₦airaland Forum

President Muhammadu Buhari presides over the Federal Executive Council Meeting at the Statehouse, Abuja. 7th September, 2022. Photos; Tolani Alli

HOW NIGERIA, POLAND CAN HAVE A WIN-WIN RELATIONSHIP, BY PRESIDENT BUHARI

Nigeria and Poland on Tuesday in Abuja signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Agriculture, while pledging their willingness to enlarge the fields of economic cooperation in the energy and manufacturing sectors.

The signing took place during the State Visit of President Andrezej Duda of Poland, the first by a Polish leader to Nigeria since the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries in 1961.

Addressing a joint press conference with the visiting Head of State, President Buhari said Nigeria is gratified by the existing fruitful cooperation with Poland in the fields of maritime, education and defence.

On agriculture, which is one of the priority areas of the Nigerian government, the President said cooperation in this area will be a win-win for the two countries, especially in the context of global food insecurity occasioned by the conflict in Ukraine.

He noted that in view of the numerous global challenges, Nigeria would like to develop new mechanisms for cooperation including regular strategic dialogues and political consultations to cover not only bilateral relations but also to address regional and international issues.

‘‘Our cooperation in education has a long history and we wish to encourage the extension of that cooperation to the sharing of knowledge and experience between our educational institutions in areas such as science and technology as well as Information and Communication Technology, in order to help drive innovation in our countries in this competitive global knowledge economy,’’ the Nigerian leader said.

Describing the two-day visit of the Polish President as significant, underscoring the cordial relations that exist between both countries, President Buhari commended the efforts of the Government of Poland in providing assistance to the large number of refugees fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, including a significant number of Nigerians.

‘‘I also wish to express our sincere gratitude for the kind and generous support extended during our government’s evacuation of our fleeing nationals.

‘‘We also appreciate greatly the opportunity given to some of our nationals to remain in Poland to continue with their studies.

‘‘As regards trade relations, we would like to see an increase in the level of trade, as it remains relatively low in spite of the long period of relations between our two countries,’’ he said.

The Nigerian leader welcomed the hosting of a Dialogue that will bring together various members of the business sectors of Nigeria and Poland, during the State Visit, adding that it is an excellent initiative to increase the level of trade between both countries.

Duda said Nigeria was the only African country Poland has signed an agreement of strategic dialogue with, which includes the MoU on agriculture cooperation.

‘‘What was pivotal in our conversation today both in our tete-a-tete as well as the plenary session was how to provide food and energy security.

‘‘It is important to us to strengthen the relations between Poland and Nigeria and the MOU we have signed is very important for the future of both nations on food security,’’ the Polish president said through an interpreter.

On energy security, he lauded the delivery of liquefied natural gas to Poland from Nigeria, as well as shipments of crude oil.

‘‘We want to further this cooperation and we want to increase the supplies from Nigeria to Poland and by this way we want to contribute to the development of economic cooperation between the two countries,’’ he said.

President Duda noted that Nigeria and Poland have enjoyed excellent bilateral relations in the last 60 years, buoyed at the people-to-people level with the presence of many Nigerians at Polish higher institutions of learning as well as the input of Polish engineers and scientists in the building of infrastructure in Nigeria.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 6, 2022

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI RECEIVES POLISH PRESIDENT H.E DUDA

President Muhammadu Buhari receives the Polish President H.E Andrzej Duda during a State visit at the Presidential Villa Abuja., PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. SEPT 6TH 2022

DIRECTOR GENERAL HEMBADOON MOBILIZATION NETWORK PAID COURTESY VISIT TO HON EMMANUEL MEMGA UDENDE.

Miss Fashionista, Women Leader AYEI and Director General Hembadoon Mobilization Network Miss Queen Hembadoon Atir, Deputy Coodinator AYEI Hon Targema Agaagba and her entourage paid a courtesy visit to the APC Senatorial Candidate for Benue North East Hon Emmanuel Memga Udende at his Makurdi residence today.

