₦airaland Forum

The Sixth Division of Nigerian Army on Tuesday said it had uncovered a plot to use armed thugs in fake military uniforms to cause confusion in Saturday’s rescheduled polls.

The army said efforts were underway to track the source of the weapons being reportedly stockpiled to disrupt peaceful conduct of the elections.

According to a statement issued by the spokesman for the Sixth Division, Col. Aminu Ilyasu, the army would deal decisively with thugs within its area of operation in the Niger Delta region.

“Credible intelligence available to Headquarters 6 Division Nigerian Army has uncovered an unholy plan by some political actors within its Area Of Responsibility.w

“The plot is to to arm and sponsor miscreants in addition to using military-like fatigue dress for deception to cause pandemonium at polling stations for their political gain.

“Covert efforts are on-going to track the source of the weapons and the agents involved in conjunction with sister security agencies.

“Authorities of 6 Division Nigerian Army wish to unequivocally state that anyone found to be disrupting the electoral process under any guise will be decisively dealt with in accordance with the laws no matter how highly placed he or she is.

“To this end, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division and Land Component Commander (LCC) JTF Maj Gen Jamil Sarham wishes to reassure the good people of Niger Delta of providing adequate security for the polls.

“This is in conjunction with other security agencies before, during and after the 2019 General Elections,” he said.

The division applauded the people of the Niger Delta for their cooperation and assistance so far, particularly in the area of providing timely and actionable information and urge them to do more.


https://punchng.com/army-uncovers-plan-to-use-armed-thugs-during-elections-in-niger-delta/

Adeniyi Somade and his wife, Gbemisola, live in Ado-Ekiti, South-west Nigeria. He currently works as an auxiliary staff at the office of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), while his wife teaches ICT at Christ School, Ado-Ekiti, one of the foremost secondary schools in Ekiti State.
In April, the couple welcomed their first child. The Somades said they owe a portion of their gratitude to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, for creating the environment that improved their lives and enabled them start their new family.
Both graduates of Computer Science, their relationship dated back to their days at Adekunle Ajasin University.
Without jobs, marriage was not top on the list for the young couple. Mr Adeniyi narrated how they felt frustrated by the Nigerian system.
“Rough and uneasy are the mildest adjectives to describe our terrible situation at that time,” said ‘Niyi, as he is called.
“After graduation and my National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) in 2012, I applied for all kinds of jobs and attended numerous interviews. But I was not lucky.”
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Gbemisola finished her youth service a year after Niyi’s, and joined him in the labour market.
“We tried all kinds of petty trade, including selling kerosene,” he said.
Fate eventually smiled on the couple when the federal government introduced the Social Investment Programme which targets half a million youth in the country.
‘Niyi and Gbemisola were in the first set to apply for the N-Power component of the SIP.
“We were sceptical initially because we had Sure-P in the past,” said ‘Niyi. “My wife and I applied, but the programme turned out to give so much money to only an insignificant number of people. We did not get anything.
“Having concluded all the registration as well as the online and physical verification as applicants for the N-Power programme, it was like a joke when we suddenly received our first alert in December 2016,” he recalled.
“We could not believe our eyes even though the N30,000 alert was clearly showing on our phones,” he said.

With the constant N-Power stipend in the past over 15 months, the couple was not only able to save money to set up a little business, they also tied the nuptial knots.
“The steady income from N-Power emboldened us to take the step towards getting married and starting a new life.
The Somades had their beautiful daughter, Oluwafikunayomi (God had has filled up my joy), this April.

THE N-POWER
The SIP, which was part of the campaign promises of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), has four components. These are the Home Grown School Feeding Programme for public primary schools; the Conditional Cash Transfer to less-privileged; N-Power for unemployed graduates; and the Government Enterprises Entrepreneurship Programme (GEEP) to encourage market women, artisans, traders, and others.

The SIP headquarters under the office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said over one million Nigerians applied. But after a clean-up of the application portal, about 701, 000 were enlisted. About 200,000 graduates of tertiary institutions were eventually picked for the first phase. Those selected will receive stipends for two years under the N-Teach, N-Agro or N-Health sub-components.
Of all the SIP components and sub-components, the N-Teach is the most popular, due to the large number of youth deployed to teach in public schools.
The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) criticised the programme. In 2017, the union said the government was trying to kill quality education by deploying unqualified teachers to public schools.
However, PREMIUM TIMES’ checks in the three selected states reveal gross shortage of teachers in public schools; and N-Teach is filling the gaps in most of the schools.
According to James Atoke, the Vice Principal of Christ School, Ado-Ekiti, a precolonial secondary school credited with educating most of the elite of Ekiti, including the current state governor, Ayo Fayose, N-Power teachers have not only proven themselves as good teachers, but have also become indispensable asset.
The 34 years veteran teacher revealed that the N-power teachers even take up management roles in schools in remote communities due to the dearth of qualified or inadequate manpower within the education sector of the state.
Clearly, Mr. Atoke is not on the same page with the NUT.
“If not all of them, a majority of the N-Power teachers have mastery of the subject matter. They have not been found wanting also in the theoretical aspect of teaching. Especially the way they make use of teaching aid in classes; and that is actually very impressive.
“There is one of them who is a Physics teacher now, we have to keep deploying from one class to the other just because we don’t have adequate teachers to cover those classes.
“The one that is taking Christian Religious Knowledge is a born teacher, who is very efficient and very punctual in her classes.”
"We want more deployment of N-Power teachers in our schools and if possible we look forward to government making at least five of them permanent for us in this school. Because if they should leave, we will fall back to a situation where we would be lacking teachers”, said the vice principal.
“Let me confirm to you that in some of the villages in Ekiti, it is these N-power teachers that some schools are relying on as managers of the school because there are no capable hands!
“Most of them are now functioning as vice principals and HODs in their respective schools.”
LIKE KANO, LIKE EKITI
School administrators in Kano State also expressed the same view on the services being provided by the N-Power teachers.
Haliru Inuwa, the Principal of Government Secondary School, Daurawa said the eight N-Power teachers deployed to his school since December 2016 have been the saving grace for him and his students.
“We have eight beneficiaries of N-Power posted to my school here,” he said.
“Most of them are handling core science subjects which most of the schools in Kano state are lacking generally. Yes, subjects like Mathematics, English etc.,” said the principal.
“To our surprise, and against the earlier concern raised that they might not perform well in teaching, the N-Power volunteer teachers are not only committed to their teaching, but are also punctual.”
He said N-Power teachers who constitute 26 per cent of his staffers make sacrifices to teach in both morning and afternoon sessions of his school. He said all the eight teachers deployed to his school had confirmed their proficiency in teaching.
“I have 22 teachers in this school and it is the deployment of the N-power teachers that increased the number to 30 teachers, which is even very inadequate.”
At the Maryam Alloma Mukhtar Government Girls Secondary School (MAMGGSS), Kano, the management said they had nothing other than appreciation to the N-power teachers.
“We are immensely happy with the N-Power programme because the volunteers have been contributing their quota towards the education of our students here in MAMGGSS, Kano,” said Mustafa Adam, a senior teacher.
“The NUT concern that these N-Power volunteers are not qualified teachers may be genuine but overtime now, they have come to prove us wrong in that regard. If you go to the classes, unless you are told you will not be able to differentiate between a mainstream teacher and an N-power volunteer.
“We have serious problem of manpower in our schools, especially in core subjects; so should this set of N-Power beneficiaries leave, we will definitely have serious challenges, because we don’t have replacements”, said Halima Garba, the vice principal.
Some heads of schools in Kano who did not get posting of N-Power teachers want the programme to consider their schools in the next round.
“We also want N-power teachers here and we need them badly”, said a senior teacher at Government Girls Secondary school, Tarauni, whose school has only 22 teachers for 1,058 students.
SUPERVISION PROBLEM
Despite this glowing assessment of the N-power teachers, many heads of schools from Ekiti, Niger and Kano are really not pleased with the N-power National office which pay the volunteer teachers at the end of the month without seeking clearance from them.
The Principal of Christ School Ado-Ekiti, Christopher Ade, echoed this view, as did Haliru Inuwa, the Principal of Government Secondary School, Daurawa in Kano State.

