₦airaland Forum

Amnesty International launch global campaign to free man jailed for posting on Facebook
http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/12/amnesty-international-launch-global.html

A man simply known as Mahadine, who bravely spoke out against the Chadian government on Facebook is now in prison, and living in dire conditions. In a global campaign by Amnesty International Write for Rights, Leonor Rebassa said Mahadine is a father of seven and an online activist. According to Amnesty International, ''Mahadine told us that after he posted videos online criticizing the government, he was arrested and detained. He was beaten, electrocuted and starved of food and water for days. His health is deteriorating and if he does not receive treatment soon, his life will be at risk. The organization is asking people to sign a petition and demand the Chadian government releases Mahadine immediately. The freedom to say what we think about our governments is something we all have the right to do. He has done nothing wrong. More and more people are being punished for speaking out against the government in Chad. If we do not protect those who are being punished, the situation will get worse, said Leonor Rebassa We need to put international pressure on the Chadian government urgently.

http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/12/amnesty-international-launch-global.html

Ronaldo is better than me by far, he is the best in history Zidane confesses
http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/12/ronaldo-is-better-than-me-by-far-he-is.html

Real Madrid manager and former 3 time world best player,Zinedine Zidane has confessed that his Real Madrid star and 5 times Ballon D'Or holder, Cristiano Ronaldo who recently declared himself as the best player in the world is by far better than him. The Portuguese Captain had recently said that, ''He's the best player in the history of football''. But when reporters asked Zidane to compare Ronaldo to himself as a player, the Real Madrid manager said, "Cristiano Ronaldo is better than me by far, but I'm not bothered because I had a good career." Zidane went further to say, "He'll always be up here for me. “Many things have been said about him, and what he does out on the field every match is phenomenal. "The other day I said that a player could come here and stay for 15 or 20 years and he'll never do what he's done. “He's made history at the club and will continue to do so and I hope he'll retire here." Reacting to the claim of Ronaldo that he is the best in history, Zidane said that's true. He insisted also that Ronaldo is the best player in history. He said: "The stats speak for themselves.

http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/12/ronaldo-is-better-than-me-by-far-he-is.html

Appeal court ban EFCC from prosecuting corrupt Judges despite evidence of bribery
http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/12/appeal-court-ban-efcc-from-prosecuting.html

The court of appeal in Lagos has banned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from prosecuting corrupt judges despite evidences of bribery. The court gave the ruling following an appeal which Robert Clarke, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) filed on behalf of Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, a serving judge of the federal high court. The EFCC had arraigned Nganjiwa on a 14-count charge before Adedayo Akintoye of the Lagos high court sitting in Igbosere. It accused him of allegedly receiving $260,000 and N8.65 million through his bank accounts between 2013 and 2015 from suspicious sources. It said Nganjiwa allegedly used the money to enrich himself as a public official as it did not correspond with his salary, an offence contrary to section 82(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2011. It also accused the judge of giving false information to its operatives. But Obaseki Adejumo, the presiding judge, held that his arraignment by the EFCC is not in order. The judge said the National Judicial Council (NJC) must first perform its constitutional role of disciplining the judge after which it will then recommend him for prosecution. Nganjiwa’s trial had earlier suffered a setback when Akintoye removed herself from continuing to preside over it. Her withdrawal followed an application filed by Clarke, claiming she “could be biased” in the trial of his client.

http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/12/appeal-court-ban-efcc-from-prosecuting.html

Kwara Group React To Appeal Court Judgement Ordering Saraki Back To CCT
http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/12/kwara-group-react-to-appeal-court.html

PRESS RELEASE
Kwara Must Change welcome the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which ordered the Senate President, Bukola Saraki back to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to enter his defense on 3 criminal charges and account for his false asset declaration.

The people of Kwara are convinced that the undeclared assets were probably bought with looted funds from Kwara State treasury and we look forward to diligent prosecution of those 3 charges and the safe return of the properties to its rightful owners.

We recall that when Justice Danladi Umar led CCT upheld the no case submission of Mr Saraki and dismissed the 18 count charges months ago, Kwara Must Change was one of the groups that appealed to the Federal Government to appeal the judgement in the interest of justice, which they did to wide jubilation among Kwarans. After the notice of appeal was filed, Mr Saraki claimed at the time that the appeal is futile effort against him since he believed he has successfully bought his way out. However, with the judgement of the Appeal Court which ordered the defendant back to the CCT to enter his defense on 3 criminal charges bordering on false asset declaration, Kwara Must Change has been vindicated. The court of appeal yesterday held that the prosecution have proven beyond any reasonable doubt that Mr. Saraki made false asset declaration, which he must account for. We hereby hope that Mr Saraki would take this opportunity to defend himself properly rather than running from pillar to post in search of short cut.

Although, we are concerned that the Court of Appeal did not find merit in the account statement of the defendant, which clearly showed that he continued to receive salaries as governor for more than 4 years after leaving office. To dismiss this weighty allegation simply because the Kwara State government failed to stand as witness is to us very unfortunate.

We make bold to say that, those following the trend of events in Kwara State are not in doubt that whatever atrocity the Senate President is alleged to have committed were done with active support of the Kwara State government, which made them accomplice to the crime. To now dismiss those weighty charges despite evidences, simply because an accomplice refused to stand as witness is to say the least, unfortunate. But we strongly believe that no sinner will go unpunished.

Additionally, it is widely circulated all across Kwara that the state government dipped its dirty hands into the state treasury to bank roll the legal fee of Mr. Saraki, including the hiring of 90 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) during the CCT first trial. We therefore warn the state governor, Abdulfatai Ahmed to desist from using task payer’s money to fund criminal defense of Mr. Saraki because such amount to betrayer of peoples trust and an abuse of privilege.

