₦airaland Forum

Thoughts on the Forthcoming Memorial Service in Honour of late President Buhari

By Edwin Uhara

"The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example" — Benjamin Disraeli

One year after his death, his memory is still fresh in our minds, his thoughts still live rent-free on our heads and his legacies still remains the talk of town -- former President Muhammadu Buhari was indeed a great leader by all standards and deserved to be remembered as enunciated by the Central Planning Committee of the body handling the forthcoming memorial service and free book launch in his honour.

Like Napoleon Bonaparte once said: "Great men are meteors designed to burn so that earth may be lighted," Buhari did not only bring light to the nation but he brought shining flame that illuminated the length and breath of the nation; from Abia to Zamfara, the story is the same.

It is the story of a man who denied himself comfort for the benefit of the talakawas; a man who did not build new house but instead donated his salary for the common good of the people.

In fact, let me not dwell on his government's achievements because the "big boys" of his administration will do that, but let me draw attention to the area that nobody talked about and will likely not talk about on his memorial day.

It is the story of how the late President was able to tame the overbearing influence of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) who nearly took over the functions of the National Assembly and appropriated the duties of the president to themselves through the back door.

As a Press Officer in one of the lobby groups in Abuja then, when some of the governors come to our office, you often hear them boast that no policy can be implemented by the President without their endorsement.

So before the coming of Buhari, we witnessed how legislative bills must enjoy the backing of the governors before it could fly at the National Assembly.

We saw how the president must pander to the interest of governors before having his wish done.

Any lawmaker who refused to support the position of his state governor is sure of losing his seat in next election.

We saw how a sitting president dare not appoint a minister outside the list submitted by state governors because of political correctness.

We saw how the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum was dragging the national leadership status of a ruling party with the Commander-in-Chief; creating a situation where the governors must approve the choice of whoever the president was bringing as national chairman of his party.

Governors were having asphyxiating effects on the President to the extent that no major appointment could come from their states without their inputs.

The situation was so tensed that David Mark as then Senate President had to admit that there was an understanding between him and his state governor which warranted that he will respect his governor anytime he was in Benue State but that his governor must also respect him anytime he was in Abuja because of his position as the number three citizen of the country.

Every attempt to put governors to where they belong failed. The presidency supported Jonah Jang, former Governor of Plateau State to become Chairman of the Governors Forum but he failed.

While Jonah Jang was Jangling with the Presidency over a failed mission, the NGF was having a field day.

The organization was so strong that an attack on one governor was treated as an attack on all governors.

It was out of this frustration that led to the formation of the PDP Governor's Forum with then 'uncommon' Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio as it's first Chairman but still could not match the force of the NGF.

But when Buhari came on board, only with his body language alone, the new Sheriff was able to conquer what others couldn't.

Today, the Presidency has taken back it's power in full, including the power to appoint anybody into any office without third party interference.

With this and many others, former President Muhammadu Buhari deserve to be remembered and honoured.

And according to the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee for the event and immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, he said: "On behalf of the Central Planning Committee, I have the honour and privilege to address you on the plans for the forthcoming first anniversary of the passing of our beloved former President, Muhammadu Buhari."

"The commemorative event will bring together the family he left behind, his friends and associates, public officials, and well-wishers, to remember his life and to offer prayers and supplications for the repose of his soul.

Adding that "The programme will consist principally of interfaith and interdenominational prayers, reflecting the values of unity, faith and national cohesion that he upheld throughout his life and his service to our country."

"At the event, a select number of individuals who worked closely with the late President will speak about his historical legacy and share their personal experiences of him."

The former SGF further noted that "A book of tributes titled, "Tributes and Condolences in Honour of Muhammadu Buhari," will be presented to the public by the Special Guest of Honour, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu."

In its pages, the global community, including heads of state, diplomats and political leaders, remembered the late President as a man of simplicity, resilience and integrity.

He recalled that following his passing at the age of 82 on the 13th of July last year, the world honoured his life for his humility and as a source of inspiration. I should add that the book is neither for sale nor for fundraising. It is for free distribution.”

The former SGF urged Nigerians to pray for the late president in their places of worship, expressing hope that the commemoration would foster national unity and comfort his family, friends and admirers.

He continued, “Religious leaders representing the various faiths and denominations will lead prayers for him. Our hope is that the occasion will not only honour the memory of the late President, but also serve as a source of comfort and encouragement to his family, his friends, his admirers, and the entire people of this country who continue to cherish his worthy legacy of service to the nation.

Though no amount of good words can replace his presence in our midst but as believers, we take solace in the Almighty.

And on behalf of all the Buharideens, I am praying that the Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, shower His infinite love and mercy upon his soul and grant him high rank in Jannatul Firdaus, Ameen Ya Rabi.

Comrade Edwin Uhara is a former Member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and United Nations-trained Negotiator

Press Release

Uhara Salutes Tunji Bello at 65

A Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress and United Nations-trained Negotiator, Comrade Edwin Uhara has praised the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice-Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Mr. Tunji Bello as he turns 65.

In a statement released to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, the party stalwart commended Mr. Bello for his unrelenting fight against the exploitation of Nigerian consumers by dubious producers and retailers.

Noting that within the shortest time frame he has been in the office, the FCCPC under his leadership has been able to rekindle the hope of the ordinary Nigerian in our local market by encouraging healthy competition as well as creating room for innovation among market leaders and stakeholders.

Uhara stated that the era of outrageous fixing of commodity prices at the expense of the Nigerian consumers are over.

I have said it in my previous commentaries that price gouging is not only unethical, but also a burden on our conscience which is the oracle of God

Uhara enjoined the ever-busy celebrant to remain resolute in the face of some of the challenges that usually comes his way.

Signed:

Comrade Edwin Uhara,
Former Member APC Presidential Campaign Council and United Nations-trained Negotiator

Happy birthday anniversary to a great Nigerian

Press Release

Uhara Greets Kingibe at 81

A United Nations-trained Negotiator and Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Comrade Edwin Uhara has congratulated the former Vice President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, His Excellency Ambassador Babagana Kingibe GCON on the occasion of his 81 birthday anniversary.

In a statement released to newsmen in Enugu on Thursday, Uhara said Kingibe is a living example of the word 'patriotism' and how it should be deployed in rendering selfless service to humanity and the nation at large.

Noting that the elder statesman deserves to be celebrated more than this despite his conscious and sustained efforts to play down his contributions to humanity, the nation and the continent.

Uhara said, Nigerians are only aware of Kingibe's service to the nation but are not very much aware of his immense contributions to humanity and other noble and worthy causes simply because he does not want to make them public.

