International has projected to get to 15million by the end of 2021 if the security challenges in parts of the north are not addressed and if the culture of school closures continues unabated.


Today in Nigeria, the average national budget provisioning for the entire education system accounts for less than 5% of the national budget as against the 26% recommended by UNESCO. Out of this 5%, only 1.5% is provided to basic education, at the state level the situation is not different on the average nationally. This calls for serious concern. So the key question is what quality of children we are grooming in Africa’s biggest economy by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and by population.


Today, Children's Day affords us the opportunity to look at our national basic education curriculum, what does it reflect on for us as a nation? Does our curriculum prepare our children for a digital economy? An artificial intelligence economy, an economy that is ready for production, agri-business and manufacturing or a lazy and unproductive economy full of theory and empty in practical?

As we join millions of children all over the world to celebrate this day, for us in Nigeria, we must reflect on the basket of issues both as government and stakeholders in the educational ecosystem and get our acts together to make life more bearable for our kids, the leaders of tomorrow. Happy International Children's day 2021.


Thank you


Taiwo Akerele is the Country Reps, Policy House Int’l and FCT Chapter Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA)

By Thomas Uzah


In 1964, the then American President, Mr. Lyndon B. Johnson in a pithy address to the International Labour Press Association glorified the place of the worker in public life; “You are a part of the conscience of our society. You are always goading. You are never satisfied with the job that is partially done. You are always working and calling for the further advancement of working people, and you speak from a point of view. You speak on behalf of values.”

This position amplifies the dire need to evolve favorable conditions to carter for the welfare of the worker in order to ginger his productivity and excellence in the workplace. But it is often overlooked by employers and leaders in most instances.

However, the leadership of Associate Professor Shuaibu Ibrahim, a serving Brigadier General of the Nigerian Army and the current Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has marketed itself differently.

In appearance, Gen. Ibrahim is unassuming; but his personage is an embodiment of multiple military and administrative talents. He is governed by a doctrine of excellence anywhere he finds his feet and believes in making the best use of all human resources. But good enough, he knows there are unavoidable obligations, any leadership desiring of better results from workers must fulfill.

Therefore, from the outset, Gen. Ibrahim began to tinker with ideas the scheme would adopt to support the Federal Government in funding its operations by thinking outside the box to remain strong and relevant. And to achieve this , the NYSC boss knew, the scheme must inescapably place extra premium on welfare of both staff and corps members. “I appeal to our corps employers to take care of the welfare of members; mentor them,” he appealed soon after his appointment.

Consequently, Gen. Ibrahim deliberately attaches extraordinary premium to all who tastes his leadership anywhere. And in NYSC now, it is an entirely new and exciting experience for staff as well as corps members. As NYSC boss, Gen. Ibrahim has prioritized the welfare of workers and youth corps members to heights hitherto unknown.

The scheme is rated one of the best performing federal government agencies today, because a motivated staff leaves nothing to chance in the performance of their official functions. It is natural that when the worker is motivated to work, he goes the extra mile excitedly.

And Gen. Ibrahim has capitalized on this weapon, by his undiluted and undistracted attention to issues of welfare and remunerations. Timely payment of salaries and legitimate allowances ignite the ambience of a workplace, anywhere in the world. Even the Holy scriptures admonishes that a worker deserve his wages.

Salary payment defines everything in a working environment. It motivates, stimulates, increases productivity and encourages teamwork for excellence. Gen. Ibrahim’s leadership of the NYSC has made it his sacred obligation.

And since, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim is aware of these salient motivational doctrines, which propel productivity and triggers a convivial working environment, he is dispensing a leadership that bows to these demands at all times.

It is unarguable that in Nigeria today, issues of salary payment have been a thorn in the flesh of most government establishments. And the problem seems to exacerbate with the sudden scourge of Covid-19 pandemic, which has dealt a serious blow on global economies.

Even with the increasingly less funds in circulation, Gen. Ibrahim has insulated NYSC staff from this nightmare through prompt payment of basic and lawful entitlements. Quite pleasurably, Gen. Ibrahim has withered the storm in NYSC very conveniently.

By his relentless efforts, the Director General has been able to catapult the NYSC to a comfortable pedestal through investment initiatives. These investments have generated internal revenue for the NYSC, which partly funds the scheme’s operations. The NYSC Director General has registered the strong presence of the scheme in poultry farms; hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice plantations and milling as well as feed mills in different parts of the country are signposts of his remarkable leadership.

Added to it, Gen. Ibrahim has supported the scheme’s funding by resuscitating previously abandoned NYSC water and bakery factories to consolidate on its investment profile. With the returns yielded by these investments, coupled with the federal subventions to the agency, payment of salaries and allowances of staff have been prompt and ceaseless. His favorable disposition to salary payment has earned him the epaulet “Mr. Alert” in all NYSC offices across the nation.

In same manner, the welfare of corps members has been given top priority. Gen. Ibrahim wasted no time in implementing the New National Minimum Wage of N33,000 (thirty-three thousand) as monthly allowance of serving corps members. He boosted the monthly allowance of corps members with an additional N3,000 (three thousand) to serve as incentives to corps members and encourage personal savings. He operates on Lailah Gifty Akita’s the doctrine that “If people are paid well, there should be no poverty.”

To the NYSC boss, it does not matter whether it is staff or corps members, but salary and monthly allowances bank alerts come before the end of every month. Each time he visits NYSC office anywhere in Nigeria or even during media outings, corps members endearingly address hm with the sobriquet “Mr. Welfare,” for his rare and uncommon attention to their comfort.

Gen. Ibrahim has recorded his name as the only Director General of the NYSC who has lobbied State Governments and employers of the services of corps members to pay them additional monthly stipends. He has successful blighted the doctrine of discretionary payment of stipends to serving corps members through gentle persuasion of employers.

And his concentration on the welfare of both staff and corps members goes beyond timely meeting of their financial obligations alone. He has also demonstrated a relentless commitment to their health welfare in same measure. For instance, at the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria, Gen. Ibrahim ensured the monthly allowances of corps members were paid without the usual clustering for clearance in order to forestall the spread of the disease.

He stated in a public statement that the; “…payment of monthly stipend for the month of April shall be effected without the usual gathering for clearance, in keeping with the rule of social distancing. It is equally imperative to add that there shall not be clearance for the month of May, 2020. The system shall generate automatic clearance for everyone.”

