₦airaland Forum

*Supreme Court verdict: Olawepo-Hashim congratulate Buhari, calls for unity among political leaders*

Former Presidential Candidate in the last General Election, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim on Thursday, congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari over his victory in the presidential election dispute at the Supreme Court, adding that it was time the nation moved forward

Olawepo-Hashim, who addressed newsmen in Lagos, noted that the problem with Nigeria required a collective effort beyond partisan politicking.

According to him, going into the immigration of any country attracts the collective identity of the Nigerian, as against being identified because of local party affiliation.
His words: “We are first and foremost Nigerians, before we are identified as a member of one party or the other. The important thing, therefore, is to build a nation where we can all be collectively proud”
Easily seen as one of the few cerebral politicians in the clime, he stressed that we have played much of partisan politics and what we do need now is unity amongst the political elites.

“Our situation needs urgent attention, through a unity of political leaders”

Olawepo-Hashim stated, stressing “We require collective wisdom to take our nation out of the woods. Victory at the court should not be seen as an end in itself, but as a means to an end”.

He concluded, “Mr. President should be magnanimous in victory, while the losers should also be gallant in defeat. There are many challenges bedeviling our political and electoral processes, and all hands have to be on deck to resolve them, in the interest of the growth of our democracy.”

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*Elevating women beyond mediocrity, the Kwara State Example*

By Abdulrazaq Hamzat

Since May 29, 2019, when Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has taken over as Kwara State Governor, the state of harmony, as Kwara is fondly called has been setting pace in different areas.

More recently, the nomination of 56% of women into state cabinet has got the nation talking. This is in addition to having about 5 of the 16 commissioner nominees being below the age of 30.

While many across Kwara State are applauding governor Abdulrahman's sense of youth and gender balancing, others are critical of the governor's elevation of women to the place of prominence.

The governor's critics are specifically questioning women capability and capacity to perform in public offices, arguing that governor Abdulrahman nominated many women, so he would be able control them.

Mahatma Ghandi, the legendary pacifist of India spoke about women and their inherent capacities in glowing terms.

The global icon did not only believe that women are equal to men in competence and capability, he actually believed women are superior to men.

According to him, If by strength, is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man's superior.

Ghandi went on to conclude that, woman is more fitted than man to make exploration and take bolder actions.

Could governor Abdulrahman have shared in Ghandi's believe that women are more fitted than men to embark on exploration and take bolder actions? That's what i took away from his cabinet appointment.

However, beyond theoritical postulations, the practicality of Mahatma Ghandi's statements has been put to test in two (2) African countries namely Ethiopia and Rwanda and the result of their exploration is visible, even to the blind.

Both Ethiopia and Rwanda currently have in its government, more than 50% women leaders, who are shaping a progressive future for their respective countries.

While Rwanda has 61% female in it's government, Ethiopia on the other hand has 50% women ministers, including their first female ceremonial president, with Abiy Ahmed, the male prime minister being the head of government.

The two (2) African countries, with their reformatory approaches, have caught global attention, especially with their progressive reforms and rising possibility, largely spearheaded by women.

Like never before, the two countries are taping into the immeasurable strength and capacity of its female jewels, and turning the hitherto weaker gender, into a source of strength and progression.

In the past one year, reforms taking place in Ethiopia have not only become a major subject of interest in global circle, it has also earned the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, a Nobel Peace prize.

What more could testify to the efficiency of his majorly female cabinet?

Rwanda on the other hand is now known as a nation of prosperity, from being a nation totally destroyed by the 1994 Genocide.

25 years after a bloody civil war that claimed almost 25% of Rwanda population, the country has turned out to be a resilient and fast-growing economy being propelled by mostly women.

The country has put its people and their wellbeing at the forefront of her development, restoring hope to a society that had given up on life, thanks to its gender equality measure.

Like many countries around the world, it is a known fact that Nigeria is not such a gender sensitive nation.

While women constitute about half of the world's population. Women are still largely under-represented in government in many countries, including Nigeria.

The global participation rate of women in parliament in January 2017 was 23.3%. 

On the brighter side, research has shown that countries are exploring measures to increase the participation of women in government at all levels.

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) compiled a list of countries with the largest percentage of women in government, some of which include,
Rwanda (61.3%), Canada (50%), Ethiopia (50%), Colombia (50), Costa rica(56% ) and others.

Nigeria is not among countries taking steps to increase women participation and without any question, the country has very low rates of female representation in politics by global and regional standards.

Although, the proportions of women in elected positions increased slightly between 1999 and 2007, from an average of 2.3% across both houses of legislature to 7.8%, these small gains had stopped by 2011.

As of 2015, Nigeria had 20 women out of 359 in its lower house (5.6%) and 7 out of
109 in its upper house (6.4%). This put it 180th in the world (“Women in Parliaments: World Classification,” 2019).

