Nigeria

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) successfully conducted the Continuous Voters Registration exercise in states and Abuja, but sadly, millions of potential voters were disenfranchised in the Presidential and National Assembly elections

Indeed, the 25th February general elections were anything except free, fair and credible.

The rush to collate the results manually and announce the same, confirmed the long suspicions and fears of Nigerians.

On the day of the election, the harrowing experience of voters confirmed that the electoral umpire was part of a grand scheme to impose unacceptable candidates on Nigerians.

The resentment at the electoral deceit cuts across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria and indeed, such resentment, justice will prevail.

It is now crystal clear that the loyalty of the present administration in the country has never been to the nation as a whole, but to a pyramidal sequence of enforcers, under-bosses and influence peddlers among others.

The present status quo intends to resist the acceptable, reasonable and justifiable but the quest for genuine leadership succession, respect for the nation's diversity and equitable national integration may erode this intention.

Those Behind All the Evil

Nigerians have now known those behind lawlessness, crime, all forms of criminality, evil, diabolism and injustice for almost eight years. The leadership, for example, songs are everywhere as illustrations.

Also, Nigerians are anxious to know the roles played by law enforcement  and security agencies in the evil, lawlessness, crime, all forms of criminality and diabolism that pervades Molusi, Olorunsogo, Molete, Solanke, Oyegbami, Oshodi, Scout Camp, Aluko, Felele and several other comunities in Ibadan Oyo state.

Nigerians have been called upon to come  out in their large numbers on Saturday to exercise their voting rights.
This call was made on Tuesday by a Christian Cleric,Pastor Opeyemi Ajayi in Ibadan,Oyo state,Nigeria.
''Nigerians should not be afraid, come out,exercise patience,come out to vote,monitor your  votes  for the sustenance of DEMOCRACY in the Presidential elections. Those responsible for the ugly situation have been identified and they will be brought to justice,'' Pastor Ajayi stated.

In another development, the misappropriation and mismanagement of the resources-financial and otherwise-of the states has prompted labor leaders and their followers of trade unions to grab whatever is available from candidates for the next round of elections.
To this end, workers have formed groups for engagement with candidates, while labor leaders vigorously defend anti-people policies for pecuniary reasons.
In his reaction, the chairman of the Non-Academic Staff and other Associated     Institutions Union(NASU) University College Hospita(UCH)branch, Ibadan, Nigeria, Comrade Kehinde Abiona argued that he was not aware of the activities of some workers saying, '' the Governorship candidate has not even come to UCH talkless of having any deal with him. I am not aware of any NASU member that is on the campaign team  of the state Governor. NASU comprises different trade unions.''

Mediocrity, incompetence and ignorance have been the major attributes of governance in the states of the federation.

Superior advice, counsel and guides were ignored and, rather, suggestions that were self-centered in nature were implemented.

Indeed, so many states have been debased and defrauded of their resources by those who are beneficiaries of the manipulation of the system.
The major focus is the allocation of the federation account, without recourse to accountability and audit.

Nigerians now wish to know how the policies of the state governments have reversed the worrisome scheme of things in the affected states.

Sadly, no one is ready to make such a disclosure, considering the mystery surrounding  the growth rate of the economy of the affected states.

The Uncertain Political Direction

Only weak, deceitful and sinking leaders will consider it impossible to decisively give political  direction to followers, when it matters most.
But when the followers discover the air of uncertainty that has enveloped the political direction, they have no option but to take their destinies in their own hands.

Hunger, fear and other forms of hardships now constitute the mindset of millions of Nigerians less than four days to the general elections.

This assertion was made on Monday by the representative of Civil Society Organizations(CSO), Hadjia Aisha Ismail, at an enlarged stakeholders meeting organized by the Oyo state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC)in Ibadan, Nigeria.

''People are hungry, people don't have what to eat, there is no fuel, they can't get anything from their neighbors, banks are not dispensing cash, Point of Sale(POS) shops are also not dispensing cash. The masses are afraid to come out, we have to go out to tell them not to be afraid to come out. We have told them that when there is trouble, they should go back home. Please, we don't want hooliganism. We must not vote for the wrong people in this election,'' Hadjia Ismail concluded.

