₦airaland Forum

Abbeybailey:
Comparing Fela to 2face is an insult. It's like comparing the bigness of an Elephant to a Rooster. I was s little boy in Chitown listening to my father playing Fela's music.

What is the insult in comparing legends of 2 generation?

emi14:
Fela was unique . A music journalist. He is well known and rank in the same level with likes of Bob Marley and peter Tosh. His music still plays both in clubs and streets in this country where I live. I haven't heard of 2face here. Am not condemning his works though.

Thanks for your candid response.

Please, where do you live?

SalamRushdie:
This FPP seems very bias in the reportage and seem to be out for propaganda and not peace as they claim

What do you mean exactly?

UPDATE ON PLATEAU CRISIS SITUATION

1. Following the recent tragic incident in Plateau State, which took place in 11 villages in three local government areas and claimed several lives, Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP) which has been working behind the scene to prevent the outbreak of crisis several weeks before the tragic incident took place would like to urge the Plateau state government to set up an anti-crime force to combat organized criminality in state. This is very important because the major cause of crisis in the state is criminality, not ethnicity or religion as being insinuated by many.

2. In the past two months, FPP through its coordinator, have been working on building peace and preventing crisis in Plateau State. Following a report, received through our early warning system that over 300 cattle were rustled by cattle rustlers along Jos South, Barkin Ladi axis, FPP initiated a mediation effort to build understanding particularly between farmers and herdsmen and we went on advocacy visit to several stakeholders including Miyetti Allah, Cultural leaders and organizations across Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu Local Government area to impress the need for joint problem solving approach on the matter.

3. The incident of cattle rustling was reported to all security agencies and they all made efforts to recover the said missing herds, but recorded no success. As the search for the herds continue, some of the victims informed the security officials that they have found the where about of their animals and they mentioned the possible location where the animals were kept. However, the security didn’t believe in this information because the herds don’t have tag, neither do they have any identification to ascertain the claims of the victims. Since almost all tribes and religion in Plateau State rear herds, it is almost impossible to ascertain the genuineness of the claim.

4. Last week, before the outbreak of crisis and while the whereabouts of over 300 herds are yet to be resolved, some unidentified criminals massacred a herdsman and took his herds away. This particular incident triggered a reaction that claimed several lives and properties, though it wasn’t properly reported. As a result of this crisis, some bandits in Mai Rana, a village in Mangu local government area seize the opportunity to block roads and in the process, killed a butcher who went to collect debt from his debtor in the village. Upon getting notification of the situation through our early warning system, we promptly notified the Plateau State Peace Building Agency, Station Task Force (STF) and Police and they all responded almost immediately by deploying officers to maintain law and order. The vigilante group in the area also mounted patrol through out the market day (21/06/2018). It is important to note that, if not for FPP’s prompt intervention, this incident would have triggered a crisis in the local government adjudged to be the most peaceful in the state.

5. Let it be stated that, FPP cannot explain the reason for the current crisis that broke out this week, but what we can say however is that, there is a well coordinated criminal gang responsible for most incidents that is happening and setting the people against each other.

6. Two days ago, after the crisis that broke out early in the week, FPP prevented another major crisis that could have happened few days ago, precisely on 27th June 2018. On the said date, at about 1236hours, one Magaji Aliyu, a resident of Kerana, Bukuru, Jos South local government area came down from a vehicle at Gyero Junction while going to his home. He was attacked and stabbed by some armed bandits who appeared from nowhere. He was rushed to a clinic known as Sunna clinic at Kukuru for treatment. Immediately the incident occurred, FPP received alert through our early warning system and we promptly called the various security agencies to avert any response that may arise from the unfortunate incident. We called Maj. Omar of Station Task Force (STF) headquarters, IGP monitoring team, the Director General of Plateau State Peace building Agency and the Sector 5 Commandant in the state, all of whom responded with the speed of light. The Sector 5 commandant and his team got to the scene within 5 minutes of the incident and together, we pleaded with the Bukuru Youth Forum and other stakeholders to resist the temptation of taking any action that may lead to further crisis. The forum and others helped appeal to the youths to avoid any reprisal attack and normalcy was returned. However, due to the severity of the wound of the victim, he has been transferred to Aminu Kano teaching Hospital in Kano State for further treatment.

