₦airaland Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wASkX-rg2c&t=92s

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has attributed the delay in meeting its obligations to the beneficiaries of its 2019 postgraduate foreign scholarship programme to the lockdown created by the COVID-19 pandemic and the inquest by the National Assembly.
The NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Charles Odili in a statement in Port Harcourt said the commission was making concerted efforts to effect the required payments.
He said contrary to claims in some quarters, the NDDC had not abandoned the scholars describing them as the commission’s ambassadors.

Read here: https://oak.tv/newstrack/nddc-blames-covid-19-nass-for-delay-in-paying-scholarship-students/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has urged an Ikeja Special Offences Court to deny popular social media influencer, Adedamola Adewale Rukayat, also known as Adeherself bail.

See gist: https://oak.tv/newstrack/efcc-urges-court-to-deny-popular-social-media-influencer-adeherself-bail/

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, has justified the approval he gave to Omoh Jay Nig Ltd, a firm accused of stealing Crude Oil and Diesel, to auction seized vessels.

See full story here: https://oak.tv/newstrack/vessels-auction-my-approval-legal-says-malami/

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The lawmaker representing Obudu Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Steven Ukpukpen, on Wednesday morning slumped and died during a workout.

The incident happened at 7am along Moore Road in Calabar.

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Prince Abubakar Audu, first Executive Governor of Kogi State was born on the 27th of October 1947, to the family of his Royal Highness, the late Pa Audu Oyidi, Orego Atta of Igala Land and the paramount rule of Ogbonicha-Alloma in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

He started his education career at the then N.A. Junior Primary School, Alloma, and later N.A Senior School Ankpa, from where he proceeded to Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha. He later transferred to the Jos Commercial College where he obtained both the GCE O and A level.

After a stint as a bank worker, Prince Audu later proceeded to London from 1975-1978 where he studied banking and personnel management, obtaining professional qualification as a certified secretary; and a Fellowship of the Association of International Accountants of London, as well as the fellowship of the chartered institute of industrial administration of Nigeria.

Prince Audu spent a total of 25 years with the First Bank, formerly Standard Bank, where he served in different capacities at management levels until 1991. During this period, Prince Audu made history as the first black training officer for the bank and one of the first black senior management staff of Standard Chartered Bank in London and New York.

He was appointed Commissioner for Finance and Economic planning in the former Benue State in 1986 serving in this capacity for two years. When that council was dissolved he went back to First Bank of Nigeria Plc as General Manager.

In 1991, Prince Audu was appointed Executive Director of FSB International Bank PLC before he was invited into politics to contest for the Governorship position in Kogi State under the ticket of the National Republican Convention (NRC). He was sworn in on 2nd January 1992 as the First Executive Governor of Kogi State. It was in this capacity that he transformed the infrastructural landscape of Kogi State.

Within the 22 months lifespan of that administration, which was abruptly terminated by Military intervention, Prince Audu made monumental landmarks in virtually all sectors, particularly in the area of housing, electricity, roads, education, and health care services.

His social-economic contribution in the State is to date a point of reference to the generality of the people and many aspiring leaders. Some of his major achievement during his brief 1st term of office includes the establishment of three different housing schemes for public officers consisting of over 1,500 housing units in Lokoja, the transformation of Lokoja township with asphalt road, street lights aesthetic roundabouts, the construction of inter-township and rural roads, over 75 electrification schemes and 50 water projects.

Other achievements include, the founding of Kogi State Polytechnic, the establishment of a television station, radio station, both AM and FM, a state newspaper and the transformation of the colonial residence of Lord Lugard into an Ultra Modern Government House Complex, the construction of office blocks for ministries as the new state had no office accommodation, the construction of shopping arcade complex to enhance commercial activities among others.

