₦airaland Forum

Despite assuring Nigerians that he will be meticulous in selecting those who will be part of his government, President Muhammadu Buhari today appointed a tax chief with a fraudulent degree. "Dr" Babatunde Fowler the New DG of Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS) Chief has a doctoral degree from a fraudulent university called Irish International University.

According to a statement released by the presidency, "Dr. Fowler was the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue from 2005 to 2014.

“He had his higher education in the United States where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Business Administration degree from the California State University.

“Before joining the service of the Lagos State Government, Dr. Fowler worked in the banking sector for about 20 years with long stints at Credit Lyonnais Nigeria Limited and Chartered Bank.

“Under his leadership, the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue reportedly achieved a sharp increase in internally generated revenue from an average of N3.6. billion per month in January 2006, to an average of about N20.5 billion per month in 2013.

“Fowler, who holds an Honorary Doctorate Degree of the Irish International University, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Business Management Association of the United Kingdom.

“He will serve as Acting Executive Chairman of FIRS until his appointment is confirmed by the Senate.”

An investigation carried out by BBC London in 2008 however reveals that the Irish International University, whose honorary doctorate degree Mr. Fowler dons, is unaccredited and hence, a bogus university that offers sub-standard and worthless degrees.

Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/08/20/buhari-appoints-tax-chief-with-fraudulent-degree/

It's as though Seun Osewa has something against the Igbos, I wonder why this article is not on front page. Well it's your forum, suit yourself.

The federal government, through NBC may dismantle and confiscate the equipment’s of radio Biafra. They may jam its operating frequencies; they may denigrate its operator Nnamdi Kanu, they may pan gimmicks. Standing tall amongst their stunts is the expunging of history from our secondary school curriculum to make us forget the unjust killings and massacres that occurred on the portion of God’s real estate called Nigeria from 1967 through 1970, but that doesn’t change the fact that Biafra Lives On.

We may not be tampered by war, but we see the evidence of Biafra manifest in our everyday lives. Like the lullaby of demons and symphonies of rueful songs made from hell screams, we hear Biafra in the tormented screams resonating across our perimeters.

We see its ghosts in the rivers of withered hopes that flow from the eyes of yet another Nigerian family who just lost its breadwinner to a Nigerian death – a death that could have been avoided if our health care system wasn’t dysfunctional, if our roads weren’t death traps, or if the Nigerian Medical Association detected only some weeks earlier that that medical doctor who runs a private hospital and also practices at the Federal Medical Centre knows nothing because he cheated through medical school.

These evidences are served in different assortments: The tired smile of that overworked and belabored young man whose minimum wage take-home pay really can’t take care of home or cater for the needs of his young wife, new born baby and aged mother. The educationally disadvantaged and misnomers in the North who now abducts our daughters, maim our sons, displace our mothers and fathers from their addresses. Leave garbed skulls buried in the rubble of what yesterday was home, and litter our streets with twitched, scalded bodies and tore open skulls.

We may not be tampered by war, but Biafra is evident in the traces of dissatisfaction we see on the faces of the elderly and the hints and gazes of disappointments in the eyes of our youths. We see it in the epileptic power that buoy and smother the dreams of young, budding entrepreneurs. Our olfactory organs testify to the red smell of innocent blood, putrid human flesh and umpteen clandestine, extrajudicial killings – all searing and abiding scars of the pogrom.

Tomorrow and every tomorrow thereafter, we’ll run across that young unemployed graduate who is high on sorrow, drunk with pain and now carries a dark cloud over his head. He used to be a rabid optimist, but this country, the realities this country brought to his platter, made him a gloomy and moody pessimist. We’ll come across that secondary school student who is surly, wondering if he’ll ever amount to something in a country where his elder brother who graduated from our territary institution some five years ago and still can’t find a job.

Whether at the airport or in church or market or at the hospital, we must have had cause to experience that familiarity strangers adopt with each other after sharing in the disappointment of public service. Perhaps, when NEPA as the street calls them or PHCN as the establishment calls them, seized power or when the gas station sold petrol at ridiculously high rates.

We must have seen that Nigerian, that white collar employee whose head is buried in worry because his company is about to downsize or right-size or merge with another or be acquired. We must have seen streets fevered with darkness or woke to the intemperate ardor of listening to hums and cacophonies of generators.

These shared misfortunes, these common woes and collective struggles for a better country, makes us all citizens of the land of the rising sun. If you have in anyway been a victim of shenanigans of national coyness, congratulations!

You are an esteemed citizen of the Republic of Biafra. The layer after layer of discontent that has settled and formed a mass in our minds’ mind and leaves us standing valiantly, is the national passport of citizens of this great republic.

The idea may look idiotic on the face of it, but look beyond the shallowness. Take off your rose colored lenses and you’ll see that Biafra is deeper than Col. Ojukwu, MASSOB, Radio Biafra, Biafra Zionists and other offshoots of the holocaust. Be objective for just a split second and you’ll agree that Biafra isn’t just a country. It is a culture, a country, and an ethnic group we all belong to. It is a country that lively kicks not just in all parts of Nigeria, but in the heart of hearts of all those who’ve been fated to be Nigerians – dead or alive, in part or full, based in Diaspora or at home.

E pluribus unum; out of many, one. Biafra may not be the source of all our problems, but it sure is one of the severest symptoms of it. Forty-five years after, Gowon’s “no victor, no vanquish” remains just a slogan. It has even been an enabler, a springboard to integrating those who escaped Ojukwu’s mapping into the great republic we all now share.

As I scribble down these words, brows crinkled half in consternation, the other half in concentration, I set out not to generate a worldwide debate or to incite or fan the embers of latent mutual hatred among ethnicities. But to make it known that regardless of background or origin, we are all kindred souls. We are kit and caboodle. We are all Biafra. That is what was, and it remains what is. It’s just that most of us don’t know it yet.

Joel Pereyi is an award winning essayist and freelance writer. He maintains a bimonthly column for the Abuja-based FCTPost.

Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/08/17/we-are-all-biafra-by-joel-pereyi/

Lady, Oriona Faith who resides in Warri shared a story of how God spared her life during a major operation. In an exclusive chat with The FCT Post correspondent, Faith who just passed out from the Nigeria Youth Service Corp scheme, said it would have been a different story if not for the mercies of God and her friend who had earlier compelled her to go for a check up.

When asked what led to the operation, she said, “I was always complaining of stomach pain, so my friend asked me to go for a check up. We went to the hospital together for the check up. I was told I have a growth in my stomach as opposed to the appendicitis I had thought it was” She said.

Faith, who regained consciousness after two days in the hospital, said her father had deceived her to go and see the doctor when she came back to Warri from Osun state, not knowing it was for the operation.

“My father asked me to go with him to see the doctor. The next thing I heard was, ‘prepare her’. I got scared and started crying. I said to the doctors ‘if I should die!’. Then I said to myself, let me be positive. And then I said to the team of doctors to say a prayer for me. The last thing I remembered was the doctor saying, put her to sleep”.

“I went into the theater on Friday and regained consciousness on Sunday”. She said.

When asked if she remembered anything while unconscious for those two days, she said; It was like a normal sleep, but I do remember members of the Nigerian Christian Corpers Fellowship singing the ‘family song’. I joined them to sing it just before I regained consciousness. All I know is, it was God’s mercies that brought me back to life”.

“I started feeling pains the moment I woke up. It was a major operation. The doctor said it is hemorrhagic cyst”. She added.


Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/08/16/story-of-a-girl-unconscious-sees-people-singing-with-her/

Corruption has its own motivations, and one has to thoroughly study that phenomenon and eliminate the foundations that allow corruption to exist. But eradicating corruption is not enough to sustain a country.

~Eduard Shevardnadze

Anti-corruption was one of the cardinal points of Buhari’s campaign agenda. He was very clear about his desire to stamp out corruption in Nigeria. At different times, he reiterated that “If Nigeria doesn’t kill corruption, Corruption will kill Nigeria”. The PDP capitalized on this and campaigned that Buhari was coming back to put people(opponents) in prisons reminisce of his heydays as a military dictator, that Nigeria should not vote for him. However, at dawn on 1st April, 2015, when the final results of the presidential elections were collated, Buhari was announced president-elect.

