₦airaland Forum

Very true

Benekruku:
ABORU ABOYE BO SISE!

Ifa a gbe o!

Sir, it appeared you are deeply involved in the ifa divination study.

May i ask sir

Who is IFA?
Who is Orunmila
How did Orunmila become baba ifa?
Odu Ifa is more like an historical narration that allows the present draw examples from the past. Who recorded that past?

Odu Ifa was said to have created many towns in Yoruba land. How did it happen?

What happens to the many other towns not created by odu ifa, what can ifa say about them?

Can you recommend any book that address some of these questions?

Stop the argument please.

Pause a bit

Then think.

You may see God from within you, not from any book.

Thanks

Give us examples

Quran, Ifa and the Bible
By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

Recently, in the course of research about history, i came in contact with a book on Ifa corpus.

I took interest in it because, I have heard many times that in ifa, exists history of many towns and people and i really wanted to know how true this is.

So, i took a copy of this ifa book to read.

Surprisingly, in the chapter one of the book, titled eji ogbe, a story, closely related to that which was narrated by the Quran and Bible was contained in it.

If you remember, the Quran and Bible told a story about the miraculous birth of a child called Jesus or Isa.

In both narratives, they said a virgin lady named Marry or Mariam (as the case may be), that is not married conceived the child without ever being with any man.

Bible said Marry conceived Jesus through holy spirit and the Quran said Mariam conceived Isa through what Islamic Scholars described as "kun fa ya kun".

I have just found out that similar story was narrated in an Odu Ifa called eji ogbe.

Ifa called the woman Oyigi and the child, ela.

According to the story, oyigi is unmarried and a revelation from ifa came to her that she will give birth to a miraculous child, a child that will be God's messenger.

Soon, she got pregnant as prophesied without meeting any man, went into the bush and eventually gave birth to the child she named ela.

The child, according to the story, became the most knowledgeable about ifa and when Orunmila is returning to heaven or eledumare, he entrusted spiritual knowledge of ifa to ela and asked all ifa messengers to refer to ela when they have any question.

Could this ifa story, be said to be similar to that of the quran and bible?

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

*BEING A TEXT OF SPEECH AT A PRESS CONFERENCE BY KWARA MUST CHANGE, HELD IN ILORIN, KWARA STATE CAPITAL ON 3RD JULY, 2019*

It is a great privilege to welcome you all to this special press conference by Kwara Must Change, the leading Pro-Democracy group in Kwara State.

This briefing became inevitable due to the unfolding events after the success of Kwara political revolution, particularly as it relates to the quest by some individuals to distort history of Kwara liberation struggle in an effort to gain attention at the national level.

As a leading participant in the process, we believe, very strongly too, that the records must be set straight for the sake of posterity.

We have observed that some individuals that are seeking undue favor and attention from the Presidency and national leadership of All progressive Congress (APC) have been going about to peddle all sorts of falsehood, to portray the Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as a novice and opportunist, who merely came out from the blues to inherit the struggle of other people in the build up to the liberation of Kwara State, a claim that is not only further from the truth, but out rightly preposterous in all sense of it.

We make bold to say that, at a time when many of the emergency freedom fighters were still wining and dining with the oppressors of Kwara, Abdulrahman has already taken a leading role and has never at any time, ceded his frontline stance in the struggle.

In 1998, during Nigeria’s transition to democratic governance in Kwara State, the Kwara State chapter of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was the alternative political platform to the Saraki led All Peoples Party (APP) and even though the PDP is gaining prominence at the national level, not many people in Kwara State have the courage to stand against Saraki in an opposing political platform; neither do we have many, who believed in this struggle enough to put their money, where their mouths are.

It was in this moment of darkness in 1998, that Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq courageously stepped forward to light up the light of Kwara liberation by donating a whopping sum of N5million to the party, so that it can properly provide a viable alternative to the people. The N5million donated by Abdulrahman in 1998, could in today’s Nigeria, sum up to N500 million.

At a time, when not many people are courageous enough to take a stand against Kwara oppression, at a time, when not many people can put their money where their mouth is and at a time, when many emergency activist of today are still hobnobbing with the oppressors of Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq had already taken a stand and he volunteered himself as a vehicle to Kwara freedom.

In 2002, when the former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar attempted to foist erstwhile Senate President, Bukola Saraki on the PDP executives as its Kwara State governorship candidate, the then state secretary of the party, Prince Fagbemi and other members, including Abdulrahman not only fought against this anti-democratic practice, the battle eventually led them out of the party to Action Congress (AC) which later became Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), where Prince Fagbemi later became its State Chairman and Bar Bolaji Edun, its Secretary.