He pioneered the construction of the first ultra modern state liaison office in Abuja. He also started work on an ultra modern stadium and a five star hotel in Lokoja, which were not finished due to the abrupt manner the lifespan of that administration was truncated. With the restoration of democracy in 1998, Prince Audu again offered to serve as Executive Governor of the state. He received the overwhelming support of the people and scored over 700.000 votes at the Governorship election while his opponent hardly recorded 50% of the vote cast. On the 9th January, 1999, Prince Audu got re-elected into the saddled of leadership of Kogi State under the ticket of the All Nigerian People’s Party. He was sworn in on May 29, 1999 as the 2nd Executive Governor of Kogi State.

On assuming office, Governor Audu took steps to woo prospective investors to harness the numerous solid mineral potentials that abound in the State. The big prize was the establishment of Obajana Cement Factory. The project, which was on going before he left office, attracted the support of the United State Government. During the visit of former President Bill Clinton to Nigeria, the State Government signed the agreement with the US Trade Development Agency (TDA) for a grant to finalize the feasibility work on the project. The cement project is now operational.

The establishment of a state university, Kogi State University Anyigba, is another testimony to the vision, and resourcefulness. The foundation stone was laid on 30th November 1999, when former President olusegun Obasanjo, visited the state. About a year later, the President returned to Anyigba during a state visit to commission the University complex. According to a report of a visitation panel to the university from the Nigeria University Commission, the institution was then described as the fastest growing university in the country. The university received tremendous international support, which included an affiliation programme to Morgan State University Baltimore. Also, seven visiting professors from various universities in the United State were at the university to review its curriculum and align it with their own universities and prepare the students for exchange programme to give the university an international acceptability.

Prince Audu completed several landmark projects within four years. They include: the five star confluence Beach Hotel, 250 units Housing Estate, a Sport Complex, a Specialist Eye Hospital and 25 other medical Institutions. Others are: a Special Government Girls Secondary School on Student exchange programme, 350 borehole schemes, 300 kilometers of township roads, the procurement of 100 transit buses and completion of 40 rural electrification projects.

A highly traveled politician, Prince Audu brought so many honors to the country through his personal relationships with foreign statesmen. It is known that he enjoys a very intimate relationship with the former British Prime Minister, Mr. John Major. In 1993, he and the member of his family were special guests of the British Prime Minister at No 10, Downing Street where he hosted them to a State Banquet. Also in 1993, His Excellency attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Cyprus. His connection with the international community saved Nigeria during the heady days of Shonekan administration from economic embargo. In December 1999, he was on the delegation of President Olusegun Obasanjo during the State visit to Germany. On every account, Prince Audu who maintains a good circle of friends across the country is by every judgment a great patriot, visionary, humanist and nationalist. The outstanding achievements of Prince Abubakar Audu have been acknowledged by several organizations within and outside Nigeria through awards and honours presented to him. Notable among these awards are:

+Distinguished Leadership Award by the African Community Development Institute in Washington DC USA, where Governor Audu presented a paper on education and community development in Africa

·+Golden Trophy for Good Governance in January 2002 He was declared as the Best Performing Governor in Nigeria under the dispensation of PDP controlled Federal Government, organizers of the National Media Tour Award Ceremony under the chairmanship of professor Jerry Gana, the then Minister of Information and National Orientation.

·+ Nigeria Union of Journalist, Abuja chapter, Excellent Leadership Award

·+ Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Association, Outstanding Leadership Award

·+ Best sport loving governor in Nigeria award by sport writers association of Nigeria (SWAN)

·+ Outstanding People of the 20th Century Award by the Biographical Center Cambridge England

·+1000 Leaders of World Influence Award by the American Biographical Institute.

·+Founding Member of the American Order of Excellence (FOAE) by the American Biographical Institute USA

·+American Medal of Honour Award by the American Biographical Institute USA Washington DC USA, where Governor Audu presented a paper on education and community development in Africa

·+Golden Trophy for Good Governance in January 2002 He was declared as the Best Performing Governor in Nigeria under the dispensation of PDP controlled Federal Government, organizers of the National Media Tour Award Ceremony under the chairmanship of professor Jerry Gana, the then Minister of Information and National Orientation.