It was a preparatory visit for the commencement of political campaigns which is to kick start few weeks from now.

Miss Fashionista and Women Leader presented to him campaign materials and unveiled t-shirts to the Senatorial aspirant for his campaign as well Rev Father Dr Chief Hyacint Iormem Alia.

The top Aspirant for Senate Zone A thanked Miss Fashionista and her entourage for the visit.

He emphasized the support is first of it kind during this year's political period and assured to deliver dividends of democracy to the people when he eventually emerge as Senator Benue North East.

Tu BaBa Buhari FirstSon,
Media Aide to DG.

Tiwatoke2:
I believe y’all are seeing how VP Osinbajo has been steadily making us proud. Nigeria’s energy transition plan is definitely going to be a success because he is in charge

PETER OBI: A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN



Nigeria, like many other countries across the globe is on the edge. The inflationary trend which continues to reduce the disposable income of the public is ubiquitous around the world. The ‘saner climes’ not excluded. Only few days back, news went viral how life was becoming unbearable in even developed countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, the United States, Spain to mention but a few. Overt as this is seen globally, of course there are those in Nigeria and even diaspora Nigerians who think Nigeria should be immune to these cyclopedic quagmire. It is the way we are largely wired. So many naysayers and misanthropes who gloat about bad news on their country but melancholic and downcast when milestones are recorded. In any case, the world at large is sick and this does not preclude Nigeria from being affected. Life may be said to be generally somewhat hard, not because the government of the day is insensitive to the general living standards, but particularly a resultant effect of past experiences.

Nigeria no doubt is going through a teething period which essentially is a corollary of the malfeasance leadership and endemic legacy bequeathed to the country by the former handlers of the country – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). And as it is peculiar with every birth and rebirth, it comes with concomitant pains. This, exactly is what Nigeria is passing through with the rebirth started with the All Progressives Congress (APC) government. Change, is said to be painful at the beginning, messy at the middle but a sweet sensation at the tail end. As Nigeria travels on the voyage of this howbeit ‘painful’ experience, she obviously needs a midwife who can take her delivery to a safe berth. The 2023 poll presents a make or mar critical moment that requires a man with the requisite wherewithal that can navigate the country through her current challenges to a safe haven. The question that begs for answer is, ‘Who drives Nigeria to her safe haven?’

Nigeria in her present state requires no greenhorn or tyro with no experience in public office as her numero uno. Her heterogenous and diverse complexities do not give room for such experiment. This is why presidential ‘wannabes’ like Yele Sowore (AAC), Kola Abiola (PRP), Prince Malik Ado-Ibrahim (YPP) and Prince Adewole Adebayo (SDP) do not stand any chance. Therefore, the frontline candidates who had held public office at one time or the other in the country should be placed on the scale of their antecedents. And this is where people like Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Mr. Peter Gregory Obi come to the fore. Each of these individuals have had a shot at public office and their records should be able to speak, loudly for them on their capability to steer the voyage of a country like Nigeria. But I have always asked myself a question about the leadership capability of Mr. Peter Obi and I often quip, ‘Does Mr. Peter Gregory Obi has what it takes to lead a country like Nigeria?’

If anyone would ask me about the candidacy of Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, I would not blink an eye to retort, ‘Obi is a disaster in waiting should Nigeria make such a huge mistake’. My reasons are simple and not far-fetched. Let us examine his 8-year leadership as the Governor, Anambra State from year 2004 through 2012. Whatever discovery or findings arrived at will tell of his intellectual capacity to lead over 250million people of the most populous black nation in the world. Now, I will attempt to examine the leadership of Mr. Obi as Anambra State honcho within a few prisms of public governance, health, education, infrastructure, politics, economy, security and public accountability. An understanding of these analyses will help, largely, Nigerians who have remained fence-sitters or seeming apolitical as the country moves towards another electioneering that will usher in new leadership in a couple of months;