It is important to remind us all that on the eve of 2017 presidential election, the then Kwara State governor, Dr Bukola Saraki ruthlessly clamped down the opposition leaders such as the then ACN chairman, Prince Fagbemi and Secretary, Bar Edun. The two (2) of them and other members were locked up in prison for over 2 months until after second term inauguration of that administration.

In that difficult moment, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq didn't only stand with the opposition leaders all through their period of incarceration, he also supported them after their release.

Worthy to note is the fact that, Abdulrahman and other patriotic leaders could have compromised their principled stance and abandon the struggle for personal conveniences, but out of deep commitment to the liberation of Kwara, they continue to persevere, and having supported other people’s ambition and worked behind the scene for more than a decade, respectable opposition leaders decided in 2011 that it was time for Abdulrahman himself to step into the battle ring under the newly formed ideological based party, Congress of Progress Change (CPC) as its governorship candidate.

So, between 1998, when Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq was a major financier of the major opposition party, to 2011 when he stepped into partisan contest as a frontline governorship candidate under CPC and 2019, when he eventually became the governor of Kwara State under the All progressive Congress (APC), he has not for once, deviated from this struggle, neither did he at any time, worked with the Saraki dynasty like many others for personal gains.

This goes to show that indeed, there are freedom fighters and there are selfless freedom fighters and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is one of the rare selfless freedom fighters that has not only been there from the beginning, but remained on the true path of freedom until success was achieved.

Furthermore, in staying true to their principled ideology after the formation of All Progressive Congress (APC) and the eventual intrusion to the party by Saraki in 2014, Abdulrahman and his dedicated team of selfless freedom fighters left the party for the opposition PDP and when Saraki returned to PDP in 2018, they equally returned to the APC, where they originally belong.

It is therefore clear that for Abdulrahman and his team, Kwara liberation struggle is a matter of ideological commitment, which is neither that of convenience or a means to personal comfort. And since light and darkness cannot cohabit in the same space, the difference as they often say, is now evidently clear.

We therefore find it distasteful and even unimaginable, that some accidental freedom fighters, who recently fall out with the Saraki dynasty on the basis of interest would describe Abdulrahman as an opportunist who inherited their struggle. This is a travesty taken too far.

We say, with all sense of responsibility, that Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is the father of Kwara liberation struggle and the inheritor of Kwara people’s mandate. He and other patriotic Kwarans laid the foundation for this struggle in 1998 and he remained till this day, its leading light.

Additionally, while we commend and appreciate the contribution of all to the success of otoge political revolution, we frown at any kind of distortion, and we are there using this opportunity to inform the national leadership of the APC that anyone who seek to undermine the governor through false narrative at the national level or create a parallel authority, as was evident during the campaign period should not only be out rightly disregarded, such individuals should also not be accommodated in a gathering of progressives.

This is important because during the campaign, even though the then Governorship candidate now governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq was the chairman of the Presidential campaign in the state, all campaign materials were cornered by some individuals and till this day, the governor did not know how these materials were distributed and disbursed

The situation ensures that governor Abdulrahman did not only single handed finance his governorship contest, he also single handedly financed the presidential election in the state.

To make matter worse, these accidental freedom fighters didn't only refused to participate in the governorship campaign, they outrightly disregarded the governor all through the campaign.

Without wanting to sound controversial, we regret to state that not many of these accidental freedom fighters thought that the Kwara liberation struggle would be successful. They are much more concerned with holding unto the leadership of the party, so as to continue to get undue attention at the national level.

Even when the Kwara Must Change movement announced the outcome of its grassroots survey, which indicated that the All Progressive Congress (APC) shall emerge victorious across the length and breadth of Kwara State in a free and fair election, they still didn’t deemed it fit to retrace their steps and align with the Governor in the interest of the people.

We therefore wish to state very emphatically, that none of these individuals, working in opposing direction to the Kwara State governor is worthy of being accorded any recognition at the national level, and in view of the above, we request from the president and national leadership of the party, for the Kwara State governor be given special and exclusive privilege, due to Kwara's peculiar situation, to nominate all Kwara appointees at the national level.

This is necessary because, Governor Abdulrahman is a man of vision that is committed to leading a liberated Kwara purposefully and he needs the support and collaboration of all kwara appointees at the federal level to accomplish this mission.

