₦airaland Forum

Lol

Charmingrascal:
If thy soil thy hands ye shall have no peace.

Oto ge chapter 1 vs 1-4

Bu..la Sa..ki Ole!

Very apt verse

*Only those who soiled their hands should be scared, Kwara Must Change tells PDP*

A leading pro democracy group in Kwara State, Kwara Must Change has cautioned the Kwara State chapter of People's Democratic Party (PDP) from mentioning its name in any of its releases.

The group also said that, even if PDP must mention its name, the party should endeavour to do so with respect, after checking themselves, as we do not want to be associated with the party's stinks.

In a statement by convener of Kwara Must Change, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group said, in the past 48hours, PDP had issued 2 statements crying like a child caught stealing meat in the mother's pot.

However, instead of feeling remorse for its bad conducts and behaviour while in charge of the state, the party is busy blaming Kwara Must Change for its woe, as if we ask its members to be poster men for corruption.

According to Hamzat, while PDP is already known for its irresponsible utterances over the years, we expect the party to have learned that vulgar languages are not an acceptable means of communication in civilised society "

"For us at Kwara Must Change, we will never join the party in its piggy fight, but instead would pray for them to rest in peace in inconsequentiality"

Hamzat insists that, Kwara Must Change will ensure that all those who brought Kwara down to its knees will be held accountable according to the law, but this has nothing to do with the political party they belong.

"As far as we are concerned, only those who soiled their hands have reason to be scared". He said.

Recall that Kwara Must Change petitioned the Kwara State House of Assembly over endemic acts of corruption, mismanagement and outright fraud at Harmony Holdings Limited amounting to over N3billion. The group also asked the assembly to invite former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to respond to questions over the mismanagement of over 20 companies and corporations handed over to Harmony Holdings by the former Governor.

End

True

JonDon12:
Ok Nigerians Learn a new word

Hagiography; A biography which is uncritically supportive of its subject, often including embellishments [/b]or [b]propaganda.

Another word

Stooge; One who knowingly allows himself or herself to be used for another's profit; a dupe. or in Nigerian Parlance, a Mumu.

Simple Example

Hamzat who wrote this Hagiograph of Ibrahim is a paid STOOGE.

Rule 8. Please dont Post false Information on Nairaland.

You just violated rule 8 by calling a post false, when the reverse is the case

*Hon. Ilyasu Ibrahim, most selfless politician in Nigeria*

By Abdulrazaq Hamzat

Politics is a dirty game, so they often say, until you meet a decent politician, who will not allow the dirty parts of politics stain his clean garment.

Truthfully speaking, politics is indeed a game. However, unlike many observers of the political scene, I have the opinion that the game of politics can only be dirty, if played dirty by dirty people, it can also be clean and decent, if played clean by decent people, and one of the politicians, that can aptly or unarguably be described as decent and selfless politician in Nigeria, it is Hon. Ilyasu Ibrahim.

Hon Ilyasu started as a business man, whose quest for charity turned him to a philanthropist, then he was dragged into politics by the people of his local government, Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria.

Since joining politics, particularly after Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999, Hon. Ilyasu’s personality have been shaped by a number of events he championed in the quest for Kwara political liberation.

In 1999, at a time when not many could be in the opposition to the ruling dynasty in Kwara State, the vibrant Ilyasu became the first person in Moro local government to accept the opposition role and led it courageously with inspiration, and principle. For Ilyasu Ibrahim, the seed of what would eventually transformed into otoge revolution in 2019 was sowed in 1999.

Although, several incidences within the opposition party in Kwara State, especially after the Kwara strong man, Dr. Olusola Saraki joined the party pitched the courageous Ilyasu against many of his former associates.

Notwithstanding, his alliance with the new entrant into the opposition party, Dr Olusola Saraki did not make him lose his integrity and decency, neither did he lose the courage to stand for what is fair and just, nor lose his principle that political position should be used to serve the interest of common man.

In 2012, I came to know Hon. Ilyasu Ibrahim as a result of his battle with the then Kwara State House of Assembly under the leadership of Hon. Razaq Atunwa.

As a member and Chief Whip of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Ilyasu uncovered some corrupt activities by the then speaker, Hon Razaq Atunwa and decided to act against it.

The elderly Ilyasu, who always leaves his door wide open to all was the only courageous member of the house of assembly that could stand up to the speaker to challenge him on his corrupt activities.

At the time, Ilyasu did not only wrote a petition to the speaker and circulated it to all members, he actually pushed for the matter to be properly discussed at the plenary of the house of assembly.

This move, seen by the speaker as a major threat to collective and personal security of the then ruling government shock the 7th assembly and through approval of the then leader of the ruling government, Dr Bukola Saraki, Hon. Ilyasu Ibrahim was suspended for 5 months for attempting to expose corruption in the house.

It is important to note that, those who illegally suspended Ilyasu thought that he would come begging to be forgiven, but unknown to them, he is a man who only listen to the music of his own soul.

Like a courageous man that he is, he challenged his suspension in court and fought to the Supreme Court.

Although, he resumes to the house after the expiration of his 5 months’ suspension, but he was never accepted back into the house, neither was his statutory salaries paid. He was later suspended permanently and the 23 months’ salaries being owed to Ilyasu Ibrahim is still yet to be paid.

