*Peacebuilding organization, whose report defined Nigeria's 2021 ugly experience*

_Set to raise 1 million army of peace professionals across Africa_

Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro is a popular independent Non-Governmental Organization for professional peace advocacy; research and conflict transformation.

The organization is reputed for rating peace, crafting peace narrative, facilitating crisis intervention and promoting human centered peace building approach based on fundamental indicators.

The organization, which has, since 2016, been making valuable contribution and impact towards Nigeria's quest for peace has declared its mission to train 1 million people across African continent on peacebuilding, to serve as counterforce to the army of insurgents across the continent.

PeacePro as it is popularly known was formally initiated and registered with Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C) in January 2016 as Not-for-Profit Organization with registration number CAC/IT/NO84351.

Led by a human rights ambassador and energetic peace professional, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat, who is a prominent graduate of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), due to his rich history with the school, especially his well published dispute with the then management of the University under Prof Vincent Ado Tenebe, which eventually led to his expulsion and subsequent court cases, still yet to be resolved.

PeacePro has, since 2016 proven itself to be one of the most responsive peace building and development group in Nigeria and it is determined to become a reliable partner to all stakeholders in the business of peace practice and propagation, while limiting the destructive impact of violent extremism in local communities.

PeacePro's mission is to transform conflict to opportunity for growth and development among people of various backgrounds and experiences. It is also focused on facilitating the creation of a cooperative society, where ethnic and religious agitation are unattractive and mutual distrust based on primordial considerations are limited to its barest minimal.

Since the establishment of PeacePro, the organization has continued to make great impact in Nigeria, particularly in the area of peace building facilitation, crisis intervention, human right defence, research and advocacy for social justice, through which it has worked with several local and international Organizations including Caux Forum's Initiative of Change, Switzerland, West Africa Network for Peacebuilders (WANEP), Peace360, United Network Organization for Youth (UNOY), Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin and the Praxist Center, Abuja.

The foot print of PeacePro can be seen almost everywhere in Nigeria, starting from its intervention during the crisis that erupted in Ife Town, Osun State in April 2017, to its fact finding mission to Southern Kaduna over the fulani herdsmen recurrent attacks in 2017 and its anti hate advocacy to avert genocide in Northern Nigeria after uncovering inciting hate song calling for genocide against a section of the country.

The organization has gone further to produce a major research project, tagged Nigeria Peace Index (NPI), which is a national replica of the reowned Global Peace Index (GPI) to measure the level peacefulness in states across Nigeria.

The research work commenced in 2016 and was publicly unveiled in April 2018 at the Federal Capital, Abuja.

In 2020, Peacepro led advocacy for the freedom of unsentenced prisoners across Nigeria, leading to several prisoners being freed by the government, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown.

PeacePro is also passively operating in North East conflict zone, where it is combating the misinformation of the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist group through counter narratives and building capacity of local volunteers.

Its anti suicide bombing campaign in North East involved the production and distribution of counter terrorism tracts, spanning over states like Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe and Borno State. The anti suicide bombing campaign also extends to North Central State of Plateau and Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital, to desuade unsuspecting innocent citizens from being tool for terrorist organizations.

PeacePro also releases periodic reports on development at the heart of Nigeria’s war against insurgency in North East, aswell as in other parts of the country.

This is particularly important because, it allows the government, international community and the general public to have a different non partisan perspective about political situation in Nigeria that could enrich the quality of information at their disposal, as well as enhance the quality of decision to advance the counter terrorism efforts at the global community.

PeacePro has also been in involved in utilizing mediation as a tool for alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The organization has been involved in facilitating out of court settlement of disputes between parties in conflict. Also, it has, since 2017 been leading advocacy for improvement in conflict reportage and analysis by the media.

Peacepro was active in shaping public discussion during the #Endasars protest in 2020 and it is contributing to agenda setting for the country's leadership over farmers-herders clashes.

PeacePro also extended its advocacy to continental issue,such as the recent military confrontation in Ethiopia, where it advocated for a joint problem solving approach, which doesn't undermine Ethiopia's national sovereignty nor usurp the legitimacy of the validly elected government of Ethiopia.

In February 2021, PeacePro released the state of peace in Nigeria, a report that put spotlight on threat to Peace in 36 States of the country.

At a time, when insecurity got to its zenith in the country, PeacePro put together the report titled "State of Peace in Nigeria" to put spotlight on manifest threat to peace.

The report, according to Peacepro is to document state specific threat to peace for the ease of reference and to put peacebuilding at the forefront of national conversation with the aim of making peacebuilding centre piece of national security.

The report captures in real time, what has been happening in the each of the 36 States in Nigeria and illuminate very concisely, issues threatening peace and how the authorities are dealing with it.

PeacePro was the first organization to rightly declare threat by Indigenous of Biafra (Ipob) in South East and Banditry challenge in North West as full scale insurgency, this it did, when many are yet to fully understand the challenges possed by these groups.