Conversely, Gen. Ibrahim instantly complied with the directive of the Presidency by enlisting all serving corps members into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). He does not hesitate in approving medical bills and has expended huge resources on critical health needs of corps members by footing medical bills where necessary.

Therefore, it is understandable that Gen. Ibrahim is feted with epaulets such as “Mr. Welfare,” or “Mr. Alert.” And it streams from a genuine heart of excitement from those he has the mandate to lead. The unalterable truth is that Gen. Ibrahim has changed the fortunes of the NYSC amazingly. He is indeed, a national asset both in intellect and capacity to do things differently.

Uzah PhD is Head of Department, Mass Communication, Kwararafa University Wukari.

By Charles Ibekwe

Nigeria’s national parliament is not expected to function like a house of comedians. It ought to be a serious chamber and a progressive think-tank for Nigerians. It is supposed to be populated by men/ women of integrity, foresight and very knowledgeable legislators mandated to make good legislations for the progress and development of Nigeria.

Unfortunately, and glaringly too, the nation’s parliament has been overrated in recent times. Specifically, the House of Representatives is fast earning for itself a notorious reputation of an assemblage of idle and retrogressive minds. Even street comedians should have a better sense of humour.

The House of Representatives is habituated in doing everything possible to assail and assault the sensibilities of Nigerians they have been elected to serve. About a week ago, an opposition legislator, Hon. Awaji-Inimbel Abiante (PDP Rivers State), proposed and sponsored a bill to repeal the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act. This bill seeks to abrogate Section 315(5)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

The proposed bill has passed the second reading in less than a week, It is an indication of its advanced stages of getting the nod of parliament to proscribe the NYSC, a noble youth scheme, which has been in exsistence since 1973.

The defunct Military regime of Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) was goaded into launching this scheme in 1973 to bridge the schism and pervasive air of distrust and hatred among Nigerians in the aftermath of the Nigerian civil war of 1967 to 70. From the intendment of the Gen. Gowon’s military administration, the NYSC initiative was crafted and designed as a significant part of his 3Rs policy of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction to heal the nation.

Furthermore, the NYSC is structured to foster national unity, integration and a better understanding of the disparate entities of the country’s plurality. It also has the mandate to engender a greater and deeper understanding of the ethnic, linguistic, religious, and socio- cultural compositions of Nigeria in youths, frequently referenced as leaders of tomorrow. Suffice it to say, no positive relic of the Gowon administration has surpassed the reality and goodies of an NYSC scheme.

Ironically today, Hon. Awaji-Inimbel Abiante and his cahoots in the Green Chamber want Nigerians to believe the NYSC scheme has outlived its usefulness. And more offending, these lawmakers have committed scare public funds to sponsor its scrapping in the nation’s life.

But more profoundly senseless are the reasons advanced by the lawmakers for embarking on this unpopular action. Sponsors of the bill for the scrapping of the NYSC are arguing that the scheme deserves a “death sentence” because the objective of the NYSC Act in promoting national unity and integration have been disfigured by compromised national insecurities, in some geopolitical zones in the country, as reflected in the pervasive threats of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and violent clashes among other national malaises.

It sounds hollow! Whilst the national threat of insecurities is real; the most infantile reasoning is what Hon. Awaji-Inimbel Abiante and his clan of cheer clappers, backbenchers and nitwits in the Green Chamber. It is not discernible in any conceivable way how scrapping the NYSC is a substitute or remedy to curing the nation’s insecurity pandemonium and scourge.

And determined to push a self-serving and nonsensical argument beyond the threshold of absurdity, the sponsors of the NYSC repeal Act questioned the rationale for the overdependence of private and public agencies for jobs and roles that these agencies should ordinarily have engaged the serving corps members in gainful employment. The legislators frowned at the poor remuneration, from employers’ who hire the services of corps members, only to discard them after the mandatory one-year service scheme.

From the periphery, one is tempted to believe, the Reps members are truly concerned that Nigerians earn poor wages and remunerations’ which has saliently echoed in the parliamentary discourse on scrapping of the NYSC. Yet, this is the same parliament which turned down President Muhammadu Buhari’s a mere N55,000 (fifty-five thousand) proposal for new minimum wage for Nigerian public servants. Rether, it approved a paltry N33, 000 (thirty-three thousand). There should be a limit to hypocrisy.

However, the national parliament has not told Nigerians the real reasons they want the NYSC scrapped. But it is extremely poor outing for the Green Chambers which has pleasurably declined increasing the budget of Nigerian Military in the age of insurgency and still grappling with approvals for bills to establish community policing to complement conventional security to suddenly turn around to be so concerned by insecurities and feels scrapping NYSC scheme is the antidote to securing the lives of Nigerians.

There can be nothing so farcical than this! The flimsy excuses they have adduced for attempting to scrap the NYSC speak volumes about their incapacity to really comprehend the problems of Nigeria and the best ways to assist the executive arm of government resolve them.

Despite the security threats, to blanketly argue that NYSC members are denied employment by private and public establishments because of the near-free labour they offer while serving the nation is absolutely false. While it is utopian to think every corps member should be reabsorbed by his or her place of primary assignment, many lucky ones have had the opportunity to be returned after service since the inception of the scheme.

There are immutable records that corps members who have performed creditably or excelled in their places of primary assignment have gained employments by various establishments. The NYSC scheme has by far too many benefits to the participating youths and the nation for anybody to think of scrapping it.

These benefits have not faded and cannot be eclipsed in the psyche of Nigerians in the manner contemplated by the Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila-led House of Representatives. It is inappropriate now that the country is in dire need of national unity for the peaceful co-existence of Nigeria’s younger generation.

It is fair to assert that the mandate of the NYSC has not been fully utilized over the years. But the NYSC’s current leadership led by Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim is performing wonders with these young Nigerian graduates. His overhaul and repositioning of the scheme which has expanded opportunities of self-reliance and employment for ambitious Nigerian graduates is exceptional.

The incumbent NYSC Director General has either launched or reinvigorated the hitherto dead training and investments ventures of the scheme. The NYSC’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme, the one month’s practical skills training in the orientation course content for corps members during camps has assumed a pride of place.