Some people might want to ask, what happened to the court case he filed? To say it plainly, he won the cases. Not only at the high court and appeal court, but also at the Supreme Court.

However, the judgement was not implemented. This was a directive from the oga at the top.

Even the Hon Ali Ahmad led house, which came after the Atunwa administration did not honour the court judgement. So, when you hear me describe the former Kwara State House of Assembly as being irresponsible and discredited, you know where we are coming from.

Before his travail in the house of assembly, Ilyasu Ibrahim practically became a government of his own. Due to failure of government under Bukola Saraki and Abdulfatah Ahmed, especially in education sector, where schools were left with no teachers, Hon. Ilyasu Ibrahim single handedly employed several teachers across different schools in Moro Local Government and paid them monthly from his private purse.

He told me in 2012, when I met him during the heat of the matter that, children that would no longer have teachers or teachers he can no longer pay their salaries across the various schools are the people he is really feeling for, while battling with his oppressors.

One other incident that cemented Hon. Ilyasu Ibrahim’s position as one of the most selfless politicians in Nigeria happened during the 6th assembly, when all members of the assembly were given job slots at the Kwara State Civil Service.

While other members simply handed over the slot to one of their children or family members, Ilyasu Ibrahim did something different.

He sent message to his constituent in Moro Local Government to inform them of the job opportunity presented to him at the assembly and asked the people to identify someone with the specific qualification and his or her details to claim the slot.

After 2 weeks of searching and because of the peculiarity of the qualification requested, they couldn’t find anyone with the requirement. So they returned to Ilyasu with the bad news of no candidate that fits the requirements.

It was at this point that Hon. Ilyasu pleaded with them that if they do not mind, his own child at home is without job and that he meets the criteria. He pleaded that they should allow him send his child’s name, so that the slot will not be wasted.

Those who went to him looked at each other with amazement and soon after, one of them said, so you have a child that meets the requirement and you decided to send us around searching? The other also added that, you are the one who brought the opportunity and you don’t need to seek our permission to submit your son's name.

However, Ilyasu Ibrahim countered that, I do not own the slot, it was given to Moro Local Government representative. Even though I am your representative, I do not own what belongs to the community, it has to be jointly decided. The only thing I am entitled to is my salary, any other thing must be presented for your consideration.

The people gave him the go ahead to present his son and he thanked them greatly, adding that should they eventually find anyone who has the qualification, he would not hesitate to step down his son’s name.

After all names had been submitted, the screening date was fixed. However, a day to the screening date, a young man walked into the home of Hon Ilyasu and pleaded with him to help him find a job. The young man told Ilyasu that he had finished school for more than 5 years without any job and all his family members are looking up to him.

When Hon Ilyasu asked him what he studied in school, it was the same requirement needed for the job slot he had given to his son, whose screening they are doing tomorrow. Ilyasu then told the man to go back home and come the next morning, so they could go out together. He gave him transportation money to make his movement easy.

The next morning, the young man arrived very early. Hon. Ilyasu took him in his vehicle straight to the office of the head of civil service commission. He told the civil service boss that the name he submitted before was just a tentative name, to reserve the slot for the person who will take it. The real owner has now come and he wanted him to replace his son’s name with that of this young man.

The civil service boss was shock. How can you be replacing your son’s name with a total stranger? He said, but Ilyasu insisted that the name be replaced.

In his magnamity, the civil service boss promised to get another slot for the young man after the exercise, but Ilyasu refused the offer. He said to him, give this young man this slot, then you can find another slot for my son. That’s how a total stranger was replaced with Hon. Ilyasu’s son.

Unknown to Hon. Ilyasu, his son is not really interested in the job. He had decided to travel to Portharcourt, where he could access better opportunity, especially with multi-national companies.
Hon. Ilyasu's son left Ilorin same day and immediately after getting to port Harcourt, even before getting to his destination, he saw a job advert and decided to branch into the company to apply in person, after all he had all his credentials with him. To cut the long story short, he was employed right there and then, with full benefits including housing.

When I asked Hon Ilyasu about this story, he confirmed it to me and said, God only pays good with good.

Today, Hon Ilyasu's son, Rotimi Ilyasu is one of the commissioners recently approved by the Kwara State House of Assembly.

Let me conclude by saying that, you may disagree with Hon. Ilyasu politically, but most certainly, you cannot impugn his character.

*Abdulrazaq Hamzat is the Convener of Kwara Must Change*

PIX: Hon. Ilyasu Ibrahim with the president of Ghana

Its really important they are out

*Kwara Must Change petition KWHA to investigate former Governor over alleged fraud and mismanagement*

A leading pro democracy group in Kwara State, Kwara Must Change has dragged the immediate past governor of Kwara State, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed to the Kwara State House of Assembly over the mismanagement of over N3billion handed over to Harmony Holdings Limited.

The group also asked the assembly to investigate mismanagement of over 20 Kwara State companies and corporations handed over to the company by the former Governor.