He rode to victory on the APC change mantra and his anti-corruption “antecedents”. So I am not surprised that Buhari has mentioned corruption and probe uncountable times since assuming office. He has told us he knows banks where proceeds of corruption were hidden, we have been told that the presidency now has list of Nigerians who took part or benefited from corruption. We have heard rumours of former corrupt government officials returning their loots.

The president has told anyone who cared to listen that all looted funds must be recovered. Good News! But I believe in more action, less talk. I detest media prosecution because they are usually diversionary and reeks of jungle justice. Emotions, propaganda and media prosecution are never enough to convict any person alleged to have been involved in corrupt practices. “Prove beyond reasonable doubt” still takes preeminence over any public perception caused by media prosecution especially in a democracy.

I was therefore elated when Femi Adesina (Presidential Spokesman) released a statement announcing that trial of those who stole national resources will commence in a few weeks. According to the statement, the president said that: “Those who have stolen the national wealth will be in court in a matter of weeks and Nigerians will know those who have short-changed them.” With this statement, I believe those who have been throwing unverified figures without facts around will stop as we await the real prosecution of looters in court.

The national wealth belongs to everybody and to nobody. It is criminal for a very small percentage of “everybody” to loot our collective wealth. They must be brought to justice. A presidential advisory committee against corruption has also been set up to advise the govt on the best ways to tackle the cankerworm that has
eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society. Interestingly, the two major political parties, APC and PDP welcomed the idea of probe but the opposition warned the president not to shield those in his camp from prosecution. The president replied that his anti-corruption crusade transcends personal, religious, ethnic and political lines, that anybody found culpable will face justice.

However, there has been divergent views over the Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign and probe of the immediate past administration. Some believe it is an unnecessary distraction, that he should concentrate on the business of governance. Others want him to also probe other administrations and not concentrate on Jonathan alone. Others believe the probe is just witch-hunting. The reasons for these views are not far fetched. In saner climes, you are innocent until proven guilty but in Nigeria, you are guilty until proven innocent.

Many people have started labelling top figures in the last administration as thieves/corrupt even when a proper probe is yet to be carried out. More often than not, these tags remain after such persons may have been cleared of any wrongdoing hence many dread the idea of a probe. However, the probe is a welcome development, Jonathan’s decision not to probe Obasanjo’s administration is not a yardstick to stop Buhari from probing Jonathan’s administration. It is his prerogative so far it is carried out within the purview of the constitution, obedience to the rule of law and tenets of equity and justice. Let the probe begin and let us see how it will end.

For those saying the president should also probe members of his party, probe is not a PDP affair alone but all those in the last government. I like what Yinka Odumakin did on behalf of Osun Stakeholders by petitioning the EFCC on alleged corrupt practices of Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Livingstone Wechie of Integrity group against former Governor of Rivers state Rotimi Amaechi. If you have any case with facts against any of those who are part of the present govt or sponsored the president’s election, forward it to the EFCC. If the EFCC is reluctant or the president wants to interfere, publish these facts for the world to see, after all the president said there will be no sacred cow. Anything short of this will rubbish his anti-corruption posture and campaign.

Finally, the probe rhetoric should not be used as an excuse why the govt has not fully settled down to the business of governance. Punitive measures are necessary to scrutinize and ensure sanity in the polity, but preventive measures of fighting corruption which is geared towards identifying and solving/block the motives/loopholes that aide corruption remain indispensable and less costly. With lawyers who have become experts in exploiting the loopholes in the judiciary in favour of their corrupt clients, the “orgasmic frenzy” generated by the announcement to probe corrupt politicians may just be short-lived as most of the cases may linger for months if not years. So while we are chasing “goats” who scaled our national “yam barns” to lock them up in pens, we should prevent these saintly “goats” who are currently parading the corridors of our barns free access to our yams.

Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/08/14/let-the-probe-begin/

bigboss80s:
Congratulations are in order; however the man doesn't seem too happy. Something is wrong with that marriage.

You're a Psychologist . or a Body language expert . I thought I was the only one seeing it

Before writing this piece, I had to run a small research on the said loan request and what it aims to achieve.

In doing that, I turned to the Internet. I proceeded to the World Bank’s website, then searched for Edo state assistance page. Eureka! I exclaimed as I found how the program was elaborately analyzed. “Nigeria Edo state development policy operations p123353″, the report read. I even downloaded a pdf copy of the implementation status of the program. You can check it out on http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/06/19750303/nigeria-nigeria-edo-state-first-development-policy-operation-p123353-implementation-status-results-report-sequence-04.

Well, the white man is always trying to be very transparent, not like us Africans. I am sure the Edo state government, or even no government at all in Nigeria would have made this report public without a fight. Before you accuse me of being unpatriotic or having some form of complex, ask yourself why some governors were kicking against making their state’s debt profiles public, or why there is so much secrecy on how much revenue most states generate, or even on the financial statements of the states involved. If you are still not convinced, Osun state, Imo states or even Rivers is a good place to start.

Now back to my write up. The program has a lot of set objectives -noble ones, and the efforts of the initiators of the programs should be commended. However, you don’t need an economic “super brain” to be able to decipher that, the program has run into serious unforeseen problems, even before this additional loans request.

First, the last time the World Bank team visited the state for the program assessment was in April 2013, that is good two years plus ago! In the report of the visit published a year later (June 2014), the inspectors acknowledged that the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) had stagnated, and that the revenue source for the government have been hit hard by declining oil prices (This is particularly interesting because this assessment was made before the global oil price crash of last year), making projections of this program already dwarfed.

The report also acknowledged that, it is almost near impossible to get other sources of revenue (presumably as counterpart funds), from Edo state government, because of high opposition to property tax, which the Bank advocates for. The report went on and laid out all the challenges and the setbacks.

Without going further into the economic jargon of the reports and certainly not to bore my reader, it is safe to say that, the program is at best stagnated. It is also worthy to note that the program as it stands now, is also compromised and highly unsustainable.

The government of Edo state by their own admissions, services their current debt with a whooping sum of 520million naira every month.

It already has an external debt profile (according to Nigeria’s debt management office), of more than 123million US dollars. That is about 24billion Naira. It is being estimated (since the government does not want to release the data) that, the state owns between 60 billion and 150 billion naira locally. This gives Edo state a debt profile currently of a whooping sum of between 80billion Naira and 200billion Naira. This is a huge sum for a state that has monthly federal allocation of less than 6 billion Naira and intangible IGR.

More so, judging by the above analysis that the program is no longer viable, and the fact that the governor of the state is going to leave office in little over a year’s time, the loan is definitely not necessary now.

It is the writer’s belief that this program be abandoned immediately, if possible. The government should adopt the good attributes of the program; to achieve the possible set goals without the World Bank’s help.

Finally, it’s funny how people change when they occupy political positions. Comrade Adams Oshiomole as a Labour leader would not have supported this loan request. As a politician, he should definitely not be seeking for it !!!.


Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/08/11/edo-states-world-bank-loan-mortgaging-the-future-generation/

The ambition of former Abia State governor, Dr.Orji Uzor Kalu to become the next president of world soccer governing body (FIFA). Continues to gain momentum with support coming his way from various sectors of the Nigerian soccer fraternity.

So soon after Nigerian sports big guns like former FIFA executive committee member, Dr.Amos Adamu and ex-England international, John Fashanu threw their weight behind Kalu, the ex-governor has now won a nod from two members of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) executive committee.

The latest support for Kalu’s FIFA bid comes from Nigeria Nationwide League (NNWL) chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Mu’azu Kawu and fellow-NFF board member, Alhaji Yusuf Fresh, who stated separately that they back his ambition but urged him to make a formal request to the soccer governing body for endorsement.

According to Fresh, a member of the NFF technical committee, Kalu has every right to aspire to the topmost position in world football with his achievement with Enyimba International of Aba while he held sway as Abia State governor.

He declared: “I am enthusiastic and happy that Nigerians are starting to show interest in the top football position in the world. His Excellency, Dr Orji Kalu has the right to contest for the FIFA job, but he must get the endorsement of the NFF.