7. We would like to state that, nothing can justify rustling of cows, which automatically deny the victim of means of livelihood.

Our suggestion
8. We call on all Nigerians to stop giving shield to criminals by affiliating them with any tribe or religion. It is our view that, such psychological protection often makes it difficult for security agencies to handle criminal situations effectively, as members of the claimed ethnicity or religion would make such issues complicated and ultimately, simple issue of criminality would eventually degenerate into something worse.

9.There should be National Emergency numbers widely circulated to people in all part of the troubled local governments, as well as enough communicating gadgets to security officials for prompt intervention.

10. The state government should place an embargo on road blocking by unauthorized persons or groups.

11. Provision of post traumatic disorder counseling to victims and the affected communities

12. Mandatory tag for all large animal of free grazing.
--
Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
Executive Director
Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP)
08076976917, 07066479760

Why killing persist in Nigeria

Most mindless and gruesome killings in Nigeria are religious and ethnic inspired.

Babangida Lawani states that:

Most Muslims and Christians in Nigeria are taught that others not belonging to their faiths and sometimes sect are doing the wrong thing and would definitely end up in hell fire. That these 'others' are in fact aiding Satan and his works on earth, and should be dealt with anyhow possible. This is the general philosophy in Nigeria today.

''Just yesterday, I had a discussion with a lady from one of the pentecostal churches, and she told me that I was anti-christ for believing everyone, no matter the religion would get to heaven if God-the all knowing- permits them. I have got meaner names from other Muslims and Christians for my philosophy.

It is a dangerous system we are running on. If we do not find a way for counter narratives, we might not have a country in another 50 years. He said.

The ethnic angle is no less troubling.

Most ethnic people had taught and convince their ethnic people from childhood, that they must see their ethnicity as the best and must do whatever it takes to claim larger share of whatever resources and position for their tribe.

To them, they must do whatever it takes to claim the larger share of wealth and position for their ethnicity, failure of which they must take whatever step that is required, no matter how gruesome to reclaim their perceived position or wealth or position themselves to do so.

These are the root causes of killings in Nigeria and to put a stop to it, we must make deliberate efforts to counter this deadly narrative with more human narrative.

May the soul of those who lost their lives rest in peace.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

Yes

?

FUJI NOTES: Can Saidi Osupa earn a Grammy?

By Oladeinde Olawoyin

Quick question: Can Fuji act Saidi Osupa earn a Grammy?

Somewhat improbable, many respondents may say.


But no matter the responses it draws, the above question remains an intriguing one worthy of introspection especially if we consider the awe in which Nigerians hold everything brewed outside of our shores.

For the Nigerian music creative, the Grammys are a never-disappearing obsession. While every contemporary Nigerian artiste covets the award and the international recognition it brings forth, no artiste of note has been bold enough to express such obsession. It could be argued that many perhaps did, maybe in the safety of their bedrooms.

The enthusiasm that came with the boom of Nigerian pop in the last decade has seen many Nigerians appropriate the role of the Grammys Awards’ Committee by pronouncing their favourite artistes–––from 2face to Wizkid through Asa, all outstanding acts–––winners. Only that such pronouncements have never left the shores of Surulere and Festac Town and Ikeja.


Yet no one, no performing artiste, took the Grammy obsession to the studio with the intent of vomiting same into the microphone. No one–––er, except 9ice.

“Categorically I am the best mentally…” he sings in his 2Face-assisted ‘Street Credibility’, released off his ‘Gongo Aso’ album. On the surface, the pronouncement seemed propelled by a rather curious mixture of hubris and the all-conquering multipurpose Nigerian faith. But a few lines afterwards, it drifts away from uncertainty: “Don’t doubt me I go bring home Grammy,” he says, quite confidently, perhaps for clarity. That was circa 2008, when he was effectively on the A-list.


Today, a decade later, it is unclear if 9ice’s Grammys’ dream is still alive and valid. With a withering career that sees him struggling around the edge of obscurity, 9ice might have forgotten he once made a promise to his now disappearing fans. But then it is equally doubtful if, in the minds of the old fans too, the artiste and his promise haven’t disappeared.