"State of Peace report described Katsina and Zamfara State as epic Center of banditry in the country, nothing that banditry has risen to insurgency level, requiring full attention like the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.

The group also identify Eastern Security Network of Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a threat, describing the threat posed by the seperatist group, as insurgency.

Other threats in Abia State highlighted by the report include Abia-Akwa Ibom border clash in Ikwuano and Obot community, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Self Acquired Tricycle Owners Association (SATOA).

In Adamawa, PeacePro identify a group known as Shila Boys as threat, aswell as degradation of natural resources.

The recurring communal crisis between Umueri and Aguleri communities in Anambra was identified as threat, among others.

As the year went on, almost all of the observation of PeacePro, in its state of peace report eventually defined Nigeria's experience in 2021.

Beyond mapping of threats to peace in Nigeria, PeacePro also embarked on various peacebuilding outreaches in 2021, prominent of which was its advocacy on Orile Igamnu community, in Lagos state.

Orile Community is one of the hot spot in Lagos State, designated as "threat to Peace", in the january edition of PeacePro's state of Peace report.

Orile Igamnu is said to be an abandoned Lagos community, ravaged by endemic poverty and insecurity and in which almost all available infrastructures in the area were built with community contribution.

After the outreach and intervention of PeacePro, the Lagos state government took notice of the community and made its presence felt, through building of new Police station in the area, which top on the list of its demand during PeacePro's advocacy visit.

PeacePro had also launched advocacy to bring about reforms in the United Nations in 2021.

The group, urges UN secretary generale, Guterres to persue reforms within the United Nations system to enhance global collaboration.

According to PeacePro, United Nations is the only hope of human kind to have peace and security and to be protected from undue harm and violation.

However, the organizational set up of the body and the decision making processes, has made many nation’s feel unimportant and alienated.

“Our view is that there’s need for a fundamental reforms within the United Nations that would bring nations together, because at this moment, many nations feel alienated” it reportedly said.

It concluded that, “As Guterres led UN commences its second tenure amidst global insecurity, we urge the Secretary General and his team to strive for reforms within the UN system in a way that would restore confidence and bring back nations that have been alienated over the years”.

PeacePro also released a report on the state of border disputes in the country, where it stated that intra and interstate border clashes in more than 20 states have persisted for more than 30 years, urging federal government to support its initiative to proffer parmanent solution to crisis.

PeacePro stated that, in the january edition of Its State of Peace report alone, land related communal dispute led to crisis in more than 13 States of the federation and in the subsequent months, similar clashes occured in more than 20 states of the federation.

"Inter State border clashes between Abia and Akwa Ibom Ikwuano Council communities
and Ini and Obot Akara Council claimed several lives in January, while Clashes between Enugu and Ebonyi State border Communities also claimed many lives"

The group also noted that, intra state border related crisis took place in many States of the federation.

"In Osun State, intra state crisis took place between Erin Osun and Ilobu Communities. In Adamawa State, it was between Lamurod Community and others. In Akwa Ibom, Okopedi andAmmamong and several other Communities were engaged in armed conflict. In Anambra State, it was betweenAguleri, Umueri and Umuoba. In Benue State, Ibilla took up arms againstUkpa community. In Cross River, Abakang was against Alok. In Delta State, Effium was against Ezza community. In Taraba State, Tiv and Jukun in Chachenji village took up arms against each other and several other States across the federation". It said.

PeacePro also decree the none implementation of several court judgements relating to land disputes in the country, saying that government should not continue to disregard its own institutions, as that would amount to culpability in the persistent crisis of land in the country.

It said, there are several court judgements in the country relating to land disputes, including surpeme court judgements that are not yet implemented and some of these judgements are dated back to the 1980's", noting that, the none implementation of these court judgements has encouraged lawlessness across the country, not only from disputing communities, but also from government.

"While PeacePro's is aware that court judgements are mostly given based on soundness of lawyers and legal technicalities, not necessarily to resolve the matter in a truthful manner, we still believed that judgements from the highest court in the land over land disputes should not be left un-executed".

Additionally, following the adoption of United Nations action plan on youth, peace and security in Nigeria, PeacePro raises critical question on the implementation.

The group maintained that, adopting United Nations action plan on youth, peace and security should be the beginning of a long journey, not an end.

According to PeacePro being the second country in the world to adopt the resolution is a good thing for Nigeria, but this alone is not good enough.

"Unlike previous policy, such as the strategic conflict assessment developed by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), which didn't get required political will for implementation, the national action on youth, peace and security should not suffer similar faith"

To cap it all in an impactful 2021, PeacePro partnered with Guild of Nigerian Dance Practitioners and Larinka Playhouse to train players in the creative industry on methods of infusing peace narratives in their entertainment productions.

This took place during a 3 days creative summit for the promotion of peacebuilding through dance, entertainment and cultural preservation, held in Lagos, Nigeria.

