₦airaland Forum

*Ministerial List: Coalition of Niger Delta Organizations and Activists Laud Tinubu over Lokpobiri’s Appointment*

…..prays for a very vital ministry for Lokpobiri, according to them, “to enable Nigeria and Nigerians benefit from the Bayelsa nominee’s rich potentials.

By Idris Mohammed

The Coalition of Niger Delta Organizations and Activists (CNOA), in a Press Statement, in Asaba, on Thursday, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for the nomination of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri for ministerial appointment, noting that Lokpobiri’s nomination further “reinvigorates the hope of the Niger Delta region in the ability of the President to assemble a team that has the capacity to confront Nigeria’s many challenges”.

In the Press Statement, the convener of the coalition, Comrade Maximus Harcourt-White, said the appointment of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; the first indigenous Speaker of Bayelsa State Assembly, a trained lawyer, former Senator representing Bayelsa West district, former Minister of State for agriculture, and Illustrious son of Ijaw nation, adds more credibility to the appointments made by Mr. President so far.

According to Harcourt-White, “the appointment of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, is well received by the good people of the Niger Delta region who view Lokpobiri as an unusual politician with the capacity for excellent service delivery in any assigned role”

He, therefore, urged the President to take into consideration, “the rich credentials of Senator Lokpobiri as a trained lawyer who has requisite experience in both the legislative and executive arms of government, and assign a very big ministry to him to enable the vast majority of Nigerians feel the positive Impact of his huge potentials”.

Harcourt-White further expressed the coalition’s optimism that: As a result-oriented, thoroughly detailed, productive and purposeful technocrat, Senator Lokpobiri who consistently delivered in his previous roles with unparalleled distinction, will bring his experience and capacity to bare in helping Mr President deliver on his social contract of *Renewed Hope* with the Nigerian electorates.

By Sylvanus Okpe

The recent resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu as the national chairman of the APC, 15 months after his election into the coveted office, has once again exposed the inability of the APC to maintain a stable leadership despite the monumental support the party has continued to garner in successive elections. Since the historic merger that birthed the APC as a political party in 2013, the party has had 5 different leadership, including the interim leadership under pa Bisi Akande. None of these leadership, inclusive of the elected National Chairmen, has been able to muster the requisite support to sustain a successful one-term spell. This constant changes in leadership has only succeeded in distracting the focus of the government at the Centre from the burning demands of actual governance as most of its lifespan is spent entertaining the needless scheming and permutations to install new party leadership. It has also greatly affected the party whose constant change of leadership has not allowed for an entrenched progressive ideal that embodies a clear-cut ideology for the party.

With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, a thoroughbred politician and committee party man, in the saddle as President of Nigeria, on the platform of APC, party members and majority of Nigerians are now very optimistic that the time has come for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to install a lone-lasting leadership that will support the administration to drive home its renewed hope mandate, while also repositioning the party towards its celebrated progressive ideology.

It is this search for a National Chairman that will have the demeanor, the poise, the sagacity, and the impressive understanding of diverse interests management that has led to the recommendation of the immediate-past Executive Governor of Kano state, H.E Sen. Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

The greatest problem past leadership of the party has constantly faced is the inability to reconcile the many interests that seek a place within the fold of the party. The fallout of the lack of a platform for all these interests to harmonize into a cohesive progressive force for the benefit of the party is the enabling factor that foments intractable crisis within the party. With H.E Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, an irrepressible progressive with a verifiable pedigree in diverse interests management, as National chairman of the party, this major problem that breeds endless crisis within the party will become a thing of the past.

H.E Abdullahi Ganduje is also a loyal party man that has demonstrated his love for the party and President Tinubu even at the risk of huge personal discomfort. He was amongst the first governors that threw their weights behind the candidacy of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from the start even when it was obvious that the powers that be at the time didn’t want the president to win. Asiwaju needs a loyal and committed party man as National Chairman so that the party and the presidency will work harmoniously to entrench quality governance across the country.

While the argument for the Northcentral to retain the leadership of the party cannot be dismissed in its whole, it must be understood that that arrangement was made when the president of Nigeria was from the North-west. With the presidency leaving the North-west, a zone that has churned out the highest support the party has enjoyed in its third electoral victory at the center, it is not out of place to make political calculations that will preserve the party’s support-base in the region.

Ganduje possesses the charisma, the political experience, and requisite capacity to lead the APC to the promise land.

Comrade Sylvanus Okpe is a co-convener of Northcentral APC Young Professionals Forum (NAYPF). He writes from Abuja.

*Niger Delta Activists Embark On Peaceful Rally in Abuja, Demand Major Shake-Up in NDDC*

The Coalition of Niger Delta Organizations and Activists (CNOA), on Thursday, embarked on a peaceful rally to call on President Bola Tinubu to reshuffle the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

In his address, the convener of the coalition, Comrade Maximus Harcourt-White lamented that the humongous billions of dollars invested in the commission has not reflected in commensurate positive impact on our land and our people.

According to Harcourt-White, the NDDC has detailed its mandate with the effect directly felt by ordinary citizens.

He, therefore, urged the President to as a matter of urgency, "remove the NDDC from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs where unhealthy political bickering and civil service bureaucracy has greatly whittled its impact on our people and our land, and domicile it with the Presidency, where it hitherto was."

Harcourt-White noted that: "This will afford Mr. President the ability to pay keen interest in the affairs of the commission, as well as, enhance its productivity as regards the set objectives and establishment values. "

He added: "As a people, we also wish to implore Mr. President to relieve Major Gen. Barry Indiomu of his appointment as the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Program with immediate effect.

"The President must appoint someone that possesses the requisite qualification and skills to complement Mr. President’s visionary leadership to make the program people-oriented and more pivotal in solving the lingering challenges in the region.

"For transparency and accountability, we are also calling for a forensic audit and investigation of the office of the Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta and Coordinator of Presidential Amnesty Program, as well as the NDDC to track the monies appropriated to these offices and the expenditure.

"This will stand Mr. President out and strengthen the faith of the Nigerian people in his administration’s effort to check corruption and financial impropriety. "

https://dailytrust.com/inauguration-heineken-lokpobiri-congratulates-tinubu-shettima/

“Your inauguration as Nigeria’s President, a breath of fresh air for Our economy”, - Heineken Lokpobiri

By Stephen Orbam

Former minister of state for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has congratulated the new President of Nigeria, H.E Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his inauguration as the 16th President and commander - in - chief of the armed forces of the federal republic of Nigeria.

Lokpobiri in his congratulatory message, described the new President “as a politician of conviction who never wavered in projecting the quality democratic ideals that stood great nations out”. He further lauded the new President for what he said “was his indispensable role in sustaining our democracy by remaining in the opposition during the most daunting periods”. He said it was a deserving honour that Mr President would now benefit from his many sacrifices and toils to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

Lokpobiri, who once served as a Senator for Bayelsa West, also expressed his optimism that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will bring his rich experience as one of the most longest Nigeria’s politician to remain relevant in the scheme of things, and leadership finesse, to bare in administering the country.

Describing Tinubu’s inauguration, as president of Nigeria, as a breath of fresh air, the Bayelsa born APC chieftain said he has no doubt that Tinubu’s impressive knowledge of economy re-engineering, which became conspicuous during his time as Lagos governor, and which contributed immeasurably to placing Lagos state economy at 6th position in the entire Africa, will be reintroduced to reinvigorate Nigeria’s economy and place the country on the path of growth and development.

Speaking further, Lokpobiri, also used used the opportunity to congratulate the FirstLady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, his former colleague, whom he said possesses great leadership potentials and wherewithal to support Mr President to succeed in leading Nigeria to greatness.

https://dailytrust.com/senate-presidency-barau-will-help-apc-sustain-electoral-grip-in-northwest/Senate


Presidency: Barau Will Help APC Sustain Electoral Grip In Northwest

By Nelson Alapa

The squabble for who occupies the number three position in our dear country, as a new government forms in a few weeks, has continued to dominate major political discourse across the country. As a patriotic Nigerian, my view is that whatever comes off the many schemings to occupy the number three position, we must sheath ourselves of all ethnic, regional and religious trappings to favorably advance a cause that will be beneficial to Nigeria and Nigerians. It is on the premise of primordial sentiments and zoning of sensitive positions that Nigeria has become mired in consistent leadership failure. We cannot continue to sustain an argument that requires us to sacrifice our nigerianism on the alter of regionalism. It is a dangerous trend that has contributed immeasurably to the waning of patriotism amongst many Nigerians. While it fortifies and builds an army of ethnic and regional jingoists, who constantly advance the interest of their region, Our collective interest as Nigerians suffer monumental neglect. It is therefore right that justification be given to personal capacity, vision and patriotism in supporting anybody to occupy the number three position. With the hope that this leads to a total reinvigoration of the waned spirit of Nigerianism. On this note, Senator Jibrin Barau stands tall in both capacity, experience and patriotism, and will no doubt support the incoming administration of Tinubu/Shettima to achieve great results that will renew the hopes of every Nigerian.

To also speak as a politician, the endpoint of every political party is to win election. With our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) losing Kano state to Kwankwaso’s NNPP, the APC as party must quickly make strategic moves that will position the APC as a relevant political platform in the Northwest where the party’s three previous electoral victories at the center wouldn’t have been possible without the votes harvested from the region. It will therefore amount to a grave and irredeemable political miscalculation for the APC as a party to leave the Northwest zone without a top political position that will sustain our electoral grip on the region. Senator Barau has the capacity and goodwill that the party can exploit to remain the number one party in the Northwest. We must support Barau to emerge as the senate president or risk losing the chunk of the votes that the northwest brings to the table.