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Yet the probability remains that 9ice’s misfortune notwithstanding, the Nigerian artiste still has ‘one corner’ of his eyes on the Grammys. Ditto their fans.

In the Fuji genre, very few people have made public declarations hinting at this sentiment like Saidi Osupa’s. The argument, which indeed is quite difficult to brush aside, is that in contemporary Fuji circle, no one can compete with this musical god for the big prize. (Like his pop counterpart, the artiste goes around with practiced humility, and safely distances himself from the claim of his fans, even if it is an echo of his own thoughts too).

If indeed the Grammys were a recognition of excellence, then Osupa has history on his side. Femi Kuti and King Sunny Ade, both two Nigerian-based artistes who have had mentions in the Grammys are excellent artistes in their various genres.

Again, if the awards had soft spot for artistes who have done outstandingly well in the elevation of their indigenous culture through their arts, as it appears with the Best Traditional World Music (sub-)Category created in 2004, Osupa stands out among his contemporaries. The artiste, frankly, is one excellent lyricist and encyclopedic Yoruba folklorist in whose hands the Yoruba culture and language have undergone beautiful elevation.


But there’s a caveat: Osupa may never earn a Grammy–––as grandiose as that ambition sounds in the first place. The Grammys, it appears, favour sound over ‘deep lyrics’, which is Osupa’s major strength. From Kuti to Sunny Ade to Sikiru Adepoju, there is a pattern that speaks to a subtle obsession with sound, apart from the artistes’ own impressive feats in pushing their art beyond their immediate geography.

I have always argued that even though Osupa’s brilliance isn’t debatable in the realm of lyrics–––deep, thoughtful, philosophical lyrics–––he never shows up when the discourse swings toward sound. If there is any Fuji artiste whose experimentation with sound may attract world attention, that artiste is Wasiu Ayinde Marshal. Yet KWAM 1, in spite of his feats and clout and commendable innovations, hasn’t had a mention in the Grammys.


(The Grammys are not devoid of its own politics and It would be appropriate to put this in the context of the visibility many who had their works recognized enjoyed because they plied their trade abroad. From Kevin Olusola through Sade Adu to Seal and ultimately Sikiru Adepoju, the evidences seem incontrovertible. And due to the provincial nature of a number of indigenous Fuji artistes, it is doubtful if their art–––however excellent it appears–––would ever get noticed by a seemingly aloof Grammys Committee).

Now to bring it back home, and perhaps place the discourse on a (more) realistic pedestal, Saidi Osupa has not earned much recognition and awards outside of his immediate Fuji circle, at least not in the manner you’d expect of an artiste with his kind of talent. And this failure, curious as it seems, emanates not from the ‘crime’ that comes with the now clichéd accusation that his brand of Fuji is ‘too deep’, or, as many contemporary Fuji buffs are wont to say, ‘esoteric’. Neither is this a verdict on the quality of his art.


For decades, Osupa’s closest rival, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, has done pretty well with his incursion into the mainstream of pop. He’s featured in pop hits more than ALL Fuji artistes combined; showed up in Celebrity Face2; won the AMEN awards in its heyday; gotten invites to almost all major pop festivals around. Yet when their outputs are placed on the slaughter slab, Osupa is by far a more talented songwriter/lyricist.

But because Alabi Pasuma is a better performer, and ultimately a show-man, he gets the recognition and visibility and, of course, enjoys the attention of the mainstream Nigerian audience while Osupa gets praised for his genius by housewives and artisans and the less lousy ‘thinking’ segment of the Fuji audience.


Curiously, with a Polytechnic certificate obtained long before he picked up the microphone, Osupa remains one of the few acts who came into the industry armed with a degree–––among whom Adewale Ayuba stands out. The default thinking, at least among Nigerians, is that education, nay a (university/Polytechnic) degree, provides the owner with an advantage in any enterprise. In the case of Osupa’s career, the validity of that assertion is shaky.