Let it be known that Kwarans are not giving up hope on justice. Even though we know there are bad eggs in the judiciary who give judgement in return for cash as recently proven by relevant agencies including National Bureau of Statisics, we still believe there are men of integrity in the judiciary who will uphold justice at all cost. We are therefore hopeful that irrespective of the attempted manipulation of the judiciary to subvert justice in favor of the accused, justice shall eventually prevail.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
Kwara Must Change
http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/12/kwara-group-react-to-appeal-court.html

Hum

cyrilomoh:
Justice must prevail

Sure

Not all ladies are unprincipled.

Extra- Judicial killings: Saraki can't protect you, group tells Sen. Lafiagi
http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/12/extra-judicial-killings-saraki-cant.html

The attention of Kwara Must Change has been drawn to an attempt by the Senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki to thwart the cause of justice over the gruesome killings of innocent youths in Lafiagi town, Kwara State.

Information reaching Kwara Must Change indicates that the Senate President has been alleged to be using his office to ensure no action is taken against the Senator representing Kwara North, Shaaba Lafiagi who reportedly ordered the shooting of protesting youths on 17th November 2017. As at the time of writing this report, Sen. Lafiagi and his political aides have intensified plan to thwart justice through sabotage.

Reports have it that this morning (Sunday, 10th December 2017), they arranged 16 buses to convey more than 200 indigenes of Lafiagi to have a meeting with the Senate President in Ilorin, the state capital. We reliably gathered that the meeting is to orchestrate how these compromised people would mislead the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and other security agencies currently investigating the unfortunate incident with the aim of exonerating Senator Lafiagi.

Recall that Kwara Must Change had on 23rd November 2017 petitioned several agencies, including Police, Army, ministry of Justice, National Human Rights Commission and others, demanding for proper investigation into the extra judicial killings.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also acknowledged our petition through a letter dated 27th November 2017, stating that it has commenced investigation into the matter.

The extra judicial killings, which was reportedly ordered by Senator Sha'aba Lafiaji was registered as C/2017/8542-8547/HQ and the commission said it is currently receiving attention. We are therefore calling on the senate President to please desist from using his office against violated citizens. Those innocent youths who lost their lives deserve justice and we expect that if the senate president cannot join us to demand for justice, he should not attempt to prevent it.

Kwara Must Change assures all victims and their families that we shall not rest, until justice is served.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
Kwara Must Change
http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/12/extra-judicial-killings-saraki-cant.html

Lady quite job because her boss calls her sweetie
http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/12/lady-quite-job-because-her-boss-calls.html


A lady, who goes by the name Sarah Mcgovern on social network site Facebook, has quite her job over what she described as harassment and persistently being refereed to as sweetie by her boss. Sarah took to Facebook on December 7th 2017 to narrate her experience. She wrote: I don't post many deeply personal things online, but I want to share this. I quit my job about a month ago because of harassment. Below is my letter of resignation. I think it's important to share this truth, and to know that many of us will not tolerate the abuse. We can and should walk out. #metoo "Hi Elias, This is my letter of resignation, effective today, October 31, 2017, my last partial day of employment. Since the second day of my employment, on October 12, 2017, I have asked you not to call me "Sweetie." I have asked you not to call me Sweetie more than 5 times since then, and you have still not respected this request. I nearly walked out because of this last Tuesday, October 24, 2017. I stayed to give you one more chance, because you said you finally understood how important this request was, and that you would stop this specific behavior immediately and for good. You only agreed to this after I told you in anger and tears, ready to quit, how important it was that you stop. I was very upset not only from the name calling, but also because I knew you were discussing this dynamic with Tony, who just days before had come up and said to me, "Sarah and Sweetie both start with an S" - a completely inappropriate comment, seeking to instigate an upsetting situation for me, brought on by your behavior. Now, even after all of that, and with your own agreement to stop, this morning, October 31, 2017, you called me Sweetie again. This is unacceptable. I have never heard you call any of the men at your company "Sweetie," which shows that this is clearly only a behavior that you are directing at me as a woman. Your team is even aware of your poor treatment of new female employees. One team member actually told me, while laughing, that they take bets on how long "each one [referencing females] will last." That was shocking to hear, to say the least. For these reasons, I am resigning. Gender-based discrimination is one of the most overt and harmful ways you can create a hostile work environment, an environment that is very damaging to one's health and well being. This is what you have done, and I will not tolerate it. Please confirm your receipt of this letter, voice any disagreements that you may have. Please also send my final paycheck (for 45 hours, 40 last week + 5 today) to my home address at .... Street, Garden Grove, CA .... as soon as possible, and let me know once it is mailed. I hope in the future you are more careful in your treatment of others. It means more than you realize.

Sincerely,

Sarah McGovern"


http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/12/lady-quite-job-because-her-boss-calls.html

?

Lol

Abi oo

ibedun:
Said the same to madam 3 months ago!

Really?

dannytoe:
the truth be told, the desperation was created by the failure of leaders to improve the economy of our country as well as standard of living of all nigerians, if nigeria as at of 2day has all the basic amenities and infrastructures in place. trust me, no one will risk his/her life. just to cross the sea or go to another man's country as a slave, just that our politheifians keep on brainwashing and recycling promises upon promises with no clear vision or ideas on how to fullfil them.

Nigeria is not the only country where leaders have failed. 80% of countries around the world have failed leaders. So, this is not an excuse. Each person must learn to take responsibility for their actions and in actions. Most importantly, we all need to be sensible and responsible for our own good.