The president and APC national headquarters must therefore note that, appointing people who will use the position to antagonize, rather than compliment the governor at this critical stage of rebuilding Kwara State will not only be counter productive for the state, it will invariably be counter productive for the party.

Thanks and God bless you

Abdulrazaq Hamzat
Convener
Kwara Must Change

Comrade Yusuf Olatunji Moyosore
State Coordinator

Comr. Aliyu Seko Jibril,
Coordinator, Kwara North

Comr. Adeleke Babatunde Musbau,
Coordinator, Kwara South

Comr. Nurudeen Okin,
Coordinator, Kwara Central

Hum

May God help us all

kerzhim:
The most critical part of it has been acheived by putting Saraki's era to rest.

True

*Kwara Must Change calls for Unity in APC, warn against exclusionism*

Leading Pro-Democracy group in Kwara State, Kwara Must Change has called on the leadership of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kwara State to thread softly on its exclusionist rhetoric’s being constantly echoed and re-echoed in stake holder meetings and even in public domain.

The group also urges the party leadership and the various caucuses to desist from tearing the party apart under whatever guise, be it legacy, foundation, Arcasanta, original or other caucuses being formed for the purpose of advancing personal interests.

In a special release by Kwara Must Change convener, Abdulrazaq Hamzat during the weekend, the group said it has been watching with keen interest, how some stakeholders in the party has been attempting to coerce the Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq into toe the narrow path of segregation in making appointments.

According to Hamzat, these stakeholders have been working tirelessly to arrogate to themselves, the credit of Kwara liberation struggle against the clearly communicated position of the executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq who has severally stated that all freedom loving people of kwara state owned the victory and deserve to be so recognized.

The Kwara Must Change convener cautioned that, the exclusionist rhetoric’s of some party leadership will not do the party any good and it urged them to have a unity based world view and be accommodating of all those who made Kwara freedom possible.

According to Hamzat, all freedom loving Kwarans who voted, canvassed people, supported with materials or contributed in one way or the other are qualified to be recognized and deserved to be so rewarded with good governance, because without their contribution, Hamzat said, the party will not be in government today.

"And if these people are deemed to be worthy of contributing to the process of achieving good governance in the state, they should be given opportunity to do so, without any form of harassment.

He therefore advised the party to see anyone appointed as their own and ensure they perform to public expectations.

Hamzat further stated that, long before the period of elections, particularly when the party is virtually on sabbatical, courageous Kwarans who are bent on chasing the outgone dynasty away were actively leading the struggle in their personal or group capacity.

“Some example of such include Abiodun Baba, who was illegally arrested, detained and charged to court for criticizing the then ruling government. Another is Ahmed Buhari of Cabal Must Go, who was kidnapped at the state high court, molested and dehumanized.”

Hamzat also maintained that, at a time when it was unimaginable to do so, Kwara Must Change also spearheaded the attempted recall of the former senate president, an action that put the lives of many in danger and their personal security not guaranteed, adding that these actions were being undertaken without the financial backing of any party or godfather.

He also added that, “Similar effort by another group, Kwara South Unity Forum, who not only attempted to recall Kwara South senator, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, but they actually collected some signatures before the attempted recall was butchered’’.

Recalling some of the advocacies that opened the eyes of many in the state, Hamzat explained that, advocacy about the death of a civil servant, Biodun Bashir also known as legal in Oyun Local Government who committed suicide due to lack of salary by the then Kwara State government made a great impact in the mind of the people.

He also recalled the advocacy about the people of Baruten Local Government who were already claiming Benin Republic due to lack of basic services in the area, not forgetting the advocacy about revelation of government schools across the state with only 1 teacher managing a whole school, teaching all classes and all subjects.

Hamzat also added that, the courageous youths of Lafiagi, who confronted Senator Shaaba Lafiagi in 2017 didn’t contribute any less to the success of Kwara freedom, adding that the victims who lost their lives in that struggle are still yet to get justice.

Additionally, Hamzat recall the formation and subsequent activities of Kwara Rescue Alliance, an amalgamation of over 70 youth groups from the 16 local government areas of Kwara State, which sole agenda is to see to the dethronement of the former ruling government.

‘’These determined individuals and groups formed the largest independent movement that made kwara liberation possible and the earlier the party come to term with this fact, the better for all’.’he said.

Kwara Must Change is of the view that, although, caucuses, groups and interests are the inherent Ingredients in politics and governance, they must neither be allowed to dictate the pace of governmental activities nor determine who gets what and how. It is better to allow the best hand to get the best job. It is better to put a square peg in a square hole, he said.

