₦airaland Forum

LadyNaija:
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the counsel by former president Olusegun Obasanjo that President Muhammadu Buhari should not seek a re-election in 2019 as courageous, timeous and patriotic, adding that such has vindicated its position The party however rejected the call by Chief Obasanjo for a third force saying that such would amount to repeating the same blunder that brought in the ideologically vacuous APC and the Buhari Presidency which has now wrecked havoc on the nation in its almost three years of governance.

NgeneUkwenu:
If you don't want Buhari, Contest or Vote against him

But don't beg him not to run..don't ask him not to exercise his fundamental human right..

This is democracy.... The number matters! if you have the numbers defeat him at the polls...

NgeneUkwenu:




GEJ supporters bore me with stale lines..

NgeneUkwenu:




GEJ supporters bore me with stale lines..

NgeneUkwenu:
Obj rooting for Sule Lamido, asking Buhari not to exercise his fundamental Human Right like He Obasanjo did in 2003....



Go to the poll, contest against him and defeat him on the field and not begging him not to contest...

sarrki:
Politics is a game of numbers, even if his wife & daughter come out openly against him his numbers in the North aint gonna move an inch, Buharism is like an established religion, forget the current mumble & grumble, I dare say that in 2019 he will have up to 15 million votes or more.

In order to be President of Nigeria you must have North-West & South-West block votes, he always had North-West overwhelmingly, merger with Tinubu gave him South-West and it was a done deal.

Reducing terror related deaths by 80%, simply means North-Easterners are not going to gamble their lives on anyone else...You can argue this with your keyboards.

South-West?...are the Yorubas who suffered the heck of marginalisation under PDP/GEJ going to "throw away" the current "milk & honey" Osinbajo, Kemi Adeosun, Fayemi, Babatunde Fowler & Super Minister Babatunde Fashola just like that? They will think about it profoundly...but I don't see that happening at all.

Middle-Belt, SS & SE? Take care of Herdsmen Vs Farmers crises in a very EFFECTIVE & DECISIVE way and you will score even better than 2015.

Emerging 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and X force? They may shake the dust off the curtains but that's it, Nigerian democracy is not yet as advanced as the French, German, Netherlands etc. for a 3rd force to make any significant impact 2019 is too close to call for such...It is simply (and sadly) going to be a PDP Vs APC affair.

Herdsmen Killings: A Failure of Government and Security Agencies

https://i0.wp.com/opinion.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/sites/2/2016/04/muhammadu-buhari.jpg?resize=1024%2C709

We must all admit that the manner of killings being unleashed on the populace has become a major national worry and threat.

It was not the first time herdsmen had wreaked havoc on Nigerians, or on Benue State particularly.

The other day, in Ondo State, South-West, Nigeria, herdsmen allegedly abducted Olu Falae, a former secretary to the federal government and former presidential candidate.

The same group of men ran amok killing in Enugu, and turned Agatu, in Benue State, into a killing field.

In recent times, markedly in the past two weeks, the rate at which armed herdsmen have descended on hapless citizens with rapid-fire guns and machetes is bestial and with a satanic vigour.

The way in which Tiv communities in rural Benue State fall easy prey to killings and maiming has now taken an alarming dimension, and is now on the front burner of national consciousness. Images of heaped corpses, including those of children, pregnant women, and the charred remains of burnt homes and bodies, circulated quite widely and with frenzy on social media. Public outrage and repulsion peaked at the brutality of the massacre.

Most unfortunately, ‘official’ reaction to all these sinister acts has been, at best, tepid.

foraminifera

Even to the most recent attack, the reaction, was, of course, foreseeable and in typical governmental character. Governor Ortom of Benue State visited the locus in quo, accompanied by the top police officers in the state, heads of other security agencies, and, of course a roll call of media personnel, to cry wolf over the carnage and do the usual ritual of lip service. As his entourage moped and gaped theatrically at the sordid landscape, the governor lowered his head and buried his chin in his hands, the visage of hurt laced with seriousness, while the cameramen clicked away, careful to catch the right angle of pain in enactment for public consumption. A charade.

And in cashing on the sad situation, there were the gubernatorial theatrics and recycled presidential statements; governments at other levels who indulge flippantly in the age-long business of making profit out of the situation in light of its publicity potentials in shoring up political capital for the 2019 election year in view. Nigerians are, of course, accustomed to their rulers’ occasional acts of Nollywoodesque tearfulness.