BENEFICIARIES WANT EXTENSION
N-Power is an initiative with a sunset clause that wraps the scheme up after 24 months. The scheme is expected to deactivate the first set of existing beneficiaries’ accounts by the end of this year as they were set up to receive N30,000 for 24 months. But most of the beneficiaries want their engagements made permanent.
Miss Ajayi Fayokemi, N-power beneficiary from Ekiti
Ajayi Fayokemi, a 26-year-old graduate of Computer Science from Adekunle Ajasin University, teaches Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the junior classes of Christ School Ado – Ekiti.
She told PREMIUM TIMES how the programme has been assisting her to fund her Masters degree programme, and also gave her financial independence from her aged parents.
“I was not under any form of employment after I graduated”, she said.
“So I often sought the assistance of my parents for my personal needs and especially for funds to pursue my Masters programme. Paying my fees was a major burden on the shoulders of my parents.
“But having joined the N-Power programme, things became easy for me especially in the area of financing my Masters programme. And now my parents do not have to worry about my basic needs any more. N-Power monthly stipends has been a huge support for me.
“N-Power has turned around the lives of thousands of youth in this country and my advice is that it should not just stop here. Stopping it might not only mean depriving the people engaged in the scheme means of sustenance, but it also means taking the services they are providing away.
“For example, here in Christ School, Ado-Ekiti, there is an ICT laboratory that is fully equipped but not functional because there is not teacher to take the subject. But it has been my colleague and I handling the class since we came in December, 2016. That means once we are through with this programme now, it might means they don’t have ICT teachers again, because you are not sure of the discipline of the next batch that will be deployed.
Same goes for Muhammed Ndaliman, a 32 years old graduate of Biology in Niger State, who said he was jobless until N-Power in 2016.
“As a family man, I revolve most of my activities, financially around that N30,000 stipend we collect monthly.
“A lot of people in the N-power programme rely on the stipend to take care of themselves and families, for which they are very grateful to the federal government. But it is not all of us that may be able to make savings or even invest on anything due to the pressure of demands.
“That is why we are calling on the federal government to consider absorbing us into the federal civil service so that we can continue to render our services to the nation.”
Olalekan Femi who teaches Mathematics and Physics in Christ School Ado-Ekiti, said he was unemployed after he graduated in 2010. N-power gave him his first job.
“Things were rough and life was practically difficult for me as a young graduate. But that is in the past now. With the N30,000 stipend I get monthly, I have been able to save some money to start up some petty business which is equally helping me to take care of myself and aged parents.
“Our fear is what happens at the end of the programme.”
Olanrewaju Ojorewa, who teaches Government also in Christ School Ado-Ekiti, said the scheme should go around to schools to find out their areas of need so that appropriate deployment can be made based on the gap analysis made”.
Oluwayemi Emmanuel, another teacher at Christ School Ado-Ekiti said, “So far so good, my life has been improved, and I am happy. We give kudos to Mr. President.”
Yahaya Ahmed Magaji, a 28-year old graduate of Mathematics from Kano State University of Science and Technology (KUST) Wudil, now teaches Mathematics in Maryam Alloma Mukhtar Government Secondary School, Kano. He said with N-power earnings he was able to set up a poultry of 300 birds.
Yahaya Magaji, an N-Power teacher in Kano
Just like Magaji, Hassan Abdulkadir, a 26-year old graduate of Statistics from KUST, Wudil, Kano State also teaches in Maryam Alloma Mukhtar Government Secondary School, Kano. He said they volunteers were “seriously concerned” about government laying them off at the end of this year.
“We plead with the state and the federal governments to consider engaging the N-power beneficiaries permanently especially as we are all offering services in areas where there are gaps in the public schools.”
It was the same concern for 26 years old Musa Dahiru Musa, a graduate of Geography from Bayero University Kano; and Sunusi A. Sunusi, a 32-year old NCE holder in Social Studies.
“I was lucky to join N-Power in 2016 and for the first time I became a salary earner”, said Mr Dahiru.
“While my tailoring business still continues, I use part of what I save from my monthly stipends to set up a poultry business and even got one person working for me, while some part of the money I earn monthly also goes to payment of my younger sisters’ school fees.”
Sagir Adamu, 31, holds an NCE in English-Hausa. The N-power volunteer teacher at the Government Secondary School, Daurawa, Kano, wants two things from the federal government.
“When we are through with this programme, the federal government must not lay us off like that. It is either they retain us as permanent employees or they should give us some capital to start up some kind of business on our own.”
In response to the beneficiaries requests, officials gave no indication they would be permanently employed.
The Ekiti State Director of NOA, Mr Famosaya, said though it will be a good idea for government to absorb all beneficiaries, doing so might not be easy.
Mr Famosaya, NOA Director Ekiti state
“When we say something is a scheme, it means it has expiration period. The scheme is meant for two years for which the government actually planned. Then if after two years they say government should just absorb them in their respective places of assignment, we need to consider the financial implication of that on the economy.”
However, the Niger State Director-General of N-Power, Muhammed Usman, said there is a possibility of government arranging an exit package for those concluding their time under the programme.
“The issue of sustenance is one of the areas we have looked into with serious concern,” he said.
N-POWER IMPROVED STATES’ ECONOMIES
The Director-General of N-power in Niger State, Muhammed Usman, said aside the social engagement of youth, the APC government of President Buhari has also used its SIP to boost the economy of states across Nigeria.
Hesaid about 5,110 youth were engaged in Niger State and posted across the state.
“And for 24 months these people are going to be paid N30,000 each, which means about N3.7 billion injected into the Niger state economy”, he said.
He said with another batch of 8,000 persons expected to be engaged, “Niger state stands to have a total of N5.7 billion injected into its economy by the Buhari administration.
On the concerns that some of the N-Power beneficiaries do not attend classes to teach, the Niger state focal person said a monitoring committee had been set up to check defaulters.
“We have set up a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) team which comprised people that will from time to time go round schools, hospitals and agricultural project sites where the beneficiaries are posted and monitor those posted in those areas,” he said.
EKITI SUPPORT
Although the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Fayose, is an unrepentant critic of the Buhari administration, recent findings by PREMIUM TIMES suggest N-Power is one programme his government supported
The Ekiti State director of NOA, Dayo Famosaya, said despite the difference in political differences, the SIP programme especially the N-power scheme was well received by the state government.
“The programme has been very successful in Ekiti State”, he said.
“Many of the beneficiaries never believed in the programme until they started to see alerts. That actually made it a huge success because most of the beneficiaries said they now believe in President Buhari’s commitment to reducing unemployment.
“What we are looking towards now is the second phase of the programme which was supposed to kick-start in December 2017.
“The first phase in Ekiti, we had about 3,200 beneficiaries. So if you are taking that figure of young graduates out of the job market, you can imagine what it means for the society. In the next phase, we have about 8000 candidates to be enrolled into the programme.
“Governor Fayose has really cooperated with NOA to ensure that as many as possible youth participated in the exercise.”
NUT’S STANCE
In Kano State, the NUT still seemed not sold on the programme, despite the fact that it has been salvaging the public schools of its inherent manpower challenges.
When the state chairman of NUT, Hambali Muhammed, was contacted by our reporter for an interview, he was brief and dismissive in his response.
“We don’t know anything about N-power in Kano because the government did not carry us along when they were recruiting the beneficiaries they sent to schools,” he said.
“Besides, the N-Power teachers are not members of the NUT so, we are not in the position of assessing them. So we stand by the earlier position held by of our National headquarters on this matter. Thank you.”
In Niger State, the NUT also holds some grudges about how the teaching programme was being carried out.
“We just woke up one morning only to see that government had deployed teachers under this N-Power programme into our schools, regardless the advice and warning we earlier gave.
“N-Power teachers are not our responsibility because they are not registered members of the union. I think the SUBEB or the Ministry of Education should be the ones assessing them, not NUT. Any attempt to give response as to whether they are doing well or not, we will not be seen to be doing justice to the issue because we have never assessed them in the classrooms.
“Until they are subscribed to us as a union, that is if government eventually gave them full employment, then we cannot accord them recognition”.
The Niger NUT chieftain said he subscribed to the concerns in some quarters about posting “unskilled” teachers with higher wage to work in the same environment with seasoned teachers on lesser pay.
“What we must understand is that it is one thing to deploy teachers to schools to teach, and it is another thing to assess the quality of instruction they impart to the students. And paying this group of volunteer teachers above some of the mainstream teachers is even counterproductive because it will definitely dampen the morale of other qualified teachers”
He said it was to avoid turning the teaching profession into a “dumping ground” that the NUT prevailed on the government to revive the Teachers Registration Council so that “any one going into the classes to teach in Nigeria must meet all the requirements of a teacher to be allowed to do so”.
However, the NUT official agreed that just like in states like Kano and Ekiti, there is gross inadequacy of teachers in Niger. He blamed the situation on teachers retiring with “government not making any provision for replacement.”

