PROFERRING SOLUTIONS TO NIGERIA’S PROBLEMS PART ONE

DEALING WITH OUR ETHNO-RELIGIOUS ISSUES

The problems of Nigeria to an average Nigerian are endless and as such do not deserve our attention. But there are no problems without solutions, even the much dreaded Covid-19 will have cure with the passage of time. So we can’t sit still or stand aloof and watch our problems kill us. There may be myriad of problems but they are not in-surmountable.
One of our major problems in this country is our love for ethno-religious crisis which has constantly been a tool in the hand of politicians. They divide us along tribes and religion but their aim is to hold on to power so they employ the use of a divide and rule mechanism. So far there are two main causes of crisis in Nigeria which are; tribalism and religion but for the sake of space I will bring them together as ethno-religious crisis.
Religion has been a feature of the world for as long as it has been in existence. Different religious traditions have played a major role in the evolution of society. Religion has often been a vehicle for intolerance and fundamentalism, religion has been used as an excuse for persecution and war, but religion in its purest form has provided many benefits to mankind.
In 1851 the British invaded Nigeria and in 1901 Nigeria had become a British protectorate, colonization came with its own religion. In 1914 when the British amalgamated the northern and the southern regions, each region had formed distinct religious beliefs. In the north Islam held sway while in the south Christianity was the mainstay. Nigeria became a husband with wives that held different religious beliefs and views. Now for this marriage to stand the test of time each component of the country must accept the other component’s religious beliefs and views, hence the need for religious tolerance in Nigeria because of its importance to our unity and development.
One of the most sought after ‘commodity’ apart from the various economic quests for development is the desire for peace and unity. That no meaningful development can take place in an environment of rancor is stating the obvious. In 2011 the world development organization reported that over 20 million children have been denied access to food due to crisis. As in this case many African countries have been bedeviled with one form of crisis or the other and Nigeria is not an exception to such experiences. Ranging from the various incessant ethno-religious crisis. The post-election crisis and the recent incidence of the Boko Haram crisis, which are most times fuelled by religion and tribalism.
Peace and prosperity are nearly inseparable. When one is absent the other is at risk. And peace in this context cannot be achieved in the absence of religious tolerance, because the most frequent crisis in the country has been ethno-religious crisis which is usually caused by religious intolerance.
Religious tolerance emphasizes cooperation, togetherness and oneness, and the end product is unity which is lacking in today’s Nigeria.
For long Nigeria has experienced perpetual religious crisis as extreme religious teaching have clouded the minds of many, leading to violent crisis that threatens the national unity and security.
There are three main religions in Nigeria: Christianity, Islam and Traditional religion. These religions have their faithful’s and adherent in different parts of the country. Followers of each of these religions believe that their religion is the right one. However, it takes maturity to accept and tolerate other people’s beliefs. Unfortunately this maturity is absent as religious fanatics kill and maim others without mercy. This is evident in every part of Nigeria, just few days ago followers of certain religion burnt down a police station for stopping their worship, even in this era when religious gathering is been avoided in every part of the world because of the Covid-19 virus.
Nigeria has faced over 30 religious crises since 1976. In the middle-belt region, hundreds of people have died from religious violence. In 2001, a religious crisis in Jos left about 1000 people dead. 700 people were killed in Yelwa town, Plateau state in 2005. In 2008 10,000 people became homeless from religious clashes in Jos. In northeast Nigeria, Boko Haram has turned many communities into graveyards while making life miserable for the survivors. The activities of this jihadist group has resulted in over 2 million internally displaced persons in Nigeria’s northeast.
But we can make things right because religious tolerance is of essence in achieving unity in our country.
In 1948, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa stated thus in the legislative council: since 1914 the British government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country. But the Nigerian people themselves are historically different in their backgrounds, in their religious beliefs and customs and do not show themselves any sign of willingness to unite.
But religious tolerance and one Nigeria is not impossible in Nigeria, our national unity depends on it , hence, the need for religious tolerance in every aspect of our national life. As the same things that divide us can unite us.
There is diversity everywhere in Nigeria. If not by religion then by region, if not by tribe then by tongue, if not by dialect then by idiolect. Our problem is not the diversity but how we manage it. An excerpt from a discussion between Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Alahji Ahmadu Bello gives us an insight into our problem as a nation and goes ahead to to confirm that religious tolerance is not a recent theme in our national life.
Zik; let us forget our differences
Ahmadu Bello; no let us understand our differences. I am a Muslim and a northerner; you are a Christian from the east.
Now, the big question begging for answer is; ‘are we really different?’ are all easterners not Nigerians and are all northerners not Nigerians?
Religious tolerance will help to see ourselves first as Nigerians before thinking of our religion or region. We must accept to live together and understand that whether you are from the south or north, the unity of the nation is more important than any one region of the nation and that whether you are from the south or north does not make you inferior or superior to any person from other part of the nation. We are all Nigerians and that is what counts.
Every single Nigerian must embrace must embrace the national philosophy of General Tunde Idiagbon which was ‘Nigeria is our country and we have no other country but Nigeria’. With this concept in mind I dare say that we must stand up to the task of uniting our nation then stay as one and develop our nation. Because if we don’t know one will. One Nigeria is achievable but it solely depends on us as Nigerians. According to Ahmadu Bello let us understand our differences (problem) and see how we can surmount this great mounting standing between us and unity. As we cannot achieve any meaningful progress without first achieving peace and unity.
Written by Victor Utomi
He is a writer, an entrepreneur, a business consultant and a speaker
For comments, you can reach him via victom.dmay@gmail.com or 08133933149

Bevista:
You grossly underestimate the gullibility, docility & stupidity of your oppressed countrymen.

it's all over Africa and not just in Nigeria. dear Bevista we all have a common enemy. so it's better to join hand and fight.

let's fight for the future of our dear country.
together we can build a great nation.

#Bevista. # WaZoBia. the future of our country lays on our hands. it is now or never, the sleeping giant must wake and rise above mediocrity.

143WaZoBia:

Thank you sir. The way I see it no one is going to fight for us. I am very angry at our religious leaders. I called them out on Twitter but they never respond. I can forgive the politicians it’s more like a profession for them but how do we fold our hands and watch our lives crumble right under our nose. It’s going to be a long talk trying to speak my mind so in a nutshell. I’m calling for a calm gathering that will not at anytime become violence or monetarily motivated. This country is slowing dying. Look at what’s happening with the coronavirus, we don’t even know the health status of our president and no one owe us any explanation, our leaders are taking deliveries of exotic cars but all we can do is rant which is normal since they were all elected and there’s law as how they can be removed. No one is going to remove anybody because they are all allies regardless of political parties, ethnicity or religious beliefs, they know how to tag one Northerner with a southerner or a Muslim plus a Christian, that way they fulfill our ignorant yearning and we all feel involved. They have successfully divided us along these lines that we can’t focus on anything other than PDP vs APC, South VS North, Muslim VS Christian, Igbo vs Yoruba or any other but we are all suffering together. It’s not going to be an easy walk and it won’t be achieved easily if Sowore can not achieve it with call for revolution and NK can not achieve it with call for secession there must be something we can do for ourselves. We must forget about being leaders of tomorrow because in matter of years there will be no tomorrow to lead plus how can we be leaders of tomorrow with some of us already having children. We are still electing leaders of the past. What I’m asking for is a solidarity groups that’s driven by what WE want for our future, to be in control of our future. Evidently we can’t achieve that with violence even if we could, we will get shut down before the plans get to many people. Let’s have a discuss. I don’t have all the answers. Let’s create a thread that will call upon every sane and able Nigerians that are not still trying to hold on to what they could get from one particular party or the other. It takes one person to start it then others will join along the way. We will come to an understand of what we really want for ourselves, I’m beginning to lose interest in Nigeria as a country because Nigeria is not really a country per say. These leaders get confused because they don’t know what to do when they get their, when we have the number we can influence an educated man on the people. Or we can influence a youth on the people, let’s bring down these political parties. Sounds like mission impossible but we can achieve anything we set our minds.