The organization said that the creative industry can play strategic role in healing Nigeria and bridging the gap.

The event, which include peacebuilding training for selected participant, bead festival and induction of trainee into the Foundation for Peace Professionals shall empower participants to understand the role of creative industry in promoting peacebuilding and conflict resolution.

It explained that, people working in the creative industry has alot of role to play in restoring peace to Nigeria and we are using this opportunity to bring creative professionals together to acquire basic skills of peacebuilding, so as to begin the process of incorporation peace advocacy in their contents.

For the year 2022, PeacePro has announced its plan to train 1 million people on peacebuilding across Africa in the next 5 years.

The organization said that its mission, starting from 2022, is to provide peace education to more than 1 million people across Africa.

We have dedicated training courses on peace advocacy, conflict analysis, interfaith and community dispute resolution, executive conflict assessment and management, commercial conflict transformation etc and through this program, we intend to raise an army of peace professionals, not insurgents, militants or conflict profiteers.

*Kwara Must Change raises alarm over expired soft drinks in circulation*

_As Convener consumes expired Fayrouz_

Kwara's leading Pro-Democracy group, Kwara Must Change has raised an alarm over expired soft drinks now in circulation in ilorin, the Kwara State Capital.

The group also said that, Kwara State government must take urgent steps to hold producers of soft drink products responsible, so as to not only safeguard public health, but to also guarantee responsible business practices.

In a statement by Convener of Kwara Must Change, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group explained that, on Tuesday, 28th December, 2021, around 1 pm, Convener of Kwara Must Change, Abdulrazaq Hamzat and other associates who visited Ilorin Museum in GRA area, were served expired Fayrouz drink, which was consumed by two people, before realizing it was an expired product.

According to Hamzat, "we ordered for drinks, amongst which include Fayrouz soft drink at the ilorin museum and it was brought to us well sealed and intact. The attendant, who brought the drink helped in opening all the drinks right before us and everyone started drinking.

"But immediately I took a sip of the Fayrouz served to me, I knew instantly that something was wrong with the drink. Hamzat said .

He explained that, the drink tested salty, more like agbo (herb), a trado medical concortion usually sold by trado medical practitioners to cure various illnesses, but the difference here is that, this is Fayrouz drink, not herbs, and rather than cure any illness, would rather cause one and disrupt the body system.

"I instantly raised alarm about my observation, but others thought it was the normal taste, probably of a different flavour. But being a regular consumer of Fayrouz drink, I insisted this couldn't be a taste for another flavour.

"To understand my agitation, another member of the team, who is a staff of Kwara State polytechnics wanted to prove me wrong, he volunteered to taste my own drink and immediately he did, he came to the same conclusion as me and amplified the observation.

"We all agreed something was terribly wrong with the drink". He said.

In an effort to check the expiry date and to be sure we are not mistaken, closer observation was made on the drink abd it was discovered that the drink had not only expired, it contained dark and rotten particles, which were settled below the bottle.

The attention of the management of the museum bar was brought to the development and he apologized and instantly placed a call to the distributor of the product, who promised to get across today.

Fayrouz is the premium soft drink by Nigeria Bottling Company, launched in Nigeria in 2006.

Kwara Must Change is of the view that, government needs to step up supervision of consumable products, such as soft drinks in the society.

We are also waiting for the response of the company, to determine the next cause of action and the two individuals who tested the expired drink have gone to the hospital for examination.

*Lagos State Govt should take responsibility for Endsars panel report-PeacePro*

1. On October 20, 2020, a significant event took place at Lekki toll gate in Lagos State, amidst the successful and globally acclaimed Endsars protest against police brutality in Nigeria.

2. The Endsars protest remained largely peaceful, until it was hijacked by groups and individuals with vested interest, leading to outright break down of law and order, which include but not limited to killing of innocent citizens, attack on critical infrastructures and burning of police stations across the country.

3. The destructive and criminal dimension the protest took, necessitated different interventions from government, including deployment of soldiers to Lekki toll gate, a major convergence point for the protest in Lagos State.

4. The intervention of soldiers in Lagos, particularly at the Lekki toll gate and the subsequent events that took place there has been popularly described as #LekkiMassacre, a massacre the army authorities have described as none existent.

While the media maintained that massacre took place at Lekki, with various figures being paraded, nobody has been able to present a clear picture of what really transpired in a comprehensive manner.

5. The Lekki incident, which many described as massacre, while others insisted was a massacre without bodies has divided opinion, not only in Nigeria, but across global media space and in an effort to establish truth, a 9 persons judicial panel of inquiry was set up by the Lagos state government, not only to look into the Lekki incident, but to also look at other Endsars related events.

6. After a year of painstaking investigation, the Endsars panel of inquiry submitted its report to the Lagos state government this past week and the government instantly set up a white paper committee to look into the report and recommend to government, what to make of the report.