Premium times
June 25, 2018
Abdulkareem Haruna https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/273735-special-report-how-buharis-n-power-programme-is-transforming-lives-improving-education.html

Ogbonnaya Chukwu, the general manager, Ebonyi State Fertiliser and Chemical Company Limited (EFCCL) sat behind a busy desk in his scantily-furnished office as he spoke glowingly about the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative while a generator coughed outside.
“Last year the company joined the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) of the federal government and since then the company has grown through leaps and bounds and is now making serious impact, not only in Ebonyi State but in the South-east geo-political zone and in the South-south states,” Mr Chukwu said proudly.
Mr Chukwu said the fertiliser plant, set up 14 years ago with a capacity to produce 40 metric tonnes of fertiliser every hour, soon went comatose due to poor demand as a result of the proliferation of imported fertiliser.

But in 2016, the state government breathe life back into the dying plant after it invested N100 million towards its revival which allowed the plant to participate in the PFI.
In a swift turnaround, between April and August 2017, the plant, produced 100,046 bags of fertiliser as demand continued to soar, Mr Chukwu said.
In order to meet that demand, the EFCCL is now constructing two new warehouses and a new blending facility.

During the visit of the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI to Nigeria in December 2016, the federal government and the Moroccan government facilitated a partnership between the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers of Nigeria (FEPSAN) and the OCP, a state-owned Moroccan phosphate producer.
The agreement was aimed at breaking the country’s reliance of the importation of compound fertilisers, which has replete with corruption, hoarding and has left the government with billions in unpaid debt.
The partnership was mandated to help achieve the local production of one million metric tonnes of blended Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium (NPK 20:10:10) fertiliser for the wet season farming, and an additional 500,000 metric tonnes for dry season farming.

According to the PFI, blending plants are to be supplied the four components of producing the NPK fertiliser – urea and limestone granules, which are both locally sourced, discounted diammonium phosphate from Morocco and Muriate of Potash from Europe.
The PFI caters exclusively for the production of NPK which is also referred to as a “multi-nutrient” fertiliser as opposed to “single super phosphate and urea, which are already being manufactured in the country.”
Due to the discount negotiated with OCP, local blending plants are able to produce the finished products and deliver to farmers at N5,500 per bag. The blending plants are paid a blending fee of N620 per bag for their effort. Dealers who buy the bag at N5000 are allowed to make N500 as profit for each bag sold.

The PFI intervention fund is managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority at 9 per cent per annum through a Special Purpose Vehicle known as the NAIC-NPK Limited.

According to the arrangement, invoices from suppliers of the raw materials are passed to NAIC-NPK Limited, which pays the suppliers directly; takes delivery of the materials and passes them to the blending plants. After blending, the plants bag and sell the finished fertiliser to agro-dealer and interested state governments and remit the revenue to NAIC-NPK Limited.

The government said the PFI will effectively remove the corruption that characterised the old way of importing compound fertilisers and to check the proliferation of substandard fertilisers. Last November, the government announced that it inherited a N65 billion debt owed fertiliser suppliers which it has since paid to pave way for the successful implementation of the PFI.

In December 2017, the Nigerian government also claimed that 11 moribund fertiliser blending plants across the country with the capacity to blend over a million metric tonnes of fertiliser have been revived as a result of the PFI.

Praises for the PFI
Mr Chukwu credited the good fortune being enjoyed by EFCCL to the successful implementation of the PFI. He said the ease of collecting the blending fee accrued to fertiliser plant is the commendable.
“One thing that has never ceased to marvel me is that any time you request the NSIA, to pay you the money for the blending fee, if you apply today, Monday, you may get it on Wednesday – There is no delay. You get your money seamlessly, effortlessly. That encourages blending plants,” he said.
He said while the plant gets bulk demand from state governments, like in March when the Abia State Government ordered for 20,000 bags, it also gets consistent demands from agro-dealers from nearby Benue, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.
On how the plant meets the demand of local farmers in Ebonyi, Mr Chukwu who doubles as the senior special assistant to the state governor on Investment, said arrangements were made to move the fertilisers to local government headquarters of the state for easier accessibility to rural farmers.
In Kebbi State, farmers who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said the PFI was responsible for cutting the cost of fertiliser.

“Before the PFI, NPK fertiliser was sold for N10,000. But since the government introduced the N5,500 fertiliser, dealers were forced to bring down their price to N6,000,” said Umar Al-Hassan, a rice farmer in Jega.
PREMIUM TIMES visited an agriculture extension office where the government-tagged NPK: 20:10:10 was displayed and could be bought for stipulated price. Every farmer this reporter spoke with in Kebbi said they have zero problems getting fertilisers for their crop. They, however, complained that the government-tagged NPK20:10:10 is too dense and does not cover as much portion of land as that they sold for N6,000 at the market.
In response, Ahmed Kwa, Executive Secretary Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), said the PFI fertilisers are standardised for quality and quantity and that the farmers must be mistaking the NPK20:10:10 fertilisers with Urea.

“I don’t know the logical explanation of what you are saying. Let me assure you and farmers that the fertilisers under the initiative are produced using the same raw materials, same process, it has been checked before it leaves the factory and as far as the density or the volume of the 50kg is concerned it is standardised,” he said.
“Secondly, if it is because of the bag, there is difference between the bag of NPK and Urea because the density of urea is lower to that of NPK. So generally, Urea bags will appear a little bigger or filled than NPK bags. The weight is what matters, it must be 50kg. We set up some initiatives to check adulteration, less weight bags and even those that hoard markets. As far as it is under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, I assure you it is of good quality, standard weight,” he added.
Similarly, in Kaduna, farmers said they have no problem getting the NPK 20:10:10 to buy. However, Abdul-Rahman Musa, the Kaduna State coordinator of the Seed Poverty Eradication Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (FEHDON), a subgroup of the All Co-operative Society of Farmers, alleged that dealers are extorting farmers.
“Fertiliser is sold between N7,000 and N7,500. The official price is N5,500. Before you make payment you must pay ‘egunje’ (bribe) of the difference. You must make a cash deposit of the difference. Cash payment of N2500,” he said.
When asked to name those perpetrating the fraud, he simply described them as the “drivers of the programme.”
“I don’t want to mention names. I am referring to those who are the drivers. We have evidence to back up our claims,” he said.
In response, Mr Kwa said though his association was unaware of this alleged sharp practice, it could have arisen due to scarcity and additional cost of logistics.
“As far as we are concerned the distributor is not allowed to sell for more than N5,500 that N500 will take care of his logistics and profit. But like experience has shown, the margin sometimes is too small.
“Someone wants to go to Lagos to buy fertiliser for N5,000. To bring it to up here each bag may cost more than N500. And he cannot bring it here and sell at a loss. So, some of the market forces has to be experienced. There is not much that can be done until the programme expands to cover more grounds where there are more blending plants across the country. If possible in each state, there should be a minimum of 102 blending plants so that they can be able to supply the fertiliser at a price without the traders trying to exploit the situation.

