₦airaland Forum

*State police should not become another Sars, Gbenga Olawepo Hashim advise*

On May 4th, in a post titled “The dark days are here but the light will come”, I advised the immediate implementation of a six point agenda to stabilize the polity of our great nation.

One of the important recommendations we made was for the introduction of Local Government and State police.

It is gratifying that the House of Representatives rose to the occasion and introduced the bill for state policing which has now attained second reading.

State police will ensure that crimes are apprehended effectively at Local Levels before they fester.

We must ensure that the state police do not become the new ‘SARS’, structures of accountability must be created to guarantee they do not become platforms to abuse citizens rights, and the rights of minorities and opposition politicians.

These token steps prove that our democracy can still work to deliver reforms if we all speak at the right time, and work through established democratic channels.

We must keep speaking up to see that this needed reform is carried through.

#BetterTogetherWithHashim
#sixpointagendabyhashim

*Kwara Must Change receives People's Magazine Award*

A leading Pro Democracy group in Kwara State, Kwara Must Change has received an Award of excellence from Kwara People's Magazine, in recognition of its numerous efforts in advocacy and sensitization, especially the development of the maiden Legislative Watch report.

The group was presented with the award over the weekend at Kwara Hotel by the Publisher of Kwara People's Magazine, Alh Abdulhameed Alli popularly known as Mr Nigeria.

The award presentation took place during Kwara Must Change's review session for Local Government Watch assesement tool.

Commenting on the reason for the award, Mr Nigeria explained that, Kwara Must Change has been a leading organization for social justice and good governance for a while, but beyond that, it is also a pioneer of great initiatives of good governance like the Legislative Watch.

Reacting to the award, Kwara Must Change Convener, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat expressed his appreciation to People's Magazine for the honour.

He commended the Magazine for finding Kwara Must Change worthy of recognition, adding that the organization will continue to do its part in advancing the course of good governance in the state.

*MODEST LIFESTYLES WILL HELP OUR COUNTRY BETTER- OLAWEPO HASHIM*

_Young people looking for help from me, showing up with phones five times the cost of my phone, yet they need help_

I recieved a WhatsApp message during the week end from a one time Deputy Mayor of Abuja, Alhaji Abu Abaji. He forwarded a video to me and simply said your model of life is like that of Iran's Ex-President, referring to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's modest life style. This I took as a huge compliment and thanked Alhaji Abaji.

Modesty or what is called simplicity is missing in our public life and this is a principal driver of waste and corruption. A lot of money is allocated for vehicles for public officials that could have built hospitals and cottage industries. The lifestyles of many public servants can hardly match their incomes.

This oppulent lifestyles in the midst of abject poverty of most Nigerians, have percolated into the minds of ordinary people, whose definition of success has become warped. I have seen young people looking for help from me, showing up with phones five times the cost of my phone yet they 'desperately needed help.

I once visited an ex-public officer, where I saw over ten different types of jeeps apart from other cars parked in just one of his houses. This fellow has not done any job in the past 20 years,apart from moving from one government post to another. He has no single factory or farm any where, neither has he any investment in any critcal infrastructure that Nigeria requires.

The richest people in the world that I know who do business like Warren Buffet live a simple life style. Warren drives an only car around and stays in a modest flat in New York.

Simple lifestyles of our leaders such as Sir Ahmadu Bello, Premier of Northern region endeared them to their followers. By the time the Premier was killed in 1966 he has not built a new personal house for himself.

We can return to this value of simplicity for the good of our country. Do not allow the material objects you want to acquire define or drive you. Please see the video.

[size=8pt][/size]

*Promote Peace Journalism, Kwara Must Change urges NUJ*

_Congratulate newly elected exco members for their victory_

A leading Pro Democracy group, Kwara Must Change has congratulated the newly elected Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mallam Ahmed Abdullateef, Vice Chairman, Hajia Binta Mora and other elected officials, over their emergence in the just concluded NUJ election in Kwara State.

Kwara Must Change also stated that, the new exco should see their election as a call to service in advancement of the media profession, aswell as the nation at large.

In a statement by Convener of Kwara Must Change, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat on monday, the group stated that the newly elected NUJ exco members are coming onboard at a time that the nation is going through some difficult security challenges and it urges the union to galvanize its members and encourage them to promote peace journalism.