Many young Nigerians have used the skills acquired during the orientation camp and savings in the course of service to establish private businesses or investments. Is this a scheme some Reps members are plotting to scrap at a time the FGN is scouting for every window to tackle the massive youth unemployment?

One of the main focus of the Buhari Presidency now is on diversification into agriculture to guarantee food security. Gen. Ibrahim has not only revamped moribund NYSC farms nationwide, which cultivates tens of thousands of hectares of lands , but has partnered and is still partnering agencies like the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA); Leventis Foundation Nigeria and the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation among hordes of others.

These organizations’ and agencies have offered serving corps members the rare opportunity of trainings as soil doctors and extension services workers; agricultural best practices and agro-allied linked ventures. These have the potential of spiral effects on agricultural activities in various communities across the country.

There are other ways envisaged by Gen. Ibrahim to assist the FGN tackle massive youth unemployment through the NYSC. A parley has reached advanced stages with relevant stakeholders to formally establish a legislation-backed NYSC Trust Fund. It is designed to source its funding from a percentage of profits of mega companies operating in Nigeria to among other things, financially empower passing out corps members for financial independence and private investments to become employers of labour, instead of employment seekers.

Just recently, at the 2018/2019 President’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) honours award ceremony, President Buhari offered automatic employments to ex-corps members in the Federal Civil Service. Others benefitted from scholarships to pursue post-graduate studies up to doctoral level in any university in Nigeria. These were ex-corps members who excelled in the four cardinal training programmes of the Scheme.

These are some of the benefits the Reps who sponsored the repulsive bill seeking to scrap the NYSC are tactically trying to deny Nigerian young graduates. It is sufficiently poor reasoning and an inexplicable daydreaming. Already, patriotic analysts’ are trumpeting that the haters and adversaries of President Buhari in the National Assembly are trying to set another trap for him with the idea of scrapping NYSC. It would generate massive criticisms of his failures again. Mr. President must be wary of the black sheep tacitly, but assiduously working to ruin his administration.

The sponsors of the repugnant bill on NYSC are the undisguised enemies of the Nigerian youths.They are the same parliamentarians who kicked against the idea and funding of President Buhari’s youth and the less privileged empowerment initiatives’ under the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP). They are back again, in another garments and Nigerians must rise up to secure their country from these saboteurs.

Ibekwe is a public affairs analyst and wrote this piece from Enugu.

The bill to amend the 1999 constitution to discontinue the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme is an evil plot against Nigerian youths and not in the interest of the nation, a civil society group has said.

Kicking against the move, the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) said the purveyors of conflict and agents of destabilisation are at work to earnestly set the country up in flames.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, Executive Secretary, Comrade Isaac Ikpa said the relevance of the scheme to contemporary Nigeria can't be overemphasised.

Established on May 22, 1973, by the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon under Decree No. 24 of 1973, the
the primary objective was to reconcile and reintegrate Nigerians after the civil war.

But the lawmaker representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers State, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, had argued that the scheme has overstayed its usefulness.

In reaction, Comrade Ikpa said that the scheme has instead evolved over the years in fulfilling its mandate of bridging ethnic and religious divisions and fostering the spirit of Nigerian nationalism.

He noted that thousands of young Nigerian graduates still look forward to participating in the one-year mandatory service.

According to Ikpa, the scheme also provides most youths with the opportunity for self-reliance in preparation for life ahead through the allowances paid and the experiences they go through.

Describing the move as "anti-youth, anti-people and misplaced", he added that it is targeted at removing the last institutional framework for national stability and cohesion to satisfy the criminal mindset of a few Nigerians hiding in the National Assembly as lawmakers.

He, therefore, called on all well-meaning Nigerians to "see this attempt as an affront to our sensibilities by a select few that are hell-bent on destabilising the youthful population in Nigeria, which on its own is a recipe for conflict".

The CSO urged all Nigerians to mobilise in their large number to stop the bill as quickly as possible, adding that if there is any crucial moment in history to reinforce the essence of the exercise, it's now.

It, however, called on the leadership of the National Assembly to put the interest of the country at heart and halt further deliberations on the grossly ill-informed bill.

The CSO also urged the Federal Government to do all within its means to ensure that those against the interest of the country do not succeed in disorienting its youthful population.

Read the full statement below:

This is indeed a sad chapter in the book of our dear country in the sense that it has become evident that the purveyors of conflict and the agents of destabilization are at work to earnestly set the country up in flames by muting the idea of scrapping the National Youth Service Scheme.

The relevance of the NYSC in contemporary Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. That the NYSC has evolved over the years in fulfilling its mandate of bridging ethnic and religious divisions in Nigeria and fostering the spirit of Nigerian nationalism is a statement of fact.

It is, therefore, worrisome that some vested interest would attempt to push for the scrapping of such as initiative that is well-grounded to address the various ethnic and religious agitations and tensions in the country.

It is, therefore, the considered view of the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency that the call for the scrapping of the NYSC is not only disjointed, it is also of poor taste and a puerile attempt at plunging the country into a crisis of unimaginable proportion.

It is also our considered view that the selfish proponents of the Bill seeking for the scrapping of the NYSC failed to realize that hundreds of thousands of young Nigerian graduates look forward to participating in the one-year mandatory service.

They also failed to realize that the one year service year provides most youths with the opportunity for self-reliance in preparation for life ahead through the allowances paid to them and the experiences they go through in their service year.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency is therefore alarmed that the Bill seeking for the scrapping of the NYSC has reached second reading in the House of Representatives. This is indicative that patriotism in Nigeria has been thrown to the dogs.

It is also indicative that some people have sold their souls to the devil in return for a plate of porridge hence the inglorious attempt at seeking for the scrapping of such an initiative that is more needed and relevant in the country now in the critical point of our existence where there have been politically motivated calls for separation in various parts of the country.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency states unequivocal terms that the Bill is anti-youth, anti-people, misplaced and targeted at removing the last institutional framework for national stability and national cohesion to satisfy the criminal mindset of a few Nigerians hiding in the National Assembly as lawmakers.

As a result of the press conference calling on all well-meaning Nigerians to see this attempt as an affront to our sensibilities by a select few that are hell-bent on destabilizing the youthful population in Nigeria, which on its own is a recipe for conflict.

We strongly believe that the agents seeking to destabilize the country are behind the Bill and call on all Nigerians to mobilize in their large number to stop the Bill as quickly as possible because if there is any crucial moment in history to reinforce the essence of the Scheme, it's now.