Kwara Must Change therefore urges the party and all stakeholders to spread their arms wide open and see all and sundry as theirs, rather than promote exclusionism and segregation.

He also encouraged the party to support the governor to appoint whoever he deemed fit, from all parts of Kwara, popular or unpopular, known or unknown, politically active or independently contributing to ensure that the government deliver dividend of democracy to the people of Kwara.

END

Scharck:
You only read headlines and it shows.

He is a Saraki boy

Not paying bribe is a crime
(An ugly experience with Nigerian Police)

by Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

Nigeria Police Force is generally regarded as one of the most corrupt institutions in Nigeria, but how corrupt really is the Nigerian Police and to what extent do they perpetrate their acts of corruption? This is what I tried to find out in my recent trip to Ilorin from Abuja.

On 8th May 2018, I embarked on a road trip from Abuja to Ilorin. This is not an ordinary trip like others; it is more like going on a fact finding mission.

Before embarking on the trip, I had gone through the route many times and i understand that commercial drivers often part with their hard earned money at every police check points. However, my mission on this trip was to find out, if it is possible for a commercial driver to drive pass these police check points without paying a bribe.

On the day of my journey, I woke up early, so as to get to park early and have brief engagement with the drivers. When I got there, i requested to see the driver that would drive our vehicle. A tall fair man identified himself as the driver and i asked him, after greetings and other jokes, if it was possible to drive us from Abuja, all the way to ilorin without paying police bribe on the high way. His response was, lai lai (impossibility).

I asked him again, if he has ever attempted to drive without paying or he his just assuming, but his response wasn’t straight forward. So, to cut the long story short, i requested that he should resolve on driving us to Ilorin without paying any police on the road. The driver told me it was impossible.

According to him, this is more like going on a journey to nowhere, because no matter how much we try, we would end up paying, even more than we should have paid. At the end of our discussion, we could not agree to embark on the journey, so I had to look for another driver.

Finally, I saw a driver willing to do this with me. Immediately i spoke with him, we seem to connect almost instantly. While discussing with him, he told me that there is nothing he dislikes like giving police bribe on the road.

According to him, these officers make it seems like you owe them money and it irritates him. For this driver, he often try as much as possible not gives police money, but he has been forced to do so on many occasions.

He opines that, one of the reasons he usually succumb is pressure from passengers. He said to me, if you don’t want to give police money, they will ask you to park and keep you there waiting and soon after, the passengers will start mounting pressure on you. Some will beg the officers and you will be left with no option than to part with some money.

As we agree to embark on the journey for experiment, the driver seems happy that a passenger is willing to support his long held view on police bribery and at exactly 7:45 am, we departed Abuja for Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Driving out of Abuja didn’t give us much stress because the security officials are not usually the demanding type. While they will stop you briefly, hoping to see you extend your gifted hand of bribe to them in kind. If they didn’t see anything, they will let you go without much ado. However, this was not the case in Kogi, the state of Yahaya Bello. Immediately we drove into the confluence state, the security officials became more hostile.

At checking points in lokoja, police will stop the vehicle, hoping to see the gifted hand of our driver extend some squeezed naira note into their tactically stretched hands, but if they didn’t see the bribe as expected, they will ask the driver, why is there nothing for them and irrespective of the response, they will reluctantly let him pass. The situation was the same all through lokoja, until we got to Okene, the drama scene.

Police officers at Okene are extremely mean and corrupt, they are always determined to extract bribe from drivers at all cost. It doesn’t matter if you have all the papers, all they want is money, which you must be forced to pay. To them, not paying bribe is a crime.

The first police check point we encounter at Okene taught us some bitter lessons. As is the usual practice, the officer stopped our vehicle, hoping to get the naira note, but nothing came fought. He looked at our driver with that kind of eye that says, you are in trouble today, but the driver didn’t bother.

Park, the officer said, in a harsh and angry tune. The driver oblige.

Where is your driver’s license was his next question, as if he is a road safety official mandated to check license? The driver gave him the license. Where is your vehicle papers, he demanded again and that too was handed to him. After seeing that all paper were intact, he walk away briefly with the papers to attend to other vehicles.

Moments later, he came back to complain about what was written on the change of ownership document. In his words, Kwara was supposed to be written in a particular place and not in a particular place. The government produced it that way, the driver said, but the officer interjected. This is a fake document the officer said, accusing the driver of crime, of which the driver disagreed, while making it clear that, if indeed it was a fake document as claimed, that means government actually produced the fake document, because it was obtained from the government.