Hon. Alapa is a committed progressive and party man. He once served as a minority leader of the House of Representatives

“Thank you for rekindling our waning hope for a Better Benue for all”, Chief Mrs Comfort Briggs Celebrates Alia/Ode on election

By Stephen Ogbu

Benue grassroots politician, Chief Mrs Comfort Briggs Lokpobiri has joined a host of others in series of celebrations since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives (APC), Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia and his deputy, Hon. Sam Ode, Mni as the winners of the March 18th governorship election in the state.

In her felicitation message, Mrs Comfort Briggs Lokpobiri noted that the victory of Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia and his deputy, Hon. Sam Ode, Mni, has rekindled the hope of many Benue citizens who had almost given up on the state, due to the nearly 8years of PDP administration, which she explained has left the state in total darkness.

She expressed her optimism that the incoming Alia/Ode administration will lead massive reforms that will benefit every section of the state.

“I have no doubt that you and your deputy possess the requisite capacity and character to engender many reforms that will birth a better Benue for every Benue man and woman”, she wrote.

Finally, she thanked the electorates for their peaceful and orderly conduct before, during and after the election, describing them as an important pillar of Nigeria’s democratic process.

“Your victory is a higher call to serve God and humanity”, Arc. Obekpa Congratulates Alia/Ode on election victory

By John Ochai

APC chieftain in Benue state, Architect Anthony Obekpa has sent a congratulatory message to Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia, Governor - elect of Benue state and Hon. Sam Ode, mni, the Deputy governor - elect, describing their victory in the just concluded Benue state Governorship election as a higher call to serve God and humanity.

In his words, “I have no doubt that your training and ordination to serve in the vineyard of the most high God played a huge role in provoking your passion to answer a higher call to serve God and humanity, at this critical time when our dear state is limping towards precipice”.

Obekpa who is a major financier of APC in the Owukpa district of Ogbadibo LGA, lauded the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for allowing the yearnings and aspirations of the majority of Benue people to reflect in the last governorship election.

He further noted that Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia’s election as the next governor of Benue state represents a new dawn for the economic recovery of the Northcentral state.

Finally, the philanthropist prayed that God almighty empowers the governor - elect and his deputy with the wisdom and strength to meet the huge expectations of the electorates who entrusted the duo with their mandate with the hope that they will lead us all to the Benue of our dreams.

https://dailytrust.com/how-northern-apc-governors-preserved-nigerias-unity/

By H.E Chief Stephen Lawani, OFR

The 25th February 2023 Presidential election has come and gone, with a resounding victory for our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was returned as the winner of the keenly contested presidential election.

While we bask in the euphoria of this hard-fought victory and celebrate an imminent transition from one APC led federal government to another, it is my view that the stakeholders who rose above ethnic and regional proclivities and stood for the interest of a United Nigeria; those whose patriotic actions, whose unusual cosmopolitan disposition became the saving grace for our wobbling unity are the true champions of our democracy as a nation and our unity as a complex country of diverse backgrounds.

There is no doubt that pressure mounted on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to field a northern candidate. Those who pushed for a northern candidacy had argued that with Atiku emerging as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the presidential election, the APC needed a northern candidate to match him vote for vote in the northern region of the country. This argument was aggressively advanced without recourse to the fact that for the past seven years plus, the affairs of this country has been helmed by a President of northern extraction, H.E Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. It could be effectively argued that the northern candidacy agenda was devoid of the bond of patriotism as it tended towards upsetting the tinge of National cohesion the country currently enjoys. It was capable of uprooting the wobbling foundations of our unity and sparking dangerous regional rivalry with our hard-earned democracy and cherished unity at the receiving end.

We are grateful to the Northern APC governors who stood their ground, who refused to jettison the unwritten zoning agreement between the North and South in the leadership of this country. Their courage and conviction to push through even when it was rumoured at a point that Mr President had anointed a Northerner for the APC Presidential ticket, and despite having colleagues who are also aspirants in the presidential race, is a commendable act of selflessness and patriotism which deeply reflects the integrity of the northern governors, and the depth of our democratic maturity as a people. Posterity will remember their contributions fondly, they will pat themselves in the back and be proud of all those who stood firm in ensuring that power moves to the South.

It is also noteworthy to add that the insistence of these northern APC governors that power must return to the south became a magic wand for the victory of the candidate of our party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the presidential election. It is my considered view that if we had fielded a northerner as the candidate of the party, our party wouldn’t have garnered the massive support of the overwhelming majority of Nigerians who would have showed sympathy to any southern candidate in the race. Suffice to say that while the patriotic act of the northern APC governors strengthened our unity as a nation, it was also a potent political strategy that earned our party a deserved victory in the just concluded presidential polls.

Special recognition must be given to all others aside the APC northern governors who also played key roles in ensuring that power returns to the south. The Vice-President elect, H.E Senator Kashim Shettima is one of those who stood for, spoke for and fervently canvassed support for a power-shift to the South. History will forever remain kind to him and other compatriots whose principled stance on power shift to the south has further renewed the inspiration for a one indissoluble Nigeria.

Chief Stephen Lawani, OFR, is a former deputy governor of Benue state.

https://dailytrust.com/how-northern-apc-governors-preserved-nigerias-unity/

By H.E Chief Stephen Lawani, OFR

The 25th February 2023 Presidential election has come and gone, with a resounding victory for our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was returned as the winner of the keenly contested presidential election.

While we bask in the euphoria of this hard-fought victory and celebrate an imminent transition from one APC led federal government to another, it is my view that the stakeholders who rose above ethnic and regional proclivities and stood for the interest of a United Nigeria; those whose patriotic actions, whose unusual cosmopolitan disposition became the saving grace for our wobbling unity are the true champions of our democracy as a nation and our unity as a complex country of diverse backgrounds.

There is no doubt that pressure mounted on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to field a northern candidate. Those who pushed for a northern candidacy had argued that with Atiku emerging as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the presidential election, the APC needed a northern candidate to match him vote for vote in the northern region of the country. This argument was aggressively advanced without recourse to the fact that for the past seven years plus, the affairs of this country has been helmed by a President of northern extraction, H.E Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. It could be effectively argued that the northern candidacy agenda was devoid of the bond of patriotism as it tended towards upsetting the tinge of National cohesion the country currently enjoys. It was capable of uprooting the wobbling foundations of our unity and sparking dangerous regional rivalry with our hard-earned democracy and cherished unity at the receiving end.

We are grateful to the Northern APC governors who stood their ground, who refused to jettison the unwritten zoning agreement between the North and South in the leadership of this country. Their courage and conviction to push through even when it was rumoured at a point that Mr President had anointed a Northerner for the APC Presidential ticket, and despite having colleagues who are also aspirants in the presidential race, is a commendable act of selflessness and patriotism which deeply reflects the integrity of the northern governors, and the depth of our democratic maturity as a people. Posterity will remember their contributions fondly, they will pat themselves in the back and be proud of all those who stood firm in ensuring that power moves to the South.

It is also noteworthy to add that the insistence of these northern APC governors that power must return to the south became a magic wand for the victory of the candidate of our party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the presidential election. It is my considered view that if we had fielded a northerner as the candidate of the party, our party wouldn’t have garnered the massive support of the overwhelming majority of Nigerians who would have showed sympathy to any southern candidate in the race. Suffice to say that while the patriotic act of the northern APC governors strengthened our unity as a nation, it was also a potent political strategy that earned our party a deserved victory in the just concluded presidential polls.

Special recognition must be given to all others aside the APC northern governors who also played key roles in ensuring that power returns to the south. The Vice-President elect, H.E Senator Kashim Shettima is one of those who stood for, spoke for and fervently canvassed support for a power-shift to the South. History will forever remain kind to him and other compatriots whose principled stance on power shift to the south has further renewed the inspiration for a one indissoluble Nigeria.

Chief Stephen Lawani, OFR, is a former deputy governor of Benue state and the Benue state Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Independent Campaign Council (ICC)

“Your victory is a product of hardwork and resilience” - Benue support group woman leader congratulates Tinubu

The Benue state woman leader of BATS Vanguard in the state, Chief Mrs Comfort Briggs Lokpobiri has congratulated the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory in the Saturday’s presidential election.

In the congratulatory message, the grassroots politician described Tinubu’s victory in the just concluded presidential election as “a deserved reward for hardwork and resilience”.

She further assured Nigerian women that the President-elect will reserve a special place for woman to play a critical role in his administration.

Recall that the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was on Tuesday morning declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election. The former Lagos governor polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest rivals, former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) who polled 6,984,520 and 6,101,533 to emerge second and third respectively.

Benue BATS Vanguard was one of the support groups in Benue state which adopted a polling unit to polling unit approach in the rigorous campaign for the election of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We must draw the line where politics gives way for nationalism - Obekpa urges Atiku, Obi in his congratulatory message to Tinubu

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue state, Arc, Anthony Obekpa has congratulated the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Recall that the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was on Tuesday morning declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election. The former Lagos governor polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest rivals, former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) who polled 6,984,520 and 6,101,533 to emerge second and third respectively.

The Benue grassroots politician in his congratulatory message, described Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as a forthright leader and committed progressive who carefully built bridges across the country.

“It is obvious that your clear victory in the just concluded presidential election is as a result of the bridges of friendship you built across Nigeria over the years. Your unreserved dedication and sacrifice to the development and strengthening of our democracy, and dogged progressive principles which remained dauntless in the face of political prosecution stands you out as the best qualified person to lead our dear nation today”.