It remains our stance that the contributions of the NYSC to the country's socio-economic development remain outstanding. This is also because the NYSC has evolved over the years and well-positioned to give the youths an avenue to realize their potentials through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programme.

We also wish to repeat that the NYSC is set up deliberately to advance national cohesion and unity. And if there's any crucial moment in history to reinforce the essence of the Scheme, it's now. This much all well-meaning Nigerians and relevant stakeholders must come to terms with to see the folly in the call the scrapping of such a laudable initiative.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency states that scrapping the NYSC would be a fundamental blunder. As such, it must cease to be a topic of discussion. We are calling on the leadership of the National Assembly to put the interest of the country at heart at this critical point of our existence.

The leadership of the National Assembly must halt further deliberations on the grossly ill-informed Bill seeking for the scrapping of the NYSC. They must rise above political considerations as the peculiarities of time require the sincerity of heart and purpose.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency is also calling on parents and guardians to join their voice in condemning this ignoble call in the national interest. We also call on other concerned stakeholders to lend their voices as well.

We are also calling on the federal government to do all within its means to ensure that those against the interest of the country do not succeed in disorienting the youthful population of Nigeria, as the country cannot stand any youth upheaval that might arise if the NYSC is scrapped.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency supports the laudable initiatives in the NYSC, and our commitment to the sustenance of the NYSC remains unflinching.
Thank you all for your time and attention.

By Atim Atedze

The National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC) has come of age so much so that the institution's gains cannot be quantified in the country's socio-economic life. So much has been written and said about the scheme regarding its contribution to the country's socio-economic development.

And this is where it stands in commemoration of the 48th anniversary of the existence of the NYSC and what it represents as an institution designed to promote national unity amongst the teeming youthful population in the country. The NYSC was created to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war. One of the objectives of the NYSC is to contribute to the accelerated growth of the national economy.

After the Nigerian Civil War ended in 1970, as part of the "3R" program—reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation—the government created the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to bridge ethnic and religious divisions in Nigeria and foster the spirit of Nigerian nationalism. General Yakubu Gowon, the military head of state, created the NYSC as one of many ways to achieve national unity in Nigeria. The program is a mandatory one-year service to the country after completing a first degree for youths below the age of thirty. Participation is a prerequisite for admission into graduate schools and employment in Nigeria.

The question that thus arises is, has the NYSC been successful in achieving its primary objective of "developing common ties among the Nigerian youths and promoting national unity and integration?" For all its faults, the answer is still yes. By posting “corpers" to unfamiliar places to interact with people from different backgrounds, the NYSC brings together Nigerian youths from diverse socio-economic and ethno-religious backgrounds. This helps bridge the ethnic and religious divisions in the nation by providing exposure to other ethnic groups, which is a positive step towards building a stronger nation.

The scheme also aids social integration by providing opportunities for cross-cultural interaction that has led to inter-tribal marriages, helping to reduce inter-ethnic stereotypes and suspicions prevalent during the period after the war. The scheme further serves as an employment buffer by offering employment to recently graduated youths. Some places of deployments retain the "corpers," thereby aiding economic integration in the country. Likewise, NYSC fosters a sense of patriotism among Nigerian youths; participation is regarded as obeying the clarion call to serve the fatherland. This position still stands and needed given the prevailing circumstances where the country has witnessed sentiments along ethnic and religious lines.



I know some would argue that the scheme has outlived its usefulness; some would also say that the scheme's objectives ought to be rejigged to reflect the realities of the time in the country. These positions are valid and at the same time invalid because the proponents of the above stated have narrowly missed how the NYSC has evolved over the years to be that engine room for the socio-economic development of the country.

As an aside, the NYSC is what every young Nigerian graduate looks forward to yearly. I dare say that most parents and guardians also have a sense of fulfilment when they see their children and wards kitted in the NYSC khaki uniform. To say it brings joy and a sense of pride would be an understatement. The corps members themselves relish every moment during their participation in the scheme.

The NYSC of yesterday is not the same as the NYSC of today in the sense that a lot has changed. The NYSC of today has evolved into a skills and entrepreneurship development scheme where corps members are availed the unique opportunity to contribute their quota to the country's development. For example, the NYSC has a Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme in place to facilitate access to requisite skills and resources necessary for successful entrepreneurship.

The SAED programme is targeted at young Nigerian graduates deployed for the one-year mandatory service and designed to be implemented during the required camping exercises (in–camp) and throughout the service year (post-camp). Corps members will be encouraged to learn in-demand industry skills, position themselves to become value creators, and leverage career and business start-up opportunities.

The SAED programme, in my opinion, supports the federal government's aim to catalyze economic transformation through the promotion of entrepreneurship and self-reliance, particularly among youth. While corps members are encouraged to start a business in any field of their liking, SAED emphasizes twelve vocational skill sectors, including within the agri-food sector, tourism, construction, information and communications technology and education. This, we must admit, wasn't the case many years back, and this tells us that the NYSC is evolving to meet the peculiarities of time.

Also, the welfare of corps members has been prioritized by successive administrations. If we do not know, the monthly allowance paid to corp members goes a long way for many families. This is where I commend the present Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, for his numerous innovations in the scheme over the years, which in my opinion, is a function of leadership.

Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has redefined the concept of leadership through his sterling performance at the NYSC. And today, the NYSC is robust in its programmes and impactful in its contributions to national development.
A good example of his sterling leadership is signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger State, on the training of Corps Members and Staff on modern farming methods. This is indeed brilliant given the vast potentials for wealth creation in the agricultural sector.

The NYSC DG was also recently commended for ensuring the improvement of staff and corps welfare, involvement of Corps members in COVID-19 Interventions, active participation of corps members in National assignments, especially election duties, Skills Acquisition, resuscitation of NYSC Ventures and enhancement of security network for corps members among others. And many more innovations too numerous to mention.

As the NYSC clocks 48, all relevant stakeholders must continue to extend their support to the scheme for optimal performance. The peculiarities of time require this, and it consequently beholds on well-meaning Nigerians to make the NYSC impactful in the country's socio-economic development. I say hurray to NYSC at 48.

Atedze wrote this piece from Lagos.

