₦airaland Forum

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Senator Babayo Garba Gamawa is the deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was a deputy governor of Bauchi State. He also represented Bauchi North in the Seventh Senate. He spoke to newsmen in Gombe on the performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration, Rev Father Ejike Mbaka’s prophesy on Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, return of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and efforts of the newly elected executive of the party to reconcile aggrieved members.



How do you intend to bring back the aggrieved members of your party, the PDP?

We will bring the aggrieved party members back through reconciliation, which we have started. I believe they have their reasons for leaving the party. There is always a window for reconciliation of political grievances, and it is currently going on. We will continue at various levels.

There are allegations that the convention that produced all the new executive members of the PDP was tailored through a purported Unity List. Don’t you think this issue would continue to undermine your party?

There was nothing like irregularities during the national convention. In politics, it is normal to identify who will take a certain position. The election was transparent and open. Members were there, observers were there; only those who lost the election were making utterances that there were irregularities.

After the convention, the party was once again factionalised, with the emergence of ‘Fresh PDP’, which opened an office in Abuja. Don’t you think this would affect the party’s chances at the polls in 2019?

That is normal in politics because there are people who won’t be comfortable when they lose election. No matter how much you provide the level playing ground and prove to the world that the election was conducted fairly and in a transparent manner, once they are declared as losers, they will complain. We cannot stop them from complaining, but that does not mean the end of the party. Grievances and internal crisis in politics are always normal. Nevertheless, we have the machinery to contain these internal crises.

What is your take on Reverend Father Mbaka’s endorsement of Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State as the right presidential candidate for the PDP?

The future is only known to Allah. There are people from different faiths who make predictions; sometimes it becomes real, sometimes it doesn’t. If his prediction becomes a reality, the PDP will definitely be glad to have someone like Dankwambo as the party’s flag-bearer, considering how he transformed Gombe State from what it was to its present stage. Going by his record, having excelled in his professional career to the rank of Accountant General of the Federation and later as governor of Gombe State, where he is in second term, he is the right candidate. I must confess that he has the prerequisite qualifications and curriculum to fly the ticket of our party.

Recently, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar returned to the PDP. How does that impact on your party?

Atiku Abubakar served Nigeria as vice president for two terms on the platform of the PDP, but decided to leave as a result of internal crisis in the party. Majority of Nigerians will agree with me that the APC was a group formed for a particular purpose - to get power; and they got it. However, getting the power is entirely different from managing it. After being there for about three years, Atiku did not see anything positive democratically, so he decided to come back home. His action did not come to us as a surprise because he was among the pillars of the party right from its formation stage.

How do you rate the present administration of the APC, led by President Muhammadu Buhari?

Nigerians are left in the dark in certain areas. Those in government are expected to introduce policies that would impact positively on the lives of the common man in the street. You cannot even compare life during the PDP regime and now because there is hardship; the prices of goods in the market have skyrocketed. Things have totally changed for worse. For instance, if you are an irrigation farmer, the price of the machine to water your farm was N17, 000, but now, it is N52, 000. If you run a barber’s shop, the small power generator was sold between N9000 and N11, 000 during PDP’s time, but it is now N35, 000. Also, ask a motorcyclist, a motorcycle that was sold at N80,000 during our time is now N280, 000. Muslims were paying N750, 000 to N780, 000 for pilgrimage to Makkah, but it is now N1.5 million.

But the APC has attributed the current hardship to corruption and mismanagement of the economy by the PDP.

Economic recession is not peculiar to Nigeria. And if you go through economic books, recession is something that comes once in a while, whether you apply something or not, it will go. But the key issue is: what do you apply to reduce the pains on the citizens? The application is not there.

What plans does the PDP have to tackle these problems when it comes to power?

There are ways to tackle recession and soften hardship on citizens. We know that government is not a profit-making venture but a service provider. And a serious government is always concerned about three fundamental things in the country. First, it provides security for the citizens of the country and their properties. Secondly, you develop a country by executing projects and provide infrastructure. Thirdly, you improve the economy. And how do you improve the economy? Economy is improved by engaging experts with technical know-how and giving a level playing ground for all businessmen and women. But now, if you ask traders of different commodities at the market, things are difficult for both the buyers and sellers.