Hum

Connections between peace and corruption By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

“When discussing corruption, the nexus of its relationship with peace should also take center stage”. Between 21st-24th November 2017, Kent Law School, Kent University in partnership with several other organizations such as MacArthur Foundation, Global Witness, Human and Environmental Development Agenda and others held an anti corruption program here in Nigeria. The event was split into two and they both took place in Lagos and Abuja respectively. In the Abuja program, which took place on 23rd November 2017 at Rock View Hotel, I represented our organization, Foundation for Peace Professionals, Co-Convener at the Citizens Action To Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN). The conference, themed Tracking Noxious Funds was basically aimed at educating participants, not just about how financial crimes are being perpetrated by public officers and looted out of the country, it is also aimed at unraveling how illicit funds are being laundered through hitherto legitimate organizations, most especially multinational companies. The event is therefore attempted to prepare media practitioners and civil society organizations on how to track these noxious funds and facilitate the return of those already looted out of the country. One of the facilitators, who is also the Executive Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye said the citizens had the responsibility to ensure that governments acted rightly, while also reporting crimes. In his presentation, he stated that citizens have responsibility to hold government accountable and to put pressure on government officials so that they will always do the right things. He went further to state that, corruption is the cause of many of the social and economic challenges Nigeria is currently facing. Hence, he opined that the people must join the government in fighting corruption because the government cannot combat it alone. Truly, corruption is the bane of most African countries. According to the report of AU/ECA High-Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows 2014, more than $1 trillion in illicit financial flows (IFFs) is said to have been lost in Africa within the past 50 years and these funds typically originate from three main sources. Firstly, commercial tax evasion, trade mis-invoicing and abusive transfer pricing by multi national companies. The second aspect involves criminal activities, including the drug trade, human trafficking, illegal arms dealing, and the smuggling of contraband etc. The third component comprises corruption, bribery and theft by corrupt government officials. While the facilitators, particularly Barrister Femi Falana (SAN) properly linked corruption to economic underdevelopment and explained how to track and return these noxious funds, nothing was said of the effect of corruption on peace. Globally, corruption has been increasingly identified as a major threat to stability and peace. This was further acknowledged in a report by transparency international (2014), which found out that corruption increases the risk of conflict and conflict increases the risk of corruption. However, it has been observed that in Nigeria, hardly do people talk about peace when discussing corruption. It is as if they often assume issues of corruption and peace is exclusive. Probably this is also why peace perspective is not factored in when discussing anti corruption. But we must ask, does corruption not have effect on peace? In a 2015 Peace and Corruption Index done by the Institute for Economic Peace (IEP) which is themed lowering corruption-a transformative factor for peace, it was discovered that there is a statistically significant relationship between peace and corruption. The most striking aspect of this relationship is said to be the presence of a ‘tipping point’. If a country has low level of corruption, then increase in corruption will have little effect on peace. However, once a certain threshold is reached, small increases in corruption can result in large decreases in peace. The study also finds that, changes in corruption drive changes in peace, whereas changes in peace do not appear to influence corruption. Further analysis highlights that corruption within the police, judiciary and government are the most statistically significant forms of corruption associated with falling levels of peace. The relationship between the ‘tipping point’ and peace can be explained by high levels of corruption in these institutions. Just recently, the 2016 National Corruption Survey by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) found out that the police and judiciary are the most corrupt sectors in Nigeria. According to the report, 46.4 per cent of Nigerians have had “bribery contact” with police officers. That is the worst case, compared to 33 per cent with prosecutors and 31.5 per cent with Judges/magistrates. This shows a significant connection between corruption in Nigeria and the lack of peace. IEP also maintained that, increases in police and judicial corruption directly undermine the rule of law, thereby increasing political instability and can lead to the collapse of those institutions which were designed to prevent violence and conflict. This occurs in many fragile and low capacity contexts whereby once corruption reaches a certain point, police forces no longer perform a useful function in controlling crime, but rather become part of the problem. This situation is said common in contexts where the police are synonymous with criminal gangs, can act with impunity or are completely ineffective at solving crime unless bribed to do so. It was further discovered that, corruption fuel conflict and instability in three different ways. Firstly, it fuel social and political grievances, in particular a sense of inequality and injustice, as corruption distorts government decisions and undermines the provision of public services. Secondly, the rents seeking opportunities that come with corruption can provide incentives for violent conflict as those excluded from power use violence to seek access and control over these opportunities. And thirdly, corruption can undermine both the capacity and legitimacy of the state. By depriving state of resources and by misallocating them, corruption weakens the ability of the state to provide key public services, including security. It is therefore imperative that when discussing corruption, the nexus of its relationship with peace should also take center stage.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat is a Human Rights Ambassador and Executive Director of Foundation for Peace Professionals. He can be reached on discus4now@gmail.com
http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/12/connections-between-peace-and.html

BE NATIONAL

Being a text of speech prepared to be delivered by Abdulrazaq O Hamzat at the National Convention of National Open University of Nigeria Alumni Association (NOUNAA) on 2nd December 2017 held at the Public Service Institute, Abuja.

Honorable ladies and respected gentlemen, all protocols dully observed.

Permit me to state that, I acknowledge that this platform is provided as the last avenue for presidential candidates seeking office in our noble association to present their agenda for final scrutiny before the election. However, the need for such campaign became secondary for me, having seen the methods of canvassing support by some individuals during the build up to the congress. To a significant extent, most aspirants and their caucuses campaigned first and foremost on the basis of regional interest, then for the interest of the association. But I find this practice unbefitting of an association like ours, which should be a breeding ground for nationalism in this 21st century. So, rather than speak about my agenda to convince you for the last time before the election, I shall instead talk to you about the need for us all to be nationalistic in our thinking, approaches and actions. This is the only way we can fulfill the aims of those who founded our University and in extension, the aims of the association.