I am open to anything from a pressure group to a political party. I think now I have someone who can see what I see and understand what I am saying.
I wouldn't mind having your direct contact sir so we can start up immediately.

mine is 08133933149.
let's fight for a new Nigeria both for ourselves and our un-born children. I look forward to exchanging ideas with you

143WaZoBia:
Listen guys instead of ranting let’s slowly build a group that will eventually turn into something bigger over time. The elites are comfortable because we are not fighting back but they can’t shut us all up if we have the numbers. Let’s come together and fight for ourselves, not for Nigeria but ourselves. It doesn’t matter if you love Nigeria or not, it doesn’t matter if you want to associate with Nigeria or not. All that matters is fighting for your lives now, protect your future and that of your loved ones.

Look around you this people don’t care and things will get worse overtime. All our elites are useless, regardless of their region. They are just all one stupid occultist groups that really listen to one another, they fight in public but protect each other’s interest, the only time they fight against each other is when it’s personal and never for you people. Nairaland is for Nigerians and right here is where we can start a revolution. We must stand against our oppressors except of course we love being oppressed.

this is one of the most beautiful right -ups and comment I have ever come across on nairaland so sensible and imaginative but my dear you only spoke the mind of a few Nigerians.
if you think there is something that can be done to liberate us from the elite and political class please reach out to me.
a new Nigeria made for Nigerians is my dream. on my own I will keep writing, speaking and enlightening Nigerians with articles and hope it goes round the country.


I look forward to working with you on the development of our dear nation.
regards

The corona Virus travelled entire world from Wuhan but it did not reached Beijing and Shanghai... can anybody put light?

Looks So Logical....After all Chinese Stock Market didn't crash....American and European Markets did....

Destroy other markets and be ready to capture them in every way

How to dominate the world quickly?

THE GREAT CHINESE STAGE

1. Create a virus and the antidote.

2. Spread the virus.

3. A demonstration of efficiency, building hospitals in a few days. After all, you were already prepared, with the projects, ordering the equipment, hiring the labor, the water and sewage network, the prefabricated building materials and stocked in an impressive volume.

4. Cause chaos in the world, starting with Europe.

5. Quickly plaster the economy of dozens of countries.

6. Stop production lines in factories in other countries.

7. Cause stock markets to fall and buy companies at a bargain price.

8. Quickly control the epidemic in your country. After all, you were already prepared.

9. Lower the price of commodities, including the price of oil you buy on a large scale.

10. Get back to producing quickly while the world is at a standstill. Buy what you negotiated cheaply in the crisis and sell more expensive what is lacking in countries that have paralyzed their industries.

Please read the book by Chinese colonels Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui, from 1999, “Unrestricted Warfare: China’s master plan to destroy America”, on Amazon. It's all there.

Worth pondering..
Just Think about this...

How come Russia & North Korea are totally free of Covid- 19? Because they are staunch ally of China. Not a single case reported from this 2 countries. On the other hand South Korea / United Kingdom / Italy / Spain and Asia are severely hit. How come Wuhan is suddenly free from the deadly virus?

China will say that their drastic initial measures they took was very stern and Wuhan was locked down to contain the spread to other areas. I am sure they are using the Anti -dote of the virus.

Why Beijing was not hit? Why only Wuhan? Kind of interesting to ponder upon.. right? Well ..Wuhan is open for business now. America and all the above mentioned countries are devastated financially. Soon American economy will collapse as planned by China. China knows it CANNOT defeat America militarily as USA is at present

THE MOST POWERFUL country in the world. So use the virus...to cripple the economy and paralyse the nation and its Defense capabilities. I'm sure Nancy Pelosi got a part in this. . to topple Trump. Lately President Trump was always telling of how GREAT American economy was improving in all fronts. The only way to destroy his vision of making AMERICA GREAT AGAIN is to create an economic havoc. Nancy Pelosi was unable to bring down Trump thru impeachment. ....so work along with China to destroy Trump by releasing a virus. Wuhan,s epidemic was a showcase. At the peak of the virus epidemic. ..

China's President Xi Jinping...just wore a simple RM1 facemask to visit those effected areas. As President he should be covered from head to toe.....but it was not the case. He was already injected to resist any harm from the virus....that means a cure was already in place before the virus was released.

Some may ask....Bill Gates already predicted the outbreak in 2015...so the Chinese agenda cannot be true. The answer is. ..YES...Bill Gates did predict. .but that prediction is based on a genuine virus outbreak. Now China is also telling that the virus was predicted well in advance. ....so that its agenda would play along well to match that prediction. China,s vision is to control the World economy by buying up stocks now from countries facing the brink of severe ECONOMIC COLLAPSE. Later China will announce that their Medical Researchers have found a cure to destroy the virus. Now China have other countries stocks in their arsenal and these countries will soon be slave to their master...CHINA.

Just Think about it ...

The Doctor Who declared this virus was also Silenced by the Chinese Authorities...

NIGERIA: THE GIANT OF AFRICA OR A SLEEPING GIANT?