Late last week, on the 11th and 12th August 2011, the media were awash
with the claim that Mrs. Sharon Adefunke Kasali, the Executive
Secretary of Petroleum Equalisation Fund was arrested and detained by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the EFCC in connection
with economic and financial crimes and corrupt practices.

For the records, we wish to state that, contrary to the report, Mrs.
Kasali was not arrested and is not being detained in connection with
any alleged commission of crimes.

She was invited by the EFCC for questioning as were four other staff
before her, and all were allowed to go home. During her questioning,
Mrs. Kasali was confronted with an anonymous and unsigned petition
written, by a so-called Concerned PEF Staff. She made a statement;
fill in an Asset Declaration Form; and was requested to surrender her
international passports. She was granted bail in her own
self-recognizance, and allowed to go home. In consequence, Mrs. Kasali
canceled her scheduled vacation trip.

Refuting the allegations against her:

Three key allegations were hauled against her in an anonymous and
unsigned petition:

TENURE QUESTION: The first leg in the petition was that Mrs. Kasali’s
tenure as the Executive Secretary of PEF is over, and that contrary to
“procedure”, she has refused to hand-over to the most senior General
Manager in PEF.

It was claimed that a petition against her stay in office beyond her
tenure had been sent to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of
Petroleum, and that the Permanent Secretary had set up an
investigation panel headed by a senior official in the Ministry to
investigate the Petition.

For the avoidance of any doubt, the position of Executive Secretary of
PEF is not a tenured position under the Statute establishing the
agency. Mrs. Kasali was appointed to her current position four years
ago, in April 2007, for an unspecified period of time. Very
instructively, her predecessor in office was in that position for
eleven (11) unbroken years. Mrs. Kasali helped clarified that
misunderstanding.

BANK ACCOUNTS: The second allegation in the petition is that the sum
of N400 million was found in Mrs. Kasali’s personal bank accounts and
that the sums of N50 million and N30 million were found in some other
accounts linked to her. This being untrue, Mrs. Kasali said she
operates two personal bank accounts and the combined total amount of
funds in the accounts is below N4 million, out of which N1.6 Million
is a rent, just collected on a property jointly owned with her
husband. It was possible it wasn’t her account they had in view, she
told them.

NGO FUNDING: The last allegation falsely flung at her was that Mrs.
Kasali forces oil marketers to make donations to Diamond Lights Women
Empowerment Initiative. Diamond Lights Empowerment Initiative is an
NGO founded by Mrs. Kasali in 2005 (two clear years before she got her
present appointment) out of her conviction that indigent young women
from all works of life needed empowerment.

The objective of Diamond Lights is to assist young women in removing
circumstantial limitations placed on them by society. Diamond Lights
is not a front for money laundering.
http://diamondlights.org/index.php

Though she is the founder, Mrs. Kasali does not personally run the
organization as alleged. In the past six years, over 150 young ladies
have enjoyed scholarships into various tertiary institutions in
Nigeria. This NGO is funded via contributions from individuals,
private organizations and multinationals. And right from its inception
to date, the total amount of monetary donation made to the
organization is not in excess of N15 million.

The 2010 audited account of Diamond Light Empowerment Initiative is
thus available for review. Typically, the hidden petitioners have no
reference of any such bank accounts they have made claims to, thus
begging the question into what accounts have the alleged donations of
the oil marketers to the organization been paid?

