Governance

Nature

The Poverty of Knowledge and Ideas Prompted Nigeria to Beg for Ventilators-Prof. Olagoke

ProfRecently the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance, in a tweet, pleaded for ventilators from American billionaire and Industrial Engineer, Elon Musk, to curtail the spread of the coronavirus, but subsequently deleted the tweet when Nigerians expressed reservations. This is in spite of the donations, running into billions of Naira by well meaning individuals and corporate organizations. Begging has since become a way of life among Nigerians and also in government circles. In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen in Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke says that the poverty of knowledge and ideas was the driving force behind the Federal Ministry of Finance’s decision to beg for ventilators. Excerpts :

What is your reaction to the move by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance to beg for ventilators from American billionaire and Industrial Engineer, Elon Musk ?

What we presently have in Nigeria in the telecommunication industry is 4G. The present pact is on 5G that was what that was on the discussion table when the coronavirus pandemic came into being. And the pandemic started ravaging the world. This brought about the make shift solutions of social distancing, the shutting down of work places, religious houses and places where crowd effects are prevalent. The use of face masks and disinfectants among other preventive measures were introduced to combat the pandemic, in the face of the present public health crises, the 5G masts were launched in the United Kingdom. The health effects of this are more deadly than the coronavirus because the radiation would have a direct negative effect on an individual aside from the disturbances as a result of vibrations.

COVID 19 therefore becomes more of a diversionary problem that would not allow the people to agitate against the installation of 5G masts in several countries of the world.

The poser before us as human beings now is on why the commercial aspects of life is the priority of powerful nations of the world rather than the welfare of the people. Some schools of thought believe that the intention is to decimate the population of the world with people above 60 been at more risk of the negative effects of biological weapons of destruction.

Another poser is on the claim that several of the victims of the pandemic lost their lives while a sizable number survived the scourge. If it is not a political game against the massive population of the world, government’s claim of some people recovering from the coronavirus pandemic must be with the evidence of the drugs or vaccine used for it to be recommended generally, otherwise we must stop toying with lives of the people through unnecessary political gimmick. Nigeria’s case is a peculiar one, where before the public health crises we live a life of begging and insufficiency trailed by poverty of knowledge and ideas. This must have informed the Federal Ministry of Finance begging the American billionaire, Elon Musk for ventilators. When a need involves a corporate entity protocols of due process need to be followed. This action has brought to Nigeria another article of embarrassment which would have been avoided if normal process was followed. Even now, records of beastly political scores are been settled in the face of the scourge on the pages of newspapers. In this period of travail, one expects that we should close ranks and face the task of preventing the further spread of the coronavirus, while our professionals are expected to adopt the World Health Organization’s standards of combating the pandemic.

Nigeria is expected through all levels of government to use this crises period to address our areas of need cutting across educational institutions, the health sector and other areas that have direct application to the improvement of the the people’s welfare. It won’t be proper for us to commence another round of agitations to demand for the needful after we might have come out of this problem.

Students must not go back to school to discover that their teachers have commenced another round of strike. The general poor conditions of the nation needs to be surgically addressed in this period of searching for solutions we must not limit our efforts to the challenges of coronavirus and 5G mast installation radiation challenges. What should be the concern of every stakeholder is the prevention of the scourge and in avoiding blood money from what can adversely affect millions of Nigerians.

Above all, there is nothing bad in seeking for help but we must not continue to attack blindly without substance because some people are now of the opinion that anything from China is coronavirus infected to, avoid misleading ourselves let our professionals stand on quality and standards for any product we may generate or receive from abroad and let our transactions go beyond hypocritical social media effects. Due process followed would save us from any embarrassment.

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HND/B Sc. for President and Gov.-A welcome Idea but emphasis should be placed on Integrity-Prof. Olagoke

ProfPerhaps disturbed by the worrisome performances of political office holders in this dispensation, a bill by one of the lawmakers is,presently before the Senate that seeks to make the minimum qualification  to vie for the position of  President and Governor, Higher National Diploma or its equivalent, while for other elective positions the minimum qualification  Ordinary National Diploma or its equivalent is been proposed. Nigerians are already expressing divergent views on this proposal. In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of  Shafaudeen-in-Isalm Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke says the bill is a welcome development, but government must ensure it does a background check on the past of holders of certificates. Excerpts :

A bill  presently before the Senate  seeks to make the minimum qualification  to vie for the position of  President and Governor, Higher National Diploma or its equivalent, while for other elective positions the minimum qualification is Ordinary National Diploma or its equivalent. What is your reaction to this bill ?

Positions of power under democratic norms largely depends on  concept understanding, moral discipline, patriotism  and rudiments of administrative sagacity cum management technical know how.

 All these characteristics  are expected to be in-built virtues of any aspirant vying  for positions of power. Luckily for us, the three domains of education expected to reinforce aspirants as a necessary tool for capacity building   in this respect apart from the literacy and numeracy advantage of the affective domain, the attitudinal building  is equally embedded in this domain.

Unfortunately emphasis on character building is very low in our educational pursuit to the detriment of the desired development  as a goal of education. This vital aspect of human life happens to be the basis upon which the fate based houses of worship are built. Unfortunately, the wrong attitudinal value that humbles education into effectiveness allowing corruption to dominate the lives of the elite and scholars is the same virus that has eaten into the fabrics of sacredness  expected  of the houses of God into that of profanity making the man to become a misfit in the game plan of political activities to the detriment of the desired goal of sustainable development. In this Nigeria, we have seen excellent performances of holders of standard six certificates, that was during the era of an environment of institutional discipline. Promotion exercises were based on in-service training attendant higher efficiency at work and consequent higher productivity with lots of goodwill in terms of profit. Pupil-age was equally appreciated while mentor-ship took the pride  of replicating  hard-work and dignity of labor.

The then Head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon ruled this nation as an holder of School Certificate, he equally succeeded in executing  the fratricidal civil war of 1967-1970, that was when sincerity of purpose, ruler-ship by conscience  and a high level of the fear of God were in vogue. Training, pupil-age and mentor-ship used to have direct bearing on the assessed needs for planning to have a right direction of purpose.