In a petition submitted to the Kwara State House of Assembly with the heading, " petition for investigation into endemic acts of corruption, mismanagement and outright fraud at Harmony Holdings Limited", signed by the convener of group, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, Kwara Must Change re-established the process surrounding the establishment of Harmony Holdings and subsequent taken over of over 20 companies belonging to the Kwara State government as contained in a report submitted to the Kwara State government by a committee setup by the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

The group also reflected on controversies that have characterised the activities of Harmony Holdings.

According to the petition, sometimes in 2012, during the administration of Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed, a company named Harmony Holdings Limited took over the management of many companies and corporations belonging to the Kwara State government. However, since taking over the establishments, all activities of the company and that of its subsidiaries are done in secrecy, including sales and disposal of government properties in its custody.

Referencing a report by the Senator Makanjuola Ajadi led committee on review of sales and disposal of government assets and properties between 1999 till date, the group stated that, immediately Harmony Holdings was incorporated, the company was given a takeoff capital base of N2.5billion by the Kwara State government. This is in addition to the transfer of over 20 companies and corporation, belonging to the Kwara State government to the company for management.

Explaining how the funds and properties were mismanaged. Kwara Must Change said, many properties of subsidiary companies transferred to Harmony Holdings Limited in 2012 have been sold off without due process or knowledge of the subsidiary companies, adding that those properties were not only sold out without consent of the subsidiaries who own 99% shares, they were actually sold at ridiculous prices to officials of Harmony Holdings Limited who are cronies of the past government, and same goes for properties on lease and in some cases.

"The properties were sold, with no trace of payment and all of these were done without any due process" the group said.

According to the petition, "In addition to the N2.5billion given to Harmony Holdings Limited as capital base in 2012, Kwara State government also released the sum of N404million to the company between March 2012 and July 2013 as float for operating expenses, rent office renovation and procurement of fixed assets. This is in addition to another N184,369,818 from the business share of Shonga Farm to Harmony Holdings Limited as well as another N474,694,999 from Shonga Farm within the same period".

"It is hereby established that, Kwara State government had given Harmony Holdings over N3billion in cash, then handed over 20 companies and corporations for management to the company since 2012 and till date, no dime has been remitted to government purse, despite selling many properties under its care and management" the group said.

Based on the above stated facts as contained in the report of a committee constituted by the Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Kwara Must Change demanded that the Kwara State House of Assembly invite former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to shed more light on what led to the transfer of over 20 companies and corporations belonging to Kwara State government to Harmony Holdings Limited for management without any accountability.

Kwara Must Change also said that the former Governor need to be questioned on why over N3billion government fund was handed over to the company without any returns on investment to government in 7 years.

Kwara Must Change also wants the former Governor to explain, why Kwara State government continue to bear the burden of repayment of loans taken by some of the over 20 companies and corporations such as Kwara Express, whose management had already been taken over by Harmony Holdings Limited since 2012.

The group also stated that, since Harmony Holdings Limited have only 1% share of the company they are managing, with the subsidiaries having 99% shares. This means that, the board of the subsidiaries must approve every action being taken on its behave by Harmony Holdings Limited including sales and disposal of its properties, but unfortunately, this was not the case. It said that KWHA needs to question the former Governor why many properties of subsidiary companies transferred to Harmony Holdings Limited in 2012 have been sold off without due process or knowledge of the subsidiary companies.

Additionally, Kwara Must Change also asked KWHA to invite Executive Director of Harmony Holdings Limited, Mr Adebayo Sanni to explain why the company has been unable to provide any returns to Kwara State government for 7 years, despite receiving over N3billion and over 20 companies and corporations for management.

It also said Mr Adebayo Sanni needs to explain, why the company was acting beyond its management mandate, particularly as regards sales or disposal of subsidiaries properties without approval from its subsidiaries and why subsidiaries properties are being unduly sold to Harmony Holding officials, sometimes without record of any payment.

End

If people around you are unhealthy, do not join them in getting sick

Love has become a very relevant thing in human life only because human emotions is a strong aspect of human being. In human life, emotion is a very powerful thing.

Even in this day and age, most people think they are very intellectual, but in reality, their emotions are the strongest aspect of their life.
They claim they are intellectual, but their intellect is never so intense, but check their emotions, it is so intense. Maybe not love, maybe not compassion, but maybe anger, maybe irritation. These are all emotions and you will agree that emotion is a very important aspect of being human.

So, know this, love means that you have transformed your emotions into sweetness. Hate also means that you have transformed your emotions into bitterness.

Love is an emotion; it is the sweetness of your emotions that you call love. If the same emotions become bitter, we call it hate.

Usually, it is the people whom you once love that you hate, isn’t it? Some time ago you loved them, now you hate them. You don’t hate someone that is just walking on the street. To hate someone, you must have first love them.

This means that, love and hate are two sides of the same coin. If it falls this way, you love, if it falls the other way, you hate. Don’t think they are too far away.

Love is an emotion, hate is also an emotion. The choice therefore is, do you want your emotion to be pleasant or unpleasant? That’s your choice.

Although, you may say that you want your emotions to be pleasant, but unfortunately, most people are keeping their emotions bitter most of the time. Bitter doesn’t necessarily mean that you are in active hatred, you may just be in irritation and agitation. Fear is also an emotion; anxiety is an emotion. All of these gives some level of unpleasantness.