The Hidden Agenda:

Before Mrs. Kasali was appointed the Executive Secretary of PEF, the
organization had a history of failing to pay oil marketers the
transportation differentials for petroleum products movement from
depots to their sales outlets in order to ensure a uniform national
product pricing. Thus, it was a norm that marketers were owed for
upward of nine months. That has now been address under the Kasali
dispensation. Today, oil marketers are being paid for liftings made
in June 2011. The removal of this fraudulent process has certainly not
gone well with many stakeholders but the question is: when then did it
become a crime to pay oil marketers as the statute of PEF demands? We
challenge any oil marketer with proof of any inducement to Mrs. Kasali
to please come forward and say so.

Not satisfied with a transparent corridor in the new operational
regime at the PEF, outright false claims have been spurned that Mrs.
Kasali used proxies to set up companies to which she selectively
awarded contracts from PEF. Truth is that all the contracts awarded by
the PEF under Mrs. Kasali have followed due process. Advertorials were
placed in the media calling for tenders of bids. The Board of the PEF
publicly announces bid winners after going through a rigorous
screening exercise.

The calculation of those hunting Mrs. Kasali is that once she is
sufficiently demonized or scandalized in the public, and tainted with
allegation of corruption, she would either resign in anger and
frustration, or be removed from office by an overwhelmed Government.

The case of a former Minister of Health, Professor Adenike Grange and
the ex commissioners of the National Electricity Regulatory
Commission, who were charged by the EFCC to court for corruption but
cleared for want of evidence, are instructive precedents in this
regard. In both cases, the damage had been done before their
exoneration.

This conspiracy has practically done everything both physical and
metaphysical in the last four years to get rid of Mrs. Kasali. At a
point, owing to threats to her life, Mrs. Kasali had to seek extra
police protection from the office of the Inspector-General of Police.
The grouse of this conspiracy is that the institution is a cash cow,
and that Mrs. Kasali’s ethical standards and uprightness is an
obstacle to corrupt enrichment.

As Executive Secretary, Mrs. Kasali was compelled to introduce an
e-loading system titled “Project Aquila” to checkmate the corrupt
practice of presentation of fictitious claims by marketers. Before her
tenure, the practice that was rife was that some marketers would sell
their products at the depots, and yet present bridging cost claims
that they “incurred” in transporting products to their retail outlets
in far-flung places all over the Country. Through that fraudulent
practice, the Federal Government of Nigeria was losing billions of
naira. This is what is known as “bridging by air”. Apart from ensuring
a tighter claims verification regime, Project Aquila will also help
deal in eliminating corruption and ensuring prompt payment of bridging
cost. Under this system, presentations of fake claims and other
inefficiencies will be eliminated.

Apart from introducing the e-payment and e-loading systems, Mrs.
Kasali also initiated a process that led to the computation of money
owed petroleum marketers between 2004 and 2008, totaling N17.4 billion
and took swift action to ensure that the outstanding amounts were
paid. Her administration put in place a regulation that bridging costs
claims by marketers are time-barred, and must be presented within nine
months; otherwise the claims will lapse. Except on exceptional grounds
and for proven justifiable and good reasons for delay in presentation
of claims outside the nine-month period, PEF has upheld this
regulation.


Finally, we wish to assure the Federal Government of Nigeria that has
given Mrs. Sharon Adefunke Kasali an opportunity to serve her
fatherland and contribute to her development, that all these
allegations are the work of political prostitutes seeking to capture
presumed juicy official executive positions. To be sure, the season is
ripe for the hungry political marauders who are now on the prowl, and
for who the reputation and integrity of their targets will not be
hallowed grounds on a wrecking mission.

Getting to know Mrs. Sharon Adefunke Kasali.

Mrs. Sharon Adefunke Kasali is a chartered accountant of international
repute. In 1986, she completed a Bachelor degree in Business
Administration & Accounting from Texas Southern University and
obtained a Master of Business Administration in Finance and MIS in
University of Houston , Graduate School of Business in 1991. She was
certified as a public accountant the same year. She started her work
career in the United States of America with the globally renowned
accounting organization, Arthur Andersen. She later joined Exxon Mobil
in the United States . She was later transferred to Mobil Africa. She
worked in Nigeria, France and Kenya and rose to the position of East
Africa Regional Director of Finance, Exxon Mobil Africa. At the Zenith
of her work, there, she had seven Finance Directors reporting to her.
She left Exxon Mobil in 2004 and joined Nigeria Sao Tome Principe
Joint Development Authority as Deputy Director Audit. It was from this
position she was appointed to the position of Executive Secretary PEF
in March 2007.