Adding that his down-to-earth humility was recently brought to public knowledge when he accepted to read the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) news bulletin as news presenter to mark the corporation's 75th anniversary in April this year.

The party stalwart further noted that the octogenarian did not only identify with his primary constituency as a renowned journalist before climbing up the political and diplomatic ladder, but he also proved the age long African adage that says, 'An old woman does not grow old in displaying the dancing steps she knows how to dance very well.'

Therefore, I join friends and well wishers of the elder statesman in congratulating him on this special day.

Signed:

Comrade Edwin Uhara,
United Nations-trained Negotiator
And former Member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council

Nigeria will surely overcome the security challenges

Press Release

APC Chieftain Applauds Mustapha's Appointment As Adamawa State Representative On Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund

A Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress and United Nations-trained Negotiator, Comrade Edwin Uhara has applauded the appointment of the immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha by the Adamawa State Government as the state's representative in Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund.

In a statement released to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday, the party stalwart said Boss Mustapha has the capacity and name recognition capable of galvanizing national and international supports to the body as well as ensuring that Adamawa State's voice is not drowned among the 19 Northern State Governments.

Adding that, as Chairman of the Presidential Transition Council which ushered-in this present administration in 2023, Nigeria witnessed one of the best Presidential Inaugurations ever held in the history of the country because of the strategic and well coordinated security architecture and apparatus.

I also Commend Governor Umaru Fintiri for recognizing Mustapha's ability to represent the state in the regional body; adding that fight against insecurity requires multidimensional approach to overcome.

Signed:

Comrade Edwin Uhara,
United Nations-trained Negotiator and former Member of APC Presidential Campaign Council

K

From pictures

This is uncivilized.

I don't need negative energy here please.

How can you get to half of his level if you don't celebrate him?

My friend, what you hate , you can't attract because you can only attract what you are and not what desire or want.

Change your focus and attitude and see how your reality will change.


Check all my posts and see that I celebrate people and don't antagonize anyone; whether it's my President and leader, Bola Tinubu or Atiku, Obi or anybody because I see myself in all of them.

Love and peace to you 🙏🙏🙏

Freshandfitpod:
Isn't he too old for this? What is he doing there?

More pictures from the People's Republic of China

Dambazau's Diplomatic Mission to China and the Journey So Far

By Edwin Uhara

Since his assumption of duty in Beijing, Ambassador Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau has left no one in doubt about his core mission of renewing the hope of the country through diplomatic engagements in the People's Republic of China.

Not only that he rolled up his sleeves and hit the ground running, but in his characteristics zeal of adding value to whatever he does, he initiated moves intended to familiarize himself with all the staff as well as align them with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu's administration.

So far so good, he has engaged with many investors, scholars and captains of industry with the aim of exploring possible investment opportunities in both countries.

In one of such visits with his team, this is what the envoy said: "Today we visited a factory - (STELATO) showroom and the headquarters of BAIC INTERNATIONAL; one of China's biggest manufacturers of electric vehicles. "

"The company was established in 1958 in partnership with Mercedes Benz and it has over 10 factories in China and 29 factories globally."

"The company has spread selling centres to over 140 countries across the globe."

He continued, "Although the company has a showroom in Abuja but we discussed the possibility of establishing a factory in Nigeria."

"We also discussed the possibility of establishing a battery processing factory to leverage on the huge deposits of lithium in Nigeria."

"With this, there will be skills acquisition and employment opportunities for our youth as well as transfer of technology and Nigeria will be a regional hub for the manufacturing of electric vehicles in West Africa."

Though Dambazau is a foreign policy wonk by training but as a way of upgrading his knowledge to the latest practice in the diplomatic circle, he recently attended a seminar on 70 Years of China-Africa and China-Arab Diplomatic Relations which centered on how to jointly build a community with shared future."

"China's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs was the Special Guest of Honour while the Permanent Representative of the African Union to China and the Head of Representative Office of the League of Arab States in China were all in attendance."

The seminar discussed unity and mutual support in the global south economic cooperation and shared developments as well as issues concerning climate change, debt reduction and culture."

It also focused on commitment to One China Policy; people-to-people exchanges; Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), belt and road initiative as well as zero-tariff policy.

The idea is to build sustainable China-Africa-Arab partnerships for peaceful and prosperous future.

In another investment drive to a multinational giant, here is what the Ambassador said: "Today we visited Huawei EBC Exhibition Centre for smart governance, digital power, etc."

"Huawei is the largest telecommunications vendor in Nigeria. The company supplies infrastructure for major carriers like MTN Nigeria and provides enterprise solutions, cloud services and digital power systems."

"It was an opportunity to see the state of the art digital facilities. Many electric vehicle models are linked to Huawei digital technology."

This is a company that only started in 1988 and was introduced to Nigeria in 1999.

He added that the success story of the company was as a result of discipline, determination and selflessness.

He urged them to concentrate their activities on providing opportunities for Nigeria's young population as part of sharing the profits they have been making from doing business in Nigeria on the ground of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

However, it is not all about attracting foreign investments into the country but also about creating opportunities so that Nigerian entrepreneurs can have access to the Chinese market.

One of such Nigerians who visited the embassy recently was Chief Lucky Igbinedion, former governor of Edo State.

Here is what the envoy said after his visit; "Chief Lucky Igbinedion and his business partners visited me today.

It was an interesting conversation on a proposal for partnership between China Science Academy and the Nigerian Science Academy on research collaborations.

They want to embark on the medicinal values of BITTER KOLA and ALLIGATOR PEPPER which I understand are good in curing certain diseases related to kidney and diabetes.

They desire the Embassy to support the project and make a formal connection between the two academies.

We promised to support the project and also emphasized that if the research is successful, part of the agreement is that the pharmaceutical giant must build it's production plant in Nigeria where the raw materials are in abundance."

Adding that, "I also advised that NAFDAC and PSN should be involved from early stage of the research since the end product will be pharmaceutical drugs for the cure of ailments.

Earlier, before starting his diplomatic activities, the envoy had met with relevant authorities in Beijing where several diplomatic introductions were made.

Here is what the Ambassador said after one of such engagements, "My second invitation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing; this time with the Director -General, African Department following my first meeting with the Minister.

Our discussions focused on a 3-point agenda - 'Diplomatic Cooperation, Trade Policy and Military Cooperation.

We reaffirmed the 'One-China' principle and indepth exchange on strategic issues.

Nigeria being China's second largest trading partner in Africa need to take advantage of the Zero-Tariff Policy, especially on agricultural commodities.

Adding that China wants to increase imports from Nigeria in order to reduce the trade imbalance.