Arc. Anthony Obekpa also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting what he described as the most free and fair election in our democratic history.

He urged those who lost in the last election to know where to draw the line between politics and nationalism. He insists that those who contested the election must in the spirit of nationalism and patriotism join Asiwaju in building a country that works for every Nigerian.

“We must be conscious of that stage where politics must give way for nationalism. We are all winners, I urge the candidates who lost in the election to join Tinubu in building a country that works for every Nigerian”.

He also noted that Asiwaju is a radical reformer whose track records of performance gives clear indication that the former Lagos governor possesses the capacity to take Nigeria out of the woods of underdevelopment.

Your election as president of Nigeria is a victory for our democracy - Alapa writes Tinubu on election victory

By Chidiogo Obute

A former minority whip of the House of Representatives, Chief Nelson Alapa has described the victory of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the just concluded presidential election as a triumph of Nigeria’s democracy.

The former member representing Otukpo/Ohimini federal constituency in the lower chambers of the National Assembly in his contrgratulatory letter to the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, noted that Nigeria’s democracy has again proven to be a rallying point for our shared prosperity and values. Commenting on Tinubu’s democratic credentials, he said, “as a politician of conviction, you have never wavered in projecting democratic ideals that stood great nations out”.

“Your indispensable role in sustaining our democracy; your firm and unflagging faith in our democratic process which you passionately exhibited during the days of NADECO, your unenviable role as a life-wire of our democracy during the days you remained the opposition figure of our imperfect democracy, will continue to earn your deserved victory the accolades of every lover of the Nigeria’s democracy.

Chief Nelson Alapa who was an ex-officio member of the APC, also expressed his optimism that the President-elect will bring his wealth of experience, his sterling performance as Lagos governor, where he lead various critical reforms, to bear in the leadership of Nigeria.

You will recall that the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was on Tuesday morning declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election. The former Lagos governor polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest rivals, former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) who polled 6,984,520 and 6,101,533 to emerge second and third respectively.

kenedyx:
I got a huge contract through my brother's company.

The contract is securely in my possession now and I've been fully paid. Initially, the plan was for my bro to supply me the materials

But the issue now is the quotation he's giving me is way higher than what I'm getting elsewhere.

I've asked him to beat down his price but he's adamant. I plan on sidelining him if he doesn't do the needful.

Guys any thoughts on this?

You shouldn’t even be asking this question. He got you the contract 100% and he can still get you more in the future if things go well. Don’t let greed lead you into an action you will regret. Any decision you are taking, put the probability of future opportunities into serious consideration

Jide Oyekunle, Abuja 

Members of Niger Delta Development 
Activists, Comrade, have embarked on a protest to express their concerns against the list of members of the board of  Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) sent to the Nigerian senate by the President. Muhammed Buhari for confirmation.

The activists said some of the nominees were of questionable character and that the list  has breached the provision of the NDDC establishment Act.

 The protest which kicked off from the Unity Fountain to the National Assembly Complex Abuja Complex on Thursday was aimed at calling on the lawmakers to be circumspect 
in the confirmation of the list.

The Convener of the group, Comrade. Odudu Livinus Lokiri who addressed the protesters said the list was full.of many people with questionable character that does not have the integrity and reputation to represent the interest of the people in the commission.

He said the list did not follow the due process of the law adding  that Section 2(2b) of the NDDC Act stated that the chairman and other members of the board shall be persons of proven integrity and ability. 

He noted that Chief Samuel Ogbokwu who was nominated for the position of Managing Director was fit for such position considering  his ignoble and sordid past.

He added that Ogbokwu leveraged on his 
political network and connection to the former Governor of Bayelsa State and current Minister of State for Petroleum to have his name smuggled into the list.

According to Lokiri " We are worried that the recent list sent to the senate by Mr President for confirmation has not followed the due process of the law as it has breached a very key provision of the NDDC establishment act. For instance, Section 2(2b) of the NDDC act provides in unambiguous terms, that the chairman and other members of the board shall be persons of proven integrity and ability. 

" It is on record that he used his political network and connection to the former Governor of Bayelsa state and current minister of state for petroleum, HE Timipre Silva to subvert the law and wriggle out of the legal cobweb. 

" It is unfortunate that in this time of insecurity, when a new wave of cultural orientation is being suggested for the younger generation to be impacted with the right values,  This is a clear breach of the provision of the NDDC act reproduced above and we will not allow this happen without letting the world know his true person and character.

We are jittery that our dear president is being misled by some selfish elements in furtherance of actions that encourage the breach of the constitution he swore an oath to protect and defend. 

" We call on well-meaning Nigerians and true sons and daughters of the Niger Delta region, to rise to the occasion opposed our common patrimony being left in the hands of an individual with many corruption baggages. NDDC is for the development of the Niger Delta region and not for the self aggrandizement of a few" 

Lokiri maintained that it is worrisome that three years after the painstaking exercise geared towards ridding the commission of corruption some corrupt individuals are now being considered for juicy appointments into the commission.

The activists vowed to do everything with its power to stop the confirmation of the  characters with corruption antecedents.

Jide Oyekunle, Abuja 


A Niger Delta Activist, Comr. Odudu Livinus Lokiri has faulted and kicked against the 15-man list sent to the Nigerian senate for confirmation as members of the board of  Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by  President. Muhammed Buhari.

He said  the list is a clear violation of several provisions of the NDDC establishment act and that the president is being misled by some selfish elements in furtherance of actions that encourage the breach of the constitution he swore an oath to protect and defend. 

He also vowed to take legal action to stop the confirmation of the nominees by the Senate. 

Odudu disclosed this on Monday in a statement while reacting to the list read on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, November 23, 2022.

He said people with questionable character are now being rewarded with another round of juicy appointments instead of being reprimanded for their roles in pilfering the common patrimony of the Niger Delta people. 

The statement read in part " This statement has become necessary following the recent transmission of a 15-man list to the Nigerian senate for confirmation as members of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by Mr President. 

" You will recall that Mr President had withheld the inauguration of His Excellency Dr Pius Odugbu-led board of NDDC that was confirmed by the Nigerian Senate on the 15th of November 2019 on the grounds that Mr President had ordered a forensic audit at the NDDC with a view to arresting the entrenched corruption and institutional decay that has bedeviled the commission and derailed it from achieving its goal of maximizing government intervention for the development of the oil producing states. I note with dismay that three years down the line, the forensic audit has not yielded any actionable report, or if it has yielded any, has not attracted the wrath of the law on any of the culprits despite the endemic corruption that has characterized the commission over the years. 

 Secondly, I am worried that the recent list sent to the senate by Mr President for confirmation has not followed the due process of the law as it has breached several provisions of the NDDC establishment act. I am jittery that our dear president is being misled by some selfish elements in furtherance of actions that encourage the breach of the constitution he swore an oath to protect and defend. 

" For instance, Section 2(2b) of the NDDC act also provides in unambiguous terms, that the chairman and other members of the board shall be persons of proven integrity and ability. I regret that the list forwarded to the Senate by Mr President has a suspected murderer and known cultist as Managing Director" 

He said he would explore every legal option and  obtain an injunction to stop all parties from ratifying Chief Samuel Ogbokwu as Chairman of NDDC adding that the process is a clear breach of the provision of the NDDC act.

He also called on the President to dissociate himself from people whose relevance has continued to decline due to their unbearable character deficiency.  

" We implore every leader of the Niger Delta region, particularly the Executive Governor of Rivers state, H.E Chief Nyesom Wike, who is our leader today, and who by virtue of his office as a governor of one of the leading Niger Delta states to not keep quiet in the face of this manifest injustice. His Excellency, Governor Wike has come to be known for his unrelenting drive for equity and justice and we are hopeful that he will add his voice to making the Niger Delta an equitable and just society" He added.

*CSOs protest slaughter, exploitation of donkeys by Chinese nationals, demand probe of minister*

No fewer than four civil society organisations on Wednesday stormed the streets of Abuja to express displeasure over the continuous "illegal" slaughter and exploitation of donkeys by Chinese nationals.

The groups said this heinous act has continued despite the orders by the Federal Government and the National Assembly.

In a statement co-signed by Barr. Emmanuel Onwudiwe and Comrade (Engr) Ogwuche Emmanuel, convener and secretary respectively, the CSOs accused the Minister of Agriculture, Mahmood Mohammed, of conniving with these foreigners.

According to them, the minister has declared war against the Federal Government, describing his action as a "threat to our democracy, sovereignty and rule of law."

"A few weeks ago, we held a world press conference where we strongly condemned the direct and continued disobedience of Presidential directives by some Chinese nationals who are said to be working in connivance and consonance with the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Mahmood Mohammed. You would recall that Muhammed Buhari GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Grand Commander of the Armed Forces, on the 21st of March, 2022, after a Federal Executive Council Meeting, issued a directive that foreigners are not permitted to directly go into the forest and engage in direct purchase and slaughter of Donkeys," the statement said.

"This memorandum was duly forwarded to all the relevant stakeholders in the Agro Business, including the Ministry of Agriculture. Our dear President who has unmistakable good intentions for the growth and development of the federal republic of Nigeria, also caused a committee, under the chairmanship of Suleiman Audu, to be inaugurated with the specific mandate of enforcing the ban on foreigners from directly purchasing farm products from farm gates.

"It is therefore inexcusable that the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Mohamed Mahmood Abubakar has allegedly continued to give tacit approval to Chinese nationals to go into the forest and deal directly in these businesses against the direct orders of the President of the federal republic of Nigeria, and in flagrant disregard of our sovereignty. We have pictorial evidence of these Chinese Nationals directly and blatantly going into the farm gates to deal directly with these businesses against the directives of the president.

