₦airaland Forum

Sequel to a meeting held on 11th May, 2016 by government officials and other concerned stakeholders on the "current fuel situation in Nigeria". The following issues were reviewed at the meeting:

1. The current fuel scarcity and supply difficulties in the country.

2. The exorbitant prices being paid by Nigerians for the product. These prices range on the average from N150 to N250 per litre currently.

3. The meeting also noted that the main reason for the current problem is the inability of importers of petroleum products to source foreign exchange at the official rate due to the massive decline of foreign exchange earnings of the federal government. As a result, private marketers have been unable to meet their approximate 50% portion of total national supply of PMS.

According to a press statement said to have been released through "Aso Rock Villa" (a facebook page) by the Minister of State for petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu on the outcome of the meeting presided over by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, having in attendance the Leadership of the Senate, House of Representatives, Governors Forum, and Labour Unions (NLC, TUC, NUPENG, and PENGASSAN), the Minister made the following statements:

"We share the pains of Nigerians but, as we have constantly said, the inherited difficulties of the past and the challenges of the current times imply that we must take difficult decisions on these sorts of critical national issues. Along with this decision, the federal government has in the 2016 budget made an unprecedented social protection provision to cushion the current challenges."

WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?, do you agree that they share our pains with this move at this sensitive and critical hours of hardships without anything to cushion the effects before taking the decision?

Source:
https://ibadanelite./2016/05/12/n145-pms-we-share-the-pains-of-nigerians-do-you-approve-his-statement/

Èdè abínibí wa tọ́sí ìgbélárugẹ (Dialects worth being valued like English)

English language is meant to be in sync with the other three officially recognized  indigenous languages in Nigeria but it is quite very unfortunate that the language introduced by our colonial Masters has now been priotized and given too much value at the expense of our mother tongues.

China has seven main dialects comprising of Mandarin (官話), Cantonese (廣州話, 廣府話), Hakka (客家話), Wu (吳語), Min (閩語), Xiang (湘語), and Gan (贛語) and today China is competing with United State of America as second world largest economy to become the largest economy in the World without ignoring their dialects in the course.

The indigenous Language discrimination in Nigeria is the major Challenge we face in communication and learning as many prefer the vast dominating English language to their mother tongue instead of utilizing them simultaneously. To worsen the situation, we have been brainwashed to regard persons who speak their mother tongues as....
CONTINUE READING.... https://ibadanelite./2016/04/27/ede-abinibi-wa-tosi-igbelaruge-dialects-worth-being-valued-like-english/

By Fátọ́lá Abdullahi...

On this day, 1st May, 2016, is the annually celeberated May day or Workers' day in Nigeria and some countries across the world. Workers' day holiday was first declared by the People Redemption Party (PRP) Government of Kano State in 1980 while it became a national holiday on May 1, 1981.

May day was carved out in memory of Haymarket Affair, a struggle embarked upon by workers in Canada and United States of America in agitation for "Eight-hour day with no cut in pay". They embarked on peaceful industrial actions/ strikes and rallies to demand for the Eight-hour work day on 1st May, 1886 and unfortunately, it led to the killing of several demonstrators by Chicago police during a clash between the workers and scabs in the city after two days.

On May 4, 1886, in reaction to the massacre on the 1st May and in support of the general strikes to request eight-hours work day, seven Chicago police were killed and atleast four civilians met their untimely death, leaving scores with various degrees of injury at Haymarket square, Chicago, during a staged initially peaceful protest which turned bloody after an unknown person threw bomb to the police. In 1889, May 1 was declared eight-hour work day in honor of the struggle and the struggle for the well-being of all workers by the International Workers' Congress, Paris.

The lessons deduced from the reasons for the proclamation of this day as workers' day internationally can be highlighted as imbibing unity in struggle, faith in struggle and peace in struggle. The Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) who happens to be the mother of other labour unions in Nigeria, can only thrive on a struggle by suppressing all manners of crises that may evolve within the union with the lessons stated above imbibed in their culture and ethics.

It could be recalled that on March 12 and March 19, parallel elections were held in the quest to produce the new leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), won by Comrade Ayubba Wabba and Comrade Joe Ajaero respectively on the two election days disclosed above. Later in August, 2015, it was made known to the public that the two factions already reconciled. This kind of chaos should be avoided in future or suppressed if the factions are yet to reconcile to make NLC a single entity. United NLC stands divided they encounter difficulties in the union's agitation with government.

One of the sole reasons at present expected to gear NLC to remain united in struggle is their new joint proposal with Trade Union Congress (TUC) to the federal government on the fifty-six thousand naira  (N56,000) minimum wage and other beneficial packages for workers. A divided Labour union movement will render the agitation fruitless as the loop-hole, if in existence, may be harnessed to frustrate their efforts and may also cause the government to give less attention to the proposal. However, we hope that the government of the day will entertain the new development from the union and call for justification of the proposal and likewise negotiate on the benchmark or maintain the status quo as proposed by the unions.

Source:
https://ibadanelite./2016/05/01/may-day-n56000-minimum-wage-nlc-must-suppress-internal-factions/

By Fátọ́lá Abdullahi...

Sequel to an article compiled on his blog far back year 2013 by the author of this article, unleashing the benefits of sustaining our indigenous languages here in Nigeria, adopting Yorùbá as case study, there, the author regretted being unable to compile the softcopy of the article using his mother tongue but today we are glad to inform the readers of this blog that apps and softwares had been available for a while to write in Igbo, Hausa and Yorùbá languages.

Readers of this article should kindly accept the Yorùbá translation of this write up below. However, It would be interesting to have others who can compile this article in Hausa and Igbo languages to get in touch with the writer for their language versions.

English language is meant to be in sync with the other three officially recognized  indigenous languages in Nigeria but it is quite very unfortunate that the language introduced by our colonial Masters has now been priotized and given too much value at the expense of our mother tongues.

China has seven main dialects comprising of Mandarin (官話), Cantonese (廣州話, 廣府話), Hakka (客家話), Wu (吳語), Min (閩語), Xiang (湘語), and Gan (贛語) and today China is competing with United State of America as second world largest economy to become the largest economy in the World without ignoring their dialects in the course.

The indigenous Language discrimination in Nigeria is the major Challenge we face in communication and learning as many prefer the vast dominating English language to their mother tongue instead of utilizing them simultaneously. To worsen the situation, we have been brainwashed to regard persons who speak their mother tongues as the  illiterare ones.

The root-cause of the discrimination begins right from our various homes. Until parents start to encourage their offsprings to express themselves in their mother tongue, write and read it, it’s then the downsizing of our indigenous languages in our society will come to a halt. Igbo, Hausa and Yorùbá language demand encouragement and synchronization with English language by necessary authorities in schools, tertiary institution and in our society at large.

In the Nigeria are the educated and uneducated ones. Among them are creative, innovative and talented minds, if given the privilege to showcase their natural endowments, they will perform excellently using their various languages to as medium of communication and instructions.

On this note, this piece was written to make us realise the positive and progressive impacts our major languages can have on our economy by establishing a conducive and sustainable standard of living for the compatriots in Nigeria.

YORÙBÁ TRANSLATION

Látọ̀dọ Fátọ́lá Abdullahi...

Gẹ́gẹ́ bí óṣe wà nínu àròkọ tí Ònkòwé yìí fiṣọwọ́ sóri ayélujára nínu búlọ́ọ̀gì yí ní ọdún mẹ́ta sẹ́yìn, lórí àwọn ànfàní tówà nínu ká fọwọ́sowọ́pọ̀ kí èdè abínibí wa mábaà di ohun ìgbàgbé, nínú àròkọ náà, ó jẹ́ ohun ìkẹ́dùn fún ẹnitókọ àròkọ náà wípé kòsí ẹ̀rọ tó ṣeé kọ àròkọ náà ní èdè abínibí rẹ̀ tójẹ́ Yorùbá. Lénìí, ó jẹ́ ìdùnú fúnwa láti sọfún àwọn olùkàwé búlọ́ọ̀gì yí pé àwọn ẹ̀rọ wọ̀nyí tí wà fún kíkọ àti kíkà ní èdè abínibí wa lóri ẹ̀rọọ̀bánisọ̀rọ̀ ni Hawúsá, Yíbò àti Yorùbá.

Èyí ló mú kí á tú àròkọ yìí sí èdè Yorùbá láti èdè gẹ̀ẹ́sì, aṣì tún fi àsìkò yí rọ àwọn tí ó nka àròkọ yìí láti báwa gba èdè Yorùbá tí a tú sí yí. Inú wa á dùn púpọ̀ láti rí àwọn elédè Hawúsá àti Yíbò tí wọ́n lè pẹ̀lú Ònkòwé yìí látikọ àròkọ yìí ní èdè abínibí oníkálùkú.

Èdè abínibí mẹ́tẹ̀ẹ̀ta ti wọ́n fi òntẹ̀lù ní orílè̀èdè wa yẹ kójẹ́ lílò gẹ́gẹ́ bí a ṣé ńlo èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì ṣùgbọ́n ó jẹ ọ̀gbẹọkàn fún wa pé ìràwọ̀ èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì yìí ti bo àwọn èdè abínibí wa mọ́lẹ̀.

Orílẹ̀èdè àwọn ṣinkó tí amò sí "China" ní Gẹ̀ẹ́sì, ńfigagbága pẹ̀lu Amẹ́ríkà láti du ípò orílẹ̀èdè àkọ́kọ́ tí ọrọ̀ajé rẹ̀ dántọ́ jùlọ lágbàyé. Èyí ṣeéṣe fún wọn nítorí pé wọn ò fi èdè abínibí méjèèje tí ìlú wọn fòntẹ̀lù ṣeré níbi ìdàgbàsókè ọròajé wọn.

Àìka èdè abínibí wa kún jẹ́ ìpèníjà tí à nkọjú ní orílẹ̀èdè wa, ó ṣì tijẹ́ kí á mú èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì lọ́kùnkúndùn ní sísọ àti kíkọ ju èdè tiwa lọ. Èyí tó ṣeni ní kàyéfì jùlọ ní kíka àwọn tó ńsọ èdè abínibí wọn ní ẹnitíòkàwé.

Ohun tí ó nṣe okùnfà wàhálà yìí bẹ̀rẹ̀ láti ilé ẹnìkọ̀ọ̀kan wa. Ó digbà tí àwọn òbí wa bá ntọ́ ọmọ wọn láti máa sọ, kà àti kọ èdè abínibí wọn láti kékeré tí wọ́n máa fi dàgbà ni èdè wa átó rí ìgbélárugẹ. Àwọn iléẹ̀kọ́ gíga ati kékeré pẹ̀lú àwùjọ wa lápapọ̀ gbọdọ̀ mú èdè wa ni pàtàkì bíi ti Gẹ̀ẹ́sì.