The need to boost military, intelligence, and security cooperation was made clear, especially with the current level of insecurity in Nigeria.

We emphasized the need for domestic production of military and security equipments in Nigeria as a gradual process and we have DICON as a Special Vehicle Plant."

In this regard, the envoy said there would be an inter-governmental committee coming up next month, July, when other important issues will be tabled and discussed accordingly.

From all indications, it is now clear that Ambassador Dambazau has re-enacted the excellence he is well known for in far away China; not only on government-to-government diplomatic levels, but also on government-to-people engagements.

Comrade Edwin Uhara is a United Nations-trained Negotiator and Public Policy Analyst

One of the valuable assets to INEC

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu North Senatorial Bye Election and the Return of Political Jiggery-Pokery in the Coal City

By Edwin Uhara

If there is anything the forthcoming June 20th Senatorial Bye Election for Enugu North Senatorial District has brought back to the state, then it's the reintroduction of bogus propaganda that has no correlation with realities on ground nor reflect the actual thinking of notable politicians in the state.

I was discussing with a colleague two days ago and I told him that Enugu State is getting better now because this is the only election season in the history of the state that we are not having any major political crisis.

At least, from the time of former Governor Sullivan Chime to that of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, I have always been in the media challenging the rantings of the Abuja-based politicians against the state government over some avaricious tendencies stemed from acts of political chicanery.

This time around, the story is different as there is now unity of purpose among all political actors in the state.

But make no mistake, the peaceful atmosphere we are witnessing in the political landscape of the coal city was a product of the seed sown by a man who saw tomorrow and dedicated the state in to the "Hands of God."

So, I was utterly flabbergasted when I saw a manufactured news story planted in some social media outlets alleging that former governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is working for the PDP candidate for the senatorial election against the candidate of our own great party- the APC.

After analyzing it, I said there was no need trying to verify from Ugwuanyi because I know he will never do such a thing and I decided to write a press statement to debunk the false narrative but before I could finish drafting my release, the ex-governor had already debunked the story in a rebuttal he personally signed.

Upon realizing this fact, I now change my intended press release to an article.

Now the question that should agitate every rational thinker is, who are those behind the false narrative?

What do they seek to achieve knowing full well that Ugwuanyi is already an Ambassador-Designate and will assume duty in Greece any moment from now?

Was it a mere political strategy designed to win the coming senatorial election for the PDP or it's more than meets the eye?

You see, I have been in politics long enough to know that there is something called 'creative-dysfunction' and because of this, people who got the opportunity to be trained by the 'Political-Gamalians' of this country are seriously advised not to be one-way thinkers.

So, on the other side, could it be that they are some enemies within the APC who feel threatened by the rising profile of Ugwuanyi but are looking for evidence to pull him down?

Of cause, we are now in the season of dog-eat-dog politics where people look for evidence to use against their real and imaginary political enemies.

Such fake news report against Ugwuanyi may not necessarily be about invoking Article 21 of the APC Constitution which deals with anti party activities but to use it as evidence against him in relevant quarters which I don't want to reveal here for some security reasons and for my own safety too.

This is because, I have worked in one of the most powerful lobby groups in this country and I have seen how politicians fabricate stories and sponsor them in some media outlets where their targeted victims cannot see it to debunk but only to print them and attach them as evidence to their petition against that person which they will bring to the organization to ensure that it gets to its intended destination.

When that is successfully done, their victim will be having political logjams on their way which they will not be able to figure out the cause.

This is one of the tools hirelings and political lobbyists use in pulling down certain political actors and moving them from grace to grass.

I however crave the indulgence of all lobby groups as this piece is not intended to divulge certain privileged information I have access to.

So, political propaganda is the deliberate spread of biased, one-sided and misleading information designed to manipulate public opinion and influence political beliefs or behavior in order to achieve a pre-determined political goal.

This is why politicians should be very careful even with their most trusted allies because human wants are insatiable.

In conclusion, Ugwuanyi is not only working to deliver the APC senatorial candidate come June 20th, but is working actively for President Tinubu and all APC candidates from top to bottom.

And there is nothing anybody can do about that.

So I have no charitable words for anyone who may be incensed about this unchangeable reality as well as the great value Ugwuanyi is bringing to Mr. President and our great party not only in Enugu State but in the entire Southeast Geopolitical zone.

Those who cannot withstand this reality should bear with us because it is our leader's turn. Baba Wa Lokan!

Comrade Edwin Uhara is a former Member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and Public Policy Analyst

X-Ray of Mohammed Haruna's Effectiveness as Chief Image Maker for INEC

By Edwin Uhara

Though he has been around as one of the National Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but since his deployment to serve as Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna has proved that he is not only a refined gentleman, but a thorough-bred media guru whose weekly columns before his current stint with the commission were noted for shaping and influencing public policies and discussions.

These qualities were recently brought to bear when INEC had issues with some political parties as well as the current court order to deregister some parties.

Despite all the tantrums thrown at the commission by these parties and their supporters, Mallam Haruna's calm and candour in defending the integrity of the commission is endearing.

He not only defended the commission's policies to the admiration of everyone, but he guided himself with the codified ethics of the profession without resorting to mudslinging or creating unnecessary mumbojumbo.

He adhered to the ethics of the Fourth Estate of the Realm by adopting Social Responsibility Press Theory which is the best communication model prescribed for developing democracies like ours.

For the sake of my readers, Social Responsibility Press theory is one of the normative press theories that allows free press without any censorship but at the same time suggests that the contents of the press should be discussed in public panel and media should accept any obligation thereof.

In other words, this theory is saying that the media should be free but must be responsible by effectively servicing the socio-political, economic and other needs of the society.

In the modern society filled with many digital media outlets, this theory is critical for combatting fake news, misinformation, sensationalism, yellow-journalism, news imbalance and distortion.

It also acts as a catalyst for demanding transparency, fact-checking and ethical coverage of sensitive issues like elections and court related matters.

Accordingly, I have watched the measured responses and copy-fitted reactions Mr. Haruna has been using in the cause of doing his job.

He does not engage in hypotheticals but deals with facts.

He craft INEC messages in ways all segments of the society can easily understand.

He does not allow his personality or pedigree to influence the essence of his message.

He does not lace his messages with innuendos and assumptions but straight to the facts.

He makes INEC the centerpiece of his media relations by ensuring that facts dominates rumors in the free market place of ideas.

Apart from the fact that he is a well respected and reverend senior colleague in the pen profession, his open door policy is very remarkable.

In most professional online forums where members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists analyse issues before we release them to the reading public, Mallam Haruna's approval rating is very high.