As the arguement continued, the officer insisted that we must wait so that he can show us the document was fake when compared with other kwara vehicles. It was at this point that I came down to speak with the officer. When I asked what the matter was, the officer explained that our driver’s documents were fake and he has told him that, but he is arguing with him. So, he has to hold us here until other kwara vehicles come, so that he can prove to him that the documents were indeed fake. You know, it some times feel good to hear the lies, when you already know the truth. After much interaction, I asked him the final question. Should Kwara vehicle come here and the documents were the same, will our vehicle be allowed to go? And he responded in affirmation. I went back to speak with the passengers and urged them to calm down and be patient so we can sort out the issue.

As we were waiting there for confirmation of our document, more than 5 kwara vehicles without documents came and pass. The drivers would simply tell the officers, I don’t have papers and right before our very eyes, more than 5 of such vehicles drive pass after paying bribe.

Can you imagine? The same police holding our vehicle which has all papers, simply because our driver refused to pay bribe, is the same passing vehicles without papers at all. Ha, naija police.

Any way, we were there for almost an hour waiting for a vehicle with complete papers like ours.

At some point during argument with our driver, the police threatened to take us to their station and I encouraged them to do so because it is better than staying on highway without headway. I asked the driver to enter the vehicle so we could go to their police station, but the police didn’t go through with it. Obviously, it was just a threat to force the driver to plead and pay bribe, but it didn’t work.

At the end, a Kwara vehicle with complete papers showed up and lo and behold, all his papers were the same with ours. But again, while this other vehicle was allowed to move on after paying the usual bribe, we were still held back, this time with no more reason. It was at this point that our driver began to vibrate for the officer. They engaged each other along with other officers until we stepped in to calm the situation. After speaking with other officers, i went to meet the officer in charge and asked why we are still being held after our papers have been confirmed, pointing out what he had told me earlier that should our document be the same with others, we would be allowed to go.

I asked them again, why they are still holding us after confirming our papers, but they have no response.

I had to school them on the consequences of what they were doing. While these was happening, I took pictures of all the officers, but and somehow, we were asked to go. I thought I would post their pictures on line, but I didn’t feel that would solve any problem. Police corruption is an institutional menace from top to down; making scapegoat will not stop it. So, I deleted the pictures.

After leaving that spot, the situation seems to have empowered our driver and he felt even more confidence. At some point, when the police ask our driver to give them money, he will firmly respond in negative, looking them straight in the eyes. A particular police officer even made it clear that if you do not give me the money, I will waste the time of your passengers, but our driver will not burg. I don’t have any money, he declares.

This was how we continued, until we got to Ilorin around 6:30pm. It is my understanding that, if Nigerians want a better country, we must be willing to pay the price to have it, starting with insisting on doing the right thing. Just imagine, if every driver suddenly decide to have their documents intact and decides not to pay police bribe, what can the police do, other than letting them go? While we can continue to urge the authorities to do the right thing, nothing stops us the people, from doing the right thing too.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat is greeting you from Nigeria

Kwara Must Change task newly appointed CoS, SSG and CPS

Leading Pro-democracy group in Kwara state, Kwara Must Change has hailed the appointment of the trio of Logun, Jibril and Ajakaye as CoS, SSG and CPS by the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

The Kwara State Governor recently announced
Aminu Adisa Logun as Chief of Staff, Mamman Saba Jibril Secretary to State Government; and Rafiu Ajakaye as Chief Press Secretary.

In a statement issued by the state coordinator of Kwara Must Change, Comrade Yusuf Olatunji, the group said the appointment of trio by Governor Abdulrahman is a welcome development.

According to Yusuf, having a seasoned industrialist as a chief of staff comes with its own peculiar and immense advantages. He also added that, combining the industrial experience of the CoS to the disciplinary excellence of the SSG, aswell as the refine communication skills of the CPS will most certainly produce nothing, but excellence and productivity.

Kwara Must Change therefore urges the appointed officers to justify their appointments by giving us their best and meeting up with public expectations in service.

End

aolawale025:
Its the same allegations in all agencies

This is different.

Hajj

*12 CRIMES OF HAJJ COMMISSION*

On October 19th 2018, the Senate Ad- Hoc Committee on Accommodation, Logistics, Feeding, Onshore and Offshore of the Nigeria Pilgrims, indicted the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) for massive frauds in Hajj operation and consequently recommended sanctioning of the Commission by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant agencies for alleged violation of relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and even some provisions of NAHCON establishment Act.