If you make your emotions very pleasant, then life will be very pleasant for you. If you make your emotions unpleasant, life would also become very unpleasant for you.

You see, most people today experience the moment of love as the most profound moment in their life, but in actuality it is not , they only experience it that way because that is the most intense thing they have ever felt, so they raise it to heaven.

Because of such experience, people are talking about divine love, but do you know for sure if God loves or not?

Human beings are capable of love if they are willing, but you don’t know if God loves. You only believe so, but you don't know for sure.

Now, if you made yourself in such a way that nobody around you can love you, then the only succor you have is to create somebody that must love you from heaven, even if you do not see them.

To be honest, to say that God loves you is the most unfortunate way to live. Assuming that God really loves, assuming that God does love you, don’t you think he would also love every other of his creation in the same manner?

If God loves you is the only way you feel loved, that means you made yourself in such a way that nobody can ever look at you and love you among people you can see. That's not a good way to live life.

If you made yourself in such a way that people around you cannot help but love you, won't that have been so nice. How pleasant would your life be, if everybody around you find you so easy to love?

But beyond the concept and perception, there is nothing like love, hate, happiness, misery etc. They all don't exist.

If you become pleasant in your body, we call it health. If you become very pleasant, we call it pleasure. If your mind become pleasant, we call it peace, if it becomes very pleasant, we call it joy. If your emotions become pleasant, we call it love, if it becomes very pleasant, we call it compassion. If your life energies become pleasant, we call it bliss, if it becomes very pleasant, we call it ecstasy. If your surroundings become pleasant, we call it success, if it becomes very pleasant, we call it accomplishment.

These are all to it, nothing more.

Should I be loving? No, you don’t have to be loving. Just be pleasant in your body, pleasant in your mind, pleasant in your emotions and pleasant in your energies and you will be a wonderful being.

If your emotions are pleasant and somebody comes around, you can share that pleasantness with them. If your emotions are unpleasant, for sure you will also share it with people, isn’t it?

So, you cannot do something that you are not. If you are feeling pleasant now, you would definitely be pleasant in everything and if you are feeling unpleasant, you would also be nasty to everything.

However, instead of figuring out how to make yourself pleasant, you are trying to be loving. It doesn't work that way. You don’t have to be loving. If everything within you has become pleasant, whatever is needed in that moment, you will do.

If you need to say pleasant things, you will say it and if you need to say some hard things, you will say it without being bitter about it. Even if you want to fight somebody, you will fight the person without any bitterness or unpleasantness.

This is so because, when you are pleasant, you will do everything only to the extent of its necessity. You will not over do anything.

The truth is that, If you say I love somebody, you will exaggerate things about the people you love. You will exaggerate good things about them. If you say I hate somebody, you will exaggerate bad things about them. You will never say anything the way it is. People go blind with the things that they love, they lose all their senses to it. They also go blind with the things that they hate. They lose all their senses to it too. If you like, you loose sesnse, if you dislike, you loose sense. The door way of life is being equanimous, that is, being able to see everything just the way they are.

With this, you will be pleasant to somebody not because somebody is nice. You will be pleasant to people just because you are pleasant, that’s all. That’s a more guaranteed love affairs, isn’t it?

You will be pleasant to people because you are pleasant. If I am being pleasant to you because you are nice, tomorrow when you are not so nice, something else will happen. If you mortgage your pleasantness with something outside of yourself, you being pleasant or unpleasant is only by chance. But keeping yourself pleasant is your business. It is your most important business. If you are pleasant, whatever you interact with will also generate pleasantness.

Unfortunately, today, you are not making yourself pleasant, instead you are trying to make somebody pleasant to you and that is subject to so many things. If you have to be pleasant, they have to be fixed the way you want them and that’s not possible. Get this clear, nobody can be fixed the way you want them. You are not even able to fix yourself the way you want yourself.

The more you try to fix others, the more bitterness and unpleasantness will happen. That is why in the so called most intimate relationships, maximum amount of unpleasantness happens.

This is simply because, you trying to do something that you are not. You are trying to be loving, when you are not pleasant.

If everybody around you is unpleasant, if they are in mess, if they are not acting the way you want them, just work on being pleasant and you will be alright. If everybody around you is unhealthy, is it not important at least that you are healthy, even if you want to take care of them? Is there any logic in it that, when everybody gets unhealthy, so you also decided to get sick?

So, if people around you are unpleasant, it is even more important for you to be pleasant.

Expanding Nigeria's Economy
ThisDay

Abdulrazaq Hamzat argues that expanding Nigeria's economy is the key to national prosperity.

‘’A 510billion-dollar GDP as at 2013 when we celebrated being the biggest economy in Africa is of course too small for 200 million population’’

The above is a profound statement credited to Mr Gbenga Olawepo Hashim, the 3rd force presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2019 general election and if you ask me, nothing could be truer than this.

To say it bluntly, Nigeria is a poor country, a very poor country.

It should be noted that, due to the economic recession that affected Nigeria few years ago, the country's economy has gone below $500billion to a population of over 200million and that places our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capital to less than $2500.

In a lay man’s term, a less than $2500 per capital income means that the overall worth of a Nigerian citizen is less than $2500, approximately less than a million naira.

