₦airaland Forum

Shekarau: ‘Presidential ambitions are dictated by circumstances and time’

A former minister of education and former governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, sat down for a chat with reporters from Daily Trust on Sunday at his residence in Kano, where he narrated how the disagreement between him and Rabiu Kwankwaso started. He said :
The bottom-line of the crisis is when Kwankwaso came under the umbrella of the rAPC; they negotiated with a technical committee set up by the party, which was led by former Governor Liyel Imoke. The negotiation led to an agreement of some privileges offered to members of the rAPC and they took the final report to the chairman, but none of the stakeholders of the affected states was carried along. They were supposed to carry the demands of those coming in through the party leadership; that these people coming in are requesting for ABC.

Then the party will invite the stakeholders (for example in Kano, myself and Aminu Wali are the well-known leaders and elders of the party) and say, ‘this is what the former governor of Kano is requesting, what do you say?’ If we have objection, we raise it and then the two of us will be brought to the table and negotiation will take place. When we arrive at a final decision, jointly, they will be asked to go back to the state and implement it. But none of us was involved and up to this moment, neither Aminu Wali nor I have seen the template, agreement or the terms. They are being kept under the table. But Kwankwaso, as a member of the technical committee from the rAPC, had the privilege of the complete agreement document and he called his men and told them and even released some of it on the social media. So we are getting embarrassed.

READ FULL REPORT HERE: Why I will not challenge Buhari in 2019 – Shekarau

People kept coming and asking us, ‘Kwankwaso has been granted 51per cent and you are going to take 49per cent, automatic ticket for all legislators that came with Kwankwaso.’ And we asked, ‘when did this happen?’ We protested and the party leadership referred us to the Liyel Imoke committee that handled it. When we went to them, they asked us to please go and resolve and work together with Kwankwaso. We said, okay.

A meeting was convened in Kaduna at the instance of Kwankwaso. Really, we were to meet in Abuja, but he said he would be in Kaduna that day, we all went – Aminu Wali, myself, Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo and Senator Mas’ud El-Jibril Doguwa, the state chairman. We met with former Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso. He asked us: ‘Where is your copy of the agreement?’ We said we didn’t know about it. He said he had his own and that if we didn’t have there would be no discussion. So the meeting collapsed.

Our leader reported back to the committee and it initiated another meeting between the two groups and said each should bring five delegates. So, from our own side, Aminu Wali, myself, Senator Bello, Senator Doguwa and Engineer Sarki Labaran, who is an ex-officio member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), went, but Kwankwaso unfortunately did not attend. He sent an apology that he had some campaign already scheduled in Akwa Ibom and sent in four of his men – he would have been the fifth.

So, I raised issues with Imoke and asked: ‘Your Excellency, can you tell us the indices used in arriving at the conclusion that Kwankwaso deserves 51per cent of the structure in Kano?’ And there was no explanation. Nothing! We asked: ‘what informed your decision?’ We said we saw on social media, which we believe came from Kwankwaso’s men, about sharing of offices and told him we didn’t know about it, ‘can we have details?’ So, he said yes, there was some proposed sharing, it is the template, it is not necessarily to be applied, it is for a guide. We said, ‘can we have a copy?’ He said no, he too was having a copy because he was privileged to be a member. I asked: ‘what kind of argument is this?’ A and B are to go and negotiate, A has a copy of some terms while B hasn’t? So I started suspecting some foul play. But they said, ‘please go and negotiate, don’t mind the 51per cent.’ Still we could not arrive at anything.

Aminu Wali, out of his wisdom, decided to convene another meeting, a third one; this time, about seven of us, members of the NEC – Aminu Wali; myself; Senator Bello Hayatu; Senator Doguwa; former Speaker Salisu Buhari; Alhaji Wada Masu and Sarki Labaran. Kwankwaso came, and we made observations. Our quarrel was the 51- 49, which to start with. We did not even accept, even if it is true, so how do you even implement it? Who do you look at in the face as an elected officer who has two more years to go, because the congress was held in 2015, and tell him you are removing him? When you come to the state will you remove the chairman? Would you remove secretary? If you say go, a Kwankwasiyya man will come in, you are violating two or three sections of the constitution. The first one is that whoever is elected and having been returned as elected has been issued a certificate by the party and only four conditions will lead to such officer leaving his office – death, resignation, impeachment or disciplinary action. Anything outside this four, if you remove any officer and he goes to court, you will lose. We said these were the issues and also asked them, ‘why do you want to disrupt the leadership of a party six months to an election? You are going to go with a parallel leadership within the party and Kwankwasiyya is not a party. It is a personal organisation that is personal to him, and whoever he brings to occupy an office is representing his personal interest, unlike an elected person who is representing the generality of the party. So, you are going to have two parallel executives; one answerable to the party and another answerable to an individual. This is not neat. And you want to go into an election with this kind of disparity?’