However, before the 2 weeks given to the white paper committee started to count, an alleged soft copy of the report has been released on social media and those who have read it, including legal personalities have faulted it, pointing out over 40 discripancies in the report.

Some have also claimed that, based on the strength of evidences obtained by the panel as contained in the report, its recommendation cannot be substantiated or justified.

7. We, at Foundation for Peace Professionals have carefully listened to the various analysis and opinions advanced by analysts and legal practitioners, pointing out numerous discripancies in the panel report and admittedly, the discripancies pointed are heavy, valid and not less seminal. As a matter of fact, we are of the view that indeed, the errors so far identified put the integrity of the report into question, but those errors are not enough to disregard the report in its entirety.

8. We are of the view that, irrespective of the identified errors and integrity issue with the report, Lagos state government should take full responsibility for the report, being the one who nominated all members of the panel.

9. It is on record that the Lagos state government invited all members of the panel to participate in the inquiry, knowing their interest, anticedent and alleged prejudice.

The government cannot turn around to fault the report based on this premise. It is our view that, by proceeding to nominate them as members of the panel, despite their alleged interest and prejudice, Lagos state government has committed itself to taking responsibility for the outcome of their report and the government cannot renege on this responsibility.

10. Additionally, we observed that none of the 9 persons on the judicial panel claimed to have a contrary opinion, other than what is contained in the report and they all assented their signature to the final copy. This means that, all those in the panel, despite being nominated by the Lagos State government are in agreement with the findings of the panel.

11. In view of the above, we encourage the Lagos state government to take full responsibility for this report.

12. We maintained that, observers during the panel hearing may only observe, the final decision rest with the members, which they have all exercise, without any dissent.

13. It is important to note that, while we understand that the report may not be perfect as being pointed out by different analysts, we are of the view that the errors identified in the report will not make it less seminal, neither can those errors be enough justification to wish away the findings.

14. We therefore urge the Lagos state government to take full responsibility for the report and take appropriate action on the recommendation of the panel.

15. On the errors and discripancies identified in the report, the panel should be given opportunity to reconcile the errors and provide justification for them.

Abdulrazaq Hamzat
Executive Director
Foundation for Peace Professionals
08076976917
https://www.facebook.com/1342567752498487/posts/4579458262142737/

*Kwara Must Change urges CSO's to join the political process*

_Says none partisanship is alien to democracy_

A leading Pro Democracy group in Kwara State, Kwara Must Change has called on all civil society Organizations in Nigeria to transform into Pro-Democracy groups and join the political process instead of asking others to do what they are not willing to do.

The group stated that, democracy is all about political participation and the concept of non-partisanship is alien to democratic practice.

In a statement by the Convener of Kwara Must Change, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group explained that, democracy is about bringing all heads together to find solution to societal problems and being none partisan amounts to confusion or ignorance of what democracy really entails.

According to Hamzat, political participation is the only realistic process to good governance in every democratic dispensation.

Anything outside of participation in democracy will amount to willful ignorance of democratic practices, Hamzat said.

"World over, there's nothing like non- partisanship in democracy, every single member of the society is expected to participate in the political process to contribute to the development, not just wait for the outcome and then start complaining"

Hamzat explained that, in a democracy, nobody can arrogate to themselves, an authority not confered on them by the people and the only means by which a people can confer authority on any individual or group is through political participation.

"A non partisan entity cannot usurp political authority given to elected individuals no matter how poor those individuals are, all the entity can do is to speak and continue to speak"

According to Hamzat, only those, who have received people's mandate to represent them can effect positive change, noting that all others will only be spectators in decision making process.

"Joining the political process will ensure that more quality hands are within the system to access first hand information that would aide the process of transforming our society for better" he said.

Hamzat explained that, activism will make one *informed* aswell as make one to be arrogantly deviant, while politics will make one detailed and co-operatively humble, adding that, if one combine both qualities excellently, one will become the greatest tool for governance transformation and learn the right approach to make the right impact.

"We need capable and passionate individuals in political and public space across board to move the country forward, but this is not the case at the moment".

“But unless those capable and passionate heads are in the political system, the outcome will always be terrible”

Hamzat concluded that, politics is organization, politics is planning, politics is dialogue, politics is persuasion, politics is strategy, politics is administration, politics is money, politics is generosity, politics is intelligence, politics is tactics and politics is mobilization.

And instead of denigrating politicians who are equiped with these skills, members of civil society organizations need to join the political process to acquire these skills and utilize same to make impacts from within the system.

End
https://politicsdigest.ng/kwara-change-urges-cso/

vedaxcool:
The same way they foolishly flooded Libya with weapons which encourage the rise of terrorism in the Sahel region.

budaatum:
The good thing, if its true, it is USA who will suffer, because China who supports Africa, for their own interest no doubt but which is to be expected, would be highly appreciated by Africa who would then sell China what China need instead of selling it to USA, then USA would need to buy more finished products from China and go into further debt with China.