However, today we insincerely depend on the certificate worth usually based on the theoretical realm of education, where researches may not necessarily have direct bearings on the need of the people. Despite the various observed anomalies in the cognitive arm of our educational institutions, the nation continues to hero worship holders of certificates .The three tiers of education viz Primary, Secondary and Tertiary are equally badly affected  by the challenges of facility update and dearth of experts in some areas of specialization. At the secondary level, challenges of appropriate  and adequate laboratory and workshop equipment are equally there. When certificates are obtained in an environment of under funding, the worth of such certificates may not necessarily reflect on the holders, hence the challenges of effective performances would be there, therefore Nigeria should be ashamed of itself, considering the fact that  our Senior secondary school certificates-WAEC or NECO- are no longer relevant in the scheme of our political system.

The HND/B Sc.  minimum qualification  to vie for President and Governor bill in the senate is a welcome idea, but this might not give us the expected results, if the holders' past records are not critically looked into, such certificates held by future treasury looters would only justify what brought about terrorism in Nigeria. The expectation is that the holders of HND/B Sc. and above  must be creative enough  for them to be able to tap into the psycho motor domain of education which clearly stands for provision of basic amenities using appropriate technology and establishment of functional infrastructure to solve the myth surrounding employment issues and our economic management challenges. High worth of certificate will never be productive without the right attitudinal approach to issues based on the fundamentals of positive mindset towards the nation and the expected  service demanded by the positions of power, the  holders of the certificates may assume, because in this lies the core value of self esteem and integrity, self confidence, positive mental attitude for ease of making right, accurate and precision prone decisions to move the nation forward.

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NIMC Employees in Oyo state Reject Pre-Enrolment slips from Nigerians

Staff of the National Identity Management Commission(NIMC) Enrollment centers in Ibadan, Nigeria, including the center at the University College Hospital(UCH) now reject Pre-Enrolment slips from Nigerian desirous of obtaining the National Identity Number(NIN) for undisclosed reasons.

The employees of the NIMC advise these category of Nigerians to discard the Pre-Enrolment slips for the registration forms for fees that vary from one center to the other.

Indeed, it shall amount to double registration, if people should discard the Pre-Enrolemt slips for registration forms, since their data are already in the National Identity System(NIMS).

It is now obvious that the National Identity exercise has come under heavy sabotage from those who believe pecuniary benefits is the destination.

Sadly, the recruitment process of the employees of the NIMC has become a subject of debate among concerned Nigerians.

The NIMC Pre-Enrollment slip states ‘’Print this slip and take it to any NIMC Enrollment office closest to you’’.

Towards the end of 2019, the NIMC had organized a Bid opening ceremony for about 586 local partners who submitted their expression of interest (EOI) for the provision of Data collection and Issuance of the National Identification Number (NIN) services at the NIMC Headquarters, Abuja.

The NIMC Director-General/CEO Engr. Aliyu Aziz who was represented at the ceremony by the General Manager, Corporate Services Department, Abdullahi Ibrahim stressed that stakeholders’ collaboration for accelerated delivery of digital identity in Nigeria was critical.

Ibrahim had stated ‘’“NIMC will be partnering with public and private sector service providers including Federal, State, Local Governments, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organizations and others as well as qualified private vendors for the provision of data collection services and issuance of the National Identification Number (NIN) under the National Identity Management System (NIMS) programme,” 


 

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CBN and Others Budgets-Govt. is Shielding Corruption-AWC

The All Workers Convergence(AWC) has declared that the non inclusion of the budgets of key government agencies in Nigeria in the national budget for 2020 is tantmount to shielding corruption.

The AWC made this known through its  National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

''It is funny to realize that some key agencies of government budgets were not captured in the 2020 national  budget, rather a special budget has been prepared to cater for agencies such as the Central Bank, Customs and several others. This to us amounts to high profile corruption.What government is attempting to do is basically to use this medium to divert public funds for sinister motives. This is not in the people's interest. With the poor state of governance and decisions of government such as this, Nigerians have been pushed to the wall and would soon explode, having budgets outside the national budget is an attempt by government to shield corruption'', Comrade Emelieze stated.

About 60 agencies of government budgets were not captured in the 2020 national budget.

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Review of Political Office Holders Remuneration in Nigeria is Diversionary-Prof. Olagoke

ProfThe Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission(RMAFC) is set to review the salaries and allowances of political office holders in Nigeria. This has attracted condemnation from a cross section of Nigerians.

Interestingly, the issue of the new national minimum wage is yet to be resolved in several states of the federation, while political office holders continue to enjoy very attractive pay packages despite the myriad of challenges confronting the nation.

In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke insists that the pronouncement of a possible review by the Commission’s Chairman without been definitive on whether upward or downward is a diversionary game, considering the fact that several states are still still negotiating the consequential adjustment of the new national minimum wage of N30,000. Excerpts :

The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission(RMAFC) is tinkering with the idea of reviewing the salaries and allowances of political office holders, do you think this is proper in this period of economic crunch ?

The review of remuneration of political office holders in the face of Nigeria’s economic realities is long overdue. Down the memory lane , former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo made an upward review of the remuneration of political office holders, he damned the consequences, since so many were against his action. Chief Obasanjo said that his action was to discourage corruption.

When President Goodluck Jonathan came on board, he asserted that stealing should not be labelled corruption.

When supposed role models throw caution and modesty into the dustbin, institutional indiscipline is fostered, while the culture of corruption becomes endemic.

Hence the present situation of Nigeria becoming the headquarters of poverty and aggravated state of insecurity.

The game changers in the persons of Prof. Wole Soyinka and late Prof. Chinua Achebe became the prophets of our time through their prophetic literature books. For Chinua Achebe, ‘’Things Fall Apart’’ is neither a fiction nor a narration that should be localized for the changing challenges of the Igbo culture. It now directly re-echoes on Nigeria of the present time because things are falling apart, while the center can no longer hold and neither do the Falcons listen to the Falconers again. Who will now rescue Nigeria from imminent distingeration and international ridicule ?