Láwùjọ wa, àní àwọn tó kàwé àti àwọn tí kòkà rárá. Lára àwọn wọ̀nyìí ní oríṣìíríṣìí ẹ̀bùn tólè ran ọrọ̀ajé wa lọ́wọ́ tí wọ́n bá fún wọn lánfàní láti ṣe àgbékalẹ̀ ohun tí wọ́n mọ̀ pẹ̀lú èdè abínibí wọn.

À nfi àkókò yìí pàrọwà fún gbogbo ọmọ orílẹ̀èdè Nàìjíríà pé èdè abínibí ní ipa pàtàkì tó máa kó lára ọrọ̀ajé wa ati ìdàgbàsókè ìlú wa pèlú àwọn olùgbé rẹ̀.

SOURCE:
https://ibadanelite./2016/04/27/ede-abinibi-wa-tosi-igbelaruge-dialects-worth-being-valued-like-english/

By Fátọ́lá Abdullahi...

A Martial Art icon and mentor, Sensei Paschal MacBrown, founder of Kishikan-Ryu Martial Arts college Lagos, in his thanks speech delivered on the April 16, 2016 birthday celebration organized by students of the college, charged his students to abide by the principles guiding Shito-Ryu karate (a martial art style taught in the college) capable of grooming reputable leaders, fit in mind and body. He made them realise that the general saying of the public that leaders are born is untrue, revealing that leaders are made and not born.

Kishikan-Ryu Martial Arts college, in proximity to 30 years of its existence, has its pledge begin with, "To train both mind and body..." which nullifies the perception of non-martial artists who believe the art is all about training to fight on the street. According to Sensei MacBrown, self-defense can be broken down into three (3) parts, ability to sense a problem and avert it, the display of self-control by walking out of a fight and finally, protecting yourself and your neighborhood from danger when all alternatives have been exhausted.

Sensei MacBrown also revealed to his students that bad leadership most time has its symptoms originate from the lack of mental fitness. Shito-Ryu karate-do, a karate style practiced in the college, trains mental, moral and physical abilities of human.

Shito-Ryu Karate-do was founded by Master Kenwa Mabuni, who he and his contemporaries decided to change the translation of 'karate', initially known to be 'Tangte' meaning 'Chinese fist', already in existence far back 4th and 5th Centuries B.C., to "karate-do" meaning "the way of Empty hands". Master Mabuni derived Shito-Ryu from first kanji characters in the names of his grand masters, Ankō Yasutsune Itosu and Higashionna Kanryō with "Shi" for Higashionna and "To" for Itosu.

We can however deduce that there are some general principles you will find common in virtually all martial art styles or branches that is worth building articulate and reputable leaders here in Nigeria and across the world.

Humility, Modesty, ability to persevere, self-control and Indomitable spirit, are principles Martials Arts work with, and we can vividly tell that these principles can help distinguish between leaders ready to pursue visions that won't "...intimidate, oppress or threaten the existence of humanity" as enshrined in the Kishikan-Ryu Martial Arts college's pledge, and leaders with visions capable of hurting the society they govern, making the followers who gave them the mandate to lead regret their decisions.

Source:
https://ibadanelite./2016/04/24/martial-arts-build-leaders-leadership-demands-mental-fitness-sensei-macbrown/

By Fátọ́lá Abdullahi...

A Martial Art icon and mentor, Sensei Paschal MacBrown, founder of Kishikan-Ryu Martial Arts college Lagos, in his thanks speech delivered on the April 16, 2016 birthday celebration organized by students of the college, charged his students to abide by the principles guiding Shito-Ryu karate (a martial art style taught in the college) capable of grooming reputable leaders, fit in mind and body. He made them realise that the general saying of the public that leaders are born is untrue, revealing that leaders are made and not born.

Kishikan-Ryu Martial Arts college, in proximity to 30 years of its existence, has its pledge begin with, "To train both mind and body..." which nullifies the perception of non-martial artists who believe the art is all about training to fight on the street. According to Sensei MacBrown, self-defense can be broken down into three (3) parts, ability to sense a problem and avert it, the display of self-control by walking out of a fight and finally, protecting yourself and your neighborhood from danger when all alternatives have been exhausted.

Sensei MacBrown also revealed to his students that bad leadership most time has its symptoms originate from the lack of mental fitness. Shito-Ryu karate-do, a karate style practiced in the college, trains mental, moral and physical abilities of human.

Shito-Ryu Karate-do was founded by Master Kenwa Mabuni, who he and his contemporaries decided to change the translation of 'karate', initially known to be 'Tangte' meaning 'Chinese fist', already in existence far back 4th and 5th Centuries B.C., to "karate-do" meaning "the way of Empty hands". Master Mabuni derived Shito-Ryu from first kanji characters in the names of his grand masters, Ankō Yasutsune Itosu and Higashionna Kanryō with "Shi" for Higashionna and "To" for Itosu.

We can however deduce that there are some general principles you will find common in virtually all martial art styles or branches that is worth building articulate and reputable leaders here in Nigeria and across the world.

Humility, Modesty, ability to persevere, self-control and Indomitable spirit, are principles Martials Arts work with, and we can vividly tell that these principles can help distinguish between leaders ready to pursue visions that won't "...intimidate, oppress or threaten the existence of humanity" as enshrined in the Kishikan-Ryu Martial Arts college's pledge, and leaders with visions capable of hurting the society they govern, making the followers who gave them the mandate to lead regret their decisions.

Source:
https://ibadanelite./2016/04/24/martial-arts-build-leaders-leadership-demands-mental-fitness-sensei-macbrown/

It's abysmal that a Nigerian, Durosaiye Obasanjo by name, has a creative idea that philantropists in Nigeria and the Nigeria government are yet to crave interest in. This concept is capable of transforming our transportation sector if embraced by the appropriate authorities, groups or individuals who will rebrand his innovations to suit a beneficial purpose.

This made in Nigeria "Jet Amphibian Car" by Durosaiye, a graduate of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Lagos State University, had been sighted at different locations across Lagos State with the aim of showcasing his God-given endowment he had been nursing since his childhood, to the world for investors, government and philanthropists to support his dream. It's quite unfortunate that the dream is yet to fascinate capable Nigerians and government to invest into.

Many Nigerians and foreigners look down on the creative project because of its look and the body composition, which should not be our utmost priority but the concept behind and the solution it will render to our society and the world atlarge. Blaming those who mock the project should be lesser than that of the government. Until we begin to identify, appreciate and develop our own talents our economy will keep crawling to be developed. Not a curse, but a bitter pill we must swallow.

No doubt, across the world we may probably have similar concepts already in use. We should however be less concerned about the similar achievements in other countries but invest in this dream and fetch other hidden talents in him because it's believed that he has more in him yet to be disclosed to the world which will eventually benefit us and the world in short or long run.

There are many creative minds out there in a depressed mood to disclose their natural gifts as a result of the negligence on the part of those who govern us to develop talents and creative concepts.

We therefore charge the Minister of Science and Technology, Youths and Transportation and likewise capable Nigerians to rally round the creative and intelligent Nigerian who produced the incredible vehicle that can move on water and road with the vision of flying yet to be realised. There are other talented individuals and gifts "wasting" on the streets and in our society as a result of idleness. The government should endeavor to pluck these unique human resources, train and retrain them, sponsor their projects and bring their dream into reality with their God-given gifts.

Source:
https://ibadanelite./2016/04/13/nigeria-made-jet-amphibian-car-inventors-concept-matters-not-the-look/

acceleratetv
For Dúrójaiyé Kẹ́hìndé Ọbásanjọ́, the dream of having a multi-purpose car is not just a dream but also a reality. For a few days he has been parading around Lagos in his customized vehicle, which is supposed to be able to fly, move across a body of water, and run on roads.

He calls his invention the “Jet Amphibian Car” and its presence has caused quite a stir at various locations it has been sighted at. While he claims the vehicle can move on water as well as land right now, he hasn’t achieved flight yet, for lack of funds.

Although not related to the former President Ọbásanjọ́, Kẹ́hìndé hails from Ògùn State and says he is a graduate of Lagos State University where he studied Electronics and Computer Engineering. The Jet Amphibian Car project is a product of his creative dexterity, which he began exhibiting from his childhood days.

The features of the UFO look-alike machine include;
Move on land
Moves on water
Has a seven-seater vehicle
Has a digital gear system
Has a keyboard for code activation
Has a bike steering (although there is another with a car steering and airbags).
The pilot seat and the steering. Notice the keyboard (for launch codes)

When Accelerate TV correspondents caught up with Kẹ́hìndé, he said 70% of the parts used are sourced locally, and for the sum of N1.5Million Naira, one can become the proud owner of a Jet Amphibian Car.

He called on President Buhari to support him on this project which has the potential to create jobs and boost the Nigerian economy. In 5 years, he believes with adequate support, he would be able to mass-produce on a commercial scale.

We asked him to do a test drive for us and to the delight of onlookers at the Ọbáleńdé Bus stop, Lagos; he took a spin around causing raucous cheers.

To end the chat, we asked him to drop a message to Nigerians and he said: “To the young ones watching, do not relent, look inwards, and use your initiative to develop this nation. And anyone that is talented, should keep it up.”

Just imagine owning one of these. No more 3rd Mainland Bridge traffic. Just drive into the Lagoon or fly to your destinations.

SOURCE
https://ibadanelite./2016/04/12/o%cc%a3basanjo%cc%a3s-jet-amphibian-car-invention-deserves-national-recognition/

Power supply across the country has been virtually unstable since this government mount the mantle of power. Fuel scarcity has joined the course. These, you will all concur, are the resources that affect the survival and the standard of living of the masses.

The need for this government and the ruling party to restrategize and jointly work assiduously to eradicate these hardships from the shore of Nigeria, should be of utmost priority.

The personalities and influentials, in power for sixteen (16) years till date, who control the key sectors that have direct impact on common Nigerians cannot be handled appropriately in just less than a year of the present government. Among these personalities are the pillars of the party that was relinquished from power at the center by the ruling party. Some are now suspected to be turning "havoc wreckers" in order to make the masses who voted them out to resent the one voted into power using their properties and assets acquired for sixteen years, more or less to suffer the masses.

The "parables" so far can be translated to the fact that the suspected "havoc wreckers" own petrol stations acquired with illegal resources (petrol pipe vandalization) and funds realised or legitimate start up capitals as the case may be. These saboteurs had also been in possession of companies into importation of generators and now the government has ban the importation of some generators. The power saboteurs may also have links in the power sector ensuring power supply is unstable across the country for their businesses to thrive.