In the indictment report, which was carried by several newspapers in Nigeria, the Senate accused NAHCON of committing at least, 12 crimes, which include the following:

1. Breach of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

*2. Inflation of cost of pilgrimage to the tune of N400,000 per pilgrim:* According to the report, the N1.4 million charged for hajj fare in the year in question was inflated to the tune of about N400,000.00 on each pilgrim)

*3. Violation of Public Procurement Act, 2007:* According to the committee, NAHCOM goes about awarding procurement contracts without having appropriate officers to do so, thereby giving out bogus contracts to friends and cronies

*4. Breach of NAHCON establishment Act:* Spending beyond limit provided by the Act.

*5. Infringement on Federal Government Financial Rule and Regulation:* The committee alleged that annually, NAHCON and the State Pilgrims Welfare Board (SPWB) sponsor outrageous number of officials to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from revenue generated from pilgrims and funds from state governments. The report also stated: “That the National and state officials ‘roles of Medicals, Media, Ulamas and Guides often overlap with one another. “That in many cases, relatives and cronies of NAHCON and SPWBs ‘ Executives were sponsored in the name of officials just to enable them perform the Hajj with fees paid by ordinary Nigerians

*6. Over bloated charges that escalated cost of pilgrimage:* The committee said, this is done “through spurious charges without regards to the Second Schedule of the Utilities and Charge Commission.

*7. Short-changing and extorting Nigerian pilgrims* : The committee said, this is done “through spurious charges without regards to the Second Schedule of the Utilities and Charge Commission.

*8. Short-changing intending air carriers:* The committee said, this is done “through spurious charges without regards to the Second Schedule of the Utilities and Charge Commission.

9 *. Short-changing and extorting service providers:* The committee said, this is done “through spurious charges without regards to the Second Schedule of the Utilities and Charge Commission.

*10. Revenues realized by the commission not paid to government:* According to the committee, the so-called revenues realized by the commission were not paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund, contrary to Section 80(1) of the 1999 Constitution.) This action by the commission also negates the principle of Treasury Single Account because the said revenue from 2014 to 2017 was kept in the commission’s account without recourse to TSA the committee said.

*11. Spending beyond the approval threshold of the commission:* Just as in the same manner, the commission generates its revenues with total disregard to extant Acts, so it expends them without following the provisions of the Constitution. Also, “NAHCON often goes on spending spree from the said generated revenue, quite beyond the approval threshold of the Accounting Officer, which is a breach of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation’s circular with reference number SGF/OP/S.3/XI/894, dated 14th January, 2016.” The committee said.

12. * Conflict of Interest in all the offshore transactions engaged by NAHCON:* The committee alleged that NAHCON officials are reluctant to pursue matters that affects general welfare of Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia as clearly evidence in their failure to pursue the payment of compensation of some families of victims of the 2015 crane and stampede tragedies in Saudi Arabia” due to conflict of interest.

*CONCLUSSION*
The senate committee concluded that, “the monumental fraud associated with the operations of hajj between 2015 and 2018 should be investigated fully by EFCC.

NOTE: The above indictment against NAHCON wasn’t made by IG Wala, but the Nigerian Senate, through evidences provided by IG Wala and subsequent investigation by the senate. So, even if IG Wala is removed from the equation through politically influenced court judgement, the corruption allegation against NAHCON is still very valid and it is only a matter of time before the NAHCON chairman, Alhaji Muktar Abdullahi is brought to book.

*SOURCES* :
https://dailytimes.ng/senate-bemoans-massive-fraud-hajj-operation-asks-efcc-probe-nahcon/
https://punchng.com/senate-panel-indicts-nahcon-in-hajj-extortion-fee-hike-probe/
https://www.thecable.ng/senate-committee-accuses-hajj-commission-of-extorting-pilgrims

*#RememberIGWala*

Kwara women demand 50% appointments in new government

Women in Kwara State have called on the incoming Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to have mercy on women and compensate them with 50% of all government appointments in the state.

This call was made by participants during the week at a Women Summit, organised by Kwara Must Change (Women Wing).

In a pre communique release by Kwara Must Change women leader, Dr Mopelola AbdulMalik, she quoted unnamed participants at the event, which cut across both formal and informal sector to have said, "women have already been short changed in the elective positions".