Thirdly, the constitution provides that for any person to qualify to occupy an elected office in the party, you must have been a member of the party financially for a minimum of 18 months unless you are granted a waiver. And the process of the waiver has been explained. So, even if we are to go with this, they won’t qualify except they get a waiver. Another section of the constitution says any member of the party who defects and returns loses all the seniority and privileges he was enjoying before he defected. So why are you giving these people these outrageous privileges when the party’s constitution says they don’t deserve even one? We wrote all these to the party but they have not replied us.

At the third meeting, we went with a proposal to Kwankwaso, saying let’s not touch the elected officers. The next election that is around the corner is the election of ad hoc delegates. We said, since this had not been conducted let’s see how we could share it. Since there are now, principally, three groups (we were operating two: the group of the old PDP who remained after the departure of Kwankwaso and the old ANPP that transformed into the PDP and when Kwankwaso came back we became three groups), it is fair to do a tripartite arrangement that will allow us share the three delegates, one each for the three groups. Kwankwaso will bring one, Aminu Wali, one and Shekarau, one. The matter would have been solved before going to voting. For the local government national delegates (we have 44 local governments in the state), we came up with a formula because they are not divisible by three, we shared 15, 15, 14. This was not done arbitrarily. For each senatorial district, we listed the local governments alphabetically.

We also listed our names in an alphabetical order – Aminu, Ibrahim, Rabi’u. Kano Central has 15 local governments. The first five went to Aminu, the second five went to Ibrahim and the third went to Rabi’u. That way, nobody would say, ‘why did you give Aminu local government Y or X?’ And nobody would say, ‘why are you putting Aminu’s name first?’ This is because Aminu comes before Ibrahim and Rabi’u. The Kano North has 13 local governments and Aminu took the first five, Ibrahim four and Rabi’u, four. We took the Kano South, which is 15 and Aminu took five, Ibrahim took six and Rabi’u took five. So if you add horizontally, Aminu has five of the Kano Central, five of the Kano North and five of the Kano South, making 15. Ibrahim will have five of the Kano Central, four of Kano North and six of Kano South, making 15. Rabi’u will have five of the Kano Central, four of the Kano North and five of Kano South, making 14.
http://surecontents..com/2018/09/the-genesis-of-my-problem-with.html

Consensus candidates who will be contesting for all the 40 elective positions on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) ahead of 2019 general elections in Ogun State have emerged, outgoing Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun disclosed on Saturday.

The positions are, governor and deputy, three senate seats, nine House of Representatives and 26 State House Assembly slots.

Amosun dropped the hint at the ongoing meeting at the Government House, Abeokuta, with a view to pacifying aggrieved party leaders and aspirants from Ogun East and Ogun West Zones.

This followed adoption of a member representing Egbado South and Ipokia Federal Constituency, Adekunle Akinlade as the APC consensus candidate for governorship election.

The current Commissioner of Agriculture, Mrs Adepeju Adebajo, from Ogun East Senatorial District, has emerged as Akinlade’s running-mate.

Amosun while speaking at the meeting, promised to release full list of consensus candidates for all the 40 elective positions on Monday.
http://surecontents..com/2018/09/amosun-picks-candidates-for-40-elective.html

Olukayode Pitan


The Federal Government through the Bank of Industry (BoI) has secured a $500 million facility from the Export Import Bank of China (CEXIM) to establish modular refineries and Flare Gas Recovery Programme in the country.

The establishment of modular refineries is part of federal government’s plan to end importation of petroleum products and to discourage illegal oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta region.

The landmark development reinforces the present administration’s drive to stimulate economic growth, drive investments and provide jobs for Nigerians.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Beijing, China, Chief Executive of BoI, Mr. Olukayode Pitan, reiterated the job creation potential of this partnership.

He said: “I am delighted to begin the next chapter of a long-term trading relationship with China through CEXIM.

“This agreement is set to create over 100,000 jobs in Nigeria’s Oil & Gas sector—a decisive move that will advance the Federal Government’s Modular Refineries and Flare Gas Recovery Programme.”

Essentially, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BOI and CEXIM stipulated that the loan facility will be utilised to finance the purchase of equipment and machinery from China by investors and project owners of modular refineries in the country.

The purpose is to ensure availability of refined petroleum products within the country, monetise gas flare, reduce cost of products in the mid-term and provide employment for Nigerians.

The facility can be accessed via letters of credit issued for the delivery of specified modular refineries and gas processing equipment to qualified Nigerian companies establishing petrochemical facilities under the modular refineries and gas flare recovery programme.