By Idoko Ainoko

Wonders, as they say, shall never come to an end. I was taken aback when I stumbled on a news item on Sahara Reporters alleging that the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, during his time in office entitlements under the Uniform and Boots Allowance and Scarce Skills Allowance approved by President Muhammadu Buhari since November 2017 have not been paid by the army authorities, then under the former Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (retd.).

Initially, I struggled to make sense of the story, which forced me to read carefully until the end. But I could not get the import of the story. Instead, I was confronted with a poorly written story laced with mischief and intended for character assassination. And my conclusion was that there was no sense in the story.

However, I was constrained to pen this article because of the danger such bare-faced lies could have on the psyche of members of the unsuspecting general public. The story is absolute balderdash and a typical Sahara reporters style of maligning individuals and organizations in return for a plate of porridge.

This trend must stop as it is not in the interest of the generality of Nigerians but that of a select few who are bent on truncating our nascent democracy in fulfilment of their evil desire to set the country up in flames.

Having stated the above, it is essential to highlight the fact that in the annals of the Nigerian Army, never was there a time where the financial books of the Nigeria Army were subjected to rigorous scrutiny, than during the tenure of the former Chief of Army Staff. And he didn’t disappoint.

So, in my opinion, it is most despicable and an act of sheer wickedness for anyone or group to allege that monies and allowances meant for troops were not given to them under whatever guise. Just in case Sahara reporters and their promoters are not aware, under the Buratai leadership, it is on record that the Nigerian Army experienced tremendous infrastructural development that includes but not limited to the building of hospitals to cater for the medical needs of officers and soldiers, as well as their families, massive renovation of command secondary schools across the country, the establishment of the Nigerian Army University and also, the renovation of army barracks across the country.

I deliberately mentioned the above achievements to give us an idea of how the former Chief of Army Staff placed the welfare of officers and soldiers on a premium by undertaking projects that directly impact on their lives and that of their families. Since assumption of office, the former COAS on annual basis through his welfare programme evacuated over 70 personnel, spouses and retired personnel for medical treatment annually. He instituted a medical insurance for all category of officers and soldiers including treatment abroad.


The question thus is if a man with such foresight and disposition could embark on such projects, why would that same man cheat his troops? The narrative is not connecting, and it can only be misguided and meant for mischief purposes.

I also wish to state that with the successes recorded in the fight against insurgency, it would have been impossible for the troops to record such feats if their allowances are left unpaid for upward five years as alleged by Sahara reporters and their co-travellers. This new move by Sahara reporters is not only uncharitable; in my opinion, it is nothing but a distractive tool designed by the promoters of violence in Nigeria to cause a distraction so that they can have the time to regroup and wreak havoc in the country.

It is also a statement of fact that under the leadership of Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, the Nigerian Army witnessed an enviable upliftment in its operational procedures and an emphasis on improved welfare for troops. So much so he was nicknamed the soldiers' soldier. This same man would pass the night in the trenches with soldiers and eat from the same pot with them.

It is the same man that pays unscheduled visits to his troops on the battlefield. It is the same man that organizes feasts for soldiers during festive seasons in the theatre of operations and other parts of the country where operations are conducted. I can go on non-stop because here was a general that connected well with his troops at all times. And for the records, if the allegations peddled by Sahara reporters were true, there would have been no way the officers and soldiers would have kept quiet for that long.


I dare say it is not possible because the Tukur Buratai era in the Nigerian Army was characterized by transparency, accountability and improved fiscal policies that contributed mainly to the successes recorded in the prosecution of the war against terrorism and other acts of criminalities across the country. Under Tukur Buratai, the Nigerian Army opened its financial records for scrutiny under a Freedom of Information request by a group of civil society organizations. And as we all know, the outcome was a commendation for entrenching a fiscal discipline regime in the Nigerian Army.

At this point, I do not think I should go further because it's unnecessary given the realization that this also is another campaign to discredit one of the best that has led the Nigerian Army to the best of his ability, and his records stand tall. Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai ( rtd) remains a legend. In the annals of the Nigerian Army, there has never been a time where the Chief of Army Staff connected effortlessly with his troops. And this is because he prioritized their welfare and not what Sahara reporters and their promoters want the unsuspecting members of the general public to believe.

At this point, I would advise those that are envious of the Tukur Buratai years in the Nigerian Army to do themselves well by coming to terms with the reality that Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai was an example in service to the country.

Ainoko wrote this piece from Kaduna.

Tinubu Support Group ( TSG), has expressed deep shock over the report of a fatal air crash of a Nigerian Air Force plane conveying the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru, and other military personnel on Friday, near the Kaduna International Airport.

Tinubu Support Group, in a condolence message issued by it's Director General, Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, also commiserated with the Nigerian Armed Forces and Mr President on the demise of “distinguished and professional officers.’’

The Group stated that the fallen heroes had demonstrated incredible courage and leadership, including during turbulent times in the fight against insecurity.

According to the group, the late Officers will be fondly remembered for their dedication and commitment as military officers; and their numerous landmark contributions to Nigeria’s unity and development.

Tinubu Support Group urged the bereaved families, friends and associates to honour the fallen soldiers memory by upholding their invaluable sacrifices for a peaceful and united Nigeria.

The group prayed that Almighty God would comfort all who mourned the fallen soldiers, and grant their soul perfect peace.

The Nigeria First movement says a grand plot is underway to blackmail the immediate past Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd) and other recently retired service chiefs.

According to the group, a well-orchestrated campaign of calumny is already in motion with a report aimed to denigrate their personalities and incredible track record while in service to the country.

Nigeria First made the revelation at a press conference on Friday in Abuja.

In his address, Secretary-General, Comrade Richard Adie Augustine said it is alarmed that such a plot could be hatched despite the tremendous sacrifices of the former service chiefs in addressing the country's security challenges.

The group rubbished reports which claimed allowances of soldiers and officers under the Manual of Financial Administration for the Armed Forces of Nigeria 2017 (MAFA) had not been paid since 2017.

Augustine noted that Buratai, in particular, not only responded to a Freedom of Information request by a coalition of civil society organizations led by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Enough is Enough (EiE), and BudgIT, requesting information on spending on military operations across the country but received credit from the groups.

Nigeria First, therefore, concluded that this is indeed the height of mischief that all well-meaning citizens must resist as it is tantamount to insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians.