Besides the high regard we all have for him, I have never seen any professional journalist talking bad about him or his duties which are all pluses for him.

Born on September 22, 1951, Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna is a veteran journalist and administrator who started his career with the New Nigerian Newspaper between 1976 and 1989 where he rose from being a reporter to becoming the managing director of the company.

He also co-founded Citizen News Magazine and worked as a prominent political columnist while also writing columns for other notable national dailies and weeklies.

Prior to his current national assignment with INEC, Mallam Haruna had served as the Chief Press Secretary to former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar between 1998 and 1999 as well as senior lecturer in the Department of Mass communication at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 2008 to 2014.

In his capacity as the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC) of the commission, Mallam Haruna is the chief image maker for INEC responsible for defending it's electoral guidelines, election timetables and responding to data-related investigations among others.

As things stands today, Mallam Haruna is on top of his job and is ever willing and committed to breaking new grounds as we gradually approach the 2027 general elections.

Comrade Edwin Uhara is a United Nations-trained Negotiator and Public Policy Analyst.

Press Release

June 12: Uhara Congratulate Nigerians over their Sacrifice for Democracy

As the nation celebrates this year's Democracy Day anniversary, a Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress and United Nations-trained Negotiator, Comrade Edwin Uhara has congratulated Nigerians for the sacrifice they made by ensuring that democracy did not only return to Nigeria in 1999 but has become part of our neo-culture.

Uhara disclosed this in a statement released to newsmen in Enugu on Friday to mark this year's Democracy Day anniversary.

He noted that democracy is no longer an experiment in Nigeria but a reality that has come to stay despite some shortcomings.

"Our democracy is a constant work in progress which still requires the collaborative effort of all Nigerians irrespective of party affiliations."

Uhara further disclosed that democracy is not all about periodic elections but also about strengthening democratic institutions which are the bedrocks for democracy to strive.

Whether it was the fight against third-term agenda or the fight against anti-democratic forces, Nigerians have shown their preference to democracy over all other forms of government.

Accordingly, next year's general elections will serve as another litmus test concerning our avowed commitment to democratic ethos and I believe that Nigeria will once again make our democratic allies and the international community proud because our democratic flame remains unquenchable.

So far so good, the process has been very impressive with the outcome of the various primary elections of the various political parties held so far.

In the same vein, no journalist or media organisation has been harassed or manhandled on account of what they wrote or published so far and I encourage Nigerians as well as other relevant authorities to keep up with this tempo.

While I congratulate Nigerians for this year's Democracy Day anniversary, I also enjoin them to give all their best in the defence of our fledgling democracy.

Signed:

Comrade Edwin Uhara,
Former Member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and United Nations-trained Negotiator

With the implementation of China’s Zero-Tariff policy for products from 53 African countries, including Nigeria, here is an opportunity to further boost Nigeria’s agricultural exports to China.

China’s Chamber of Commerce of import & export of foodstuffs… is organizing China International Sesame Conference & China International Peanut Conference 2026 in Qingdao from August 23-25, 2026. It is China’s only international event dedicated to sesame and peanut, serving as a pivotal platform for global sesame and peanut industry stakeholders, including producers, traders, processors, and policymakers, to exchange insights, showcase achievements, and explore opportunities for business partnership.

Nigeria being one of the world’s major producers of sesame and peanut, holds an important position in the Chinese market. Interested persons, especially young entrepreneurs, are encouraged to participate. Check out the website https://cccfna.org.cn or email zhangjun@cccfna.org.cn or contact Mr Zhang Jun, +86-18813189552.

#CFNA
#ChinaZeroTariff
#NigerianEmbassyBeijing

meobizy:
How many children did Babangida father? Google says four. I do not believe it. Most likely those are his “official children.” There is no way he will waste the Islamic opportunity of marrying four wives.

Why can't you be polite for once in your utterance?

Let's address the issue raised and not unnecessary political arguments.

Peace be with you!

Press Release

Uhara Hails Aisha Babangida at 56

A United Nations-trained Negotiator and Public Policy Analyst, Comrade Edwin Uhara has praised Africa's humanitarian leader and former First Daughter of the nation, Her Excellency, Erelu Aisha Ibrahim Babangida on the occasion of her 56th birthday anniversary.

In a statement released to newsmen in Enugu on Monday, Uhara described Aisha Babangida as a rare personality who don't want to be served but chose to serve humanity with greatest sense of humility and kindness.

Noting that she has demonstrated that power do not change people, but truly reveals who they are.

All over Africa, her humanitarian gestures of real transformative services to the downtrodden, lower and middle class citizens and underserved communities speak volumes.

She not only feed the poor, but also empowers them with practical skills, tools and resources needed to add meaning to their lives.

Quoting Mother Theresa, Uhara said that Aisha has proven that unless life is lived for others, it is not worth living.

Through her numerous humanitarian organizations like the Better Life Program for the African Rural Woman, Women Enterprise Alliance, Egwafin Micro-finance Bank, Tasnim Foundation, The Aisha Babangida Leadership Foundation and many others, she has been able to touch lives in many positive ways.

Many are now breadwinners of their respective families because of her benevolence.

Therefore, as she add one to her years on earth, I am wishing her Allah's guidance, wisdom and protection, Amin Ya Rabi.

Signed:

Comrade Edwin Uhara,
United Nations-trained Negotiator and Public Policy Analyst

Best man for the job is Richard Lamai

Richard Lamai: A Credible Alternative for Etsako People

By Edwin Uhara

Politics has often been described as a game of who gets what, when and how he uses what he got to advance the cause of the people.

But sadly enough, this is not what some politicians believe. Instead, they believe in the definition of politics given by an English Poet, Alexander Pope who defined politics as the madness of many for the benefit of few.

This is the definition of politics that some of our leaders have been practicing over the years.

If Alexander Pope was to be alive up till this moment, he would have been called the Nostradamus of our time because practically everything he said is what is playing out in our country.

We have leaders who only remember the masses during election times and after elections, they ghost up.

So, when you have leaders who are so closed and disconnected from the people, then there is the need for a credible alternative.

However, such alternative must not come from a green horn but from a tested, trusted and reliable alternative who understands the system but did not allow the dark side of the system to define him.

I'm talking about no other person but our own Aristocratic leader and the scion of the late Senator Ekpemoriri A. Lamai, Chief Richard Lamai, a man who has helped many to become governors, senators and ministers in this country.

Richard Lamai will make a good leader if given the opportunity by the good people of Etsako Federal Constituency to represent them in the House of Representatives next year.