In politics you don’t preempt plans before the time. However, in the PDP we have many experienced people. For instance, going by his discipline as a professional accountant, Governor Dankwambo knows how to manage finances. Apart from Dankwambo, we have many aspirants who have ideas on how to transform and move the country forward.

Don’t you think many aspirants for the presidential ticket would create a problem for the party?

The PDP of today is concerned with the lives of Nigerians and developmental projects in the country. It is our intention to provide a level playing ground for all aspirants. And a true democrat would not complain if he lost an election conducted under a level playing ground.

In what areas do you think the present administration has recorded achievements?

It will be difficult for me to tell you the areas the APC government has recorded any achievement. Honestly speaking, I am not impressed. If you look at the education sector, what are the achievements? When I was in the Senate we worked on 13 bills to establish new federal universities to reduce the number of students roaming the streets. I was a member of the Senate Committee on Education. Colleges of education were also established, and people were given opportunities to further their education outside the country, up to PhD level.

Looking at the transport sector, what are their achievements? I was a member of the Senate Committee on Transport, so I can tell you that all these rail lines were started during our time. Remodelling of airports also started during our time. The dualisation of Kano-Maiduguri road started during our time. So where are the achievements they are talking about?

The APC said they had tackled the problem of insecurity, especially the insurgency in the North-East.

Have Boko Haram attacks stopped?

The president said they were technically defeated

Has it stopped? That is the kind of question Nigerians should be asking. If Boko Haram has been defeated, there will not be news about killings and bombing anymore in the country. The fact is that there is still insecurity. You should go to Maiduguri, Yobe and Adamawa and ask the people living there. In fact, another group has emerged in the Zamfara axis and people are being killed. Almost on a daily basis, there are incidents of kidnapping between Kano and Abuja.

But the APC has alleged that Boko Haram was created by the PDP.

Are they not aware of what is happening in Syria, Libya, Iraq and Yemen? Is it the PDP that is ruling in those countries? Recently, so many people were killed at a mosque in Egypt; was it the PDP that is ruling there? This campaign of calumny to attach Boko Haram with the PDP was done to attain power. But they cannot prove that claim. We agree that it started during our time, but there were different types of insurgencies in the past, like the Maitatsine during President Shehu Shagari’s time. They deliberately attached it to the PDP to deceive Nigerians and have their way.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/we-ll-be-happy-if-father-mbaka-s-predictions-come-to-pass--senator-gamawa.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has denounced a Twitter handle message in circulation purportedly belonging to him.

Buhari, in a statement Saturday by his spokesman Mr Femi Adesina, said the fake tweet with the spurious message sought to justify attacks by herdsmen that they were only defending themselves.

According to him, evil doers and enemies of our country are obviously at work, seeking ways to further advance their pernicious acts.

The statement partly read: "The message is denounced in its entirety, and President Buhari stands by his earlier condemnation of the killings in Benue and other parts of the country as dastardly and unacceptable before God and man.

"Those behind the concocted message are also enemies of God and man, who have no place in a decent society.

"The President stands by his earlier directives that all those behind wanton killings in any part of the country must be brought to book."

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/herdsmen-attacks-nigeria-s-enemies-behind-my-fake-tweet--buhari.html

Where is IGP boys?

The APC paraded a formidable array of men and women of high political calibre, able, willing and ready to deliver Abia State to the APC, come 2019, the leader of the Abia State Caucus and member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Sam Nkire, has said.

Chief Nkire, who said this on Sunday in a statement issued in Abuja, lauded the national leadership of the party for the support given to the mega rally held in Abia State capital, Umuahia, last week.

He said that the rally, which came so early in the year was not only to welcome the “timber and calibre” who had joined the party since the general elections of 2015, but also to sound an early warning about the “approaching, invading political army determined to take control and occupy the Umuahia Government House, come May 29, 2019”.

He said the Abia State branch of the ruling APC was honoured to be the first state to stage a major political event in the party's 2018 national calendar.