a. PUBLIC GOVERNANCE

Nigeria requires a man with empathy for, not only the masses but also the civil service. This, Mr. Peter Obi lacks in all ramifications. If a man does not take workers’ welfare as top priority in a state with less than 50,000 civil servants, how do we commit the lives of hundreds of thousands of Nigerian civil servants into his hands, needless to mention the general public? It is on records that under the leadership of Mr. Peter Obi as the governor, the salaries of workers of the State Water Corporation Board were withheld and not paid. This left over 200 of State workers to die in penury.


b. HEALTH

Mr. Peter Obi took over from a predecessor who was (and still is) a doctor. It would be expected that the camaraderie that existed between his predecessor and the health sector would be maintained, even if only for its cosmetics. But nope! It was under this same mistake of a public office holder that the Anambra State medical doctors went on strike action for more than 13 months! As if that were not enough, health workers across the State went on 8-month strike action under Obi’s leadership. Who jokes with the health sector as a leader and expects public support?

c. EDUCATION

In the entire history of Anambra State, no single teacher, not even one was employed in the 8-year rule of Mr. Peter Obi. Do we need any soothsayer to perform divination before we know that education remains the bedrock of any society which plans to develop? Instead, records have it that right under the ascendancy of Mr. Peter Obi as the Anambra State Governor, the State University went on 6-month strike action. That’s aside his wicked decision to increase tuition fees of public schools when his counterpart in Lagos had provided free education and free examination fees for all Senior Secondary School students planning to write both WAEC and NECO examinations. He was even reported to have said, ‘Education in Anambra is not for the poor.’ Obi was said to have forced students of the public secondary schools to pay for three terms at once! How much more wicked could a leader be?!

d. INFRASTRUCTURE

Today, the duo of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso can boldly point at their signature milestones while holding sway as governors in both Lagos and Kano States respectively. The other day, the Commissioner for Information & Strategy under Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos State honcho was on the microblogging Twitter Space held on Sunday, August 28 where he rolled out, to the chagrin of all attendees, the achievements of his principal. It will take the passing of camel through the eye of the needle to point to signature projects of Mr. Peter Obi as the Governor of Anambra State.

e. POLITICS

Mr. Peter Obi has proved time and time again that he is a politician with unstable character. He does not believe in politics of consistency even though he has constantly preached about politicians being consistent and stable in one political party regardless of their experience in such party (ies). Recently, a video of an interview Mr. Peter Obi granted Channels TV’s Sunrise crew surfaced online. In the said interview, Mr. Obi had said pointedly that a politician with a stable character should not been seen moving from one political party to another. But today, Mr. Peter Obi had not only moved in the last 8 years after leaving office as the Anambra State governor, he had actually moved from the All People Grand Alliance (APGA), his original party to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and lately to the Labour Party (LP).

f. SECURITY

Right under the nose of Mr. Peter Obi as Anambra State Governor, over 100 souls were murdered and their bodies thrown into the Ezu River. If this inhumane action is not massacre, then, I am afraid of how to describe it. The nightmare of Akpaka Forest close to 33 Nkwere Ezunaka in Onitsha is better left untold. Other dreaded areas at Onitsha include but not limited to Fegge. These were no-go areas. Kidnapping and mysterious deaths were the orders of the day.

g. PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY

Mr. Peter Obi’s larger than life hoodwinkery is perhaps one of his best-selling façades to hypnotize the gullible public. The Nigeria political class relishes opulence and ostentatious living in contradistinction to the overt ubiquitous abject poverty. But Obi was able to deceptively create a false impression of himself. Having lied publicly on a popular yearly programme of Pastor Poju Oyemade of the Covenant Nation church called ‘The Platform’, that he used only one wristwatch throughout his two-term as Anambra State Governor; a statement that was later found to be a blatant lie. Another of his selling anecdotes that he handed over N75B to his successor has been a subject of controversy as the latter has repeatedly described the claim as a ‘humbug’. A man who claims to have invested public funds in his family private business is not worth leading a country like Nigeria, needless to mention his driver caught with N250M he was to launder for him.