Signed
Jiti Ogunye
Jiti Ogunye Chambers
Lagos

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By JIDE AJANI, EMMANUEL AZIKEN, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE, DAPO AKINREFON & IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI



ABUJA—ACTION Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday, formally pulled out of alliance talks on presenting a joint candidate with the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, for this weekend’s presidential elections.


From left: ACN spokesman, Alhaji Lai Muhammed; National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; and National Secretary, Senator Lawali Shuaibu at the news briefing on the failure of discussions on alliance with CPC in Abuja, yesterday. Photo:Gbemiga Olamikan
The breakdown in the talks followed the refusal of CPC Vice-Presidential candidate, Pastor Tunde Bakare, to sign a post-dated letter of resignation that would have enabled the ACN place its nominee for the post after the election.

Despite their initial hesitations, ACN chieftains under pressure from their national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had reconciled themselves to advance the CPC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as the joint presidential candidate of the two parties at the late night talks that commenced on Tuesday.

A pledge by CPC representatives at the meeting to resume the talks at 10.00 a.m. yesterday was not fulfilled leaving many ACN chieftains livid.

ACN govs under pressure

ACN Governors who had been under tremendous pressure from President Goodluck Jonathan, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were even more enraged that they were being scorned by Buhari while President Jonathan was on his part seriously courting them through telephone calls and emissaries including traditional rulers.

CPC National Chairman, Prince Tony Momoh, while regretting the breakdown of the talks told Vanguard that Bakare was entitled to exercise his right to freedom of association.

The talks as exclusively reported by Vanguard had been brokered by two former heads of state from the North and a former Vice-President, all of them with strong attachment to the ruling PDP.

Vanguard gathered that former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and erstwhile National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau had, Monday, made contact with Tinubu as to the possibility of forging an alliance with ACN against the PDP.

It was learnt that Tinubu had immediately relayed the request to the national caucus of the ACN that also met in Abuja, Monday. Majority of the caucus members were said to be against it on the basis of what they claimed were past disappointments from Buhari. The persistent pleas from Tinubu and Chief Tom Ikimi to give Buhari another opportunity, however, paved the way.

Ribadu’s mature response

Among those present at the Monday ACN caucus meeting was the party’s presidential candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. Party insiders informed Vanguard that Ribadu responded to the matter of stepping down very maturely.

One source said: “He was very mature in the way he took it. He said that everyone was aware that he was less than eight months in politics and that Buhari has been involved for some time and that he was willing to learn more. But then, he went on to lay down his plans and compared them with Buhari’s and by the time he finished everybody clapped for him.”

Following Monday’s national caucus meeting, it was resolved that the ACN would dispatch a team of negotiators including governors to meet with the emissaries from Buhari. The ACN caucus was firm that Buhari must be present in person at the meeting which was scheduled to hold at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

It was expected that after the meeting with Buhari the ACN negotiation team would report back to the ACN national caucus at 4 p.m. same day which would give its final approval on the issue.

While Buhari met with his emissaries at about that time in Abuja, he was according to one source, not inclined to a face-to-face meeting with the negotiating team from the ACN.

His decision not to engage the ACN chieftains in a face to face meeting enraged many party officials who were already raising doubts on the worth of the talks with Buhari. At about the same time, Tuesday, ACN gubernatorial candidates from across the country who were in Abuja for a scheduled parley with the party officials also met where the issue of adopting Buhari as a joint candidate of the two parties was discussed.