"A minister is an appointee of the president and the Interpretation Act is clear that he who appoints can suspend. It is therefore shocking that a Minister, an appointee of the President, can so brazenly go against direct orders of the President without attracting any severe consequences. The continued silence of the Presidency over this declaration of war against the directives of the president by an appointee of his is a threat to our democracy, sovereignty and rule of law. There is no doubt that more appointees seeing that no serious action is taken against recalcitrant Mahmood, will employ similar crude measures to demean the exalted office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in pursuit of selfish ends.

"This action of the minister also makes our sovereignty susceptible to foreign interference. Ladies and gentlemen, as patriotic Nigerians, who are abreast with the sad development in Angola during the 1970s when the then President of the country, Dr Agostinho Neto had no powers over the waters of Angola, have resolved resolutely to rally other patriotic Nigerians in ensuring that our sovereignty remains solemn and not desecrated. It is unthinkable that the President of a sovereign country like Angola would lose the right over the waters of his own independent country to the then Soviet Union which determined and issued licenses to companies that carried out fishing activities in the waters of Angola.

"This antecedent of aggressive invasion of the sovereignty of independent African countries by foreign interests has informed our decision to alert well-meaning Nigerians on the likely replication of the Angola situation on our country by China, in connivance with some unpatriotic elements in the Buhari administration."

The CSOs also raised an alarm over the "actions of the quarantine which has continued to use its platform to secure the release of all arrested Chinese nationals during the implementation of the Presidential directives".

The groups, therefore, urged relevant authorities to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the allegations that quarantine collected several millions of naira, as a bribe, from Chinese nationals to secure their illegal release.

According to them, " donkey slaughter and exportation has no doubt become a juicy economic platform that is capable of injecting N60billion into the Nigerian economy by way of direct investment and is also capable of getting over 250,000 Nigerians direct and indirect employment. The economic potential of the sector can only be fully harnessed if the sector is well-regulated to serve Nigeria’s best interest. During this period when the country‘s economy is in a near meltdown, we expected the government of the day to take advantage of this economic-promising sector to make a strong case for ththe revitalization of our economy and also allow it to serve as a rallying point for the mitigation of the skyrocketing unemployment rate in the country".

The protesters, however, urged Nigerians to be "vigilant and add their voices to this patriotic call to safeguard our hard-earned sovereignty and uphold the territorial integrity of Nigeria with jealousy."

By Aisha Baba

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue state, Arc. Anthony Obekpa has raised an alarm over the increasing defection of the APC members to the fast growing Labour Party in Benue state. The party chieftain in a statement tagged “My Concern For Ogbadibo APC”, accused the state chairman of the APC, Comrade Austin Agada and stakeholders of the party of aloofness in the face of the lingering internal crisis that has continued to pose serious threat for the party ahead of 2023 general elections. “Our state Chairman, Comrade Austin Agada it seems is not bothered about the candidates from Ogbadibo winning or not. I think he is contented being the
chairman and having Rev. Fr. Alia as Governorship candidate. I don't have his ears anymore. I am not on the same page with him as he has made some people believe. He is not communicating with me”.

On why the aggrieved members of his party are finding solace in the Labour Party platform, the chieftain explained, “The scouts of the Labour Party are hoovering around APC stakeholders. Their aspirants are consulting, recruiting and convincing our party faithfuls”. Obekpa who is also the APC leader of Owukpa district in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue state, said he was surprised that the aspirants on the platform of the party have not done enough to place the party on track ahead of the 2023. “The most surprising thing is none of the aspirants from our local government area is showing concern”.

The statement which followed the defection of Comrade Eloyi Ogbeh, a grassroots politician and immediate-past secretary of APC in Ogbadibo LGA to Labour Party, also warned that until the unresolved grievances arising from the last congresses and primary elections are resolved, more members of APC are
determined to ditch the party and join other platforms where their interests are protected. “It is no longer news that our immediate past local government secretary Hon Eloyi Ogbe has moved to the labour party. His decision to
defect to the labour party is obviously not unconnected to recent developments in the APC leadership in Ogbadibo and zone C in general. Some individuals that think the party is their heritage have decided to shut the party down in Ogbadibo due to personal interests and everyone is quiet as if we have nothing at stake”.

Obekpa also decried the lack of synergy which gave rise to two persons laying claims to the chairmanship position of the party in the LGA leading to avoidable court cases. “We now have a scenario where the State Chairman is not calling meetings, two people are claiming chairmanship and we have two camps paying allegiance to two different local government chairmen and no interactions are going on between candidates, electorates and leadership of the party. The game being played in the chairmanship tussle became more confusing and it led to Hon. Francis Abah Ugwu approaching the court”, Obekpa noted.

In proffering solution, the APC chieftain said the APC in Ogbadibo LGA is currently in limbo, advising that, “I am by this post this evening calling on all stakeholders of our party in the local government to wake up from the current slumber and approach this issue with the seriousness it deserves.
I am of the opinion that one of these two things should be done immediately;
1) A stakeholders meeting be called by Hon. Andrew Ocheme for the Vice Chairman of the party , Hon. Innocent Onogwu to be mandated to pilot the affairs of the party pending the termination of the case in court.
2) Stakeholders should meet, investigate which name among Francis Abah Ugwu and Andrew Unaji Edache is at the party headquarters record and impress it on the state chairman to let go of his insistence on Andrew Unaji Edache”.

The minister is a very selfish man whose continued stay in Buhari government remains a dent on the goodwill of the Buhari administration. How can a minister go against presidential order without sanctions? This only happens in a Banana republic. The president must act now or lose the support of patriotic Nigerians

Four civil society organizations namely; Civil Society Situation Room, Guards Against Economic Sabotage in Nigeria, Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, Patriotic Nigerians Against Social and Economic Injustice have come together to protest the continue violation of a presidential directive by some Chinese nationals. The letter which was signed by the convener of the coalition, Barr. Emmanuel Onwudiwe, and the secretary, Comr (Engr) Emmanuel Onwudiwe, asked the President to investigate the allegations that his directive banning foreign nationals and their representatives from directly dealing in donkey purchase and slaughter at the farm-market was being breached at the instant of the minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mahmood Mohammed Abubakar. The letter also described the minister as a political liability to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) urging the national chairman of the party to initiate moves to immediately suspend the minister as a member of the party. The letter which copied the Senator president, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the National Chairman of APC, reads;

“President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR
President of the federal republic of Nigeria
Asorock Villa
Abuja.

Public Interest Letter

A number of Civil Society Organizations have come together in the interest of our country to write you this very patriotic letter.

Mr President would recall that on the 21st of March 2022, you among others, approved the banning of foreigners/representatives from buying produce from the farm gates. This directive was consequently forwarded to a number of government ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Agriculture, for implementation. We want to bring to the notice of Mr President the allegations that despite this directives, some Chinese nationals and their representatives have not relented from going into the forest to buy Donkeys for slaughter and subsequent Exportation of the hides. This flagrant breach of presidential directives is alleged to have been carried out with the knowledge of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mahmood Mohammed Abubakar. If true, this unpatriotic act of the Minister is capable of creating the impression that your administration is on an autopilot, and that your good directives are mere suggestions that subordinates and appointees can elect to either follow or ignore. This portends grave danger to our democracy and sovereignty as an independent nation.

We are aware of Mr President’s good intentions for Nigeria and Nigerians, it is for this reason that we are perturbed by this allegation that some unpatriotic elements in your administration are working with enemies of our dear nation to frustrate the implementation of laudable policies of your administration.

While we urge Mr President to investigate this alleged actions of Dr Mahmood and take proportionate steps to reassert your grip on the administration, we invite you to also investigate the allegations that quarantine has also collected several hundreds of millions in bribe from the Chinese, who were arrested for breaching the directive, to secure their illegal release thereby creating the impression that Nigeria is a Banana Republic where a foreigner can flagrantly breach presidential orders and directives without any consequences. This is a direct assault on our sovereignty as an independent nation and the President must rise to the occasion to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria as he swore to do when he took oath of office on the 29th of May 2019.

This kind of scandal against Dr Mahmood at this critical period, when election is around the corner, is a huge disservice for the APC as a party. Until the Minister’s innocence is proven, it is our thinking that he has become a political liability to both your administration and the APC as a party, as these actions do not represent the progressive ideals upon which the APC as a party was founded.

Please be assured Mr President of our highest regards

Cc
President of the Nigerian Senate
Speaker of House of Reps
National Chairman of APC”

Some Chinese nationals are in the illegal business of slaughtering and exporting donkeys in the country, a coalition of over four civil society organizations has revealed. 

The group, which made this known at a press conference on Monday in Abuja, alleged that the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, is an accomplice in this dirty deal.

Recall that the Donkey Slaughter, Regulation and Export Certification Bill 2020, sponsored by Sen. Yahaya  Abdullahi which seeks to regulate the slaughter of donkeys is already being considered by the National Assembly.

The bill also seeks to establish the breeding and ranching of donkeys through the export certification value chain, to mitigate the extinction of donkeys given their aesthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational and scientific value to the nation.

The Federal Government through the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) had in March restated its ban on the export of donkey hide or skin from Nigeria.

But with the help of Abubakar, some Chinese nationals have continued in this illegal act according to the CSOs.

In his address, Barr Emmanuel Onwudiwe said the group is raising this alarm "in defence of our territorial integrity and respect for constituted authorities".