The government’s ineptitude reflects in the lacklustre performance of the security operatives who have shamelessly joined the league of leaders who have reduced the already lowered quality and sanctity of human lives, and who have become rather unfeeling of the plight of citizens, including innocent children and defenceless women who are now routinely killed.


The question now is: After the wailing, what concrete steps follow?

For one, the governor of Benue, Ortom, the chief security officer of the State, who also receives hundreds of millions of naira in allocations in the name of providing security for the lives and properties of Nigerians within the geographical space of his governance, has merely played the victim even more than the dead and wounded, while the Genral Buhari presidency enacted it’s traditional peacock dance on the graves of the dead before returning to the more important business of blaming the past and muscling critical opposition. What those two owe to the memory of the hapless, defenceless victims of the massacres, however, is to come up with measures to protect the lives and properties of those who have thus far survived.

If the presidential reaction was designed to allay anxiety and calm Nigerians’ nerves, I am afraid it had the opposite effect. The language lacked the depth of spirit, and came across as an old letter merely resent; a pronouncement that did not sprout from the heart. One could tell that the president was either unaware of the underlying intricacy of the crisis or was all together not bothered enough to mention it. It thus appears the president has taken for granted the truth that solutions cannot be effective where the problem sought to be resolved remain largely misunderstood or blurred.

The people of Benue State and other affected states must rise from the lethargy of their grief to becoming proactive with solutions. Things have fallen apart, and the centre cannot hold. When the veritable author Chinua Achebe borrowed the above words from the original in William Butler Yeats’ “The Second Coming”, he may have been referring to the pre-colonial era around the 1860s, at the arrival of white missionaries and the ruinous social and cultural consequences that characterised their coming. Centuries later, those haunting words have become prescient in relation to the anomaly called Nigeria.

The government’s ineptitude reflects in the lacklustre performance of the security operatives who have shamelessly joined the league of leaders who have reduced the already lowered quality and sanctity of human lives, and who have become rather unfeeling of the plight of citizens, including innocent children and defenceless women who are now routinely killed. For one, there is no dodging the fact that the apparent failure of Nigeria’s security officers has given vent to the Fulani herdsmen’s bloody rampages, and it must be understood in this light. And for so long as those who should see to the security of lives and properties desert their constitutional duties, Nigerian people must become a government unto themselves, particularly in matters that relate to their lives and properties, by whatever legitimate means at their disposal.

President Muhammadu Buhari is not doing enough. It’s his charge to act. He is at this point dangerously close to leaving Nigerians disillusioned. Leadership involves a measure of deliberation, prudence and pragmatism. He has not laid out a single policy proposal on any of the major national issues that concern the millions who voted for him, but continues to bask in the chant of the thinning crowd of diehard fans whose goto defence of his person is his debatable ‘Mr. Integrity’ posture. It is hoped that Mr. President is not hard of hearing when truth speaks to a solution. A four-time runner for office of president in the Fourth Republic, one would hope that the president would act less dazed and out of his depths when confronted with issues that are neither new nor unfathomable. The time for blame throwing and political face saving is long past. With all the security agencies maintained by the Nigerian state—and reporting to President Buhari—did the “herdsmen” have to kill one more soul before a presidential order was issued to rein them in?

Too much drama and suspence have been whipped up in recent times concerning the president’s reelection bid, a deliberate myth-creating ploy by his mischievous handlers to pass off the impression that should he choose to contest, his victory is assured. Such creativity is misplaced. The president’s scorecard, low this past two years, have even now been besmirched by the blood of the many innocents that have died and that may continue to die, if nothing concrete is done soon.

Far from feeling reassured, the people are abandoned to uncertainty on the theme of security not helped by the deployment of ceremonial policemen to the affected areas. Those who have the duty to protect fellow Nigerians have shirked their duties. Far from feeling reassured, the people of Benue state are abandoned to an uncertainty in security not helped by the deployment of ceremonial policemen to the affected areas. The only probable redemption would be to give a measure of statutory strength to the people’s right to defend themselves. It is not enough to launch the kind of cynical investigation that is soon forgotten— precisely because, in Nigeria, impunity, violence and senseless death are all but norms.

The national assembly must put to good use the instruments in their hands by enacting a body of law to constitute a community security force made up of natives who know the topography and peculiar security challenges of their areas, with adequate provisions to meet and deal with those challenges.

While we cannot blame the government singly for the atrocities, placing the security of lives in the hands of careless security operatives is in itself a careless culture.