They are already achieving their negative objectives to make the masses resent this government. What Nigeria needs now is not sabotage but a way to make the masses have an improved and sustainable standard of living. We the masses believe our vote is not wasted and will never regret voting this government into power. However, we should endeavor not to be silent but speak out to criticize this government constructively for their mistakes. The solution now is for the budget assent and implementation to be fast tracked.

Godbless Nigeria

SOURCE
https://ibadanelite./2016/04/12/moribund-power-and-fuel-scarcity-16-years-rule-saboteurs-in-action/

"Two greater than five"; NANS Marred by political interference, needs rehabilitation

Fellow Nigerians and Nigerian students, I can not understand why the learned youths we hope they become leaders in future would allow themselves to be utilized retrogressively for the selfish interests of some heartless politicians in the country.

I stumbled on a message dropped via whatsapp broadcast platform by a writer whose name appears beneath the post, but in order to avoid fallacy of hasty generalization, I won't conclude with the information disseminated in the post till the news from the end of the accused ones are retrieved, which can't be relied upon at the moment. The vividity of the ridiculousness which the message portrays to the world, tarnishing the image of Nigerian students triggered my instinct to disclose the message to the public with the opinion that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) should be "Rehabilitated".

I can not imagine an association I was once a member, to be frequently marred by electoral malpractices and political interference at all levels (JCC and National) and graduates who should be warming up to lead a country like Nigeria or its States now stooping so low to contend with students for the leadership of an association they are not a member. Just an observation!

The message below reveals the "do or die" interest of some politicians and leaders in the leadership of NANS-JCC Ondo state axis.

THE MESSAGE AS RECEIVED
Saturday 26th of march, 2016 (Date of occurence)

During my primary school days, I was taught the act of greater numbers .My primary one teacher told us with great emphasis that 2 is greater than 1 and other subsequent numbers following will be greater than the previous...Meaning that in no circumstances will 99 be greater than 100.

I grew up with such a vivid mentality that any number less than a particular number remains inferior in all counts.
This could be applied in some other spheres...Which is why Nigeria with a population of over One hundred and sixty million (160 million) people is rated as the country with the largest population in the whole of Africa. China with a population of over one billion people remains the country with the largest population in the world.
No matter how you look at it, the United States of America with all its resources and strength cannot lay claim to being the country with the largest population in the world.

Let’s bring it home; to become a Local Government Chairman, Senator, House of Representatives member, governor or even SUG President, you must score the highest vote in an election.
Why all these preambles you may ask?, I only want to lay the foundation for my topic of today and bring home the laughable drama happening at the National Association of Nigerian Students- Joint Campus Committee Ondo State Axis (NANS-JCC).

Some days back, students union presidents from nine tertiary institutions in ondo state met in federal college of agriculture in Akure (the state capital) to elect a new Chairman.
The incumbent director of action and mobilization NANS- ondo axis and traditional vice chancellor of FUTA- Kegite Club International (ilya du oyemekun) decided to contest the position, an action which did not go down well with the powers that be at the state house of ondo state.

The governor of ondo state felt chief engr ATOLUSI Damilola a.k.a chief Anthoz du politics was becoming too powerful with some inordinate steps, which may include having the full-control of the students from the nine institutions in ondo state come april and november 2016. To this end, Anthoz must be stopped at all cost to lead a student body which is constitutionally recognized by NANS law and has become a force to reckon with in the state polity.

Earlier on, in order to clip the wing of Atolusi and his cohorts, the state government decided to form its own NANS JCC in ondo.
Governor mimiko’s bulldog, Ayenuro timileyin a.k.a Safety of NANS national affairs selected one NANS desperado falegan samson to lead the group.
In order to achieve its aim of stopping Chief Anthoz du FUTA at all cost, falegan samson was selected to challenge him to the exalted post.
At the end of what turned out to be a very fierce election, chief Atolusi damilola a.k.a Anthoz supported by Students union presidents across ondo state from the minority side and some from the majority garnered 5 votes while falegan samson was only able to get 2 votes.
Instead of congratulating chief atolusi damilola a.k.a ANTHOZ for winning the election against all odds, the losing governor's camp swore not to recognize the election or the leadership of Chief Comrade Engineer ATOLUSI Damilola a.k.a Chief du politics  but went on to declare falegan samson as the winner of the election.

To use the words of Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole in describing the charade going on at the Nans body “Even Madness has level”.
It’s disheartening that a 9 voter forum like the NANS JCC ondo axis cannot accept the result of a free and fair election.
The inability for the powers that be to accept the result of the Ondo NANS-JCC election portrays the leadership of the ondo State as leaders without honour.
It’s also an indication of what to expect in april and november 2016.
Irrespective of how the government of the day feels about the election, it is obligatory of it to accept the people’s choice.
Never in the history of Ondo state have we seen this type of fragrant disobedience to the wish of the students.

The election has polarized the once united group and has put the State Government in bad light.
It has also exposed us to ridicule in the eyes of the national community.
This has also shown and proved that the governor in many times is not in total control of the State and student bodies in ondo state.

That Chief Anthoz could hold on to 5 SUG presidents also shows a total weakening of the powers of the Commander in Chief of the Ondo state armed forces.
Governor mimiko should rise above politics and personal interest and show the stuff a true statesman and leader is made of.

The continued polarization of the students forum serves no good.
It is a sword that cuts both sides.
Comrade Ayenuro timileyin a.k.a SAFETY and his cohorts should swallow the bitter pills and pull resources to recognize the duly elected Chairman of NANS-JCC Ondo axis. Nowhere in the world is 2 greater than 5.

The earlier this embarrassment is sorted out, the better for our leaders.
The ondo state government should stop dancing naked in the market place.
Falegan samson should be seen as an imposter and should be so treated.

SF Engr (Hon.) Corper Olasunkanmi Eniola A.K.A SEEKAY

End of Message!

https://ibadanelite./2016/03/31/two-greater-than-five-nans-marred-by-political-interference-needs-rehabilitation/

The Biggest challenge faced by lagosians is traffic gridlock and it has numerous adverse effects on the motorists and passengers, and no human can do without road transportation in a week. Even if you are "Air transport or sea or waterways or train addicted" you will definitely reach your destination or origination by road from your residence.

Road traffic gridlock in Lagos state, the commercial hub of Nigeria, is unbearable as motorist and other road users get fatigued while in the traffic leaving many to report to work lately and return home weared late at night with short sleep, only to wake up the next morning as early as 3.00 a.m for the journey of a new day. This has also been the lifestyle of lagosians' offsprings which is not encouraging in the process of upbringing kids.

Intelligent Transport System is yet to get an attention here in Nigeria. I must commend the past and present governments of Lagos on their rapid response towards traffic gridlock in the state. The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation (MoT) and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) are really into laudable tasks "under the sun and in the rain" to ensure smooth traffic flow, the joint efforts of the Lagos Traffic radio, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Police Traffic control units, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Task force, Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and other authorities or agencies or bodies in charge, can never be overlooked. However, the introduction of 21st century technologies to reduced traffic congestions had helped the developed countries to tackle the menace even though not completely eliminated.

According to an online publication of United States, Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 2014, Electronic Bill Boards (EBB) is a programmable display that has the capability to present a large amount of text and/or symbolic imagery. In Nigeria, the two types of EBB are the advanced EBB which has the capability to present multiple views and objects that have realistic motion. The second is the tri-vision signs which provide one of three views with rotating cylinders and generate mechanical motion or movement (FWHA, 2014).

The situation that prompted this write up was the recent gridlock on Ikorodu road axis of lagos state caused by a tanker accident at Asolo, hindering road users from going to their workplace and other destinations in the early morning of 23rd March 2016. The intervention of authorities in charge, helped the situation but had it been that there exist the use of Variable Message Sign (VMS) on our road infrastructures, motorists who was not at the scene of the incident would have been alerted of the accident and diverted to alternative routes using the VMS technology before getting to the Asolo area.

Variable Message Sign (VMS) in a student handbook of Washington State, department of Transportation, was defined as a traffic control devices used to provide motorist en-route traveler information. They are commonly installed on full-span overhead sign bridges, postmounted on roadway shoulders, and overhead cantilever structures. The information is most often displayed in real-time and can be controlled either from remote centralized location or locally at the site. Traveler information displayed on VMS may be generated as a result of a planned or unplanned event, which is programmed or scheduled by operations personnel.

The display structures of VMS are designed to be resilient against temperature and other weather factors. Most of the major VMS components are contained within the display structure. The objective of the VMS display is to allow the motorist time to avoid an incident, prepare for unavoidable conditions, or to give travel directions. The goal is to have a positive impact on the motorist’s travel time and ensure traveler’s safety. These technology however demands an uninterrupted power supply for up-to-date information to be passed across to road users.

VMS is a component of Intelligent Transport System (ITS). The overhead signs and post mounts are in form of Electronic Bill boards, if EBB can be constructed and placed for advert purpose, the use of VMS in Lagos State can also be adopted. Adopting this ITS component will go along way in quenching challenges of gridlock in the state. There are many other new tech for transportation which are cost effective and can assist us in reducing the traffic congestion daily encountered by road motorists.

The Lagos traffic radio (96.1 FM) should not be neglected by road users, motorists should all endeavor to listen to the station before taking off from home, on the wheels and after work for up-to-date information on road traffic situations across the state. Below are pictures that will give glimpse on what VMS looks like.

source:
https://ibadanelite./2016/03/26/lagos-gridlock-solution-how-electronic-bill-boards-can-reduce-traffic-jams/

The recent endorsement of President Muhammad Buhari for second term by the national caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is presently uncalled for as "Nigerians" are groaning in pains over the poor economic state. The "Nigerians" meant here are the masses suffering not some selfish and heartless leaders whose pockets are filled to the extent that their generations unborn cannot suffer with the excessive wealth in their possession.

Currently, the masses are in agony over fuel scarcity which the Minister of State for Petroleum Resource said will linger till late May when he was interviewed on Wednesday, 23rd March 2016.

The business environment is also not conducive for foreign investors, aspiring entrepreneurs and existing entrepreneurs which has caused some organizations to lay off their members of staff.

The power sector is a major contributing factor in these hardships as many now resolve into looking for the scarce and the hiked-in-price fuel to power their generating sets.

Youths wandering about on the streets searching for means of survival which is disheartening. The welfarism of Nigerians should be the priority of the APC led government not the bid for 2nd term.