“Whatever you are doing in the market, the market forces have to be allowed to play. Nobody can control them because if there are scarcity, people will revolt and jack up the price. It is very difficult to control that if we don’t have sufficient quantity on the ground. So, I cannot rule out that kind of thing, but we have not received that report,” he said. No Fertiliser To Buy

While the NPK 20:10:10 fertiliser is readily available in the north of the country and in Ebonyi and its environs, the same cannot be said for large parts of the South-west and parts of the South-south despite the presence of some of the revitalised blending plants in the regions.
In large parts of the South-west and South-south regions, a bag of NPK fertiliser is sold for between N7,000 and N8,000. Several farmers interviewed in Ekiti and Edo said they have heard of the programme but haven’t benefitted from it.
John Omoyajowo, the chairman, Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers of Nigeria, said the last fertiliser initiative his members enjoyed was during Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) of the immediate past administration when government subsidised half of the cost of fertilisers.

“In Ekiti State, before we see fertiliser used to be around July and August, when we have harvest the first batch of our crop, No fertiliser. We don’t get fertiliser at all. In Ekiti there is no fertiliser even in the open market. It is still difficult to get.
“We are not getting fertiliser. Though I don’t like to talk to journalists because it would appear as if someone is criticising the government. In Ekiti Sate it is not easy to come by fertiliser easily. Our depot is at ADA (Agriculture Development Authority) Office along Odo Ado, when you get there now you won’t see any fertiliser,” he said.
An official, however, gave a reason why farmers in Ekiti were not benefitting.
Kehinde Odebunmi, the Commissioner for Agriculture in Ekiti State, told PREMIUM TIMES, that the state did not participate in the PFI because it was required to make an Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders (ISPOs) before they could be supplied fertilisers.

“I know that we were invited to a meeting in Abuja when this issue of fertiliser came in that it should be blended locally. There were lots of proposals and they said the state should sign ISPO (Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders) it is an agreement signed by the state that a certain sum will be deducted from the state’s allocation and it is irreversible. Which is what is affecting Ekiti State now. The one the immediate past administration has signed. That is why what the state is getting is inadequate. So, the governor said he could no longer commit the state to further deductions from allocation otherwise everything will break down,” he said.

In Edo, the story was not different. Despite the presence of one of the revitalised blending plants in the state, Edo State Fertiliser and Chemical Company, Auchi Odigie, chairman of the state’s chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), said the only fertiliser initiative enjoyed by members of his association since 2013 was the one initiated by the immediate past administration.


Premium times
August 19, 2018
Nicolas Ibekwe
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/280719-special-report-how-buharis-pfi-programme-boosts-fertiliser-supply-for-farming-in-nigeria.html

Mr. Atiku, are you supporting ballot box snatching? Mr president's statement clearly shows he is against ballot box snatching but Mr Atiku and his party (PDP) released a statement attacking Mr president after he spoke against ballot box snatching. Nigerians will like to know if you are for or against.

agwom:
The presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has asked an FCT High Court for an order stopping President Muhammadu Buhari and security agencies from alleged interferance with the general elections.

Atiku sought the order in a statement of defence he filed against a defamation suit instituted against him by the Buhari Campaign Organization (BCO).

In his counter-claim against the suit, Atiku sought an order of court ‎”mandating President Buhari and his agents including security operatives and officers to abide by the rule of law and the principle of separation of powers entrenched in the constitution and should not intervene in the forthcoming elections.”

Atiku, through his counsel, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), challenged the competence of the suit and urged the court to grant an order mandating President Buhari to apologise to him for filing a frivolous suit against him.

‎Atiku who asked for N2 billon as damages, said part of the money should be given to IDP camps across the country and the rest be used in equipping libraries and information technology centres for all state Universities in Nigeria.

In a 56-paragraph witness statement on oath deposed by one Abraham Udoh, the former vice president ‎told the court that Buhari had failed Nigerians by his inability as a president to stop ‎the ruthless and wanton killings that rendered citizens, farmers, women and children homeless without food or basic amenities.

The case will come up for hearing on March 7.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/atiku-asks-court-to-stop-buhari-security-agencies-from-interfering-with-elections.html

Mr Bako is the Director of Media and Publicity of the Kaduna State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Committee. He is the immediate past information commissioner in Kaduna State.
He was seen in a video two weeks ago telling a crowd at a campaign rally to “deal” with whoever votes against the interest of PDP.
He was arrested by the State Security Service about a day after PREMIUM TIMES published the video. The spokesperson of the SSS in Kaduna, Al Koya, last week issued a statement saying the service will charge Mr Bako to court once investigations are concluded. The agency is, however, yet to charge him to court over one week after the arrest, contrary to Nigerian laws.
PREMIUM TIMES on Monday obtained four videos in which Mr Bako was seen making inciting comments against Governor Nasir El- Rufai and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State.
Mr Bako was said to have made the comments at Zonkwa town while addressing a group of PDP supporter.

Speaking in Hausa, Mr Bako told the group to kill anyone sent to the zone to campaign for the APC even if the person is his brother.
“I swear to God, even if he is my brother from the same mother and the same father, and he comes here to campaign for APC kill the bastard,” he said.
Apart from Mr Bako, a former chairman of PDP in Kaduna State, Yaro Makama, was also arrested by security operatives. The SSS is also yet to charge Mr Makama for any crime although he was caught on video making a statement that appeared to incite violence.
The PDP in Kaduna has since condemned the arrests and said it will not be drawn into any violent conflict no matter the provocation.

The Director-General of the PDP campaign organisation, Danjuma Sarki, who addressed the press, said: “We are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Ben Bako after being harassed and illegally detained without trial for over 24 hours.”

“If you are looking for a scientific criminal, who if he has his way of even blocking the air we breathe, if Rufai has the power to poison the air we breathe in this southern zone, he would have done so, so that all of us will die; neither Muslim nor Christian will be spared.


No one here should assume that we are talking about Rufai the Muslim, every true Muslim knows that Rufai is not operating on the fundamentals of Islam, all those calling him Mallam will go to hell because no mallam will be placed on the pedestals on which he operates aimed only at making people suffer to death.
Any Muslim that calls El Rufai Mallam is surely going to hell and all that he studies must be fake.
You said there should be no insults, I am sure you said so because you are looking for an elective position. As for us, it is time for insults and we will do it.
May God bring calamity to the one who made our people die during screening. May God expose him, may God also deny sleep to those relying on him.
As for our people who were used to come and embarrass us and call for change, the change was made, let them come and tell us what changed in their homes (heaps insults).
There are some of them who are ashamed of coming here since the election despite all the killings.
Here is a piece of advice; apart from the PVC, every village should amass fighting sticks (Gora) for beating useless people. Why are you laughing? It’s not a laughing matter because instead of allowing hunger to kill you just like that, it is better to die from protecting your right.
What is the way out now? You are up to say 100,000 or more in your village and only four or five boys will be sent from Abuja; you know them, you know their homes; even if he is my brother, kill the bastard and we will attend the burial.


I swear to God, even if he is my brother from the same mother and the same father, and he comes here to campaign for APC kill the bastard, I will help you.
It is better for my brother to die than for him to be part of a system that will make the whole community suffer.
The selfishness we are exhibiting is the reason we are in this calamity. Now is the time for people of Southern Kaduna to calm down; both Muslims and Christians because God has decided to make you an indigene here, you have no option. If you want to pray, just do your ablution, face the east and pray, no one will tamper with your reward. Same goes for traditionalists. But as far as the southern zone is concerned, God has kept us here.
So, now that the time has come, make sure that every polling unit is well guarded.”

Premium times https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/313641-more-videos-of-top-kaduna-politician-instigating-violence-emerge.html

Dear PDP, is your party trying to encourage ballot box snatching? let us know your stand about this.

Tundemuttee:
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday reacted as President Muhammadu Buhari threatened those plotting to snatch ballot boxes during the general elections.

President Buhari had made it clear that anyone who tries to disrupt the electoral process, will be doing so “at the expense of his own life”.

Reacting, PDP said the remark was a direct call for jungle justice which was aimed at directing the attention of the public.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP accused the Buhari’s Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to trigger widespread political crisis to derail Nigeria’s democratic process by plunging “our nation into anarchy.”

PDP said, “Buhari’s threat to the lives of Nigerians, at the opening of APC’s national caucus meeting in Abuja today, is a direct call for jungle justice and attempt to divert public attention from their closed session where details of their dastardly plot to truncate our democratic process will be perfected.