Following the 2019 elections, women make up 7.3% of the Nigerian Senate and 3.1% of the House of Representatives. (NWTF, 2019).

Even in appointed offices, the number of women serving as ministers and appointed executives is also very low, with 11 of the 636 appointed executives between 1999 and 2015 being women (17.5%) and 15% of ministers in the same period (NCWD, 2016).

In the midst of this low participation of women at the national level, the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq decided to be a trend breaker and a pacesetter by nominating 56% of women into his cabinet, which is actually the highest in the history of Nigeria since 1960.

By breaking the trend of women marginalization in Nigeria's political leadership, governor Abdulrahman has elevated women beyond reversal, particularly in Kwara State and this writer believe strongly that the result of the governor's confidence in women will be reaped in excellent service and developmental accomplishments for Kwara State.

With this, Kwara State, the state of harmony is setting the pace in gender parity, which is worthy of applause by all and sundry.

*Abdulrazaq Hamzat is the Convener of Kwara Must Change* .

*Understanding the 56% women cabinet in Kwara*

By Abdulrazaq Hamzat

Before the nomination of commissioners in Kwara State, all of the 35 elective offices are occupied by men.

The leadership of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kwara State left women, who are more than 50% of the population without any representation.

This means that, all of the 24 state house of assembly members, 6 federal house of representatives members, 3 senators and governor and deputy governor are all men.

By all indications, this did not only go against the 35% affirmative action for women, as recommended by the United Nations, it also goes against 1% affirmative action, if i may use that term.

While some people might claim that, it is not the duty of the political party to force women candidates into elective contest if they are not equipped to walk their way up themselves, what must be noted here is that, women candidates who stepped into the race during the election were forced out through all sorts of funny tactics.

One of such women, Mariam Joy Adeniran had to resort to public protest in an effort to reclaim a mandate she sort, to no avail.

Seeing that women have been completely shut out of the system, many individuals and organisations raised concern about the unfortunate marginalization of women and one of such group is the Kwara Must Change.

On May 27, 2019, the leading pro democracy group, Kwara Must Change demanded that women be given a minimum of 50% appointment, as compensation for their loss in elective offices.

Kwara Must Change, which held the first women summit, to discuss the marginalization of women and profer a way forward noted in its communique that, since women have been denied opportunity in elective offices, thereby failing to meet the 35% affirmative action, the group said that women should be compensated with 50% position in appointed offices.

Kwara Must Change stated that its demand, which was made less than 24hours to the inauguration of the new government was to ensure that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq have as a top priority, the compensation of women through appointment.

The governor, who received Kwara Must Change demand at the time promised to look into the recommendations with the hope of upholding it.

True to his promise, he sent list of four women commissioner nominees, including the 26 year-old Joana Kolo.

When the first list of four (4) women commissioner nominees were sent to the Kwara State House of Assembly, it was seen as a step in the right direction. But more importantly, the additional nomination of five (5) women commissioners, taking the percentage of women nominees to 56% is not only a step in the right direction, it is also a testament of Governor Abdulrahman's believe in the capacity of women, as builders of the nation.

Let me note that, the nomination of 9 women out of 16 commissioner nominees has not completely undone the marginalization of women. If we are to put it into ratio, we can say that we still have 5/1 ratio in favour of men.

So far, there 45 male office holders, compared to just 10 women.

35 of those men are in elective offices, 3 are now Chief of Staff, Secretary to State Government and Chief Press Secretary, while the remaining 7 are now nominated as commissioners.

Women on the other hand only have 10 office holders, 9 of which are commissioner nominees and remaining 1 currently occupying the position of Kwara Internal Revenue Service Chairman.

*This piece was written by Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the Convener of Kwara Must Change*

Who dey Kwara before?

*Kwara Women Win Big as Governor Abdulrahman nominate 5 more women commissioners*

The executive governor of Kwara, Mallam AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman has achieved an unparralled record in the annal of Kwara State political history by nominating 5 additional women as commissioners in Kwara State, taking the total number of women so far nominated to nine.

With this addition, the number of women so far nominated have surpassed any known implementation of affirmative action in Nigeria even at the federal level.

The female nominees are:

Afolabi Adenike Khairat – Ifelodun
Ahmad Fatima Bisola – Ilorin west
Aremu Bose Deborah – Irepodun
Oyedun Juliana Funke – Isin
Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence – Oke Ero

The statement was made by Kwara Must Change Woman Leader, Mopelola AbdulMaliq while appreciating the opportunity giving to Kwara women through these nominations.

She reiterated that these nominations have shown that Governor AbdulRahman bdulRazaq has a great respect for, and appreciation of women potentials and capacities to deliver when given the opportunity.