 From Wole Soyinka’s perspective the man died in that person who keeps mute in the face of tyranny, why are Nigerians so docile in the face of various unwarranted persecution by the elite and leaders.

A lot has gone wrong in the nation’s educational institutions, where the rat race to become Vice Chancellors, Rectors or Provosts is not the same as having passion to fulfill the Town and Gown philosophy, but to amass wealth and flex muscles of ego among fellow Professors and Chief Lecturers respectively.

This is because from among the the category of Professors and Chief Lecturers respectively,a Vice Chancellor or Rector emerges, who would earn N2.5 million or N1.8 million respectively, while their colleagues will remain within the range of a little above N500,000 or N400,000 respectively.

One can now see how the political thinking that influenced the upward review has now led to a do or die affair among the people of the pen profession, who are supposed to be the epitome of peace, methods and methodology as well as role models in the area of best practices.

The people of the academia thereby resort to Voodoo power play deviating from the expected role of civility for civilization based on the Town and Gown philosophy.

The negative effect of an upward review would therefor be felt by all within the government circles, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, where the ill policy has thrown erstwhile friends into becoming bitter enemies because usually merit would be murdered, while juicy positions go to the highest bidders. This would have a far reaching effect on the quality and standard expected from the beneficiaries of this review policy.

If we are Godly and we are able to live by the scriptures that upholds our religious beliefs, divine guidance could have prevailed to do things aright because according to Psalm 127 :’’Builders labor in vein without divine intervention’’ and from the Islamic perspective, Koran 8 : 63 : And moreover God hath put affection between their hearts ; not if thou hath spent all that is in the earth, could thou hast produced that affection, but Allah hath done it : For He is exulted in might, Wise’’.

The pronouncement of a possible review without been definitive on whether upward or downward is a diversionary game, in the wake of several states still negotiating the consequential adjustment of the new national minimum wage of N30,000, which is just $98. When one compares this amount with what a Senator takes home, say N14.2 million per month, everybody should be able to see the wickedness in the politicians.

If the cries of restructuring, resource control and secession bids are to be avoided , the downward review of the salary packages and allowances of both the political office class and the MDAs including parastatals must be critically looked into to justify the ethical principles of Democracy as it reflects in its Chemistry of Justice, Equity, in a sane environment for us to have peace, sustainable development and a high level of security which is best appreciated under natural occurrence, that is divine intervention.

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The Raging Unemployment in Nigeria

Even though a sizable number of ”pressmen” as government officials always say, are on the payroll of the ruling party in Nigeria today, that does not distract professionally resolute Journalists from outlining the chameleon nature of governance.

Failure is a recurrent feature, when the people’s voices are ignored and the imposition of the desires of a few occupy the front page. Politicians have over the years groomed army of youths to promote their selfish interests.

Majority of these youths do not necessarily possess the basic qualification-Senior Secondary School Certificate(SSCE) to make any meaningful impact in life.

To fill the vacuum, politicians console these category of youths with limitless supply of outlawed substances and alcohol, so long as the youths do their bidding.

The unemployment rate in Nigeria is at an all time high, with unemployable graduates constituting  a significant number of the unemployed.

Of worry is the fact that most Primary, Secondary and tertiary institutions of learning are ill equipped and have on their pay rolls, poorly motivated manpower to impart the required knowledge. 

State Governments now employ graduates to positions originally meant for unskilled labor, as political patronage and nepotism determines who gets what.

Professionalism no longer  exists in the civil service of most states, as workers continue to redefine their positions to reflect the survival of the fittest ideology currently in vogue. It is on record and it is already a reference point that the All Progressives Congress(APC), the ruling party had its first progressive governance lecture series on 24 February, 2014, in Ibadan, Nigeria.

At the lecture series, Ayo Teriba, Chief Executive Officer, Economic Associates, delivered a lecture titled ”NIGERIA’s HIGH GROWTH-HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT PARADOX”. Teriba had said, ”As Nigeria’s growth surged in the past one and a half decades, unemployment rate has increased three fold. Elected officials have been unable to translate growth to increased employment, largely because they have left the task of fiscal and monetary policy management growth, constrained domestic demand and worsened the employment rate. 

To make democratic governance a tool for delivering economic tangible and enduring economic benefits in the future, Nigeria needs to make monthly employment data available before the end of each month, fix rail transportation, rethink fiscal policy, refocus monetary policy and ensure that elected officials accept responsibility for policy formulation and coordination”.

However,  the future is here and it is doubtful if Teriba’s recommendation are being followed. Interestingly, Owelle Rochas Okorocha,the then Governor of Imo state and Chairman, Progressives Governors Forum had lamented ”the current unemployment situation in Nigeria is unacceptable and is a danger to the social, economic and political stability of Nigeria.

It also impacts negatively on our ambitions as a country, after all, how can Nigeria, with over 20 million youths who have no jobs and millions of others wasting away claim that we want to be a major  power in the comity of  nations ?''

''That claim would be laughable if not tragic-tragic because we come across as refusing to empower the youths on whose shoulders will rest the task of taking Nigeria to the next level.

We can no longer remain insensitive to issues around unemployment and crises of governance in Nigeria”. Will the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration reverse the current trend of economic and other sectoral challenges ? Nigerians are already taking note and stock of the activities of the present administration for reference in the near future.

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The Hopes in Agriculture for a Better Economy

Agriculture has the potentials of been a major revenue earner in Nigeria, if only farmers had not been neglected for several years and deprived of needed incentives.
Indeed, farmers in rural areas have never been encouraged to remain within their localities to propel increased farm production, while production at the local government level has made the availability of schools,Primary health Care Delivery, functional electricity and potable water a mirage.

The caretaker committees at the grassroots have only succeeded in impoverishing the rural populace.
At present, agricultural equipment and machinery are sourced from advanced countries, this alone, is an impediment to self sufficiency in food production.