“We do hope that this call by President Buhari is not camouflaged for the fake soldiers mobilized by the APC to shoot at innocent Nigerians, snatch ballot boxes and execute their rigging plans on the election day. It is indeed a license to kill, which should not come from any leader of any civilized nation.

“The underlining fact to the above is that President Buhari and APC leaders, upon getting to their voting constituencies last Saturday, realized that there is a nationwide rejection of Buhari’s re-election bid, and this has thrown them into a panic mode.

“President Buhari must, however, bear in mind that his resort to threats and scaremongering will not deter Nigerians from coming out en-masse to vote him out of office on February 23.

“We are aware that President Buhari, who had earlier boasted that nobody can ‘unseat’ him, is bent on using every dictatorial and tyrannical act to truncate the process of a free, fair and credible election.

“Intelligence available to us shows that the Buhari Presidency has directed the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately reshuffle the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in order to deploy compromised officials to manipulate the electoral process in President Buhari’s favour, as they did with the police shortly before February 16.”

https://all-gists..com/2019/02/PDP-Reacts-As-Buhari-Says-Snatch-Ballot-Box-Pay-With-Your-Life.html?m=1

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the military and law enforcement agencies to deal “ruthlessly” with anyone caught trying to disrupt the rescheduled February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections.

The President, who is seeking reelection on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, said he was not afraid of a free and fair election because he had received overwhelming supports from the majority of Nigerians.


Speaking on Monday at the opening of the APC National Caucus Meeting in Abuja, Buhari said he wanted Nigerians to be respected everywhere after the election, warning that anyone caught for ballot box snatching or leading thugs would do so at a risk to his life.

He said, “I do not expect anybody to make any disturbance. I have briefed the law enforcement agencies and the military to identify hot spots, flashpoints and they should be prepared to move.

“They, too, would have made their own arrangement as much as possible and as resources provide as much as the country can afford it.

“And anybody who decides to snatch ballot boxes or lead thugs to disturb it (election), maybe that would be the last unlawful action he would take.

“I have directed the Police and the military to be ruthless.

“We are not going to be blamed that we want to rig elections. I want Nigerians to be respected.

“Let them vote whoever they want across the parties. I’m not afraid.


“As you said, I have gone round all the 36 states and Abuja. I think I have gotten enough support across the country.

“I am going to warn anybody who thinks he has enough influence in his locality to lead a body of thugs to snatch boxes or to disturb the voting system, he would do it at the expense of his own life.”

Published February 18, 2019
Punch newspaper

Kamarudeen Ogundele, Bauchi

When I reflect on the powers and functions of the Vice President of Nigeria, and the recent attempts by Atiku Abubakar, to blackmail Obasanjo as the worst president Nigeria has had ever, I am completely stunned, and without words.

In a recent newspaper publication, Abubakar maintained that, Obasanjo has failed Nigeria in all aspects of government. He however, failed to point out where he, as the Vice President had succeeded in all aspects of government. He then promised that if elected as the next President, he would 'reform' the reforms of the present administration and make life more bearable for Nigerians. O n the occasion of his declaration for the presidency of Nigeria in the 2007 election, the Turakin Adamawa maintained that his coming into the presidential race was not for personal interests. He said "I t is a contest for and about uplifting the lives of the forgotten millions of our fellow citizens who work very hard but get very little! It is a contest for and about the millions of our people who have no work at all! It is a contest for and about the millions of hard-working middle class families in Nigeria whose standard of living is progressively being eroded! It is a contest for and about the transformation of the socio-economic landscape of Nigeria! It is a contest for and about the enthronement of a more just and equitable society! It is about giving the people of Nigeria a government that they deserve - a government that puts their interests first!"

Enough of this! For the records, Abubakar as the vice President of Nigerisa, had within his powers, to do the above and more! His official web-site reveals that, The Vice-President is primarily in charge of all Federal Government dealings with the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. He is the chairman of, the National Economic Council, National Council on Privatization (NCP), National Economic Revitalization Committee and National Planning Commission. He also oversees the boards of all Federal Government Parastatals and Corporations. As the chairman of these, Turaki Adamawa holds the major responsibility of steering the nation's economic machinery, channelling efforts to optimize the opportunities of a potentially great economy. In addition, out of every ten appointed Federal Ministers, seven were sponsored by the Vice President. It was also, within the powers of the VP to appoint people in top positions to some parastatals and boards.

Let us face this, between 1999—2003, while Obasanjo globe-trotted and gallivanted, Atiku was the de-facto President. He made himself stupendously rich. At that time, he was not of the 'forgotten millions.' He forgot them too. He was not thinking of the jobless. His children became directors of oil-servicing companies. He did not think of the hard-working middle-level income families. He made his friends and self upper class.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had all along been the Chief Executive of Nigeria, and benefited tremendously, while Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was the ceremonial head. This points to the fact that the reforms the nation is undergoing are purely the handiwork of Atiku. If Nigeria has failed in the past eight years, then the Vice President is responsible for this failure. Atiku should explain to Nigerians why he shattered our dreams of a great Nigeria. He was the custodian of the machinery for national development in the first years of this government, how did he utilise that? How was it channelled? Did he remember then that it was a duty for and about " uplifting the lives of the forgotten millions … who work very hard but get very little!...who have no work at all! … the enthronement of a more just and equitable society! … giving the people of Nigeria a government that they deserve - a government that puts their interests first! " Or did he deliberately remain silent waiting for when he becomes the President?

Fellow citizens, if the Vice President has the powers to handle all the Federal Government dealings in the 36 states of the federation, including FCT Abuja, and chairs all the economic projects of the country, and appoints 7 out of 10 ministers, then he was the right man to have handled the cases of "… the forgotten millions". Atiku did not because he could not, together with his bunch of dormant ministers, directors and head of parastatals. When he was supposed to be doing this, he was busy strategising with them how to be recycled president in 2007. He then failed, Atiku failed woefully and today turns around to declare for change. Change from what? From the reforms you headed or change of persons like you, who are found incapable of handling national assignments? If at all Nigeria desires the so called change you preach, Mr Vice President, you should be the first to be changed! As chairman for the transformation of the socio-economic landscape of Nigeria , what did you do? How well did you link the 36 states of the federation in terms of good roads, electricity, security of life and property, job creation etc? You championed the reforms of the nation, yet you cry for a change of them. How long shall you continue to lead us in a forward-backward match? We are tired of failed people! We want change, but certainly not your own kind of change.


Oluwaseun is of the Department of Economics, Bayero University of Nigeria, Nsukka. com
By
Fagbemi Oluwaseun
foluwaseun@gmail.com
http://www.gamji.com/article6000/NEWS6850.htm

57 ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE BUHARI-LED ADMINISTRATION

SECURITY & RELATED MATTERS
1. Release of 106 Chibok girls, as well as over 16,000 persons in Boko Haram captivity.
2. Tackling insurgency, decimation of Boko Haram in the North East.
3. Recovering 14 local governments and territories previously under Boko Haram control in the North East, rebuilding lives of citizens there; about one million displaced persons in the NE have returned to their communities in two years of this administration.
4. Curbing the incidence of kidnap across the country. (Arrest of kidnap kingpins and dismantling of kidnap cells across the country)
5. Restoring morale of the Nigerian military; re-organizing and better equipping the Nigerian Armed Forces.
6. Purchase of 12 Super-Tucano aircrafts worth $600 million to aid the Nigerian military’s current operations in the North East.
7. Ensuring continued peace in the Niger Delta through consistent funding of the FG amnesty programme for ex-militants.
8. Introduction of an improved mechanism for distribution of aid to IDPs in the North East through the establishment of the Special Intervention Programme of the Federal Government. (Door-to-door strategy)