" we have been denied an opportunity to claim our 35% affirmative action as recommended by the United Nations during the election and to correct that error, women should be given 50% of all appointments in the administration of our incoming Governor ".

Another participant was also quoted to have submitted that, there are competent, capable and committed women in Kwara state who are perfectly qualified and ready to serve the state, and they recommend that many of such resourceful women should be given the opportunity to contribute to governance in all agencies, ministries and boards.

Additionally, the Kwara Must Change Women leader, Dr Mopelola AbdulMalik explained that, the pre-communique release was necessary to convey the message of the just concluded women summit to our incoming Governor and all the stakeholders, so that appropriate steps can be taken to reflect this position in their decision making prior to the inauguration tomorrow.

Dr. Mopelola also informed that, a comprehensive communique shall be released in due time.

End

Kwara liberation succeeded because Abdulrahman was extremely patient- Hamzat

Kwara Women have been urged to emulate the patience of the incoming Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq while making their demands for inclusion in governance.

The call was made by the convener of Kwara Must Change, Abdulrazaq Hamzat during the Kwara Women Summit, which was held on Monday, 27th May, 2019 in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital.

According to Hamzat, "it is easy today for different individuals to claim success of Kwara liberation".

However, Hamzat explained that the major reason why we succeeded in this struggle this time around is because of the
extreme patience of our governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

According to him, " without an extremely patient and
strategic person like Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, it is very doubtful if the opposition party would not have collapsed before the election and without a united opposition, this struggle wouldn’t have succeeded".

Hamzat therefore urged women and observers at the event to learn the acts of patience
from our incoming governor, adding that for us in KMC, "we recognize the role of women in this success, hence
our resolve to begin by celebrating women, while also seeking to articulate a common agenda for women.


End

See

My position as ihrc ambassador and Saraki’s ambassador at large title
By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

Few weeks ago, after Nigeria’s outgoing Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki was announced as Ambassador at Large of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC), my mobile phone began to ring relentlessly and when I pick the calls, most of my callers were asking me about my engagement with the ihrc.

Initially, I was wondering why all these people were suddenly asking about my role as an ihrc ambassador, then I saw the news.

Basically, friends and associates, who were aware of my position as the first Nigerian Ambassador to International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) wanted to confirm whether or not, the ihrc that appointed the senate president is the same ihrc that I represented as its ambassador.

While I did confirmed to them that it was the same ihrc that I headed for 5 years, I gave them another news that I had, since 2016, resigned from the commission as its Nigerian Ambassador.

Until that moment, many were not aware that I am no longer a serving Ambassador of the ihrc.

It is important to state that, under normal circumstance, my 5 years tenure as the ihrc ambassador should expire in 2016.

However, about 6 months to the expiration of my tenure, the world chairman, Dr Shahid Amin Khan who visited Nigeria in November 2013 during the commission’s advocacy for cultural preservation and liked the work we were doing, in his wisdom, decided to honour me with an award of excellent service to humanity aswell as re-appointment to another higher position (Under Secretary General) for another tenure of 5 year, a position i was to operate after the expiration of my tenure as Nigerian Ambassador.

However, immediately my tenure expired as ihrc ambassador in June 2016, I felt the need to take a break from the human right community and give more attention to the development of my main profession as a peace practitioner and since our new organization, Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP) had just been registered, it made sense that I resign and fully concentrate on building the new organization.

To do this, i sort understanding of the world chairman about my thought and after much deliberation, he consented to my request, leading to my exit from the Commission.

Further more, immediately Dr.Saraki’s appointment was made public, a journalist had sent me an inbox message, asking me to differentiate between Ambassador at Large and a Country's Ambassador.

Let me state that, in the ihrc structure, there are two types of Ambassadorial titles, an executive ambassadorial and ambassador at large.

An executive ambassador oversees a country or region, such as U.S Ambassador to Nigeria or United Nations ambassador to a region.

On the other hand, Ambassador at large is more like a ceremonial or goodwill ambassador with no portfolio.

However, on special occasions or when executing specialised project, Ambassador at large title holder may be called upon to use their influence to advocate for a cause or contribute to the organizational activities as time dictates.

Additionally, some people also called to inquire about the relationship between ihrc and the United Nations and my response to that question is very simple.

Ihrc is not under the United Nation, but it is an affiliate of it, with consultative status and many of its members are affiliated with UN in various capacities.

Personally speaking, moving on from ihrc to building Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP) has been fulfilling because of the achievements FPP has recorded in such a very short period of time.