In his remark, the Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) in the state, Dr. Adeniran Tella expressed worries over the flashpoints in the state, saying, ''the security agencies have assured them of adequate security before, during and after the elections. All hands must be on deck to achieve successful elections.''

The representative of the Inter Party Advisory Council(IPAC), Pastor Biodun Popoola appealed to political parties to act within the ambits of the law, adding ''let us educate our members. I also appeal to our religious bodies to pray more this time for God's intervention.''

However, the meeting got rowdy when the issue of the actual figure of collected and uncollected Permanent Voters Cards(PVC) was raised by a political party representative.

The gathering dispersed when the organizers hurriedly brought the meeting to an end for another official engagement. No public holidays were set aside for Nigerians in Oyo state to collect their PVCs.

In another development, the spokesman of INEC in the state, Mr. Awolowo has disclosed that the registration for the accreditation for Journalists that will cover the general elections in the state has closed.

Overcrowding

The additional population which has brought about overcrowding in several communities in Oyo state, has resulted in evil, lawlessness, crime, criminality and evil in those communities. Who are those responsible for the overcrowding? Nigerians continue to ask.

Members of the Non-Academic Staff and Associated Institutions Union(NASU) Ibadan, Nigria will, on Wednesday 15 March, 2023 elect new executives to steer the affairs of the union for the next four years.

The incumbent executives referred to as the United Transformation team, led by Comrde Kehind Abiona are seeking re-election.

The present branch secretary is Comrader Oluwaseun Asogbon while Comrade Omolara Ajenifuja is the Treasurer.

For the Progressive team, Comrade Adekunle Adegboye is the candidate for the chairmanship position, Comrade Olapeju Falow for Secretary and Olabisi Akpuko for Treasurer.

In his remarks, the incumbent chairman, Comrade Kehinde Abiona stated that the present NASU executive has performed creditably well, saying, '' we made a four point agenda and we were able to fulfill our promises within the first six months of our administration and we have done more.We have moved the union from where it was to an enviable position.''

The Comrade Adegboye-led Progressive team intends to implement an 8-point agenda if elected. The team intends to organize regular congresses to address workplace related issues, facilitate promotion and conversion for members, continuously engage and negotiate with management and empower female members and widows among others.

Election manipulation begins when new polling units are clandestinely created in the guise of overcrowding in the original polling units.

Indeed, Those-in-Authority are working round the clock to ensure that their preferred candidates emerge even before the elections.

Certainly, a lot is wrong with the system.

Without doubt, Nigerians have lost faith in the system.

Among other reasons for this, include the fact that millions of Nigerians have been impoverished without hope, dehumanized and disenfranchised.

Now, they look up to Those-in-Authority for austere stipends and handouts.

Not surprisingly, the quest to sustain power has placed a high premium on securing power for self-centered interests.

The plots of Those-in-Power and the counterplots by others out of power have almost brought Nigeria to its knees, even as desperation continues to trail the ongoing political fog, with abortive attempts at labelling the same preparations for the general elections.

The Future.......?

The criminal tendencies continually exhibited by children who reside with their parents or guardians, in the Molusi, Oyegbami, Solanke, Oshodi, Aluko, Scout Camp, Felele and several other communities in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria; is a pointer to the fact that most public and private schools in the state have become breeding grounds for future criminals.

Abuja, Nigeria CNN  — 

Nigeria was forced Wednesday to delay plans to replace its banknotes with a redesigned currency after chaotic scenes at ATMs as millions of people struggled to get their hands on the new cash.

The country’s old notes were supposed to cease to be legal tender starting February 11 but the country’s Supreme Court suspended that deadline because banks were unable to disburse enough of the new naira.

Nigerians have been spending hours in long lines at cashpoints since late last month after rushing to deposit the old banknotes ahead of an initial deadline of January 31. But they haven’t been able to withdraw enough of the new versions to meet their daily expenses.

That shortage has led to frayed tempers and untold hardship for millions of Nigerians, particularly those who work in the cash-based informal economy and for citizens who live in rural areas.

Nigerians say they are struggling to pay for food and public transportation as vendors reject electronic payments. The pressure on the banking infrastructure has caused many servers to fail, multiple sources told CNN.

In November last year, President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled the redesigned currency with the aim of reining in counterfeiting and the hoarding of large sums outside the banking system.

Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele said in January that out of 3.23 trillion Nigerian naira ($6.9 billion) in circulation as of October last year, “only 500 billion naira was within the banking industry” while a whopping 2.7 trillion naira ($5.8 billion) was “held permanently in people’s homes.”

Emefiele added that around 1.9 trillion naira (around $4 billion) have so far been returned to the banking system since the new notes were first introduced in November.

Nigerians queue for new banknotes

Nimi Princewill/CNN

The redesigned bills were intended to replace the older series of the 200-, 500-, and 1,000-naira notes on January 31, but a 10-day extension was announced following widespread outcry about the timing.

The new notes look very similar to those in circulation with a change in color as the only significant difference. The new naira notes are, however, “fortified with security features that make them difficult to counterfeit,” President Buhari said last year.

Abulrahman Abdullahi, who lives in the Nigerian capital Abuja, told CNN he needs cash fast as he is running out of food and unable to restock supplies. Across the country, banks have increasingly become targets of mounting anger over the frustrating search for the new naira notes.

Nigeria’s largely informal economy depends mainly on cash, but the CBN is trying to encourage people to make greater use of electronic banking, a policy considered premature by analysts.

Nigerians are desperately relying on their banks to distribute new bills after the February 10 deadline to exchange the old currency saw many scrambling to deposit their old notes. The banks, however, do not have enough of the new notes to go around, fueling anger from individuals, some of whom have vandalized bank property or stripped to their underwear in rage, according to videos shared on social media.

“I’ve been here for hours,” Abdullahi told CNN, as he struggled to keep his place in a rowdy queue that had formed at a bank ATM in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

“I have to shop for foodstuffs. It has been very difficult for me. The number of times I eat in a day has reduced to two because if I run out of foodstuffs, I may not be able to restock,” he said.

At a neighboring bank, customers were instructed by staff to withdraw no more than 10,000 naira ($22) per person from its ATM. Customers from other banks were directed to withdraw only 1,000 naira (less than $3) from the cash machine.

In one Lagos supermarket, cash from the machine was restricted to just 1,000 naira (less than $2) despite the lengthy wait times.

“What can we do with 1,000 naira!,This government doesn’t care about us,” security guard Joel Johnson told CNN.

Anger and protests

The government and the CBN have come under pressure and governors of three Nigerian states are challenging in court the short time frame given to exchange the old notes for new ones, which they warn could lead to “the breakdown of law and order” ahead of the crucial presidential vote later this month.

To compound matters, Nigerians are also facing long lines for fuel across the country, leading to mounting anger and frustration with protests springing up in parts of the country as citizens rail against the hardship caused by the scarce currency and hikes in fuel prices.

One person was reportedly killed in clashes between protesters and police in Nigeria’s third most populous city, Ibadan, according to local media.

Economist Bismarck Rewane told CNN Nigeria’s transition to new currency notes could have been better handled, adding that scarcity of the new bills would hurt the country’s economy.

“It will lead to some disruption and contraction in economic activity,” Rewane says. “GDP numbers for the first quarter of the year will be affected .”

The CBN assures that “queues at ATMs will disappear soon” while directing commercial banks to pay the new notes over the counter, however, “subject to a maximum daily payout limit of N20,000 ($43).”

President Buhari said he was “aware of the cash shortages and hardship being faced by people and businesses, on account of the naira redesign,” but assured Nigerians of “significant improvements between now and the February 10 deadline.”

One scarcity too many

The current cash squeeze isn’t the only shortage Nigerians are grappling with.

A year-long fuel scarcity has worsened in the past few weeks, leaving many cash-strapped Nigerians unable to purchase gasoline, which has tripled in price in parts of the country.

State oil company NNPC blames the lingering scarcity on distribution problems. Analysts say the fuel shortages could hamper the ruling party’s chances at the February poll.

Source-CNN

Drivers wait in line to buy fuel at and next to a filling station, causing traffic gridlock on Lagos' Ibadan expressway, in Lagos on January 30, 2023.

Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP/Getty Images

“It has implications for politics, in terms of the ruling party suffering some disapproval from the electorates because of the hardship they face,” says leading political analyst Sam Amadi.

“People are going to record the government as a failure … and that can impact the fortunes of the ruling party,” Amadi tells CNN.

