₦airaland Forum

The 15th of January was the anniversary of the massacre of northern leaders during the first coup of 1966. In commemoration of the day, the Arewa Research and Development Project and the Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation organised a workshop on the North and the challenge of leadership. The problematic was clear, over the past two decades; successive sets of elected officials have ended up pauperizing the citizens, deepening corruption, and dividing the country along its fault lines. The outcome is that poverty has more than doubled, state and federal institutions are collapsing; insecurity is increasing and becoming systemic; structured and horizontal violence is becoming the norm, the economy is down, unable to pick up much less create jobs. Even more serious is the reality that our societies are decomposing and the confidence of citizens in democracy is waning. Most political leaders appear increasingly clueless and unable to provide any solution. In all these developments, the North is the worst hit.

For too long, poor leadership has been the bane of development in Nigeria, more so in the North were the caliber of leadership has been particularly poor. Clearly, the North has lost the tradition of leadership selection that could produce people who have a sense of values that could orient governance towards public service. According to Dr. Usman Bugaje, the worst elements in society, the most corrupt, the criminals and crooks, the scammers and 419 elements, the crass contractors with more money than sense and the products of nepotism constitute the bulk of the leadership in the North. Political parties have proved themselves to be totally incapable of choosing their best in leadership selection. Party congresses and conventions are routinely rigged or manipulated producing leaders that embody the worst in society.

The days of visionary leadership are gone and citizen action is urgently required to improve the caliber of leaders. The keynote speaker, Professor Alkasum Abba drew attention to what he called the erroneous impression that Sir Ahmadu Bello was a lackey of the British colonialists. He argued that on the contrary, the British tried to remove him from power because he had a mind of his own and would only do what he thought was right. He pointed out that in the build up to the First Republic, leaders were chosen from among those who had shown their capacity within the system of Native Administration and could therefore be assessed on their leadership qualities. Today, people who have never exercised leadership at any level of society could emerge as legislators or even governors.

In his classic lecture on leadership qualities - “Mutumin Kirki: The Concept of the Good Man in Hausa Society”; Anthony Kirk-Green defined the attributes that people seek for in good leaders. They are truthfulness, compassion, integrity, trust and generosity for those in need. Wealth and material success were not considered important attributes in the selection of leaders. Today, those who can provide the biggest bribes for the biggest number emerge as our leaders and this culture must change. There was an overwhelming consensus in the conference that political leadership cannot remain the only job for which no qualification appears necessary except to have a lot of money, stolen money. It is clear that for as long as the current leadership recruitment continues for as long our troubles will continue. We have got to find a way to bring relevant criteria to bear on the selection of leadership. We have got to find a way of making character, competence and capacity to determine who leads.

During the 2015 General Elections, the ruling APC called on its members to adopt the principle of “APC sak”. Voters were called upon not to assess individual candidates but to vote for them simply because they were APC candidates. I recall that often, people were conflicted because they knew that some of the candidates chosen by APC were not suitable for leadership. Today, many are regretting that they were not more discerning in choosing their leaders. As we get closer to another circle of elections it is absolutely necessary to find a way out of this political culture of choosing the worst to govern. There has to be widespread discussions and debates on the types of qualities and qualifications people who aspire for leadership should have. The criteria to guide the choice of leaders at various levels of governance should be clearly articulated and advocacy should be organised to ensure that voters know them even at the grassroots.

One good thing in today’s Nigeria is that the integrity of our elections is improving steadily. This means that citizens who feel they have performed poorly could vote people who exercise leadership at any level out. Elected leaders who have devoted their time to steal public resources, refuse to pay workers’ salary or improve the welfare of people must be voted out of power for their failure in delivering good governance. The North, and indeed the country cannot afford to be naïve or complacent on this critical issue of leadership selection. Nigeria cannot continue to groan and watch the largest black nation going down the drain under inept and clueless leaders even if they are sons of the soil. Even more important, we cannot continue to lament in the comfort of friends and the privacy of our homes, while selfish and incompetent people destroy our nation. We must act to choose the leaders that we deserve and the time to act is now!