The country will be doomed to root for a man whose name appeared boldly on the list of public office holders involved in fraud – the Pandora papers.

h. ECONOMY

On the State’s economy, a quote credited to the former Apex Bank honcho and now Governor, Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma C. Soludo is apropos here; “While Obi gloated about savings, there is no signature project to remember his regime except that this regime took the first position among all states in Nigeria in the democratisation of poverty – mass impoverishment of the people of Anambra. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), poverty rose under his watch in Anambra from 20% in 2004 (lowest in Nigeria then) to 68% in 2010 (a 238% deterioration?” Above is an excerpt from Gov Soludo’s article “Beyond The Elections’ published in 2015.

The statistics above does not include Mr. Peter Obi’s claim (on television) that he invested Anambra’s State funds of $30M in SABMiller and that the investment is now worth $100M. However, after subjecting his claim to thorough check, it was revealed that only $12M of the State’s funds was invested in the name of Anambra. The question is, “Where is the remainder of $18M?” Sadly too, the $12M state investment has dropped significantly to about $3.5M as of today.

Conclusively, it will take people with biases and ethnic sentiments, not pure love for the country Nigeria to drum support for a candidate like Mr. Peter Obi. In saner clime, Peter Obi will be best as Senior Special Assistant (not even adviser) to any presidential candidate on trade matters. The only thing Peter Obi is good at is ‘import’ which in itself is not entirely bad but can be counterproductive when it exports jobs that should have been meant for the locals.

Nigerians, shine ya eyes! Peter Obi is a disaster-in-waiting!

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI RECEIVES DR DIETE-SPIFF

President Muhammadu Buhari receives in audience the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff during an audience at the State House Abuja.. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE SEPT 1ST 2022

AGRICULTURE THE BACKBONE OF BENUE ECONOMY AND WHY REV FATHER DR HYACINTH IORMEM ALIA PhD SHOULD PRIORITISE AGRICULTURE WHEN HE EVENTUALLY BECOME THE GOVERNOR OF BENUE STATE.

By Queen Hembadoon Atir

Your Excellency Sir, it is no doubt that the agricultural landscape in Benue State and indeed across Nigeria holds a lot of attraction for actors within the agricultural environment and even investors, especially now when the country is making conscientious efforts to look away from oil to her other natural resources.

Sir, before the discovery of crude oil, agriculture was the mainstay of Nigeria's economy and accounted for an average of 57% of GDP and generated 65% of export earnings. Food output however declined after independence as focus shifted to oil. With the decline of oil prices, the Nigeria government introduced diversification with focus on growing the economy through agriculture.

Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in April 2020, showed that the agricultural sector contributes about 21.96 per cent to the nation's GDP, which is the monetary value of all finished goods and services made in the country.

Your Excellency Sir, Benue State as the food basket of the nation holds and stands tall in agricultural space in Nigeria unfortunately she lacks agricultural policies that will drive the cause for it actors as well it citizens in order to contribute hugely to the state Economy due to lack of policies and or lack of proper implementation of such politicies to boost agricultural Production in the State.

Benue State as agricultural hulb has no industries to reckon on for the transformation of agricultural produce to finished goods so as to create more value to farmers outputs and provide Jobs for the teeming youths in the state.

As a Reverend who have being with the people, who is the servant of the people, I trust you are aware of the numerous challenges bedevilling the state in this major sector of the economy from lack of Policy implementation, lack of funding for the agric sector, none support from the state government by providing agricultural inputs to farmers at subsidized rates and above all total negligence to the implementation of MoU to lure investors to invest to boom the sector in the state.