Despite our limited capacity and resources, FPP has been able to contribute immensely to building peace and averting crisis in Nigeria.

Since the establishment of Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP) in 2016, the organization has continued to make great impact in Nigeria, particularly in the area of peace building facilitation, crisis intervention, human right defense, research and advocacy for social justice.

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

The organization has also produced a major research project, tagged Nigeria Peace Index (NPI), which is a national replica of the renowned Global Peace Index (GPI), measuring the level peacefulness in the 36 states of Nigeria.

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

FPP is also actively operating in North East conflict zone, where it is combating the misinformation of the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist group through counter narratives. Our anti suicide bombing campaign in North East involved the production and distribution of counter terrorism tracts, spanning over states like Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe and Borno State.

The anti suicide bombing campaign also extends to North Central State of Plateau and Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital.

The organization also releases periodic reports on development at the heart of Nigeria’s war against insurgency in North East, particularly in Borno and Yobe State.

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

FPP has also involved utilizing mediation as a tool for alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The organization has been involved in facilitating out of court settlement of disputes between parties in conflict. Also, we have been leading advocacy for improved accuracy in conflict reportage and analysis.

For me, doing this silent work with little or no rewards gives me great fulfilment and i believe that soon, our work will get the recognition it deserves.

Abdulrazaq Hamzat is a Human Rights Ambassador and Executive Director of Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP)

See

A debate is currently going on, on the platform of leading pro democracy group in Kwara state, Kwara Must Change, about whether or not the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Kwara outgoing government should be probed when they vacate government on may 29,2019.

What's your view?

Hum

BETWEEN NIGERIA AND ETHIOPIA, WHO OWNS TAYE?
By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

For many years now, i have been a strong advocate of Universal Brotherhood, with special focus on Africa.

This position was also recently esponded by the Ooni of Ife.

I have said repeatedly that Africans, irrespective of country are members of the same family and the more we learn about each other, the better we know each other and connect our history, culture and tradition.

This was exactly what happened when I met Mr Taye.

Few while ago, at a program organised by Wanep in collaboration with African Union and Ecowas in Abuja Nigeria, i met an amazing man who simply identified himself as TAYE.

He wasn't just an ordinary person, he his the Information System Officer of Continental Early Warning Division, Peace and Security Department of the African Union.

His name is Taye. Taye AbdulKadir Edris. That's a typical Nigerian name, but he his not a Nigerian.

He was the representative of African Union at the programme and aswell as a speaker on early warning. He came all the way from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

What first attracted me to him was his name. Taye

When he climbed the podium to speak, he started by introducing himself as Taye, a citizen of Ethiopia, all the way from Addis Ababa to represent the African Union.

I didn't really get that introduction very well.

How can someone from Ethiopia have Taye as name. As in, Taye Taiwo.

Taye is the first of a twin in Yoruba language.

So, when he said his name is Taye and went on to say as in Taye Taiwo, i was confused and eager to connect with him after the program to ask more about his name.

However, besides asking about his name, i was also eager to engage him about the development in his home country, Ethiopia, particularly about the ongoing reforms by their Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed.

People following this wall must be aware of Abiy Ahmed, the new Ethiopian Prime Minister, who is also the youngest leader in Africa.

I am his big fan and i have written severally about his impressive exploit, management of Ethiopia and the reforms he his leading.

So, after the programme, i connected with Mr. Taye to ask a few question and trust me, Taye is a total gentleman, with a warm embrace.

He didn't only welcome me nicely,he made meeting an important personality seems so easy.

When i asked him about his name Taye, he told me it's an Ethiopian name.

According to him, he his aware that Nigerians also bear the name Taye, with the same spelling and same pronunciation.

But in this case, Taye in Ethiopian language means "tall", while that of Nigeria is the first of a twin.

Having been cleared on the name part, we dived into discussion about the Ethiopian Prime Minister and the many positive reforms he has initiated since assuming office.

Since coming to office in April 2018, Abiy Ahmed has ended several wars with neighbouring countries, released thousands of political prisoners and human rights activists, empowered women with 50% of his cabinet in addition to ensuring the first woman assume the position of a ceremonial president , deal with corrupt military generals and alot more.

We also talked about the changing global narration about Africa as a result of what is happening in Ethiopia. I must admit, meeting my first Ethiopian person to discuss Ethiopian matter is a delight.

Although, we could not continue the discussion due to limited time, but i promised to get across real quick as we exchanged contact.

Abdulrazaq Hamzat is the Executive Director of Foundation for Peace Professionals FPP