“He cannot aspire to contest without the backing of the NFF and if he seeks our support, we shall surely give it to him. He has countless achievements to show from his performance as two-time Governor of Abia State.”

“He made Enyimba Football Club of Aba what they are today, because it was through his effort that Nigeria broke the CAF Champions League jinx. He won the competition twice as well as the CAF Super Cup.”

On his part, Kawu said Kalu’s aspiration is not abnormal but also advised the sports-loving publisher, businessman, motivator and politician to go through the proper channel to actualize his dream.

“I like the doggedness of Dr.Orji Uzor Kalu in aspiring to be the FIFA president. Of course, he’s qualified and has the record to back it up. But he has to go through the proper channel, that is seeking the clearance of the Nigeria Football Federation,” Kawu said.

Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/08/10/kalus-fifa-ambition-gains-support/

Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes. —Peter Drucker

Few days ago, I was going through Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s first inaugural speech with nostalgia. November 12th, 2008 will remain indelible in the annals of Edo history. The events preceding that day were even more historic. For the first time, my mother who hated politics and detest antics of politicians came out not just to vote but convinced others to vote. The threat of armed thugs invading her polling unit did not deter her from exercising her franchise that historic Saturday of April 14th, 2007. The story was the same throughout the state.

It was a ballot revolution. Some were not so lucky as they lost their lives trying to protect a mandate they believed will liberate the state from the stronghold of the nihilistic PDP led government that was leading the state to Golgotha. Edo state actually set the pace for defending votes which metamorphose to the now popular one man, one vote mantra. The speech titled “The Dawn of A New Era in Edo State’’ was timely because the people yearned for true change, prosperity and the possibility of Edo reclaiming its lost glory in the comity of states.

Six years and nine months later and I am here going through the speech again, comparing it with situation in the state “pre-speech’’ era and trying to identify what has changed. How many of the issues raised in that speech have been tackled with positive outcome. It will be criminal to allude that nothing has changed. It will be most uncharitable to entertain such thoughts. However,the question remains how has the government’s intervention the last year impacted on the common Edolites beyond political rhetoric.

What about the perennial problems of erosion, youth restiveness and unemployment, the moribund agricultural sector, health, women empowerment etc. I believe there should be an indicator to determine good governance in our climes. A kind of unbiased assessment of political office holders during their tenure in office. Most times, our assessment of performance are subjective and influenced by love for leaders, political affiliations, rhetoric from office holders and media influence which may not be true representation of the reality on ground.

The cold war between the president and the senate president was temporarily aborted when the president sent a letter to the senate seeking approval for the second tranche of a world bank loan of $75M U.S Dollars for Edo state. The loan request was received with mixed reactions in the state considering its debt profile. The opposition had accused the government of incurring a debt of 250bn Naira in the last six years without commensurate value in development. The state govt had always denied the claim by the PDP but has not furnished citizens with the actual debt profile of the state. However the Debt Management Office (DMO) Debt profile report put the state’s external debt at $123M U.S Dollars (4th highest) as at 31st December, 2014. This exclude domestic debts which is always higher and difficult to independently verified.

Debts within acceptable limits are not out of place. Emphasis should be placed on the purpose for incurring the debt and how properly they will be utilized. Incurring debts to meet the obstentious lifestyles of politicians or to meet over-bloated recurrent expenditures should be discouraged at all cost. According to the letter sent to the senate, the world bank had approved a $225M U.S Dollars for a development policy operation(DPO) to be accessed in three tranches. The Edo State Government had informed the president that the key programme objectives of the DPO were already beginning to show in terms of increased influence of private investment to the state.

Therefore, there should be speedy approval of the request of the second tranche to consolidate on the gains of the first tranche. As a concerned citizen of Edo state and a youth whose tomorrow will be faced with a debt burden, I want to ask the state govt or the senate should ask them to show evidence of the so called gains of the first tranche. The letter talked about Increased private investment to the state; where are the investment? In which of the sectors? How many real jobs have been created within this period? How has it affected internally generated revenue? What are the short and long term benefits/consequences of these loans?.

What is the plan for repayment? What are the likely impact from the proper utilization of the second tranche? What are the likely benefit/consequences of forfeiting the second tranche of the loan considering the external debt profile of the state? Are there alternate measures in place to actualize such programmes without resorting to loans? What is the overall debt profile (external and domestic) of the state?. It is pertinent to ask these questions considering where we are coming from as a state. Any action(s) capable of taking the state to the dark days of yester years will be resisted. It is incumbent on the govt to properly enlighten the people on action it is taking which the citizens believe would have adverse effect on the state in the future.

Finally, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole must be mindful of decisions he takes especially at the twilight of his administration in order to remain on the good side of history. Let it not be said that the one whom the people once believed would liberate the state ended up plunging the state into huge debts that generations yet unborn will continue to pay in pains. If we must borrow, let it be for reasons that will be of immense benefits to the common Edo man. A review of what the previous loans has been used for and the benefits (short and long term) will go along way to douse the tension generated by this new loan request.

Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/08/07/before-the-senate-approves-edos-75m-loan-request/

During the last presidential campaign, on a particular day, I was in my sitting room sipping some beer and listening to the then presidential aspirant of APC, Muhammadu Buhari address a group of “young entrepreneurs” in Lagos. In his words, he accused the government of then president Goodluck Jonathan of mismanagement of the economy. He said that our national currency was then, one dollar to two hundred naira. He went on to promise that if elected into power, he is going to make sure that Naira values almost the same as the Dollar.

I chuckled immediately I heard that, almost aspirated. “Politicians and their empty promises”, I said aloud. With a sound knowledge of how the economy works, I knew that was close to impossible. Unsurprisingly, a sizeable number of Nigerians took it literally, leading to foul language and abuse on social media.

To get back to my write up, I took the statement for what it was, an effort to convey to Nigerians that when elected the president of the country, the Muhammadu Buhari was going to stem the fall in the value of Naira and work to make the economy better.

Fast-forward two months later, the situation as regards the value our beloved currency is far worse. Naira has now lost 25% of its value since the president assumed power. Our stock exchange is loosing Billions of Naira every day as a result of the uncertainties. Investors are simply not putting their money in the economy. The different economic agencies don’t have a coherent path to follow in improving the economy.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has become the judge, the jury and the executioner, constantly exceeding its boundaries every day. The apex bank unilaterally decides what should be brought into the country via imports, which is able to access foreign exchange without any existing direction by the Presidency, Federal Executive Council or even the finance ministry.

All these are core results of the current Government not setting a direction for the economy. The money being hemorrhaged by the economy may possibly bring us down from our rank as the Africa’s biggest economy and worsen life of ordinary Nigerians. As Nigeria basically runs a trickle-down principle based economy, withdrawal of funds from the top, inevitably makes it difficult for ordinary citizens to access money to use for their survival.

In developed countries, the government always leads because they know the effect of what directionless stance, even for a day will have on their economy.

The president, President Muhammadu Buhari needs as a matter of urgency to appoint a finance minister, get an economic adviser and draw up a viable economic policy. The president should also create unified policy enforcement by our different economic agencies. This singular action may be able to reverse the fall in the value of our currency and thereby increase its purchasing power.

To the ordinary Nigerian, that may mean that a bag of rice will sell at N10,000, the initial price it was selling two months ago, not N15,000 that it sells currently, or buying a bowl of rice at N450 instead of N600 currently.


Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/08/05/our-dear-countrys-directionless-economy/

The highly publicized visit by President Muhammed Buhari, to the United States of America have come and gone. To the neutral observer, the visit has a number of “positives”.

First, the acknowledgement by the American people as represented by their president Barack Obama, and the United States media, that Nigeria is now a rising democratic Nation, which is a thing to be proud of as a Nigerian. A little over 16 years ago, we were termed a pariah state and victim of international sanctions and isolation. Now we are being branded a democratic Nation, which should make any Nigerian proud. Also we got commitment from the United States government to help us surmount some of the obstacles we have as a Nation.

Secondly, is the promise by the United States Government to help us fight the insurgency in the northern part of the country, although it remains to be seen, if they are willing to change their minds and sell to us the much talked about weapons for our armed forces!

Thirdly is the reinforcement by the president, of his determination to fight corruption without fear or favor.