More important is the evident truth that despite his degree, Osupa lacks the phoney, affectedly dramatic ‘funki-ness’ of Pasuma; the artless gymnastics of an Abass Obesere; the (media-)savvy attitude and rich network of a Wasiu Ayinde (K1 de Ultimate); and the practised, even if theatric, sophistication of an Adewale Ayuba. Now with all of these, coupled with a rather poor, annoyingly provincial PR and media management team, the awards and endorsement deals may not come as they should.


To be sure, Saidi’s Fuji sound is unique, just as his wisdom-laden lyrics are often well scripted; and so they carry with them the baggage of value, of depth, and so of complexity–––and because they are naturally steeped in culture and require some level of thinking to enjoy, they become susceptible to being neglected at best, and scorned at worst, by the average millennial whose only preoccupation is dance and, well, dance.

It is therefore safe to aver that because most corporate communication messages today are directed at the semi-thinking, dance-obsessed, party-loving millennials, the genesis of Osupa’s frustration might not be puzzling.


But in all, there is a small consolation: the road to the party, often, isn’t same as the path that leads to the pantheon. And inside the pantheon of Fuji, there are very few gods. Not a few Fuji buffs, including his worst traducers, would easily agree that Saidi Osupa, has earned a (special) spot for himself amongst these gods.

And this feat, this attainment of immortality, quite interestingly, is the essence of art, the ultimate.

I don't understand you bro. How did you come to that conclusion?

Flood

Group raise alarm, as flood takes over Oloje community in Ilorin

Kwara Must Change is hereby alerting the state government and the general public that flood has taken over oloje community in Ilorin west local government area of Kwara state.

This is as a result of lack of drainage system to control the Atake river in the area and numerous appeal to government over the years have fallen on deaf hears.

There is no drainage system in Oloje community and as a result, Atake river has always flooded the community, sometimes claiming lives in the process.

Kwara Must Change members in the area can recall at least, four lives that have been lost in this unfortunate situation.

The last one was very pathetic. A young man of about twenty years old, who is the only surviving child of his parent lost his dear life to the flood, thereby throwing the entire community in mourning. Men of the Kwara Fire Service and news men from NTA, Ilorin were there during the incident and still, nothing was done by government to address the matter.

The numerous letters written by the community elders, youths and others to government at various levels have not been responded to.

The flood is back again as we speak and we never can tell what might happen in the coming days.

Kwara Must Change is therefore calling on the Kwara state government to immediately respond to this matter before it goes out of hand.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
Kwara Must Change

?

Nigeria Should Target 160,000MW of Electricity in 10 Years

An energy expert, Mr. Ggenga Olawepo-Hashim has called on the federal government to target electricity generating capacity of 160,000 megawatts in the next 10 years so that Nigeria can be at per with South Africa’s per capital generation.

Olawepo-Hashim, who is also a presidential aspirant and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also urged the federal government to eliminate current inefficiency in electricity distribution and establish a fair and consumer friendly electricity tariff that will as well be cost recoverable to attract an estimated $ 200 billion investments from both private and public sectors for the next 10 years.
In a paper titled “Agenda for All Round National Development,” which he delivered at a recent public lecture organised by the College of Postgraduate Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Olawepo-Hashim argued that building an industrialised and modern economy would be impossible without simultaneously directing national energy to rapidly increasing electricity generation, distribution and transmission.

According to him, the current national electricity generation capacity of about 6,000 megawatts is too little a capacity for any meaningful development compared to South African’s generation capacity of more than 40,000 megawatts capacity.
He suggested that in order to direct available finance in the country for key task of industrialisation; the country must prioritise available finance for modernising the country’s infrastructure.
“The trend in which 80 per cent of revenue in the nation’s budget has been disproportionately consistently applied to recurrent expenditure; whilst capital expenditure takes the back seat at 20 per cent must be discounted. To begin with, it must be the goal of public finance to allocate 50 per cent of revenue to capital expenditure,” he said.
He also recommended a complete change in the budgeting system from the current envelope system where annual budget are merely a repeat of previous year sectorial allocation with variations, accounting for inflation.

“Budgeting must become NEEDS-BASED, driven by national economic priority, based on a new plan to build modern infrastructure, make the needed social investment for the country and industrialise Nigeria,” he added.
He also argued that another element of financial reform that Nigeria needs to undertake is to ensure banking and financial sectors make capital available to the real sector of the economy.