Now that the 2016 Appropriation bill has been passed by the National Assembly, the next lines of action Nigerians expect are implementation and monitoring. The ruling party should realise the simple fact that no miracle of second term in 2019 will happen if Nigerians (Youths in particular) seize to feel the "change" voted for.

https://ibadanelite./2016/03/24/buharis-2nd-term-lure-too-early-nigerians-welfarism-very-paramount/

SHALL WE TELL THE PRESIDENT?- THISDAY

If I may quickly say this, I was not really a fan of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari until I read his interview in TheNEWS magazine sometime in 1994 — nine years after he was overthrown in a coup by General Ibrahim Babangida. Questioned on the things he got wrong as military head of state, Buhari replied candidly (and I paraphrase): “We made mistakes, but they were genuine mistakes… we were in a hurry to change Nigeria.” That instantly won me over. His perceived highhandedness was not for personal profit; it was in desperation to reform Nigerians. In one sentence, I saw honesty, I saw patriotism and I saw authenticity. I became his disciple from a distance.

I started dreaming of a Buhari presidency precisely in 1998. I can’t remember everything now, but I was then the Features Editor of THISDAY. Mr. Victor Ifijeh, then the Editor, drew my attention to a public lecture on leadership by Buhari and asked me to write a “Man in the News” feature on him for the Friday Review section. After going through Buhari’s speech, whose details I cannot now recollect (which means I’m finally getting old), I convinced myself that this was the kind of leader Nigeria badly needed. I started praying that one day, Buhari would lead Nigeria again. The inimitable Gen. Sani Abacha was the head of state then.

I would later get close to Buhari. I sized him up at close quarters and made my conclusions. One, he is very passionate about the progress of Nigeria. He believes that the country can be far better than this. Two, he believes the major problem obstructing our progress is leadership deficiency. In an interview I had with him in March 2001, he complained about the growing lawlessness in the land under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s leadership, concluding: “Instead of the dog wagging the tail, it is the tail that is wagging the dog.” Three, he told me in May 2009 that Nigeria had been ruled by “leaders without conscience”, and that was why we had not developed “despite all our resources”.

I saw in Buhari a leader who would not spend his days in office feathering his nest. I saw a leader who would not condone stealing of public funds. I saw in him a strong personality who would take a decision and stand by it, not being tossed by every wind of doctrine. However, unlike most of the modern-day Buhari fans, I was very much aware of his limitations. I knew he would be highly constrained by his worldview. I worried about his economic philosophy. I also worried about his likely choice of core team members. Above all, I knew his handling of the Nigerian situation as a military man was not replicable in a democracy. I was quite realistic.

In truth, I was not expecting magic in the event of him becoming president. I did not expect him to change Nigeria and Nigerians in four years, much less in 10 months. It so happened that in 2015, after three failed attempts, Buhari became the choice presidential candidate. The anti-Jonathan movement found a ready symbol of change in Buhari. They quickly created him in the image they wanted: a flawless magician, the ultimate messiah. I was very worried for Buhari at some point. For instance, on January 25, 2015 — more than two months before he won the election — I did foresee trouble in an article with the title: “Buhari and the Burden of Expectations.”

I wrote: “To be honest, I don’t know whether to rejoice or sympathise with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari anytime I read all the sweet comments about him on social media — especially on Twitter. I don’t know any presidential candidate who has been so idolised in recent times — which is an excellent accolade any politician will gladly take. On the one hand, it is good for him. He will not be complaining at all. No politician will complain about such good fortune, especially with only a few weeks to an election. On the other hand, my God! The expectations are sky-high. Incredible. From what I am reading, Buhari is expected to perform nothing short of magic in Aso Rock…”

I am, therefore, not surprised by the increasing murmurings and grumblings against Buhari in less than 10 months. A country perpetually reliant on fuel imports, littered with bad roads and sick hospitals, living in darkness, churning out illiterates as graduates — let’s face it: the turn-around maintenance of Nigeria will take longer than 10 months. I’ve always told my friends no president can transform Nigeria in four years or even eight years. The most important thing, I keep emphasising, is to have patriotic and competent leadership taking us in the right direction. That way, we would know that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory ahead.

Having said that, however, I am really getting worried about Buhari’s second coming. Yes, he has confronted Boko Haram decisively. Although the jury is still out, at least the soldiers are no longer running away to Cameroon on “tactical manoeuvre” or complaining about embezzled allowances. For once, there is sustained seriousness in the war on terror. Yes, Buhari has laid down the marker in his anti-graft war, even if it is not all-encompassing. At least, there is some activity on that front. We could use a more comprehensive strategy that includes moral suasion as well as institutional and administrative reforms, in addition to enforcement. Something is happening all the same.

But I worry about Buhari’s speed and economic philosophy. I admit that he met enormous challenges on ground. Only a magician would have killed all the cockroaches, mosquitoes and rats within 10 months. The PDP brigade, still hurting from their humiliation in the general election, are trying to force the issue, trying to brand Buhari as a failure already — yet their party had 16 whole years to address power shortage, dependence on fuel imports, infrastructural decay, comatose healthcare and stunted education. They wasted a golden opportunity. They are certainly not in a good position to describe Buhari as a failure before his first anniversary in office.

Nevertheless, I am very disturbed that Buhari does not yet have an economic direction. Neither is there an anchor. There is no clarity. What we are getting are mixed messages, bits and pieces here and there. I am hearing sweet statements and poetic promises, a lot of rhymes and alliterations, from APC leaders and ministers. There is no proper articulation so that we can have an idea of where we are headed. There are so many dots that are not connecting. I have this impression everybody is just doing their own thing without any overarching strategy to connect these dots. I can’t see coherence. I can’t see a roadmap. I can’t see what to hold on to.

Agreed, Buhari is not an economist. But you don’t have to be an economist to lead a nation to prosperity. All you need is a damn good economic team worth its onions. The team must have an anchor. We are neck-deep in an economic crisis and this requires emergency reaction. Even though Buhari is a strong character who stands by what he believes in, there must also be some flexibility. Economic crises are better tackled with a combination of antidotes. It is good that Buhari is a patriot and an honest man. It is good that Buhari means well. But meaning well does not solve these problems. He must also do well. The economy is in limbo, let’s be honest about it.

Mr. President, it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee. We need to see your development blueprint. We want to understand your policies, programmes and strategies. We want to see the goals and the goalposts. Your party says one thing today, you say another tomorrow. That you met a mess on ground is the same reason the majority of voters chose you. If they wanted the mess to continue, they would have maintained the status quo. And while we cannot expect you to clear the mess in 10 months, we need a mental picture of where you are taking us. I have no doubt that you can turn out to be the best Nigerian president ever, but where is the beef?

QUOTE
“There is no proper articulation so that we can have an idea of how they are linked and where we are headed. There are so many dots that are not connecting. I have this impression everybody is just doing their own thing without any overarching strategy to connect these dots”

http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/03/13/shall-we-tell-the-president/

An x-ray performed on Nigeria's labour market disclosed that employers usually give unfavourable regard to unemployed Nigerians, exploiting the high unemployment rate in the country.

The questions arising are;
Why on earth will employers request for 5- 10 years work experience from a graduate whose curriculum at the university, polytechnic or mono technics does not give room for student casual jobs?

Is it possible to acquire 10years work experience before getting enrolled into a tertiary institution, when hustling only fetches you different jobs with at most one year experience before resigning or getting fired?

How could it be real for a graduate with "not more than" 1 year post NYSC qualification, as always requested by employers of labour, to acquire 5- 10 years experience in a field?

Why would employers request for graduate applicant not more than 26 years of age with 5- 10 years experience? Or do they mean 26 above are no more industrious?

Nigeria, a nation where unemployed citizens would be found wanted for a job requesting for 5 to 10 years experience related to the work while 10years back you were privileged to work at over 10 unrelated jobs as means of survival. Garnering such fieldwork experience related to the job will be impossible. Employers who demand for above 3 years experience for recruitment are only in search for professionals or expert not "job seekers". The reverse is the case these days as many job adverts displays such hilarious numbers of year for experience in the field related to the required job.”

Nigeria, a country where you discover many unemployed citizens are close to their 30s in age or over and yet some employers under the disguise of reducing the unemployment rate request for citizens not more than 26 years of age. This can simply be translated into the fact that Nigerians above 26 years or over 30 are no more industrious and surprisingly their required job experience mostly fall in between 3 and 10 years. How do they intend bridging the gap of unemployment with those absurd requirements from millions of unemployed citizens?

Nigeria, a united entity where the literacy rate is low and employers keep asking for at least a year post-NYSC. Many Nigerians who are industrious and innovative are being sidelined from jobs capable of boosting our economy as a result of no access to education. Unemployed citizens who are unprivileged to study in secondary and tertiary institutions can be trained and retrained for the job because every citizen is in possession of one talent and natural endowment or the other which can help save our Industrial sector from collapsing.

In a sane economy, citizens like Olajumoke (the newest model in Nigeria) ought to have discovered herself before T.Y. Bello did and if many Olajumoke are catered for, it can help boost the entertainment and advertisement section of the country. If Olajumoke Orisaguna had applied for employment in Payporte or Stanbic IBTC bank during their last recruitment period in 2015, would they have shortlisted her?

Therefore, employers of labour should be considerate in their job requirements if they truly intend reducing the unemployment rate across the country while government should also intervene training and empowering both the uneducated and educated ones. The uneducated ones need to be trained in an institution where their various talents and natural endowments would be discovered.


https://ibadanelite./2016/03/21/why-request-10-years-work-experience-under-the-disguise-of-dousing-joblessness/

It could be recalled that the National assembly assured Nigerians of the passage of the 2016 appropriation bill (the budget) on 17th March, 2016 which has now been postponed till another date.

Presently the country is surviving on the 2015 Budget passed during the Former President Jonathan's regime. Having the 2016 budget delayed would pose more harm on the country as all the lined up programmes and projects meant to improve our economy will simultaneously be delayed.

Nigerians ignorant of the budget passage procedures known as the Appropriation Bill keep raining blames on the president rating his 10 months stay in office as under-performance. The postponement of the budget passage by National Assembly with the excuse of perfecting the errors in the bill is however not criticised but the passage of the bill into law should be done on time.

Nigerians can only feel and experience the "change" voted for only when the budget is passed by our legislators. We should endeavor not to measure the performance of the president and the government until the budget has been passed and the plans and visions of this regime are unleashed and effectively laid down.

Some oppositions and "influential cabals" already seized the avenue established by the delay in the passage of the appropriation bill into law, to distract the president and the government thereby making the citizens resent and regret the "change" voted for.


https://ibadanelite./2016/03/19/2016-budget-passage-delay-an-avenue-to-frustrate-the-change-agenda/

Nigeria is obviously experiencing highly unstable power supply and scarcity of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) across the country. Surfacing on the streets of Lagos are blames on President Buhari and Fashola as average Nigerians remain calm and observing what comes next amidst this unbearable hardship.