I grew up with the saying Nigeria is the giant of Africa and sometimes I have to remind myself the meaning of a giant and what it is to be the giant of a continent, I chose to understand what it is and not what it takes to lead a continent because everyone world over knows that Nigeria has all it takes to lead the rest of the continent. From human capacity to the required resources, Nigeria has it all and that’s why the rest of Africa has chosen to queue behind us as a nation.
But repeatedly we have failed as a nation and in failing ourselves we fail the rest of the continent, if Nigeria as blessed as it is, looks this cursed I wonder what the rest of Africa will look like because an Africa without Nigeria is unimaginable and totally unthinkable.
But Nigeria is not working, same as the rest of Africa. We are content as a nation to blame colonialism for our failures but we fail to remember that a country like the United states of America was also colonized and has been able to put aside the shackles of colonialism and is thriving on all fronts. It is not news that America is the undisputed world power and it may interest you to know that America’s colonial masters is still an existing country. So blaming colonialism for our woes is childish and after many years of independence we should have outgrown that.
Is Nigeria then the giant of Africa or just a sleeping giant? I guess the answer is on everyone’s lips. We are just a sleeping giant and consequently over-rated. The outbreak of the Covid-19 has gone to buttress this point. A giant that does not have a stimulus package for its citizens or an adequate palliative measures in place cannot come to the rescue of the continent if the disease spread to the rest of the continent. A country of over 200 million population that has less than five hundred ventilators cannot lead in time of crisis. It is often said that charity begins at home and Nigeria is like a father that cannot take care of his children and as such cannot be trusted with the care of another man’s child.
Africa is cursed with bad leaders and Nigeria is not exempted. Since the return of democracy in 1999 our leaders have constantly failed us and jointly looted this country. The only thing that separates our leaders is political parties because they all unite to loot the country dry. But it is amazing to see the youths whose future is been looted defend this politicians at all cost even if it means their blood, that is the stupidity of the highest order and a complete crass or zombeic jingoism if you chose to call it that.
The only thing our leaders have successfully done since 1999 is to fail us and they have repeatedly done this that leadership failure is no longer new to us as a people but the question begging for answers is should we now accept failure as a norm? Or attempt a change? Forgive me Nigerians; change is one word no Nigerian wants to hear at this moment because that is the slogan of the ruling party.
I know we may never have a president worse than the incumbent but we can’t blame him for all our failures even though his failures make every other president before him look like a hero to us. But he is not alone in failing Nigerians. It seems there is a competition amongst them to outdo each other, no wonder they have repeatedly failed us.
They fail us, and then blame their predecessors. That has been the style since 1999. But the incumbent has constantly blamed the past government that for four years that was his only achievement. In Nigeria we have excuse for all our failures and until we stop making excuses for our leaders they will not change. We know what our problems are and we know the solution but our leaders often shy away from this because they know we don’t hold them accountable.
Our educational system is rotten same as our health care. Electricity is never constant and our politicians are thieves, how do we end all these? What does it take to have constant electricity? Ban the importation and the use of generators for the citizens and the political class then everyone will sit up. Will they do that? No because they are responsible for the importation of these generators and as such would not want to cut off a source of income. And the question is why fix the light when we all can afford generators? I will leave the answer to this question to you.
What does it take to stop our politicians from stealing? Legislation; do it the Chinese way which means a death sentence for a stealing politician. Will they do it? No because they are too scared to die. Will Nigerians do something about this? No because they worship their politicians. Can we fix the education and health sectors? Yes, all it takes is spend money but will our leaders do that? No and that because if they spend they will not have money to steal.
Mind you corruption is not our biggest problem, education is. I learnt as a student in the faculty of education university of Benin that no nation of the world can grow above it education sector and the reason why Nigeria has remained a sleeping giant since the return of democracy is because our education system is not just rotten but asleep.
If we succeed in waking our education sector that might just be enough to wake the sleeping giant.

Written by Victor Utomi
He is a writer, an entrepreneur, a business consultant and a speaker
For comments, you can reach him via victom.dmay@gmail.com or 08133933149

Life is not a straight forward affair, there are many mysteries that need unveiling and many questions that need answers, hence man reliance on God for a solution to these puzzles. There are two biggest industries in Nigeria and Africa at large which are; Religion and politics and what fans these two industries is tribalism. In Africa we are content to say it’s not okay to marry someone just because he is not from our tribe or because he is from the other side of religious divide. Here you cannot buy land unless you are a native and you cannot find work unless you are an indigene, yet we go to America, get their passport and settle whenever, wherever and however we want. We stay there and fight for equality, same rights as the owners of the lands but come back here and practice tribalism to me this is cannibalism. Here we are happy to judge a man just by the pronunciation of his name. But we all fail to understand that whatever religion we practice is by chance. For instance if the missionaries had taken the Saharan route into Nigeria the whole of the North will be dominated by Christianity and if the Islamic scholars had taken the Badagry route into Nigeria then the whole south will be dominated by Islam today. Religion has continuously thrived in Africa because of the African man un-readiness to solve the myriads of problems facing him and this has kept him gullible to the wits and caprices (lies) of his religious leaders who constantly promise him help from above but never remembers to tell him that heaven doesn’t move until you move and doesn’t act until you act. He fails to show him the part of the bible where God promised his people victory over their enemies but asked them to fight for this victory he promised them. Which goes to prove that God don’t fight for you, but he fights with you. The Africa man gullibility has made him so lazy and blind to the truth that help will not fall from above. No, God uses man to help man and until we are ready to face this truth Africa will remain much the same way it has always been. The African man will sit at home and pray to God for maize but the European will go to the field, plant maize and pray to God for rain and good harvest. Put yourself in God’s place and tell us which prayer you will answer. The African wants changes to his situation but doesn’t want to change himself, forgetting that change starts within. He gives God social distancing but goes to him for help, how hypocritical an African can be. God is not our problem but religion is and until we stop practicing religion and start serving God then there is no hope for us. The African man asks God to do it for him when he prays but the European asks God what must be done. The Europeans are ready to solve their problems hence, the reason they are far ahead of us, but Africans are not ready yet hence, the reason we are far behind. The African prays for good leaders but fail to vote them in, forgetting that electoral bodies doesn’t count prayer points but votes and that God will not send angels from heaven to vote in good leaders for us. An Africans votes are based on religion and tribalism but the Westerners have gone beyond this. That is why you find Africans as members of parliament in the western world. There they don’t look at where you came from but what you can do. But here we focus on where you come from and not what you can do. We focus on your religion and not on your ability, hence the constant failures we repeatedly vote into our government. The Africans are lazy to think and lazy to act, he is so unserious and take everything for a joke, no wonder the rest of the world see us as jokes. They call our continent a shithole and we see that as racism but let’s tell ourselves the truth and ask the right questions. Beginning with is Africa not a shithole continent? The Africans must brace up and act, religion has only brought us pain but God will make us laugh if we start working on solution to our problems. Every state in Nigeria has a pilgrimage board but only a few has a bursary board. If the state government sponsors religionists on pilgrim is the country now secular or religious. Our constitution says we are a secular nation and not a religious state but yet our government builds churches and mosques but can’t pay workers nor bursary to its students, are we not hypocrites? And unwilling to solve our problems? Instead of solving our problems we use religion as an excuse. We pray always saying may God help us but fail to realize, that help lay within us.
The Africans pray for everything from good roads to good hospitals but will not build one; will God build them for us? No, He won’t and that’s because he has given us the resources and abilities to do that for ourselves. The Africans must do it themselves and until we are ready to nothing will change. It’s not a curse but this is reality staring at us.
A country that pays 5000 naira as hazards package to its health workers and pays 1.2 million naira as newspaper allowance to its lawmakers is not ready to solve its problems. A country when other nations of the world are on lockdown and everyone is contributing their own quota to curb the Covid-19 menace but our own lawmakers in this crisis deems it right to share cars among themselves is not ready to solve its problems. The good thing is we know what is right and what should be done. But only don’t know when it should be done and how it could be done.
So my dear friends, religion thrives in Africa not because we are God fearing or God loving but because we need someone to turn to with all our fears and problems. When we start solving our problems religion will thrive less.


Written by Victor Utomi
you can reach him via his phone; 08133933149

North Has Already Destroyed Itself : Dele Sobowale

The North has become a region of endless funerals and perpetual bereavement. Bandits in the North have become a state. They impose fines and taxes, send notices, control spaces, determine life and death and operate without challenge” – Senator Shehu Sani of Kaduna State, March 2020.