What this invariably mean is that, a Nigerian with about $2500 per capital income is more than 2 times poorer than a South African, who has about $6000 per capital income, 3 times poorer than a citizen of Gabon, who has over $7,500 per capital income, almost 4 times poorer than a citizen of Botswana, who has over $8500 per capital and more than 8 times poorer than citizens of Seychelles with about $17000 per capital income.

These are African countries we are talking about not Europe or America.

If we are to compare Nigeria to America, our citizens are 25 times poorer.

This is the reality of our situation and even if no dime is being stolen by corrupt people in the country, we would still remain a poor country.

Let me say that, we may debate the genuineness of the data from World Bank and International Monitoring Fund (IMF) due to its modalities, which many said doesn’t factor in some peculiar situations in Africa, especially its informal economy which is yet to be integrated into its main system, but until we provide a reliable alternative data, the current data stands unchallengeable.

Statistically speaking, Nigeria has the highest economy in Africa in terms of size, ahead of countries like South Africa and Egypt, just like United States has the highest economy in the world ahead of China and others, but citizens of Monaco, a very small country with less than 40,000 populations are 3 times richer than citizens of United States.

In actuality, American citizens, with about $64 GDP per capital income are about 3 times poorer than citizens of Monaco with about $166 GDP per capital. As a matter of fact, US citizens are even far poorer than citizens of unknown countries like Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Bermuda and Macau who have $162, $113, $98 and $90 respectively. Yet, this doesn’t take away the fact that US has the largest economy in the world, worth about $21trillion.

The point here is that, even if you have a large economy like Nigeria currently do in Africa, provided the value of the economy is grossly disproportionate to the population, your citizens would still remain largely poor and addressing such kind of situation requires creativity beyond just fighting corruption and blocking lickages.

Yes, it is good to fight corruption, it also good to encourage local manufacturing, but nothing would really solve our poverty challenge like a clear understanding of our reality and articulating realistic approach to meet our obligation of expanding our economy to a proportionate level with our population.

In short, expanding Nigeria’s economy is the only key to our national prosperity.

During the 2019 presidential campaign, one presidential candidate that aptly expressed solid understanding of Nigeria’s economic challenge is Mr Gbenga Olawepo Hashim. The People’s Trust presidential candidate, after succinctly capturing the key issues with our economy went on to state that, “We want to grow the economy of Nigeria to become $4trillion in 10 years and that will put us at par with Malaysia, Thailand, as middle income economies and these were economies that Nigeria was ahead of in our early independence. “We are not setting standards like we want to become the United States of America; we just want to be in 10 years, where we were in 1960. “Nigeria needs a 4trillion-dollar economy to become a middle income economy, and we have set up a strategy to achieve this,’’ he said.

Did Mr Hashim really said he has a strategy to expand Nigeria’s economy to $4trillion in 10years?

If so, what is the current government doing to explore Mr Hashim’s $4trillion idea for Nigeria?

It is understood that the best ideas may not necessarily win an election, but obviously, we need the best ideas to build and grow the country.

Look at it from this angle, if Nigeria’s economy is expanded to $4trillion GDP in 10 years as proposed by Olawepo Hashim, the per capital income of a Nigerian would have gone up to about $20,000, thereby taking Nigeria out of the 3rd world category and very easily, we would have become the richest country in Africa, not only in terms of the size of our economy, but also in terms of wealth of individual citizens per capital income.

Additionally, it is important to note that, between 1982 till date, the average growth of Nigeria's economy is 3.8%, but currently it is only growing by 2%.

So, assuming the GDP grow by 5% annually which is very unlikely based on our current and historic growth pace, it would still take Nigeria more than 120years to a have $4trillion economy.

This is what Mr Hashim said he has a strategy to achieve in 10years.

To start with, how did Mr Hashim plan to take Nigeria’s economy to $4trillion in 10years? This should be the greatest subject of interest by those in government and all well-meaning citizens.

From the little we can pick based on his presidential campaign, he talked about an exclusive strategy to attract 5% annual global infrastructure funds to Nigeria, which he said is about $400billion.

If you multiply $400billion by 10years, that gives us exactly $4trillion economy in 10years and should our current GDP of about $500billion be added to this figure, Nigeria’s economy would have grown to over $4.5trillion in 10years.

To say it in a layman's language, Mr Hashim is proposing an idea that would almost double our current economy on annual basis forthe next 10 years.

If you ask me, the current managers of country should be eager to explore Mr Hashim's idea because, he is a reputable global investor in 4 continents of the world, namely Africa, Europe, Asia and North America and a personality of his caliber, who is an active player in the global economy should be able to provide greater insight into his proposed idea.

Assuming that we cannot attract 5% of the global infrastructure fund as proposed, we can at least work towards attracting 2% of the fund, which is about $160billion, almost 30% of our current GDP.

Let me conclude by saying that, the economic implications on peace cannot be over stated. The more our economy expands, the less insecurity challenge we would confront.

_*Abdulrazaq Hamzat is an Executive Director at the Foundation for Peace Professionals. He can be reached at discus4now@gmail.com*_

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/18/expanding-nigerias-economy/amp/

Opinion always differ.

Sure

voltron14:
Great topic.

My concern is how we can discuss this without the bigots and partisans to minimize its importance.