Onwudiwe added, "You would recall that President Muhammed Buhari GCFR had on March 21 2022, after a Federal Executive Council Meeting, issued a directive that foreigners are not permitted to directly go into the forest and engage in direct purchase and slaughter of Donkeys. This memorandum was duly forwarded to all the relevant stakeholders in the Agro Business, including the Ministry of Agriculture. It is therefore inexcusable that the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Mohamed Mahmood Abubakar has continued to give tacit approval to Chinese nationals to go into the forest and deal directly in these businesses against the direct orders of the President of the federal republic of Nigeria, and in flagrant disregard of our sovereignty.

"A minister is an appointee of the president and the Interpretation Act is clear that he who appoints can suspend. It is therefore shocking that a Minister, an appointee of the President, can so brazenly go against direct orders of the President without attracting any severe consequences. The continued silence of the Presidency over this declaration of war against the directives of the president by an appointee of his is a threat to our democracy, sovereignty and rule of law. There is no doubt that more appointees seeing that no serious action is taken against recalcitrant Mahmood, will employ similar crude measures to demean the exalted office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in pursuit of selfish ends. This action of the minister also makes our sovereignty susceptible to foreign interference."

Onwudiwe also lamented the actions of the quarantine which has continued to use its platform to secure the release of all arrested Chinese nationals during the implementation of the Presidential directives.

"We also invite the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the allegations that Quarantine collected several millions of naira, as a bribe, from the Chinese nationals to secure their illegal release," he noted.

He, however, urged the authorities to properly regulate the sector.

"Donkey slaughter and exportation has no doubt become a juicy economic platform that is capable of injecting N60billion into the Nigerian economy by way of direct investment and is also capable of getting over Two Hundred and Fifty thousand (250,000) Nigerians direct and indirect employment," he said.

"This economic potential of the sector can only be fully harnessed if the sector is well regulated to serve Nigeria’s best interest. During this period when the country‘s economy is in a near meltdown, we expected the government of the day to take advantage of this economic-promising sector to make a strong case for the revitalization of our economy and also allow it to serve as a rallying point for the mitigation of the skyrocketing unemployment rate in the country".

Benue APC Deputy Guber Position: “Alapa Still Our Choice”, Zone C APC Professionals Forum

By Isaac Emoche

A group of young professionals in the Benue South Senatorial District, (otherwise known as Benue Zone C), have reiterated their call for the nomination of Hon. Nelson Alapa, a former member of the House of Representatives for Otukpo/Ohimini federal constituency as the deputy governorship candidate of the party in the 2023 governorship election in Benue state.

The group made this call in Otukpo, Monday morning, while addressing the press. Giving reasons for throwing their weight behind the nomination of Alapa, a former deputy chief whip of the Green-carpet chambers, to serve as deputy to Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia who emerged as the Governorship candidate of the party in the May 26/27 of the party’s Guber primaries in the state, Dr Clement Emoche and Barr. John Ebije, Zone C coordinators and secretary of the APC Professionals Forum (APF) respectively, said the choice of Alapa came after a careful consideration of his liberal nature, steadfast faith in the APC, and sweeping acceptability across the zone. “You will remember that in our first release, we urged the party to look at a candidate with the requisite spread that will land our party victory in the 2023 Guber polls across Zone C, if we must take back the state from the PDP and push the state back from the brinks of precipice.

“There is no doubt that non of the aspirants other than Nelson Alapa meets this very important qualification. Apart from being from Otukpo LGA, a council with the highest voting population in Zone C, Alapa’s mother hails from the Igede axis in the state and the former federal lawmaker speaks fluent Igede language, which is a powerful tool in political campaigns. His wife is also from Ogbadibo LGA, a very critical area of Zone C where the PDP hitherto commanded a block block. From this you can see that Alapa’s tentacles spread across Zone C and is a potent tool that our party must exploit to be able to defeat the PDP in the Zone where our party (APC) currently has only two house of Reps seat out of all the elective positions in the zone”, Dr Clement told pressman.

The youth-based organization also pushed for a speedy resolve of the crisis rocking the party in the zone, calling on the relevant stakeholders to close ranks in the overall interest of the party in the zone.

They further pledged their full commitment to helping the party galvanize campaign strategies that will lead the party to victory in the zone, assuring that nomination of Alapa as the deputy Guber candidate will boost the party’s chances in the polls.

By John Agbo

Benue APC Chieftain and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owukpa district of Benue state, Architect Anthony Obekpa has disclosed that the party’s Guber primaries slated for Thursday, 26th of May 2022 did not hold across the state.

The real estate doyen in a text to our correspondent, said, “No primaries election took place in Benue state. The first notice from the NWC of our party slated an indirect primaries to elect a governorship and house of assembly candidates for our party in the state for Thursday, 26th of May, 2022. Acting on that as the leader of the APC in Owukpa district of Ogbadibo LGA and a state delegate, i left Abuja for Makurdi to participate in the indirect primaries. While we waited till night without any sign of election, we were suddenly told that the mode of primaries has been changed to direct primary and subsequently asked to go to our various wards to vote. Again, i left Makurdi to my ward in Owukpa district, in my ward, we also stayed till night on Friday , 27th of May 2022, and there was no election materials, no party electoral committee member, no accreditation of voters which made it impossible for any voting to take place. In the face of the confusion, i also got to the chairman of the party in my LGA, Hon. Abba Francis Ugwu and he was just as confused as i was. He sadly disclosed to me that as chairman he received no directive or notification from the state EXCO to the effect that election was going to hold in the LGA”.

“It was a sad situation. Benue APC members were disenfranchised from participating in the process. This illegality has betrayed every progressive ideal the party stands for, and we are compelled to invite Mr President and the National Chairman of the party to intervene”

Recall that the Senator Abdullahi Adamu led National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had after many adjustments, finally fixed the date for governorship primaries for the 26th of May, 2022, clearly stating that the election would be by Indirect primary (Better put by state delegates). Confusion however set in in states like Benue, Osun and Abia where on the even of the election, a letter signed by the national chairman and secretary of the party, informed INEC that it would go by direct primaries, a situation that did not only disenfranchised many delegates who were already gathered at Makurdi, headquarters of the state, in the case of Benue state, but also left them stranded.

Many of the aggrieved aspirants who already made preparations for the indirect primary have also written petitions to the National Working Committee of the party, insisting that the legal requirements for direct primaries were not met in the case of Benue and therefore, called for the intervention of the party chairman to avoid the case of Zamfara and recently Anambra states where flawed party primaries led to the nullification of the candidates of the parties.

APC Chairmanship race: Akume will lead APC with equanimity - Lawani

Immediate-past deputy governor of Benue state, Chief Stephen Lawani, OFR, has drummed support for the APC national chairmanship aspiration of the minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator Dr George Akume, describing the former governor of Benue state as the man with the magic wand the APC needs to sustain its winning path in 2023.

Lawani who is an APC chieftain from Benue state, during a chat with journalists over the weekend, revealed that it will be a great disservice to the party and Nigerians if the stakeholders and elders of the party fail to maximize the experience, sterling leadership, expertise in diverse interests management, administrative acuity and progressive ideals of Senator George Akume to prosper the party.

Speaking further, Chief Lawani who holds the revered title of Ochagwu K’Idoma, noted that the APC is in dire need of a capable hand that will stabilize the party, and lead it to victory again in 2023, “our great party has passed through some ordeals, there are cracks in the party. We owe the APC and Nigeria a duty to elect capable leadership that will stabilize the party and lead us to victory in 2023”.

He also hinted that Senator George Akume’s emergence as APC national chairman will rekindle the faith of Northern Christians in the Nigeria project, expressing fears that continued exclusion of Northern Christians in the political power play in the country might pose a threat to the peace process.

Lawani, business guru and development-economist who has since made known his intentions to contest the 2023 Benue state governorship polls, under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), promising to revive the economy of the state through agricultural reforms, concluded the chat with the assurances that Akume’s bridge-building stride will standout as a good experiment for a more United and stronger APC. “As you all know, Senator George Akume is a nationalist with friends all over the country. He is a cosmopolitan leader and bridge-builder, his reign as national chairman of our party will, most certainly, be remarkable for entrenching peace and lasting unity in the party”.

https://dailytrust.com/lawani-akume-will-ensure-victory-for-apc-in-2023

By Stephen Ogbeh

The courageous and legendary legislator, Sir Oliver Cromwell, will continue to serve as an inspiration to every people that yearn legislative prosperity. His grit, and the courage to stand shoulder to shoulder against King Charles 1, an emperor, who allotted to himself, the status of an unquestionable demi-god, will forever resonate in any constituency that craves the courage to force their voices to be heard in the National Assembly.

The need to elect a leader who is imbued with an unusual passion for his people, and is willing to fight the seemingly untouchable forces that keep them stagnanted for decades, is what the spirit of Cromwell rouses in men and women who aspire to a quality representation.

To understand my point better, let me tell us a little story of the legendary Oliver Cromwell, then you might appreciate the need for the enthronement of a Cromwell (Chief Philip Agbese) in Enone.

In England, at a time when democracy was substituted with the "divine right of kings" with citizens beheaded for the smallest errors and opposition to the government, was met with stiff resistance. A time when King Charlse 1 elevated himself above every mortal and created the impression of a demi god, an opposition to him was viewed as a direct attack to God and met with long incaceration, torture, cruel treatment, the highest brutality and death, A man named Oliver Cromwell was raised when change was to be effected in England.