According to Hamzat, NUJ is a strategic organization that has the capacity to positively influence the security situation in the country through promotion of peace journalism.

Hamzat explained that, Communication is everything and how we communicate the security situation in Nigeria, especially in Kwara State will determine the kind of impact the media will have during this trying moment.

"NUJ should assist the nation in communicating the security challenges in a way that encourages cooperation and joint problem solving, not division and balcanization"

Kwara Must Change Convener also congratulated the outgoing Chairman of the Union, Mallam Umar Abdulwahab for conducting a credible election that ushered in a new administration, adding that transparency in the process is a testament to his integrity.

The group concluded that all NUJ members should see themselves as winners, irrespective of the outcome of the election.


END

*Promote Peace Journalism, Kwara Must Change urges NUJ*

_Congratulate newly elected exco members for their victory_

A leading Pro Democracy group, Kwara Must Change has congratulated the newly elected Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mallam Ahmed Abdullateef, Vice Chairman, Hajia Binta Mora and other elected officials, over their emergence in the just concluded NUJ election in Kwara State.

Kwara Must Change also stated that, the new exco should see their election as a call to service in advancement of the media profession, aswell as the nation at large.

In a statement by Convener of Kwara Must Change, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat on monday, the group stated that the newly elected NUJ exco members are coming onboard at a time that the nation is going through some difficult security challenges and it urges the union to galvanize its members and encourage them to promote peace journalism.

According to Hamzat, NUJ is a strategic organization that has the capacity to positively influence the security situation in the country through promotion of peace journalism.

Hamzat explained that, Communication is everything and how we communicate the security situation in Nigeria, especially in Kwara State will determine the kind of impact the media will have during this trying moment.

"NUJ should assist the nation in communicating the security challenges in a way that encourages cooperation and joint problem solving, not division and balcanization"

Kwara Must Change Convener also congratulated the outgoing Chairman of the Union, Mallam Umar Abdulwahab for conducting a credible election that ushered in a new administration, adding that transparency in the process is a testament to his integrity.

The group concluded that all NUJ members should see themselves as winners, irrespective of the outcome of the election.


END

Praxis758:
This is proverbial to the north.

They believe in born to rule without commiserate intellectual endowment to lead in a technological age like ours.

Leadership in Nigeria is mere title without spirit of service to chat a course for solid development.

Followers in Nigeria see morons, charlatans, failures and regards are leaders.

Why can't you discuss issues without the sentiment of we vs them?

You are hurting your soul more than anyone else

*Rights without responsibility is a disaster- Abdulrazaq Hamzat*

An Executive Director of Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat has stated that fighting for rights without upholding responsibility will only leads to disaster.

The Peace professional, who is also a Human Rights Ambasssdor at the International Human Rights Commission also stated that, having enjoyed the right to be alive amongst others, everyone should dwell more on their own responsibility to ensure an equitable society and make the job of policing the state more easier for security officials.

Mr Hamzat made this submission while being interviwed on radio sbs today in ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

According to him, rights without responsibility is a disaster, because there can never be rights without responsibility.

"Unfortunately, most people only demand for their rights, without paying attention to their responsibility" he said.

Hamzat explained that, individual rights should go along with individual responsibility because, where your own right stops, that's where the rights of others start and it is your responsibility to be cautious of your own rights so that you don't inpede on the rights of others.

He therefore urges people to make the job of policing the state more easier for security officials by acting with responsibility, while demanding for their own rights.

LikeAking:
True.

Nigeria can manufacture anything.

But ideas like this from Nigerian politician should never be taken serious, because they are another scam talk for votes.

Pessemism pays no one bro

Naijanascam:
Yes and also every ministry must have something producing and not to rely on government funding.....


Eg.... ministry of agriculture must a fully functional mechanised farms across Nigeria, for massive food productions in commercial quantity and food processing factories not only to distribute fertilizer when the planting season is over.......

I agree

insidelife22:
am Proudly from Katsina,we produce bandits.

This is one of the problem of Nigeria

Developmental Politics

Every state in Nigeria should have a product they manufacture, based on their comparative advantage, that can be consumed in other States and maybe exported all around the world.

This is how to develop the economic capacity of states and restructure our economy.