To date, a total of 38 operating licenses had already been granted by the Federal Government to establish modular refineries in the Niger Delta, according to a statement issued by the development finance institution Saturday.
http://surecontents..com/2018/09/fg-secures-500m-china-exim-bank-loan.html

Mynd44 lalasticlala

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State said on Saturday that the era of rigging elections were gone forever, advising those planning to rig elections in 2019 to shelve the idea in their own interest.

Ortom made the remark at the funeral of the late Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, Comrade David Ukuma, at LGEA Primary School in Anshiva of Ukum Local Government Area of the state.

The late state NUJ chairman died after a brief illness on August 25, 2018 at the age of 45 leaving behind a wife and three children.

The governor while speaking also noted that for the Benue people, the issues at stake in 2019 were so grave that no one could subvert the will of the people through rigging and get away with it.

He therefore urged Nigerian citizens in the state to safeguard and use their permanent voter’s card effectively to define their future as he eulogised the deceased and described him as a talented broadcaster who excelled in his profession.

On his part, the Reverend Father, Barnabas Nyam of St. Michael’s Quasi Parish, Gbeji, in his homily, cautioned those living to prepare for their death because all humans were mortals.

Nyam further called on leaders in the country to promote development and progress rather than pulling one another down.
http://surecontents..com/2018/09/era-of-rigging-elections-gone-forever.html?m=1

Shaikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky

Some Islamic clerics join a large number of Shi’ites in the protest by Islamic Movement in Nigeria over 1000 days of detention of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and wife, on Abuja on Friday.

The protest started from the Wuse Market to the Federal Secretariat in Abuja.

El-Zakzaky has remained in detention since he was arrested in December 2015, following a clampdown on his members by soldiers.

Over 300 Shi’ites were killed during the onslaught by soldiers who accused the Shi’ites, members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, of blocking a road being used by the army chief, Tukur Buratai. A soldier was also killed in the violence.

After his detention, the federal government failed to file formal charges against Mr El-Zakzaky but rather appealed a December 2016 order for his release.

Following the inability of government to release El-Zakzaky, Shi’ite members began a daily protest in Abuja and parts of the north.

This forced the government to file a formal charge against Mr El-Zakzaky in April, over two years after he was detained.

The Shi’ite leader and his wife were later arraigned on an eight-count charge for alleged homicide.

On Friday, the Shi’ites took to the streets of Abuja brandishing pictures of their members, whom they claimed had been killed by security operatives during past protests.


Past Shi’ite protests have resulted in clashes between them and the police. Friday’s protest was violence free.

In a telephone interview with Premium Times, a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, said the continued detention of Mr El-Zakzaky and his wife “is the height of official impunity”.

According to Mr Falana, “this is the first time that a man and his wife have been detained for security reasons by any regime since the creation of Nigeria in 1914.

“As President Buhari has publicly embraced the rule of law, I am compelled to demand for the release of the couple in line with the valid and subsisting orders of the federal high court made on December 2, 2016,” Mr Falana added.

Similarly, a follower of El- Zakzaky, Abdullahi Musa said: “Sheikh El- Zakzaky has spent 1000 days in an unjust detention by the government despite the court ruling that ordered for his release and compensation”.

According to Musa, their leader has serious health challenges.

“The Sheikh has over millions of followers, if by chance he dies while in detention, the presidency should be ready to face the consequences,” Musa said.
http://surecontents..com/2018/09/again-shiites-protest-in-abuja-as-el.html?m=1

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, yesterday urged religious leaders to unite and preach against violence before, during and after the 2019 elections, just as he said Nigerians should stop deceiving themselves over the country’s problems.
He also advised politicians to stop fighting because of defections.
“Politics is a choice, like religion. Therefore, let’s not fight each other because of defection,” he said when he received the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria in his palace in Sokoto yesterday.
“We must tell ourselves the truth and speak the truth. Everything is not okay in Nigeria. Let’s stop hiding under religion, ethnicity or region. I know we have problems in Nigeria. Let’s not deceive ourselves.”
“There is no fight between Christianity and Islam, but maybe disagreement between Muslims and Christians. But we must try and fish out extremists in our midst. Though, you cannot completely fish out bad eggs from the society, we should continue doing our part to ensure a peaceful country,” he said.
The sultan added: “We have our problems and challenges. But we should collectively try and overcome them. As leaders, we must try and work for peace. There is no problem in this world that defies solution unless we are not honest. If not, we will overcome the problems.”
“We must also educate our followers that despite the challenges, we belong to one God Almighty but choose to worship God in different ways.”
On 2019 general election, he implored politicians to stop using children of the poor to spread violence.
He also spoke against killing of innocent people in the name of religion.
“People have wrong notions of Jihad. You cannot kill people pretending you are fighting for God. You are simply deceiving yourself. Jihad does not entail that. God did not create you to fight for Him,” he said.
Earlier, the National President of Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, Archbishop Augustine Akubeze, lauded the sultan for his roles on interfaith peace and peaceful coexistence in the country.
The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal Onaiyekan, noted the need for peace among religious leaders and for them to work towards ensuring peaceful coexistence among the citizens. In his remarks, the Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, acknowledged the sultan’s cordiality to all, irrespective of religion and other leanings.
http://surecontents..com/2018/09/sultan-everything-not-okay-in-nigeria.html

China will extend a total of 60 billion U.S. dollars of financing to Africa, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced Monday.