At this level, the people should be encouraged to engage in community policing, at least for a further sense of security. Also, there’s the crying need for reorientation. It’s part of government’s roles to ensure that citizens are properly enlightened, with polluted minds disabused and instilled with the citizen’s mutual love and respect for other human lives.

Doing this is key and it is a collective responsibility to ensure that every Nigerian is secured in any part of the country where one finds one’s self.

FIRS Records N4tr Tax Revenue Collection In 2017 - Fowler

The Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Babatunde Fowler, on Monday said that the agency achieved N4 trillion as tax revenue collection in 2017.
Fowler said this at the FIRS 2018 Management and Stakeholders in Lagos with theme, “Optimizing Tax Administration with Parliamentary Synergy”.

The agency recorded N3.3 trillion as revenue collection in 2016.
The chairman said he was hopeful that the country would be further moved forward through taxation.
“By putting our hands together in contribution on to our set goal, I am confident that we will surpass our past result and we will be on our way to the future we hope to achieve.
“It is clear that taxation is the most sustainable of all government revenue sources,” Fowler said.
According to him, there has been sustained decline in global price of oil in second half of 2014, making the revenue generated from it to stand at N2.45 trillion.
He also said that in 2015, 2016 and 2017, the nation’s revenue from oil stood at N1.29 trillion, N1.16 trillion and N1.52.
Fowler said the trend had adverse effects on the ability of oil dependent countries to meet their development objectives.
“For us in Nigeria, a decline in receipts from oil revenue and decline in accruals to states from the federal account has placed many states in a financial quandary, to the extent where basic obligation such as the payment of employee wage has become a perennial challenge,” he said.
Fowler also said what the retreat hoped to achieve was part of efforts to ensure that the country must act differently by looking beyond oil as the mainstay of the economy.
“Therefore, there can not be any serious discussion on diversification of the nation’s revenue generation without reviewing the country’s tax regime for optimal performance.
“Between the resource persons, we have invited our own staff and our stakeholders.
“We hope to draw from a wide spectrum of perspectives on how best to move forward.
“If the way forward requires a review of existing legal framework or legislative reform, there is no doubt in my mind that we have willing and able partners in National Assembly, FIRS Board and the Joint Tax Board”.
He commended the National Assembly and traditional institution for their involvement in deepening tax collection in the country.
Earlier, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, who received the FIRS Chairman at his palace, thanked the National Assembly for its contribution and support to tax revenue generation in the country.
Akiolu said that the country needed good government, governance and leadership while urging them to be patient with the president in moving the country forward.
He said that Lagos State had been contributing its quota in ensuring more tax revenue generation for the country.
Also, at the courtesy visit were the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Sen. John Owan-Enoh, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Rep Babangida Ibrahim, members of the senate and house committees on finance. (NAN)

erico2k2:
Well this is good, so teh ND states will now own thier own Oil block endof.lets go there!

GoroTango:
Believe me I can understand your pain, but Ive got more bad news for you cos its about to get even worse

ManirBK:
Oboy raise your head up ethnity doest not work!

Therefore in my humble opinion, I think the permanent solution to the Fulani hegemony will be for the South West, South East, South-South, and the Middle Belt to come together, seek referendum, and secede from the present contraption to form a new nation; a new Federation where all the zones/states control their resources and pay taxes to the federal government, formulate their own laws, and have their own police.

ManirBK:
The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has confirmed the presence of adequate hydrocarbon in the Sokoto basin, urging governments of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and Katsina states to prepare to acquire oil blocks in the basin.

mrvitalis:
This is insane 17 trillion for a population of close to 100 million (yes we are no were near 180 million enough of that lies )

Until we get 40 of our gdp into budget we can't develop as we want

People ask me what is the solution to Nigeria
I tell them tax tax tax tax

Tax the people they would stop voting on sentiment, ..

.tax the people they would no longer take 2k to go and show support for politicians

Tax the people they would no longer take bribe to vote

Tax the people and they would hold the government accountable

Our major problem is the government don't fear the masses and until that happen we can't develop

We have close to 12 million cars and we can't raise 5 trillion to fix our roads ?

We have over 20 million children in private school and we can't use them and raise 2 trillion per year to fix our education system ?

We have people that import dress and we can't use them to raise 5 trillion to fix our textile industry

We have religious centers making trillions and we can't tax them 30% and give as loans to our young graduates to start something ?