I worked for him when he was the Chief of Staff to late Chief Edwin Clark during former President Good luck Jonathan's Administration and I witnessed how he used his access to power to promote good governance at all levels.

While I don't want to mention names, I know many leaders in this country who wouldn't have become governors, senators and ministers if not for the support they enjoyed from Chief Lamai.

So, it will be easier to start attracting federal presence to Etsako land if elected in to the Green Chamber next year because he already understand the dynamics of power.

This is why he made the following promise in his manifesto;

"I, Chief Richard Lamai, am deeply committed to serving the good People of Etsako Federal Constituency of Edo State with integrity, passion and dedication."

"I am offering myself to represent our people in the House of Representatives because I believe Etsako deserve purposeful leadership, measurable development and a stronger voice at the national level."

Accordingly, if given the mandate, I pledge to do the following things for my people.

1. Champion Economic Growth: I will attract investments, create jobs and support local industries to expand and strengthen our local economy.

2. Improve Infrastructure: I will facilitate the construction of roads, healthcare facilities and schools to improve the quality of life across our communities.

3. Empower Youth and Women: I will promote skills acquisition and development, scholarships and entrepreneurship opportunities to unlock the potential of our young people and women.

4. Enhance Security: I will work closely with relevant security agencies and stakeholders to support peace, safety and stability in our communities.

5. Promote Agriculture: I will support farmers with improved resources and initiatives that will increase productivity and strengthen food security.

6. Advocate for Federal Projects: I will ensure equitable attraction and execution of federal projects and deployment of funds across the three Etsako Federal Constituency areas.

7. Foster Unity: I will bridge divisions, promote inclusivity and ensure that every community and group is represented and valued.

I will lead with transparency, accountability and consistent engagement with the people while community voices will directly shape my priorities and legislative actions.

I will work closely with traditional leaders, youth groups and stakeholders to deliver sustainable development to our people.

Together, we can build a stronger, more united and prosperous Etsako Federal Constituency.

I humbly seek your support and nomination to serve as your representative in the Green Chamber next.

Comrade Edwin Uhara is a Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress

Press Release

World Press Freedom Day: Uhara Calls for More Supports for Journalists

As the world celebrates this year's World Press Freedom Day, a United Nations-trained Negotiator and former member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Comrade Edwin Uhara has called for more supports to media workers.

Uhara made this known in a statement released to newsmen in Enugu on Sunday to mark this year's World Press Freedom Day.

He said, self-censorship has grown by more than 60 percent and is mostly driven by fear of reprisals, online harassment, judicial intimidation and economic pressure.

Noting that media workers stick out their lives for the good of the society but the main users of their contents are not showing commensurate support to their welfare.

Supporting this argument, Uhara who is also a journalist by training said, we can have the press without the government but we cannot have the government without the press.

Adding that since the media has been recognized as the Fourth Estate of the Realm after the Legislative, Executive and the Judicial Arms of Government, the media should be accorded the proper rights and privileges it deserve.

He called for proper protection of all media workers since they have dangerously become cheap targets by terrorist organizations as well as victims of information manipulation; including the use of Artificial Intelligence by malicious actors.

Uhara also urged journalists to properly deploy the 'Agenda Setting Theory' of the media as the nation is about to enter the electioneering campaign season for next year's general elections.

Signed:

Comrade Edwin Uhara,
United Nations-trained Negotiator and former Member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council

Happy birthday Dr. Yakubu

Ewelesuo:
Press Release:

APC Chieftain Praises Tanimu Yakubu at 65

A United Nations-trained Negotiator and Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Comrade Edwin Uhara has praised the Director -General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu on the occasion of his 65th birthday anniversary.

In a statement released to newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday, the party stalwart said Dr. Yakubu is not only an economic guru but also an astute administrator who knows how to translate policies into realities.

Adding that he is not only advising on economic matters but also coordinating the fiscal policies of the nation which include but not limited to preparing executive budget, overseeing budget implementation and monitoring; as well as maintaining fiscal discipline and providing frameworks for annual budgeting processes among others.

Since his appointment, Dr. Yakubu has refused to be bogged down by bureaucratic bottlenecks but has embarked on what is now known as 'Economic Activism' where he normally educate Nigerians on the economic policies and direction of the Federal Government through his series of articles in different national dailies.

He has also strengthened the existing cooperation among government agencies, ministries and departments thereby ensuring that appropriations are implemented in the best interest of the nation.

Born on April 30th, 1961, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu started his academic pursuit in Nigeria where he was the founding president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) before heading to acquire MBA in Finance from Wagner College in New York, United States of America.

Upon his return to Nigeria, Dr. Yakubu worked in a number of private-sector institutions like Icon Limited and the Afri-Projects Consortium where he was the Chief Economist and Principal Investment Adviser.

As Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning in Katsina State between 1999 and 2002, Dr. Yakubu ensured that the state had the highest capital expenditure votes over recurrent expenditure ratio making it the first state to achieve such feat in Nigeria.

He has also served as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank between 2003 and 2007 where he engineered the first mortgage-backed securitization policy in Sub Saharan Africa.

As Chief Economic Adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff to a former Nigerian President as well as member of the National Economic Management team between 2007 and 2010, Dr. Yakubu crafted many far reaching policies and recommendations that persuaded the Federal Government to set up Nigeria’s first Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) under it's parent body -- the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

He was also among the six key Federal Government officials who worked behind the scene to end the Niger Delta crisis; a development that led to a major boost of the country’s crude oil output.

In 2019, Dr. Yakubu passed the Fiduciary Awareness Certification Test (FACT) of Corporate Governance Rating System (CGRS) thereby making him a certified guru in corporate governance.

Before his current stint as Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, he had served as a non-executive director of Oando PLC.

Therefore, as you celebrate your birthday, I am wishing you Allah's guidance, wisdom and protection.

Signed:

Comrade Edwin Uhara,
United Nations-trained Negotiator and former Member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council

Press Release:

APC Chieftain Praises Tanimu Yakubu at 65

A United Nations-trained Negotiator and Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Comrade Edwin Uhara has praised the Director -General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu on the occasion of his 65th birthday anniversary.

In a statement released to newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday, the party stalwart said Dr. Yakubu is not only an economic guru but also an astute administrator who knows how to translate policies into realities.

Adding that he is not only advising on economic matters but also coordinating the fiscal policies of the nation which include but not limited to preparing executive budget, overseeing budget implementation and monitoring; as well as maintaining fiscal discipline and providing frameworks for annual budgeting processes among others.

Since his appointment, Dr. Yakubu has refused to be bogged down by bureaucratic bottlenecks but has embarked on what is now known as 'Economic Activism' where he normally educate Nigerians on the economic policies and direction of the Federal Government through his series of articles in different national dailies.