You are very correct. We need to have a none partisan discussion to have an head way.

I hope this would happen.

Mod, kindly push this to front page

*Expanding Nigeria’s economy: Key to national prosperity*

By Abdulrazaq Hamzat

‘’A 510billion-dollar GDP as at 2013 when we celebrated being the biggest economy in Africa is of course too small for 200 million population’’

The above is a profound statement credited to Mr Gbenga Olawepo Hashim, the 3rd force presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2019 general election and if you ask me, nothing could be truer than this.

To say it bluntly, Nigeria is a poor country, a very poor country.

It should be noted that, due to the economic recession that affected Nigeria few years ago, the country's economy has gone below $500billion to a population of over 200million and that places our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capital to less than $2500.

In a lay man’s term, a less than $2500 per capital income means that the overall worth of a Nigerian citizen is less than $2500, approximately less than a million naira.

What this invariably mean is that, a Nigerian with about $2500 per capital income is more than 2 times poorer than a South African, who has about $6000 per capital income, 3 times poorer than a citizen of Gabon, who has over $7,500 per capital income, almost 4 times poorer than a citizen of Botswana, who has over $8500 per capital and more than 8 times poorer than citizens of Seychelles with about $17000 per capital income.

These are African countries we are talking about not Europe or America.

If we are to compare Nigeria to America, our citizens are 25 times poorer.

This is the reality of our situation and even if no dime is being stolen by corrupt people in the country, we would still remain a poor country.

Let me say that, we may debate the genuineness of the data from World Bank and International Monitoring Fund (IMF) due to its modalities, which many said doesn’t factor in some peculiar situations in Africa, especially its informal economy which is yet to be integrated into its main system, but until we provide a reliable alternative data, the current data stands unchallengeable.

Statistically speaking, Nigeria has the highest economy in Africa in terms of size, ahead of countries like South Africa and Egypt, just like United States has the highest economy in the world ahead of China and others, but citizens of Monaco, a very small country with less than 40,000 populations are 3 times richer than citizens of United States.

In actuality, American citizens, with about $64 GDP per capital income are about 3 times poorer than citizens of Monaco with about $166 GDP per capital. As a matter of fact, US citizens are even far poorer than citizens of unknown countries like Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Bermuda and Macau who have $162, $113, $98 and $90 respectively. Yet, this doesn’t take away the fact that US has the largest economy in the world, worth about $21trillion.

The point here is that, even if you have a large economy like Nigeria currently do in Africa, provided the value of the economy is grossly disproportionate to the population, your citizens would still remain largely poor and addressing such kind of situation requires creativity beyond just fighting corruption and blocking lickages.

Yes, it is good to fight corruption, it also good to encourage local manufacturing, but nothing would really solve our poverty challenge like a clear understanding of our reality and articulating realistic approach to meet our obligation of expanding our economy to a proportionate level with our population.

In short, expanding Nigeria’s economy is the only key to our national prosperity.

During the 2019 presidential campaign, one presidential candidate that aptly expressed solid understanding of Nigeria’s economic challenge is Mr Gbenga Olawepo Hashim. The People’s Trust presidential candidate, after succinctly capturing the key issues with our economy went on to state that, “We want to grow the economy of Nigeria to become $4trillion in 10 years and that will put us at par with Malaysia, Thailand, as middle income economies and these were economies that Nigeria was ahead of in our early independence. “We are not setting standards like we want to become the United States of America; we just want to be in 10 years, where we were in 1960. “Nigeria needs a 4trillion-dollar economy to become a middle income economy, and we have set up a strategy to achieve this,’’ he said.

Did Mr Hashim really said he has a strategy to expand Nigeria’s economy to $4trillion in 10years?

If so, what is the current government doing to explore Mr Hashim’s $4trillion idea for Nigeria?

It is understood that the best ideas may not necessarily win an election, but obviously, we need the best ideas to build and grow the country.

Look at it from this angle, if Nigeria’s economy is expanded to $4trillion GDP in 10 years as proposed by Olawepo Hashim, the per capital income of a Nigerian would have gone up to about $20,000, thereby taking Nigeria out of the 3rd world category and very easily, we would have become the richest country in Africa, not only in terms of the size of our economy, but also in terms of wealth of individual citizens per capital income.

Additionally, it is important to note that, between 1982 till date, the average growth of Nigeria's economy is 3.8%, but currently it is only growing by 2%.

So, assuming the GDP grow by 5% annually which is very unlikely based on our current and historic growth pace, it would still take Nigeria more than 120years to a have $4trillion economy.

This is what Mr Hashim said he has a strategy to achieve in 10years.

To start with, how did Mr Hashim plan to take Nigeria’s economy to $4trillion in 10years? This should be the greatest subject of interest by those in government and all well-meaning citizens.

From the little we can pick based on his presidential campaign, he talked about an exclusive strategy to attract 5% annual global infrastructure funds to Nigeria, which he said is about $400billion.

If you multiply $400billion by 10years, that gives us exactly $4trillion economy in 10years and should our current GDP of about $500billion be added to this figure, Nigeria’s economy would have grown to over $4.5trillion in 10years.

To say it in a layman's language, Mr Hashim is proposing an idea that would almost double our current economy on annual basis forthe next 10 years.