I solely believe your emergence will be a blessing to the people of Benue State as such we call on you, agriculture should be a pivotal sector and should be one among your key points agenda when you come into office.

Your Excellency, there are key agricultural policy instructions and reforms if taken into consideration and properly implemented will boost agricultural sector provide Jobs and bring the standard of living to the people.

The nature of these agricultural policy instruments is implemented through five kinds of instruments.

EXECUTIVE DECREES AND LEGISLATIVE REFORMS

The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states the fundamental objectives and directive principle of state policy on food under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which emphasized that the State shall direct its policy towards ensuring that suitable and adequate food is provided for all citizens subject to availability of resources. Your Government should make Executive decrees and regislative reforms in line with Benue agricultural ideology.

The National Agricultural Seeds Act Cap. N5 Vol. 10 LFN 2004 for example seeks to regulate the development of the national seed system by establishing a council known as the National Agricultural Seed Council. This Council is given the responsibility for the overall policy guidelines and monitoring of the development of the national seed system.

The Act aims at analyzing and proposing programs, policies and actions regarding seed development as well as the seed industry. The overall objective of the Act is to harmonize the seed industry with other agricultural input industry in order to meet the increasing demand of the agricultural sector.

The National Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds (Registration, etc.) Act Cap. N27 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 on another hand seeks to provide for detailed identification of management training needs in agriculture and rural development organization, and to develop and implement training programmes to meet the needs of managers in the agricultural and rural development sector of the Nigerian economy.

The Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund Act Cap. A10 LFN 2004 seeks to establish a Fund into which a certain sum of money is to be subscribed to in order to make provision for and guarantee loans granted for agricultural purposes by any bank. According to the Act, no loan granted pursuant to the Act shall not be applied for any purpose other than that for which such loan was granted. Criminal liability is prescribed for any person (including corporations) who applies such loans in contravention of the Act.

Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act Cap. A12 LFN 2004 the Agricultural research Council of Nigeria Act provides for the establishment of research institute by the Council. To this end, Nigeria has quite a number of agricultural institutions scattered all over the country such as the International Livestock Research Institute, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, the National Root Crop Research Institute etc.

Your Excellency, if similar Acts is applied to Benue Agricultural Sector, we will stand tall as a state to even compete with other Africa nations for food production, this will enable low income earners have access to capital to produce more.

INVESTMENT PROJECTS.

Your Excellency, Agriculture cannot thrive in the adsense of infrastructural development as such we urge your Government to give proper attention to connecting rural areas to the urban areas for effective movement of farm yields to the market.

I want to bring to your notice of the Tomato and Pepper plant Sen George Akume established which he couldn't complt and the importance of the factory to the people of Benue State. The Taraku mills, an integrated agro-processing company which was sighted in Gwer-east local government area of Benue State in 1986 among other abandoned industries should be resuscitated for the benefit of Benue people.

The Ber Agbum fish farm established by Gov Aper Aku and managed by Late Denen Daniel Atir which clamped down decades ago should also be given prompt attention for massive Fish Production in the State.

Your Excellency, the sighting of Yam flour industry in Zaki biam axis and fruit juice factories in lessel axis will be beneficial for the people as majority of those in this axis and beyond are hugely involved in the cultivation of yam and fruits respectively.

We urge you to create the environment, lure Investors such gigantic projects will not only boost agricultural activities but also boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the state to further deliver devidends of democracy to the people.

PROGRAMS

Your Excellency, programs which usually require significant numbers of field staff working with farmers, input supplies, processors and the like will go along well to educate farmers provide inputs, processors and knowledge how best to use them for effectiveness.

VOLUNTARY COLLABORATION BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

The Government under your watch should embrace the private sector, provide the enabling environment for doing business, lure Investors both internal and foreign through FDI to invest into the sector to boost production and give value to outputs and the people so as to encourage private investors to key in for the benefit of the society.