The courage of Oliver Cromwell, his ability to say enough is enough to the almighty King Charles 1, his determination to stand on the path of truth and fundamental principles of democracy changed the history of England and the country went on to build the highest empire known to mankind on the threshold of democracy and the rule of law.

King Charles 1 on the fated day went to the English parliarment to arrest five parliamentarians opposed to his autocratic rule, amongst them was an intellectual colossus known as Oliver Cromwell, the other four fled. Cromwell resolved to wait for the King and to face him down once and for all. He took his seat in Parliament and told the House that it was time that "the King and his Majesty be told the bitter truth". He said, "I shall not take flight like a coward, a scallywag, a pickpocket or a petty thief but I shall take my seat here and tell his Royal Majesty the King precisely how I feel".

As the King entered Parliament and ordered the arrest of the five M.P's he noticed that all had fled apart from the courageous Cromwell. As he ordered his arrest, Cromwell got up and insisted that by that single order and act, the King was risking civil war. He then proceeded to educate the King about the power of Parliament, and there and then, he moved a motion that it was rather the King that ought to be arrested for treason against Parliament and the good people of England.

The House erupted in applause. They shouted in a great uproar and Cromwell's motion for the arrest of the King was overwhelmingly supported.

The King looked helplessly with disbelief. He left Parliament badly humiliated: for the first time in his life and in the life of the English monarchy, the almighty, unquestionable king was challenged, faced down and humiliated by one of his own subjects in the open glare of Parliament.

Thereafter came civil war and the defeat and ultimate beheading of King Charles 1st, the first King to be executed in the history of England.

What died with him was the concept and philosophy of the "divine right of Kings" and from that point Parliament became supreme and England became a democracy. Cromwell headed the Round-head Army during the civil war and after the war he was appointed Lord Protector of England and he ruled for many years

He rededicated the nation to God and in his years the fortunes of England became manifold. Cromwell transformed England into one of the greatest powers on earth and he established the foundation of what was to later become the British Empire, one of the greatest empires ever known to humanity.

Today, Enone federal constituency, one of the largest in the country, is being strangulated by quack and anti-people representation. We need an Oliver Cromwell, who is imbued with the courage, strength and the intellectual sagacity to lead us to the Enone of our dreams.

Chief Philip Agbese, the Okanga Agila, stands out as the only aspirant to the Enone federal constituency seat, who has all the qualities with which Cromwell led England to prosperity. Infact, to say that he is a reincarnation of Oliver Cromwell, sent to use legislative activism to achieve prosperity for Enone people, will raise a jingoist fanaticism in the many who has rebuffed the preaching of science, to still hold dear to their belief in reincarnation, because all that Cromwell was known for, Agbese possesses. He has the meekness to serve, the intelligence to chart a pathway, the courage to say enough is enough to the King Charles 1 of Enone and the selflessness to sacrifice his personal comfort for the betterment of Enone federal constituency.

As 2023 draws closer, it is now for us to decide whether we will improve our lot by voting in an Oliver Cromwell (Chief Philip Agbese), to deliver us from King Charles 1 (quack and selfish representation) or we will continue to wallow hopelessly under the authoritarian grip of hunger, unresponsive representation and the unfortunate irony of abject poverty in the midst of plenty.

Whatever decisions we make, the fact that Enone, for its size, deserves more, should guide us.

https://www.blueprint.ng/recession-beyond-the-tragedy-and-pain/

By Chief Stephen Lawani, OFR

In the 1960s, thinkers coined the word “Knowledge Economy” to announce a radical shift from traditional economies. It was an extraordinary gift by intellectuals of that era to a world that some people thought had become sluggish, uncreative and desperately in need of ideas.
Today, more than 50 years after that intellectual uprising, many countries still drive their economic policies with huge emphasis on the power of knowledge and human imagination.

For these countries, there is a strong belief that any system of production and consumption that is not based on intellectual capital will fail. I decided to present this background because Nigeria at present reminds one of the pre-1960s knowledge revolution and the deficit of awareness.

Nothing captures our nation’s knowledge paucity of ideas today like the controversial debate on the sale of our nation’s physical assets. But the question is: what exactly are we really selling? Where is the place of fixed and physical assets in today’s changing world that is governed by ideas and brainpower? And why would the sale of physical assets that are here today and gone tomorrow determine our economic direction? And if we sell now and recession continues, what happens?
What I enjoyed most about the debate was the cacophony of voices that argued endlessly. Again, the arguments reinforced the benefits of public discourse which everybody agrees is missing in our country today.

But this piece is not about public dialogue and its benefits. It is essentially about wealth from knowledge and intellectual property, which to my mind is the ultimate asset. There is no doubt that the world is undergoing tremendous change. And we are already witnesses to the transformation affecting production, distribution, trade, employment and life generally.
Once upon a time, that was during the agricultural economy, land was everything.

Also, during the industrial era, natural resource like coal and labour were the main issues. Today, all that has changed because in a knowledge economy, knowledge is the resource and not oil or solid minerals. But I hasten to add that from time immemorial, knowledge has always played a part, no matter how small in every economic activity. What is new today however is that there is now a phenomenal dose of knowledge and information that is fused into economic activity by individuals and governments.

So when we make sale of national assets a talking point in a recession, we highlight our confusion, pain and misery. It also shows that not much of good thinking is going on at the right places. But we must not despair or even give a thought to the falsehood that the sale of national assets essentially brings about boom. Nigerians must look inwards and face squarely, this demon called recession. Anytime I remember Steve Jobs, Apple Computer’s famous co-founder, I also remember the hundred hopeless Nigerian versions of this great American inventor roaming our streets. The difference between Jobs and these hapless Nigerians is essentially environment.

Therefore in this season of economic decline, everything must be deployed into saving our country and its future. And for me, young people should be the starting point. In line with our case for a knowledge economy, Nigeria must urgently take steps towards revamping education. Our schools must return to centres of excellence in learning and research. Technical and vocational studies should be reintroduced and strengthened for optimum results. And we must encourage and remind the youth once more on the virtues of hard work, fair play, principles and patriotism.

As citizens, we must continually be conscious of the fact that knowledge must be used for economic benefits. And for us to achieve the needed results, we must align with knowledge and technology because both are friends for growth and development.
If we do nothing and pretend, then we will be deceiving ourselves because economy is already globalised. This is already evident as we have all seen that even our cottage industry is currently at the mercy of the dollar. This is the way to go and we must brace up and face the reality.

Lawani, former Deputy Governor of Benue State, is a development-economist, an industrialist and philanthropist. He is a leading aspirant for Benue 2023 Governorship contest under the platform of APC.

By:
EAGLE PROGRESSIVES NETWORK.

1.
Steadfast. Commitment. Loyalty. Visionary. Service. These
words with deep philosophical connotations define public
perception of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu’s political career since joining politics about three decades ago. In reality, these character descriptions form the ‘Central Spine’ of his public service both as a Governor, Party Chairman and Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Without doubt, Dr. Onu is perhaps one of the very few Nigerian politicians that can be so described currently in Nigeria
today, where positive political character is fast yielding ground to party and governance indiscipline, self-seeking justification to always be part of any government in power (AGIP), and perverted political dictum that only interests (no matter how selfishly defined) and nothing else matter in Nigerian politics.

2.
It is therefore hardly surprising that the beautification of the
wrong values of politics in Nigeria over the years has produced negative political consequences that range from stunted growth of political parties, stagnated national progress to wasted regimes,
leaving majority of Nigerians holding the wrong end of the dream for a democracy led sustainable national development. Indeed, Nigerians are trapped in a political system in coma that neither gives hope for survival nor is willing to die anytime soon.

3.
The fact that it has persisted for far too long and has not
commanded any meaningful attention from all genuine political stakeholders to conclusively address them, remains a quintessential sore point of our political development as a nation. Notwithstanding, it is still this vapid political process that produced the likes of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and a few others of his ilk who have resisted the lure and temptation of neither joining the bandwagon just for the sake of it, nor for a transient and momentary political gain that has no promise for an enduring and
progressive democratic system that can birth sustainable national development.

4.
Put in context, when, in rare circumstances, people comment negatively about the political character of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, it is not about his sincerity of political purpose or the materiality of his leadership credentials in the context of national development, rather, it is often about his refusal to join the bandwagon and play politics the Nigeria way. He rejects buying loyalty because no one pays for his when he gives it. His aversion for killing, maiming and character assassinations that headline struggle for power in Nigerian politics today is routed in his catholic faith and
would not consider such options for whatever it was worth. His
refusal to define struggle for power as the END which must be justified by the MEANS is because his ultimate interest in politics is to serve rather than to be served.

5.
Thus, those who want an alibi to dismiss the contemporariness of his political beliefs often claim that Dr. Onu’s political character is way ahead of Nigeria’s political and democratic development.
But what people who hold this retrogressive view fail to understand is that in a progressive society idealists and visionaries such as Dr. Onu provide the needed compass for navigating political and economic development landscapes that transcends time and space. They are, in other societies revered
and preserved as national leadership assets that set the tone for future of democracy and development. They become the moral fibre for weaving progressive policies that emphasize where we should be heading to rather than investing much effort in eulogizing where we are coming from, or what little comfort our current situation promises.

6.
Quite instructively, history and Nigeria’s precarious political and economic development has harshly judged those who believe that Dr. Onu’s political character is an ideal and therefore remains ahead of Nigeria political and economic development and
therefore time inconsistent with current realities. Truth be told, eulogizing negative political character which essentially was
meant to satisfy immediate quest for political power and
influence have not served the interest of Nigeria sustainably. A situation that correctly fits into Albert Einstein’s definition of
‘political madness’ of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result’.