I wish that historical Lord Lugard and the King or Queen of England who granted him the powers to rule and ruin our lives are alive today to behold the explosions being set off by the time bomb they planted in this part of Africa in 1914. History does not tell us its alternatives. In other words, we don’t know what would have happened if amalgamation had not occurred. But, we are now beginning to see the beginning of the end of the “geographical expression” (apologies to the late Chief Awolowo) they formed and named Nigeria by the satraps’ concubine.

More than a century after, the feudal, mostly Islamic North, backward, slow to adapt to changes, mostly lacking in any interest in universal education and bereft of vision, remains relatively just that. Just about any major calamity impeding progress and tending towards the destruction of the disaster waiting to happen is now located squarely in the North whose elite have, for too long lived, under the illusion that the region could increasingly breed millions of almajiris side-by-side with the selfish tiny political and feudal minority without dire consequences.

Well, the “judgment days” are here. The almajiris, hitherto docile and gratefully accepting the crumbs from the elite’s tables, have literally turned the tables against their masters – including Sani – who, now dumped from the buffet table, discovered wisdom which previously escaped him and his friends and associates for years.

This article could easily have been titled, LESSONS FROM A SUPER-TERRORIST, and it would still have been apt. In my library is a little known book titled, HITLER’S SECRET BOOK, and written by the late German monster himself. One thing I have learnt from my adventures into history is the fact that when the major topic on the national agenda is war, then go and read what war-mongers think about it.

What is wrecking Nigeria, especially the North, and will continue for years to come, is TERRORISM. So, the first port of call is a super-terrorist – Adolf Hitler, 1889-1945. It will amaze our leaders and readers to know how much of what had developed in the North since the rise of Boko Haram in 2009 could have been predicted by reading Hitler’s book.

The FG in particular might also pick up some ideas about what to expect next. Finally, they just might discover how to combat it – for the sake of our country Nigeria. I wish them luck; although it is doubtful that those in charge of our fate now can ever learn anything useful. People who have lost the appetite for reading have almost always lost the appetite for learning, for thinking deeply and for finding novel solutions to serious problems. The brain, like any organ, rots – if not actively used – as is the case within Abuja’s top government circles.

Buhari, as the Commander-In-Condolence Delivery, C-I-CD, is contented to just send condolence messages to the bereaved without an accompanying message of hope that terror will abate. There is no discernible plan. He is an example of what David Halberstam, in his best-selling book, titled, THE BRIGHTEST AND THE BEST, called “the best general for another war.” General Buhari (retd), clearly tired, is leading this war effort so badly, it is pathetic. He is actually now part of the problem and it is increasingly difficult to see him as part of the solution. That is bad news for all of us.

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has pledged support to states combating the Covid-19 virus.
His Statement;

We never knew that the virus is coming, we have commitments all over the world, we are committing initial N50 million to make sure we educate and prepare our people for what is to come.

“Another N300 million would be budgeted to fight the disease, but the initial N50 million would be made available for the payment of doctors and nurses that would be hired to do the work.

“We will establish one hospital in every state of Biafra including Edo State. We are going to open a food store for the people. If you are to confine the people at home, you must make sure they do not die of hunger.

The only thing PMB has successfully done in the past five years is to fail Nigerians and he has done that repeatedly and so successfully that he is a master of failure and the leader of a failed country filled with zombies

religion is indeed a hoax in this part of the world and ultimately an excuse for our failure. a friend graduated with a third class, all she could do was blame God for her inability to sit up and read.

[quote author=Greatzeus post=87844624]Good write up. It just needed some spacing and paragraphs.
You are right.


thanks for bringing my attention to it. I will do that next time

Africa must realize that it takes work to solve our problems and not much prayer

Life is not a straight forward affair, there are many mysteries that need unveiling and many questions that need answers, hence man reliance on God for a solution to these puzzles. There are two biggest industries in Nigeria and Africa at large which are; Religion and politics and what fans these two industries is tribalism. In Africa we are content to say it’s not okay to marry someone just because he is not from our tribe or because he is from the other side of religious divide. Here you cannot buy land unless you are a native and you cannot find work unless you are an indigene, yet we go to America, get their passport and settle whenever, wherever and however we want. We stay there and fight for equality, same rights as the owners of the lands but come back here and practice tribalism to me this is cannibalism. Here we are happy to judge a man just by the pronunciation of his name. But we all fail to understand that whatever religion we practice is by chance. For instance if the missionaries had taken the Saharan route into Nigeria the whole of the North will be dominated by Christianity and if the Islamic scholars had taken the Badagry route into Nigeria then the whole south will be dominated by Islam today. Religion has continuously thrived in Africa because of the African man un-readiness to solve the myriads of problems facing him and this has kept him gullible to the wits and caprices (lies) of his religious leaders who constantly promise him help from above but never remembers to tell him that heaven doesn’t move until you move and doesn’t act until you act. He fails to show him the part of the bible where God promised his people victory over their enemies but asked them to fight for this victory he promised them. Which goes to prove that God don’t fight for you, but he fights with you. The Africa man gullibility has made him so lazy and blind to the truth that help will not fall from above. No, God uses man to help man and until we are ready to face this truth Africa will remain much the same way it has always been. The African man will sit at home and pray to God for maize but the European will go to the field, plant maize and pray to God for rain and good harvest. Put yourself in God’s place and tell us which prayer you will answer. The African wants changes to his situation but doesn’t want to change himself, forgetting that change starts within. He gives God social distancing but goes to him for help, how hypocritical an African can be. God is not our problem but religion is and until we stop practicing religion and start serving God then there is no hope for us. The African man asks God to do it for him when he prays but the European asks God what must be done. The Europeans are ready to solve their problems hence, the reason they are far ahead of us, but Africans are not ready yet hence, the reason we are far behind. The African prays for good leaders but fail to vote them in, forgetting that electoral bodies doesn’t count prayer points but votes and that God will not send angels from heaven to vote in good leaders for us. An Africans votes are based on religion and tribalism but the Westerners have gone beyond this. That is why you find Africans as members of parliament in the western world. There they don’t look at where you came from but what you can do. But here we focus on where you come from and not what you can do. We focus on your religion and not on your ability, hence the constant failures we repeatedly vote into our government. The Africans are lazy to think and lazy to act, he is so unserious and take everything for a joke, no wonder the rest of the world see us as jokes. They call our continent a shithole and we see that as racism but let’s tell ourselves the truth and ask the right questions. Beginning with is Africa not a shithole continent? The Africans must brace up and act, religion has only brought us pain but God will make us laugh if we start working on solution to our problems. Every state in Nigeria has a pilgrimage board but only a few has a bursary board. If the state government sponsors religionists on pilgrim is the country now secular or religious. Our constitution says we are a secular nation and not a religious state but yet our government builds churches and mosques but can’t pay workers nor bursary to its students, are we not hypocrites? And unwilling to solve our problems? Instead of solving our problems we use religion as an excuse. We pray always saying may God help us but fail to realize, that help lay within us.
The Africans pray for everything from good roads to good hospitals but will not build one; will God build them for us? No, He won’t and that’s because he has given us the resources and abilities to do that for ourselves. The Africans must do it themselves and until we are ready to nothing will change. It’s not a curse but this is reality staring at us.
A country that pays 5000 naira as hazards package to its health workers and pays 1.2 million naira as newspaper allowance to its lawmakers is not ready to solve its problems. A country when other nations of the world are on lockdown and everyone is contributing their own quota to curb the Covid-19 menace but our own lawmakers in this crisis deems it right to share cars among themselves is not ready to solve its problems. The good thing is we know what is right and what should be done. But only don’t know when it should be done and how it could be done.
So my dear friends, religion thrives in Africa not because we are God fearing or God loving but because we need someone to turn to with all our fears and problems. When we start solving our problems religion will thrive less.
Written by Victor Utomi
He is a writer, an entrepreneur, a business consultant and a speaker
For comments, you can reach him via victom.dmay@gmail.com or 08133933149

Gradually this plague is exposing the country. For 50 years we have been begging our leaders to shun greed, stealing and tribalism but they refused. We begged that the nation be fixed but they turned deaf ears. They were focused on their pockets for their children and unborn generations. Now the stolen funds are useless.