The financing will be provided in the form of government assistance as well as investment and financing by financial institutions and companies, Xi said in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

He also said that China will exempt certain African countries from outstanding debts incurred in the form of interest-free Chinese government loans due by the end of 2018.

The exemption, he said, will be granted to Africa’s least developed countries, heavily indebted and poor countries, landlocked and small island developing countries that have diplomatic relations with China.

Xi also said China will implement eight major initiatives with African countries in the next three years and beyond.

He said the initiatives, cover fields such as industrial promotion, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, and green development.
http://surecontents..com/2018/09/china-will-extend-total-of-60-billion.html

Neymar would rather move to Arsenal or Chelsea rather than one of the Manchester giants, Express Sport has revealed.

The PSG star got Manchester City fans excited in the summer when he reiterated his desire to play under Pep Guardiola.

But Neymar is unlikely to ever swap Paris for Manchester – because he is in love with London.

Express Sport understands the Brazilian, 25, has privately told friends he would rather move to Chelsea or Arsenal than United or City – if he was ever to join the Premier League.

Neymar isn’t fluent in English but he is learning and his language skills are improving.

A source close to the player told Express Sport: “He loves England – but mainly London. He has been there three or four times in the last 12 months.

“He says there is always something about London.

“He kept saying ‘this place is amazing, this place is amazing’. He just loves London.”

Neymar arrived at PSG from Barcelona a year ago for £200million – the biggest transfer fee in history.

He signed a contract which runs until 2022 but it’s believed Neymar will not see out his deal.

The Brazilian, who flopped at the World Cup in Russia, isn’t against a move back to Spain and it seems more likely La Liga – and not the Premiership – will be his next destination.
http://surecontents..com/2018/09/neymar-picks-arsenal-over-manchester.html

Growth in first three years of life has implications for respiratory health in children

First there is nutrition throughout pregnancy—and then after.

But how your children grow in the first three years of life affects their respiratory health, a new study has found.

Development of respiratory diseases in childhood and later life is much dependent on early infancy.

Recent studies have shown excessive weight gain in the first years of life can be associated with lower lung function and a higher risk of childhood asthma.

The study at Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) analysed the influence of weight and height on lung development and asthma risk in nearly 4,500 children in the Netherlands.

It tracked peak height and weight growth velicity, which occur at around one month of age, and body mass index at nine months of age.

“The findings show that the infants with the highest weight gain velocity and body mass index had lower lung function at 10 years of age,” commented Maribel Casas, researcher at ISGlobal and Erasmus MC and lead author of the study.

“Specifically, we observed that these children had a lower function related to the smaller airways in relation to their total lung volume. Although we did not observe any relationship between height and weight growth and the risk of asthma, this disproportionate development of lung function could be a risk factor for the development of respiratory disease.”

The study, published in the journal Thorax, also found that “the later the children reached their peak body mass index, the better their lung function and, in the case of boys, the lower the risk of asthma,” explained Casas.

“These results confirm that early childhood growth plays an important role in lung development.”
http://surecontents..com/2018/09/growth-in-first-3-years-affects-your.html

The Nigeria Police Force says it will partner with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to fight crime, including drug abuse, rape and illegal possession of firearms in the country.

The force Spokesman, Acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, stated this while addressing the Nigerian Police Corps Forum (NYSC members serving in the force), prior to a sensitisation campaign on Friday in Abuja.

The campaign was aimed at creating awareness among the youths on the need to avoid drug abuse, rape and other crimes.

Moshood said that the force was ready to synergise with the corps to address crime and criminality bedeviling the country.

He urged members of the forum not to relent in their efforts to sensitise the youths and the entire public on the dangers of drug abuse and other crimes.

The spokesman said that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, was committed to the fight against the security challenges in the country.

The President, Nigeria Police Corps Members Forum, Mr. Victor Aku, said that one of the objectives of the forum was to sensitise members of the public to the activities of the police.

He noted that most of the crimes in the country were being committed by youths.

Aku who advised the youths to engage in productive ventures, said that the country needed their contributions to develop.

He said that the forum would continue to work with the police to fight security challenges in the country.

The president said that the campaign would further enhance the forum’s efforts in addressing crimes among the youths in the country.