“Whereas, monetary policy formulation is within the competence of the Central Bank which has autonomy over this matters, the necessary coordination between the fiscal and monetary Authorities must be generated to allow the new reform, which must also include bringing down the present unsustainable lending rate to a single digit. At 17.5 per cent – 25 per cent lending rate in the Nigeria financial market, no meaningful industrialization can take place as industrialists and manufacturers from other countries take money for business for as low as four per cent. In Malaysia, prevailing lending rate is 4.9 per cent; China is 4.35 per cent; India is 9.45per cent; South Africa is 10 per cent. Nigeria must move within the single digit band,” he explained.

Olawepo-Hashim further stated that Nigeria as a country has been pulling apart because of rising incidence of poverty, squalor and unemployment, stressing that inequality and the attendant misery have been rising, occasioning massive social instability and insecurity.

“The reason why Nigeria is experiencing massive social upheavals is not just because it has low income per capital but due also to the fact that available income is not being applied averagely for the welfare of all. Various African countries with half Nigeria’s income per capital post better development indicators,” he said.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/05/29/ndphc-to-complete-gbarain-ubie-omoku-power-plants-before-end-of-2018/amp/

Olawepo Hashim calls for new economic plan

Businessman and front line politician, Mr Gbenga Olawepo Hashim has declared that with collective steadfastness, Nigeria will surely emerge from the socio-economic challenges strongrt.

He made this remark at a public lecture delivered at the Post Graduate College, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Osun State.

Mr Hashim stated that, an agenda for all round national development is clearly possible not just for the development of the nation but for a transformation for generations yet unborn.

At the event chaired by the University’s vice-chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, Hashim agreed that though slight progress has been made since the advent of democracy in Nigeria between 1999-2015, the nation still remains “underdeveloped” by regular classification.

“With 62 percent of the population living below $2 a day and considered poor, with life expectancy of 51 years, and over 40% illiterate population, bedeviled with a parlous infrastructure such as poor electricity distribution, poor road networks, and dilapidated health infrastructure, the underdevelopment profile was in bad relief,” he stated.

Hashim also told the predominantly academia audience that: “I remain optimistic about Nigerian development trajectory when we tap and build on the energy, creativity, imagination and the industry of everyday Nigerian which is the most important asset that Nigeria possess beyond her oil wealth and natural resources”

He praised the nation’s resourceful diaspora community comprising scientists, intelligentsias, innovators, professionals, footballers and entrepreneurs adding golden pages to Nigeria’s rising story.

Olawepo Hashim suggesting a range of solutions to the country's challenges. He called for a new economic plan to transform the economy to manufacturing from agrarian economy as well as production of primary products.

According to him: “Ultimately, Nigeria needs to grow the manufacturing sector in such a way that it will account for 30-40 percent of her GDP and be a major employer of labour.”

Hum

States must control resources in their domain,Olawepo declares


 A business mogul and frontline politician, Mr Gbenga Olawepo Hashim has called for decentralization of more power to state to fast track Nigeria's development. 


The Chairman of Bresson AS limited said there was need for Nigeria to decentralise power to the states if it must survive as a productive country. 


He made this known at a public lecture titled: ‘Nigeria: Agenda for an all round development,” organised by the post-graduate college of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. 


Olawepo-Hashim, a former student activist, disagreed with advocates of regionalism, contending that there was need to ensure that state governments control resources in their states. He said: “We have been talking about restructuring and that is something a lot of people are afraid of, but one thing I know is that if Nigeria will survive as a productive country, we need to decentralise power. I don’t believe in going back to the regions. What we need to do is to ensure that states have control over the resources in their environment. 


For instance, in the United States of America, the states have their laws; if you don’t like the kind of decision in a state like Texas, you can relocate to another state. If we allow the states to have control of their resources, they will develop faster. “In order to direct available finance in the country for key task of industrialization; the country must prioritize available finance for modernizing the country’s infrastructure. 