In your opinion, are we to blame the President or some Nigerians whom we tag "Influential cabals" in the quest to frustrate the efforts of PMB on anti corruption war by inciting average and surviving Nigerians with the two unavoidable resources for living

https://ibadanelite./2016/03/10/black-out-and-petrol-scarcity-whose-fault-pmb-or-nigerians/

SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE! on thisday online news

Today, I continue with my proposals on the “low-hanging fruits” Buhari can pluck to turn around Nigeria’s economy as oil revenue dwindles. In the first instalment of the series published on December 20, 2015, I argued that Nigeria as an import-dependent country can reap much more revenue from imports: all we need do is thoroughly clean up the ports and watch the coffers balloon with trillions of naira yearly. On January 10, 2016, I made a second suggestion: tax amnesty. I projected that by giving tax evaders a clean sheet to bring them into the tax net, we could see a quantum leap in voluntary compliance — and an astronomical increase in public revenue.

I will now present my third suggestion to Buhari: make life easier for investors. Make investing in Nigeria a pleasure. Investors on ground are already groaning, so we have to swim across the deepest ocean to “toast” new ones. How do we get investors to revive our textile industry? How do we get investors to set up juice-making factories, as millions of mangoes and oranges rot away in Adamawa and Taraba? How do we reduce the distance between Lagos and Kano to four hours by rail — so that export products can get to the ports on time? How do we move goods from Kaiama to Kontagora without police checkpoints obstructing lorries every 100 metres on the highway?
There are, indeed, several investors out there with billions of dollars to play with. The advanced economies do not have a big room for fresh investments.

They have matured. The return on investment is relatively low. Their companies and entrepreneurs are looking for fallow grounds to cultivate. There is competition for their attention in several countries, so what are we going to do to get them to pick us as investment destination choice? Furthermore, there are Nigerian entrepreneurs who would love to invest at home, but they are being discouraged or forced to look outside because of the investment climate. How do we address this?

If I was a Qatari businessman, I would be asking myself many questions as Buhari spoke. To start with, getting Nigerian visa is war, no matter how genuine you are. In my little corner, I have had to intervene on several occasions for foreigners who were being frustrated by our embassies. Services at most Nigerian embassies are appalling. Phone calls are unpicked, emails ignored. Yet this is where many foreigners would form their impressions of Nigeria. They arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and find it hard to know what carousel to go to pick their luggage, as the screen never displays that simple information.

As a potential investor, I would be asking myself about the business registration process in Nigeria. If you want to register a business in the UK, for instance, it takes you 10 seconds to do a name search. Just go to the website of the Company House, type in the proposed name of your business and press “enter”. There you have it. The whole registration process takes an average of 24 hours. You can do everything online. In Nigeria, it used to take a month to do name search and another month to complete the registration — except you were ready to “play ball”. But I understand things are now changing at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). I pray it is for real.

I would also want to know how long it will take me to get the necessary approvals to get my business going. In Nigeria, it could take forever to complete documentation. For instance, the governors hardly want to issue the certificate of occupancy (C of O), thus the capital that could be accessed by businesses are tied down because banks need these documents as collateral for loans. Building permits are not readily issued, and you have all kinds of agencies slowing down the process in the name of regulation — even though we know what most of them are looking for. It could be very frustrating. It kills the spirit. It kills entrepreneurship. It kills the economy.
Buhari assured the Qataris on security — but security is not just about defeating Boko Haram.

That is just an aspect. In Nigeria, people are easily kidnapped. Miscreants, in the name of “omo onile”, hold construction workers and investors to ransom so brazenly. A few years ago, a friend was setting up a factory. He bought a transformer (an unnecessary expense) but the miscreants said he must pay them N500,000 “settlement” before they would allow him to install it. This is a complete breakdown of law and order. No civilised society runs like that. Communities and their youths have become a hindrance to investment in many parts of the country.

I would be asking myself more questions as a potential investor: if I have a contractual dispute or trade issue, how quickly can this be resolved? Cases can be in Nigerian courts for years. Adjournment upon adjournment. Some land cases have been at the Supreme Court for 30 years, someone told me recently. I hope it is a lie. I would not be too eager to invest in such a country. I would also be asking myself about the tax system. Is it simplified? Is it reasonable? Would I get incentives? Would I get compensated for generating electricity myself, building my own road and providing my own water? Life could be far easier for investors in Nigeria.

There are several other important issues in the mix, especially for the foreign investors. One is the exchange rate. When you know your $1 billion will only get you $197 billion from the official channel instead of N300 billion from the open market, you will hesitate, especially as the local components of your cost are priced at N300 to a dollar. But I take it that eventually, Buhari will exercise some flexibility as the CBN evaluates the current FX regime. All said, we can’t deny the fact that this economy can use extra billions of investors’ dollars if it is to bounce back to life. A colossal low-hanging fruit is: make life easier for businesses.

QUOTE
“For a country that consistently ranks poorly on World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index, Nigeria has to do a lot of homework before investors can come rushing in. The global competition for capital is fierce. This is not about sentiments”

https://ibadanelite./2016/03/06/the-low-hanging-fruits-buhari-can-pluck-to-rescue-the-dwindling-economy/

During the regime of Umar bn Alkhattaab, three men came to him holding a young man and they said; O the leader of the believers, we need you to claim our right from this man because he has killed our father.

Umar bn Alkhattaab said to the young man; why did you kill him?

The man said; I am a herdsman.. One of my donkeys ate from tree in their father's farm and he stoned it to death so I picked the same stone and stoned him and he died.

Umar bn Alkhattaab said; then I will do justice on you. The man said; spare me three days because my father just passed away and left a bag of money for me and my younger brother so if you kill me, the inheritance will be wasted and my younger brother would live miserably after me.

Then Umar bn Alkhattaab said; who will stand for you? Then the man looked at the faces of the audience and said; This man.

Then Umar bn Alkhattaab said; O Abu Dharr, would you stand for this man? Then Abu Dharr said; Yes, O leader of the believer.

Then Umar said; you don't know him and if he runs away (refuses to come back), I will punish you instead. Then Abu Dharr said; I will stand for him and the man left.

The first day passed by, same with the second day and on the third day, people started asking of him from Abu Dharr so for justice not to be passed on him instead.

When it was few minutes after salat, the man came panting and he has indeed been stressed out and stood before the leader of the believer; Umar bn Alkhattaab.

The man said; I have handled both the inheritance and my brother to his uncles so I am here for justice.

Umar was astonished and said; What brought you back when you had the chance to run??

Then man the said; "I was scared of people saying fulfillment of Promise has gone away from human beings."

Then Umar asked Abu Dharr why he stood for him? Then Abu Dharr said; "I was afraid of people saying Good Deeds has gone away from humans."

The sons of the deceased were touched with these words and said; we have pardoned him. Then Umar said; why? They said; "We are scared of people saying Pardon has gone away from human beings."

"Nobody possesses a pure heart than a pure person and a pure story is a beautiful thing one leaves in the hearts of others."

May God Almighty make Good Deeds easy for us.

https://ibadanelite./2016/03/06/how-a-murderer-gained-liberty-from-death-sentence-for-fulfilling-promise/

The Nation online news,

More than a year ago, some 50 young people undertook the arduous journey from the town of Chibok in the north-eastern state of Borno to seek sanctuary in the capital city Lagos.

Local parents, appalled by the April 2014 kidnapping of nearly 300 female students by the jihadist group Boko Haram, had sent their own children to stay with friends or relatives until peace returned.

Conditions were tough on the three-day bus journey with little food and water. Now, although the young people are safe from the insurgency ravaging the north-east of their country, their lives in the vast city of Lagos are far from easy.

More than two million people have been internally displaced in Nigeria. The majority have found refuge among host communities, while some live in camps with support from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). They must depend on aid from NGOs, religious bodies and the charity of individuals.

A lack of government oversight means that fundraising is vulnerable to corruption, and some IDP leaders complained bitterly of NGOs that collected money but failed to implement any projects.



In particular, there is little help available for children separated from their parents, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. The plight of the children from Chibok reflects the wider experience of many thousands of young IDPs in Nigeria who face an uncertain future after fleeing violence in the north-east of the country.

Most of the children from Chibok headed for the Lagos neighbourhood of Eleko, where some of them now spend their days wandering the unpaved roads, sharing cramped accommodation at night and coping with an irregular supply of water and power. Many others have been forced to abandon their family friends and relatives to seek work within the city.

Daniel Musa, 15, said that for many months after arriving in Lagos he had been forced to sleep on a bench each night, as his guardian shared a room with eight other people.

Only recently had an arrangement been made for him to pass the night in another building, returning to his relative’s place in the morning to wash and dress.

“I have been here for more than a year with no school or permanent job,” he said. “I just sit around doing nothing most of the time. Sometimes I work digging sand for some construction sites where I get N50 to N100 [for food], ” he said.

Daniel said he had done his best to blot out the full horror that the insurgency has caused him and his family, but described the attack that sealed his parents’ resolve to take him and his siblings out of danger.

“One day, Boko Haram attacked us around one in the morning. We packed hurriedly and hid ourselves in the bush. All our food and drink was finished. I escaped to another village wearing just a vest and shorts. From there I got a pair of slippers, a shirt and trousers which I wore to travel down to Lagos,” he recalled.

Daniel was forced to stop studying in year six as local schools had closed in the face of constant Boko Haram attacks. Asked about his future aspirations, Daniel said he would like to continue his studies.

“I would like to work in computers,” he said. “The only help I need is for someone to send me back to school.”

Lacking education, some of the Chibok youngsters in Lagos work washing dishes for food sellers, barely making enough to survive.

About 25 per cent of Nigerian children are in employment, according to the International Labour Oganisation, and the figure amongst IDPs is much higher.

Many young women have been forced to make marriages of economic convenience. Others have found work as maids in the city, while the boys loiter around the streets, waiting for the opportunity to get work as an okada, or motorcycle taxi driver. Even then, unregistered, they risk having their bikes seized by police.

The lucky few who manage to continue studying attend a ramshackle school run by some neigbourhood women whose only qualification is a high school diploma.

The neigbourhood’s government-run community school refused to admit the displaced children, citing over-subscription and their inability to waive fees as the reasons.

Ruth Haruna, 12 and Godia Peters, were both sent to live with relatives in Lagos after girls were abducted in Chibok in April 2014.

The girls attend lessons at the school for IDPs and say they are happy. But they would dearly like to return home to their parents in Chibok, and are clearly traumatised by their experiences.

“I came here because of Boko Haram; they were killing people, burning houses and took some of our sisters away. We miss our properties; my daddy’s car was taken away,” said Ruth, who says she would like to become a doctor.

Ibrahim Musa, another 18 year-old from Chibok, was also sent away to avoid being either killed or recruited into the ranks of the Boko Haram fighters.