We are not ready

Desyner:
Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, Immediate past Director-General of Nigerian Law School.
https://cdn.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/prof-tahir.jpg
Governments at all levels spend hundreds of billions on infrastructure, teachers, research and other support services to train students and manpower most of whom go into private sector. Even those in government services are still paid through salaries even though most of the training were provided and paid for by the government. Similarly, the Law School which every lawyer must attend is wholly provided for by the government.
Students pay a fraction of service charges only. Where do lawyers go to after such lavish government expenditures on their training? Most go into private jobs and in a lot of cases, charge government ridiculous, extortionist fees when their services are called for by same government that trained them.

Ben Agande, Kaduna The umbrella body of Muslims in the country, Nigeria, Jamatul Nasir Islam (JNI) on Sunday accused the Christian Association of Nigeria inventing the ‘herdsmen’ to achieve a preplanned agenda.
https://cdn.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Sultan-Jni.jpg


JNI MEETING: From right: Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Jni, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III; Secretary-General, Jni, Dr. Khalid Abubakar and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai El-Kanemi, during the Jni Annual Central Council meeting, in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna Sunday evening, the Secretary-General of JNI Sheikh Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu accused the CAN of unnecessarily over heating the polity “through provocative and blatant misinformation ”

“The ‘herdsmen’ debacle must be understood that this is a mischievously invented by CAN over time and its biased errand boys among media practitioners stereotype an ethnic group so as to achieve a pre-planned agenda.

“Why is the whole herdsmen issue heightened now in 2018? simply, CAN is unnecessarily overheating the polity because 2019 is around the corner. Our take is that CAN should better go and register as a political party and contest election if they want to test their popularity. “We nonetheless make bold to say that CAN is deliberately covering up by using the ‘herdsmen’ debacle as a franchise to perpetrate evil as witnessed in the Boko Haram tale”.

The JNI leader also accused Christian leaders of hate speeches, warning that they should not take the Nigerian Muslims patience foolishness. “In the same light, some Christian leaders promote hate speeches, such as if you see a Fulani man kill him by Pastor Suleiman and crush them, kill them by pastor Oyedepo.

The repercussion Of such speeches could be better imagined. “In addition, Bishop Kukah’s hate speech against Muslims in Nigeria is legendary, as hardly would opportunity avail itself for him to talk without smearing Islam and Muslims in Nigeria. “CAN and other Christian leaders such as Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Pastor Oyedepo, Suleiman and recently El Buba should not take Nigerian Muslims’ patience for foolishness, as their speeches are becoming really provocative and outlandish.

Therefore, CAN should desist from making provocative statements in the midst of serious issues bedeviling the nation. “Government should take the bull by the horn by prosecuting promoters of hate speeches in Nigeria, if not one day it will become a norm that cannot be challenged and one of the chief mongers of the hate speech is CAN as represented by Rev. Asake.

“To put the record straight, JNI condemns killings of innocent souls wherever they happen and whoever is involved. JNI also condemns the generalization of criminals as representatives of the whole, thus leading to unjust stereotyping and name calling.

We condemn all criminals, whoever they are and wherever they come from. A criminal should be treated as a criminal regardless of his/her ethnicity and/or religious affiliation”.

naijaking1:
Buhari and his DSS cousin director are liars of the same feather!
If they're foreigners, how come the soldiers are always helping them with arms, planning and execution of these criminal acts.
We are not fooled.
Fulani herdsmen raped and killed 2 women in my area, when the town's people went looking for these women a truck of army soldiers promptly and arrested all of them, locked them up in Umuahia, alleging that the locals were going to fight the criminal Fulani herdsmen.
I beg carry go.

Desyner:
Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, Immediate past Director-General of Nigerian Law School.
https://cdn.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/prof-tahir.jpg
Governments at all levels spend hundreds of billions on infrastructure, teachers, research and other support services to train students and manpower most of whom go into private sector. Even those in government services are still paid through salaries even though most of the training were provided and paid for by the government. Similarly, the Law School which every lawyer must attend is wholly provided for by the government.
Students pay a fraction of service charges only. Where do lawyers go to after such lavish government expenditures on their training? Most go into private jobs and in a lot of cases, charge government ridiculous, extortionist fees when their services are called for by same government that trained them.
For me, any lawyer who does not agree the commencement of cattle colony is a disgrace to his profession and country because it is anchored on justice and appreciation of Nigeria’s diversity, tolerance and accommodation, security and safety all of all citizens, rights of movement and residence in any part of Nigeria without let or hindrance as embedded in the country’s grundnorm – the Constitution. This is what a well trained, responsible and responsive lawyer should be advocating.



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/01/govs-right-rejecting-cattle-colonies/