Before I proceed, let me use this opportunity to specially thank all those exceptional individuals’ among us, whom in-spite the pressure mounted on them to ditch nationalism for regionalism, they still hold their ground in solidarity with national integration. I greatly commend your rare zeal, personal discipline and unity based world view. Respected colleagues, Nigeria is our country and every Nigerian, irrespective of tribe, region or religion is either our brother or sister. If that is the case as we already know it is, we must out grow the pettiness of creating divide among ourselves on the basis of none existing barriers. While growing up, we all sang the Nigerian national anthem and pledge every morning at school. The anthem and pledge we sang are not mere songs with sweet melody and rhythm, they are promises and vows we made with Nigeria to uphold her honor and glory. Those pledges we took every morning at school are to imbibe brother and sisterhood in us and help us visualize our nation as a joint big family. We promised ‘’to serve Nigeria with all our strength’’ ‘’ defend her unity’’ and ‘’uphold her honor’’, but if anyone asks us today if we are keeping our vows and promises, not many among us can sincerely answer this question in affirmation. Rather than uphold Nigeria’s honor as a nation, we have become so individualistic, tribalistic and regionalistic. Very few among us can truly claim to be nationalistic and this is something we must work to change and improve going forward. During our short campaign and preparation for the congress, I have heard numerous disparaging remarks about different regions and tribes. Some of the things I heard cannot be repeated here because it breaks my heart.

Honestly speaking, i can’t believe despite attending National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), the only national institution in Nigeria, many of us have still not imbibed any nationalistic ideal strong enough to make us jettison divisive strategy when seeking opportunities. We are still stuck with our inherited, but shallow and regionalistic epiphany. This is not to say we have acted out of context considering the scheme of things in Nigeria, i am just saying we can be the change Nigeria needs. We can be those few people that will correct the wrong in our society and set it on the path of sustainable peace and sincere unity. So, don’t get me wrong please; i am not in the position to blame anyone because everyone can’t completely claim innocence. We are all victim of circumstances. We grew up seeing only ethnic and regional slant as a source of campaign from those we call leaders. But I must inform us all that we are not under any obligation to follow their bad examples. We can do much better. Sirs and Ma's, when we say don’t be tribalistic or regionalistic in approach; some people can’t really understand what we are saying. To them, it is practically impossible not to whim up these sentiments as a basis for campaign. But you can’t really blame them. This is the only thing they grew up to know. We all inherited some part of the divisiveness right from our childhood days.

If you look at Nigeria’s three (3) founding fathers, in persons of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello populaly known as the Sarduana and Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, you will hardly fault anyone sticking to regionalism as basis for campaign. These 3 figures in our national history rose to prominence on the basis of regionalism. Sardauna for the North, Azikwe for the East and Awolowo for the West. So, if tribe and region could be so beneficial to these guys until they attained their legendary status and got to zenith of their political careers, what could be our justification to discourage others from towing the same path? Here is what I think distinguish ladies and gentlemen. If you ask me, there is nothing so annoying like knowing that an excellent personality and super intelligent human like Chief Obafemi Awolowo championed a regional agenda. How i wish his intelligence and excellent personality is deployed for national solidarity. Nothing would have been better. Additionally, it is even more demoralizing that a legendary Nnamdi Azikwe, who happens to be a role model to people like Kwame Nkuruma of Ghana also, could not deploy his magnificent skills to national progression.

He, like Awolowo also championed a regional agenda. More surprisingly, if it is disappointing that Chief Awo and Dr Zik jettisoned national agenda for a regional one, what could one say about Ahmadu Bello who unites the entire North with more than 300 ethnicity under One North? I have been asking, why could Sardauna not see beyond the North to champion a national agenda under One Nigeria?

It is important to note here that, while Nnamdi Azikwe coined one Nigeria in rhetoric, Sarduana’s practical unification characteristics as displayed in Northern Nigeria were lost to shallow world perspective. But this must not continue. We can re-write the history of this country right from this hall. We can re-direct the polity. Talking about regionalism. Some while ago, i came across the autobiography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo released shortly before our independence in 1960.

The book is titled Awo. In the book, I found out that Chief Awolowo had one regret as we match proudly into our independence. What could be hurting Awo after successfully securing independence for Nigeria? His regret was that, intelligent Nigerians including himself, who should be using their God given talents to promote nationalism that is destined to take Nigeria to its promise land, are rather locked in their small corner of regionalism. Awo is hurting because, instead of using their talents to bring Nigerians together and make them one big happy family, they were using it to set them apart into regional and tribal lines. I can sense from the tune used in the book that this particular issue was hurting Awolowo so greatly, but he his helpless. He is a regional leader.

To escape from personal guilt over their emotional balcanization of the country along tribal and regional lines, Awolowo blamed his friend and colleague, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe. He held the view; it was he Azikwe who forced him into going regional. According to Awo, it was Azikwe who first abandoned nationalism to mobilize support on the basis of region and he was left with no option than toe the same line, else he would be left without base. He felt like is regional agenda came as a result of the circumstances he found himself. What I understood from that book is that, even a great man like Awo that is seen as a regional leader, knew in his mind that regionalism is not the way forward for Nigeria. He wished he can do things differently. He also wishes he could avoid being a regional leader, something he tried to correct before his eventual demise.