Indeed, sub-standard farm equipment and machinery to a large extent affected output in most farms in the country, just as access to finance is a major challenge for farmers. Bank interest rates are not friendly, if at all the banks are ready to give out loans to farmers. Although the Federal Government assures that it would fully support the agricultural sector, inadequate funding of the sector, closely trailed by diversion of funds meant for agricultural production is still common place.
The erratic power supply, prohibitive cost of petroleum products and the activities of insurgents, bandits and kidnappers have all contributed to make the agricultural sector less attractive.
Truly, government monopoly in critical sectors is an advantage, but bad management as a result of corruption is the idiscussion on every motuh in the land.
At Nigeria’s level of development government ought to invest alongside private individuals. But waiting for the agricultural  sector to blaze the trail, is a sign of lack of vision. It is only when the country has reached full employment level, that government can think of divesting.
Has Nigeria reached the level of full employment ? This might not be so, as the National Bureua of Statistics is very reluctant to make public the rate of unemployment in the country, even though the answer could be seen on the faces of millions of jobless Nigerians.
Without doubt, the agricultural sector can provide millions of jobs, once the leadership appreciates what is required to transform the economy.
But good management revolving round a porous judicial system and law enforcement agencies  are  never the panacea for sustainable development and growth.

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The Search for Exemplary Leaders in Nigeria Continues

The present administration in Nigeria insists that it  to anchors its policies on transparency, integrity and honesty.

For several years successive administrations in the country have failed to incorporate the aforementioned in the national life.
Rather, activities and actions have been channeled towards stagnancy, retardation and underdevelopment.
At the inauguration of boards and parastatals in Oyo state, on 24 June, 1999, the then Governor of Oyo state, Alhaji Lam Adesina, of blessed memory, stated : ”We took our time in ensuring that men and women of integrity and probity are chosen among innumerably qualified men and women. We don’t like to be proved wrong and this is why we implore you to rise up to the challenge and improve the lot in your work place.''
”We are very serious when we promised our people that probity and public accountability will be our watch word, most of the areas, you have been posted to, are afflicted and already grounded by financial impropriety and squandermania. We, as an administration have made covenant, with our people and we shall not renege on it”, Alhaji Adesina concluded.
Indeed, Nigerians are still wondering, if the present crop of political appointees at both the Federal and State levels would make probity and public accountability their watch word, considering the rot in the system. Interestingly, the appointees are yet to publicly declare their assets.
In 2009, the Day Star Christian Centre organized a conference, ”Excellence in Leadership”. In attendance, was the then Governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola, who is now the Minister of  Works and Housing.

Fashola had emphasized the need for Nigerians to embrace the basic values of good conduct.
”By sowing for an early crop, the capacity to ‘lead’ particularly in our youths, we can guarantee this nation, a harvest of exemplary leaders that our people so dearly expect and indeed deserve”.
Without doubt, the country is in dire need of principled and visionary leaders. However, the absence of  people with good leadership qualities has for long served as a major impediment towards achieving developmental goals.
But the existence of principled and visionary leaders, seems to be a mirage, when confronted with the fact that most power brokers end up managing wayward children.

In the political scene, the Father continues to contend with issues of governance, while the Mother runs around to boost the fortunes of her pet project.

At the end of it all, the children grow up without parental care, with their behaviour, similar to that of their Nannies and Teachers.

The ”World is yours” becomes their creed, while the state and its resources are at their beck and call. Indeed, transparency, integrity and honesty is not yet within reachable distance.

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Executive Bill on Taxes : President Buhari should consider Poor Nigerians by not Assenting -Pensioner

President Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon not to give his assent to the Financial bill recently passed by the Senate.

This call was made by the former National Vice President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners(NUP), Alhaji Lateef Adegoke.

''President Muahammadu Buhari should not sign it. I advise  that the increase should  be reversed for the benefit of poor Nigerians. If 10 per cent out of 200 million Nigerians are better off financially, then the President should reconsider this and not sign the bill. Things are not okay for Nigerians, people are suffering, people are hungry, the President should consider the plight of poor Nigerians by not signing the bill'', Alhaji Adegoke advised.

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Governance at all Levels Ought to be all Inclusive-Eze(Dr.)Anozie

Government at all levels have been advised to ensure governance is anchored on the all inclusive principle.

The Ezendigbo of Ibadan and Oyo state Eze and the Vice President(Southern zone)Association of Ezendigbo in Diaspora(Dr.)Alez Anozie gave this advice in a chat with Federationews2day.

‘’When government at all levels is all inclusive, it will go a long way in uniting the country and it will also go a long way in making people to have confidence in the true unity of Nigeria’’, Eze(Dr.)Anozie asserted.

Similarly, a statement by Eze(Dr.)Anozie disclosed that the President of the Association of Ezendigbo in Diaspora, Eze Ibekwe called on Igbos in the 36 states and Abuja to be law abiding. 

Eze Ibekwe, according to the statement, made this call in Ibadan, during the general meeting of all the recognized Ezendigbos residing outside the South East Geo-Political zone in Ibadan.

The statement further said that the Chief Host, Eze (Dr.) Anozie was earlier on hand to receive members of the association at his palace in Ososami, after which they proceeded on a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland’s palace.

It also said that both the executives and members of the association and the Olubadan gave assurances of mutual cooperation and peaceful co existence among the two tribal groups.

 

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Nigeria at 59-We Have not Been Fortunate to Have Good Leadership since Independence-Eze(Dr.)Anozie

Eze dr anozieAs Nigeria clocks 59, millions of citizens across the country lament that discrimination, nepotism, favoritism, injustice and inequality are the hallmarks of governance in the past and present dispensation.

In the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, non-indigenous people who constitute a bulk of the population, have interesting stories to tell of their experiences.

Also, in a sizable number of these states, first term Governors are towing the people unfriendly policies of their predecessors to the consternation of all concerned.

In this interview, the Eze Ndigbo of Ibadan and Oyo state, Dr. Alex Anozie, who insists that he remains the head of Igbos in the state with particular reference to the matter the the Appeal Court Ibadan Division, opines that the country has not been fortunate enough to have good leadership since independence.

Nigeria is 59, in your views, how has the journey been ?

Well, if one is not careful, one might be tempted to say that he is disappointed, I say so because with the way God blessed Nigeria, I was expecting something better than what we have in this country called Nigeria. Why ? because we are blessed with human resources, we are blessed with natural resources, good weather and climate, God has blessed us with everything. Sadly, God has not blessed us with good, focused, dynamic, corruption free and de tribalized leadership.