7.
The critical question discerning minds are currently asking is
does Dr. Onu’s visionary political philosophy still belong to the future or has it become indispensable in addressing the fierce urgency of now? The fact remains that, if Nigeria must survive its current political, democratic and developmental challenges that threaten not only its ability to remain significant in the comity of nations, but also to secure its future as a prosperous, value-driven and united political entity, Dr. Onu’s vision becomes indispensably contemporary in that context.

8.
Unfortunately, as the search for President Buhari’s successor in
2023 intensifies, the criteria for making a choice that can address the aspirations of majority of Nigerians of a progressive, inclusive and egalitarian society is not yet clear among many stakeholders. The temptation to relapse to old criteria that has produced half-wits and have not served the nation well remains palpable and currently dominates contemporary political discourse and tendencies.

9.
If not, how could anyone explain the fact that some political elite who have in the past disparaged other political parties are now prepared to eat their vomit and return to such a political party and still expect a red-carpet reception? How can political characters that have been known to be corrupt and insincere about their vision for the country still command such respect in their mindless defections just for the purpose of power grabbing? How can one reconcile the fact that that people who have sacrificed
their time, intellect, resources and demonstrated discipline and loyalty in building a political party are being confined to the back burner in preference for political adventurers and predators when the season seem ripe for leadership succession? What makes people think that a political character that dumped a political party today in search of power elsewhere will not dump the new found party if the prospects of power diminishes in the future? Thus, returning the nation to square one in terms of political and economic development? Thus, our current political situation in the country throws up questions? questions? And more questions? without selfless answers?

10.
Foregrounding Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu’s political character
and credentials and putting it into contrasting focus in the unfolding drama for a presidential choice in 2023 requires an
anecdotal evaluation of the promise it holds for the future of Nigeria’s political and economic development. To do this, let us borrow an analogy from an important biblical anecdote that shares similar lessons in the search for who succeeds President Buhari in 2023. Therefore, the search for presidential choice in 2023 in the context of Dr. Onu’s political personality could be likened to the biblical visit of Samuel to House of Jesse in search of a leader for Israel.

11.
It will be recalled that all Jesse’s children failed the litmus test for leadership but one (David), who was not even reckoned with in the line of succession to lead Israel at the time. Applying this to Dr. Onu’s situation gives hope that there may be one of us barely heard, dutiful, loyal, relatively self-effacing and perhaps
clearly unambitious about power, but solidly prepared for leadership of the country, busy somewhere in the fields, a little away from public glare, like David, tending the flock of national rebirth and Nigeria’s political future.

12.
At this point, it is necessary we take a historical tour of the
evolution of the political character of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu in time and space in the context of our current discourse. But before we dive deep into this character tour, let us make it clear that there has been an epidemic of lost opportunities for Nigeria in having the leader that has what it takes to take the country out of the
lonely woods. One critical point that has sustained this epidemic is lack of interest in understanding the dynamics of our political
evolution, and the need to factor the complexities of Nigeria’s political development, especially its geopolitical contours and zero sum game nature into strategic political calculations in the pursuit of political interest. Not reckoning with these considerations had in the past consumed would be genuine
political leaders in our midst. For such leaders, it’s like joggling a set of five balls in the air simultaneously. Quite naturally, it takes the magical wizardry of a performer to keep all the balls in the air without losing one to either momentary loss of concentration or coordination.

13.
Analogously, at one point or the other when good political
leaders emerged in our midst, they are consumed by their own insensitivity and unconsciousness. Advertently or inadvertently, they lose one or two balls just because of their momentary loss of focus and mission either due to the weight of the complex nature of our political configurations or pushing too hard the frontiers of their own ethno- religious interests when what is required is to build capacity and trust across board over time and be as genuine about it as the difference between black and white. One leader who understands the complex nature of Nigeria’s political leadership space, its temptations and capacity to consume the most qualified but insensitive, is unmistakably Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu as would be demonstrated by his past and current political engagements and character profiles in this regard.

14.
On steadfastness, it is on record that Dr. Onu remains one of the very few Nigerian politicians who has remained committed
to one political party at a time unless when the need for merger genuinely arises and he was convinced it was imperative. His membership of NRC in the Third Republic remained unblemished throughout the period, upon which he was elected the first Governor of Abia State in 1992. Until the collapse of that
regime in the mid-1990s, Dr. Onu kept faith with the prospects
and challenges of the party till the end without wavering.

15.
Second, he was a founding member of APP, which later merged with GNPP to become ANPP and he remained with the
party until he was invited to Chair the party. His invitation to chair the party was mainly to halt the haemorrhage that afflicted the party leading to ANPP losing several of her governors to PDP. A task he accomplished satisfactorily and timely. He was the man who dreamt about the prospects of forming an alliance of progressive parties to wrest power from PDP in 2014, which
birthed APC and has remained with the party, quietly working to make the APC administration a referential success in Nigeria’s history without being voluble about it.

16.
On commitment, there is no better measure of steadfastness needed for deepening party politics than commitment and not jumping ship halfway in search of greener pastures elsewhere when the electoral waves become turbulent. This political character is as important in leading a political party as it is in leading a nation. A political character noted for steadfastness will keep faith with his party’s vision, mission and manifesto. He will strive to change things from within rather than jumping ship and trashing the party because of momentary loss of electoral opportunity. Therefore, his willingness to remain with his party and swim or sink with it is a rare political character that will be needed as the search for President Buhari’s successor intensifies
into 2023.

17.
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has a Spartan discipline on issues
relating to power and its pecuniary interests. As a man of moderate means he does not revel in primitive acquisition of wealth which has kept him away from scandals tainted of
corruption and avarice especially over public treasury and trust. A man can only be as devoted to using public resources for what
it is meant for as long as he is disinterested in what he personally gains from it. Not taking into cognisance this sterling political character in the choice of our leaders in the past has caused the nation so much in terms of fiscal instability and genuine character
resources needed to husband the nation’s wealth for the benefit of all. As the nation’s fiscal resources come under severe strain with
the declining fortunes of hydro- carbon globally, low level of tax collection and snail speed of economic diversification, the fiscal survival of the nation in times like this requires a person with fiscal discipline and ability to unlock fiscal opportunities through
cutting the cost of governance and ensuring that value for money is achieved in public and private investments needed for the growth of the economy.

18.
Loyalty, both at personal relationship levels, political party and government, remains Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu's most cherished virtue. The place of loyalty in engineering enduring political process is considered an eloquent sine qua non for the enthronement of a political culture that has been noted to midwife sustainable development in advanced democracies. The brand of loyalty that Dr. Onu espouses is the willingness to sacrifice personal interest for public good as long as that sacrifice will yield future benefit for the majority of the Nigerian people. For instance, when Dr. Onu emerged as the presidential candidate of the APP in 1999, the party authorities reckoned with the fact that given the level of anger in the South West over the annulment of June 12, fielding Chief Olu Falae as a counterforce against
Obasanjo will serve the party’s interest better in a national
presidential elections. He demonstrated loyalty to the party and sacrificed his interest for a larger purpose, both for the party and the nation.

19.
Second, as the man who led ANPP into the merger negotiations and the intellectual workhorse in birthing the progressive merger that produced APC in 2015, Dr. Onu was
expected to be entitled to privileges that other such leaders enjoyed in the area of nominations for juicy government appointments and other political positions. He neither requested for any nor showed any frustration when it was obvious he was being side-lined in the party which he played a major role in forming and registering. He took the situation with his
characteristic equanimity believing that the larger interest of the party superseded his own personal interest. When President Buhari offered him a ministerial appointment, he was grateful and displayed his usual loyalty in discharging his duties both to the nation and the President. No other politician in contemporary Nigerian politics would have tolerated such treatment, and remained with the party and government after playing such a pivotal role in dreaming such a party into reality. The import of
Dr. Onu’s loyalty in presidential office is that nothing will sway him away from the primary loyalty to the party, the government and the nation. These are needed critical elements in presidential leadership in a fledgling democracy such as Nigeria’s.

20.
As a visionary, Dr Onu was never satisfied with the status quo ante. For him, there are always better ways to improve on things for now and in the future. His intellectual training as a scientist imbues him with the cerebral power to dream things up in a very realistic manner and ensure that they are translated into substance. This is the reform he is quietly championing in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation where he has led the ministry for fruitful cooperation with the private sector to develop and commercialise many scientific inventions that would prove revolutionary in the diversification of the Nigerian economy in the nearest future. His conviction that the future of Nigeria does not depend on oil but on innovation led by scientific research is gaining traction among many entrepreneurs in Nigeria and beyond. Nigeria currently needs a visionary leader to succeed
President Buhari and the experience offered by Dr. Onu’s political character and engagement over the years cannot be easily discountenanced.

21.
These character qualities and many more too numerous to be mentioned in one piece of an article have been responsible for the wide spread respect and support that Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu commands among Nigerians, cutting across ethnic and religious boundaries. Dr. Onu is accepted in the north for his friendship among many northern political and religious establishments.
They are not afraid that the Dr. Onu they so well know could go against their interest especially with his deep knowledge of huge developmental challenges facing that region. In the South West, Dr. Onu is respected and honoured for yielding political ground to Chief Olu Falae when it became imperative that his candidacy will keep the President in the South West after the turbulence of the June 12, 1993 annulment of Alhaji Moshood Abiola’s election. In the South East, Dr. Onu is well understood by his people. The Igbo’s trust Dr. Onu’s intellectual prowess to enthrone a leadership that will advance the course of the Igbos without compromising the interest of other Nigerians. The
outpouring of solidarity and endorsement of the expectation that Dr. Onu be appointed Secretary to Government under President Buhari was overwhelming and confirms the acceptability of his political brand across the federation.