President Buhari is serving a final second term and the ruling party hopes he will be succeeded by candidate Bola Tinubu, a former governor of the country’s richest state Lagos.

Amadi suggests that the shortage of the new naira could have a positive impact on the coming elections.

“It may actually reduce vote buying if well managed, which is probably (one of) the strategic objectives of the monetary policy around the new naira,” he says.

Vote buying has been a feature of Nigeria’s elections, which have been marred by violence and fraud in recent years.

Source-CNN

The chairman of the Oyo state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Alhaji Ismail Ademola Babalola will be conferred with a chieftaincy title on Saturday 18 February, 2023 by the, Baale of Ologuneru, Ibadan, Oyo state Nigeria.

According to the invitation to guests, the NUJ chairman will be conferred with the title,Agbaakin Baale of Ologuneru while his wife, Monsurat Ajoke will be conferred with the title Yeye Agbaakin Iyalosde of Ologuneru.

The event which comes up at the Baale's palace in Ologuneru will be followed with the reception for invited guests at an event center in the conmmunity.

Alhaji Babalola was returned unopposed for a second term of three years by journalists in the state.

In another development, concerned journalists in the state have continued to express reservations over the practice of the profession in the state and the infiltration of the profession by criminal elements, stressing that a lot has to be done for the profession to return to the front seat.

They appealed to the NUJ executive to carry out a major reform in the union as a step towards ensuring that the worried public have confidence in professionals.

Governments guided by accountability, responsibility and transparency have always been constant never to retain card-carrying party members who aspired to political positions but failed to emerge victorious in sensitive positions.
Such party members, if allowed to continue in such public offices, would bring to bear their partisanship.
Sadly, high standards have been eroded.
Interestingly, the expectation of Nigerians is that the newly redesigned 200, 500 and 1,000 Naira notes will be made available for everyone through the banking system.
Although the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) has insisted that the new naira notes are in abundant supply to the commercial banks, the experience of Nigerians in banking halls, ATM machine points and P.O.S shops has proved the contrary.
Much as the commercial banks would wish to comply with the directive of the apex bank to make the new notes available, the old notes have been, up till this moment, still being dispensed.
Indeed, if there is no hidden motive in fixing the deadline for the withdrawal of the old notes, which is 31st January, the reasonable and rational step to take ought to be for the old notes to circulate side by side with the new ones, until the former is withdrawn.
However, the desperation and hurried actions of the apex bank to withdraw the old notes suggests that there is more to  it than meets the eyes.
Unfolding events in urban, and most especially rural areas indicate that the CBN would have not option but to extend the deadline; only if it is sensitive to the plight of Nigerians.

2023 and Beyond
The daily occurrence of violent crimes, the sorry state of electricity supply and the lingering fuel scarcity in Nigeria are enough advice for the electorate to determine the next crop of leaders in 2023 and beyond. Perhaps
 

-Allegations Baseless-chairman

Worried members of the Non Academic Staff and Associated Institutions Union(NASU), University College Hospital(UCH)branch,Ibadan, Nigeria have accused the executives of the union of promoting self-designed and self-centered interests to the detriment of the union.

The members, who spoke incognito, also lamented the lack of accountability and transparency on the part of the executives.

''The executives of our union have continued to channel the resources of our union to self-driven and self-centered projects and interests. They have been so smart about it, but we have detected the infractions. In addition, they hide under the name of the union to seek pecuniary benefits from politically exposed persons, whom everybody knows have had engagements with the union leaders.''

''And of great worry, is the fact that we, the members of NASU are not carried along in the scheme of the union's activities. There is the need for inclusiveness, accountability and transparency,'' the aggrieved members stated.

In his reaction on behalf of the union's executives, the chairman, Comrade Kehinde Abiona dismissed the allegations, describing them as concocted and baseless.

''The so-called resource diversion is alien to me because we run the union with the mindset of transparent leadership. This our great union is backed by a constitution which stipulates our functions and the terms of stewardship at the beginning and end of our tenure, which is four years and is renewable. There has never been any occasion during which the union's resources were diverted to private interests. Since we came on board on March 13, 2019, we have opened up the resources of the union for the overall benefit of all members.''