Similarly, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe also rejected the concept of regionalism. He knew regionalism doesn’t pay and Nigeria should not be towing that line at all. Through out his life time, Dr. Azikwe maintained that he is a national man and not a regional leader. He consistently maintained also that, it was Awolowo who went regional and also frustrated his nationalistic ideals by mobilizing support on tribal and regional basis. After the civil war, when media campaign was rift against Azikwe, painting him in regional and tribal color as a result of the Biafra war, the legendary Zik of Africa gave some insight, into why he could never have been a regional man. According to him,’’ in 1945, the Richard’s Constitution was promulgated. I opposed the division of Nigeria into three parts. I felt that regionalism was not in the interest of Nigeria and that it would lead to provincialism and parochialism. It means that we began to think in terms of our region and not of one Nigeria. Then, I coined the concept of one Nigeria and the slogan ‘One Nigeria’’. The great Zik of Africa didn’t stop there; he went further to cite some historical references to support his position. Hear him: ‘’ In 1953, the NPC under the leadership of my good friend, the late Sardauna, threatened to secede from the federation unless their 6-point proposals were adhered to. I had to use personal diplomacy. We had been personal friends since 1940.

So, I saw Sir Ahmadu Bello and prevailed upon him that the unity of this country was greater than him and myself and the other people too helped so that the North shifted grounds and agreed and so the country was saved. That was in 1953. Again, however, when the 1954 constitutional conference started, my good friend, Chief Obafemi Awolowo tabled a motion to the effect that in the new constitution, provision should be made that any state which feels like seceding should do so. I opposed to it and said ‘no’ and said that once we have a federation, we are indivisible and perpetual. That was when we began to use that expression - ‘The Indivisibility and perpetuity of the federation’ - and that to secede would amount to treason. And so, a debate ensued.’’ ‘’The Secretary of State then was Oliver Littleton, later Lord Chandos and he was very much interested and that was his first time in saying that the people of African descent were people actually debating at a high level. So a full day was given to Chief Awolowo to make his points. He spoke brilliantly as a lawyer. He made his points why secession should be incorporated in the constitution. He cited the case of the Soviet Union which is a federation, and that secession is written there so that any state in the Soviet Union can secede at will. He also cited the case of Western Australia and eventually he finished his case and was applauded. We adjourned. The next day, I had to reply. I availed myself of the opportunity to, well, demolish the arguments of my friend and I cited the case of United States which based its constitution on that of the Swiss Confederation. That is Switzerland. I pointed out a case, I think, that of Texas versus White, where Mr. Salmon Chase, the Chief Justice laid down the principle - he was really an arbiter - that the union was intended to be perpetual and indivisible and that any attempt to divide the union by secession was treasonable. The North (NPC) supported Action Group.

The question was then: Should we have secession? The Colonial Office came to our rescue. You know, the usual principle of Britain - ‘divide and rule’ (laughs) but this time, it was in our favour. So, the colonial office backed us. Lord Chandos said that on the face of the arguments before him it would be suicidal to incorporate secession in our constitution and that is why we have section 86 in our constitution that if any region or state should secede, then it will be an act of treason and that was what led to this war, because Col. Ojukwu seceded and so violated the constitution’’ he concluded. What Nnamdi Azikwe was trying to tell us here is that, regionalism is not the way for Nigeria. Even though he was also seen to have championed some regional agenda, he was able to establish that regionalism is not the way. However, he was also a culprit. He wished he could not have been seen to be regional. He also wishes all intelligent Nigerians should not devout their intelligence to be promote such shallow concept as regionalism. This is what I am also asking us all to start doing henceforth. To my understanding, the idea behind the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is to raise Nigerians that would think beyond regionalism. That is why the name of the institution started with the word, ‘’ NATIONAL’’. Those who named the school could have called the institution, ‘’Open University of Nigeria’’, but they didn’t for a purpose. They resolved to put the word national in the front to emphasize the importance of thinking beyond tribal or regional consideration. While the aim of NOUN is to have centers in all communities across the country to ensure no one is left out of access to quality education, it also provides enabling platform for students to move around the country without any restriction in term of access to higher education. This is why we must specially thank the former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who is also a member of this noble association. As much as Mr. Obasanjo can be accused of any other crime, no one can sincerely accuse him of being a regional leader. While OBJ as is popularly called may not be that popular in his own region due to perceived unfavorable policies, the former president has great admirers in other part of the country. They continue to follow him, not because he is from their tribe, region or religion, but because he his fair to all when he has opportunity to lead the nation. Just recently, former President Goodluck Jonathan was reported to have said, OBJ is the leader of all leaders.

This remark, i believe is not because OBJ is the best, but because of his nationalistic foot prints that cannot be uprooted in all parts of the country. My dear brothers and sisters, what I have tried to establish here is that, even those who led Nigeria into regionalism also regretted their action. If they had another opportunity to do things differently, maybe they would have done so. Therefore, I want to urge you all, most respectfully to jettison regional agenda for a national one. I want to urge you, most respectfully to only mobilize support based on capacity and national ideal. Finally, let me submit that there is a very thin line between individualism, tribalism, regionalism and nationalism. And that thin line is cynicism. I don’t know if there is any study that has established this as a fact, but from my careful observation so far, I have come to the conclusion that the only difference between individualism, tribalism, regionalism and nationalism is cynicism. Individualism is about me and me alone. Every action taken is geared toward personal benefits. This is not really a bad idea if it is not done at the detriment of others, but unfortunately, the great Nelson Mandela opined that, nothing about ‘’I’’ can be for the interest of all. Those who think deeply were able to see beyond ‘’I’’ to tribe. So, they become tribalist, not just to protect their own personal interest, but their own tribal interest. Tribalism is when someone only advocates for the interest of his tribe. But, while this may not be a bad idea on it own if is not done at the detriment of other tribes, but unfortunately, this is the case.