Chief Nkire said, “with political warlords like Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, former Governor of Abia State; Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, Senator Chris Adighije, Senator Bob Nwannunu, Chief Emeka Wogu, former Minister of Labour; Sir Mark Wabara, the banking guru; Dr Uche Ogar, the oil magnet and many other strong men women joining, it is obvious that the battle line is drawn.”

Nkire particular hailed the attendance of the party leaders and the support of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also thanked the leadership and members of the APC in Abia State for their contribution, support and massive attendance, which according to him showed the strength and unity of the party in the state.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/abia-mega-rally-warning-to-pdp-apc-chieftain.html

The arrest of 39 suspected members of a militia group in Nguroje town of Sardauna local government area of Taraba State about three weeks ago has continued to heighten tension in the Mambilla Plateau. The area was yet to recover from a recent crisis, which claimed several lives and destruction of property. So, the arrival of the strange men was a serious cause for concern, leading speculation on the mission of the people, alleged to be from Cameroon.

A resident of the area, Malam Garba Haruna, said “We became suspicious because all the 39 men were accommodated in one house belonging to a lady called Madam Panso.” He said the suspects always play football at the Government Day Secondary School field in the mornings and evenings. “What made us more suspicious was the kind of training they receive mostly in the night, and in the forest close to the secondary school.”

Haruna said Madam Panso was confronted, and she claimed they were refugees from Southern Cameroon. “However, when the men spent up to two weeks in that house and we did not see any security man around we decided to report them to the army,” he said. He added that they discovered that 34 of the suspects were Cameroonians, while 5 were from the Niger Delta and were the ones offering military training to the rest.

Another resident, Malam Tanimu said their suspicion rose from the fact that “The first batch of refugees that came to Gembu from Southern Cameroon were made up of men, women and children but in this case all of them were able-bodied men. Even the desk officer of the State Emergency Management Agency is not aware of their stay in Nguroje.”

“Our fear was that the group might be a militia group receiving training, which was why every member of the community was at alert,” he said.

Another source told Daily Trust that the group may likely be members of the separatist groups fighting for secession in Cameroon since there were indications that most of them were from Southern Cameroon. Findings revealed that the porous nature of the Nigerian border in the Mambilla Plateau has enabled many people from Cameroon to cross into Nigeria with ease.

Police spokesman of the Taraba Police Command, ASP David Misal, confirmed the arrest of 39 foreigners at Nguroje. He said on interrogation, the suspects claimed to be refugees from Southern Cameroon, who fled the crisis going on there. According to him, no incriminating item was found on the suspects.

ASP Misal said that the woman who kept them in her house was also arrested and is being questioned on the mission of the men in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Acting Chairman of Sardauna Local Government, Rev. Godwin Sol, said the suspects, who claimed to be from Bamenda in Cameroun, did not notify the council of their coming. He expressed surprise on why the strange men decided to go Nguroje instead of stopping in Gembu where there was an existing camp for refugees, adding that their action raised doubts. He said it was not only suspicious, but illegal too.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/arrest-of-39-suspected-cameroonian-militia-sparks-fears-in-taraba-town.html

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Up PDP

With the release of the 2019 elections timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Senators are expected to take nine critical decisions before the general elections.

Daily Trust reports that while some of the decisions are going to be taken collectively, others would be done individually.

The lawmakers are resuming plenary next Tuesday from the Christmas/New Year break. Budget defence had resumed on Tuesday.

PASSAGE OF 2018 BUDGET

Carried over from last year, Senators are expected to conclude the consideration of the 2018 budget presented to the joint session of the National Assembly on 7th November 2017 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The budget proposal was expected to be passed last month in a bid to return the country to January to December fiscal calendar but the Senators delayed it over lackadaisical attitude of heads of MDAs and poor implementation of the 2017 budget.

Already, the Senators had on Tuesday resumed budget defence, which was suspended late last year. It is expected that the fiscal document would be passed within the first quarter of this year.

Also, by the end of the year, the Senators are expected to receive and consider the 2019 budget, which would be the last for this administration.