They cannot fly out and we cannot as well. Our hospitals and infrastructures are totally and shamefully dilapidated. Pathetic. Worst is that our reserves are empty and fully drained. All of us will suffer it together. Moment of truth is here. After this epidemic we shall collectively decide how to run this country.

Perhaps by the time we are through with this scourge and ravaging, nature would have helped us to press the reset button. A lot of big people are around now by force.. There is no London or America to rush to for headache. Some of them will taste death as well. Yes. They will. it is already happening. Gwagwalada hospital and Yaba hospitals are now premiums yet lacking in facilities instead of Dubai, London, Germany, America, India and China. God truly has a way of fixing Nations!. We must have sense by force. Koboko from heaven is busy with our buttocks. The time is 1 am. Wait till it gets to 6pm. Nti ga agbagha onye obula.

Fix education, pay teachers well and equip our institutions no. Rather you send your kids to the best schools in the world
Fix health sector and pay doctors well never. Rather you fly around to cure headache.
Fix security, pay officers well and restructure everything mba!
Fix infrastructures no way. Everybody from beginning to the end kept raping this country and her resources.

We kept politicising everything. What a shame of a country. We must get sense by force. All of them are now in hiding. They are now importing their children. The rich is now crying. We shall all pay the prices for neglecting the poor masses. we shall feel the same pain that they have been feeling for 50 years. Oh yes. Payback time is here.

You inflate contracts and siphon money. You kept pocketing funds that will make Nigeria great. Politics and leadership became the juicy occupation for many. Payback time is here. Your billions will not save you. From top to senate to governors we shall pay the price painfully.

For 50 years we begged for good life but your greed blindfolded your brains, senses and eyes. You refused to listen to the cries of the masses. Both the big and small and even the downtrodden will suffer and you will get sense by force.

No more kidnapping
No more ethnic and religious cleansing
No more armed bandits
No more herdsmen
No more BH
No more religious biases and tensions
No more flying to London to buy Ice cream or jetting out to Dubai for a weekend or even to France for hitch hiking. All of us will now sit here and enjoy the scourge of Coronavirus. Oh yes!!!!
We are now at peace okwa ya? That thunder that has been doing press up has finally landed.

So far there is no vaccine and no cure yet this one will brush us up and throw us into the gutters. We have been praying for Nigeria in Distress both in churches and mosques. Now God has answered the prayers in His own ways. That koboko and atu anu has become real.

By the time we are done Nigeria will become the dreamland that we have always wanted to the glory of God.

To the World:
Yesterday the Italian Prime Minister came on the television amid tears asking the world to look to the skies and seek God. Yesterday a Spanish priest wept so bitterly and decided to travel over 15 km in streets blessing people with The Blessed Sacrament. People left their houses and came outside to be blessed. Drivers parked their cars and trucks to receive blessings. Amidst my emotions I started talking to myself inwardly.

So Italy now wants God at all costs? Eh? Few years ago the West started approving some obnoxious laws. You banned religious activities in every sphere of life and approved LGBT and abortion. You stopped going to Church. All you in the West thrashed God into the dust bin and desecrated His laws of life. You now come out to ask for prayers?

America through Obama lost their senses. Even in the midst of this scourge they were busy at Miami celebrating Gay Pride. What a people!!

As for the Asians that never understood what God represents, the scourge will bend you all to testify to the Truth about the Almighty God the creator of heaven and earth!!

I am glad that gradually we are beginning to receive sense and acknowledging the presence of a Supreme Being. We were living a life of liberalism and ignorance forgetting that Someone Above Owns the world.

If you do not do these the plague will continue. Keep trusting your scientists and your brilliant professors. Even if this goes eventually and we still become stiff necked more damnation awaits. Jesus is the ultimate Physician. Only Him can heal.

ISIS is calm
No more world super power
Enemies are now helping enemies.
Everybody is now calling for prayers. For once there is peace in the world to the Glory of God.

You must get sense by force. Sanity must be returned to our brains by fire by force

Let me buy some pure water. I have talked enough but be informed that some top government officials are now having a rethink.

PDP Budgets in 16 years vs APC for 6 years, be the judge

Below is the breakdown of yearly budgets of the administration of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under four different Presidents. 

Under the PDP, we had Olusegun Obasanjo, who ruled for 8 years, Yar'Adua spent 3 years, while Dr. Goodluck Jonathan spent 5 years making it a total of 16 years. 

On the other hand, President Muhammadu Buhari, of the APC who has completed his first four years and currently in his second term which will terminate in 2023, has passed through a six budget cycle, latest being the 2020 budget recently passed by the National Assembly. 

Below is the breakdown year by year

PDP budget for sixteen years

1. 1999 - 299bn

2. 2000 - 702bn

3. 2001 - 896bn

4. 2002 - 1.06tr

5. 2003 - 1.45tr

6. 2004 - 1.19tr

7. 2005 - 1.6tr

8. 2006 - 1.88tr

9. 2007 - 1.237bn

10. 2008 - 2.74tr

11. 2009 - 3.05tr

12. 2010 - 4.4tr

13. 2011 - 4.7tr

14. 2012 - 4.9tr

15. 2013 - 4.99tr

16. 2014 - 4.96tr

Total = N41.22tr

APC budgets for 6 cycles. 

1. 2015 - 4.4tr

2. 2016 - 6.6tr

3. 2017 - 7.4tr

4. 2018 - 9.12tr

5. 2019 - 8. 92tr

6. 2020 - 10.33tr

Total = N40.17tr

In your opinion, which of the two administrations the budget had direct impact on the economy and the people?