Mr Hashim added that, the trend in which 80 per cent of revenue in the nation’s budget has been disproportionately consistently applied to recurrent expenditure; whilst capital expenditure takes the back seat at 20 per cent must be discounted “To begin with, it must be the goal of public finance to allocate 50 per cent of revenue to capital expenditure. 


Secondly, there must be a complete change in the budgeting system from the current envelope system where annual budget are merely a repeat of previous year sectorial allocation with variations, accounting for inflation. Budgeting must become needs based, driven by national economic priority, based on a new plan to build modern infrastructure, make the needed social investment for the country and industrialise Nigeria. “Thirdly, another element of financial reform that Nigeria needs to undertake is to ensure banking and financial sectors make capital available to the real sector of the economy. Whereas, monetary policy formulation is within the competence of the Central Bank which has autonomy over this matters, the necessary coordination between the fiscal and monetary Authorities must be generated to allow the new reform, which must also include bringing down the present unsustainable lending rate to a single digit.” Olawepo explains.

Your points are well noted. If I have the opportunity of meeting the speaker,I will raise your argument to him and if he has any response,will let you know. Thanks

LordAdamX:
Chief, you cannot use $200b to get 160,000MW in Nigeria. That is impossible. That wouldn't barely even be enough for the generation plants, much more the transmission and distribution.

That's around $1.25b/1MW to generate, transmit, and distribute. Even China, where it is incredibly cheap to build infrastructure, used an average of $1b/1MW to construct the Three Gorge Dam (generation only). Extrapolate for Nigeria where we'd import everything, from the equipment to the skilled manpower, the inevitable wastage and corruption, and you can see how the numbers don't check out.

160,000MW is a good estimate of the power we need to make giant strides, but $200b would not get us that amount. The most it'd get us is 100,000MW (IMO, it'd be far less), which isn't bad per se, but if you're giving a report like this, you can't give in to sensationalism. Be realistic, and preferably, conservative in estimates.

-Lord

eph12:

Is there a summary?

This is a summary. So read

LordAdamX:
No.

Seriously, you guys should read na? Haba!

If you guys know about these challenges in-depth, politicians wouldn't be playing childish games with you.

@OP, please edit the thread to make it easier on the eyes.

To the topic, the plan seems reasonable, although I have issues with certain parts of it ($200b cannot give us 160,000 MW in Nigeria, there is virtually nothing on Nigeria's shambolic structure that needs an overhaul, and a good portion of it is wishful thinking). However, it is a decent plan that proves the person behind it understands most of our problems to a commendable degree.

The problem however has always been implementation. For example, it has taken over 2 years for a policy on 3rd-party metering to be set up. It would take at least another 2 years before it begins to solve any problems. And that's just one tiny spoke in the wheel of the power sector, much more the economy as a whole. We have Acts that have even been passed into law that have practically been abandoned (or at least relegated to the sidelines). We've spent the better part of a decade debating the PIB in the Nat'l Assembly.

So color me pessimistic, but instead of these lofty plans with pomp and grandeur, we need micro plans with less headline-grabbing objectives that tackle select issues, and that more importantly, take our socio-economic and geopolitical eccentricities into account. For example, we rid the country of Polio (with priceless help from International partners) and everyone pitched in even though there were hiccups along the way. No one can say that corruption, bureaucracy bottlenecks, or the infrastructure deficit (poor road networks to the rural areas, poor primary healthcare, et cetera) didn't bedevil the FG-led eradication effort. Yet, there was success. Belabored, of course, but it was actualized.

In my opinion, we need to do the same about several other issues that abound in virtually all the sectors of our economy from metering to double taxation to port reforms to lending rate to wastage. Break up the big issues into small bits, prioritize the most crucial ones and strive for small successes that are a lot more achievable rather than big wins that are infinitely difficult to bring to fruition because of obvious reasons.

-Lord

Thanks for your submission. Regarding your disagreement with the power proposition, the presenter of this piece is a major energy player in Nigeria and I want believe he knows what he his saying. His company is actually one of the first independent power producer in the country. Right now, they are supplying the country about 500 megawatt of electricity through their magboro power plant in Ogun state. So, if he says this is possible, I believe it is because he has the required knowledge and experience based on their current involves.