Comrade Abiona disclosed that the days of touts and hooligans in the union were gone for good, saying, '' we ensure that there is equality and fairness in the workplace. Anything concerning my members, I must be very interested in it. I am not here as a chairman on my own, there is the secretary and treasurer. Formerly, only the chairman, secretary and treasurer took major decisions, but when we mounted the saddle on March 13, 2019, we opened up the issue of finances, so the five ex-officio members of the union are always part of the decision-making process.

The NASU chairman maintained that the union gave members the opportunity to interface with politically exposed persons, who aspire to become policy makers, saying, ''is it now a crime for a trade union leader to receive and listen to potential leaders in society? Is it a crime for us to have organized a health workers' symposium last year? Our members need to be exposed to several issues. So, what happened is that we exercised our rights to ensure a balance between the leaders, potential leaders and our members. Our engagement with them was just in the interest of our members, nothing else. He attributed the allegation to the fast-approaching elections of the union in March, stressing, ''with the fear of God paramount in our hearts, we are ensuring that transparency is not defeated in our tenure.''

''By the special grace of God, all members of the executive are recontesting in the upcoming elections. The purpose of recontesting is to consolidate and to ensure that the well rebranded image of the union does not relapse to the inglorious days. Expect our score card soon, Comrade Abiona concluded.

Owners of various categories of shops-make shift and steel containers inclusive-now constitute the majority population in most communities in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.

Most of these petty traders, who trade generally in second-hand and perishable items, are not residents of these communities and have become security threats.

Indeed, a sizable number of them-tradesmen, artisans, market men and women-were empowered by politically exposed personalities who hold public offices.

The personalitites who are desperate to remain in public offices, covertly support the criminal activities of these shop owners Not surprisingly, the crime rate in these communities, which include Olorunsogo, Molete, Molusi, Solanke, IMG Ibuko(the primary school is a den for criminals), Oyegbami, Oshodi, Aluko, Scout Camp, Felele, among others-has been on upsurge in recent times.

However, of worry is the continued threats to kill being issued by the shop owners, criminally minded residents, their children and wards.

Nation building involves creating both a sense of pride in one's country and enhancing a country's status in the eyes of other nations, which naturally is one of the ways to build national unity. Sport is one of the ways because it creates a unified goal and brands all differing groups in a nation under one banner.

Sports is an enabler of sustainable development through the growing contribution of sports to the realization of development and peace, the promotion of tolerance and respect, and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities, as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives.

Realizing the Full Potential of Aport for Sustainable Development Goals The unifying factor of sports notwithstanding, there are still challenges to fulfillment of its true potential.

Too often there are incidences of intolerance, racism, hatred and violence during sports events. Like many other areas, corruption also affects sports.

Sports organizations, managers, players and fans must do all that is possible to combat this illness and fully harness the positive power of sports. Stakeholders, therefore, should keep fighting abuses, promote the adoption of good governance, integrity and transparency, which places sustainable development goals at the core of all sporting organizations.

Harnessing the tremendous potential of sports by bringing people together from mega-sporting events to grassroots activities through its physical activities provides various social and health benefits.

Fundamental to the true enhancement of global development and the realization of the SDGs, is the establishment of strong and cohesive partnerships among diverse stakeholder networks committed to the use of sports for sustainable development.

The primary focus of extracurricular activities and sports is to teach discipline, focus, dedication, hard work, commitment and team work. And it is our responsibility as adults to value sportsmanship and award the courage to take action rather than focusing on winning or losing. Our slogan, therefore, is that we should all, the youth in particular, say, ''No'' to Thuggery, Hooliganism and Violence, but embrace the spirit of healthy competition for love, unity and improve networking and competence.

This address was delivered by Prof. Olagoke  at the 18th edition of the Rasool Cup-Under 18 Football Competition

Any focused government with vision ought to put machinery in place that will assess and evaluate the levels of performance and service delivery of political appointees.

The only exception to the above-mentioned, is a government that has a lot to hide.

Contract inflation, money laundering and misappropriation of funds are shadows of several political appointees, although cover-ups are not strange in these days of political campaigns.

Indeed, futile attempts have been made to mend fences after the damage has been done.

Political ambitions have scuttled such attempts.A leader must be decisive and not stand aloof. Interestingly, some elements in government are out for full-scale destruction based on the fierce pursuit of self-interest.