*Why is US often against Africa's interest?*

United States of America often rhetorically claim to be concerned about Africans and their interest. However, evidences had shown that, the reverse is more likely to be the case.

Looking at US embassies regular update on social media, one maybe tempted to believe that indeed, they care for the continent, but where it mattered most, they have proven over and over again that, they are not only against Africa's interest in all intent and purposes, but actually, they are ready to do everything within their power to fight against Africa's interest.

Let's look at the United Nations, which is the global body for peace and security.

In 1981, United States of America vetoed against an African candidate, Salim Ahmed from Tanzania, who was nominated for Secretary General of United Nations.

Till this day, US didn't provide any reason for this action.

After the experience of 1981 in the hand of United States of America, the entire African continent decided that it would only support an African candidate to become UN Secretary General in 1991.

China supported Africa in this decision, but yet again, US was against Africa's candidate.

Several voting and vetoing took place, but the African continent would not back down.

At the end, US was tired of vetoing the candidate and Boutrous Ghali of Egypt emerge in 1992.

Ghali initiated the most impactful agenda for Peace in United Nations and by 1996, all 15 members of security council endorsed him for second tenure, except United States of America.

Once again, US vetoed Africa's candidate, but not only Africa's candidate, but arguably most successful UN Secretary General at the time.

Unlike in 1981, when US vetoed Africa's candidate, Salim Ahmed from Tanzania without providing any reason, in 1996, it claimed that its reason for vetoing Boutrous Ghali's second tenure is because he didn't champion major reforms within the UN.

Its ironical, that 14 security council members would see the impressive work of Boutrous Ghali, but only US didn't.

Well, Ghali withdraw from the race and Africa didn't hold on to him for too long. They produced another candidate, Koffi Anan and insisted that he must be Secretary General.

This time, US had no option than to restrain it's veto hand from moving in the wrong direction.

He served two tenure until 2006.

Just this past year, Africa's candidate for Director General of World Trade Organization, Dr Okonjo iweala was supported by all countries of the world except United States.

When the entire world is for Africa, US often stand in opposition.

So, the question is, why is United States of America often against Africa's interest?

Abdulrazaq Hamzat

*2023: NOT ABOUT NORTH AND SOUTH, BUT ABOUT NIGERIA- Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim*

Last weekend, newspapers were filled with crude propaganda on why it is only presidential aspirants of "Southern extraction" who should be allowed to stand elections in 2023, we all know from who this is coming from.

On this page, we have argued that all Nigerians regardless of their ethnicity or religions have the right to be President in 2023 and all that Nigeria needs is a President that will unite the Country, secure the Land and bring Prosperity. So, the premise for choosing who pilot the affairs of State in 2023, should be clearly based on Nigeria, not about North, East, West, South (N.E.W.S)

The election of Bashorun M KO Abiola on a Muslim - Muslim ticket in 1993 defeating his rival Tofa in his home state Kano, without zoning proves conclusively that Nigeria people are able to accept a good candidate without any Principle of Rotation. Those who annulled the election of June 12 were Army Generals not the electorates .

They had previously cancelled the results of the primary elections of the two major parties, NRC AND SDP then.

If the motives of the military were ethnic, they would not have needed to ban the previous victors Shehu Musa Yar'Adua (SDP), Adamu Ciroma (NRC), head or tail the victors would have been a "Northerner!"

The Nation thought it had exorcised the Ghost of the June 12 imbroglio. When Obasanjo, a President of the" Southern extraction" was elected President between 1999-2007, and Goodluck Jonathan 2009-2015, fourteen solid years, out of twenty-one year experience in the 4th Republic.

It seems desperate politicians, will not cease to invoke new demons to hunt the unity of our Country. It seems they are determined not to allow the polity return to normalcy.

It is obvious that those who control a large section of the Nigeria Media: Electronic, Print and Social media are determined to make the next election not about the agenda for National Security, Economic Prosperity and National unity but about tribal and religious differences.

They now want to officially divide the country between North and South and no longer along states and regions.

Unfortunately, most of the proponents of the " Southern Presidency or Nothing " are people who had dubiously laid claim to some higher knowledge and education than the rest of the clan.

These people talk beautifully about American democracy where George Bush senior and junior were Presidents within the same decade but become ethnic bigots the moment they land on Nigeria soil.

Some have citizenship of America.

Since these folks are unrelenting, it is important that we even debate their points.

The first plank of their argument is what they called an agreement between the North and the South that produced President Obasanjo in 1999.

But this is false as in that same 1999 convention of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi from Kano contested against Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at the Jos Presidential primaries of the PDP.

Also, in the 2015 Presidential primaries of the APC, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha was a Presidential aspirant before Buhari won.

So, if the APC truly agreed that it was the turn of the North , why did Rochas contest?