Describing the former COAS as an "incorruptible Nigerian", Comrade Augustine added that he and others should be regarded as heroes of our democracy for their efforts at entrenching transparency and accountability while in office.

The group, however, urged Nigerians to disregard these recent attacks for lacking in merit and yet again another puerile attempt at giving them a bad name in envy of their track records while in service.

Read the full statement below:

The Leadership of Nigeria First welcomes you all to the important press conference put together in light of the recent campaign of calumny launched by some despicable elements bent on dragging the immediate past service chiefs into a disjointed narrative all in a bid to malign their character and rubbish the numerous successes recorded by the Nigerian Military during their tenures.

Nigeria First is alarmed that such a campaign could be hatched given the tremendous sacrifices of the immediate past service chiefs in addressing the security challenges in the country during their tenures.

This, in our considered opinion, is a sad tale in the sense that it is capable of setting a dangerous precedent where those that sacrificed and devoted their time and energy in service to Nigeria would be rubbished by some disgruntled elements all in a bid to score cheap political points at the detriment of national development.

While we are not surprised by this despicable campaign, Nigeria First, as an organization devoted to promoting the ideals of good governance and the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria, is duty-bound to lend its voice by outright condemning this anomaly in the collective interest of the country.

It also suffices to add that under the immediate past service chiefs, the welfare of troops took a front burner through improved remuneration and a general improvement of the living conditions of officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Nigeria First wishes to state that the report indicating that allowances of soldiers and officers under the Manual of Financial Administration for the Armed Forces of Nigeria 2017 (MAFA) had not been paid since 2017 remains a figment of the imagination of the propagators of the campaign as under no circumstances could such happen given the transparent way and manner the finances of the Nigerian Army was administered during the tenure of the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai ( Rtd).

Nigeria First consequently wonders how allowances of soldiers and officers would be left unpaid over five years, and t would go undetected given the periodic scrutiny of the expenditure of the Nigerian Army in the prosecution of the war against terrorism and other acts of criminalities across the country.

It is thus becoming evident that the promoters of the campaign of calumny did not do their homework well to realize that under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Nigerian Army indeed responded to a Freedom of Information request by a coalition of civil society organizations led by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Enough is Enough (EiE), and BudgIT, requesting for information on spending on military operations across the country, particularly in the Northeast.

We wish to state that not only was the request honoured, but the coalition of civil society groups also went further to commend the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, wherein it stated that "while we ascertain the level of compliance of the information provided, we welcome Mr Buratai’s demonstrated commitment to the Freedom of Information Act by responding to our request."

Accordingly, the coalition of civil society groups went further to state that “a quick look at the documentation shows a list of several projects implemented by the Nigerian Army. Among those listed and displayed, which appeared to show certain projects the Nigerian Army said it carried out with budgeted funds, include: places where operations were carried out; renovation of barracks and military hospitals, spending to honour late soldiers; training and workshops; repairs of some old military equipment; and completion of offices and housing projects. Others are feeding of soldiers; building of new barracks and schools; acquisition of arms and ammunition and vehicles for military operations; as well as provision of welfare for soldiers."

It is thus baffling what the promoters of the recent campaign to malign the personalities of the former service chiefs stand to benefit when the records are there for all and sundry to peruse at any given time. Nigeria First wishes to state that this is indeed the height of mischief that all well-meaning Nigerians must resist as it is tantamount to insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians.

It is also a statement that the performance of the former service chiefs while in office remains outstanding. It would be in the best interest of the promoters of the recent campaign of calumny to desist forthwith and instead accord the former service chiefs the respect they deserve for their numerous sacrifices while in office.

Nigeria First, as an organization wishes to put it on record that the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai ought to be regarded as one of the heroes of our democracy in Nigeria for his efforts at entrenching transparency and accountability while in office.

Nigeria First as a critical stakeholder in Nigeria wishes to use this medium to inform members of the general public to disregard the recent attack launched against the former service chiefs as it is dead on arrival for lacking in merit and yet, again another puerile attempt at giving them a bad name in envy of their track records while in service.

Nigeria First, as an organization, reckons with the fact that the former Chief of Army Stagg, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai, remains an incorruptible Nigerian who would never deny anyone his rights and privileges as well as earned entitlements.

We stand by this position and wish to advise those bent on castigating him to desist from such uncharitable endeavours as a matter of urgency and necessity. This despicable campaign of calumny must stop.

We thank you all for your time and attention, and God bless.

By Steven Onwu

Purposeful leadership can do wonders. It can turn things around in a twinkle of an eye. And it can make tedious tasks seem simple. The aforementioned aptly describes the Yakubu Pam adventure in the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission since he assumed leadership some months ago.

I have been a fan of Rev Yakubu Pam for his numerous contributions to the entrenchment of peaceful coexistence amongst Nigerians. This much he has diligently pursued in the past 30 years of his life, where he has been advocating for religious and ethnic harmony, especially in Northern Nigeria. Rev Yakubu Pam is not a stranger to leadership. Hence, he hit the ground running since his well-deserved appointment as Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission. It is sufficient to add that before his appointment; he was the Chairman of the Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Board, a position where he distinguished himself by introducing institutional reforms that placed the Board in good stead towards achieving its strategic mandate.

This much Rev Yakubu Pam has brought about in the NCPC. It is therefore not surprising that in less than one year at the helm of affairs, his impact has been felt, and the fortunes of the Commission have taken a turn for the best.

This is what I call the Yakubu Pam magic, which was not surprising to some of us that have followed his success story for several years. He is a man with many parts, and he is also a man filled with passion for service to humanity.
I recall that it was stated in some quarters that Yakubu Pam would reinvigorate the operations of the NCPC within a record time. Even though some quarters expressed reservations, he has proven all those that expressed reservations wrong with his sterling performance at the NCPC.
If not for anything, Rev Yakubu Pam has entrenched the regime of transparency and accountability at the Commission, which has been a challenge in the Commission's operations for several years. That it has become possible within a short period indeed explains the leadership acumen of Rev Yakubu Pam and what it entails to be a leader with eyes on the ball.
Today, the NCPC is a success story. It results from the provision of sound leadership and a commitment to render service when it matters most, with the example of Rev Yakubu Pam, I dare say that Nigeria can overcome its challenges if those in leadership positions tend to lead with sincerity of heart and purpose.