Sadly, the apex bank and commercial banks in the country have been caught in the web of intrigues, manoeuvres and sabotage and Nigerians are at the receiving end.

Of worry, is the non-committal stance of Those-in-Authority, which most believe is an ominous sign for Nigeria and DEMOCRACY.

Note-
Lawlessness, crime and all forms of criminality continue unabated while an unspecifed number of men and officers of the law enforcement agency relentlessely undermine law enforcement.

The death of the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof. George Obiozor has continued to attract reactions from Nigerians from all walks of life. In his reaction, the Eze Ndigbo of Ibadan and Oyo state, Eze(Dr.) Alex Anozie describes the death of the President General as a very painful loss to Igbos and Nigerians in general.

Excerpts: It is really painful to us, it is painful, very very painfully.I, on behalf of myself, my family, Ohaneze Ndigbo and all the Igbos in Ibadan and Oyo state send out our heartfelt condolences to the family and Ohaneze Ndigbo generally, on his demise.

It is worrisome, anyway, that Ohaneze Ndigbo will, at this point in time, begin to search for a replacement for the President General. It is really painful. It is really painful.

As I begin to think deeply, it is not a very good one, not so palatable that our prominent leaders are just passing on like that. Chief Mbazuruike Amaechi made a request to the Federal Government and pleaded with the government to, please, grant his request while he was still alive.

That request was not granted until he died. Now, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, also joined in making such a request, has also died and the request was not granted.

We are pained. These are people who also believe in a truly united Nigeria, where justice, equity and fairness should reign.

And all of us believe that if justice, equity and fairness reign in this country, 75 per cent of the problems of this country will fizzle out.

So, we pray the almighty God to bless his soul and give the Igbos, the world over, and country the fortitude to bear the great loss.

State governments majorly borrow money to pay contractors and loans collected for the quick finance of workers' salaries and retirees' pensions.

All these are offset when the states receive their monthly federal allocations. Indeed, most state governments obtained loans to finance their first choice priorities, road projects, in governance.

Sadly, the wearing costs of these road projects are unknown, while their benefits remain speculations. Interestingly, Those-in-Authority continue to play god, instead of allowing the supreme being to play God and then they play the human element of the process. They have forgotten that government is not the laboratory where experiments are carried out.

Regrettably, the ''new generation leaders'' in the states have brought in their stride-for the young and old-criminality, fetishness and diabolism.

The phrase, ''one of the safest states in Nigeria'' suggests a covert invitation to criminals as seen in some states of the federation.

It is not a surprise that career officers and political appointees are now jittery, as the failures and shortcomings in governance gradually unfold, weeks before the general elections.

Note-The leadership in Nigeria, while abroad, insisted that it has approved all the requests of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2023, even though the daily record of casualities from violent crimes-rape, killings, ritual killings, kidnappings, armed robberies and terrorism-are on the increase.

The national leadership of the Ohaneze Ndigbo has been called upon to curtail the activities of those who have continued to downgrade personalities in Igboland.

This call was made recently, by the Ezechukwujiegosioluebube nala Ibadan and Oyo state, Eze(Dr.) Alex Anozie at the Igbo day celebration in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.

''Let me also appreciate the Ohaneze worldwide leadership, ably led by Professor George Obiozo and his dynamic team, for their selfless service they are doing to Ndigbo worldwide. May the good Lord bless and guide them always in all their efforts towards serving Ndigbo better. Please your administration should try to checkmate this rising wave of P.H.D-Pull Him Down Syndrome-which has rubbished the integrity of the Igbo race.''

Eze(Dr.) Anozie also commended the Federal Government for completing the second Niger bridge, saying, ''Let me thank the Federal Government for the completion of the second Niger bridge. I am so happy, that it was on this ground, Liberty stadium of Ibadan, that while I was reading my address in year 2002 in the presence of our very dear father, leader and brother, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, as he was our special guest in that year's Igbo day like we are doing today, that I first voiced out, calling on the Federal Government to construct a second Niger bridge, I was the first Nigerian to officially make that request to the Federal Government, before others joined. I thank God, and I am so happy that it has become a reality. To God be the glory.''