Another argument related to this one debunked above, is the argument that once a party zones the chairmanship to the North, then Presidential candidates must come from the South. This also is false.

In 2015, at the APC convention where Rochas was an aspirant, the APC National chairman was from the South ,Chief Odigie Oyegun.

One of the commentators at the weekend added insult into the injury, in order to justify the claim of the existence of rotatory agreement in 1999.

According to him, one of the reasons, why Chief S.B. Awoniyi, a Yoruba from Kogi state, geographical North Central was denied the PDP chairmanship in the PDP 1999 National convention, was because Obasanjo a fellow Yoruba from the South was President despite Chief Awoniyi's competence.

So in the "New Nigeria" that these ethnic bigots advocate, a Yoruba from Kogi, and Kwara cannot then be party chairman not to talk of been President.

In the Northern Nigeria which these people denigrate, the Yoruba of Kogi and Kwara could be everything.

The same Chief Sunday Awoniyi was perhaps the most influential public servant when Sir Ahmadu Bello was Premier of Northern Region and the Prime minister that the NPC produced was of Gere tribe, a minority tribe from Bauchi state, he was not a Fulani, he was not Hausa.

In this new "Just and equitable Nigeria" where power will be rotated between the South and the North, the Minorities of the North will be technically disqualified from been President or Vice President.

I am a Nigerian of dual parentage, my Father Hausa Muslim, my Mother yoruba Christian.

I grew up in the political Region now known as North Central where I do my politics. I contested to be President in 2019, I am persuaded of my qualification to be a good President and one who will be fair to all ethnic groups, and build a secure and prosperous Nigeria.

If I choose by the grace of God not to run in 2023, it will not be because it is the "turn" of the South to produce the President. It will be for other reasons that will be prayerfully considered when the time comes.

For now, let it be known that where I stand on this matter is, that any Nigerian that fulfills the constitutional requirements regardless of tribe and religion, who is interested in contesting for the President should feel free to run!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=411691920515038&id=100050227010971

Make public schools mandatory for children of public officials, Kwara Must Change urges govt

A leading Pro Democracy group in Kwara State, Kwara Must Change has called on the Kwara State Government to make it mandatory for all public officials in Kwara State to have at least, one of their children in public school.

The group said that, everyone has right to put their children in any school of their choice, but for anyone to qualify to work for the public and earn public funds, he or she must invest faith in public institutions and be ready to patronize them.

In a statement by the Convener of Kwara Must Change, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group said that, every Nigerian must invest faith in Nigeria and have the required will to proudly become its advocate to deserve a chance to serve the country.

According to Hamzat, public officials are the managers of public institutions and they should be the number one consumer or patron of public institutions.

"With the huge commitment of Kwara State government in education sector especially in recruiting best of teachers and providing conducive environment, every public official should be encouraged, as a matter of priority to patronize public institutions"

Hamzat explained that, nations are built on faith, not convenience, they are built on will not assurance and if anyone is not willing to invest these necessary ingredients in a state, they don't deserve to be given the faith of the state to pilot.

You cannot pilot to success, what you didn't invest or have faith in, Hamzat said.

He maintained that, while the constitution guarantees a right to choice, Kwara Must Change is of the view that, the era of handing the faith of a nation to people who will not be affected by the outcome of their inputs is over, noting that only those who have direct gain or pain in the output of their inputs should be allowed to manage public affairs.

"Public officials can no longer be allowed to take public resources to patronize private services that the public can also offer" he said.

"If public officials cannot patronize public institutions they are managing, then there cannot be hope for the nation"

Hamzat therefore call on the Kwara State government to as a matter of principle, make it a necessary requirement for all public officials in the state to patronize public institutions.

END


https://justeventonline.com/group-tasks-govt-to-make-public-schools-mandatory-for-public-officials-children/

*THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA WILL BE CHOSEN BASED ON CREDENTIALS, NOT TRIBE OR RELIGION- Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim*

It seems the imbroglio on where the Presidential candidate will come from in 2023 has been resolved in the opposition PDP.

The consensus Party chairman, Dr Iyorcha Ayu, said it will be opened to all qualified party members irrespective of where they come from.

This is how it has always been and this is how it should be.

I am confident that the APC will do the right thing too concerning this matter as it did in 2014.

Despite the fact that Chief Odigie Oyegun, former Governor of Edo state was Chairman from the South, that did not prevent Owelle Rochas Okorocha from contesting the Presidential Primaries.

Going forward, debates on the immediate future of Nigeria as it concerns the Presidency should be about the antecedent, character and programs of the aspirants.

It should be about how to manage the economy, create jobs, unite the country, secure every inch of this land and issues that will improve the welfare and conditions of All Nigerians, not about tribe or about religion.

Congratulations Dr. Iyorcha Ayu! Wishing All participants at State Congress of our great party, APC successful outing today!