CONFIRMATION IMPASSE

Concerns are being raised over confirmation quagmire occasioned by the rejection of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, twice. The impasse has stalled the confirmation of about 50 nominees of President Buhari.

The trouble started in July last year when the Senate suspended further confirmation of nominees of President Buhari over the statement of Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Magu.

The pending conformations include that of Deputy Governor of CBN, four nominees of Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) 10 Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), 9 INEC RECs, Pension Commission (PenCom), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

But in an interview on Tuesday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, said the issue is being addressed.

“The president has submitted as required by law it is pending before the legislature and we are engaging with the legislature within the law. Therefore we are conscious that the legislature, the Senate in particular, is very responsive and concerned about the economy,” he said.

For peace to reign between the Senators and the Presidency, it is expected that the confirmation embargo is lifted.

MINISTERIAL SCREENING

Over two months after President Buhari dropped the hint of his plan to expand the federal cabinet, the list is being awaited at the Senate for screening and confirmation of the ministerial nominees.

On 30th October last year, Buhari during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC disclosed his intention to expand the ministerial appointments from 36 to an undisclosed number. It is expected that the list would be forwarded to the Upper Chamber anytime from now.

Our correspondent reports that the last ministerial screening and confirmation was done in May 2017 when Professor Stephen Ocheni of Kogi State and Mr. Suleiman Hassan of Gombe State were confirmed. The first set of ministerial confirmation was done in 2015 when this administration came on board.

It was gathered that the delay in the expansion of the cabinet was as a result of the crisis among top guns in the APC over those to be considered for the plum job.

The cabinet expansion from all indications is part of the politicking for the 2019 general elections.

COMPLETION OF OUTSTANDING PROBES/PASSAGE OF BILLS

Before the end of the year, it is expected that the senators complete the numerous probes hanging at the Upper Chamber. At the moment, there are pocket of probes that have dragged for months.

Critical among the pending probes are that of an adhoc committee to review the country’s security architecture, probe of the subsidy regime, caused of the recent fuel scarcity, diversion of revenue by some MDAs, etc.

In the same vein, bills that are in first and second reading are expected to be given accelerated consideration to enable the lawmakers pass the draft laws this year.

Although the 8th Senate has surpassed the 7th in terms of bills’ passage, there are many bills hanging at the Red chamber. If the considerations of the probes and bills are not accelerated, many of it would be uncompleted by the end of this Senate.

ALLOCATION OF COMMITTEE TO NDUME

The selection committee of the Senate chaired by the Senate President Bukola Saraki, is expected to allocate a committee to Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno) who was removed in January 10, last year as the Senate Leader.

Ndume, who was suspended in March last year following a point of order he raised against Saraki and the chairman of the Senate committee on FCT, Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi) has finished serving his six months suspension term.

The Borno-born lawmaker resumed in November last year but he has not been allocated a committee, he is left floating at the Upper Chamber without a committee. Before his suspension, Ndume after his removal as the Senate Leader, was made the chairman of the INEC committee. But when he was suspended, the committee was allocated to Senator Suleiman Nazif (APC, Bauchi).

RESOLVE ZAMFARA REC SQUABBLE

Awaiting the resolution of the Senate is the feud between Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state and Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central). They are locking horns over Ahmad Bello Mahmud, a nominee of President Buhari for Resident Electoral Commission of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While Governor Yari is insisting that the nominee, who is to represent Zamfara in INEC should not be confirmed by the Senate, Marafa who chairs the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), is saying otherwise.

The battle over the nominee whose confirmation has been hanging for nine months became messier when the Senate Committee on INEC chaired by Senator Suleiman Nazif (APC, Bauchi) recommended that Mahmud’s confirmation be rejected.

Mahmud was among the 27 persons nominated as RECs by President Buhari in March, last year. The rest nominees have been confirmed.

Following the objection of Marafa, the issue has been reassigned to Nazif’s committee. The report is being expected this month. Whichever way the Senate resolution goes on the matter, it will be the beginning of a bigger fight between Yari and Marafa.