Conclusively, Instruments may be combined; a program may have an investment component, or may require an executive decree before it can be carried out. Legislation and decrees define the rules of the game and establish programs, such as guarantee funds, subsidies targeted on the poor, and the formation of water user associations, among many other examples and with this Benue State will be repostion to return and return to the land to feed the Nation and indeed the world.

Iortim Philemon Vasue,
For DG, Hembadoon Mobilization Network.

VotePeterObi:
Mynd44 is fun of closing down any thread relating to Tinubu.
How is this a false Information

https://www.nairaland.com/7305596/tinubu-caught-listening-obidient-twitter

That handle is Tinubu handle. The space was opened by Obidients to discuss on how to retire Tinubu.

Mynd44 explain how this is a false information.

ObosiUkwalla:
See the sort of things supporting Buhari and Tinubu the druggie??

I want Peter Obituary to walk in the Street of Anambra like this on Monday or any of the Mondays as well as Atiku in the Street of Jada or Yola.

Conner44:
You are truly OBIdient

Tiri gbosa for you

North4Obi23:
Tinubu's pictures 2023

Arysexy:
Seun, oam4j, lalasticlala

Rule 8

This is not unizik junction. False information

Unizik Junction, en route to Isuaniocha Road In Anambra

No Wonder Pit-Obi Migrated To Lagos

A Quick Reminder, Tomorrow is sit-at-home ooo Happy sit-at-home Terrorist Nnamdi Kaun is now understanding Buhari's language.

Jennifer663:
Good?

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO EMBRACE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IN BOTH URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES IN BENUE STATE THROUGH SKILLS ACQUISITION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, AN ADVICE TO THE INCOMING GOVERNOR REV FATHER DR HYACINTH IORMEM ALIA PhD.

Your Excellency Sir, It will interest you to note that youth unemployment has remained one of the present and steady social problems that characterise the Benue economy as a developing state.

Measures to combat this ugly situation have featured prominently in the development agenda of successive governments unfortunately it never gained weight and attention by rulers other than mismanagement of allocated resources for such purposes.

However, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), established by the Babangida Administration in 1986, comes across as a consistent public policy on employment and wealth creation that has managed to endure over the years. Since its establishment, a number of schemes have been designed and implemented under the directorate to combat youth unemployment. One of such schemes is the National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (NOAS).

Your Excellency Sir, our economy is fast approaching another revolutionary stage which self actualization will be the cardinal factor towards achieving greateness by youths, men and women and those living with disabilities as we have moved past the industrial revolution stage where certificates matter less as there is increase in population around the world which government and private organizations can't hugely engage.

Our people both men and women and those living with disabilities are committed and innovative such that if such avenue is properly channel, there would have be a good percentage of those who are self employed in the state.

Sir, we recommend among others that; funding of NDE should be improved upon in the state within the scope of NAOS and should be executed with more schemes to accommodate graduates of tertiary institutions, and the general policy framework on education be reviewed to create a synergy between the formal school system and the job market in our dear state Benue State.

For example, Sev-Av foundation Gboko is an organization which offers a skilled centre approach to enriching the lives of youths in our community by implementing our core concepts of self-dependency, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Your Government should focus and be committed to making it easier and more accommodative for young people to try their hands on self-employment, wealth creation and innovation.
This will reduce crime to barely minimum the level of employment thereby reducing crime and even a good percentage of out of school children.

This is the crucial reason we deemed it fit to offer our kindid advice through the media.

Your Excellency, you should embrace Entrepreneurship Training for Women, Youths and vulnerable persons in all local governments in Benue State.

The Government should offer Entrepreneurship training to Secondary School Students, Women in Churches and also training programs in partnership with several other groups and sister organizations and empower the people with starter kits to self actualize themselves.
It is in this regard that we thought it wise to highlight few but challenging economic prospect for you to key into for the betterment our dear state.

Hembadoon Atir,
DG Hembadoon Mobilization Network.

Jennifer663:
Wow.