He has also strengthened the existing cooperation among government agencies, ministries and departments thereby ensuring that appropriations are implemented in the best interest of the nation.

Born on April 30th, 1961, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu started his academic pursuit in Nigeria where he was the founding president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) before heading to acquire MBA in Finance from Wagner College in New York, United States of America.

Upon his return to Nigeria, Dr. Yakubu worked in a number of private-sector institutions like Icon Limited and the Afri-Projects Consortium where he was the Chief Economist and Principal Investment Adviser.

As Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning in Katsina State between 1999 and 2002, Dr. Yakubu ensured that the state had the highest capital expenditure votes over recurrent expenditure ratio making it the first state to achieve such feat in Nigeria.

He has also served as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank between 2003 and 2007 where he engineered the first mortgage-backed securitization policy in Sub Saharan Africa.

As Chief Economic Adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff to a former Nigerian President as well as member of the National Economic Management team between 2007 and 2010, Dr. Yakubu crafted many far reaching policies and recommendations that persuaded the Federal Government to set up Nigeria’s first Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) under it's parent body -- the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

He was also among the six key Federal Government officials who worked behind the scene to end the Niger Delta crisis; a development that led to a major boost of the country’s crude oil output.

In 2019, Dr. Yakubu passed the Fiduciary Awareness Certification Test (FACT) of Corporate Governance Rating System (CGRS) thereby making him a certified guru in corporate governance.

Before his current stint as Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, he had served as a non-executive director of Oando PLC.

Therefore, as you celebrate your birthday, I am wishing you Allah's guidance, wisdom and protection.

Signed:

Comrade Edwin Uhara,
United Nations-trained Negotiator and former Member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council

Press Statement:

Easter: Uhara Urge Christians to Renew Their Trust in God, Says There is Light at the End of the Tunnel

A Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress and United Nations-trained Negotiator, Comrade Edwin Uhara has called on Christians to renew their trust in God while believing Him for better days.

Uhara stated this in his Easter Message titled: "The Dry Bone Shall Rise Again" which was released to newsmen in Enugu on Sunday.

He said, just as the grave could not stop the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, so shall no force on earth can stop Nigeria from taking it's rightful place in the comity of nations.

Quoting Psalm 127:1 Uhara said, Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who builds it and unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

Urging Christians to make God the pillar of their lives with faith, love and hope, Uhara explained that faith makes all things possible, love makes all things easy while hope makes all things work.

He said, Christianity is a religion of belief adding that believers must also learn to take leap of faith even where there is enough evidence to disbelieve because the things which are seen where not made of the things which are visible.

While calling on believers to always pray for their leaders, the party stalwart also urged political leaders to always seek the face of God genuinely before taking some radical decisions that affects the people because the heart of a king is like the channel of water in the hands of the Lord which He turns to wherever He wishes.

He concluded by urging Christians to always reflect the virtues of Christ and not religion in all they do.

Happy Easter beloved brothers and sisters!

Signed:

Comrade Edwin Uhara,
United Nations-trained Negotiator,
And former Member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council

Tasks Before the Re-elected APC National Chairman

By Edwin Uhara

There is no doubt that the national convention of our great party, the ruling All Progressives Congress has come and gone with the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda retained as the National Chairman of the party.

I congratulate him and the new members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party even as I enjoin them to brace up for the challenging tasks ahead.

However, it is important that I point out that the new NWC members are not going to enjoy any honey moon because the time frame for the conduct of party primaries are too short and as a result, the leadership must role-up it's sleeves and hit the ground running because there is no time for a walk in the park this moment.

In this regard, it is important that the party adopts both proactive and reactive strategies in handling the post-primary election crisis which will most likely erupt.

I'm not a pessimist, but the new party leadership must anticipate crisis emanating from some states over conflicts of interest and make arrangements on how to strike a balance between the interests of longstanding members and the interest of new members who now enjoys the attention of the party.

This is where the proactive strategy will work perfect for the overall interest of the party.

The second strategy is that, the leadership must embark on genuine reconciliation immediately after the primary elections are over in order to establish modus vivendi within the party structure across states.

If this second aspect is not properly handled, anything can happen because politicians always go to where their nest would be feathered.

The Presidential Primary would not be an issue because the President would be given the automatic ticket of the party.

Next time when our party delegates will be coming back to Abuja would be to ratify the automatic ticket that would be given to Mr. President.

So, at the presidential level, the leadership will have a field day because there would not be much trouble in this regard but it will most definitely not be like that at the state level.

This is where the challenge lies and it requires high level negotiation abilities and conflicts resolution skills to overcome it.

Such challenge did not arise in Anambra, Ondo and other states that recently witnessed gubernatorial primaries because it's a staggered primary with minimal interests.

This area is one of the most neglected aspects that led to the downfall of the former ruling party -- the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 Presidential Election.

A lot of analysts focused on the immediate cause of PDP failure but refused to look at the remote cause which I want to highlight in this piece because I was part of the process.

Towards the end of 2014, the PDP conducted the worst party primary which it carried over to 2015 general election year.

Initially, the party encouraged interested members to buy the nomination and expression of interest forms at very high prices and promised that it would give every member a level playing ground.

But during primaries, the party went against its own rules and the leadership carried on as if nothing happened.

Because these aggrieved party members commanded huge followership among the electorates they decided to protest under the auspices of PDP Aspirants Forum (PAF) which I was one of it's national spokespersons.

PAF wanted to engage the party leadership to amicably find lasting solution to the crisis but some hardliners within the party hierarchy who thought that the election would be business as usual frustrated every of our moves until we decided to go public.

Because our members refused to participate in partisan activities, their non participation started showing bad and dangerous signals for all the candidates including President Good luck Jonathan.

First, public opinion began to go against the candidates. Second, the electorates began to pelt the President with pebbles and sachet waters.

Third, blame and counter blames started creping in to the campaign train.

While all these were happening, General Buhari who was the candidate of the APC soared high as he became the main beneficiary of the internal party wrangling.

The Presidency and the PDP refused to recognize the political reality in the country and as well underestimated their main challenger, General Muhammadu Buhari and his party without knowing that APC had covertly engaged the services of AKPD which was the political consultancy firm owned by David Axelrod, President Obama’s Chief Campaign Strategist for 2008 and 2012 United States Presidential Elections.

Because Mr. Axelrod had the ear of President Obama, he was able to turn the heart of Mr. Obama against President Jonathan.

Accordingly, Obama mobilized David Cameron who was then the UK Prime Minister and other allies to work against Jonathan's re-election.