BATTLE FOR TICKET

Aside legislative activities, the lawmakers are going to spend more times angling in their respective political parties to retain their seat or move to another elective position as their tenures elapse next year.

This year, the Senators would struggle to get the ticket of their party. INEC has fixed October 7 this year for the conclusion of party primaries.

At the moment, there are 108 senators at the Upper Chamber as the Anambra Central Senatorial District has been vacant for over a year. All the lawmakers will struggle to get the ticket of their respective parties, except those who may want to aspire for other positions. The fight for ticket will lead to alignment and realignment in the political arena.

DEFECTION AND REALIGNMENT

The crisis that may arise from the party primaries coupled with the lingering feud between some of the Senators and state governors will lead to defections and political realignments.

This year will no doubt witness the defection of more senators from one party to the other. It is getting clearer that some of the lawmakers will dump their parties and move on.

At least, there are crises between governors and senators in 10 states. Some of the feuding governors and senators are Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna) versus Governor Nasir el-Rufai, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (APC, Kano) and his successor, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

DECLARE FOR PRESIDENCY

Three out of the senators are said to be nursing presidential ambitions. They are expected to formally make their aspirations public this year and slug it out with President Buhari.

The senators said to be eyeing Buhari’s seat are Bukola Saraki, his predecessor, David Mark and the immediate past governor of Kano state, Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso. While Saraki and Kwankwaso are in the APC for now, Mark is of the PDP.

Reports have it that Mark would declare his intention to vie for the presidency in April this year. Saraki and Kwankwaso contested for the presidency in 2015. While Saraki withdrew from the race, Kwankwaso went to the primary with Buhari and came second.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/things-senators-must-tackle-before-2019-elections.html

Daily Trust: From an unknown quantity in the Oodua People’s Congress at its foundation to being the Aare Ona Kakanfo today. What exactly was your vision when you set out as a foot soldier in the OPC?

Gani Adams: I never envisaged rising up to this prestigious point. I started out in the OPC merely as a lover of my Yoruba race, and of my country. I have always been a fighter for justice; I love to defend the interest of the oppressed. It was that disposition that took me into the struggle following the annulment of the June 12, 1983 presidential election that Chief M.K.O. Abiola clearly won.

I first joined the struggle in July 1983 through the Campaign for Democracy (CD). It was from that group that I learnt the basics and was able to build my ideology.

DT: The Yoruba believe in divination, consulting seers to know what the future holds for their children. Was there anything foretold about your tempestuous journey through life?

Adams: There was no information other than one my mother told me, that when I was born, I was still covered in blood when I was taken to a herbalist in Ekiti. She said after the herbalist had cleaned up the blood, he told her I would be a great child. She told me this in 1989, before she passed on in 1993.

The second indication I can remember was that there used to be a prophet in our community who was known as Otitokoro. In 1975 when I was five years old, Otitokoro came to our house and said there was a child there who would become a big star. He advised that I must be moved out of the house within three days, otherwise something bad would happen there. And that was how I was taken out of my ancestral village, Arigidi, in Ondo State, to neighbouring Erusu Akoko, my mother’s hometown.

DT: When you were coming up the OPC ladder, there were those who saw you as an irritant leading a pack of misdirected youths. How did you get where you are today?

Adams: The background of every good struggle is always rough. If you are genuinely fighting for the interest of the people, the oppressors will not like you. They will provoke you. But then it is when you are provoked that you will be able to know those who are your true friends. You will also learn your lessons. That has always been the case all over the world. And that was my case.

I am a product of a long struggle, which shaped what I am today. Many police officers hated and maltreated me. Even journalists hated me so much they were always writing reports that were not true, and they didn’t bother to be properly informed. But many of such people are now my friends. I have forgiven them. If someone doesn’t have a rough beginning, there is no way he will have a present people can write well about.

DT: How did your march to the Aare Ona Kakanfo title begin?

Adams: In May 2017, I met the Alaafin of Oyo and signified my intention to occupy the position. His Imperial Majesty was laughing at me when I said so. But he later said yes, that I did possess, among other qualifications, the spiritual means and the structures, which are the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Olokun Festival, Oodua Progressive Union (OPU), to be the Aare.