Unity will certainly pull us through

CORONA VIRUS; TIME FOR THE WORLD TO UNITE

Nothing has been more devastating to the world in recent times than the Covid-19. The Ebola virus was nothing to be compared to the Covid-19 virus as the world quickly find a way round the Ebola virus when it came knocking. Whether there will ever be a virus worse than the Covid-19 is left to predictions but is not prayed for as the whole word is finding it hard to contain. But we can pull through if we unite as one and fight the virus together on one front instead of on multiple fronts. This is time for the world to unite as a family and combat together as no one country can depend on its medical expertise to find lasting cure for this virus. Scientists in every nation of the world should come together to create a vaccine. This is not time for bragging rights; it is rather time for unity and togetherness as united we stand but separated we fall. Both the countries suffering from direct consequences and countries unaffected. Don’t forget that we are all affected one way or another. If your country doesn’t have a case of the Covid-19, you are surely going through the global economy crisis together with every other nation of the world. In this trying time must remember we are one and not stigmatize carriers of the virus, we should instead pray and support them for quick recovery. As we hope and pray for cure let’s do it together not because of anything but because two heads are one.
Families all over the world should unite and support each other as it is sincerely needed and not forget to comply with instructions from their ministry of health. When all these fade we will have time to laugh again and a better reason to say we pulled through and did it together.
Remember to stay safe and show love to one another because in this times no one knows when he will be breathing his last.
Written by Victor Utomi
He is a writer, an entrepreneur, a business consultant and a speaker
For comments, you can reach him via victom.dmay@gmail.com or 08133933149

may God help us pull through this trying time

CORONA VIRUS; A CURSE OR A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

It is no longer a news that covid-19 is eating deep into Nigeria as the day goes by. It is audible to the deaf and visible to the blind, the words are so plain that even the illiterate can read the writing on the wall. It is covid-19 and everyone is aware of the dangers it pose both young and old, the poor and the rich. That covid-19 is not a respecter of a person’s class or privilege is becoming pronounced by and by. You may call it a curse, you may be right if you do as it has brought the world on it kneels, has placed nations on lockdown and global economy on standstill. It is ravaging in Nigeria and God help us it doesn’t go out of hands. The news that filtered in, in the early hours of today is that the chief of staff to the president of the federal republic of Nigeria tested positive to the dreaded virus, the ‘almighty Abba Kyari’ a member of the rumored cabal in the presidency and the presidents COS. That he is positive is not a thing of joy but that he can’t travel out to a country with a better health care is surely a blessing in disguise, that he has to be treated in the same hospital as the common man is worth celebrating. Former vice president Atiku Abubakar’s son is also positive and he is being treated in Gwagwalada same as every patients of the virus residing in Abuja. And it is no more a news to followers of trends that the executive governor of Bauchi state Mr. Bala Mohammed is positive too and has to be treated in our rotten health centers. It is rumored that Nigeria a country of over 200 million people has just 500 ventilators, God save us that the number of people infected by the virus don’t exceed 500 anytime soon, as there are no plans for them yet if they contract the virus. That our president promised reforms in our health care is not new to us, he even promised that all government officials will be treated in our local hospitals, that he has failed on this promise is also not new to us. He has toured the world for medication and London has been a private clinic to him since he assumed power. Few months ago the first lady cried out that the Aso clinic is so ill equipped that there are no paracetamols or syringe yet about 500 million naira was budget for the clinic that same year, where the money went or what it was used for is best known to the presidency but the good thing is everyone is suffering from the consequence of our poor health care and bad governance both the government and the people. Now a governor will be treated in the same hospital as you and me and for the first time in our nations history have first-hand experience of our hospitals. I hope we are able to stem the virus soon enough before it causes damage that cannot be repaired.
I have a firm believe that we will pull through this and come out unscathed, as it is often said that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
And I hope that at the end of everything our leaders would have learnt one or two lessons from this and realize that no one is more human than the other and that whether you are a president or a governor or just an ordinary citizen no one is more Nigerian than the other.

Written by Victor Utomi
He is a writer, an entrepreneur, a business consultant and a speaker
For comments, you can reach him via victom.dmay@gmail.com or 08133933149

he never fail to disappoint

BUHARI HAS FAILED US AGAIN

The most trending news on air today is the news about corona virus (covid-19), which didn’t break out today but in December 2019. People called it different names. Trump called it a Chinese virus and even went ahead to call it a hoax. The Chinese were lax in their early attitude toward the virus, to the Chinese government it was a conspiracy theory, even the whistle blowing doctor was arrested for fake news. Alas the Chinese found out it was real but to the rest of the world it was a joke to them. The rest of the world carried on with their activities initially apart from the Chinese who did everything to control and stem the virus. What the Chinese has done may be magical. As it could birth another conspiracy theory but what they did is not the focus of this article. The virus quickly created a pattern; it showed us the hotspot zones which includes China, USA, Italy, Spain, England and Iran. What did our government do after finding out the hotspots they went to sleep and asked us not to panic. Pleas to close the borders and restrict people coming in from the nations most hit with the virus fell on deaf ears. We had all the time to prepare for this deadly virus but our government chose to fold their hands and watch. We experienced the first casualty of the virus yesterday. Yes somebody died yesterday due to Covid-19. God forbid that another die, but how many more will die we cannot tell and who would you blame for this? For me I will blame the president. If it took the president weeks to address us as a nation then I wonder how many weeks it will take us to control the virus. Now the whole world is on lockdown Nigeria not excluded but we had time to prepare. But just like Italy and the rest of Europe we were lax in attitude. Italy is overwhelmed, US, is overwhelmed same as UK, Iran and Spain and now all we can do is hope against hope it don’t hit us hard because if it does we will barely survive it. The US has budgeted $1trillion for social intervention and control of the virus and Spain has $200 billion in it kit, don’t forget our national budget is just about $35 billion which means we are not as rich as any of the nations above. Now everyone is thinking what might have been had the president closed our borders and restricted travelling from the hotspot nation and now over 200 million Nigerians are suffering from the laxity of one man. The port of entry has been the nation’s most hit by the virus as the first person that tested positive was an Italian invariably closing our borders and restricting travels from the hotspot might have saved us from the virus but our president had something else in mind. How we let the Italian enter the country with the virus is a question best left for the government to answer. From 1 to 35 cases yesterday, I wonder how many cases we will record today, even as I hope that the FG don’t suppress the real figure of infected persons just to keep us relaxed. Nigerians should hold the president responsible for any death that occurs due to the virus because just like every other time he has failed us again.
Please stay safe and take every necessary precaution, remember prevention is better than cure
Written by Victor Utomi
He is a writer, an entrepreneur, a business consultant and a speaker
For comments, you can reach him via victom.dmay@gmail.com or 08133933149

This is very insensitive at this trying time when the whole world is on lockdown and global economy on standstill. This further proves how our leaders thinks, only about themselves. ASUU should be ashamed.

RichBoy247:


This useless Delta miscreant is mad. If Nigeria's politics is beyond Lagos, is it within your Delta? There is only one political strategist in Nigeria. His name is Bola Ahmed Tinubu. All other noise makers are nincompoops.

after 2023 we will know who is useless between you and I my dear friend. enjoy ur day

And this is a news worthy of front page? Nairaland needs renovation

stickright:
Let's see

we are certainly watching the drama

Tinubu is not a saint but neither is he a sinner as no one can judge another man and he has not been declared guilty by any court of law. There maybe charges against him, allegations too but we cannot assume the duties of the court.