However, instead of focusing on productivity, we are all fixated on politics of who is the president or who is in charge of what.

Most people are not interested in real developmental politics.

Abdulrazaq Hamzat

otosa:
And I think this is what helps them to hold the power for 100years and All Progressive Congress find it difficult to copy this method instead they are fumbling to rule for 100years as Chinese Communist Party.

I don't get you at all

*Requirement to Join Chinese Communist Party*

I was going through some materials on China People's Party and came across the requirement to Join the party.

To join the party, an applicant must be approved by the communist party.

In 2014, only 2 million applications were accepted out of some 22 million applicants.

Admitted members then spend a year as a probationary member.

In contrast to the past, when emphasis was placed on the applicants' ideological criteria, the current CCP stresses technical and educational qualifications.

To become a probationary member, the applicant must take an admission oath before the party flag.

The relevant CCP organization is responsible for observing and educating probationary members.

Probationary members have duties similar to those of full members, with the exception that they may not vote in party elections nor stand for election.

Many join the CCP through the Communist Youth League.

Under Jiang Zemin, private entrepreneurs were allowed to become party members.

According to the CCP constitution, a member, in short, must follow orders, be disciplined, uphold unity, serve the Party and the people, and promote the socialist way of life.

Members enjoy the privilege of attending Party meetings, reading relevant Party documents, receiving Party education, participating in Party discussions through the Party's newspapers and journals, making suggestions and proposal, making "well-grounded criticism of any Party organization or member at Party meetings" (even of the central party leadership), voting and standing for election, and of opposing and criticizing Party resolutions ("provided that they resolutely carry out the resolution or policy while it is in force"; and they have the ability "to put forward any request, appeal, or complaint to higher Party organizations, even up to the Central Committee, and ask the organizations concerned for a responsible reply."

No party organization, including the CCP central leadership, can deprive a member of these rights.

*Nigeria's unity is not negotiable*
By Abdulrazaq Hamzat

The phrase, Nigeria's unity is not negotiable came into existence in 1959, during the debate of whether or not, to include separation clause in the independent constitution between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr Nnamdi Azikwe.

Dr Nnamdi Azikwe coined the phrase to advance his position on the need for Nigeria to aspire for collective greatness beyond myopic consideration.

While Awolowo argued that, separation clause should be included in the constitution to give room for regions willing to explore Independence if they are unhappy with the arrangements in the future, Zik on the other hand argued otherwise. He stated that, once Nigeria is a united country post Independence, it's unity is not negotiable and no separation clause should be included in the constitution to avoid unnecessary balcanization on clownish basis.

Some people have erroneously claimed that the phrase, "Nigeria's unity is not negotiable", came from the military, but this is not true.

Personally speaking, I love the phrase because, it is not only firm, it is also universal. Unity, by nature is not negotiable. Even between countries, unity is still not negotiable because, no matter how much you fight with your neighbor, sooner or later, you both will come to the realization that you must unite. That's why every country, including South and North Korea are always talking about it despite their years of hostility.

So, I love the term, our unity is not negotiable. It is a universal truth that is just being reemphasized here in Nigeria.

For me,i enjoy every bit of Nigeria, it's challenges and the opportunities.

It is my decision that, while I will continue to work to expand the opportunities in Nigeria, I will equally continue to work to strengthen it against it's obvious challenges and under no circumstance, will I allow my voice to be silenced, no matter who disagrees with my position and no matter how many they are.

Everyone has the right to their views, but I choose to see only the positive things in Nigeria.

I made this decision because, the positives far outweigh the negatives and no one has been able to prove otherwise.

You can't force me to be sad about Nigeria with some disjointed views, you can't force me to be unhappy or less optimistic. To change my perspective, you have to provide superior information and context. Until then, I find Nigeria enjoyably optimistic and I will defend it as promised in our national anthem.

While growing up, I made promise every morning at school to defend the integrity of Nigeria and you know what, we all made this promise and unfortunately, not many are fulfilling this promise.

Meanwhile, I have never worked with or benefited from any government in the country. I have never been a beneficiary of government appointment or contract, but I will never seize to fulfill my promise to Nigeria.

If you observe carefully, the loudest critics of Nigeria are people who have been benefiting from government all of their lives and their criticism of the country is often from personal interest and quest for personal advancement.