Others include the meeting of the Nigerians in diaspora, where he sought to assure them of his desires to be transparent in the running of his administration, while also soliciting for them to invest in Nigeria.

The president cemented his Africanness, by stressing during his interview with Christianne Amanpour of CNN that, justice can be served at any part of the world, be it at The Hague or in Africa. This particular statement was made, when the issue of Ex-president Hissene Habra of Chad’s trial in Senegal was brought up during the said interview.

The president is back home from the visit with his spin-doctors already “educating” Nigerians on the many “positives” from the visit and subsequently branding it a success.

As for ordinary Nigerians, we can only sit back and wait for the impacts of the visit on us. In the meantime, I can only say welcome back Mr President.

Chidiebele Samuel

Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/08/05/welcome-back-mr-president/

The Rivers State govt has accused ex-governor Rotimi Amaechi and the APC of threatening the lives of the Governors Chief of Staff, Commissioner for Housing and Special Adviser on media and publicity over a publication by one Livingstone Wechie of the integrity group. In a press statement released today, the govt distanced itself from the said publication.

"Whilst it must be restated for the records that neither Governor Nyesom Wike nor any of the state Government officials as unfortunately alleged by the APC in any way sponsored or masterminded or facilitated the publication by The Integrity Group of Livingstone Wechie who is neither a Rivers state government official nor a registered card carrying member of the PDP nor a proxy to the state government" The press statement further enjoined the APC/Ameachi to respond to the issues raised by the publication instead of threatening its officials.

"Thus it will be diversionary and wicked for the APC in a bid to seek to blackmail Governor Nyesom Wike, Chief EMEKA Woke, Opunabo Inko-Tariah and Emma Okah, to concoct such frivolous allegation so as to shield Chibuike Amaechi and his Cohorts from answering to questions the group may have independently asked. Thus using that as an occasion to threaten the lives of Rivers state government officials, particularly Chief Emeka Woke, Emma Okah, and Opunabo Inko-Tariah, including that of Livingstone Wechie of the Integrity Group will not be tolerated as there are no doubts that the APC and it agents may be behind these serious threats, driven by sheer desperation coming on the hills of the publication by the Group, which the APC has pointed at."

It will be recalled that Rotimi Amaechi raised an alarm during the weekend that there are plot to link him with corruption charges in order to prevent his nomination for a position under the Buhari govt considering the Anti-corruption stance of the president and called to Rivers people to resist such act.

Read full press statement here.

PRESS STATEMENT FROM RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT HOUSE:
THREAT TO LIVES OF:

CHIEF OF STAFF, RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, EMEKA WOKE, COMMISSIONER FOR HOUSING, BARR. EMMA OKAH, SIR OPUNABO INKO-TARIAH SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE GOVERNOR ON MEDIA AND PUBLICITY AND LIVINGSTONE WECHIE, DIRECTOR OF MEDIA/PUBLICITY, AN NGO, THE INTEGRITY GROUP.

This is to alert the relevant security Agencies, including the Police and the SSS and the general public, particularly the people of Rivers state on the threat to the lives of the Chief of staff of the Rivers State Government House, Chief EMEKA WOKE, Emma Okah, Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah and from information reaching us, Livingstone Wechie, who is the Media/Publicity Director of his group the Integrity Group, suffering similar serious threats to his life already.

It will be recalled that on Tuesday August 4, 2015, the APC in Rivers state in a Press briefing by its spokesman Chris Finebone, FALSELY, WICKEDLY AND MISCHIEVOUSLY alleged that Governor Nyesom Wike, CHIEF of staff of Rivers State Government House, Engr. EMEKA WOKE, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, Emma Okah masterminded a Publication/Advertorial in some National Newspapers by a group, THE INTEGRITY GROUP.

Wherein Livingstone Wechie deposed to an affidavit and signed in his capacity as Media/Publicity Director; in which the group published an Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, alleged Corrupt records and misappropriation of Rivers State Resources including alleged Corrupt sales of state owned Assets among others by the Chibuike Amaechi led administration.

Whilst it must be restated for the records that neither Governor Nyesom Wike nor any of the state Government officials as unfortunately alleged by the APC in any way sponsored or masterminded or facilitated the publication by The Integrity Group of Livingstone Wechie who is neither a Rivers state government official nor a registered card carrying member of the PDP nor a proxy to the state government, the Rivers state government will not compromise its duty to ensure the safety and security of Rivers people or residents no matter their political or social position.

Therefore, the Government wishes not to only distance itself from the publication, but affirm that no one should be intimidated, harassed or threatened as a result of demanding a CORRUPT free Rivers state including the administration of former governor Chibuike Amaechi. Thus it will be diversionary and wicked for the APC in a bid to seek to blackmail Governor Nyesom Wike, Chief EMEKA Woke, Opunabo Inko-Tariah and Emma Okah, to concoct such frivolous allegation so as to shield Chibuike Amaechi and his Cohorts from answering to questions the group may have independently asked.

Thus using that as an occasion to threaten the lives of Rivers state government officials, particularly Chief Emeka Woke, Emma Okah, and Opunabo Inko-Tariah, including that of Livingstone Wechie of the Integrity Group will not be tolerated as there are no doubts that the APC and it's agents may be behind these serious threats, driven by sheer desperation coming on the hills of the publication by the Group, which the APC has pointed at.

As a responsible government, it became necessary to make this development public as we may not know how many others persons or groups that may be going through similar threats on similar issues. This is because this administration values and respects human lives and government will do everything within its powers to protect and enhance same.

The Rivers state government calls on the relevant security Agencies to take notice of these threats seriously as government will not tolerate any attempt to harm the life of anyone as it has become clear who to hold responsible should these particular threats be executed in any way.

Sign:
Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah
Special Adviser to the Governor of Rivers state on Media/Publicity

Sources - The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/08/05/stop-threatening-the-lives-of-our-officials-rivers-govt-to-ex-gov-amaechiapc/

Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district In State of Kogi and Chairman, Senate Adhoc Committee on information, media and publicity, Senator Dino Melaye has publicly revealed his salary as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In an interview on the program One-On-One on NTA International Wednesday, Melaye said his pay last month was 1.4M (about 6,000 dollars).

The salary of members of the National Assembly has been shrouded in secrecy with some only giving an estimate while majority dodge the question. This the first time a senator will give a definite value. Melaye also said that the new senate will open the senate to the public to know about their finances as a committee is already working on the report.

Nigerians have been calling for a reduction of members of the national assembly with report that senators collected as much as 15M naira per month and 13M for House of Reps member. The senate has an annual budget of 150bn naira.

However, Dino Melaye did not reveal whether the 1.4M naira include allowance. While still speaking, he also revealed that his wardrobe allowance is 42,000 naira per month.


Sources - The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/08/05/my-salary-is-1-4m-naira-sen-dino-melaye/

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Major Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin as the Chief of Defence Staff.

Also confirmed were Major General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Chief of Army Staff); Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Chief of Naval Staff); and Air Vice Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff).

The military chiefs were grilled in a closed session with the lawmakers for over four hours. They were appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 13.

President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said the officers answered questions on various issues, after which they were cleared for confirmation.

“Having successfully completed the screening and confirmation of the nominees, it is clear that their appointments were based on merit,” Saraki said.

He added that the appointments came at a very crucial time, especially at a time the country was still battling with insurgency in the Northeast.

The President of the Senate urged them to work hard to ensure the insurgents are routed in record time, assuring that the Senate would always give the Armed Forces every necessary support.

Saraki charged them to restore the battered image and prestige of the Armed Forces and to also tackle corruption in military procurement process.


Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/08/04/senate-confirms-service-chiefs/

President Muhmmadu Buhari today appointed Mr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu today as the 17th Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC). Ibe is from Onicha Ugbo in Aniocha North Local Government of Delta. Though No Igbo from the South East Region has headed NNPC, Aniocha are Igbo speaking ethnic group in Delta State in the South South Geopolitical Zone.