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/the-north-and-the-challenge-of-leadership.html

The Nigerian classification of being successful covers the way an individual makes his wealth and his spending style. It is because many rich individuals have made their wealth from wise and profitable investments but have a poor spending lifestyle.

But the case of Otunba Mike Adenuga can be said to be one that shows how to diligently invest, make fortunes and judiciously spend it.

Otunba Mike Adenuga is the second richest billionaire in Nigeria and fifth in Africa based on the Forbes’ Africa billionaires list of 2018.

He is presently worth $5.2 billion.

How he makes his wealth – Businesses and Investments

Otunba Mike Adenuga made his first major fortune at age 26 years for dealing in importation of lace and other clothing materials in 1970. Adenuga gave details of how he started the business of importing and distributing lace in Nigeria.
Aliko Dangote is Africa’s richest man for 2018, as Econet’s founder joins the billionaires' club play

Aliko Dangote is Africa’s richest man for 2018, as Econet’s founder joins the billionaires' club (Forbes)

“I went on a trip to New York and when I was coming back, I missed my flight, doing on British Airways. So I had to fly Swiss Air and I sat next to the owner of one of the biggest lace manufacturing factories in Austria. So, we were talking and he got me into the business of importing lace, and all sort of things.”

Contract from the Military government

During the regime of Ibrahim Babangida, Mike was awarded contracts to build military barracks and buy some military installations.

General Ibrahim Babangida Rtd described him as a good and loyal friend.

Oil and Gas Business

Adenuga ventured into oil & gas business in early 90s when the then minister of petroleum. Prof. Jubril Aminu came up with the policy of giving licenses to individuals and encourage private sector participation in the sector. Mike Adenuga was one of the beneficiaries of this policy.

His oil exploration company, Conoil Producing Limited, is currently operating six oil blocks in the Niger Delta.

Banking & Telecommunications Business

President John Mahama of Ghana (right) to Dr Mike Adenuga Jr: Congratulations for being a worthy son of Africa play

President John Mahama of Ghana (right) to Dr Mike Adenuga Jr: Congratulations for being a worthy son of Africa (Globacom)



In August 2003, Adenuga started the first indigenous GSM telecommunication Nigeria, Global Communications Limited (Globacom). At present, his telecom business has expanded into other West African countries - Republic of Benin, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire.

In Nigeria, Globacom is the second largest telecom operator with about 37 million subscribers.

Also, Adenuga established a commercial bank known as Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB). At present, the bank has merged with Sterling Bank Plc.

sai baba

President Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja on Thursday, vowed that his administration would not condone any action capable of undermining the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

The president also assured that he would not support any individual or group seeking to undermine Nigerians' confidence in the ability of the nation's political institutions to conduct peaceful and successful polls.

Speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the 15th Daily Trust Dialogue, with the theme "Nigeria and the Challenges of 2019", Buhari, called on politicians and political parties to pledge their commitment to a peaceful democratic process.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, the president specifically charged them to urge their supporters to respect the electoral process and refrain from violence.

President Buhari also stated that all aggrieved parties should seek redress through constitutional means and respect the rule of law.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-elections-i-ll-deal-with-troublemakers.html

sorry

Sorry, i am not refer to you

xty50:
thats my name o

hmm

Navy

What will that add to the life of ordinary Nigerians?

Most of the politicians are liars

Good, 2019 is around the corner!

Why do they abandon their teaching ... i think today is a working day!

Good luck! go ahead and achieve your dream...

Wicked landlord!

Try your best and leave the rest to God! congrats

check this link please https://www.nairaland.com/3805249/femaz-microfinance-bank-abuja

newblock:
Share your experience bro

This is banex junction bridge, wuse 2 Abuja

Benz4pimp:
Stop the lies,that picture was taken in india!!!

Hope is not like others in the past...

Op, there was a day i saw cows beside central bank of Nigeria (CBN), central area Abuja.

Good development