If you ask me, the current managers of country should be eager to explore Mr Hashim's idea because, he is a reputable global investor in 4 continents of the world, namely Africa, Europe, Asia and North America and a personality of his caliber, who is an active player in the global economy should be able to provide greater insight into his proposed idea.

Assuming that we cannot attract 5% of the global infrastructure fund as proposed, we can at least work towards attracting 2% of the fund, which is about $160billion, almost 30% of our current GDP.

Let me conclude by saying that, the economic implications on peace cannot be over stated. The more our economy expands, the less insecurity challenge we would confront.


_*Abdulrazaq Hamzat is an Executive Director at the Foundation for Peace Professionals. He can be reached at discus4now@gmail.com*_

Don't mind the sabi sabi

Hum

**How Bukola Saraki sold Amusement Park for N100million*

Ilorin Amusement Park was sold in the year 2010 by the administration of Dr Bukola Saraki at the rate of N100million.

The company that bought the premises is called Artee Group.

The company was invited by the former Governor to build a private shopping mall and the premises was sold to them for that purpose without the knowledge of the owners or appropriate government Ministry in charge of the park.

Following conflicting information about the status of the premises, a committee set up by the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to review sales of government properties from 1999 till date led by Senator Makanjuola Ajadi investigated the premises as part of its committee work and came up with its findings.

In the report submitted to the Kwara State Governor in July 2019, it was established that:
Kwara State Amusement Park was established in the 70’s along Unity Taiwo road, Ilorin.

The park used to be famous for recreational activities, and it also serves as centre for Armed Forces Remembrance Day for fallen heroes.

According to the report, before the place was converted to an Amusement Park in the 70's, it used to be the Yidi Praying ground for Ilorin community, before the Yidi was relocated to its present location.

Investigation shows that, the Amusement Park premises was owned by Ile Nda family and was donated to Ilorin Community, to be used as Yidi praying ground, when the old Yidi was to be relocated.

The premises was used as Yidi praying ground for some years, until in the 70's, when the Yidi praying ground was moved to its present location and the premises was converted to Amusement Park.

Before the premises was converted to Amusement Park, Ile Nda family was consulted and the family accepted that the premises be converted to Amusement Park in public interest.

However, in 2010, a company brought in by Dr Bukola Saraki, Artee Group requested for a suitable location for the purpose of building a shopping mall and among the sites visited were flower garden, a site besides metropolitan square and the Amusement park and out of the 3 sites visited, Amusement Park was chosen as the most suitable location for the company's proposed business.

Kwara State Government, under the leadership of Dr Bukola Saraki helped the company acquire the land and it was offered to them at the rate of N125million.

On April 14, 2010, the company wrote to government, requesting for reduction in the price of premises to N62million because according to them, global financial crisis had affected their businesses globally. The former governor, partially granted their request and the price was reduced from N125million to N100million. The company paid N100million to government and all documents relating to the premises were processed in their name by the Bureau of lands.

In 2013, Ministry of Environment, under whose custody, the park was domiciled got directive from government to vacate the premises for a new owner and to move out all their belongings. The ministry said it is not involved in any decision to sell the premises to any group or individual, it only got directive from government to move out and it complied.

To shed more light on the ownership of the premises, Senator Ajadi led committee invited concerned citizens who had reportedly taken the state government to court over the premises and one Alh. Saliu Duro Garba came to make some clarifications.

Alh Saliu confirmed that Bukola Saraki led state government was dragged to court over the sale of the premises by concerned citizens.

Alh Salihu Duro explained that, Ile Nda family gave the land to Ilorin community for the purpose of yidi praying ground and that when Yidi was moved, they were pleased when the premises was converted to Amusement park since it was for public good.

However, the family felt enraged when they heard about the purported sales of the premises to private entity and they expressed their opposition to the sale and transfer of the premises, especially when the proposed Shopping Mall maybe used for gambling and other activities against the Islamic principles Ilorin is known for.

He maintained that, they are ready to withdraw the court case instituted against government on condition that the property would remain an amusement park for public use.

It was observed that, the whole process of selling the Amusement Park didn’t follow due process at all.

Apart from the fact that government has no right to sell a property they do not own, the ministry in charge of the premises prior to the sale was not duly informed and no document could be found regarding the sale.

Also, the basis of reducing the sales value of the premises from N125million to N100million as requested by the company was not genuine and has no bearing on the state.

It was therefore recommended that government should reverse the sale of the premises, as the land doesn’t belong to government.

Government is also advise to invite the concerned group and make an out of court settlement with them.

Since the whole transaction process is shaddy and non-transparent, government should review the whole process, retrieve the property and find alternative site for Artee Group, and if they are not satisfied, government should refund their payment of N100million.

After retrieving the premises, government should remodel it for its primary purpose of recreation activities and make it more viable.

*Kwara Must Change*

How Harmony Holdings was used in draining Kwara resources

Sometimes in 2012, a company named Harmony Holdings Limited took over many companies and corporations belonging to the Kwara State government.

From that moment till date, all activities of the company and all its subsidiaries are done in secrecy, including the sales and disposal of government properties in its custody.