Past GMD Of NNPC

1. Chief FRA Marinho (July 1977- April1980)

2. Chief Odiligi Lolomari (April 1980-August 1981)

3. Mr Lawrence Amu (October 1981-November 1985)

4. Mr Aret Adams (November 1985-April 1990)

5. Dr Thomas John (April 1990-June 1990)

6. Mr Edmund Daukoru (June 1992-October 1993)

7.Chief Chamberlin Oyibo (November 1993-August 1995)

8. Alh.Dalhatu Bayero (August 1995-May 1999)

9. Dr Gauis Obaseki (May 1999-November 2003)

10. Prof Funsho Kupolokun (November 2003-July 2007)

11. Engr Abubakar Yaradua (August 2007- January 2009)

12. Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo ( January 2009-April 2010)

13. Shehu Ladan (April 2010-May 2010)

14. Austin Oniwon (May 2010-July 2012

15. Andrew Yakubu (July 2012- August 2014)

16 Mr Joseph Dawha (August 2014-June 2015)

17. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu (August 2015- Date)

The FCT Post management and staff is wishing Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu a successful reign in office.


Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/08/04/revealed-emmanuel-ibe-kachikwu-first-igbo-gmd-of-nnpc/

As president of Nigeria, unlike my boy Abati, who said his phones rang endlessly and became more than personal navigators within the social space, mine endlessly rang and went from being just an electronic device for calls or net surfing to a defibrillator. Now you may ask; what’s the difference between ringing endlessly and endlessly ringing? Isn’t it mere semantics, wordplay? My people, no, it isn’t.

For a phone to ring endlessly, it enjoys very brief hiatuses. That is, before the next call comes through, there is a chance, a very slim chance; the phone enjoys a very brief rest. In my case, there was no rest at all. My phones endlessly rang. When I’m on a call, they ring. When I switch them off, they still ring and do the work of delivering controlled electric shocks, a function only the office of a Nigerian president could transform them to. How? Did you just say how?

Give me some minutes. I’ll explain. You see, in my days as a deputy governor in Bayelsa, my phones rang endlessly. When I became a vice president, they still rang endlessly like that of Abati, but at a higher level. When my principal passed, they stopped ringing endlessly. They began to endlessly ring. At first, I couldn’t just get it. I almost thought it was the handiwork of my village witches. Abracadabra. Pure magic! I almost concluded. Or how can a phone that has been switched off still ring – calls, messages and emails coming through in droves? In my early days as president it was beyond my grasp. Did I tell you it shocked me? Yes, it did.

Just like my phone, the visitors came endlessly. There was always a message to be delivered. When they can’t come through my phone – call, message or email – they come through my aides or if the profile is high enough, they come to The Residence – as my official quarters was called. You wouldn’t believe the kind of moves people pulled just to meet with Mr. President. I remember meeting an Alhaji who couldn’t get me here but did in South Africa. “Oh, I’m here on vacation with my wife” he answered without me even asking. It wasn’t long after he left one of my aides who attended his wife’s funeral told me the man is a widower and has been unmarried since his wife’s passing.

No, don’t get me wrong. They don’t come or call me for money, except a few relatives and kinsmen who always needed money to offset debts or build a house or pay for hospital bills or a child’s tuition fee or you just name it. The demands or say the intent of demand amazes even me sometimes.

They came for more than that. And to get my attention, they did all sort of things. Some sent goodwill messages from newspaper pages, radio speakers and television screens. The messages are usually as varied and laughable as the senders. When I cough, it comes in something like this: “Happy Coughing” or “Coughing in Style.” Others sent gifts, very expensive gifts, just to catch Mr. President’s attention. How they know the birthdates of every member of my nuclear family remains a mystery. I remember a big woman; I was later told she is a businesswoman, sending a car-gift on my teenage son, Ariwera’s birthday. We received gifts almost on a daily basis. But on special days – birthdays, burial, wedding, remembrance or dedication days – the gifts we receive sometimes totally blew mind away. The gifts they sent on these days could setup an online retail store whose stock will outnumber and outclass that of all the online merchants in West Africa combined.

Invitations also streamed in from everywhere. Like a tilted body of water, they streamed down the precipice, flowing into my office. There was always an invitation to honor. My itinerary was filled all year round. So did the honorary degrees and titles.

Before my loss at the polls, that “no condition is permanent” cliché Abati mentioned used to be just a saying. It used to be what I first related with when I got a job at Rivers State College of Education after graduation; from a poor Ogbia kid who was sent to school with earnings from his peasant father’s canoe-making business to a Biology lecturer; my fortunes gradually changed. Looking back now, I see a very long queue of hypocrites. It wasn’t hard to figure that they came with very long knives to corner their own part of the national cake after all.

My wife, Mama Peace, as you now call her, had a tough time in coming to terms with it. She was reclusive at first. Her phones didn’t stop ringing immediately. Before the election, just like Abati’s it used to ring endlessly. After the loss, it still rang endlessly, but not for long. Those who want to call for favors now offer words of condolence and encouragements before doing so. As days went by, the calls started dropping. Those who used to call at least five times daily then called twice. Those who used to call three times reduced theirs to zero.

Now, as at this writing, her phone hasn’t ring in seven days. Oh, sorry, she received just one call two days ago, but it was an unsolicited call from her network provider. Me, Goodluck Azikiwe Ebele Jonathan, my phone hasn’t ring for three straight days. You may not believe it, but it is true. At first I used to think my phones got damaged or that I must have unknowingly, mistakenly switched them off. Now I know better. As for the gifts, invites, honorary degrees and titles, like the calls; they’re not forthcoming. I’m not expectant. I’m not expecting even an underage goat from anybody on my forthcoming birthday. I am at crossroads. Phones that used to endlessly ring, now endlessly do not ring.

Abati, you know I naturally don’t like writing. And just like most of this people, you don’t know I’m a fine writer. Your piece, better still its title, made me do this.

Joel Pereyi is an award winning essayist and freelance writer. He maintains a bimonthly column for the Abuja-based FCTPost.



Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/08/01/goodluck-ebelee-jonathan-the-phones-no-longer-ring/

If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is compromise. – Robert Fritz

Mixed reactions trailed the 4-days working visit of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to the United States of America. The presidency and ruling party said the visit was successful while the opposition insisted that the president embarrassed the country in America.

“….American leaders have been known to be fairly parsimonious with praises, particularly when talking about leaders of other countries. But Obama was effusive. He described President Buhari as a man of integrity, needed for such a time like this in Nigeria,……..the destiny of the continent was tied to Nigeria he said, pledging that America will continue to support, AS LONG AS NIGERIA DOES THE RIGHT THINGS(emphasis mine)’’. Femi Adesina Presidential spokesman wrote in an article Buhari; From Washington with dignity.

“..however, now that the visit has come and gone, our fear is that nothing whatsoever has been learnt or gained. What we continue to receive as a nation have been embarrassing disagreements, accusations and counter accusations, blames and denials on very important issues due to lack of tact and skill in the management of state matters by the APC-led government..this is not only embarrassing but also worrisome indication of crass ineptitude in handling of international affairs on the part of the present administration ’’. Olisah Metuh PDP spokesman said in a press statement in Abuja.

Beyond the usual cacophony of verbose exchange between the APC and the PDP, it is imperative for political pundits and concerned citizens to view the outcome of the president’s visit dispassionately from all dimensions. Unlike the invitation from the G7, President Buhari went to America without a “wish list’’. This may be attributable to the fact that the present visit was at the instance of the US president during the G7 meeting; Barrack Obama already knew the wishes of the Buhari led government. Security(combating the scourge of terrorism) top the Wish List. During deliberations with the Nigerian President, the US government raised the controversial issue of gay rights which the president responded without mincing word, that gay rights was a no go area, stating that it was against Nigerian Laws, values and culture.

America is the bastion of human rights and civil liberties, most of which are stated clearly in the First Amendment. Therefore it’s stand in advocating against the discrimination of gay rights is understandable. Laws are fashioned in line with norms and accepted values of a particular area and people. Homosexuality is a taboo in most (if not all) African communities just like polygamy is viewed as alien in the western world. Personally, i am indifferent to the issue of gay rights but i believe it is hypocritical for other nations to seek to imposed practices alien to us because it is acceptable to them but reject practices acceptable to us in their own domain.