ECONOMY
9. Implementing the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) to aid economic recovery, taking the country out of her worst recession in 29 years, despite fall in oil prices.
10. N1.2 trillion expended on capital/infrastructure projects nationwide, a milestone in the nation’s history.
11. Effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account, and increasing government revenue by over N3 trillion as well as entrenching transparency and accountability.
12. Implementation of the Bank Verification Number (BVN), thus tackling corruption by plugging loopholes for siphoning of public fund and tracking of illicit funds through multiple accounts.
13. Ease of doing business: the Federal Government signed into law two bills from the National Assembly (Acts are the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act, 2017 (otherwise known as Collateral Registry Act) and the Credit Reporting Act, 2017) which has facilitated access to more affordable credit for Nigerians, fast tracked budget submissions and promotes Made-in-Nigeria products.
14. Establishment of the Presidential Quarterly Business Forum to enhance interaction and private sector participation in the development of the economy.
15. Institutionalizing E-governance setting the foundation for the creation of a truly digital economy.
16. Creation of opportunities for youths to leverage innovation in technology through the introduction of the Aso Villa Demo Day (AVDD) through which over N700 million has been disbursed to young entrepreneurs.
17. The revitalization of the Made-in-Nigeria campaign. (Emphasis on consumption of local products gain grounds)
18. Implementing reforms in the civil service which has led to the elimination of over 30,000 ghost workers, thereby saving the country billions of naira monthly.
19. Massive investments in agriculture, e.g, Anchors Borrowers Programme to improve local produce, improving fertiliser distribution and access across states through the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative.
20. Reduction in rice imports as a result of government’s policies that has encouraged massive rice production across Nigeria.
21. Improving transport infrastructure (rail and road); construction work ongoing on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, renovation of Abuja International Airport runway, completion of Abuja – Kaduna Railway among others.
22. Social Investment Programmes (SIP): N-Power Volunteer Scheme creating jobs for over 200,000 (and still counting) unemployed graduates in all the 36 states and the FCT.
23. SIP: Ongoing Government Enterprise and Empowerment (GEEP) Scheme; commenced in November 2016 in collaboration with the Bank of Industry, where soft loans ranging from N10, 000 to N100, 000 have been given to over 189,000 market women and traders across different states.
24. SIP: Home Grown School Feeding Programme, where almost three million schoolchildren have been fed, while tens of thousands of cooks have been engaged in their respective states.
25. SIP: Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme, under which about 25,000 less privileged Nigerians so far are now being funded with the monthly N5,000 stipend in 9 pilot States (Bauchi, Borno, Cross Rivers, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Osun and Oyo). More beneficiaries are expected to be added in more states.
26. The establishment of MSMEs Clinics, a small Business support programme to support entrepreneurs and small businesses in different states.
27. Establishment of One-Stop-Shops to support policies on Ease of Doing Business.
28. The take-off of the 2nd Niger Bridge.
29. Phasing out subsidy for petroleum products, elimination of fuel scarcity and queues in petrol stations.
30. Implementation of the FG Niger Delta new vision, a comprehensive road map to improve livelihood and social infrastructure.
31. Improved power generation nationwide adding $500million to Nigeria’s sovereign wealth fund and about $87million to its excess crude account.
32. The creation of the N30billion Solid Minerals Development Fund.
33. Encouraging the patronage of local contents and increasing export in agriculture.
34. Signing of Executive Order 001 which is the promotion of transparency and efficiency in the business environment – to ensure that public servants offer prompt service in a predictable and transparent manner, and sanction undue delays.
35. Signing of Executive Order 002 which is on prompt submission of annual budgetary estimates by all statutory and non-statutory agencies of the Federal Government including incorporated companies wholly owned by FG.
36. Bailout of cash crunch states; about N689 billion to 27 states of the federation to pay salaries in 2015.
37. Complete refund of Paris loan deductions to states (unprecedented).
38. Implementing the 2011 UNEP report for the ongoing Ogoni clean-up process after decades of oil spills and pollution.
39. Modification of the tax system so that it is more efficient.
40. Reforms in the airports (reconstruction of the Abuja airport runway and ongoing work at the Lagos airport).
41. Reforms at the nation’s seaports (Issues with cargo clearance at the ports addressed)
42. Improved duration (under 48 hours) for visa approval especially for investors.
43. Resuscitation of the nation’s refineries which are now working at 50 percent capacity for the first time in over a decade.
44. Eleven of the dead 33 fertilizer plants have been resuscitated while four others are to be revived shortly and this has profound impact on the ongoing revolution in the agricultural sector.
45. For the first time in more than 45 years, the Mambila Power Plant is set to take off with the allocation of $5.6billion for its realization and an expected 3,050 MW output upon completion.
46. Increasing external reserves to a 13 month high of $33 billion from $29.13 billion which has surpassed the ERGPs target of $30.56 billion despite global low oil prices and production challenges.
47. Cancellation of the Joint Venture cash calls with oil multinational companies operating in Nigeria (For the first time in the history of the industry) which has led to savings of billions of dollars lost to fictitious contract payments.
48. Release of N2 billion take off grant for the Maritime University as part of measures to address agitations in the Niger Delta region.
49. The new development bank of Nigeria (DBN) is finally taking off with initial funding of $1.3billion (provided by the World Bank, German Development Bank, African Development Bank, Agence Francaise De Development) to provide medium and long term loans to MSMEs.

ANTI – GRAFT WAR
50. Improving Nigeria’s international image and regional cooperation with neighbouring countries in fighting insurgency.
51. Anti-corruption war: Prosecuting alleged corrupt public officers and recovering billions of naira of stolen public funds; the successful establishment of the whistle-blower policy.
52. Signing of Executive Order 004 – Voluntary Income Asset Declaration Scheme (VAIDS). This aims to increase tax awareness and compliance, and reduce incidence of tax evasion.
53. Signing of agreements with a number of nations to provide Automatic Exchange of Information.
54. Signing of the Extradition Treaty between Nigeria and United Arab Emirates (UAE) toward strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.
55. Establishment of PACAC – a think-tank that has provided leadership, direction and also built capacity of personnel in the fight against corruption.

OTHERS
56. Eradication of polio disease in the country.
57. The introduction of the One Primary Health Centre per ward programme of the Federal Government.



By the eagle online on Oct 01 2017
https://theeagleonline.com.ng/author/theeagle/ the celebration of the country’s 57th independence anniversary.
President Muhammadu Buhari came into office on May 29, 2015.
The list, from an email address in the office of the Vice President, Prof. Femi Osinbajo, was, however, unsigned.

With the approch to the 2019 presidential election, the Buhari administration faces Nigerians’ verdict on its performance that determines its fate. Meanwhile, the atmosphere is already charged up with divergent assessments of its performance.

As it isn’t possible to assess every assessment, I screen out politically-motivated and ethno-religiously-motivated assessments, whether positive or negative. As I also screen out other assessments that sound particularly self-centered, whether positive or negative. Because such assessments are obviously too subjective to deserve any consideration.

Starting with the assessment of the disappointed who had been ardent Buhari loyalists before they subsequently turned indifferent or even against him having concluded that he has failed to live up to their expectations; I observe that though their disappointment is quite understandable, yet a critical look into their arguments reveals that they had actually downplayed the seriousness and complexities of the country’s challenges while exaggerating Buhari’s capabilities to tackle them. They had practically assumed that with him as president, corruption and impunity would simply be stopped in no time, and that many notorious individuals who impoverished the country over the decades would be rounded-up, prosecuted, forced to forfeit considerable amounts of their fortunes and thrown into jail. A Hausa political song titled “masu-gudu-su-gudu” that trended shortly after Buhari’s win in 2015 before he was inaugurated reflected those expectations.

Now, though President Buhari’s indecisiveness on many critical issues remains largely responsible for the frustratingly slow rate at which his administration’s economic reform policies and anti-corruption measures reflect on the living conditions of Nigerians, as it also casts doubt on his perceived strictness against impunity in view of the many instances of impunity right under his nose where some privileged individuals get away with serious offences, yet, at the risk of sounding a Buhari apologist, I never lose sight of the big picture when assessing his performance. I always take into consideration the particularly frustrating operating environment he operates in where corruption is so deep-rooted that it perhaps wouldn’t be an exaggeration to assert that one can hardly, if at all, count up to three non-corrupt government officials in any department of any government ministry, agency, or institution.

By the way, one may wonder why previous presidents weren’t given the same excuse inasmuch as they equally operated in the same environment. Well, President Buhari deserves this excuse to the exclusion of most of his predecessors, because even his overzealous opponents know for sure deep down that he never partakes in fraudulent self-enrichment deals, as it has always been the case in the presidency.