Since our independence we have not been lucky to have such leadership. We have been wobbling. Countries all over the world are disappointed.

Nigeria should be a country where everyone is running to, but Nigerians are running out of the country, to engage in jobs that are demeaning.

I believe that we shall make it by the grace of God.

If we had good leadership since independence, we would have gone far.

Nigerians ought to have free education,good roads and stable electricity supply all over the country.

This government that says it is fighting corruption, corruption is in their rooms. Everybody is corrupt.

Africa is not moving forward because of corruption in Nigeria. When Nigeria sneezes the whole Africa catches cold.

We have everything, except good leadership. God will help us to have it.

All our elections have been fraudulent. Even though we have development in some places, this is not enough when you hear of the trillions been stolen away. If these are not stolen, why should we be having graduates without jobs ? Tell me why should we be having armed robbers ?

And we are Christians and Muslims, who claim to know God, but we are not showing signs that we know God. It is a pity.

Let us all begin to practically display the fear of God, not just by preaching, but in practice.

Everyone will give account of his or her deeds.

People will leave all these worldly things to give account of their deeds.

If you claim to be a good Christian or a good Muslim, you must display it practically. People are suffering.

I don’t want to believe that we don’t have good leaders. We will keep on praying for the government. They should take the right from the wrong and do the right thing.

Serious consideration must be given to restructuring.

There is a need for Nigerians to ensure that the next President comes from the South East. All the Political Parties must source their candidates from the South East, this will calm frayed nerves and all the agitations will cease.

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Insecurity in Nigeria : Facts that ought not to be ignored

Nigerians have expressed visible worries over the activities of criminals operating in commercial motorcycles, vehicles with tinted glasses, vehicles with foreign plate numbers, and vehicles without number plates.

They argue that most crimes in different parts of the country are committed through these motorcycles and vehicles and express surprise over the way the criminals beat the scrutiny of law enforcement agents along the road.

Innocent citizens who reside in Lagos, Ibadan, Benin City, Port Harcourt, Warri, Onitsha, Aba, Kaduna, Kano, and Abuja, among others, have continued to recount their tales of woe to whoever cared to listen.

Sadly, the law enforcement agents, saddled with the responsibility of ensuring law and order and the adherence to the road safety rules and regulations, have for long adopted a conspiratorial attitude, mainly because of the benefits that would accrue from aiding and abetting criminals.

Nigerians are now of the opinion that the laws of the land are either no longer functional or the law enforcement agencies are deliberately sabotaging the enforcement of the laws.

A victim of the worrisome state of insecurity in Ibadan, Nigeria, who spoke incognito, reveals his experience.

‘’There is a beer parlor opposite the Iyanganku Magistrate; it is among the several shops that share the same fence with the police barracks. A door inside the beer parlor leads into the barracks. Visit the beer parlor and observe those who patronize the beer parlor, and you will agree that those who break the law have the blessing of the persons whose statutory functions include the protection of lives and property, he stated.

The general feeling is that some criminally minded law enforcement agents make use of criminals as proxies in carrying out their statutory functions, which has resulted in the harassment, intimidation, and arrest of unsuspecting citizens.

Of worry is the adopted official status of lawlessness, indiscipline, and criminality in different parts of the country.

Indeed, illiteracy and ignorance have also contributed significantly to the scheme of things as presently constituted.

The mental psyche of millions of Nigerians has been dehumanized; this has resulted in unthinkable occurrences.

These occurrences have consumed a sizable chunk of those in charge.

The widespread, uninhibited prevalence of the lawless acts, to millions of Nigerians, is an indication that there is already a failure in leadership; with no visible remedy in sight for now.

Prof. sabitu olagoke

Discipline Must be Restored in Our National Life to Curb Cultism-Prof. Olagoke

Cultism has for long become part and parcel of the educational system in Nigeria at the Primary Secondary and Tertiary levels.

In addition, most communities in the country now play host to cultists, with emphasis on the active roles played by parents and guardians in the activities of the cultists.

A good example is the Molusi, Solanke, Olorunsogo, Molete, Felele communities in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria which have for lone served as abode to the cultists, who have committed grievous crimes while law enforcement agents have all the time feigned ignorance , with full support of the community leaders and the Landlords and Tenants Association.

A cross section of Nigerians  insist that these cult groups in educational institutions and communities are feeder platforms for those responsible for the increasing  rate of kidnappinsg, killings and other violent crimes in the country.

In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that the only way cultism can be stamped out of our national life is when the Nigeria returns to the era of enforcing discipline in al aspects of life. Excerpts :

 

What do you think is the way out of the increasing involvement of  students and the  youth in cultism ?

 

Nigeria was once a safe and secured place to live in, with high level of discipline among the people and within the families. That was the era when we experience functional agents of socialization because in Africa, we used to uphold the philosophy of been our brother's keeper as well as been ambassadors of the families we come from.

Children and the youth were always reminded by the elders, who themselves happen to be role models of good character, teachers on the other hand were role models, who combined their primary assignment of teaching with parental roles of molding the character of the pupils or students.

Respect was fundamental, for the good parents, the children could not afford to disappoint, same applied for the disciplinarian teachers, who commanded respect of the children, thereby ensuring sanity in the management of education.

Those days parents are always very satisfied  having children in boarding schools or when they live in quarters because there was no case of cultism then, unfortunately Nigerian leaders failed to realize that in the time of crisis and possible conflict  resolution challenges, infiltration of idiosyncrasies could easily arise as challenges.

The first coup in Nigeria on January 15, 1966 opened the floodgate of blood shedding as part of our national life, followed by coups and counter coups that changed the political climate of peace and development into that of military rule of 29  years of dehumanization and economic bastardization.

Under this messy cloud, government option to destabilize the network of activists  at the school and the national terrain created  the era of student impersonation to disable student unions.

 All these later snowballed into the formation of various cult groups, beside the Pyrates Confraternity.