#bettertogetherwithhashim

Lol

slivertongue:
A collapsed APC will always be delighted with anything

E deh pain you ooo

*APC Delighted to Attract Olawepo-Hashim- Buni*

A former Presidential candidate and a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has urged leaders elected on the party platforms to desist from using ethno-religious platforms to ventilate their concerns on policy matters.


In a statement released by his media office in Abuja yesterday, he advised political leaders to utilise the internal machinery of the party to ventilate their opinions and resolve their differences instead of retreating to ethnic and religious conclaves to inflame passion and division.

Olawepo-Hashim who was speaking while being received by the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, in his residence in Abuja on Thursday, recalled that it had never been the tradition in the politics of the country for leaders to be aggregating as Southern leaders or Northern leaders.


According to him, the second Republic leaders spoke as UPN or NPN, PRP or NPP, GNPP or NAP or at best Progressives versus Conservatives. “The divides were ideological, healthy and consistent with modern democratic practice. Now we need to put a stop to politicking along regional lines which is widening the gulf of divisions in the country,” he said.

Olawepo-Hashim also commended the Chairman of the APC for his efforts and the Caretaker Committee for expanding the membership base of the party.


“His Excellency, we must commend your leadership style and your efforts that have attracted many to the APC. In 1998 when I was privileged to be one of the youngest amongst great men and women that formed the then PDP, we used to take pride in the fact that we have formed the largest party in Africa but what you have done with the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari in the last one year has made the APC to exceed what we did then. Being big comes with its own challenges, I pray God will give us the wisdom to handle it,” he added.


In his own remarks, the Chairman of the APC in FCT, Alhaji Usman Abdulmalik, maintained that “since February 2021 when our leader Mr. Olawepo-Hashim did what experienced politicians do by registering in Usuma Ward, Bwari Area Council in FCT, he has contributed a lot with his teeming supporters. We are poised by the grace of God to win all elections in the FCT. He is a great mobiliser and a loud voice for the unity of the country.”

In his own response, Governor Buni thanked Mr. Olawepo-Hashim and the delegation saying the party was delighted to attract a great leader like him into the party.

”You are not a new face to us, we respect you greatly .Do not see yourself as a new joiner in APC, you are equal now to everyone that came into APC from day one. All we have achieved is due to Almighty God and the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari(GCFR),” he said.

While thanking Olawepo-Hashim for all the contributions and efforts in building the party in FCT, North-Central and the country at large, Buni added that the APC successfully registered over 40 million members in the last registration exercise with every member’s data, PVC numbers and passport photographs.

Apart from the APC party chairman in the FCT, other members of the delegation include former House of Representatives member, Hon. Zakari Angulu and former deputy Mayor of Abuja, Hon. Abubakar Abaji.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/

*Kwara Must Change call for local govt election*

A leading Pro Democracy group in Kwara State, Kwara Must Change has urged the Kwara State government to conduct the local government election as soon as possible, instead of engaging in a prolonged legal battle against the judgement of a case delivered against it today by a high court judge, Honourable Justice H.A Gegele.

The group noted that, conducting the local government election as soon as possible is the right thing to do, irrespective of the court judgement or other consideration, including the ongoing appeal court case on Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC).

In a statement by Convener of Kwara Must Change, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group stated that, while government has right to appeal the judgement, Kwara Must Change is of the view that, setting motion in place to conduct the election will do both government and people of Kwara much good.

According to Hamzat, "before the current judgement, in a case instituted by Elite Network for Sustainable Development, the justification for not holding election is that government could not proceed with the election because it could not constitute kwasiec due to ongoing court case.

"However, with this latest judgement, the argument of KWASIEC has been laid to rest, because we now have a court judgement, which if properly interpreted, means that government have a duty to not only constitute another KWASIEC board as a matter of necessity, but to also conduct election as soon as possible". Hamzat said.

Kwara Must Change therefore maintained that, instead of engaging in long legal battle, government should see this as an opportunity to legally constitute kwasiec and conduct the election.


END

mrvitalis:
Truth of the matter is 2023 is north to lose and they know it and are not ready to lose it

South west hope of getting presidency is built on one thing and one thing alone ... hoping north don't contest then riding on anti Igbo sentiments in the north to win ....once north contest south west ambition is over

South east presidency is hanged on the hope of south agreeing to respect zoning since they haven't produced the president so it should be their turn ....if that fails south east can't be president

North sensing yorubas are interested n this would scatter zoning n unity are playing a smart game ... giving south west false hope in other not to push them to form partnership with the south ... uniting the south

The question is if the north is not United why should the north release power ? Igbos have shown they are willing to do what yorubas did in 2015 ...so as it stands north has the upper hands


But there is a solution n it hangs on one man tinubu , tinubu has Igbo boys all over Lagos that are loyal to him ....pick one and sponsor tell igbos that's the only condition for alliance