Anyway, also though living conditions in the country have further deteriorated since his assumption of office in 2015, yet without necessarily absolving him, I observe that what many Nigerians don’t seem to realize or simply ignore is that, economic decline never occurs overnight, it instead occurs following a series of failures over an appropriate period of time. In most cases, the economic challenges a new administration struggles with are largely the repercussions of the actions and inactions of the previous administration(s). This is quite applicable on the Buhari administration in relation to its predecessor i.e. the Jonathan administration, which was arguably the most corrupt in the history of the country.

Besides, the economic reform policies and anti-corruption measures currently in place remain the best possible under these circumstances. After all, apart from political rhetoric, even Buhari’s fanatical critics can’t provide any superior economic arguments to fault them, let alone propose better alternatives.

It’s also noteworthy that in Nigeria’s peculiar context, regardless of the greatness of whatever economic reform policies and anti-corruption measures in place, implementing them would inevitably trigger a serious but temporary economic hardship. This is because economic activities in the country have always been largely dependent on corruption, directly or indirectly. For instance, over the decades, stolen funds from government treasury at all levels through kickbacks, bribes and direct thefts have been the main source of liquidity in the country’s banking industry and business activities. Also, almost all the apparently successful private businesses in the country owe their prosperity to either fraudulent government privatizations or concessions, rent-seeking, illegally acquired bank loans, forex round-tripping, fraudulently granted import duty and/or tax waivers, smuggling or other practices that undermine the economy.

It isn’t surprising therefore if an attempt to plug the holes through which public resources are systematically stolen affects the economy as witnessed currently in the country. Besides, there is no alternative to the measures currently in place, in fact, it’s high time state and local governments followed suit. The associated hardship is like the pain associated with the procedure of straightening a broken bone.

Admittedly, the more I feel bad about the so-called Buhari-triggered poverty in the country, the more I feel embarrassed knowing that it was actually triggered by an attempt to tackle a deeply entrenched culture of corruption in the land.

By Mohammad Qaddam Sidq Isa | Published Date Dec 14, 2018 2:15 AM daily trust newspaper.

It's obvious some of our youths are not ready to work, they don't want vocational training, they don't want to work with their hands, they only want to get rich quick, they want someone who will give them fish and not someone who will teach them how to fish.

election was postponed in 2011 when election has already commenced. Nigerian politicians and lawyers are funny, if the outcome of the election is not in their favour they will approach the court asking the court to council the election based on the burnt card readers and other materials.

hinwazaka:
In 2015 election postponement was announced on the 7th of february saturday, a full week before the elections slated for 14 february.
The reasons were
*To improve the security situation in the country by battling the Boko Harlem

*To allow space for more nigerians to collect their PVC's

In 2019 elections were postponed on the 16th of february on the day of the initial elections slated for the 16th of february. The reasons are
*Logistics!

Afenifere, Arewa, Ohaneze and co should go and sit down, they are all hypocrites. They would have praised Omisore if he had supported PDP. They claim they are non partisan but they endorse politicians or political parties who give them money. They know Buhari will not give, they will rather vote for free giver regardless of the source of the money. Omisore has the right to support any political party of his choice.

I am not a Tinubu fan due to his interference in every government in Lagos, but i admire his leadership style to some extent, he listens to what the people are saying and put himself at the forefront of the struggle to make people see him as their leader. Mr Akinwunmi Ambode have not wronged Tinubu and Tinubu is not against Ambode, he (Tinubu) is only afraid of losing Lagos if he backs Ambode for second term because politics in Lagos is played at the grassroot not from bourdillon, Tinubu is only acting as the voice of his grassroot machineries. Ambode has stepped on the toes of these grassroot machineries who mobilize for them by withdrawing all their benefits e.g Lawma, PSP etc and those (visionscape) he gave the contract to have performed poorly. The governor also want to impose heavy tax (land use charge) on Lagosians which is anti people and government should be about the people. He has also been accused of abandoning Fashola's projects which is about the 'Lagos state masterplan' Tinubu talked about in his speech. Let us forget about Tinubu and evaluate the man Akinwunmi Ambode.

Is Ambode telling us he employed a mad person in his cabinet? He came from no where to become a governor of Lagos state, he should go when it's time to go.

Who is Awofy Richard and where is he from? Apart from Benin crown all other traditional rulers in Nigeria are padi-padi title. I'm not saying Sowore is right but respect should be based on merit. If you disrespect someone expect the same. I'm very sure Ooni will not keep Tinubu, Atiku or Kankwanso waiting for three hours, it was reported that this same Ooni bowed for Saraki at a public function. I believe Mr. Awofy Richard is writing for one of this politicians.

BabaAgba79:
At times I laugh by the figures being allocated to Northern states. A local government in Katsina having a total registration of over 70,000 is ruse! They are no people in these villages. Go there and see pls.

They are really much. I served in Doro community under Bindawa LGA Katsina State between 2010/2011. There are small villages under Bindawa LGA (Tama, Danlaji, Shibdawa, Girimawa, Doro and Bindawa which is the head quarters of the local govt) there are still some other settlements such as Santa-kuka and others which i don't know their names because i never had business their, only passed through while moving from my PPA to the local govt headquarters for clearance. My friend who also served in Government Day Secondary School Mani under Mani LGA said the principal of his school gave birth to 17 children, just to tell you how they have children. According to wikipedia, 2006 population of Bindawa LGA is estimated at 152,356.

“My brother that was in one of the vehicles didn’t know what happened, so he had to raise the alarm that I was kidnapped. He went to the Gwagwalada police station and reported the matter.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/attackers-wanted-to-kill-me-melaye.html[/quote]Really one should question the parents of our distinguish Senator representing Kogi west and his brother for their upbringing because lies runs in their blood. Nigerians did not buy your kidnap story, you now changed it to assassination attempt. Kogi people, don't tell me the likes of Yahya Bello and Dino Melaye are the best you people can present to Nigeria.

Nigerians should wake up, all politicians in Nigeria are guilty of this accusation. They all finance and equip thugs to intimidate and harass political opponents in their political space to achieve their desired goal not minding what they do with those things after election. I did not vote in 2015 because I did not see a credible candidate on the ballot but I prayed that our politicians should make a mistake by supporting a candidate that will work against them and put an end to their continued oppression against the Nigerian people. I will advise us to embrace fresh breed politicians and let go of APC and PDP to form a better Nigeria. Politics is not a profession, but to our politicians it's now a profession because they feed fat from constituency projects and oversight functions. Saraki is a doctor, when last did he practice? If he goes back to practice, we'll have enough doctors in Nigeria. Osinbajo is a lawyer and lecturer if he goes back to the classroom we will have more quality graduates. They should contribute in other developmental areas not only in politics. Look at Oyo state, Gov. Ajumobi was once a Senator and now a governor, he wants to contest for Senate again in 2019. Rotimi Amechi was a speaker in Rivers state and later became governor of the same state and now a minister. Wike worked under Amechi's government in rivers and later became minister under Goodluck Jonathan he is now governor. Kwankwanso was a governor in Kano state now Senator representing Kano and want to become president etc. If anyone of them must be voted back, it should be based on their performance not sympathy or because of their fight against the government. They are all part of failed
Obasanjo, Jonathan and Buhari's government, that makes them also incompetent.

GavelSlam:
The local government elections results says APC stands gidigba.