“Our parents sent us here because we are still young and once Boko Haram see us, they would kidnap us and train us to start killing people. They kidnap girls too; one of my neighbour’s daughters was abducted at school.”

Mello Kolo is the chairman of the Hausa community, the ethnic group centred in northern Nigeria, in the Eleko neighbourhood. He said the young people from Chibok faced great hardship, and most of the group had been forced to leave their guardians and seek opportunities inside the city.

“More than 30 of these children have gone inside Lagos to look for work. They need help desperately and time is against them. We have been left here on our own with no help from government or any other organization. It is only the Chibok youth association who come here to check on us once in a while. ”

https://ibadanelite./2016/03/05/i-would-like-to-work-in-computers-chibok-youngsters/

EXTRACT from TheGuardian, (Before he was installed as Olubadan)

IT is not a life of royalty that has never known hardship. His is far from having two distinct parts with a common feature of ease. One spent in childhood shielded from the vagaries of growing up. The other of opulence as a king. For as a young man, Chief Saliu Akanmu Olatunpo Adetunji encountered the challenges of life.

He was once a tailor. Adetunji who was recently promoted to the exalted position of the Balogun of Ibadan land, by the late Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, is next in line to be crowned Olubadan, the traditional ruler of the ancient city, of Ibadan.

The former Balogun, Adetunji, who had been involved in creative endeavours all his life was a tailor by training and practice, around the Agarawu area of Lagos Island. He was also a musical record merchant and later founded and managed his own record label.

The incoming Olubadan, who jumped the queue in the line of succession to the throne due to the demise of the Otun Balogun of the land,

Chief Sulaimon Adegboyega Omiyale, was versed in the making of both native and English dresses until when he met the late Badejo Okunsanya, the scion of a record label owner and veered into the music industry, marketing of records produced by his customers and later founded his first record label, Baba Laje Records in 1960. Thus ended his tailoring profession as he stepped into alluring and flamboyant music industry.

He later founded and became the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of a conglomerate of three music marketing companies with subsidiaries known as Omo Aje Sound Studio, Adetunji Label . The Olubadan-to-be is well known for his humility, a trait that turned his life around for the better.

Being a managing director and big boss notwithstanding, he was known to execute his customers’ orders to the letter.Another trait that put him in good stead and which set him apart from others, was his entrepreneurial spirit which propelled him out of the lowly placed tailoring vocation and turned him into one of the biggest record label owners in the South-West of Nigeria.

In an interview he granted last year, he narrated how he benefitted from his initiative and quick thinking.“A record seller had given me some records to play so as to entertain my customers when they came to sew or pick up clothes I had sewn for them. But to my surprise, rather than listening and enjoying the records, many of those customers were more interested in buying the records from me.

“I sold everything and took the money back to the man who supplied me the records. That was in 1960. The man then revealed to me that he and my dad had been in business together in 1940 and thereafter took me to other record marketers. That was how I started,” he narrated.

Chief Adetunji was later to be known as the man behind the discovery and success of popular leading Fuji star West, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, and before him, the likes of Salami Balogun, Alhaji Amoda Shijuade, Daudu Epo Akara, Saka Olayigbade, and many more.

The system that would see Chief Adetunji as the next Olubadan is not hereditary, but rather a graduated system in which descendants of certain households graduate through 21 stages to mount the throne of the ancient city.

In promoting the incoming Olubadan, his predecessor had a brush with the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, when in defiance of the directive of the Oyo State Government that all high chiefs wanting to be promoted and installed by the Olubadan should surrender themselves to security check and a medical report, the late Oba Odulana Odugade, late last year, installed nine chiefs to fill the vacancies in the Olubadan-in-Council.

Those installed included the former governor of the state, Rashidi Ladoja, as Osi Olubadan of Ibadan; Chief Saliu A.O. Adetunji as the new Balogun of Ibadan land; Chief Lekan Balogun as the Otun Olubadan; Chief Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin as Otun Balogun and Chief Olufemi Olaifa as Osi Balogun of Ibadan land.

He also elevated Chief Eddy Oyewole to the rank of the Ashipa Olubadan; High Chief Tajudeen Abimbola as Ashipa Balogun; High Chief Kola Daisi as the Ekerin Olubadan and High Chief Solomon A. Adabale as the Ekerin Balogun.

Two high-ranking chiefs, the Balogun Olubadan of Ibadan and Otun Olubadan, Chief Sulaimon Adegboyega Omiyale and Chief Omowale Kuye had died shortly before the exercise in November, last year.

When asked, the Olubadan explained that the presentation of health certificate as pre-requisite for promotion of chiefs in the Olubadan lines was alien to the culture and tradition of the town.

A full-blown conflict was, however, averted when some prominent indigenes of the city waded into the matter and settled it without further acrimony.

Ajimobi retraced his steps and softened the state government’s earlier hard stance, by allowing the elevated chiefs to maintain the status quo, while the chiefs also made some concessions, by agreeing to follow procedures as laid down by the state government.

Cc: lalasticlala

https://ibadanelite./2016/03/05/ceo-babalaje-records-crowned-41st-olubadan-of-ibadan-land/

By Fatola Abdullahi

It's obvious that the hashtag (#whereisthechange) now trending on twitter is nothing but a machinery set by some oppositions for Nigerians to resent this government, which is expected to surface at a critical state like this. The present hardships experienced across the country affect both average, rich and poor Nigerians. However the poor and average citizens are the direct victim as these encounters ranges from the recent fuel scarcity to naira fall which has caused virtually all the cost of commodities and services rendered to be hiked.

These hardships are definitely "artificially" baked to suffer Nigerians, make them resent this government and distract the president from the ongoing anticorruption war, inwhich some of those wailers might have been indicted. An unambiguous instance was the recent call by the Managing Director of Capital Oil and gas, Dr. Ifeanyi Uba, asking the government to name him a consultant on financial stability to resolve the forex crises by bringing naira back to 200 against one dollar while he also intends to unleash the "cabals" behind the naira depreciation who made it artificial.

I urge Nigerians to remain patient, not silent and neither serve as a destructive tool to ridicule the efforts of this infant government. Inorder to attain a sustainable and stable economic state, we have to jointly work with this government to make it realizable. We are all facing these challenges together and united we shall conquer.

Beware, as there are still series of destructive machineries yet to be unleashed to the social media by these enemies of our nation.

God bless Nigeria,
God bless Nigerians,
God bless Mr president.
Long live Nigeria as a united country.

https://ibadanelite./2016/02/29/whereisthechange-a-machinery-of-the-wailers-and-oppositions/

[b][/b]

By Fatola Abdullahi

Prof. Rahamon Bello, Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), recently unleashed to the public about one of its 2014/2015 graduands bagging 5.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) out of the institution on its 2016 convocation ceremony. Furthermore, this was also described as first of its kind in the history of the institution and seemingly in Nigeria's education system.

Mr Ayodele Daniel Dada, the said "record breaker", studied psychology in the institution under the Faculty of Social science with perfect scores of excellence in all courses undertaken in the department of psychology. No doubt, he had crossed lots of hurdles like assignments, practicals and overnight study for continuous assessments and semester exams for eight good semesters and was not swayed by all these challenges, indeed he's a pro in the field.

However, it was discovered that the institution's convocation lecture slated for February 29, 2016, has an interesting and vision-inclined topic drafted as, "Positioning Nigeria as the Technology Hub of Africa" having the discussant to be the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. Many of us will be wondering how the writer discovered Mr Ayodele as an inevitable tool for the realization of making Nigeria a technological hub in Africa, my brief analysis below will relay the possible ways to everyone.

As we are all aware that the Akokite "guru" studied psychology while some of the courses undergone during his academic years in the department are related to establishing a path for positioning Nigeria as a technology hub in Africa. For this vision to be attained in Nigeria, our Industrial and power sectors need to be awoken from their slumber, saved from the verge of extinction and upgraded to a world class standard as achieving these visions rely on the capabilities and the capacity of the existing human resources.

A higher percentage of the human capital in Nigeria is "under-capable" to handle tasks assigned to them. The human capital are the personnels or members of staff involved in running the activities of any organization (small or large) for the purpose of Having a productive outputs. These human resources need psychological training for them be successful. Mr Ayodele would have taking a 2-unit course known as Industrial Psychology (PSY 204) in his 200 level first semester. The problems of personnel training in Africa, working conditions in African organizations, motivation strategies and giving incentives to boost the morale of the personnels would have been learnt and researched by him while possible panacea would have been discovered.

Aside PSY 204, related courses like personality assessment 1 and 2, cognitive psychology 1 and 2, political psychology and others which can be found in their curriculum are capable of equipping the Akokite genius and make him a tool for positioning the country as technology hub of Africa. The implications of development in adolescent, early and middle adulthood stages for National education policy, health policy and technological policy would have been learnt and I strongly believe the possible remedies to resolve them would have been known to him. All these developmental stages have to be examined before drafting a policy that is technologically inclined.

The power sector demands a capable leadership and personels to manage it as there are series of misdemeanors recorded years back resulting into the current blackout and unstable supply currently experienced across the country and thereby sending many industries and productive companies packing and exiting the country for other neighboring countries with uninterrupted power supply.

The Akokite icon would have learnt political psychology under which personalities of politicians, powers and politics, factors influencing judgement and decision making would have been studied. All these knowledge are expected to be found in personalites and politicians who will be saddled with the management responsibilities of the power sector as it's a complex sector to handle in the country.

The fact still remains that our tertiary institutions lack the capabilities to extend practical knowledge to students. Nevertheless, I believe in Mr Ayodele's theoretically and practically endowed intelligence and with the excellent first class division honors award he will be taking out of UNILAG, he's one of the graduates needed for positioning Nigeria as a Technology hub in Africa and the world at large.

On this note, I urge the government never to take graduates of Nigerian tertiary institutions (Monotechnics, polytechnics and universities) with levity, as amidst these personalities, if trained, retrained, motivated and well-funded to upgrade their standard of living, are capable individuals who can make the dream of the convocation lecture title realizable and achievable.

https://ibadanelite./2016/02/28/unilag-2016-convocation-lecture-mr-ayodele-an-inevitable-tool/

[b][/b]

By Fatola Abdullahi

Prof. Rahamon Bello, Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), recently unleashed to the public about one of its 2014/2015 graduands bagging 5.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) out of the institution on its 2016 convocation ceremony. Furthermore, this was also described as first of its kind in the history of the institution and seemingly in Nigeria's education system.

Mr Ayodele Daniel Dada, the said "record breaker", studied psychology in the institution under the Faculty of Social science with perfect scores of excellence in all courses undertaken in the department of psychology. No doubt, he had crossed lots of hurdles like assignments, practicals and overnight study for continuous assessments and semester exams for eight good semesters and was not swayed by all these challenges, indeed he's a pro in the field.