The dusts of 2019 elections have barely settled, but the race for 2023 has started already. The fight had barely ended but the gladiators are getting prepared for the next rounds of fights come 2023, which proves that our leaders are best concerned with elections than governance. There have been accusations and counter accusations, propagandas are stirring out of every corner of the nation amidst the lockdown of the world’s economy due to the covid-19 pandemic raging across the globe all in the bid of who will wear the crown come 2023. The bitter truth is that our leaders are playing with the soul of our dear nation and there is possibly nothing we can do than write or talk, but still not to talk too much due to the fear of what the DSS might do to you once they tag you an enemy of the state or notice that you are against the president, General Muhamadu Buhari.
Few days ago Mr. Peter Obi, the former vice presidential candidate of the PDP in the last elections had said Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot be president of Nigeria and had a day passed before the chairman of the ruling party Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, came out to call him (Tinubu) a messiah.
But even in the face of all these Mr. Tinubu, the Asiwaju of Lagos as he is fondly called by his supporters is relaxed and has barely winked an eye lid because he knows just like a few others he cannot be Nigeria’s president, reason why he has never contested a presidential election.
His influence in Lagos cannot be denied even by the most ardent of his critics, a state he has controlled for over two decades, but his influence is not beyond the south West which invariably makes the Asiwaju a regional politician.
Unless the West were to form an Oduduwa republic which is currently against the laws of the federal republic of Nigeria, and is seen as treason by every arms of government only then can he be a president. But the Asiwaju has paid his dues and has earned his rights in the Nigerian political sphere. He is very much loved in his region but beyond his region people have doubts about him, unless he were to unify the whole South which includes the South –West, the South-East and the South-South but this will prove difficult because his major political enemies comes from this region and form an alliance with the North but this will prove difficult too. If you have followed the nation’s politics since 2007, you may have noticed that the North can give you anything but power, because that’s all they have and will do anything they can to cling to it.
Which is why the Asiwaju has only supported others but had never ran for the position. In 2007 he supported former vice president Atiku Abubakar, in 2011 he campaigned for a former EFCC chairman mallam Nuhu Ribadu, but switched his support in the eleventh hour to the then incumbent president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and in 2015 he supported General Muhamadu Buhari, in all these sequence he has never presented himself.
The Asiwaju’s political sagacity cannot be denied, but he may not be as sagacious as claimed by many. Out of all the candidates he has openly supported only President Buhari has emerged victorious which scores him a very low 25% out of a 100%.
The Asiwaju is not a fool, he understands the politics of Nigeria more than most so expect him to back another candidate come 2023.
The Asiwaju will not be the Nigeria’s president not because he is not electable but because he may never be on the ballot. He will not be the president not because he doesn’t want to be but because he recognizes that the Nigerian politics is beyond Lagos state and as such will not run but present another candidate.

Written by Victor Utomi
He is a writer, an entrepreneur and a speaker
For comments, you can reach him via victom.dmay@gmail.com or 08133933149

APC CRISIS: Oshiomhole prefers to die than supporting Obaseki as Edo Governor

The battle for the "body and soul" of Edo State has reached feverish height.

The two camps- Governor Godwin Obaseki's and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Adams Oshiomhole's are talking tough.

But, Oshiomhole himself has kept mum and literally retreated into his shell after amending fences with his warring Lords in the National Working Committee(NEC) of the party by incorporating the suspended members.

However, the staunch supporters of Oshiomhole, the former Edo State Governor and Labour president are not mincing words that their principal would rather die than endorsing incumbent Governor of Edo, Godwin Obaseki.

They argued that it would take needle to pass through the eye of a Carmel than Oshiomhole accepting to support Governor Obaseki's bid for second tenure.

"Governor Obaseki's bid for second tenure, count Oshiomhole out, he will never be part of it", one of them fumed.

"Oshiomhole I know is a man of his words, he will prefer to die than supporting the man who humiliated him and his followers", another chorused.

"If not God, Oshiomhole would have been out. Is Obaseki the kind of godson you want to have", another APC stalwart asked rhetorically.

APC will soon commence the process leading to primaries for it's single ticket and candidate after the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) fixed the election for September 19 this year.

Iran Mocks America: Now, Virus Renders You Defenceless!


The Iranian Leader, Hassan Rouhani, has mocked the United States over Conovirus pandemic that is on global visit, not sparing any nation whether powerful or weak. It was on the occasion of the Iranian New Year (Nowruz) on 20 March. Rouhani waxed philosophical about the fact that the pandemic, in a way, is an anemy troop that all nations, notwithstanding their relationship with one another, must unite to fight.

In the words of Rouhani: “The international defense that we have to mount will not be successful without camaraderie on the part of the whole of humankind. Today, instead of soldiers belonging to different armies, human soldiers, donning similar unicolor uniforms belonging to no particular country, are selflessly and altruistically at war against the enemy of humans across the globe. In this common fight, we all belong to one front. We all seek to prevail over our common enemy: a deadly virus. With this enemy, in contrast to other issues, we have no difference of views, and we do not diverge on its nature, its definition and its destructive consequences for the whole of humanity.”

The Iranian leader, however, gave Uncle Sam a punch under the nose! “Historically, the Government of the United States, regrettably, once chose to assist what is worse than a virus—the regime of Saddam Hussein—at a time when the Iranian people were attacked, and Iranian (even Iraqi) women, men and children were not spared by that butcher. Although with the passage of time the U.S. Government noted its errors, it drew no lesson from them. As Daesh (ISIS), the terrorist group, wreaked havoc in the Middle East through its criminal deeds and extremist dogmas, the current U.S. Government handed this terrorist group a victory by assassinating the man who most effectively brought about its destruction.

“Today, the Iranian people are harmed by both the deadly coronavirus and the callous U.S. government policy of economic terrorism inflicted on them. Yet, even under the circumstances of the pandemic, the U.S. government has failed to abandon its malicious policy of maximum pressure; and is thus in practice aiding the spread of this virus with its sanctions.”

Below is Rouhani’s speech.

This time, the surrounding oceans of a continent are not America’s adequate defense!

By Hassan Rouhani

The Message of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the people of the United States of America is as follows:

In the Name of God, the Compassionate the Merciful

On behalf of the great Iranian nation, I write to the people of the United States of America on the occasion of the Iranian New Year (Nowruz).

The coronavirus outbreak has endangered the health of—and even presented a considerable threat to—humanity with no distinction as to nationality, or gender or religious backgrounds. This presents an opportune moment to further contemplate our common pains and our human principles.

Today, all of humankind feels apprehensive toward the future; a future threatened in every aspect; be it health, business, and even social relationships and the way of life. The level of unpredictability and uncertainty is simply unprecedented. It is self-evident that our success in what is likely to be a long fight depends on the spiritual and heartfelt affinity of all human beings.

The international defense that we have to mount will not be successful without camaraderie on the part of the whole of humankind. Today, instead of soldiers belonging to different armies, human soldiers, donning similar unicolor uniforms belonging to no particular country, are selflessly and altruistically at war against the enemy of humans across the globe. In this common fight, we all belong to one front. We all seek to prevail over our common enemy: a deadly virus. With this enemy, in contrast to other issues, we have no difference of views, and we do not diverge on its nature, its definition and its destructive consequences for the whole of humanity.