The Yakubu Pam revolution at the NCPC was naturally expected because of his track record that speaks volume of integrity, accountability and transparency. His vast knowledge of diplomacy saw him excel in the position of Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of Northern Nigeria (which includes the 19 Northern States and Abuja) from 2016 to date, Vice President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, 2013 to date and District Superintendent, Jos mainland Assemblies of Nigeria, 2010 to date, including as Chairman, Plateau State Inter-Religious Council; and Chairman, Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Committee, Plateau State, were contributory of how he has been able to turn the fortunes of the NCPC around and in record time.
I cannot but commend President Muhammadu Buhari for identifying such a man as Rev. Yakubu Pam for a leadership position in the country. I do not doubt that he has not only reposed the confidence of Mr President, he has also set a standard for leadership in the country. This much has been stated in numerous forums by relevant stakeholders, whom have never been short of words for the transformation at the NCPC under Rev. Yakubu Pam.

Rev Yakubu Pam falls under the category of silent achievers whose impact doesn't dot pages of newspapers. However, silently, they are making exploits and making life more meaningful through the provision of purposeful leadership, as with the case of the NCPC, whose fortunes has taken a turn for the better.
And the commendations have continued to pour in from home and abroad for the man nicknamed the Apostle of Transformation by stakeholders for obvious reasons associated with his stewardship at the NCPC. And one whose coming has redeemed the image of the Commission.
I can't but charge Rev Yakubu Pam to continue to render selfless service to humanity in the light of the above. He should not rest on his oars and refuse every temptation to deviate from the lofty standards he has set in the areas of transparency and accountability.
I also want the relevant stakeholders to realize that the task at hand is a collective one. As such, it is worth extending their support to the reforms introduced by the Yakubu Pam led administration at the NCPC.
I can go on non-stop on Yakubu Pam’s transformational leadership at the NCPC. However, the lessons that should resonate are that in all that we do as a people and as a country, sound and purposeful leadership remain that magic wand needed to translate our hopes and aspirations into tangible realities. At this point, I would say well-done to Rev Yakubu Pam.

Onwu is a civil rights activist and wrote from Badagry.

Children Day 2021: Shine Band Music, Mariam Ashely Yusuf Foundation Pays Courtesy Visit to Emir of FCT disable colony in Abuja.


By: Benedict Aguele


May 27th Every year in Nigeria is declared a public holiday for Primary and Secondary school children.

The observance of Children's Day in Nigeria is aimed to raise public awareness of problems, that children face. About 42% of the Nigerian population are children and 1/3 of children aged from 6 to 14 don't go to schools. Many children leave schools for different purposes and children's rights are often violated. Unfortunately, the government of Nigeria doesn't make much to solve the problems connected with children's right violation and the inadequate system of education.

Mariam Ashley Yusuf Foundation a Non-Governmental Organisation in partnership with Shine Band Music has decided this year to host a charity concert for the children in FCT disable colony karamajiji, Abuja.


The organizers of the charity concert Founder, Shine Band Music Ventures, Mr. Smokey Timi Abajor and Founder, Mariam Ashley Yusuf Foundation, Ms. Mariam Ashley Yusuf, and members of their team paid a courtesy visit to the Emir FCT disable colony karamajiji a suburb in Abuja, to intimate him of the plan to host a charity concert in his community.

The Emir and members of his council received the team warmly while lauding the initiative of the organizers he also prayed for the success of the event and thank them for the gesture.


In a brief speech by the organizers of the charity concert thank the emir and members of his council for the warm reception and went further to say they decided to organize the charity concert for the kids living in the community to celebrate and show them love, care, and attention and also educate them on the importance of education.

By: Arowolo Solomon Alaba

When he became Lagos State Governor in 1999 after three decades of military dictatorship, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed
Tinubu inherited what amounted to a nearly failed state. Over the course of eight years, his administration
promoted a consistent pattern of reforms to promote development, resuscitate the state’s value systems, and restore
its image. In 2007 Babatunde Raji Fashola, who was Tinubu’s chief of staff, succeeded him as governor with the
same consistent approach.

Today, many Nigerian's dream is to visit Lagos after which they grow the thought of moving to London. This shows how Lagos have evolved over time, becoming the London of Nigeria.

In the year 1999 when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sworn in as the executive governor of Lagos state. Though the popular Lagos city was one of the most dirtiest state in Nigeria, no wonder Idris Abdulkareem shot the video of controversial song " Nigeria jagajaga" in Lagos.
Tinubu changed the narrative of Lagos state, he reformed Lagos state from being a state used as a frontier of backwardness.

He brought up a blueprint which today has transformed Lagos state from not just becoming the most developed in Nigeria but also the fourth richest when compared to other nations in Africa.

The blueprint which has given birth to the implementation of several institutional reforms through the creation of new agencies in
the areas of transport, resource mobilisation, urban environmental management, and sewerage and waste
management. These agencies include the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Lagos State
Water Authority, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Lagos State Emergency Management
Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Emergency Medical Services (LASEMS), Lagos State Ambulance Services, and
Lagos State Microfinance Institution (LASMI).

After Asiwaju's two terms in 2003, Lagos state has continued to develop through the patterns of the Blueprint , no wonder he said " I am a talent hunter. I put talents in office, I help them". This shows that the beauty of a steady developing state lies within the succession of power.

Compared with other states in the country, Lagos now occupies a special position in terms of quality leadership and development. Outside Lagos, there is hardly anywhere in the country where a semblance of governance is taking place simply because the quality of leadership is very abysmally low; and without effective leadership nothing meaningful can be achieved.

Tinubu provided good leadership by laying out the broad development framework for the state; his immediate successor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Akinwumi Ambode took it a notch higher by providing practical expression and direction to the plan, while Mr. Babatunde Sanwo-Olu has taken to it an unprecedented level.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu a clever political operator with a passion for getting the job done and a knack for picking bright, committed technocrats to do it.
Arowolo Solomon Alaba
Member, Tinubu Support Group

By Samson Ayuba

I was scared to turn on my radio this morning for fear of listening to another terrible news. The state of insecurity in my beloved country Nigeria has drastically worsened. The one peaceful country is now being gradually torn apart from its insides by the demon called insecurity. Every Nigerian citizen has now been forced to live in constant fear. The country is now bedeviled by jihadist insurgency in the northeast, separatists attacking security forces in the southeast and multiple kidnappings in the northwest.