''Let me quickly join respectable voices who have continued to appeal to the Federal Government to release our son Nnamdi Kanu, as ruled by the courts. I am among those who believe that political solution can resolve that issue once and for all, particularly when the security of lives and property, justice, equity and fairness begins to reign in society. ''I am joining other Nigerians to call for peaceful, free and fair elections in 2023. I am appealing to our politicians to please try playing politics without bitterness, that people who belong to different political parties should not force Nigerians  to become enemies. The Federal government should do everything very sincerely in allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to conduct free and fair elections. I am still very optimistic that Nigeria can still be fixed, '' if'' God gives us, God-fearing leadership. Thank God, all the presidential candidates contesting are all good materials. I appeal to whoever God chooses among the presidential candidates and gives us, Nigerians, that we should obediently give him every required support to succeed. To my people Ndigbo in Ibadan and Oyo state-Please continue to live in peace and harmony with your fellow Nigerians and Non-Nigerians who are living peacefully in the state.''

In the process of developing new locations in many states, those-in-authority have displaced thousands of Nigerians.

Indeed, the forced displacements include the dubious sale of several houses to conspirators, who pull down original buildings and erect something different on the land.

The forgery of property and land documents is the trend.

Sadly, this development has attracted in its wake, criminal elements, who have to a large extent damaged the reputation of the government.

Interestingly, the law enforcement and justice system have been compromised to accommodate this evil; while the people now see those-in-authority'' as bad dreams.

However, Nigerians are optimistic that the days of bad dreams would soon be over in the nearest time to come.

Note- Free, fair and credible elections can only be achieved if Those-in-Authority are not products of flawed elections. The political parties' primaries that produced candidates for political offices in 2023 were manipulated, while the arguments over the acceptability and eligibility of such candidates are still subjects of disagreements. Imposition is definitely not the true face of DEMOCRACY.

The experiments guided by the creditors have resulted in devastating socio-economic instability in Nigeria. The situation has been made worse by the obsession of today's leaders with the politics of exclusion.

This is glaring at all levels of government. Noticing that the failure in governance is now noticeable, the ''accidental'' leaders have resorted to the creation of an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, to bulldoze themselves back to political offices.

Political office holders ought to quickly realize that failure is collective in politics and should take responsibility for posterity's sake.

Fraud and deception have trailed the activities of a number of administrations at the state level, while several communities have a high concentration of illiteracy, ignorance and poverty.

Indeed, the hidden fact is hinged on the strength of lies and falsehood that are the backbones of governance in the three tiers of government.

Note- Olorunsogo, Molete/Oshodi/Felele communities, among several others in Oyo state, Nigeria, are now hideouts to various categories of criminals, whose lawless behaviors establish the fact that Those-in-Authority provide moral and financial support for their criminal activities. The saying, when the head is rotten, the whole body is also rotten, best describes the situation in many states.

Equity, Justice and Fairness currently remains perpetually in the refuse bins of many offices, just as injustice has occupied space in most states of Nigeria.

Sadly, the activities of those in the Judiciary have further aggravated the worrisome situation, while millions of Nigerians continue their lamentations for those who care to listen to their plight.

Interestingly, those-in-authority who facilitated the pitiful state of justice delivery are now vigorously promoting alternative dispute resolution in the states to disguise their evil deeds.

Indeed, the evil that men have done and shall do now will live with them in their twilight days.

Note-For the credibility, transparency and reliability of the judiciary to be preserved and remain unblemished, responsible and focused career officers ought not to abandon their duty posts for trips into controversy.

I, Eze Ndigbo of Ibadan and Oyo state, His Royal Highness, Eze(Dr.) Alex Anozie, the chairman, of the Non-Indigenes Traditional Council, Oyo state, and Ohaneze Ndigbo, Oyo state heartily welcome our brother, Mr. Peter Obi, and his running mate Alhaji Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, as they arrive for the presidential campaigns in Oyo state.

We trust God that all shall go well in peace, order, and success.

I am personally happy that the electioneering campaigns across the country ought to be peaceful and I am calling on all bonafide Nigerians to ensure that everything about the forthcoming elections ends in peace.

As I have always stated, we should learn to play politics without bitterness. Let's make political campaigns fun.

All presidential candidates going across the country should be able to campaign peacefully in any part of the country.

I am appealing to all Nigerians to approach the 2023 general election with the mindset of the fear of God, justice, fairness, and equity in mind while casting our votes for God to give us the best candidate.