Yes tinubu would fail to become president but he would have suppassed both awolowo and zik with one stroke , achieving what both failed to achieve ...unite the south that's one and finally defeating the north once and for all because after 8 years south east , you would have 8 years of middle belt , a Yoruba from kogi or kwara can go , then 8 years south west , then 8 years north east ( taraba , southern gombe , bauchi , brono ) can go then 8 years south south ...it would be 40 years before north west and core north have power again

South can restructure this country the way we want , zonal government with financial autonomy and political autonomy , security autonomy and resources control

But what do I know even

Lol

*2023: Presidential hopefuls from northern Nigeria edging southerners in online engagement*

_As Atiku Abubakar, Olawepo Hashim tops quarterly report_

The social media engagement report by Abuja based digital research and communication outfit, Grand Plan has rated Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo Hashim as online most engaging presidential hopefuls in the country.

The quarterly report, which was released over the weekend also revealed that, apart from the advocacy of Southern Governors Forum demanding for zoning to the south, presidential hopefuls from the region are not doing enough to engage the populace, unlike their counterpart from the north, who are aggresively communicating with the people, noting that the top four (4) most engaging presidential hopefuls are from the north.

The social media engagement quarterly report by Grand Plan is the aggregation of social media engagements of political leaders in the two major political parties, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and People's Democratic Party (PDP), especially those seeking to take over from president Muhammadu Buhari after his second term in office.

In a statement by the Executive Director of Grand Plan, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat, social media engagement report pays special attention on the online activities of political leaders in Nigeria and the quarterly report is the combination of the monthly social media engagements of potential presidential hopeful in the country.

"Aspirants from the northern part of the country occupied the top 4 spots in report, while those from the south are trailing, indicating low online public engagement by aspirants from southern part of the country in both ruling APC and opposition PDP".

"The low engagement level of politicians from southern part of the country is strange, considering the growing advocacy for power shift to the region, especially by Southern Governor's Forum", Hamzat said.

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and a former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo Hashim are the two most engaging political leaders in Nigeria for the past three (3) months.

Atiku Abubakar of the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) emerged top, while Gbenga Olawepo Hashim of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) came second in the quarterly report.

Since the commencement of the monthly social media engagement report 3 months ago, Atiku Abubakar has won the top position twice in August and September, being the only one aspirant to do so, while Gbenga Olawepo Hashim has won the top position once, in the month of July.

Atiku Abubakar has a convincing lead, with 460,000 engagement in the last 3 months, while Gbenga Olawepo Hashim has 328,400 engagement.

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki emerged third in social media engagement in this quarter, with 292,500 engagement despite falling to 4th position in the September report, followed by Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who emerged 4th with 141,000 engagements in the quarter, as well as emerged second most engaging for the month of September.

While Atiku Abubakar, who emerge top mostly focused on social activities and engagement all through the quarter, Olawepo Hashim on the other hand, mostly put searchlight on governance issues, ranging from economy, national unity, security, foreign affairs, job creation, education etc.

Also, Vice president of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Chairman of Nigeria's Governor's Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi and other presidential hopefuls from the south trailed their northern counterpart.

Professor Yemi Osinbajo emerged most engaging presidential hopeful from the South, with over 109,000 engagements, followed by Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State with 52,400 engagements, both of whom were trailing Gbenga Olawepo Hashim and Gov Yahaya Bello in the ruling party.

A glance at Olawepo Hashim's online page in the past three months will prepare readers for real engagement on key governance issues affecting the country and the direction his government would take if elected can be easily deduced and adequately engaged.

The same cannot be said of other presidential hopefuls.

Following ban on popular micro blogging platform, twitter few months ago, Nigerian politicians have become more active on Facebook and most of them have made the platform their preferred medium of communication with the people and this report is based on Facebook engagement.

Facebook is the most popular social media platform in the world, with over 2.8 billion users. It is also by far, the most popular social media platform in Nigeria with over 65% control.

While there are over 104 million internet users in Nigeria, only 33million of them are on social media with Facebook, having over 30% of the total internet users and more than 95% of social media users, with its over 31 million Facebook users in Nigeria, some of whom also uses other social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapechat, tiktop etc.

Data on each of the candidates’ were realistic because “Facebook represents the broad spectrum of voters who will vote in 2023.”

Increasing engagements imply voters’ growing
interest in the candidates while a decreasing result reflects voters’
disenchantment.

Contrary to popular belief which claimed that suspended microblogging platform, Twitter is the platform for youths in the country, available records show that, Facebook still remains the dominant social media platform for young adults.

65 percent of Facebook users are under the age of 35, which means that they fall under the age demographic of Millennials and Generation Z. It is also important to note that, between 25 to 34 year olds accounted for 32.5 percent of Facebook users, whereas just 2.9 percent of users were aged between 55 and 64 years old.

End

https://www.legit.ng/1437227-2023-presidential-hopefuls-northern-nigeria-edging-southerners-online-engagement.html