I am of the view that, nothing can be about ‘’my’’ and be for ‘’all’’. Again, having realized the shallowness and limitation of the tribal concept, those who also think deeply were able to see beyond tribe to region, so they become regionalist, not just to protect their own tribal interest, but to protect the interest of all tribes in their region. Ladies and gentlemen, I have said it repeatedly also that regionalism is not entirely a bad concept, if it is not done at the detriment of others, but unfortunately, this is also the case. I have therefore been asking, why limit our grace of brotherhood and sisterhood, if we can actually expand and accommodate all? Just a little deep thinking and reflection would reveal to us that we can do much better than our fore fathers and those who had a little more deep thinking and reflection were able to see beyond their shallow regional interest, so they embraced nationalism. Just so you know, nationalism is when you factor in the interest of all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, region and region. It is a situation in which you do not place your regional interest above the interest of others, neither should you abandon it, but instead, you place them side by side for joint problem solving. While you understand that your regional interest matters, you know also that it doesn’t matter more than those of others.

So, in choosing who lead and how resources are allocated, you factor in the capacity of all those involved and entrust the mandate to only those who have the capacity to purposefully handle the interest of all on the basis of priority, importance, value and sincerity. This is what we need in this country because; you can’t build peace in a multi tribal and multi religious country likes ours without being national. People would often react to perceived unfair policies and distribution of scarce resources. So therefore my dear colleagues, let us all ‘’be national’’to move Nigeria forward. Thanks

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat is a Human Rights Ambassador and Executive Director, Foundation for Peace Professionals. He can be reached on discus4now@gmail.com
http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/12/be-national-new-revealing-perspective.html

Desperation to travel abroad is killing us
By: Mr Rights

In 2008, i helped a friend through the process of obtaining U.S visa. He got it very easily. At the time, i was a travel consultant. Before securing the visa, my friend and other friends often say U.S visa is very expensive to get, but I decided to prove them wrong. Apart from visa fee, bank statement, hotel reservation and evidence of his source of livelihood, he didn’t spend one naira on any other thing. I later learn that someone had duped his older brother of about N1.5 million for the same purpose. For some years, I worked as a travel consultant. I helped people through the process of securing visa in different countries. Understanding the process makes everything easy. You don’t need millions to secure visa to any country. If you are qualified and have necessary documents, all you need is a visa fee not more than 50k, depending on the type of visa. Whenever I hear that someone paid millions to an agent to get visa for them, I wonder if the agent is the consular officer. Those who ask people to bring those huge amounts of money are merely feasting from public gullibility. If you are not qualified, you won't get the visa, no matter how much you spend. If you get the visa, trust me, its not because of the money spent. I have seen wives of governors denied visa at the embassy before. Getting visa has nothing to do with money. If you will get it, you will, if you won’t, you won't. Just understand the process or get a consultant to help you through. However, I often discourage people from traveling abroad for permanent relocation. Particularly those desperately going for hustle,I try to give them information they never had about their destination. I once had a girlfriend whose life dream is to live abroad. She is an interesting case study because there is nothing you can say to change her mind. She eventually achieved her aim. Though i don't know how she is doing now. Sometimes past, one of my friends in Ilorin was duped of over N800k. He paid that money to an agent who promised to get him Spanish visa. Before he made this payment, I discouraged him from traveling abroad. I told him to use the money set up business here in Nigeria and he said he would. But he never did. After many months, I saw him again. Probably he has forgotten we discussed the matter long ago, so he told me how he was duped of 800k. I shake my head in disbelieve. Desperation makes you foolish. Even when you can see no light at the end of the tunnel, you give yourself false hope. Blind hope actually. No, its even dead hope. Many had ended up in red sea due to this dead hope. May their soul rest in Peace. Life abroad is not what many people think. I have several people who returned home after seeing the reality abroad. A friend from Abuja had gone to study in U.K, hoping to remain there after school, he came back home and narrated the story. A U.S green card holder now resides in my area in Ilorin, he never wanted to go back to U.S, except on visit. His wife, friends and family almost disowned him for returning, because he never told them he was coming home full time. After the pressure from is wife became so unbearable, he told her, madam, i can help you facilitate your own travel to U.S if you want. For me, am done. Traveling abroad doesn’t amount to going to heaven. It doesn’t worth the huge investment, both emotional and financial. Some people sold everything they had just to raise traveling fare. Some even sold their fathers houses. But the sad truth is that, out of every 100 person who travels abroad, hardly do 5 make it big legitimately. The rest are struggling. Please, don't get me wrong. I am not saying you shouldn’t travel if you want to, but please, if you have to travel abroad, do it legitimately and most importantly, understand the situation of where you are going properly to decide whether it worth leaving everything behind.

http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/12/desperation-to-travel-abroad-is-killing.html

How Nigerians helped Wizkid defeat Jay Z, Drake and others to emerge best international act
By Mr Right

Few months ago, when U.K based Mobo award made its list of nominees for the various categories in the 2017 edition public, Nigeria’s music star, Wizkid was nominated in the International category along side U.S music heavy weights such as Jay Z, Drake, Kendrick Lemar and others. Immediately Nigerians heard that their own star boy is the only Nigerian on the international category list, many took it upon themselves not to only visit Mobo site to vote for the Nigerian Music star, but some also took a step further to launch online campaign to urge many others to vote for Wizzy. Mr rights and is team also voted for Wizkid in the international category, while voting for Davido in the best African act category. We equally did some online campaign to get many others to vote for Wizkid. As already established, Nigerians are always united in supporting their own when an opportunity present itself, this is exactly what played out in this years Mobo award, which saw star boy’s wizkid emerging as the best international act. This goes to justify that, a united Nigeria is an unbeatable entity anywhere in the world. This is another prove. Congratulations to Wizkid.