Security of lives and properties is the primary responsibility of government as stated in the Nigerian 1999 constitution as Amended. In other to end the wave of insecurity in Nigeria, the Government needs to get sophisticated weapons to combat insurgents who are well armed. When the Nigerian President brought this to the table, the US government stated emphatically that they cannot negate the Leahy Act by selling weapons to Nigeria because our armed forces have been implicated in Human right abuses in the fight against insurgency. As disappointed Buhari later opined that the refusal of the US government to sell weapons and arms embargo to Nigeria escalated the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. Buhari’s subtle implication of the US government went viral in both national and international media which led to a response by Sen. Patrick Leahy;

“….But rather than suggest that the United States is at fault for not funding MURDERERS AND RAPISTS (emphasis mine) in the Nigerian military, he should face up to his own responsibility to effectively counter Boko Haram. He should direct his attention to the Nigerian military, and the Nigerian courts, and clean up the units implicated in such atrocities…” Leahy said in a terse statement released by his office.

The American President had earlier told Buhari that they will continue to support Nigeria as long as Nigeria Continue to do the right things . Also note that America is the bastion of HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES. Sen.Leahy called men of the Nigerian military Rapist and Murderers. Leahy was obviously wondering here why a nation that was quick to criminalise gays was relunctant to prosecute those alleged to have committed human right offences, hence his admonition of Buhari to look into the military and the court instead of blaming the US government . if you can also recall, Linda Thomas Greenfied, US Assistant Secretary General for African Affairs prior to the visit said that the US will continue to mount and sustain the pressure on Nigeria to repeal its anti-same sex laws which has now become part of the US foreign policy

“…As a government, it is one of the highest priorities and strongest values that discrimination against anyone based on their sexual orientation and gender identity is wrong. We believe HUMAN RIGHTS (emphasis mine) should be available to all….so we are prepared to push this as a policy, not just in Africa but across the World’’ she said in the statement.

Finally, apart from Obama’s effusive affirmation of Buhari’s integrity, and an additional foreign debt burden of 2.1bn dollars to rebuild the North East where peace is still elusive, the trip to the US failed to address the most pressing need the new government is facing. Buhari should look elsewhere for the arms he needs because the US will only support him if he does the ‘’right thing’’ but from the look of things, Nigeria is not ready to give “human right’’ to everybody according to Linda nor is the government ready to prosecute those whom the US alleged to have committed human right offenses (Rapist and Murders according to Leahy). It is either we look Eastward or inwards; after all Necessity is the mother of all Invention.

Sources: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/08/01/buharis-us-trip-no-ass-no-gun/

Please take a Picture of this Man or give us more details so we can publish it on The FCT Post www.fctpost.com, newsroom@fctpost.com or careers@fctpost.com. I think the Nigerian Authorities needs to step up, the Nigerian Police Force has been doing great lately apprehending criminal gangs. Please alert the Police or the DSS. Don't be a self centered person, stop these guys before they kill a Nairalander hustling to survive. Thank you

“Spare the rod and spoil the child”, a quote often treated with levity but weighs even more than a king’s kingship”

Owing to the work put in by a mother towards a child’s upbringing, sometimes I feel a child should bear the mother’s name. It is ridiculous right? I know some persons would want to drag me into a duel of argument; others would want to write-off my statement without a second thought.

According to definitions, the mother is a woman who gives birth to a child or a woman who raises a child. This is true but the mother does far more than what is perceived or even seen. The role of a mother in the home is just a stepping stone to her role on a larger scale. Though in time past mothers have been home bound, but the result of their effort is not. She does far more than what is known of her. She plays a big role as long as any nation is concerned. She nurtures the child and in essence nurtures a Nation

The burden that wrestles my soul is how less an appreciation or acknowledgement is thrown at the mother, the brain that succored the hidden star to prominence, the back that took up onus to nurture destiny, the burden bearer. I believe too much value is rather attached to money. A myopic foresight had rather made stomach infrastructure the opium of the people. Simply put, the father or the bread winner as he may be, takes too much of the glory.

I believe every great Nation is indebted to the role the individual mother plays in-house, the right role of course. The role of a mother is independent of money. It is independent of education. Yet the mother labours to see that her fruit lacks none of these. It is quite an irony. Every nation that aspires for a greater posterity beckons on the young to take the right route, not minding the predicament that befalls the route. Necessity runs back to the mother to ensue follow-ability of the right path.

“Spare the rod and spoil the child”, a quote often treated with levity but weighs even more than a king’s kingship. A great Nation lies in the fist of a mother. She squeezes it too tight and the Nation wallows in the bowels of shame. She handles it with care like an egg and a Nation is hatched into the desired greatness. The wisdom of a father is most often shared by amidst his contemporaries, but the wisdom of a mother falls on the ears of the child: the hope of posterity, the future of the future.

I believe a greater nation is enveloped in the parcels delivered to a child by a mother. A child believes more in whatsoever come from the mother than any other. The impact of a mother can make or mar any nation. Have a Nation with mothers that understands their role as mothers and have a nation shaped into perfection, worthy of emulation to sister nations.

I believe it is high time we start working out modalities that will protect the role and the integrity of the mother. Value is best protected by giving value. Accolade to a job well done ensues continuity of same good job. The role of the mother is paramount to seeing our dream in reality; a greater Nation.


Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/07/25/the-mother-the-blue-print-to-a-greater-nation/

The word Agriculture is synonymous to several meaning amidst young people. To some, it is associated with hoe, dirt, extreme risk and low income, while to others; it is a gateway to hardship. Interestingly, Agriculture employs 65 percent of Africa’s labour force and accounts for 32 percent of gross domestic product as stated by World Bank. At this present time, using Nigeria as the case study, when weighing career choices, many young people frown at the mention of Agriculture. It is perceived as old fashion, a career for the poor and middle age. Few young people who are found pursuing in a career in farming are mostly those within the north/north central part of Nigeria. Apart from the fertility of the region, a good percentage of the indigenes are farmers, hence almost every child born and bred around the region has a substantial knowledge about farming.

Many young people in Nigeria today believe in early achievement. However, most at times, an outstanding level of affluence is been attained through dubious means, with little or no hard work. Ironically, such attainment doesn’t stand the test of time because success comes with some iota of dedication and efficiency.

Africa has the second largest continental surface area, The land is fertile. If the continent could invest more in Agriculture, there will be a drastic change in the livelihood of a significant number of people in Africa. According to reports around the continent, Africa is paying the price of low productivity because of limited use of commercial fertilizers by small holder farmers who produce the bulk of the continents food.

However, It is a good thing, the government of Nigeria is gradually stepping in to stimulate the youth’s interest in Agricultural production and processing. The central bank of Nigeria, CBN in collaboration with the federal ministry of Agriculture and rural development, FMARD established the commercial agriculture credit scheme, referred to as CACS for promoting commercial agricultural enterprise in Nigeria. There are also several other government initiatives aimed at providing credit facilities and vocational training to farmers in rural and urban areas in Nigeria. Furthermore, several non-governmental micro enterprise provide soft loans with flexible conditions to farmers/young entrepreneurs who are willing to invest in Agricultural production and general trading in Nigeria.

It is expedient for those who want to start a career in Agriculture to follow laid down rules and guidelines. Such a person can start by attending seminars, visiting farms or by serving as an apprentice on some one’s farm in order to acquire skills on mechanized farming. The challenge is that there had been an influx in the number of youth migrating to the urban areas in Nigeria, thus hindering their involvement in farming which strives better in the rural settlement.

In 2014, young Eherculano Thomas Rice was pleased to have harvested 40 bags of white maize from his eight hectare field in chimoio in Mozambique manica province. Thomas grows cow pea to boost soil fertility in his field and only improves his productivity by applying fertilizer whenever he can afford it.

Twenty four year old Abdu Nsamba from Uganda graduated in 2009 with a degree in social work and social Administration. For two years, he tried to secure a job but he couldn’t. He decided to farm in order to secure food security for his family and later took a career in farming.

He said: “ I can’t believe I wasted two years, farming has opened up so many doors for me as I get to interact with people of different trades. I can meet all my financial needs, I do not have to worry about tomorrow.” Today, he’s a proud owner of several acres of land and he employed 7 other young people.

Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/07/25/why-young-african-enterprenuers-should-invest-in-agriculture/

‘’ Put a Nigerian Politician in charge of the Sahara Desert in five years time, there will be shortage of sand’’ -Unknown.......

The task of assembling a cabinet can be herculean especially in our climes. Regional, ethic, religious, godfathers, political party, friends, family and allies interest come to play. The Ruling All Progressive congress (APC) is an amalgam of different political parties and interest group hence power sharing must be done in such a way that each group will have a sense of belonging. The delay in forming a cabinet by the new govt is mainly attributable to this fact despite other excuses from the presidency. Nigeria Tribune, reported last week that only three of ministerial nominees whose names were submitted to security and financial agencies for screening were certified ‘’clean’’. It will be recalled that president Muhammadu Buhari had insisted that only corruption free and competent Nigerians will be part of his government. The presidency has not confirmed nor denied the Nigerian Tribune report. If the report is indeed true, then we need to spread the net in the search of corruption free and competent Nigerians to serve in the cabinet because the ratio of clean to non-clean politicians in the APC camp which now stands 1:18 is discouraging

Political pundit continue to insist that corruption is the biggest problem in Nigeria but i always differ. Hypocrisy is our biggest problem. Yes! We say one thing in public and do another in private. We climb the moral high horse to show our piety but descend to the ‘’ lowest of low’’ when no one is watching. Is it not ironical that with our large number of Bible wielding and Koran reciting populace, Nigeria rank very low in all rectitude. So also is the political class, In time of election they promise to change the status quo to make life better for the people but after election, they change the promise and make life better for only their families, friends and cronies. They point accusing fingers at their opponents and accuse them of corruption while they are also beneficiary of corruption. The purported 33 failing corruption test out the total of 36 gives credence to this fact. If we always match our words with actions and lead by example, then Nigeria would have been the best place in the universe.

Corruption and Weak institutions are the next in my list. Institutional weaknesses enables corruption to thrive and corruption leads to further weakening of institutions. Any government serious with fighting corruption must first strengthen its institutions in order to make a headway. Anything short of this amount to scratching the surface, window dressing or just playing to the gallery. According to transparency International corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. Going by this definition most public office holders in Nigeria are corrupt. The masses are always fixated on embezzlement of funds but there are many other corrupt practice which we overlook and have started to accept as norm. If 36 politicians or their nominees are subjected to real corruption test, i believe almost all will fail except such a person has not previously held a public office.

The president will assemble his incorruptible cabinet in September according to his recent article in the Washington Post. As a concerned Nigeria, i stand with the president’s decision to involve only competent and corruption free Nigerians. It is a tall dream but it is achievable. It will be a herculean task but there is enough time to curb the nooks and crannies of the entire nation to get clean men to pilot the affairs of the nation. I would have proposed religious people but because so much hypocrisy abound in the land, i prefer practical people. Men who practice what they preach, men who value their reputation more than the lucre of power. Men who truly feel the pulse of the common man and are always ready to diagnose and profer solutions with positive outcomes, not those who eat roasted corn with us during election only to deny asking for our votes after election. Having an incorruptible cabinet is not the magic wand to good governance and fighting corruption but it is the first step.

The fight against corruption should be ALL OR NONE. Anybody involved in corrupt practice should be made to face the law. There should be no middle ground or sacred cow; it must be total in accordance with the law. Having strong institutions is also indispensable because weak institutions can also corrupt those with good intentions. The president can also adopt the “Separating the Yam from the Goat’’ principle as propounded by former President Goodluck Jonathan. this is a preventive measure and must be complemented by punitive measure for those who still scale the fence to get the yams.

Finally, President Muhammadu Buhari will be the first Nigerian President to spend 100 days in office without a cabinet, if he finally assembles his cabinet in September. He has reiterated in many fora that only the best will be part of his cabinet. It is necessary to give him the benefit of doubt. However, it will be a scandal and huge disappointment after Nigerians had waited with bated breadth, we started hearing or seeing names of the old faces and voices whose antecedents negates the mantra the party rode to victory.

Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/07/24/anticipating-buharis-incorruptible-cabinet/

Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, governor State of Osun has abruptly spoken against claim by the Peoples Democratic Party that his administration has put plans in place to sack no fewer than 10,000 workers.

The governor made this denial in a statement issued on behalf of him by Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, his media aid. The PDP has been the brain behind many moves to pull down his administration, he said, but added that they had been failing in their underground plots to trigger the people of the state against his government.

He said, “The so-called plan to sack 10,000 workers is in the imagination of the Peoples Democratic Party. Discerning and decent people have come to the inevitable conclusion that when PDP makes any allegation, you must quickly dismiss it as being in its character to fabricate falsehood in order to confuse the unsuspecting masses.

“But the relevant question that must be asked is: has PDP’s notoriety in lying helped it achieve anything in the state of Osun? The answer is a big No. And that is because the ordinary Osun people who understand perfectly the positive impact of the Aregbesola administration have left PDP behind in its lying act.” He said.

“This latest falsehood is part of its calculated move to misinform workers, confuse them and demoralize them. Nowhere has the Aregbesola administration signified any intention to sack any worker.”

Still speaking, Aregbesola said that PDP has failed in its move to capitalize on the workers’ delayed salaries to trigger them against the government by sponsoring series of protests.

Reacting to the allegation that he had refused to sell the helicopter bought by his administration for surveillance, he said this was a pointer to the fact the PDP had no more ideas. Which prompted them to say that the chopper that he said was being used for security operations should be sold.

Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/07/20/it-is-not-true-aregbesola-denies-plans-to-sack-10000-workers/

After criticizing and promising to remove the unconstitutional office of the First lady, the Muhammadu Buhari led government has changed the Office of the First Lady to Office of the Wife of the President using the national seal and organizing programs under such office.

It will be recalled that the president during the campaign promised to discard office of the first lady as it was unconstitutional and used by spouse of president to interfere in government affairs, where government `officials use funds from government coffers to fund its activities.

Ironically, about two months after its inauguration, the wife of the President is not only acting like the office of the defunct First lady but now has letterhead and seal. These further raise questions on the much-touted integrity of the new government.

The President during campaign also promised to publicly declare his asset but on entering office, declared his asset only to code of conduct bureau (CCB), which is a constitutional requirement. All efforts to get the details of the asset declaration from CCB has proved abortive.

However sources within the presidency maintained that the asset would be made public when it has been verified by CCB. Late President Umaru Musa Yaradua, the only Nigerian president to have declared his asset publicly gave details of his asset declaration to the public the same day he submitted to the CCB.

Sources: The FCT Post: http://www.fctpost.com/2015/07/18/deception-new-govt-adopts-office-of-wife-of-president-after-scrapping-office-of-first-lady-2/

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The Mozambican government is currently being accused of corruption after it guaranteed a Eurobond loan of $850 million dollars without a public tender of approval of the parliament. This loan is intended to assist the Mozambique Tuna Company (Ematum) to restructure its debt.

Eduardo Sengo, economic adviser at Mozambique’s Confederation of Economic Associations reacted in this manner to the move: “With the Ematum debt, the external debt of Mozambique grew very rapidly and it is estimated currently at about $7 billion.”

Venancio Mondlane, who was candidate for Mayor of Maputo in the 2013 municipal elections, has said that the loan represented 53% Mozambique’s public debt to international financial markets.

Ematum had been set up in 2013 with funding provided by Eurobond loans. The funds were used to purchase 30 vessels from France. The Mozambican government then announced in June of this year that it wanted to restructure Ematum’s debt. This had led to a plunge in the company’s bonds.


Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/07/16/mozambique-government-criticized-over-tuna-fleet-scandal/

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Grace Mugabe has been at the side of long time President Robert Mugabe for two decades now. She is not only seen as the First lady of Zimbabwe but a formidable politician in her own right. It is important to keep up with developments in the Zimbabwean political scene to see what the future holds.

The ruling party in Zimbabwe, the Zanu-PF is obviously considering a successor to the aged statesman Robert Mugabe. The 91-year-old Mugabe has been at the helm since Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980 and his now in the twilight of his life, it will be interesting to see how his party will resolve the succession debate.