When the Presidency saw the danger ahead, they decided to reach out to PAF by sending the Deputy Director-General of the Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organization, Professor Tunde Adeniran and the traditional ruler of Jonathan's community in Ogbia, King Asara A. Asara to the group.

Professor Adeniran urged PAF members not to allow what some persons had done to cause them to leave the party or work against it during polls; noting that they were some party members on the campaign train who did not want President Jonathan reelected.

While speaking on behalf of the President, the Traditional Ruler of Akipelai Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Chief Asara A. Asara, appealed to PAF members not to leave the party saying, “President Jonathan was deeply worried over the way and manner the last primaries were conducted, but, because the automatic ticket granted him by the party was yet to be ratified as at the time the various primaries were conducted, he was very helpless in intervening in the matter. He assured them that the President would soon meet with them.

On March 2nd, 2015 President Jonathan finally invited PAF members at the Presidential Villa but most of our members refused to attend.

Some members who honoured the invitation observed that everyone was already in the panic mode.

This was when the Director -General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Amodu Ali told us that the battle was not against Buhari but against the American Government.

Trying to justify his claim, Senator Ali said that Mr. Obama was angry with President Jonathan because he refused to allow same sex marriage to be made official in Nigeria but this narrative fell on deaf ears because the PDP had already lost the sympathy of many Nigerians.

For example, instead of running their campaigns on issues, the party decided to focus on Buhari making him the campaign issue.

So, after the popular Abuja peace accord, President Obama started sending his then Secretary of State, Senator John Kerry to Nigeria often and often signaling danger over any plot to rig the election.

After much filibustering, PAF dissected everything within the context of truth and observed that even if we decided to support the PDP, public opinion had already gone against the party.

For example, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu who was one of the governorship aspirants for Delta State said that elections were not yet conducted but some of the beneficiaries of the kangaroo primaries had started carrying themselves as if they had won the election already.

Other members like the Governorship Aspirant for Lagos State, Chief Babatunde Badamasi, Rivers State, Hon. Gabriel Pidomson, Benue State, Mrs. Rosaline Ada Chenge, Imo State, late Chief Bethel Amadi, the Senatorial Aspirant for Edo North, Chief Richard Lamai, Adamawa, Mallam Isa Tambaran, Anambra, Barrister Chike Madueke, House of Representative Aspirants like Hon. Pat Asadu, Lady Irene Ottih, Chief Mrs. Olivia Agbajo and over 150 Aspirants for various State House of Assemblies spoke in similar direction.

It was at this point that Buhari saw the opportunity and sent a high powered delegation to PAF members. Though he has been sending Senator Dino Melaye who was one of his campaign spokespersons to the group.

So, while some defected to APC including myself to support Buhari, others remained in PDP but to work against it during polls which in the end, Buhari gave PDP a very hard blow with a crushing defeat.

Ever since then, the PDP has never recovered from the Buhari blow and from the look of things, they will have no option than to adopt our President as it's presidential candidate for next year's election.

So, with the benefits of hindsight, insight and foresight, I write this piece to arrest things before there go out of hands.

Once again,
Congratulations to our Chairman and members of the National Working Committee of the party.


Comrade Edwin Uhara is a Political Operative, Public Policy Analyst and former Member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

He can be reached via email: edwinuhara@rocketmail.com

Lalasticala Mynd94

Press Release


Uhara Hails Ambassador Ugwuanyi at 62

A Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Comrade Edwin Uhara has congratulated the Nigerian Ambassador-Designate to Greece and immediate past Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi (CON) on the occasion of his 62nd birthday anniversary.

In a statement released to newsmen in Enugu on Friday, the party stalwart said, Ambassador Ugwuanyi widely known as Gburugburu is a charismatic politician by disposition and a diplomat by calling.

Noting that, as Governor in Enugu, he promoted integrated developments across the state with special focus on opening up rural communities with construction of virgin roads in areas once forgotten by previous administrations.

Citing the Amuri/Agbani road project abandoned by successive administrations for more than 16 years, Uhara stressed that Ugwuanyi not only completed the project but ensured that all the 260 electoral wards in the state got facelifts both in the area of youth empowerment, rural electrification, healthcare--infrastructure, education, access to the information superhighway - ICT among others.

Uhara added that even with the double assaults of the economic meltdown and COVID-19 pandemic on the state, Ugwuanyi with his grace of 'Midas Touch' and economic ingenuity was able to turn the economic fortunes of the state around without borrowing a dime from anywhere or mortgaging the future of the state.

He further added that one remarkable fact that Ndi-Enugu will continue to appreciate Ugwuanyi in years to come was his extraordinary ability to ensure that Enugu State was added on the list of oil producing states in December, 2022 by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) as a result of crude oil discovery in the Anambra River Basin 1, 2 and 3 field.

Based on that singular feat, arrangements are now in top gear for the state to start receiving it's share of the 13 percent derivation formula.

This is what visionary leadership could bring to a state rich in history but whose citizenry were conditioned to live in the memory of the past.

Even as governor on the PDP platform then, Ugwuanyi ran his government on progressive ideologies, leaving no one behind irrespective of party affiliations.

I remember during his re-election bid in 2019, the then governorship candidate of APC in the state, Senator Ayogu Eze was making strong case in Abuja that the then Commissioner of Police and Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state be transferred to other states some days to the election but as a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the Directorate of Security and Intelligence, I was part of the crack team sent to the state for a covert operation.

On getting to the state, I noticed that Ugwuanyi was extremely popular that even the state chapter of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) had already endorsed him.

So, I filed a report back to Abuja telling them the truth. I told them that even if the Resident Electoral Commissioner and the Commissioner of Police were transfered, Ugwuanyi will still win his re-election because all the civil society organizations, market women and even religious bodies were fully supporting his re-election bid.

In the end, a status quo was maintained and election was conducted which the ex-governor won convincingly.

Ugwuanyi scored 449,935 votes representing 95.54 percent of the valid votes cast while Ayogu Eze scored 10,423 votes representing 2.21 percent of the valid votes.

This is a political success which no first term governor going for a second term ever achieved in the history of Enugu State politics.

Accordingly, before he left office, Enugu State was rated as one of the most peaceful states in the country because of his level-headed approach to security matters.

Undoubtedly, these are the intangible assets and qualities Ambassador Ugwuanyi would be exporting on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Hellenic Republic of Greece, where democracy originated from.

Therefore, on behalf of the political family of Ambassador Ugwuanyi, I am saying happy birthday to our own Socrates-- the Philosopher King.