APC won the local government election with or without Shehu Sani and his crew's support, they have not contributed anything to the country. They will not be missed.

goldman777:
Ur u telling me a governor in kogi state has more influence over police in abuja to arrest a federal senator in abuja national congress.without d backing of the presidency the executive and chief commander of the armed forces who directly can command the police all over Nigeria arresting an elder statesman(senator) by a governor of kogi state is not possible.melaye has constitutional immunity thats y d arrest of omo agege the mace theft senator was not possible everybody knows buhari doesn't not respect the Constitution if he wants to victimize people as in the case of dasuki,s detainment.buhari is a civilian dictator sikena!!!

immunity is only limited to President, vice President, Governor and deputy Governor, senators don't have immunity in the Nigerian constitution. Senator Ovie Omo-agege can be arrested but he denied knowing those thugs, we all believe that those thugs are working for him but Nigerian Police don't conclude that way without investigation, if you can remember vividly senator Ali Ndume was arrested and tried when he was accused of financing Boko Haram but was declared not guilty, the Senator representing Delta North recently was also arrested for fraud but was granted bail on self recognition but the case is still in court. The Senate President Bukola Saraki was also ducked before Justice Danladi Umar. Senator Dino Melaye can also be arrested, tried, jailed or declared not guilty as the case may be, the nature of Senator Dino Melaye's case involves murder, unlawful possession of fire arm and sponsoring thugs to disturb the peace of Kogi state which we will agree that all politicians in Nigeria are guilty of (not saying Senator Melaye is guilty), Senator Melaye and Governor Bello are only fighting for supremacy which is uncalled for. I have learned to give honor to whom honor is due, if some one is superior to you, you don't have to be rude when proving a point. Senator Melaye threatened to beat and rape Senator Oluremi Tinubu on the floor of the Senate and boosted that her husband can not do anything, he was even childish enough to snap a picture close to their residence in Lagos challenging them. Senator Dino melaye also insulted Mr. Adams Oshiomole (former governor of Edo state) and his wife. This Senator have stepped on toes which can be avoided. If we don't agree with people older or more influential than us, it's better we express ourselves and stand our ground without been rude. I'm not in the position to judge Senator Dino Melaye, I'm only interested in watching their movie. I don't vote because PDP and APC are all the same (theirs no permanent friend or enemy in Nigerian politics). According to Hon. Rotimi Amechi during his Senate screening he said '' if politicians agree on sharing formula which favors them, they don't remember their people but when the sharing formula is not in their favor they go back to their people to say they are marginalizing us'' they only use the vulnerable people as their foot soldiers.

We need to understand the genesis of the movie in Kogi. The fight is between Dino and Bello, Dino wants to pose as a godfather in Kogi state politics after the death of Abubakar Audu, he supported Yaya Bello to become governor against Faleke who campaigned in all local governments in Kogi along side Abubakar Audu to win the Governorship sit. knowing the power he possess as the governor Yaya Bello now wants to put Dino in his place. Buhari's has nothing to do with these.

goldman777:
But wait oh if the executive can influence inec the electoral body to recal dino melaye doesn't it mean the presidency is in control of inec how can we then have a free and fair elections 2019 who is the inec chairman sef.there is no smoke without fire

When INEC withdraws the certificate of return the person will no longer be addressed as a Senator. The person can now go to court to challenge the process that led to the withdrawal. Let's not be sentimental about issues, because we don't like a group of people does not mean we will support every act of Rascality. The power to recall Senator Dino can only be determined by the people of Kogi West Senatorial District. Senator Dino also have the right to challenge the legitimacy of the process in court.

Esseite:
If yahaya bello is the only kind of youth we have in this country, i think shagari should contest 2019.

Yaya Bello and Dino melaye

AkupeMBANO:
me thinks osibanjo usually read from a piece of paper whenever he speaks. imagine what he rushed out to comment on, Magu?? of all The whole issues going on in this country, Afonja VP is only interested in Wether Magu is walking into the lagoon or not. just imagine?

they just want to kill all the strong institutions in this country. imagine the executive challenging the power of screening by the Senate? were have we gone wrong? if Buhari and his goonz succeeds in rubbishing all the strong institutions like judiciary, legislature, CBN etc. what will be left of this country when he goes back to his cows in daura? Nigeria is currently 50years backwards.

Nice write up, but in my opinion, I believe the legislative arm of government and the executive arm of government are doing a fantastic job, and I though the legislators might be selfish in their duties. Both parties are putting the constitution to test, checks and balance is the beauty of democracy. I am happy they are both checking each other, imagine during the past administrations when the legislative arm are the rubber stamp of the executive, no one questions the authority of the other, one part will just forward a huge ridiculous sum to the other and it will be approved before you know it. You will agree with me that the Senate is the retirement house of ex-governors and most of them have pending cases with EFCC, that's the reason why they want Magu out so they can negotiate their freedom with who ever the president push forward for screening for the job. They agreed with the president at the party level before election that they will assist him with the fight against corruption with the hope that they will be exempted but when they got into office they noticed that they are also been investigated, that was why they pitched tent with their boss in the game (Saraki) to make sure the president's anti corruption campaign will not succeed. They also know they are not likely to get the party's ticket to go with the president in the next election that's why they are fighting dirty just to ridicule the executive and probably decamp to another available party and present themselves to Nigerians as the good ones. I am enjoying their fight. It's really interesting.

weezii:
Ok. N100,000 bail charge for misinformation.

What of the wrong informations being passed by some members of the present administration? Or theirs will remain unpunished cos the Law isn't for them?

Also is a sitting senator supposed to be charged to court while still on seat? (Someone kindly clarify me on this)

Fellow countrymen, please go and register for ur voters card if you have none yet and let's vote wisely come 2019.

Yes a sitting Senator can be charged to court, Senators don't have immunity.

chiol:
To use it for what? To vote for who? Just tell me. Who among our politicians has our interest at heart. They are the same.

In fact, the devil you know is better than the angel you don't know. Instead of me to vote for these wolves in goat clothing, I will give my vote to PMB again. He might not be good enough but at least I see sincerity and the zeal to make Nigeria great in him.

Forget the noise, I am yet to be disappointed by PMB. With our reserve growing from 28 billion to now 42 billion and massive work going on in our major high ways: Enugu - Onitsha and Enugu-PH inclusive, my love for PMB keeps increasing.

The way our treasury looters are crying now makes him love him more. I never knew they can cry too. Wow! They really showed pepper. Those touts made politics to be an occupation and thank God PMB came. Many of them have been sent to the farm where they can be useful

God bless you. You just spoke my mind, Nigerians complained about PDP and the way they looted the country, that was why so many of them decamped to the next available political party just to remain relevant in Nigerian politics. They are now frustrated because Buhari's government is not business as usual, they did everything to frustrate him, they are trying to rubbish his anti corruption campaign. Nigerians know those behind Nnamdi Kanu's rebellion, Nigerians know those behind bombing of oil installations in Niger delta, all is designed to destabilize the government, they succeeded in punishing innocent Nigerians which they claim they are representing by forcing the country into recession just to make a statement. They tried to rubbish Magu and DG of customs just because they are dedicated to their job. I did not vote in 2015 because the two candidates available are not fit to rule Nigeria (in my own opinion) I believe Nigeria deserve someone better, though i have my reservations for this government but I believe this Buhari government is far better than previous governments that tried to legalize corruption. Dino Melaye only want to make himself a better alternative when things have gone wrong, he his a disgrace to young Nigerians, and instead of him to defend Nigerian youths, he is defending Saraki, he even carried Mrs Gbemisola Saraki 's bag when she was invited by the Efcc. Mr. Melaye belong to the group of politicians that are no longer needed in this country.

I condole with the government of Benue state and the federal government of Nigeria and i also use this opportunity to call on the federal government of Nigeria and the inspector general of police to order the immediate arrest and persecution of the National secretary general of GAFDAN Alhaji Saleh for his unguarded statement justifying the genocide inflicted on the people of Benue and also immediate arrest of members of meyati Allah for the treat they issued before the massacre. There is no crime greater than the killing of other Nigerians, this is barbaric, inhuman and unimaginable, it will not be tolerated. Some states in the north introduced sharia law and every nigerian living and doing business in those areas including people from other geo political zones played by the rules and those who could not play by the rules left the region without complaining, why will the secretary general of GAFDAN Alhaji Saleh dictate to Benue law makers what law to pass? The presidency should rise up to the occasion by telling killer herdsmen and other groups terrorizing the country that Nigeria belong to everyone and not a particular group of people.

olihilistic:
cptjacksparrow
I sight baba nla

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someone pls remember me too for airtime biko. Abeg. Mtn 08036203540

Ugoeze2016:
Wish I can assist butI pray that God visit you and your wife, the same way he visited Hannah and Sarah in Jesus name

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