A party source privy to the deliberation told Vanguard: “All but one of the northern gubernatorial candidates are opposed to the alliance.”

Meanwhile seeing the determination of the ACN to confront him on the issue, Buhari it was learnt requested for the meeting to be deferred till 9 p.m. on Tuesday. ACN national caucus members yielded to him. But by that time enthusiasm on Buhari had started to wane. Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State who was part of the team expected to meet with Buhari indeed left Abuja that afternoon.

By 9 p.m. on Tuesday evening as they waited for Buhari some party hardliners began to canvass strong conditions for adopting Buhari. They were particularly moved by intelligence reports that the CPC may not be able to even finance the payment of its agents during the weekend presidential poll.

Buhari shifts meeting

Buhari meanwhile had again shifted the meeting to 10.00 p.m. where he was expected to come along with five other officials of the party. The ACN team was also to be represented by a team of six officials.

By 10.30 p.m. the ACN officials including Asiwaju Tinubu, Alhaji Yusuf Alli, Senator Lawan Shuaibu, former Governor Segun Osoba, former Governor Niyi Adebayo, Dr. Muiz Banire and Dr. Garba Abari departed for the meeting.

The mediators, Gen. Babangida, Atiku, Gusau and erstwhile Inspector General of Police, MD Yusuf were on hand to receive them. Buhari, however, was not available. He came some time before midnight.

He came along with Pastor Bakare, Prince Tony Momoh, the national chairman of the CPC and Alhaji Sule Hamman, the erstwhile director general of The Buhari Organisation, TBO.

The ACN team was quick to present its conditions for an offer and that was a post dated letter of resignation from Pastor Bakare as Vice-President and the adoption of reforms in the polity. While they muttered over the matter of reforms, eyes allegedly shifted on Bakare for his agreement on the issue of resignation. Bakare, it was learnt stonewalled on the issue.

Giving reasons for the collapse of the talks, one of the state governors from the South West zone, told Vanguard categorically: “The conditions for an alliance are very simple and straight forward under any circumstance. It is about weighing the possibilities in anyprospect and building on it. That is the real essence of an alliance in the first place.”

No alliance with CPC—Akande
In his statement, Akande said: “The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, wishes to inform all its teeming supporters as well as all Nigerians that there is no alliance between the party and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, ahead of Saturday’s presidential election.

“While it is true that representatives of both parties have engaged in talks aimed at forging an alliance that could dislodge the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the clueless party that has frittered away the huge opportunities that could have transformed our great country in the past 12 years, we regret to announce that such talks have not led to any alliance.

“We as party that believes in democratic values have, therefore, decided that in the overall interest of the parties involved, our democracy as well as our country, it is better for each of the parties to go into the presidential election on its own platform. If at the end of the election on Saturday there is no clear winner we will make a decision on which way to go, in the overriding interest of all Nigerians.”

Bakare has right to express own opinion—Momoh
While reacting to the breakdown of talks with the ACN and why Pastor Tunde Bakare refused to sign a post dated resignation letter, Prince Momoh, National Chairman of the CPC said: “He (Bakare) has a right to express his own opinion.

“He has a right to freedom of expression and freedom to associate. Both the CPC and ACN were interested in the alliance. As far as I am concerned, it was an individual that expressed his own opinion on the issue and he has the right to express it.”

On the possibility of the CPC forging an alliance with any other political party before the presidential polls, the former Minister of Information said “anything can still happen.”

Alliance against Jonathan will fail — Clark
Elder statesman of the Ijaw nation, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday, waved aside the purported plans by leading opposition parties in the country to form a common front against the PDP in Saturday’s presidential election, stressing that any unwholesome alliance against the political aspiration of President Goodluck Jonathan not based on the overall interest of the electorate would flop.