The forum carried out its sensitization campaig at the Garki 2 international market and the federal secretariat. (NAN)

http://surecontents..com/2018/08/police-to-partner-with-nysc-to-fight.html

Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and British Prime Minister, Theresa May in Lagos today.

British Prime Minister, Theresa May, has revealed that the Lagos State Government can explore the export credit finance to the tune of £750 million (pounds) which the UK government has in place for considerable development finance.

May disclosed this at a meeting with the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos on Wednesday.

The British PM who said she was happy to be in Nigeria and Lagos in particular to see the thriving business community also spoke on the important role that a stable government in Lagos plays in giving extra confidence to investors in the state.

“I have had a fantastic visit to Nigeria and we have outstanding relationship between UK and Nigeria but there is much more that we can do in the future. I enjoyed being able to come to Abuja and also to Lagos to see the thriving business community here.

“We want to see increased trade between Nigeria and UK; increased investment; bringing jobs here to Nigeria, jobs in the UK being good for both countries and I have had an excellent time here and I am very pleased to being able to be here and thank you Governor (Ambode),” the British PM said.

May also outlined roles that the British Government could play in the development of the technology industry in Lagos given the particular capability of the UK in that area.

In that regard, she disclosed that she brought as part of her delegation, an expert in Fintech to explore the opportunity in this area that Lagos could benefit from.

The British Prime Minister also noted the special strength of the London City as a financial hub that could be of considerable importance for Lagos State, just as she emphasized sustainability and growth in Britain-Lagos relationship.

Also, she expressed the desire of the British government to assist Lagos in the development of her creative industry and alluded to the fact that the jacket she was wearing when she met with the Governor was actually made in Nigeria.

In his remark, Governor Ambode said Lagos remained a place of choice for British investors especially given that stability in the government, the size of Lagos economy and population as well as the particular focus of his administration on the rule of law and justice sector reform.

“We just had a sort of bilateral discussion with the Prime Minister of Britain and just like what you are already aware of, she had actually visited Abuja earlier in the day to see Mr President but again the important part of this visit to us more or less is to discuss about how investment in Lagos can be improved upon by British investors and you would realize the fact that Lagos is the commercial capital of Nigeria and a whole lot of British investments are actually domiciled in Lagos,” he said.
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/750m-credit-finance-available-for-lagos.html

Archbishop of Ibadan, Methodist Church Nigeria (MCN), Most Reverend Michael Kehinde Stephen, speaks with TAIWO OLANREWAJU and RITA OKONOBOH on President Muhammadu Buhari’s intention to seek re-election, what Pentecostal churches and the country can learn from the Methodist’s example on transparency, and his experience presiding over Ibadan archdiocese, as he prepares to retire from office.

This is your last synod as archbishop of Ibadan, as you will retire in a few months. How would you describe the experience so far?

It has been a wonderful experience journeying in the church. My beginning in the church, for me, is as exciting as this time. By September 2018, it will be 47 years, since I joined the ministry. There is a great sense of appreciation to God for making it possible. I couldn’t have imagined in 1971 that I would be who I am today. So, it is a feeling of gratitude and peace. What else can I say? In the last 12 years in Ibadan as archbishop, it has been very interesting. I had early challenges coming into the diocese as it related to setting goals for my mission in the diocese, and looking back, it’s been a good journey. There have been significant achievements. Although, we have had shortcomings, as we have had our limitations – that is the reality of change and human life – on the whole, I am very happy that God has given me the grace to have lasted this long in the church to have determined my exit. It’s been a very beautiful journey, and I’ve worked with marvellous people.



It is not common for orthodox churches to find themselves embroiled in scandals as it relates to financial misappropriation, unlike their pentecostal counterparts. With your experience, what advice would you give?

It’s good to work around the pursuit of holiness, transparency, accountability. For me, as a person, I made a commitment to come to the ministry to answer the call to serve in whatever area that is open for me to give service to God. I knew from the word ‘go,’ that coming into the mainline church, that I would never be rich in worldly terms. I didn’t even believe that I would own a house. I didn’t even know that I would own a car. I didn’t even pray for those things, because I knew I came into the church to give myself totally to God. So, anything material wasn’t on the table for us, as we didn’t think about it. Those things were not attractions for me. Besides, we’re in the Methodist system, where you must present your accounts quarterly. So, to try and think of people having money in multiples of millions is so frightening. Sometimes, people expect me to have money, and if I don’t, they wonder what kind of church I’m in. I don’t understand it. All the monies that come into the church go back to taking care of society and improving service delivery. When I came into the church, prosperity gospel didn’t exist. However, now, it’s all prosperity. You want to command God to do something; you want to bind and lose and all such things. At most it’s trash; it’s playing God. In fact, I feel so sad because a lot of church leaders today enrich themselves at the expense of the people they’re meant to care for. This is not like the example of Jesus that teaches that he came to the oppressed, to the poor, to make a difference. Now, for leaders to make those people make their (church leaders) lives better, I think it’s sinful.