The Alaafin told me to wait while he takes his time to consult very important figures in Yorubaland, including state governors and top traditional rulers. He told me that though he is the Alaafin and possesses the prerogative to give me the title, he would still need to consult other important personalities, as the Aare Ona Kakanfo title is for the entire Yoruba tribe.

It took the Alaafin five months to get back to me. He said he had consulted with who is who in Yorubaland and it had been agreed he should confer the title on me. He gave me the proclamation letter on October 15, 2017.

DT: What spurred you to make the move?

Adams: From the fight against injustice, I progressed into promoting Yoruba culture and tradition. And I was, and am aware of how the Aare Ona Kakanfo means a lot to the Yoruba race both in fighting for Yoruba interest and promoting our culture. The office is a platform to work for the unity of the Yoruba. It is a platform to defend the Yoruba race.

It is a platform for statesmen. Nobody becomes the Aare Ona Kakanfo without being first a statesman among the Yoruba. It is a position that goes beyond sectionalism, a position that makes you defend the interest of the black people all over the world. It is a position that has been in existence for about 558 years when they installed Kokoro Igangan of Iwoye as the Aare. It is older than many communities in Yorubaland. It is a foremost chieftaincy title in Yorubaland. Of course, I’m not saying everybody in Yorubaland recognizes the title, but it remains the only position that is accepted as their own across all the towns and villages across Yorubaland.

Kabiyesi Alaafin has the prerogative to give it to anyone he believes deserves it. And he did consult with all who mattered. As he was calling and reaching out to them, I was being informed. Those who wanted to express reservations, he convinced them. He told them that this man had done a lot for the Yoruba tribe. For those who seemed not to be convinced about the issue of my struggles, he told them I had done a lot for the promotion of our cultures and festivals. He told them I have been doing this for many years without a sponsor. He even gave the instance of the Oodua Peoples Union being in 79 countries across the world.

DT: Would you say you’re redefining the position?

Adams: We can’t be warriors in a time of peace. Even in cases where the OPC had defended Yoruba interest, did we act against any tribe without provocation? We have been living peacefully with all other ethnic nationalities. About 40 percent of the businesses in Yorubaland are owned by non-Yoruba. We have never provoked or victimized them, except when our people were attacked.

In the North, has anyone heard about the Yoruba attacking Northerners? In the East, have the Yoruba ever attacked the Igbo? And in Niger-Delta, have the Yoruba ever attacked the people of the area? In fact, I have more friends from other tribes than among the Yoruba. I am not a tribalist; I only hate injustice. I will not say because I have now become the Aare Ona Kakanfo, I will be leading the Yoruba to attack people of other ethnic nationalities. That would be wrong

A good leader should be a peace builder. If I start to fight everybody, do I know from which of the tribes my children will marry? Of course, I will first be a good Yoruba before being a good Nigerian but not on the basis of injustice to other tribes. And it will interest you to know that after I got the letter of proclamation as Aare, I have received many dignitaries from other tribes.

Also, I have received courtesy visits from many Igbo Igwes here in Lagos. A few days ago, 71 different groups from different parts of the Niger/Delta came here. They comprised different professionals, both active and retired. So, why would I be acrimonious to any tribe simply because I have become the Yoruba Aare? In my house here, there are non-Yoruba working with me. In my business, there are also non-Yoruba whom I employed.

Yoruba people are very accommodating. That has always been our history because we allow others to thrive.

DT: There are many Yoruba people in the Diaspora, from Benin Republic to Cuba, Brazil and the USA, flaunting Yoruba culture. As Aare, do you have plans to bring all of them together?

Adams: Yes, I will work very hard for the unity of the Yoruba tribe. Other programmes I intend to implement, I will unfold at the installation ceremony. The Yoruba as a people have everything God has endowed us with but we have not been able to pursue them on a united front. We are about 60 million in Nigeria alone, and about 200 million in other parts of the world.