However, it was discovered that the institution's convocation lecture slated for February 29, 2016, has an interesting and vision-inclined topic drafted as, "Positioning Nigeria as the Technology Hub of Africa" having the discussant to be the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. Many of us will be wondering how the writer discovered Mr Ayodele as an inevitable tool for the realization of making Nigeria a technological hub in Africa, my brief analysis below will relay the possible ways to everyone.

As we are all aware that the Akokite "guru" studied psychology while some of the courses undergone during his academic years in the department are related to establishing a path for positioning Nigeria as a technology hub in Africa. For this vision to be attained in Nigeria, our Industrial and power sectors need to be awoken from their slumber, saved from the verge of extinction and upgraded to a world class standard as achieving these visions rely on the capabilities and the capacity of the existing human resources.

A higher percentage of the human capital in Nigeria is "under-capable" to handle tasks assigned to them. The human capital are the personnels or members of staff involved in running the activities of any organization (small or large) for the purpose of Having a productive outputs. These human resources need psychological training for them be successful. Mr Ayodele would have taking a 2-unit course known as Industrial Psychology (PSY 204) in his 200 level first semester. The problems of personnel training in Africa, working conditions in African organizations, motivation strategies and giving incentives to boost the morale of the personnels would have been learnt and researched by him while possible panacea would have been discovered.

Aside PSY 204, related courses like personality assessment 1 and 2, cognitive psychology 1 and 2, political psychology and others which can be found in their curriculum are capable of equipping the Akokite genius and make him a tool for positioning the country as technology hub of Africa. The implications of development in adolescent, early and middle adulthood stages for National education policy, health policy and technological policy would have been learnt and I strongly believe the possible remedies to resolve them would have been known to him. All these developmental stages have to be examined before drafting a policy that is technologically inclined.

The power sector demands a capable leadership and personels to manage it as there are series of misdemeanors recorded years back resulting into the current blackout and unstable supply currently experienced across the country and thereby sending many industries and productive companies packing and exiting the country for other neighboring countries with uninterrupted power supply.

The Akokite icon would have learnt political psychology under which personalities of politicians, powers and politics, factors influencing judgement and decision making would have been studied. All these knowledge are expected to be found in personalites and politicians who will be saddled with the management responsibilities of the power sector as it's a complex sector to handle in the country.

The fact still remains that our tertiary institutions lack the capabilities to extend practical knowledge to students. Nevertheless, I believe in Mr Ayodele's theoretically and practically endowed intelligence and with the excellent first class division honors award he will be taking out of UNILAG, he's one of the graduates needed for positioning Nigeria as a Technology hub in Africa and the world at large.

On this note, I urge the government never to take graduates of Nigerian tertiary institutions (Monotechnics, polytechnics and universities) with levity, as amidst these personalities, if trained, retrained, motivated and well-funded to upgrade their standard of living, are capable individuals who can make the dream of the convocation lecture title realizable and achievable.

https://ibadanelite./2016/02/28/unilag-2016-convocation-lecture-mr-ayodele-an-inevitable-tool/

By Fatola Abdullahi

The writer finds this medium as an avenue to reveal to all prospective and serving youth corps members that "time" is not only an instrument for money-making but also a tool for selfless service capable of fetching you integrity and good reputation. Money without integrity or good reputability is vanity. Attempting to impact on your community utilizing your tight or free schedule is not bad, just keep in mind that the success of every attempt by human is only granted by the Almighty with hardwork.

The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC (the service year) is what some youth corpers describe as "a waste of time" which differs from the writer's perspective. There are enormous ways of making your service year fruitful for your immediate community and yourself. During the one (1) year service period, many observe and feel it's a waste of time because we have ignored the fact that the development of Nigeria lies within the jurisdiction of the youths only when all necessities are fulfilled by the government.

The government had contributed its part by establishing this scheme or programme (NYSC) with other beneficial activities attached even though many still thirst for their improvement on the monthly allowance increment at federal level, which really worths it, and as well the states who seize to pay as and when due.

Many would have pondered on the reasons behind the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) annually drafted and executed by multinational and home-based industries and companies. The answer is not far fetched, its simply giving out selflessly or assisting their immediate societies by positively impacting on life of the poor and average citizens.

Religious brethrens will also observe that the reasons behind the payment of "tithe" in christianity, "sadaqah and zakat" in islam are solely for worship purpose and to improve the life of the needy in our society. This is simply a similitude to the Community Development Service in NYSC which is only achievable and realizable when your intentions are aimed at those two reasons alone.

Thus, the National youth service period should be seen as a free avenue to freely earn ourselves the reward of community service participation by facilitating and conveying the needs of the immediate community you serve to the right sponsors with relentless efforts.

No doubt, many companies will turn your proposals down and challenges will also weigh you down, and if at the end of the day your intention becomes fruitless just remember that Man proposes and God disposes. Any youth corps member who attempts a personal CDS project and fails, has the privilege of actively participating in the group CDS by giving them opinions and supports needed to come up with a program or project to execute and always have in mind that if you work in group you will walk far rather than working alone.

Conclusively, with no iota of doubt, the one-year service period is valuable to all youth corpers if NYSC was not in existence. Nevertheless, with its existence we all need to endure the twelve (12) months period and make it memorable and value-added for yourself and your immediate community.

https://ibadanelite./2016/02/26/nysc-is-a-waste-of-time-an-ironic-view/

yea, he has cases on his neck already, why would he stand as a witness for another case. let him relax, he had cases on his neck already, why would he stand as a witness for another case. let him relax and enjoy his ex-president immunity till his turn comes for EFCC to quiz him

Eniola Akinkuotu and Ade Adesomoju
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission has said it does not require
former President Goodluck Jonathan as its
witness in order to prove its money
laundering case against the National
Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic
Party, Mr. Olisa Metuh.

The EFCC stated this in its response filed
before Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High
Court in Abuja to oppose the no-case
submission by Metuh.

Metuh and his company, Destra Investments
Limited, are being prosecuted by the EFCC on
seven counts fraud.

The charges include allegations that he
fraudulently received from the Office of the
National Security Adviser in November, 2014
the sum of N400m meant for the
procurement of arms and money laundering
involving $2m cash transaction.

The prosecution alleged that part of the
N400m was used by Metuh to fund the PDP’s
presidential campaign for the 2015 election
in which Jonathan was the party’s candidate.
After the prosecution closed its case, Metuh
on February 18, sought and obtained the
leave of court to file a no-case submission.
In the no-case submission, Metuh urged the
court to discharge and acquit him on the
grounds that the EFCC had made no case
against him with the eight prosecution
witnesses called and all the documents
tendered.

Metuh, who filed the no-case submission
through his lead counsel, Mr. Onyechi
Ikpeazu (SAN), argued that the prosecution
could never have been able to make any case
against him without the EFCC calling
Jonathan as a witness in view of the
testimony by PW5 (fifth prosecution witness).
He argued that since PW5 (the Managing a
Director of CMC Connect, Mr. Yomi Badejo-
Okusanya), had testified that he made
presentation on a media campaign proposal
to Jonathan and for which money was paid
from the N400m, the former President was a
vital witness that ought to be called by the
prosecution.

Justice Abang had fixed Thursday to
entertain argument for and against the no-
case submission.

Meanwhile, the EFCC, in its response, which
it filed on Tuesday, urged the court to
dismiss the no-case submission, insisting that
Jonathan was not needed to prove its case.
It stated, “My Lord, in paragraphs 2.22 to
2.25, the defence also contends that the
prosecution, through PW8 (EFCC’s
investigative officer, Junaid Sa’id) failed to
investigate the statement of the 1st defendant
(Metuh) to the effect that presentation was
made to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and that the
sum for the exercise was paid into the 2nd
defendant’s account (Metuh’s firm, Destra).
“It is further contended that the former
President, to whom the presentation was
made for which the payment was made, is
therefore a material and indispensable
person in order for a prima facie case to be
established.


“Learned senior counsel (Metuh’s lawyer)
therefore alleged presumption of withholding
of evidence by the prosecution.


“In response to the above argument my lord,
we submit that nothing can be farther from
the truth. The defence cannot pick and
choose witnesses for the prosecution and as
rightly pointed out by the defence, the
prosecution is not required to call a host of
witnesses or a particular witness in proof of
its case.


“What the law requires the prosecution to do
is to call material witness(es) in proof of its
case.”


The anti-graft agency, through his lead
prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir,
urged the court to dismiss the no-case
submission filed by Metuh and his firm and
direct them to give an explanation to “the
overwhelming oral and documentary
evidence placed before the court by the
prosecution.”


Insisting that a “prima facie case of money
laundering has been established” against the
accused, Tahir added, “Your Lordship is
further urged to dismiss or discountenance
the no-case submission and call upon the
defendants to enter their defence.”


Concerning counts one and two, Tahir argued
that the evidence led by the prosecution was
uncontroverted “as it raises a prima facie
case of taking possession and control of the
stated sum (N400m) and therefore calls for
an explanation by the defendants and this
they can only do in their defence to the
charge”.


On the other leg of the two counts, alleging
that the N400m was part of proceeds of
alleged corrupt act of the immediate past
NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), Tahir asked
whether it was not unlawful for the ex-NSA
“to have, in breach of public trust reposed in
him, misappropriated government funds in
favour of the defendants, who on the
evidence, had no contractual dealings with
the ONSA”.


On count three in which Metuh and his firm
were accused of retaining or concealing the
sum of N400m, the EFCC argued that the
accused “retained the sum of N400m on
behalf of the PDP for its campaign activities
by concealing the said sum in their Diamond
Bank account.


It said Metuh ought to have known that the
fund “directly represented the proceeds of an
unlawful act” of the ex-NSA.


Concerning count four, Tahir stated that the
prosecution had led evidence to show that
the N400m was used for campaign activities
of the PDP and other personal purposes.
On counts five and six relating to making
cash transactions of a sum of $2m, far above
the statutory threshold of N5m for
individuals and N10m for corporate bodies,
the anti-graft agency alleged that the accused
violated Section 1 of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) Act 2011.


The EFCC stated, “The point to note in this
transaction are the following, which are
vital:


“The origin of the initial sum of $2m, which
belongs to either of the defendants remained
undocumented (which goes against the very
essence of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) Act i.e. financing terrorism and
disguising, concealment or laundering the
origin of illicit funds.”


The anti-graft agency added, “All the above
points my lord, go to show the length to
which the defendants went to conceal the
origin of the $2m.’’


Meanwhile, the EFCC said some Asian
countries, especially China, are frustrating its
anti-corruption efforts.


The Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr.
Ibrahim Magu, said this on Tuesday in Abuja
when the Association of Chief Audit
Executives of Banks in Nigeria paid the
commission a courtesy visit.