Yes, I have been a victim of the system in the country. I was once expelled from the University for standing against maladministration, corruption and abuse of office. I have been arrested, intimidated by a state government and as a matter of fact, N10billion defamation lawsuit was once filed against me by a former governor and former senator for speaking up against human rights violation, but still, I stand with Nigeria. Conduct of individuals, whether in government or outside of it should not be used against the country.

It is my resolve to continue to protect the corporate integrity of Nigeria, always, against the destructive narrative of some people.

While It's your choice, to see what you choose to see about Nigeria. What you see, maybe different from what I see and we may be seeing differently, even when we are looking at the same thing and you cannot impose your views on others.

I have examined all claims by the various groups and I do not see any fundamental flaw in Nigeria. All I see are semantics.

I have gone through the Constitution many times and I do not see any insensitivity in the manner many are talking about, apart from few things here and there. Ofcouse, those few things matter, but not in the manner many exergerate.

So, if I say there's no flaws in Nigeria, what then is responsible for its slow pace of development?

To put it straight, Nigeria is not making the desired progress because of poor leadership and poor followership. Nothing more, nothing less.

Our lack of progress has nothing to do with a flawed union or constitution.

All of the issues we are raising as flaws in our constitution are not flaws in the real sense, they are possibly honest insertion, out of sheer patriotism.

We talked about resource control, fiscal federalism, decentralization etc, but in the first republic, each region was controlling its resources, power was decentralized to the region and what came out from it? The 12 days war led by Isaac Boro from Nigeria Delta, which metarmophozed into Niger Delta Militancy. Military coup, which killed many brutally and the eventual Civil war that claimed millions of lives. All of the above came out from a decentralized Nigeria and a Nigeria, where each region was controlling its resources.

My position is very simple, no matter our renegotiation, if our quality of leadership and followership didn't change, we will have the same issue.

So, instead of focusing on the semantics, why not focus on the source of the issue and address it once and for all?

Abdulrazaq Hamzat

Soulsymbol99:
And u 4got d baba himself, d original lyrist.... MODE9

Mode 9 has not been active

5 African rappers that can take on any American rapper


1. Vector
2. Nasty C
3. Sarkodi
4. M.I
5. Olamide

Not in any particular order

BKayy:
And so?

Repent.

I won't like to see you go to hell fire, when we are going to heaven

9jamustchange:
Nice, but we sincerely aren't all part of the problem. Others are just unfortunate victims of artificial problems created by privileged some.

This is part of the problem.

Those who are quick to exenorate themselves are often the major culprits

*I am part of the problem in Nigeria*
By Abdulrazaq Hamzat

Have you ever seen anyone who accept being part of Nigeria's problem?

Ask all former presidents and head of State about Nigeria's problem. None of them ever accepted being part of the problem.

They blame others.

Ask all former Governors if they are part of the problem. They all exenorate themselves and blame others for the problem.

What about the ministers, lawmakers, Chairmen and councilors, none will ever take responsibility of being part of the problem.

They blame it on others.

And what about the people, from amongst which all of the leaders emerge, do we take responsibility for being part of the problem?

Definately not.

We blame it on others.

Everybody blame other people for the problem.

People blame Leaders for the problem and leaders blame people for the problem.

Christians blame Muslims for the problem and Muslims blame Christians.

South Blame North for the problem and North also blame South.

Nobody is ready to look at themselves in the face and say, i am part of the problem of Nigeria.

Everybody claim to speak the truth about others, but not about themselves. They only advocate for others to do the right thing, not for them to do the right thing also.

Media and civil Society claim to be Vanguard of truth, buy they only speak truth on others, not about themselves.

Doing the right thing is only for other people, not for them.

Fortunately or unfortunately, until we all have the courage to look at ourselves and say, i am part of the problem, there's nothing anyone can do to fix the country.

We all are the problems of Nigeria.

*Abdulrazaq Hamzat*

Hum

Idiko1:
Above is arrant nonsense!!!! The illogicality it espoused remains one of the reasons Nigeria is disjointed.

Thank God you are able to identify the illogicality.

So, tell us, what is the logical reasoning that you have done that we can use to replace this your so called illogicality?