One might ask, why Grace Mugabe of all capable leaders within the ranks of the Zanu-PF should be considered to take over as President; once her husband, Robert has passed on. The 49-year-old Grace has always been seen as a mother to the President's children and has become infamous for her lavish shopping sprees.

She is reported to have spent £75,000 euro on luxury goods in one day in Paris in 2003. She then had to take 15 trolley loads to the airport in Singapore. Grace Mugabe has had to defend herself against her detractors who have said that she is pampered and lazy. She has also vehemently denied accusations that she cheated on her husband.

The mother of President Mugabe's children must be asking herself just what will happen to her when her husband dies. She has a government-funded credit card at her disposal and lives in a mansion in Harare. The intentions of senior Zanu-PF officials cannot be known at this time as the much feared Robert Mugabe will do all that he can to protect his wife while he is still alive. It is no question that they might decide to turn against Grace once her husband passes on. The first lady's political ambitions have never been known until she was elevated to a senior position in the Zanu-PF and elected President of its women's league. This move has made her a political player in her own right.

It will be interesting to see how Robert Mugabe deals with his two deputies who are aware that they are not guaranteed the Presidential seat once the aged statesman passes on. It is worth considering whether Grace is being prepared to take over from her husband as she has now been given more responsibilities in the ruling Zanu-PF.

Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/07/16/grace-mugabe-could-be-next-zimbabwean-president/

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In a move that has shocked all and sundry, 10 South Africans from a charitable organization have been arrested in China.

“The South African government was notified on Sunday about the arrest and the embassy in Beijing thereafter,”
“The arrest was confirmed and the embassy is in contact with the Chinese authorities.”

This was the response of the department of international relations and cooperation’s spokesperson Nelson Kgwete to the FCTPost.

The South African disaster relief organization, Gift of the Givers (GOTG) had on Tuesday come out and announced the arrest of the 10 South Africans who were detained along with 9 Britons and 1 Indian.

The founder of the Gift of the Givers, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, had this to say about the incident: “Family members [until] now, four days later, have had no communication with those detained,”

“The Chinese, now trying to find reasons for the detention suggested that some members were linked to a terror group, to a banned organization, [and] to watching propaganda videos in their hotel room,”

The Chinese has agreed to release 11 out of 20 of the detainees who had been accused of watching propaganda videos. The other 9 detainees were being held without being charged as the same accusation had been brought against them.

One of the families that were affected by the arrests was that of Vodacom Group CEO, Shameel Joosub whose brother; aunt and uncle were also detained.

Joosub expressed his concerns in this manner: “My family and I are deeply concerned for the safety and well being of my brother, aunt and uncle. Along with 17 other South African, British and Indian citizens, they were detained on July 10 by the Chinese authorities at the airport in Erdos, Inner Mongolia, and held without charge.” He said.

“We are in close contact with the South African authorities that are working to secure their release,” He added.

Kaduna State governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has reiterated that he has not backed down on his earlier threat to sue the Union Newspaper for publishing false report against him. A social media activist and public commentator Paul Utho who asked about the matter on twitter got a reply from the former FCT minister that the case will come up after Ramadan in Kaduna.

The Union Newspaper had published a report with a claim that the state governor declared an asset of 90bn including 40 choice mansions in Abuja in his asset declaration form, sent to the Code of Conduct Bureau. El-rufai had refuted the report and threatened to sue the newspaper but the paper insisted that they stood by their story.

Many have asked, will the governor will file a suit against the paper. Some activists believed El-Rufai would have shamed his detractors by making public his asset instead of threatening to sue the paper, which has been the escapist strategy of Nigerian politicians when they are caught in a controversy. More often than not, they end up not keeping to their threat.

Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/07/15/el-rufai-to-sue-union-newspaper-after-ramadan/

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PMB has been basking in the exquisite epiphany of his victory, after his fourth try, for upwards of 3 months now. Knowing how difficult it is to win a Nigerian election, let alone defeat an incumbent president, his victory, bestridden on “change” – a word that has newly gained currency in the country – changed everything around us. It filled our minds with longing and our hearts with hope. It made mouths run and blood transverse veins faster, unhindered. Its needless to say it filled our ambience with emotions and feelings, leaving us with a different kind of oxygen.

Forget the oxygen science teaches we breathe in. Here, we aren’t talking oxygen, nitrogen, and other constituents of dry air. Neither are we talking an ambience or oxygen filled with only a longing for change or the desire for a better Nigeria. We’re talking of an atmosphere filled with the new Nigerian oxygen – oxygen made of a perfect blend of hope, desire and longing; our seemingly new air du temps.

While not playing critic, one can rightly wager that this new oxygen hasn’t brought enough good tidings with it. In fact, if one is to say it the way it is, as James Baldwin admonishes, yes, it came alongside Mr. Buhari’s victory, a new government, but that seem to be all. All we’ve seen, so far, from the new government’s apostle of change, President Muhammadu Buhari, is hem and haw, nothing more.

The Chibok girls aren’t back, Boko Haram is still a reputable address in the comity of bloodletting psychos, unemployment is still rife, and the pages of our catalogue of miasmas still outnumbers world’s most comprehensive encyclopedia. True, some, if not all, of these issues are headache inducing and weighty, hence, beggars a significant amount of time. But more disturbing is the fact that the new government is yet to hit the ground running after 6 good weeks.

That PMB couldn’t do something as simple as figuring out a national secretary in 3 months, not to talk of coming up with a cabinet, is heart wrenching. Yes, he has made some appointments. But in the appointments he has thus far made (9 so far – 8 northerners and 1 southerner, as at this writing), he has shown disdain, murder even, of federal character. For the sake of everything sane, please why shouldn’t any southerner lose sleep over this? Or how more tribalistic can one be?

Now, to his sympathizers or say career Buharists, who steadily write gripping prose and speak, sometimes, impeccable English on television and radio stations to appease our sensibilities, here is a spoiler alert; all that wouldn’t work. At least, not again. While we don’t expect magic, we expect that by now, concrete or master plans on how to bring to bear all he promised to do should have been rolled out.

We live in the hopes that the 5000 Naira he promised the unemployed, terrorism he promised to halt, and corruption he promised to expunge from our nation, wouldn’t remain promises till Christ’s second coming. We don’t expect him to redeem them all, but at least, a significant many of them should be met.

For the now, pussyfooting is the word that comes to mind whenever you and yours come up with patronizing attitudes, and as is fast becoming the norm, intellectualizing the rationale behind Baba go-slow’s seemingly retarding acceleration.

But Mr. Buhari, being the sincere man that he is adjudged to be, has plainly admitted his limitations. Perhaps being in the know of our beaming satellites and scrutiny, he confessed to us that he wished he were younger. He wished his age wouldn’t be an impediment on his effectiveness.

What this means, in its simplest terms is that if he under performs, as many are beginning to expect him to, we’ve got to blame it on his old age. If he doesn’t do, as primly and properly as we hoped, he deserves automated pardons. It isn’t really his fault you know? He would have done better if he were younger.

If you can’t give 72 ways a 72–year old pa. Buhari can transform Nigeria, a parched wasteland of joblessness into a hub of employment and preside over a nation as complex and problem-ridden as ours, please lay the blames at the altar of agedness.

The incessant power supply and shortages of fuel and other petroleum products may tarry. Strikes, protests, and display of wilting placards by aggrieved Nigerians may not just be over yet. The conduit pipes that channels our national budgets to private Swiss and personal Nigerian accounts may not be blockaded. It may be widened, even.

The thirst and hunger for hemorrhaging our petrodollars on sprawling mansions in UAE, Asokoro, Lekki, VGC, and other gated, highbrow neighborhoods across the globe may not be quenched. These fears, these possibilities, these Buharian headaches, is what I enjoin you, yes you, dear reader, to brace up for. If you can afford aspirin, please start shopping for it now. Buhari’s presidency, four years of it, may just be yet another plaster to Nigeria’s cancer.

Joel Pereyi is an award winning essayist and freelance writer. He maintains a bimonthly column for the Abuja-based FCTPost.

Source: The FCT Post - http://www.fctpost.com/2015/07/15/nigerian-oxygen-and-other-buharian-headaches/

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