 The network of old and new generation cult groups added colour to some scientific approach to some ritual killings which everybody is now paying for dearly toady, most parents, biologically, even produced satanically controlled children, who later became dominant in cult activities .

Th solution therefore, lies in our going back into revolutionizing back the era of discipline, starting from the home and religious houses, that must teach morals and the scripture respectively.

We must equally go back to the era of the Late General Murtala Mohammed, who institutionalized government service as a no go area for cultism and occultism. God save Nigeria.

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She developed an interest in building self-esteem for women-Lydia Busingye

​Lydia Busingye is a young woman who was kidnapped and subjected to sexual abuse at the age of thirteen. This tragedy left her with feelings of resentment, self-blame, low self-worth and confidence. As a result she felt discouraged to pursue her dreams of becoming a confident and effective leader someday.

Over the years that she struggled with her experience, Lydia found inspiration to regain her confidence and self-worth by having successful women role models such as Minister Louise Mushikiwabo, the late Minister Aloisea Inyumba, Joyce Meyer and Oprah Winfrey. Their life stories and achievements motivated Lydia to use the negative experiences from her childhood to rebuild her strength and encourage other women and girls to do the same.

She developed an interest in building self-esteem for women and girls through restoring hope, dreams and fighting against sexual and gender based violence (SGBV). Lydia’s passion for women and girls issues encouraged her to look for opportunities that empowered her and other women in various ways.

Rwanda 2Lydia describes the Rwanda Women Leadership Institute (RWLI) as one such opportunity that has empowered her to be the woman she is today. As a woman who once dreamt of becoming a leader, she commends the program for reigniting her dream through its training in leadership skills.

One of her most important lessons from the program is from an African proverb that was shared during the training; “if you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together.” According to Lydia, the proverb, reinforces “the importance of working together and supporting one another as women in pursuing our dreams,” and the capacity women have to be leaders that can contribute to meaningful change and development in society. She also learnt the importance of self-love, care, protection/safety of women and girls in any environment.

As a RWLI alumni, Lydia has used both personal and professional platforms to share information on women’s key role in decision making, transformational leadership and SGBV. She hopes that in sharing with other women and girls, she can help them protect themselves and address issues of abuse as well as motivate them to be agents of change in their respective communities. Lydia describes RWLI as a programme that has given her the right tools to achieve her dreams; “I am now dreaming to be a woman of integrity, a role model, a source of health and wealth in my country and worldwide.”
RWLI represents one of the projects implemented by Rwanda Women’s Network (RWN) in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion to empower Rwandan women from all walks of life. The institute’s objectives compliment various national and global campaigns that promote women’s rights and gender parity; such as the Rwanda’s national theme for International Women’s Day; “Preserving the Dignity Regained.”
Rwanda is commended globally for its gender sensitive policies and the highest Parliamentarian representation of women (64%) in the world. The theme outlines the nation’s role in building on these achievements in the empowerment of women. RWN is expanding and contributing to these gains through RWLI and more projects by using holistic approaches to address issues affecting women and girls in Rwanda.
In line with the global movement #BeBoldForChange, the RWLI program encompasses the importance of women’s active role in influencing change that contributes to empowerment of women and gender parity. 
RWLI falls under one of the RWN main program areas; Governance and Leadership. It equips women with knowledge and tools to be effective leaders and equal contributors to change and development in their respective sectors and communities. RWLI continues to empower and inspire more women like Lydia to “make their challenges a catalyst for positive transformation,” at a personal, community and national level.

 

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Nigeria 18

Once Govt Places Emphasis on Building Strong Institutions Incurring Debts Shall No Longer be the Priority-Prof. Olagoke

Prof. sabitu olagokeNigerians residing in the South West Geo-Political zone are worried over the continued borrowing by State Governments in the Geo-Political zone.

Already, a report puts the total debt profile of the states at N1.3 trillion, even though the debts are not commensurate with the results of governance.

The people express great doubts over the possibility that good governance and economic development shall be achieved in the next four years, as the state Governors continue to borrow.

In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke asserts that if Nigerians leaders concentrate more on building strong institutions instead of strong individuals, the emphasis would shift from incurring debts to generating revenue. Excerpts :

Are you not worried over the rising debt profile of state in the South West Geo-Political zone of Nigeria ?

Recently, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, stated that the major headache for economic development is more revenue generation rather than debts.

Analyzing this within the context of our culture of impunity and corruption, the two are more of threats to the development of the nation and that of the South West because on ground, there is not much to appreciate in terms of development, most especially in the areas of provision of employment, basic amenities and functional infrastructure, apart from the fact that the debts incurred would be more of frictional resistances to the performance of any incoming administration, after the tenure of the borrower must have elapsed.

The general problem of government in Nigeria, both Federal and state, is the lack of continuity in project and policy implementation, most especially when there is a change in leadership. Yet the debts will continue to be an hitch of liability. A notable characteristic of Government in Nigeria, included poor finishing or outright abandonment of projects, no matter how laudable.

Take for example, the way we abandoned vision 2010, for vision 2020, which if it had been well executed would have propelled Nigeria to stardom, placing the country among the 20 most economically viable nations in the world.

Researches were conducted by various institutions in the country with the aim of agreeing to work towards viable and strong foundations for its feasibility on the premise of erasing our Gross Domestic Product(GDP) to $900 billion, power generation to at least 6,00 megawatts and the economic growth rate of 7 per cent, but unfortunately, 2020 is just less than a year ahead, with records of abandonment, lack of visibility, lack of viability and with almost nothing to equitably distribute.

With the sustainable development goals accompanied by with grants from various world bodies, the culture of impunity and corruption have not only weakened governance, but failed us into the mirage of sustainable development.\My advice for debt rate reduction is in the following these guidelines :

  1. Donor agencies need to direct interventions to specific areas of need.
  2. Revenue generation must move up from a status of 55 per cent of 2018.
  3. Judicious use of the interventions with close monitoring mechanism must be in place to ensure it is fraud free.
  4. Nigerian government must avoid imposed programs that are foreign without direct impact on the lives of the people.
  5. There must be coordination of debt management to ensure virement of grants or borrowed money by the network of the Debt Management office, management staff of the Ministry of Budget and Planning, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and the Directors, should be held accountable for any financial shortcoming.
  6. Let the anti-corruption agencies proactively work with the Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Directors, all staff of the ministry of Budget and Planning for wholesome or all encompassing cleansing of the land on the generated revenue, grants and borrowed funds with the programs and projects they intend to execute for the nation’s development using the advantages of the Treasury Single Account, The Integrated Payroll, Personnel Information System and intelligence gathering of the whistle blowers’ efforts.