After defeat of the former ruling government in Kwara and the assumption of office of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, as the new Executive Governor of Kwara State, a committee was set up in July 2019 to review sales of government properties from 1999 till date.

The committee was headed by Senator Makanjuola Ajadi and Chief Akogun Iyiola served as its Secretary.

The Sen Ajadi led committee, after proper findings and review discovered that, Harmony Holdings Limited was incorporated in 2012 as a limited; liability company and immediately after its incorporation, the company was given a take off capital base of N2.5billion by the Kwara State government.

In addition to the N2.5billion given to the company, Kwara State govt under the leadership of Abdulfatai Ahmed also transferred over 20 companies and corporation to the company for management.

According to available records, all companies and corporations transferred to Harmony Holdings for management have 99% shares, while Harmony Holdings itself has only 1% share, meaning that Harmony Holdings doesn’t own the companies or corporation transferred to it, neither does it have power on their properties, other than for the purpose of management.

Some of the companies transferred to Harmony holdings include Ilorin Cargo Terminal, Patigi Regatta Motel, Kwara State Cashew Nut Company, Shonga Farm, Kwara Express, Tourist Kitchen and so on.

Surprisingly, many properties of subsidiary companies transferred to Harmony Holdings have been sold off, some leased out and the proceed remitted to Harmony Holdings.

More worrisome is the fact that, those properties were not only sold out without the consent of the subsidiaries who own 99% shares, they were actually sold at ridiculous prices to officials of Harmony Holdings and same goes for properties on lease. In some cases, the properties were sold, with no trace of payment and all of these were done without any due process.

Additionally, It was observed that, in addition to the N2.5billion given to Harmony Holdings as capital base, Kwara State government also released the sum of N404million to the company between March 2012 and July 2013 as float for operating expenses, rent office renovation and procurement of fixed assets.

Furthermore, Government also transferred the sum of N184,369,818 from the business share of Shonga Farm to Harmony Holdings for management.

The company also received another N474,694,999 from Shonga Farm within the same period.

However, having received all of the above from government, it was expected that Harmony Holdings will be remitting huge sums of money to the purse of Kwara State government on annual basis as returns, but that was not the case at all.

Since 2012 till date, there was no evidence of payment, whatsoever to the Kwara State government.

During the course of its findings, Sen Ajadi led committee were informed that the Harmony Holdings remitted N30million to the government, but when they were asked to produce evidence of such remittance, they couldn't.

It is hereby established that, Kwara State government had given Harmony Holdings over N3billion in cash, then handed over 20 companies and corporations for management to the company since 2012 and till date, no dime has been remitted to government purse, despite selling many properties under its care and management.

It beats anyone's imagination that a company, which received over N3billion and over 20 companies for management about 7years ago, would not be able to provide any evidence of remittances to the government 7years later.

The conclusion of the committee is that, Harmony Holdings is a draining pipe without any form of benefits to the state.

Apart from the above stated issues, there are so many identified infractions and irregularity in the dealings of the company and all major decisions of the company, including the decision to dispose all subsidiary properties were not approved by the shareholders.

In view of the above, it is clear that those who brought in Harmony Holdings to manage government properties did so with the intention of using it milk the state resources and there is need for an holistic investigation and forensic audit of the company

Kwara Must Change

How Kwara Express was mismanaged

About 31 years ago, Kwara Express was established on February 11, 1988. In 2012, the company was transferred to Harmony Holdings limited for management by the Kwara State government.

A committee set up by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on review of sales of Kwara State government properties from 1999 till date, led by Senator Makanjuola Ajadi came up with a report that is mind blowing and worrisome.

According to the report of the committee, shortly after Harmony Holdings took over the management of Kwara Express in 2012, the company's generators were taken away.

Also, 3 of its vehicles were given away to various individuals and 2 other vehicles were sold at ridiculous prices without due process.

In addition to the above, original certificate of occupancy of Kwara Express premises at offa garage was forcefully taken away from the company by Harmony Holdings in 2015 and some portion of the premises was sold without due process. The depot of Kwara Express had also been sold illegally.

Before Harmony Holdings took over the company, Kwara Express has 40 vehicles acquired through loan from urban development bank, aswell as other vehicles acquired through loan at infrastructure bank.

It is a common knowledge that when a company is taken over by another, its assets and liabilities become the responsibility of the new company management. However, this is not case with Kwara Express.

While Harmony Holdings took over the assets, the company's liabilities were still left to government to handle.

The loan taken to buy over 40 vehicles for Kwara Express was eventually paid by the government, meaning that Harmony Holdings was not responsible for the repayment, despite being the one taking all the company’s income.

It is also important to note that, most of Kwara Express equipment’s both at the workshop and operations department are not properly maintained and left in a state of despair

The company's clinic and toilet facilities within the premises for passengers are also dilapidated.

Furthermore, contributory pension is being operated in Kwara Express, but deductions from staff salaries for that purpose are not remitted as stipulated by the contributory pension law.

This is in addition to salaries not being paid to staff as at when due and National Housing fund deducted are not paid to them after retirement.

Based on the above, it is clear that Kwara Express needs to be renovated and operational vehicles provided.

Kwara Must Change

nairavsdollars:
One of the brightest minds in the last election. Where is Fela Durotoye?

Very true