Let’s take the transparency question national. The ‘motto’ of this government has revolved around fighting corruption. Recently, there has been a parade of looters’ lists. From your experience ensuring accountability in the Methodist Church, what advice would you give the present administration?

In 1993, I had the opportunity of giving a keynote address at our conference in Abeokuta and I said if we didn’t do something about corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria and that is what we are experiencing gradually. During this synod, I congratulated the president for having the ‘liver’ to talk about a war on corruption and allowing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to do their work. Those criticising this government, as far as I’m concerned, are wasting their time. Corruption is so endemic. I have said they should beam the searchlight on the civil service and other parastatals. When people begin to say this administration is one-sided, they don’t know what they’re talking about. Face the side you see and deal with it; when the other side gets power, let them also face the other side. I think the greatest insult to Nigerians is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), when they start to talk about the fact that they want to return to power. The apology means nothing. When Jesus said to Zacchaeus ‘salvation has come,’ Zacchaeus said he would give half of his belongings to the poor. Let the PDP return the loot; they have deprived Nigerians. What I expected to hear was that they wouldn’t seek power for another 10 years for them to show to Nigerians that they are truly repentant. I think the fight against corruption must go on, in the church, anywhere. Let us all know and swallow the shame as a people. Let the searchlight beam everywhere. God intends for us to be better people, that’s why we must strive to pursue peace and holiness, otherwise, there is no future. The fight against corruption is a war that we must win to keep Nigeria.



What is your take on President Buhari’s re-election bid?

Sometimes, I would say ‘no comment,’ but I would like to comment. Personally, I don’t feel that he should put himself up. Not because his intention is not genuine – there are great pluses for him. There has been a reengineering of the civil service, the fight against corruption, rebuilding the economy, the way he has managed to hold the country together – because the PDP didn’t know they would lose, so they had planned to decimate the country; the PDP actually decimated the economy. Now, they’re saying they always refer to them. You’ll always refer to evil. If the PDP had done well, every reference to the PDP would have been excellent. If they had done well, why should it be that in less than three years, they’re getting tired of listening to their record? However, I would have thought that with what we experienced when Buhari was ill for many days and there was no disclosure whatsoever, although he looks much better now, I feel since he was treated well in the UK, that should be a pointer to do something in Nigeria, so that people who are sick, can look as well as hem does today. I wouldn’t have encouraged him to want to run, simply on health grounds, not necessarily on account of age, since the Constitution doesn’t prevent him from doing that. If there is pressure on the All Progressives Congress (APC), thinking that his personality can win an election, and he feels he wants to run, so be it. However, our business is that we have our PVCs to do as we please. I would have felt that the APC would field Professor Yemi Osinbajo, since he did well as acting president, but it’s a party decision. I’m not in a position to pontificate on that. The Constitution allows him to run, and we should exercise our rights to vote.


Why did you choose the theme: Strive for Peace and Holiness for this year’s synod?

I think the theme follows a pattern of the way the Methodist Church Nigeria; it happens at the conference level. Principally, the Prelate and a team of other people reflect and the theme is by divine revelation as God has a way of guiding the Prelate and the team. God ministers to the leadership of the church.



When you consider insecurity as well as other criminal activities on the increase, how would you say the theme reflects on the nation?

I think the theme couldn’t have come at a better time, considering our context today; everywhere, you have conflict and strife. There are herdsmen attacks, ethnic clashes, insurgency, kidnapping, among others. And it is not only limited to national life as it affects the church as well. So, looking at the scripture and the theme of the synod, there is this encouragement. From where we quoted this text: Hebrews 12:14, there were challenges faced by early Christians at the time. So, the encouragement for believers is to strive for peace and holiness. To strive is not something that is to be taken lightly; it is a struggle, a battle. For us as Methodist people, holiness is a very strong theme, and it is like striving to be like God. It is not just a theme, it’s also to encourage every Nigerian – people of different backgrounds – to strive for those things that will ensure peace as that is the only way we can even have a country. Peace is relational. It’s not just individual peace; one must be in peace with others so that we can have the beautiful country that we pray for.



You still have till next year before you reach the official MCN age for retirement. However, you have chosen to retire in a few months. Why are you leaving earlier than expected?

I’ll be 70 on April 8, 2019, but I’m retiring in November 2018. I just feel that leaving early would allow for good arrangement as regards who will succeed the office. I don’t necessarily have to be in office to disengage properly. I just feel that God has been good and if I leave at this time, I’ll still be there to help the church. I think succession should not be difficult. This doesn’t affect international obligations; I have obligations in the African Methodist Council, the World Methodist Council, among others, so these things go on.
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/the-greatest-insult-to-nigerians-is-pdp.html

The drumbeat of electoral campaign is gradually dominating the airwave in Osun state. Candidates daily propagate their usual promises.