Generally, the diversified economy and import dependent

economy of any nation cannot sustain such country hence there would be the need to live on debt for project execution.

To avoid this situation, the area of entrepreneurship should be given adequate attention to recover rapid economic growth.

Presently, the inflation is rate is about 11.2 per cent, while the nation operates two digit interest rates on loans.

This economic climate is never favorable to the growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises(SMEs), which are currently suffering from the following lackluster factors, despite the presence of Entrepreneurship studies in the curriculum of our institutions-Secondary schools, Technical colleges, Polytechnics and Universities : paucity of funds, dearth of managerial expertise, irregular power supply with high cost for substitution, no homogeneous consensus of quality and standard among SME entrepreneurs with consequent poor products against the spirit of globalization on global best practices.

There is also the lack of patronage because of low policy design and implementation of Nigeria’s SMEs’ products by government and its agencies.

In addition there is the insensitivity to global competitiveness essence due to the use of obsolete technology form, processing.

Furthermore, there is tough government business regulation on ground that are usually unfriendly to businesses and hence discourage start ups.

Government must therefore, invest on the provision of functional infrastructural facilities to thrive entrepreneurship, to increase efficiency and productivity and provide access to available markets and sustainable growth and development.

Above all, Nigerian leaders need to focus on building a strong nation, rather than building strong individuals, for any worthwhile development to come by, through high revenue generation and less of legacy debts.

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China

Leadership : Between China and Nigeria

Mao Zedong popularly known as Chairman Mao, was successful with his noble goals for China through despotic means.

His leadership was severe, dictatorial and personalized.

For as long as Chairman Mao's  cultural revolution lasted, thousands of Chinese died of starvation and inhuman labor.

Mao and his co-travelers argued that same was the price their people had to pay  for re-education.

This brand of governance ensured the extermination of the heroes of the civil war and the old party chieftains by the President's armed squad.

Chairman Mao is perhaps the role model of those who hold sway in Nigeria today.

Indeed, the Kaduna state Governor, Mallam Nasir El Rufai is among several other political office holders, who adore President Muhammadu Buhari.

Those in support of this argument insist that on a number of occasions, the Kaduna state Governor had knelt down to greet and/or consult with the President. They maintain that this is only a sign of respect in the traditional African setting.

However, those against this order of things, stress that the underlying factors revolve on hypocrisy and boot licking.

Nigerians are yet to stop complaining of constitutional breaches and the unabated trampling of the rule of law in the dust, without noticeable changes by the powers that be.

From recent events in the country, the economic reform programmes of the All Progressives  Congress(APC) led government at the centre and  in the states, are modeled along the thinking of a free market economy.

It is doubtful, if government, in the last three years, has managed the economy for the benefit of Nigerians.

At a particular point in time, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo launched the ''Trader Money'' in Abuja.  

The target beneficiaries are petty traders in the country and the collateral free loans for them, ranges from N10,000 to N15,000.

But the fundamental questions Nigerians  are asking include, Why are the interest free loans coming at this time ?,  close to  the governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states. Is this not  a modified form of vote buying ? Considering the fact that a day after the launch, the Vice President was in Osogbo, Osun state to campaign for the APC Governorship candidate in the 22 September Governorship elections in the state.

This is irrespective of the fact that the state government has just resumed payment of full salaries to its impoverished workforce, after paying them half salaries for over three years.

Of worry is the state of manufacturing industries, which could be said to be epileptic, even as food security is a  mirage, insecurity is the chorus everywhere, while crude oil remains the major hope of the present administration.

Interestingly, the future growth of the Nigerian economy  rests comfortably on diversification and focus on  visionary and creative people friendly economic policies, although government still over-rely and over-depends on crude oil to fund its programmes.

Can the present administration turn around the troubled economy ? Nobody knows.

 

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Prof. sabitu olagoke

Use Good Governance to Address Challenges By Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

Nigeria 17Nigeria suffers from poverty and kleptocracy as reflected in hunger, insecurity, corruption and untimely death in the land because of injustice and inequality in an environment of impunity.

Nigerians gave their mandate, through the ballot box, to the occupiers of various political offices in this new dispensation, to rule and govern with the belief that the office holders would end the insecurity in the land.

However, Nigerians are still asking questions :

* Why are cases of kidnappings, ritual killings, rape, pedophilia, armed robbery, banditry, threat of secession and advanced fee fraud, persisting ?

*  Why is the promotion of prosperity through the enhanced provision of basic amenities for the people’s welfare, and infrastructure for industrial development difficult to achieve ?

All Nigerians are stakeholders in this respect. Only good governance, that ensures well funded education and health sectors, while also institutionalizing discipline and zero tolerance to corruption, without bias, is the antidote.

The Judiciary, Legislature and scripture compliant religious bodies need to create an enabling environment for sanity, reliability and sustainable development to be achieved.

 

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Kenya : Female Lawmaker and Baby forced out of Parliament by Speaker

KenyaThe presence  of a Female Lawmaker  who was in the chamber of the Kenya Parliament with her five month old baby temporarily disrupted  proceedings last week Wednesday .

The acting Speaker, Christopher Omulele had, on noticing that Kwale Woman Representative, Ms Zuleika Hassan  was in the chamber with her baby, ordered her to take her child out of the chamber.

This resulted into a division among the lawmakers, with some male lawmakers pitching their tents with the female lawmakers wh insisted that Hassan should remain in the chambers.

Even though the acting Speaker ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to implement his order, a human shield around the the female lawmaker  temporarily prevented her from  been taken out.

In a chat with newsmen after leaving the chambers, Ms Hassan, who was accompanied by her female lawmakers, expalined why she was in the chambers with her baby.