For long have we known that Security across Nigeria is challenged, with many insurgents' groups in the north far from defeated, a seeming resurgence of a low-level insurrection in the oil patch, ongoing conflict in the middle of the country over water and land use that sometimes acquires ethnic and religious dimensions, and a general wave of criminality around the country.

Should we say that, "the obvious escalation of banditry and terrorism which has been greatly subdued during and since after the 2019 elections, is now a facade in the hands of this present service chiefs?"

The question we ask now is , given the complexity of the present security challenges we thought was missing in the efforts of the former service chiefs, What have their successors done to ensure success and restore confidence of Nigerians in the security architecture ?

We all know that their appointment came amid calls by Nigerians on the government to urgently address the security challenges we are facing. But with what we are experiencing in just few weeks after the appointment of the new chiefs, Isn't all these calling for an act of apology to the former Chiefs?


The question one would ask is, "what are the service chiefs doing at this critical time when the country is plagued with endless security crises?"
Bandits and terrorists have now taken over the country and now use it as their playground for hunting and shooting practice. The painful thing is that they carry out their atrocious acts so confidently that you wonder if the country has no security present in it. Kidnapping and senseless killings have now become the order of the day in the country known to the whole world as the giant of Africa.

The number of incident reports from the press recently is alarming. Just recently, news broke of the abduction of several students at Greenfield University in Kaduna State. Two of the abducted students were killed shortly after their abduction while three more dead bodies of those kidnapped were found three days later in a village close to the University. Earlier that day, there had also been a report of attacks by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), in Borno and Yobe States in which several people were killed and over two thousand residents fled their homes. This was a follow up to the abduction of nine students in Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State. Several incidents of killings kidnappings were also reported that same day Kaduuna, Oyo and Osun states.

The violence in the country reached an all time high on the 26th of Apri, the day in which there were many killings in several parts of the country such as Niger, Benue, Kebbi, Yobe, Lagos, Anambra, Imo and Lagos States. Many described that day as "Black Monday." The Nigerian military were not spared by the killings as the following day, several security personnel were killed by unknown gunmen in Rivers State.

There has been growing anger amongst the public over the recent increase in violence in the country. The citizens of Nigeria have begun to lose their faith in the Nigerian military. The economic state of the country has been greatly crippled thanks to the bold terrorists and bandits. Banditry and terrorism has made it very difficult for farmers to farm and also transport their produce. Foreign investors have begun to have second thoughts on investing in the country.

The efforts put in by the past service chiefs are commendable. They might not have completely defeated terrorism and banditry in Nigeria, but they did their very best to combat insecurity in the nation. In contrast to the action of the current service chiefs, I remember the former Chief of Amy Staff of Nigeria, General Tukur Buratai who relocated to the north-east which was the forefront of the battle against terrorism This gallant act of his helped boost the morale of the army which lead to the defeat of a significant number of terrorist elements and restored hope to the people of that region.

The current service chiefs should take some lessons from the past service chiefs who gave their best at the warfront. They should wake up from their slumber and lead the armed forces to win the war against insecurity in the nation. I cal on the service chiefs to remember wars are never fought in their homes or offices. The war is fought on the battlefield therefore; they must rise to their feet and lead their soldiers to the battlefield.

They should come up with plans and strategies to deal an effective counter attack against insurgents and Bandits. They must now hearken to the cries and the wails of the Nigerian people and carry out the mandate assigned to them by the president. They made several promises, but words are nothing without actions. They must act now and make the country a safer place to live in.

Some of the very overzealous officers who were eager to become chiefs had made several promises to their godfathers on how best to protect citizens of the country but are now failing terribly. In their bid to become service chiefs, they turned the armed forces into a political arena and after being appointed service chiefs, they have suddenly gone AWOL in the theatre of war. Several men of the armed forces are now being brutally murdered. The numbers of security forces being brutally murdered daily has risen to an all time high. Soldiers now run from terrorists like rats into their holes. The battle against terrorism which the country was previously winning is now engulfing the country. Thousands of innocent Nigerian citizens have been displaced from their homes and are now moving into various IDP centres across the country.

The current service chiefs seem clueless as to what to do to lift the nation up from the pit of crisis that it is gradually falling into. They are nowhere to be found in the face of the war against banditry and terrorism. The service chiefs have suddenly turned to special assistants to the NSA and Chief Details to the Defence Minister, roles which they were not appointed for. They are expected to be forefront of the action leading the army and not reveling in their various mansions while our patriotic soldiers are being mercilessly slaughtered.

Instead of seeing Boko Haram and other terror groups as the enemies, Nigerians are being manipulated into seeing the military as their enemy while inconsequential differences like religion and ethnicity are highlighted to the zenith, not knowing that our gallant soldiers are being plummeted in battle like rats into sands, our territories are being taken on daily basis by Boko Haram and the battle which we were once winning under the previous chiefs has now overtaken the country.

However , at the bottom of it all is that Nigerians want to be secure from increasing attacks by kidnappers, bandits , Boko Haram insurgents and criminal herders , among others, which they felt the former service chiefs could not guarantee.

Our citizens are gnashing their teeth in pains, starvation is of high increase due to stolen farm lands by these bandits through their bloody oppressions, and people have been moving into IDPs Centre across the country because of the fear of loosing more loved ones.

We plead with our new service chiefs to take up the mantles that were placed in their hands. Our flag is green and white, History shouldn't put it to their face that they painted it "RED" during their time.

Our new service chiefs should know that they are leaders of war against insurgency, they must be ready to lead from the front. They must wake up to go beyond words by staying with our troops in the theatre of war. Our troops need the moral and support to fight, they need your presence to remain gallant in every confrontations.

President Buhari has always been giving his unrelenting effort in cash and kind, in support of seeing an end to Terrorism and banditry in the country.

He once said "We have a lot of work ahead of us and some of the things not said is to not compromise the security and the efforts being put by the law enforcement agencies. But, really, we are acutely aware of our responsibilities. Our responsibility is to secure the country, so we have a lot of work to do.

I plead with our service chiefs not to frustrate his invested efforts. We need action, we want solutions, and we want result.
God bless the President,
God bless Nigeria.

Ayuba contributed this piece from Lokoja.