Historically, the Government of the United States, regrettably, once chose to assist what is worse than a virus—the regime of Saddam Hussein—at a time when the Iranian people were attacked, and Iranian (even Iraqi) women, men and children were not spared by that butcher. Although with the passage of time the U.S. Government noted its errors, it drew no lesson from them. As Daesh (ISIS), the terrorist group, wreaked havoc in the Middle East through its criminal deeds and extremist dogmas, the current U.S. Government handed this terrorist group a victory by assassinating the man who most effectively brought about its destruction.
Today, the Iranian people are harmed by both the deadly coronavirus and the callous U.S. government policy of economic terrorism inflicted on them. Yet, even under the circumstances of the pandemic, the U.S. government has failed to abandon its malicious policy of maximum pressure; and is thus in practice aiding the spread of this virus with its sanctions.

Following its illegal withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the U.S. Government has implemented more than one hundred collective punishment measures against the Iranian people, specifically targeting Iran’s principal economic and financial sectors, and inflicting damages amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars to Iran’s economy and the Iranian people. The sanctions imposed by the U.S. Government have resulted in many ordinary Iranians losing their jobs and incomes. It has also endangered their health and wellbeing. The sanctions have drastically undermined the ability of the Iranian people to fight the coronavirus and some among them are losing their lives as a result.

People of the United States,
You, like others in the world, are facing this destructive pandemic and experiencing the bitterness of a concern over your future and that of your loved ones. This time, the surrounding oceans of a continent are not an adequate defense. We know the war on this virus can only be successful if all nations can win this war together, and no affected nation is left behind. This is the other side of globalization coin; a signal that happiness and calamity are both globalized. As Sa’adi, our national poet, recited centuries ago, “Adam’s children are limbs of one body,” an injured limb makes the whole body ill. Thus, no border and no wall can shield any nation from the harm of this or any other virus.

I warn that under a pandemic situation, Tehran, Paris, London and Washington are not far apart, and any hostile actor seeking to undermine Iran’s health system and restricting the needed financial resources to tackle the crisis, will undermine the fight against the pandemic all over the world. COVID-19 is a matter of life and death, in the true meaning of the term for all nations, and countering it is the global duty of all.

The Iranian people have endured throughout history. Throughout millennia, Iranians prevailed against warmongers, from Genghis to Saddam, and withstood natural disasters, from pestilence to cholera, resiliently safeguarding their culture and civilization. This time, too, they will repel this virus as well as the sanctions born of the callous policy of maximum pressure, and will endure once again with resilience and pride.
But can the American people accept that these malicious pressures are brought to bear on the Iranian people in their name, as a result of their vote, and by the means of their taxes?

The imperative of countering the new coronavirus has suspended sporting events, public ceremonies, religious congregations, and forced the closing of schools, universities, houses of worship and businesses across the globe. Isn’t it astonishing that even under such circumstances, there is no halt to pressure, sanctions and callousness? Are we to believe the claim of a readiness for humanitarian assistance from those who so brazenly violate human rights?

On this March 20th, the Iranian people, along with peoples from 12 other countries, celebrate the Iranian Nowruz (new day and new time), and the beginning of the spring. We should take this as an opportunity to adopt a new humanitarian approach toward fellow human beings.

People of the United States,
In the name of justice and humanity, I address your conscience and Godly souls, and call upon you to make your Administration and Congress see that the path of sanctions and pressure has never been successful and will never be so in the future. It is human discourse and action that produce results.

Regrettably, the fallacious framing of the situation in the region and deceptive lobbying of Iran’s regional enemies have impeded the way toward reforming the destabilizing and interventionist policies of the American government in the world, and in the Middle East in particular. Despite winning the election on the promise of withdrawing from the Middle East and returning American soldiers to their homes, the failure to fulfil this mandate and efforts to reach into the pockets of the American people to finance an unprecedented campaign of intervention in the region are manifest.

This disastrous approach has resulted in the U.S. engaging in enmity with the country most central to defeating Daesh.
Regrettably, the most aggressive and reactionary enemies of democracy and human rights in the world, who have occupied the lands of others, or have deprived their own peoples of even one free election, have become advisers to the U.S. government and are imposing their own interests upon the American people. Currently, a congruence of virus and sanctions has become the hallmark of their policy towards Iran. The victims of the virus and the sanctions are ordinary Iranians from all walks of life and not the political elite.

The time has come for the American people to speak loudly and hold their government accountable, thus halting this dark chapter in American history. A return to international law and the principles of human rights will be in the interest of the American people and all nations throughout the world. Future generations will judge the American people based on the actions of their government, and the malicious behavior displayed thus far before the peoples of the world bodes poorly in that regard.
As the negotiations that resulted in the nuclear deal proved, we in Iran have always been ready for dialogue and have never feared it. In our view, it is a legal, moral and international imperative for every party to comply with its obligations. We have demonstrated our fidelity to our commitments and rejected the noncompliance demonstrated by other parties. The Iranian people value friendship and respect based on the principles of dignity and humanity and respond positively to overtures based on such values. Simultaneously, they are ready to resist pressure and threats, as they have heroically throughout history. We are a glorious and proud people with millennia of civilization. We react to the language of force with the language of resistance and to the language of dignity with the language of respect.

I wish a happy spring and New Year to all Americans, and especially those of Iranian descent.
Hassan Rouhani
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
March 20, 2020

Coronavirus: Why Buhari is ‘Side-lining’ Osinbajo – Dele Momodu


buhari sidelining osinbajo dele momodu
The Publisher of Ovation Magazine and former presidential candidate, Dele Momodu, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of “playing political cards” with the Coronavirus pandemic.

Momodu berated the president in his weekly column, “Pendulum” on Saturday. He criticized the president for ‘side-lining’ the Vice president, Yemi Osinbajo over 2023 Politics. He wrote;

“It is unpardonable that Mr Buhari will totally ignore a man as modern, cerebral, diligent and conscientious as his own Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo SAN and instead ask the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr Boss Mustapha, to handle what is a global crisis.”

“There are only two reasons why Professor Osinbajo is seemingly being side-lined. The first is the politics of 2023 and the second is the unforgivable feeling that he will upstage the President by once again delivering a stellar performance in governance.”

“Nobody knows what will happen in 2023, and I really don’t care for now, but we are all concerned about what is presently happening around us. As for upstaging the President, had this not been so tragic it would have been just plain laughable.”

Momodu adds that unless the president understands the importance of ‘team-work’, no significant progress will be made for the country.

He pointed out that all the ministers and governors should have been put under the control of the VP. It will be recalled that shortly after winning the 2019 general elections, President Buhari ordered his ministers to direct all their queries and needs to his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari instead of VP Osinbajo.

“All the relevant Ministers and State Governors should have been assembled under the central command of our Vice President. It is not remarkable to us that the only ray of hope shone when the National Economic Council headed by the VP met yesterday and immediately charted a course that the Presidential Task Force had found practically impossible.”

“I believe that this is a situation where all hands must be on deck. Even members of the opposition should be invited to offer their own advice, logistics and support like we saw in South Africa. Nigeria is not owned by APC and there is no reason to claim a monopoly of wisdom.”

He urged the President to quickly handover the COVID-19 taskforce to VP Osinbajo.

“The time to act and pass the mantle on to an astute visionary leader and commanding presence is now. Let the Vice President take the helm as Deputy Chairman, with the President as the National Chairman of the reconstituted task force on this damaging and debilitating COVID-19.”

“The Government must not fail, because that will mean all of us have failed”, he concluded.