"I had an emergency and decided not to miss work but come with the baby. She is not an atomic bomb and can't explode," Ms Hassan stated.

 In 2013, Kenyan lawmakers  passed a motion directing the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) to set aside a room within Parliament buildings for breastfeeding mothers. 

Sadly, till date the directive yet to be carried out.

 

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Anti Graft Fight : Nigeria's Two Different Approaches

At a point in Nigeria's history, former President, Chief(Dr.)Olusegun Obasanjo stated ''it is a matter for regret that most public servants tend to subdue their political discipline in the face of personal aggrandizement''.

When Chief(Dr.)Obasanjo was in the saddle as President, he set up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC)  to rein in fraudsters, money launderers, corrupt government officials and several others.

Perhaps, the EFCC, was to strengthen the activities of the Nigeria Police Force, while the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission(ICPC) was established to boost the work of the Code of Conduct Bureau.

During this period high profile personalities, like former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun showcased the fight against corruption.

Sadly, happenings today, is a total and  fierce departure from when Chief(Dr.)Obasanjo called the shots.

Interestingly, in an interview in 2007, prominent lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana(SAN), who was then a member of the National Conscience Party(NCP) had stated '' you in the media, you must challenge politicians, you must ask them for their programmes for our people as opposed to celebrating criminals. If somebody says  he is a thief, you should ask him to resign''.

Nigeria 15Unfortunately, Nigerians have continuously asked ''thieves'' to resign in this present administration without positive results.

Of worry, however,  is the fact that the youth now have the impression that corrupt practices are the only reliable path to success.

 The youth readily make reference to the present administration's choice of Ministers as a source of inspiration to them 

Nigerians express anger over the claim of  the powers that be, that they have fought corruption to a commendable extent, even when it is very glaring that several officials of the present administration have cases of corruption trailing their daily lives.

Everywhere within the borders of Nigeria, fraudsters, corrupt government officials and related category of criminals are celebrated by their people, who believe these individuals are the heroes of this time.

The EFCC is now a shadow of its old self, only barking but not biting those it ought to bite.

If only the leadership had made transparency  the guiding light  to its activities, all the negatives trailing the country at home and abroad would never be the signposts of governance. 

Nigeria 16The   increase in the pump price of the Kerosene has been described as a kite flown by government officials to deny Nigerian workers a new national minimum wage.

''The AWC  concludes that government has a sinister agenda strangulate the Nigerian workers and the generality of the Nigerian people. The question we ask is that even if government will have to take the increased salaries back from the workers what about the unemployed, the retirees and all those who don't receive salaries from any source ? It means that government would visit them with unprecedented agony and pain'', the National Coordinator of the All Workers Convergence(AWC), Comrade Andrew Emelieze opined.

Nigerians express sadness that depsite the unconstitutional annexation of $1 Billion by the Federal Government for the procurment of all that is needed to checkmate the insecurity in the land, Kidanappings, killings and other violent crimes are not abetting, even though government has developed a new culture of commiseration and condolences to families who lost their loved ones to the reactionary approach by government to the unabating insecurity in the country.

 

Mrs olufunke olakunrin

Insecurity : No Yoruba Must Sell Out-Prof. Olagoke

Prof. sabitu olagokeJust last week Friday, Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, the 58 yer old daughter of nonagenarian, Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fashoranti was felled by the bullets of yet to be identified gunmen at the Ore junction in Ondo state, Nigeria. A cross section of Nigerians have condoled with the family of the bereaved. The Federal Government has also sent its condolences which has now become a tradition in most recent times.

However, the security situation in the country is worsening by the day.

In this interview, Founder, Spiritual Head and Gran Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that no Yoruba son or daughter, regardless of economic status, religious and political persuasions should give in, to the lure of money for any reason. Excerpts :

What is your reaction to the gruesome killing of the daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fashoranti ?

First and foremost, the general state of insecurity in the country is very disturbing and in history, I have never known any government performing to reasonable expectations, under an hostile environment of insecurity.

The age long of insecurity during the 20 years of our Democratic experience shows our reluctance to develop Nigeria and the high level of unpreparedness of all the emerging leaders till date in Nigeria ; in making us to continue to witness orgies of government commiserations in the face of non performance.

The essence, under rationality theory, of changing government through electing new leaders is to maintain or improve upon the areas of strengths and opportunities for development to appreciably emerge while the new leaders are expected to restrategize to minimize or prevent the areas of the weaknesses of the successive governments of the past and to seriously help the entire population in taming and replacing the areas of threats which fundamentally would have caused a viscose friction in the will of the progress and efforts of the past movement.

However, for Nigeria’s history, contrary has been the case.

The various security summits, for example, by the Yorubas, has always been like the barking of a dog already chained to a place because even that of the State Governors was not only ceremonial, but without adequate preparation to save the Yoruba nation from the embarrassment of the day.

It is very unfortunate that Mrs. Olufunke Olakunrin, the daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fashoranti became another victim, it affects every Yoruba in particular and Nigerians in general because Pa Fashoranti has for long been at the forefront in fighting the cause of the advancement of the Yorubas in the area of unity and freedom and equity and justice in the wider Nigerian society.

No amount of commiserations from all of us can wake up the innocent victims of insecurity, including Mrs. Olakunri.

Suffice it now to say, that the Yorubas must be the first in the vanguard for the promotion of inclusive society where those who can walk the talk should be given the chance to come together to place the Yoruba agenda above other considerations.

No religion, no ethnic group, political persuasion must have a place under the goal of promoting inclusive society, but credibility, commitment to Oodua nationhood and the determination of purpose to have safe and secure Yorubaland, with right territorial integrity.

No Yoruba person, therefore rich or poor, aggrieved or otherwise, must allow him or herself to be bought over through the evil spirit of money mania which has been the root cause of our value erosion.

Internally, we have more than sufficient paraphernalia of authority to manage and defend the cause of Yoruba unity; if the heroic spirits of our fore fathers, whose heritage we must not allow anybody to destroy, is to be above every Yoruba son and daughter’s considerations.

In unity, the Yorubas can make it without any external considerations.

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