Voters expectedly will be overwhelmed if not now but in the next few days. We must insist on strict focus on issues that must drive this campaign. The water is sure to be muddled up.

We will witness diversionary tactics designed to bury the real issues at stake.

Exploiters of voters’ weaknesses will pump so much money into irrelevant electoral issues.

They will want you to forget the unpaid salaries, the pains of pensioners,the unacceptably high public debt,the highly inflated capital projects schemed for fund movement to Lagos,the neglect of critical heath sector among others.Suppressing news of misrule will attract enemies of the people.

The oppressors of the people are eager to blind the public to the disruption of education sector leading to low state performance in national education performance.

Issues bordering on bastardization of public service ,destruction of local government system,the ugly depression at state tertiary institutions,the general high level of poverty among the people and more are areas the anti-people government would want silenced. Huge effort is going into suppression and diversion strategies and tactics.

The goal is to make people forget their pains and agonies. They operate on the premise that the voters ,the masses are gullible, easily swayed and manipulatable.

Their assumption is that people of Iwoland can be lured to forget the criminal neglect of the past eight years,that Igbomina people can forgive the glaring maltreatment of the zone,that Ede and Ejigbo federal constituency can overlook several awarded but unexecuted capital projects ,that Ijeshaland can overlook the several unkempt promises,that Ife people will abandon their traditional hatred for Lagos exploiters.

Osun people are not stupid,nor fools. Our people are cultured but highly politically sensitive and educated. It may take them time to see evil but once identified ,they waste no time to move towards light. Like you can fool people for sometime but not all the time.

Efforts to create change of watch are failing daily going by activated mood of the populace. There is an unstoppable urge to change the change because the change has brought pains and agonies to the people.

A simple comparative study of standard of life before and after the incumbent government has tutored the people that the status quo should be fundamentally rejected.

Never will poison rapped in chocolate be acceptable to Osun people. A scribe to a political Satan is worst than even Satan himself.

Osun people can not and will not yield to the sensational rebranding of evil in angelic robe. Osun voters are fixated on political light after years of political darkness To Osun voters ,the real issue at stake are unpaid salaries,maltreatment of pensioners,integrated institutionalised corruption, grinding poverty, deliberate capital flight,bastardisation of public service,inhuman neglect of health sector,deformation of the education sector among other governance evil.

The above represents the political darkness that has enveloped the state and intensely ongoing is the search for a solution provider,a governor who can from the first day,tackle pressing matters.

Osun voters aside rejecting servants of the political satan are looking for a governor with certain attributes. Can he muster the financial resources to in the interim provide succor to the suffering Osun people?

Does he has the family background of public service ? Is he a looter of the public treasury or a booster of the treasury? Has he transparently demonstrated capacity to serve the people without fear or favour?

Is he a sadist who cares not about people’s welfare or is he a confirmed humanitarian? Does he have genuine pro-people plan and agenda?

Voters are less concerned about where you schooled or what qualification you are holding. They have witnessed governance under degree holders; they knew of governance under Lateef Jakande,a secondary school certificate holder. Voters know your performance in government has nothing to do with your educational qualifications.

They want a governor who can put food on their table,who can stop half salary ,who will treat the people humanly,who will emphasize human development rather corruption ridden infrastructure programmes.

Informal surveys across the 30 local governments confirm that Osun voters want a solution provider, a bringer of succour, a prosperity booster.

They hate sadists,inhuman leaders and looters of treasury. The gravitation towards political light is open and clear. That political light possessing all the requisite attributes of humanitarianism,philanthropism is no other person than the scion of the Adeleke family.

Multi-million naira diversionary projects are failing before take off. As aptly put by motor spare parts dealers at Ibara market Ilesa,” we are no more fools,we are wise now. We have rejected broom of evil for light of prosperity. That is the unchangeable reality all over Osun state.
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/osun-gov-poll-issues-at-stake.html?m=1

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said rather than being restricted by a single economic ideology, the government is using common sense approach in addressing the economic challenges of the country.

He spoke yesterday at the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) 2018 Annual General Conference in Abuja with the theme “Transition, Transformation, Sustainable Institution” where Professor Olukonyisola Ajayi (SAN) engaged him on Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

Ajayi had told the VP that while the government says it wants to ensure transition from a mono economy to a diversified economy among other transition plans, an ideological bent to what was being done was not apparent.