Dr. Mopelola urged all Kwarans especially women to appreciate this rare opportunity by showing loyalty and support for the policies and programmes of the government.

She also enjoined all the nominees to show good example, avoid pettiness and assist the government in the delivery of the much needed dividends of democracy.


END

*Governor Abdulrahman exceeds Kwara Must Change demand, nominate 60% women commissioners*

Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq nominated 9 women out of the 16 commissioners nominated.

In the final badge of commissioner nomination sent to the Kwara State House of Assembly, Governor Abdulrahman nominated 5 more women, in addition to the 4 women earlier nominated, including the 26years old nominee, Joanna Kolo.

With this nomination, Governor Abdulrahman has exceeded the demand of leading pro democracy group, Kwara Must Change, which demanded a 50% slot for women.

Recall that on May 28th 2019, Kwara Must Change (Women Wing) led by Dr Mopelola AbdulMalik hosted a summit tagged Kwara Women Summit in ilorin, the Kwara State Capital to draw attention of the governor to the strategic role played by women during the otoge political revolution and their marginalization in elective positions.

In addition to honouring women at the women summit, Kwara Must Change in its communique after the program, demanded that women be given 50% of the appointments in Kwara as compensation.

As the final list of commissioners were released today, Governor Abdulrahman has not only fulfilled his promise of appointing 50% women as demanded by Kwara Must Change, he actually surpassed his own promise by appointing 60% of women, arguably the highest in the history of Nigeria.

End

Lol

Watin concern Eminem?

Lol

Your screen shot id showing 55k tweet, when it already has over 120k tweets

Charleys:
It's not really true. It was at number 2.

Or maybe I missed it. Your picture showed it was only Nigeria.

It would be trending and falling now. It has been there since yesterday

Huh

#JudasTheRat #VectorVSMI
Facebook is overrated. How can Vector's diss track against MI, #JudasTheRat be trending world wide since yesterday, even ahead of Messi and Ronaldo, yet those of you on facebook are yet feel the gist?

I mean since yesterday, almost every name mentioned in Vector's diss is trending on their own.

#Vector over 200,000 tweets
#Lanre over 50,000 tweets
#JudasTheRat over 130,000 tweets
All other artists also mentioned in the diss are also trending, including former Lagos State Governor, Ambode.

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*Name Kwara looters, Kwara Must Change Urges EFCC*

_Says N100million recovery is from smaller thieves_

A leading pro democracy group in Kwara state, Kwara Must Change has commended the recovery of over N100million by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from men and women of the previous administration, under the administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and their political leader, Dr Bukola Saraki.

The group noted that this current recovery by EFCC is from the smaller thieves, urging the commission to intensify its efforts and help the state recover its stolen funds from the bigger thieves aswell.

In a statement by the state coordinator of Kwara Must Change, Comrade Yusuf Olatunji, the group stated that, EFCC's efforts in helping Kwara retrieve its stolen wealth is timely and well appreciated

Comrades Yusuf explained further that, even though EFCC has handed over the recovered loot to the Kwara State government for proper utilization, the group is also looking forward to the release of the names of all those involved in the looting of the recovered wealth.

"Kwarans need to know those who stole their money, how much they stole and from where they stole it", Yusuf said.

Kwara Must Change also maintained that, the recovery of looted funds from smaller thieves should be the beginning.

The group urged EFCC to intensify its efforts against the bigger suspects, so as to recover more funds to enable quick development of the state.

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NOUN maybe the only institution without sex4grade in Nigeria

National Open University of Nigeria maybe the only institution in Nigeria that doesn't have the culture of #Sex4Grade.

This is so because, students have no access to lecturers marking their script, neither can lecturers ever come in contact with students, whose script they are marking.

Just like the West Africa Examination Council (Waec), exams done in Lagos maybe marked by lecturers in Kano, while those of Enugu maybe marked in Abuja. This is the same in NOUN and itis for this reason that we often say that NOUN is not for the weak. Only those who are truly ready to study can succeed in NOUN.

Even though there are study center directors across the centres, those directors do not have any imput on students grades. They also do not know who's marking it.

Even the project supervisors who are mostly lecturers in other institutions do not have much power on students because NOUN Students always have the option to change their supervisors at will. Infact, you may èven identify your preferred supervisor among the list of many to supervise your project.

Since those supervisors are paid by the number of students they supervise, and are not the final decider of the students grade, and can be replaced by the students, they have limited power.

Ofcourse, there are always dull students who are always looking for favours. Such kind of students may fall victim in their favour seeking quest, but this is an exception, not the rule.

In all, National Open University of Nigeria maybe the only institution in Nigeria that can confidently say that the culture of #Sex4Grade is not a problem in institution.

Abdulrazaq Hamzat

True

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