The representative from First Bank of
Nigeria, Mr. Nelson Uduak, had earlier
lamented that Japan and China were not
helping Nigeria in the area of anti-fraud
cases.


He said, “Some countries appear very
difficult to operate in. There are some
countries in which our banks have lost
money. There are some fraudsters which we
are able to trace but once the money gets to
certain countries like Japan or China, you
find out that there is no cooperation.


“If it is the United States, you can be sure to
a large extent, that once you can identify the
person (suspect), you will get cooperation;
but there is no such cooperation in the Asian
countries. We don’t know how you can help
us.”


Magu, in his response, agreed that China had
not been helpful in the anti-graft war.
He said, “The cooperation from the Chinese
end has been very minimal, it is not
encouraging. There is more collaboration
from the US, the United Kingdom and
Switzerland essentially through INTERPOL or
government to government.”


Magu added that the EFCC was tracing a
$2bn fund belonging to First Bank, which
was transferred to London, but did not
explain further.


The EFCC boss also urged bankers to assist in
the fight against corruption as the
commission could not do it alone.


“You are auditors while we are investigators;
so, in a way, we are doing the same thing.
We need to synergise, work together. We are
all stakeholders and we are in a war. We also
ask for your support,” he said.


The representative of Heritage Bank, Mr.
Manny Ugbomah, urged the commission to
give its personnel the permission to travel
out of the country with bank representatives
whenever they were carrying out trans-
border investigations.


The Chinese embassy in Nigeria could not be
reached for comment as its spokesman, Chen
Pen, did not respond to calls and a message
sent to his mobile on Tuesday.
The Japanese embassy could also not be
reached for reaction as its Media Relations
Officer, John Nwankwo, could not be reached
on the telephone.


http://www.punchng.com/jonathan-not-needed-to-prove-case-against-metuh-efcc/

By Fatola Abdullahi

It could be recalled, precisely during the Military era of governance in Nigeria that youths were usually discovered at the forefront of leadership across the country. Senator David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark, now close to his 70s, was privileged as a military administrator to govern Niger state in his 30s and ever since then he had been involved in one role or the other in the government.

However, this old but agile ‘cargo’ on the corridor of power never got tired or willing to pass on the mantle of leadership, as legislator representing his constituency, to the younger ones, which I want to believe there are capable and reputable youths of Benue-south district ready to take the leadership baton from him.

After sixteen (16) years in Nigeria’s senate chamber, can we draw a conclusion that Senator Mark still intends to be relevant in power or still harnessing more wealth (salaries, allowances and other official benefits as senator) to stock for his family generations never to suffer a little stint during their lifetime? Could there be a particular vision he is yet to accomplish for his constituency that he couldn’t achieve in the past 16 years and now miraculously intends realizing it in four (4) years before 2019, if the youths in his district would stay conscious from their slumbers?

The 2016 February re-run poll that fetched the senator a victory against Daniel Onjeh (his contender from the ruling party) to take the mantle of representation back to the red chamber for Benue-South senatorial district is nothing but a message to the Nigerian Youths on their stilled hibernation in governance till 2019.

Considering the earlier and old-age involvement of David Mark in Nigerian politics, some Nigerians still argue that what Sen. Mark can achieve when he was a youth being a Military Administrator, a civilian youth may find it tasking to accomplish. Not everyone subscribes to this assertion as leadership is by the quality of wisdom, knowledge and experience you have garnered together for that purpose. This quality can be retrieved through seeking for knowledge as far as you can, within one’s capability.

Many Nigerians will agree with me that most of the old ‘cargoes’ still governing us got either scholarships or free education to study home or abroad as they wish during their youths. They enjoyed bursary from government as students without stress. They got employment stress-free and free of charge on their convocation days (for excellently performed ones) and after, when they apply. The economy was stable back then as corruption was not as hiked as it is presently while agriculture and other lucrative resources were mostly our revenue sources. Imagine those benefits still in place these days, articulate and progressive youths would have rose to the task of being actively involved in government and not hibernated as they are presently.

On this note, it is high time we started charging the older generations in power to establish reputable paths for the youths to return fully back and progressively into Nigeria’s government. The fact still holds that it’s either we log on back into governance through them or if pushed to the wall in sufferness and hardship as it has been for over a decade now, youths will have to take upon themselves to liberate everyone.

Source: https://ibadanelite./2016/02/21/david-marks-victory-youths-remain-hibernated-from-governance/

[b]
Youth revolt: Buhari should swiftly empower common youths

By Fatola Abdullahi

This piece is an hot dish from a concerned youth, regardless of the fact that the writer has no proximity to directly advise the president, this opinion should be held with utmost consideration by the president and the Nigerian government.

No doubt, his Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari had embarked on an anti-corruption war against looters which every Nigerian and foreigner give kudos to the government for threading this path. Nevertheless, the idleness of common youths must not be ignored as it's obvious that many youths are just like "Walking dead" as they are not empowered and well-catered for to execute their natural gifts and live sustainably.

No doubt, the President is confident of his capable appointees who are in the position to guide him and supply feedbacks on the living standard of the citizens. Nevertheless, necessity demands him to settle down and mingle with common youths to get raw and direct facts and figures on the needs of the youths for immediate fulfilling response.

No doubt, the country is almost at the peak of its economic hardship, adopting the Naira fall for dollar at the rate of over $300 against a Naira, as the case study which is as a result of corruption and mono-resource driven economy we run. Nevertheless, common citizens mostly youths, are beginning to suffer for this misdemeanors on the part of the selfish leaders who were once on the corridor of power.

No doubt, in existence are some youths with polluted minds (political thugs, overambitious student union leaders and protest-inclined youths searching for means of survival). Nevertheless, their negative orientations can sublime if they seize to be idle, justly empowered and given a sustainable standard of living.

No doubt, Mr president is on a cause supported by many Nigerian common youths. Nevertheless, the need to service and empower the youths should be considered swiftly and simultaneously executed as the anti-corruption war continues. This is capable of averting any future revolt by the youths when they get pushed to the wall by the hardship inherited by this government which is rapidly hiking daily.

No doubt, this piece had been laying emphasis on common youths which the writer translates to be "the affected youths" not the offsprings of the selfish and corrupt leaders who care not about the governed but how to enrich their purse and extend their wealth to their great grand children. Nevertheless, all the citizens of Nigeria need to be empowered and endowed with a sustainable standard of living.

As I temporarily lay off my fingers from my keypads to conclude this piece, the above opinions should not be taken lightly by the president. The peace we enjoy today in most part of the country is a function of the common Nigerian youths' hope in President Muhammad Buhari and the present day government with Almighty God's intervention. Therefore he should take this advice into cognisance and we believe Nigeria will be great and good soon.

God bless PMB,
God bless Nigerian youths,
Godbless Nigerians,
Long live PMB,
Long live Nigeria.

Source: https://ibadanelite./2016/02/18/youths-revolt-buhari-should-swiftly-empower-common-youths/

[/b]

Omotola: Fashola Should Resign If Power
Remains Epileptic for Two Years

Says tariff hike is not solution to epileptic
power supply. Gboyega Akinsanmi
The Group Managing Director of CFL Group
of Companies, Mr. Lai Omotola, at the
weekend asked the Minister of Power, Works
and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola “to sign
an indemnity to Nigerians that he would
resign his appointment if electricity remains
erratic for another two years.”

Omotola, also Publisher of InfraWatch
Nigeria Limited, rejected the recent 45 per
cent increase in electricity tariff, noting that
from all indications, tariff hike “is not a
solution to the country’s epileptic power
supply.”

He thus challenged the minister to resign
from his current appointment if the
country’s electricity remained epileptic for
two years during an interactive section with
some journalists in Lagos.

At the session, Omotola said the federal
government used public funds to provide
subventions for private companies that
bought power assets under the
administration of former President Goodluck
Jonathan.

“That subvention from the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) has come. It is just a drop in
the ocean. The CBN provided subvention for
the companies to pay for gas. It has not
worked. Even though it has not worked,
another subvention is coming.

“If the minister is indeed sure of himself, let
him sign an indemnity to or guarantee
Nigerians that if the power is not stable in
two years, he would resign his appointment.
We have started counting again. Our stake in
this matter is that of transparency and logic.”
Omotola said nothing would change
tremendously in two years, even with
electricity tariff hike, citing the technical
capacity of the indigenous companies that
bought the power assets and their financial
capacities to bring together necessary
infrastructure that could guarantee steady
power supply.

He lamented that the federal government
only looked at the kind of partnership the
technical partner “has with the indigenous
investor without much emphasis on financial
wherewithal. It is not enough for indigenous
companies to just bring technical partners.
“It will have been better for indigenous
companies to bring the technical partners
that will also bring equity into that
partnership. But that is lacking today. If the
technical partners bring equities, the
difference is that they are no longer
contractors to the indigenous companies.

“They are also investors. The indigenous
companies will now be able to leverage on
their financial and technical competence.
That was missing in the bidding process. As
far as the power sector is today, we do not
have a dominant foreign equity player,” he
explained

Omotola said the federal government
“understands that there is a financial
problem. The federal government also
understands that the problem was actually
created by the inability of these indigenous
investors to generate adequate funding that
the electricity industry really requires.

“To come clean that there is a financial
problem, the federal government decided to
use another strategy. What is this strategy?
The strategy is help the indigenous
companies through the increase of electricity
tariff. What is the tariff going to do? It will
only achieve one objective.

“It will only help the indigenous companies
service the loans at the expense of the
consumers. When the loans are serviced,
there could be a little of an opportunity for
the banks to now raise adequate capital for
expansion.”

He said of $2.6 billion realised from the sale
of power assets, the Nigerian banks
“provided about 80 per cent of the fund. It
should not be that way because foreign
investors are primarily supposed to bring
majority of their own equities in terms of the
capital mix, where you find investors bring
at least 60 per cent equity.”

He said the Nigerian banks “can only finance
projects for two or three years. Between two
and three years, our banks want to see their
funds coming back. So, our banks are not
suited to fund the electricity industry. The
minister said no bank would want to fund
the industry because the price is not
bankable.

“Can Fashola tell us, which of the bank he is
referring to? If Fashola is referring to
Nigerian banks, the business model of the
indigenous companies will not work? The
interest rate and fund tenure will not make it
work. What we are suggesting is that the
federal government should set up a finance
development bank that is strictly towards
development projects such as this should be
quickly put together.

“If our local banks will play any role, it will
be in the area of providing working capital.
We are just supporting these projects by
working capital. This is a complete shift from
what we have today because for those
companies to survive, they need very low
interest rate with very long-term loan,”
Omotola said.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/omotola-fashola-should-resign-if-power-remains-epileptic-for-two-years/232047/