Responding, Osinbajo said ideology is no longer central to planning and that what has succeeded was a mix of sometimes a state intervention or basically allowing markets to work. “So, basically, we are concerned about ensuring that the market works; that the price mechanism is the basis for determining how value moves. But also whenever state intervention is required, the state must intervene, for example the social investment programme we have is a state intervention.”

He said the old concept of capitalism as it was known could no longer work because, “you can’t have these numbers of poor people that we have and expect that industries, manufacturing and others will develop faster to cater for everyone, so there must be social safety nets. So for us, it is a common sense approach and we are looking at the happiness of the greatest number of our people, how the bulk of our people can live prosperously.”

The Vice President, who is also the chairman of the federal government’s Economic Management Team (EMT), said one of the reasons the government was being careful in aligning with any of the ideological underpinnings was that “we’ve seen that there is a lot that works.”

He said “Everyone knows that at some point, there was SAP (Structural Adjustment Policy) and all of the different models of the Washington Consensus, but today every one of those things have been proved wrong in one way or the other,” adding that the government was of the opinion that there was a need to be flexible in terms of economic policies and be ready to adapt as quickly as possible.

When Osinbajo announced that interest rates were reducing though still relatively high, Ajayi chipped in that, “Mr. Vice President, we borrow. You don’t borrow, Sir.”

Responding however, the VP said, “Don’t be under the impression that I don’t borrow. The truth of the matter is that we are all leveraged one way or the other and we are paying back debt one way or the other.”

He said while interest rate was 18% about a year ago but has now dropped to 13% because inflation has been going down month by month.



http://surecontents..com/2018/08/economy-were-using-common-sense.html

Mynd44 lalasticlala

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has adjusted its budget for 2019 general elections from N189 billion to N143 billion, in compliance with the directive from the Joint Committee of the National Assembly.

Briefing journalists at the end of a closed door meeting yesterday, Chairman, National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Suleiman Nazif(APC, Bauchi) confirmed that INEC has submitted a new budget reflecting the sum of N143 billion as originally requested by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nazif said a sub-committee has been established to look into the details of the new budget submitted by INEC. The sub-committee is expected to complete its assignment today.

“INEC has submitted a new budget that reflects the position of the National Assembly Joint Committee and we have set up a sub-committee to complete the assignment tomorrow,” Nazif told journalists.

Also speaking with journalists, Senator Aliyu Sabi (APC, Niger) assured that the committee is determined to urgently complete work on the election budget.

He said part of the reason for setting up the sub-committee was to speed up the legislative processes for the election budget.

The Joint Committee had on Monday ended weeks of deadlock after it reached a decision to adopt President Buhari’s version of the election expenses put at N143 billion.

http://surecontents..com/2018/08/2019-inec-complies-with-nassembly.html

Members of the UN Security Council have welcomed the publication of the final results of the presidential polls in Mali, which saw the re-election of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.

In a press statement, the 15-member Council insisted on the urgent need to accelerate the implementation of the peace agreement.

The Constitutional Court of Mali validated, a few days ago, the provisional results of the second round of the presidential election and proclaimed Keita the victor.

The Security Council congratulated the people and Government of Mali “for the generally peaceful conduct of the polls of July 29 and Aug. 12, 2018, despite difficult security conditions and limited cases violence in certain areas’’.

The 15-member body congratulated the Malian authorities for the preparation, conduct and conclusion of this election, within the constitutional framework.

It also congratulated the Head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission (MINUSMA), Mahamat Annadif, for his good offices throughout the electoral process, and MINUSMA for its logistical and security assistance to the Malian government.

The Security Council congratulated all national, regional and international election observation missions, including those of ECOWAS, the AU, the EU and the UN for their positive contributions to the electoral process.

Council members called on all Malians “to join forces and work together to promote lasting peace and address the security and development challenges facing Mali’’.

They expressed their intention to continue working with the Malian people and government to support inclusive and sustainable peace and security throughout the country.

Members of the Security Council stressed “the absolute urgency’’ for the Government of Mali and the armed groups of the Azawad Platform and Movement Coordination “to take unprecedented steps to fulfil their obligations fully and rapidly remaining in the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali’’.

The Security Council declared that “lasting peace and security in the Sahel region would not be possible without a full, effective and inclusive implementation of this Agreement’’.

MINUSMA has been busy providing logistical support to the Government of Keïta, especially in the restive north and centre, where an alliance of militant Islamists and Tuareg rebels have been launching attacks with increasing frequency and ferocity against government troops and UN peacekeepers.

When Keïta was first elected in 2013, his administration replaced a transitional government, which had wrested back control – with international support – of the outlying regions following a failed coup that saw the iconic and ancient city of Timbuktu occupied by militants.

Dozens of UN peacekeepers have made the ultimate sacrifice, defending Mali’s fragile recovery in recent years.
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/in-wake-of-mali-polls-un-urges-peace.html