Clark who stated this in a statement in Abuja, equally urged politicians to eschew regional and religious sentiments capable of inciting disaffection among Nigerians, just as he canvassed for more support towards ensuring that the ‘one man one vote’ doctrine of the present administration was not truncated at the alter of mediocrity.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/04/why-acn-cpc-talks-collapsed/

Nigeria is truly a great country. We are blessed abundantly with both natural and human resources. We are blessed with very hard working people, who if given a little opportunity will excel in any endeavour. But the opportunities are simply not available. We have the will and the capacity to do better and improve our lives, but the environment is not conducive for such.

In every society, social change is driven by a particular subset of that society. Today, this change for a new Nigeria is driven by the youth. This group is made up of young people; school leavers, job seekers, young professionals, and technocrats, whose collective dream is to see a better Nigeria. The older generation may claim that the young lack experience but time has shown this to be false.

When Obama came out and ran for the American presidency, he was said to be too young; that he lacked experience. His opponent, John McCain, was assumed better suited for the job, with years of political experience and a sitting governor for a running mate! The change that swept America, swept them away. When Louis Ignacio Da Silva of Brazil ran for president in his country, he too was assumed to be too young, and inexperienced. Today, the change he wrought in Brazil has seen the Brazilian economy soar and country move from international back stage to the limelight.

Today, in Nigeria, there are people who also see Nuhu Ribadu, the presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as being too young and inexperienced. But Nuhu Ribadu is the epitome of the youth; a champion for the dream of a new Nigeria. He believes that if the youth are properly integrated into our leadership processes and become part of it, that Nigeria will be a better place for everyone.

For a leader to truly champion a cause, he/she must believe in the cause. Nuhu Ribadu represents a visionary and dedicated leadership, determined to change the fortunes of Nigerians for the better. For despite all our God-given natural and human resources, Nigeria still lags behind in the comity of nations. There are many issues requiring attention in Nigeria, the most pressing being youth unemployment. Young people 30 years old and below make up 70% of Nigeria's population, yet youth unemployment is rampant. Up to 50-60% of our graduates are unemployed, to the point where parents and children now question the value of education.

The Nigerian economy is performing below its potential and is not creating enough jobs for our fast growing youth population. Though the economy is growing at around 6% per annum, it could grow at a much faster pace and more importantly it could create more jobs if the right policies are pursued.

The economy has to be managed with fiscal prudence so that our expenditure does not exceed our revenues. The fiscal deficit kept at 3% of GDP from 2003-2007 has now doubled to 6%, implying a great deal of spending without much impact or results on the ground. At the end of 2008, the Excess Crude Account (ECA) had the equivalent of US$20 billion in savings to cushion the country against a "rainy day".

Much of that money has now been shared between federal, state and local governments. What is left is less than US$500 million. Our foreign exchange reserves have come down from a peak of more than US$50 billion a couple of years ago to US$38 billion now. Our domestic debt has climbed to the level of Naira3.76 trillion or the equivalent of US$25 billion (from DMO website as of June 30 2010).

This in an abuse fiscal responsibility and it has serious impact on our domestic economy, especially as some of the states borrowing may not be in a position to fully service their debt. All the borrowing and use of our domestic revenues has not led to better services on the ground. The position of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is that we must budget within our means and keep overspending to a minimum. This means bringing the fiscal deficit back to 3% of GDP.

The Ribadu Plan seeks to bring our foreign exchange reserves to a robust level of US$50 billion or more; and work for a steady and attainable economic growth rate of 7-8% per year for the next five years and 8-10% per year for the years following that. This growth must be job-creating growth focused on both the oil and non-oil sectors of the economy. It will invest in infrastructure, in health and education, and in creating the enabling environment for investment in all key sources of growth in the economy, particularly agriculture, the extractive industry, manufacturing, housing and construction, financial services, information and communication technology (ICT), as well as arts and culture, and the entertainment industry.

That is the challenge facing us in the second half of the Nigerian century; and that is the challenge Mallam Ribadu will address if he becomes president.