http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/11/how-nigerians-helped-wizkid-defeat-jay.html

Let’s humanize all people to avoid anarchy
By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

I was part of a group that had discussion with Greg Pirio, a communication specialist, principal partner at Africa Analytics (A2) and a research professor at Institute of Conflict Analysis and Resolution in Abuja on 19th Oct 2017.
I represented our organization, Foundation for Peace Professionals in a focus group discussion that has other civil society organizations in attendance. The subject of the discus was circled around coming up with positive alternative messages to counter the current negative tirade flying all over the media space.
The gathering all agreed that consistent broadcast of negative messages by advocate of sectional and partisan interest is a major factor brewing violence and tension in Nigeria and the earlier we begin to counter the negative messages with more positive ones, the better for us and the country.
While it is true that every country has its own challenges, countries that allowed negative messages dominate its media space gradually slide into greater violence and insecurity. This is something we must avoid at all cost.
Prof Greg who has traveled to more 27 African countries informed the gathering that his organization is embarking on a global research to craft positive messages to promote peace and he is traveling around selected African countries on this new project to determine which country in Africa would be most appropriate to be featured in the research project.
Greg who is also a former staff of Voice of America explained that, everything is about communication. The messages we communicate and how we communicate it have a great role in determining what happens in the country. He explained further that, since his arrival to Nigeria some weeks back, he could feel the tension in the air and he requested to hear our views on the general state of things in the country as regards methods to achieve the aim of the project.
Each participating organization talked about their organization and the activities they are engaged in. For the Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP), we re-establish our understanding of the tension beyond the symptoms. We are focused on advocating for improvement in the foundational indices that enhance stereotype, discrimination and needless segregation. We also talked about the Nigeria Peace Index (NPI), our recently concluded research project that is yet to be launched.
Nigerian Peace Index (NPI) is the first national peace index in Nigeria that is focused on measuring peace tendencies through foundational indices in the 36 states of the federation. The index also provides an analysis of the socioeconomic factors associated with peacefulness, as well as an estimate of the economic benefits that would flow from increases in peace.
At the end of our discussion, it was agreed that the most important task before all lovers of peace in Nigeria is to craft message that humanizes other people, irrespective of tribe, region or religion. This is a task that most be pursued with all seriousness and dedication.
It was observed that, one of the key elements of violence is the dehumanization of others, either on the basis of tribe, region or religion. Instigators of violence often paint their victims as less human with dehumanizing rhetoric's, thereby making perpetrators justify or rationalize their inhuman actions.
By dehumanizing other people, it makes perpetrators of violence feel comfortable about themselves and their actions, since it is perceived to be done against less human.
For example, if news broke out that 1000 Fulani people have been massacred in their homes and villages, hardly do people feel concerned, because the Fulani tribe has been de-humanized. What attracts public outrage is the killing of a single person who is accorded human respect and sympathy. How beautiful would it have been, if we can accord all human lives due respect and sympathy? This is mission we should all take upon ourselves. Let’s humanize all people to avoid anarchy.
For all lovers of peace and humanity, crafting messages that promotes act of humanization will greatly change public perception of people that have hitherto been consistently dehumanized. Before anyone perpetrate act of violence against people seen to be human, the conscience will be pricked and humanity will play some role.
Furthermore, an extensive deliberation went into the role education should play in the whole project of positive message for peace. While some argued that the major challenge lies with educating the teeming population of people without formal education, others maintained that formal education itself is not a way out of the current situation. Education is not an end on its own; it is a means to an end.
However, records have shown that not many educated people are doing much better than their un-educated counter part in areas of managing crisis and promoting peace. It was resolved that, while formal education is very important, knowledge and enlightenment is generally better, whether formal or informal. The gathering also agreed that being knowledgeable is good, but empathy and compassion is better.
As I reflected over this event that happened more than a month ago, I feel bad that while we have organizations abroad that are willing and interested in investing their resources on peace communication in all parts of the world, nothing is being done here in Nigeria. We are all too consumed by politics, blame and counter blame to bother with trying to change the violent narratives that liter our media space. This is very dangerous to say the least.
I look forward to a time, when we would have organizations that care about peace building and support peace communication and advocacy. I am aware that like the Foundation for Peace Professionals, many other organizations are doing their part despite the limited or outright lack of support, but we need more people of goodwill and organizations to come out from their comfort zone. It is our collective duty to build a sane and peaceful society.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat is a Human Right Ambassador and the Executive Director of Foundation for Peace Professionals. He can be reached on discus4now@gmail.com

http://mrrightsng..com.ng/2017/11/lets-humanize-all-people-to-avoid.html

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KMC PETITION PRESIDENT BUHARI,IG OF POLICE, SSS, CHIEF OF ARMY AND OTHERS OVER EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS IN LAFIAJI, KWARA STATE.

Kwara Must Change have petitioned relevant authorities to seek justice for youths brutally murdered by soldiers in Lafiaji Town, Edu Local Government, Kwara State.

The petition addressed to president Muhammadu Buhari was also copied to the Inspector General of Police, Chief of Army Staff, DG of SSS, Both Chambers of National Assembly, Chairman of APC and PDP, Chairman of Nigeria's Governors Forum and other relevant institutions.

Below is the full text.

His Excellency,
President Muhammadu Buhari,
Aso Rock Presidential Villa,
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abuja.
20th November, 2017

Dear Sir,

DEMAND FOR JUSTICE OVER EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS OF PROMISING YOUTHS IN LAFIAJI, KWARA STATE BY SOLDIERS DEPLOYED BY SEN. SHAABA LAFIAJI.