22.
In conclusion, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, a man with sterling
political character, wide exposure in leadership, and an
experienced technocrat is the kind of leader the nation currently needs to succeed President Buhari. His personality as a detribalised Nigerian fits into the bill for the search of a Nigerian President rather than a regional president. His political style that douses controversy and espouses deep intellectual approach to solving intractable development challenges will put him in the right position to be the man to beat in 2023 presidential elections. He has what it takes to turn around the economy given his experience that cuts across the academia and public service in over three decades. He will return confidence to the Nigerian people and restore the greatness of our nation. His infectious friendship across Nigeria, deep intellectual capacity, enduring political character and long lasting experience in the field of Nigerian politics has prepared him to become one of the most qualified candidates to take over from President Buhari in 2023.

SmellySperm:
20yrs old girl that is still exploring life,u expect her not to cheat? Jokes on you.

Btw,are your sisters using the said iPhone 11pro max?

Best comment so far. They neglect their families and take care of slots

……….As Obi Cubana, Bishop Okonkwo, OFR, others get invitation

The University Of Nigeria, Faculty of Law, Enugu Campus has slated her 2021 Summit tagged, “ Law and Eco-Tech Summit 2021”, to 19th November, 2021.

This year’s summit which holds at the school’s Law Auditorium with the Theme: The 21st Century Lawyer Thriving In The Economic And Technological Space”, will command the presence of young intellectuals, entrepreneurs and political leaders who have distinguished themselves in the areas of youth empowerment and community development.

Chief Philip Agbese, the founder of TheNigerian News Group will be joining other young philanthropists, the likes of Obi Cubana, Bishop Okonkwo, Sen. Chris Anyanwu, etc, to this year’s event as he acknowledged his invitation to serve as a guest speaker at the event.

The London-trained lawyer is a Philanthropist and a businessman whose track-records and reputation in community development and youth empowerment has attracted the attention of the academic community, prompting youths from different fields of study to jostle for a piece of his mentorship in business and leadership.

The Law Students Association of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (LAWSA- UNEC), speaking through its President, Comrade Theophilius Justice, said the association was excited to secure the approval of Chief Philip Agbese to attend the program, insisting that Chief Agbese’s pedigree as a London-trained lawyer and CEO of a thriving media conglomerate (TheNigerian News Group), stands him out as the most qualified person to speak to the curious students on the above theme. He equally noted that the association will be honoured to have the Benue-born Philanthropist speak at the summit.

The summit is part of the association’s yearly program which often signaled the end of each administration.

Nadaken:
So people still dey dis benue after all the Fulani wahala

Forget the Governor’s propaganda meant to hide his obvious non performance. Ortom is the greatest problem of Benue. He has killed more persons with his non payment of salaries and pensions than the herdsmen he often criticizes. A lot of aged pensioners are dead for not being able to afford healthcare. Benue is in a mess courtesy of Ortom’s woeful performance

There was wide jubilation in Aiono ward 1 (Odoba) in Ogbadibo LGA on Friday (Ist October 2021) as a business mogul and philanthropist, Hon. Enemari Victor Silas sought the blessings of his kingsmen to run for Ogbadibo state constituency in the forthcoming 2023 state assembly election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The consultation which was meant for only his extended family and ward, took another twist as people from across the Ogbadibo LGA of Benue state, overwhelmed the venue of the declaration to identify with the young political leader. Youths were heard chanting “Youth O,Clock” while displaying his campaign posters, while women and children who have benefited from his philanthropic gesture in the past, danced out of jubilation.

The Ogbadibo state constituency which according to sources, has suffered shabby representation for years, had their grim expressions turned into pleasant countenance of hope, pating themselves in the back and raising the confidence that quality representation will soon beam its touch-light on the long suffering people of the constituency with the election of Hon. Victor Enemari Silas.

Hon. Victor Silas who identified with the yearnings and aspirations of the good people of Ogbadibo, apologized for the long years of lack of effective and robust representation of the constituency, assuring the people that it is time for them to enjoy the dividend of the democracy they have invested and kept faith in over the years.

Royal fathers, elders and priests of the constituency prayed for the success of his ambition as women, youth and children threw their weights behind his people-driven aspiration.

Hon. Victor Silas is a young entrepreneur who is reaping from the goodwill his kind gesture has sown in the lives of Ogbadibo people. He is running for the position of Ogbadibo state constituency on the platform of APC.

NIGERIA CRUMBLING AT 56. NO INSIGNIA OF NATIONHOOD

The struggle for the "freedom" we enjoy today was decisive, all encompassing, built on an honest desire for a great and prosperous nation with an unfettered sovereignty and limitless opportunity for the millions of citizens.

It is however, a big regret that today at 56, we have nothing to boast of, we have nothing to hold onto. Some analysts are of the views that this 56years should be seen as a building process, a foundation-making period and years of working towards maturity.

with utmost humility, i bet to disagree with the propounders of such theory. A man of 56years should be battling with Grey heirs and some steps away from his resting abode. He will be chastised and bemoaned for irresponsibility should he not be accomplished.

Our independence struggle took another dimension in 1939 upon the regionalization of Nigeria by sir Bernard Bourdillon. The polarization of the country into regions was premature and too early for a country that was still neck-deep in search of its commonality. There was no preemptive and proactive measures to caution it's divisive after-effects.

Regionalism refurbished and brought into effect home consciousness, tribalism, Regionalism and religious bigotry. The so called nationalists became polarized, political parties became tribalistic and region-based. Whilest NCNC dominated the trado political hub of Igboland, NPC and AG held sway in Northern and South-West regions respectively. The foisted amalgamation of 1914 became a mockery as the union was at best, a mixture of insolubles in a solvent.

The nationalists abandoned the collective pursuit of a united purpose. National interest and our collective aspiration as a nation was sacrificed on the alter of regional convenience. They turned into fissiparous lieutenants with canterkerous followers all geared towards regional freedoms at the expense of a united nationhood. The Igbos became independent in 1956, the Yorubas in 1957 while the Northerners became self governing a year before independence.

There was no unity of purpose neither was there a united focus towards the general good of Nigeria. In about the four to five constitutional conferences that predated our independence, the Nationalist leaders discussed virtually issues of regional benefits rather than national interest. The problem of disunity which was to become a cankerworm in the fabrics of our system was therefore inevitably birthed.

Even after independence, our leaders still did not do away with these parochial ideas. Military coups were even regionalized. There was never cohesion at the Centre. No spirit of nationhood and sense of unity in Nigeria.

The fruit of disunity planted by Bourdillon surpassed the biblical mustard seed and is being harvested by the new generation politicians upon the exit of the actors of that period from active politics.

The younger politicians stepped into their big shoes, occupied their chambers, wearing their spirit and souls. Their views were always shrouded by parochial and regional consciousness, garnished with religious bigotry and creamed with avarice and self centeredness.

Until we come to a roundtable to discuss conditions upon which we would continue to exist as a united country, there will be no progress, what we will have will be diversity in unity. There will be no end to politically motivated crises by a section of the country when another section occupies the number one seat.

We must revisit our Constitution. What we have at present is a foisted Constitution which does not represent our modus vivendi. It does not reflect our beliefs, ideals, desires and nature. It is not workable. The preamble to the Constitution is fraudulent, deceitful and a gross misrepresentation. "We the people of Nigeria" did not make any Constitution for ourselves. It was the military under Obasanjo who doctored the Constitution to suit their military command structure. It was a military invention. The Constitution lacks the prerequisite democratic ethos and paraphernalia.

Buhari must rise above party affiliation, regional identity and religious bigotry to revisit the 2014 confab. Many of the resolutions would be pivotal in a genuine rebuilding process. Buhari must act as a Nigerian whose constituency cuts across the whole nation. Patriotism and the spirit of nationhood should be his guiding principles.

The political culture inherent in Nigeria is not favourable. The youths and leaders of "next tomorrow" must not be socialized by this culture of impunity, disingenuous tendencies, chronic corruption, thuggery, politically motivated arson, political assassination, electoral malfeasance, political propaganda and other unprintable vices that has continued to limit our prospects as a nation.

The youths must be inculcated the spirit of patriotism and nationhood. Meritocracy should be our abiding principle if this unity in diversity must work.

Finally, we have nothing to celebrate. There is no progress intenderm with the wasted years. What re we celebrating? 56years of apparent failure? 56years of a decadent and dependent judiciary? 56years of endemic corruption and travesty of justice? 56years of police intimidation and militocracy? 56years of crooks in our treasury in the name of politics? 56years of backwardness and substandard education? 56years of crises and wars? 56years of skyrocketing unemployment? Or is it 56years of political dependency, neo-colonialism and imperialism?

There is nothing to be happy about. We must consolidate on the small faith we still have in Nigeria. We must come together as Nigerians, as brothers to build a suitable home for us all. We shall surely by his divine guidance reach that land where a Nigerian’s abilities is not limited by the circumstances of his birth, religion and region.

God bless Nigeria

Comrade Okpe Sylvanus is a, Lawyer, Journalist, Writer, Political Commentator and Civil Rights Activist.
He is the Author of Africa Without Politics (A protest book on the leadership quagmire in Africa)

Elrufai has been a reformer from the start. That Abuja is where it is today was due to his courage to do the right thing irrespective of whose ox is gored. He is the greatest in the country today