Signed:

Comrade Edwin Uhara,
Former Member, APC Presidential Campaign Council and former National President of Young Nigerians for Change.

Happy birthday Sir.

God bless

Press Release

APC Chieftain Felicitates Ambassador Dambazau at 72

As the Nigerian Ambassador-Designate to the People's Republic of China and former Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd) celebrates his 72nd birthday anniversary, a public policy analyst and Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Comrade Edwin Uhara has praised the elder statesman, saying he is a blessing to the nation.

Uhara made this known is his birthday message to the Ambassador which was released to newsmen in Enugu on Saturday.

Recalling the patriotic role played by the former Chief of Army Staff during the constitutional crisis of 2010 which warranted the first constitutional amendment and the inclusion of 'Doctrine of Necessity ' in to the amended constitution, Uhara noted that the envoy deserve to be celebrated for keeping the 'khaki boys' in the barracks and for refusing all the enticements to truncate our democracy when the nation was at a crossroad.

Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., Uhara said 'The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

General Dambazau took side with democracy not because it was convenient at that material time but because of his unyielding believe that democracy remains the best system of government that allows the minority to have their say while the majority have their way.

Adding that Dambazau is a bulwark of our democracy and since journalism is the first draft of history, future historians will surely accord him his due place in the annals of history.

The party chieftain noted that as Minister of Interior, Gen. Dambazau introduced many far reaching reforms and policies which won the peace after winning the war against Boko Haram.

"He spearheaded the establishment of the first ever operational border patrol base to effectively police the country’s vast and expansive borders that were hitherto porous and unmanned."

This was the most cost effective way of policing our borders since there were no adequate funds to erect walls across the country’s 5,000 kilometre borders that are extensive and porous.

He retooled and re-equipped the Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Prisons Service now known as the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps which were the five paramilitary agencies under his watch before a separate ministry was created for the Nigerian Police Force in 2019.

He promoted a friendly business climate in line with the Ease of Doing Business policy of the then administration by establishing the E-Citibiz Call Centre which was to ensure that the Citizenship and Business Department of the Ministry were electronically configured and automated to ease the delivery of services to Nigerians.

As Nigeria's Ambassador-Designate to the People's Republic of China, I have not doubt that the elder statesman and scholar will strengthen the existing bilateral trade agreement and other memorandum of understanding between Abuja and Beijing especially now that the trade volume between the two countries have risen from $18.9 billion in 2024 to $24.9 billion in 2025.

Happy Birthday Your Excellency Sir!

Signed:

Comrade Edwin Uhara,
Former Member, APC Presidential
Campaign Council and Public Policy Analyst.

Happy International Women's Day to all women

Press Release:

International Women's Day: Uhara Calls on Leaders to Walk the Talk on Equal Rights for Women

As the world celebrates this year's International Women's Day, a United Nations-trained Negotiator and Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Comrade Edwin Uhara has called on leaders in all stratas of influence to walk the talk on equal rights and justice for women and girls irrespective of class and status.

This was made known in a goodwill message sent to newsmen in Enugu on Sunday to mark the United Nations special day.

Uhara noted that though some progress have been made 31 years after the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which was an all-encompassing global policy framework for gender equality and women's empowerment but also added that more efforts should be made because only two women have been democratically elected as Presidents in Africa with the first being Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who served as President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018 and the second being Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah who was sworn-in as President of Namibia on March 21, 2025.

Others who became Presidents after the death or resignation of their predecessors are;

Samia Suluhu Hassan who assumed office in 2021 as President of Tanzania following the death of her predecessor, late John Magufuli.

Sahle-Work Zewde who was appointed to serve as the first female president of Ethiopia from 2018 to 2024 following the resignation of her predecessor, Mulatu Teshome.

Joyce Banda who served as president of Malawi from 2012 to 2014 following the death of her boss, late President Bingu Wa Mutharika.

And Ameenah Gurib-Fakim who was appointed to serve as president of Mauritius from 2015 to 2018 when her predecessor, Kailash Purryag resigned from office.

Like my professional colleague and renowned rights activist, Gloria Steinem once said, "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights"

This was the intellectual idea that shaped my worldview in 2013 when I started championing the cause for gender equality as then National President of Young Nigerians for Change with many publications in Nigeria, United Kingdom and other countries.

In 2015 and 2019, I was part of the team that tirelessly worked to make late Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan the first democratically elected female governor in Nigeria.

In 2016, I mobilized many African news organizations to support the first female Prime Minister of New Zealand and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) Rt. Hon. Helen Elizabeth Clark to become the first female United Nations Secretary-General.

Though we did not succeed because the former Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Guterres emerged as United Nations Secretary-General but the then Nigerian Minister of Environment, Amina J. Muhammed was appointed as Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.

And as Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, "A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions."

Now is the time for leaders to walk the talk on equal rights and justice for all; not only on the political fronts but in all frontiers because according to the United Nations statistics, 'women have only 64 per cent of the legal rights that men hold worldwide in fundamental areas of life, including work, money, safety, family, property, mobility, business and retirement."

With the theme for this year's International Women’s Day #IWD2026 being “Rights, Justice and Action for all Women and Girls”, there is an urgent need for action to dismantle all barriers to equal justice, discriminatory laws, weak legal protections and harmful practices and social norms that erode the rights of women and girls in our societies.

Also, based on the adjusted electoral timetable for political activities as recently released by the nation's electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission which indicated that primary elections for all political parties in the country will be starting by April 23rd and will end by May 30th, I call on the the leadership of the various political parties to allocate certain elective positions of their parties to women because the political destiny of many politicians in Africa is still in the hands of strongmen and not strong institutions.

Signed:

Comrade Edwin Uhara,
United Nations-trained Negotiator and former member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council

It has come to my notice that someone or group of persons attempted using my phone number to create an Opay Account.

However, the Opay company sent me this text: "You're applying for an OPay instant card and your verification code is... Please provide this code to the OPay merchant to continue the process."

Let me state categorically that I did not apply for Opay card and does not even have an account with the Opay.

While I don't know how far these folks have gone in their scheme, I am using this medium to appeal to Nigerians and relevant institutions to help me to frustrate the perpetrators of this financial crime in anyway possible to avoid using my phone number to dupe unsuspecting Nigerians while incrementing myself for something I do not know.


Thanks and God bless!

Comrade Edwin Uhara

thisisit:
WHAT DANBAZZUA DID TO JONATHAN .. MAY HE DO IT TO TINUBU
WHAT DANBAZZUA IS DOING IN KADUNA AGAINST NIGERIA .. MAY IT MANIFEST ON TINUBU

My friend, don't tell lies against people simply because you don't like their person.