Kwara Must Change writes to demand justice for the five (5) promising youths from Lafiaji town, Kwara State Nigeria, who were brutally murdered by soldiers through the order of Senator Muhammed Sha’aba Lafiaji on 17th November, 2017.

The five (5) victims include:
1. Abubakar Halassan (Confirmed Dead)
2. Ndigi Manyisa (Confirmed Dead)
3. Ladan Emisantali (Critical Condition)
4. Manko Bindofu (Critical Condition)
5. Musa Abdullahi (Confirmed Dead)

On Friday, 17th November 2017, the five (5) bright and promising young men were shot by soldiers attached to Senator Sha’aba Lafiaji for exercising their fundamental human rights of peaceful protest to demand accountability from the senator representing their senatorial district, Senator Muhammed Sha’aba Lafiaji. The victims were students of Lafiaji College of Education, Kwara State.

On the faithful day, youths stopped the senator from entering the town because of a dilapidated culvert on Lafiagi Road, around Sodo River, about four kilometres to Lafiagi town. Many people have died on this road in the past and more recently, the youths complained that the place had recorded about four accidents within a short time.

A couple had been killed as a result of the bad culvert. A herdsman that was riding a motorcycle ran into the bad culvert and died. There was also a family traveling from Lagos to Abuja that drove into the culvert and died from the accident.

As a result of witnessing all these avoidable deaths, the youths decided to mobilize resources from among themselves to fix a portion of the culvert, which they did, without any contribution or support from the senator. The uncle to one of the victims, Mallam Ndaman told Kwara Must Change that, one of the youths also fell into the culvert and died while trying to fix it months ago.

After fixing a portion, the youths requested that the senator fix the other portion with is constituency allowances, but they got no response from him. They further complained that he always leaves the town after election and never returns, until during another election period. So, as the Kwara State local government election approaches, they resolved and were determined to hold him accountable when he comes into town.

Realizing that the youths had planned to protest against the senator and hold him accountable when he visits the community for election, some politicians loyal to the senator called to inform him of the intention of the youth and rather than reach out to the youths for dialogue, he employed the service of fully armed soldiers to intimidate them.

Upon getting to the community, the youth’s demanded that before Senator Shaaba Lafiagi would be allowed into the town , he should tell them when the other portion of the culvert will be fixed to save people from unnecessary death.

However, instead of placating the youths by showing maturity and leadership, Senator Mohammed Sha'aba Lafiagi called on upon trigger happy soldiers, who opened fire on the peaceful demonstrators, thereby instantly killing four (2), while others sustained various degrees of injury. Another victim died while receiving treatment at the hospital and 2 others are still lying in critical condition.

We make bold to say that, the brutal killing of these defenseless youths was a needless waste of human life, engineered by a politician, who was once the Kwara State Governor and feels that he is above the laws of the land.

It is our candidate view that, the supposed lawmaker has thus become a law breaker and must not escape from the wrath of the law.

We are aware that it is unconstitutional for Senator Shaaba Lafiaji to deploy soldiers as personal security and more importantly, to cause the soldiers to open fire at peaceful, unarmed and civil protesters who are merely asking him to own up to his responsibility.

OUR DEMANDS

In view of this, Kwara Must Change demand as follows:

1. Government urgent intervention is required, so as to provide proper medical attention for the remaining victims lying in critical conditions.
2. Immediate arrest and prosecution of Senator Shaaba Lafiaji by the police for ordering brutal killing of innocent citizens over demand for accountability.
3. Immediate arrest and prosecution of the soldiers deployed to carry out this heinous act against unarmed innocent citizens by the police.
4. Investigation of how Senator Shaaba Lafiaji could have access to deploy soldiers as personal security in total violation of the laws of the country.
5. Adequate compensation to the families of deceased victims and those still lying in critical condition.[s][/s]

INVITATION TO PROTEST
All members of the Media and Civil Organizations,

Citizens Action To Tack Back Nigeria (CATBAN) kindly invites you to an Anti Corruption protest in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, to demand for more action, specifically against endemic corruption in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). At exactly when over N400billion was given as a bribe through MDAs and over N700billion that were syphoned through MDAs was recovered from our thieving public officers by EFCC, it is the right time to call for a decisive action against the corrupt public servants that are undermining the development of Nigeria at the course of work.
The protest tagged #BuhariMustAct against Corruption in MDAs is slated for tomorrow Wednesday, 22nd November, 2017. We shall converge at the Unity Fountain by 10 a.m and March straight to the office of the President at the Presidential Villa, as well as the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Your presence will be highly appreciated.
#TakeBackMDAs

Thank you all.

Ibrahim Garba Wala
National Convener
C A T B A N

Why Sen.Saaba Lafiaji House was set ablaze by angry youths in Kwara North.
It happened that the only road that leads to Lafiagi town has been in a very bad state and not motorable for a while. But despite being a senator all these years, Sha'aba Lafiaji has never done anything about it. He doesn't come home except during elections. To solve their own problems, the youth contributed money and also went out to look for money to fix half of the road, leaving the remaining half. So, yesterday, as Sha'aba Lafiaji was coming back for the Local Govt election,the youths stood up and waited for him, knowing he would pass through the road they fixed. When he eventually came, they asked him not to pass through the portion of the road they used their money to repair, that he should pass through the other half they've not repaired. He refused and instead ordered soldiers guarding him to stop them. As things got more intensed, the soldiers shoot at the protesters. 3 of them, students of Lafiaji College of Education fired dead. The youths got angry and uncontrollable, leading to major crisis.
Sen. Shaaba's house burned down, many injured. Eye witness said.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
Kwara Must Change