About 45 percent of the population in Benin Republic is Yoruba. Fifteen percent of the population in Togo is Yoruba. Even in Ghana, we have historical linkages with the people of Kumasi. Our mode of dressing is very similar. In Cote D’Ivoire, we have about seven to eight million Yoruba. These are people who have since left here and can hardly speak Yoruba anymore. They speak only French and the local language of where they are domiciled. We have Yoruba in Mali and the Gambia. And a substantial percentage of the Brazilians accept that they have ancestral relationship with the Yoruba race. It is the same in Cuba. It is the same situation in the United States, especially among the blacks whose forefathers were taken there as slaves.

So, we will work with the Yoruba people wherever we find them. We will ensure that we communicate with them, build synergy and make them understand that they are our brothers and sisters. Some of them who have achieved or invented one thing or the other that can be useful for Nigeria, we will encourage them to bring them here. We can also encourage them to come and spend their holidays in Nigeria.

But most significantly, I will continue with the promotion of cultures and values of the Yoruba. The greatest challenge among our people today is our dwindling values and culture. Thus, as the Aare, I will go on with my cultural evangelism. Many don’t know the difference between religion, culture and tradition. There is no way you will relegate your culture and your identity will not go into extinction. Your name, your clothes, your mode of dressing, your manner of greeting, among others will go into oblivion if you don’t promote your culture. Respect for your culture will not make you a lesser Muslim or Christian.

We will also try to enlighten our Obas. They need not be dabbling into issues of Western religion. As a traditional leader, you can’t go into seclusion to perform some rites and later come out to say you have become a born-again. That is a betrayal of the trust reposed in you as a traditionalist. Either as a traditional ruler or a chieftaincy title holder, you must work for people of all religions and faiths. If you come out to denounce your culture, you will be causing moral, spiritual and economic problems for your people.

We must also find a way to preserve our mother tongue. We can’t lose our language because of Western civilisation or religions. This has to be preserved if we don’t want to become completely inferior and lost. Oftentimes, many of my friends do buy and bring for me foreign suits. But I have my own traditional attires that I wear, aimed at projecting my culture. I want to work and ensure that people from other lands will be coming to Yorubaland to buy our native clothes. I want to work with other people to turn Yorubaland into a tourist haven.

DT: Why do you always wear white?

Adams: One of the missing links in our lives today is carrying out the process of what the Yoruba called ‘Akose Jaye’, that is, having an insight into what a child will become in future, the kind of food he should be eating, the kind of clothes he should wear, the kind of wife he should marry, among others. But because of civilization many people have dumped this.

So, I can say wearing of white clothes is part of my destiny. It is not as if it is spiritual. When I was told in 1999, I didn’t follow it and I was paying dearly for it. It was in 2004 that I emptied my wardrobe, gave out my clothes and refilled the wardrobe with white clothes. Even my underwear must be white. That is what my guardian angels want. And since then, I have been witnessing peace and tranquillity in all that I do. An adage says that obedience is better than sacrifice.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/i-can-t-be-a-warrior-in-time-of-peace--gani-adams.html

Muslims will be the second-largest religious group in America by 2040 because of higher birth rates, according to a new study.

The data, published last week by the Pew Research Centre, shows that Islam will pass Judaism as the second biggest religion in the country, behind Christianity, within two decades.

According to Pew, the Muslim population will more than double in that time period, from 3.45 million in 2017 (1.1 percent of the total population) to 8.09 million in 2050 (2.1 percent of the total population).

The study used yearly U.S. Census data, combined with Pew studies the centre conducted in 2007, 2011 and 2017 to form an image of the future of the Muslim population in America.

The majority of the Muslim population is in metropolitan areas, with three times as many followers of the Islamic faith in cities such as Washington D.C. and New York City compared to other areas of the country.

The growth is being fuelled by higher fertility rates and high levels of immigration. Pew’s research said that a record number of Muslims had immigrated to the country in 2016 and that as many as 75 percent of the Muslim population is an immigrant or part of an immigrant family.

The Christian population in 2020 is predicted to be around 252 million, tens of times higher than the Muslim population, and the projected population in 2050 would be 261 million. (Newsweek)