Special Report

President Muhammad Buhari is reluctant to send the Service Chief packing, despite the fact that insecurity in Nigeria has got to un unbearable level. Read this-Insecurity underpins property rights in Lagos – no matter what class you are-click here-https://bit.ly/3157BmF

The Federal Government is in the process of recruiting 774,000 Nigerians through the National Directorate of Employment(NDE). Those recruited shall come from the 774 Local Governments in the country-1,000 per Local Government. The jobs are direct labor in nature and the beneficiaries shall receive N20,000 per month for three months.

However, Nigerians have have expressed worries that Senators, House of Representatives members, Ministers, State Governors and political party stalwarts may influence the recruitment process.

They lament that the jobs are temporary and the number of those to be recruited is insignificant considering the very high unemployment rate in the country.

In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that the N-Power, Tradermoni and the Direct Labor schemes are not remedies for the worrisome state of unemployment in the land. Excerpts :

Do you think that recruitment of 774 Nigerians as direct labor workers shall address the high rate of unemployment in the country ?

Unemployment saga in Nigeria as it affects mostly the youths and graduates has aggravated sinister development in terms of banditry, insurgency, armed robbery and rape for rituals to mention just a few, leading to the general state of insecurity even amidst the panic of the coronavirus pandemic.

The partial pittance of distribution of palliatives which was highly short lived exposed Nigeria’s poor state of welfare and high poverty level in terms of our population as if we are just recovering from famine and war.

Unfortunately, there is no sense of remorse or state of regret on the part of the elite, whose contribution to the impoverishment of the masses are obvious and with no place to hide as in billions of Naira worth because of the advantage of either been in government or the corridors of power. Nigeria today is known as the world headquarters of poverty and corruption, instead of addressing this, they care less about the North which could be said to be the epicenter of poverty.

The great challenge before government is to redouble their efforts in working on this for Nigeria to be more habitable.

 Government pretends to be responding to the cries of the people by rolling out a plan to solve the problem of poverty by initiating employment opportunities for 774,000 Nigerians with 1,000 candidates per Local Government.

However, the feasibility study for its effectiveness is yet to be done while the modalities for identifying the poorest of the poor continues to be a game of political jingoism because during the palliative distribution to cushion the effect of the lock down in the scanty and selected areas, even within each state’s geographical contraption.

The faces of most of the people who received the pittance of token were known to be working class and well fed. The society is yet to know how government was able to fish out the poorest of the poor.

During the N-Power program meant to reduce poverty by cushioning the effect on the unemployed youth in the society, most especially the unemployed graduates, research statistics showed that most of the beneficiaries were already engaged in various places of work, making a jamboree out of the exercise.

After two years of benefiting from the program, the beneficiaries flooded the already saturated labor market, thereby making the exercise to have no impact, while their counterparts with lesser certificates and grades, who happen to be offspring of the elite and people in government easily get absorbed into choice places of work-CBN, NNPC, NSE etc.

Government’s gesture of employing 774,000 Nigerians, though of very low impact, would have been commendable, if not for the fact that it is menial in nature, the wage of N20,000 is not impressive and the number to be recruited is too small compared to the number of unemployment youths, graduates and artisans alike.

This situation makes one wonder why successive governments have always been failing to promote the cause of our future leaders.

Unemployment became an issue in Nigeria in the year 2006 when it rose to 6 per cent, by the year 2011 it rose to 11.6 per cent , 2014 it was 19.6 per cent, in 2016 it rose to 23.9 per cent.

Despite all policies leading to the emergence of various economic interventions like OFN, Family Support, Better Life for Rural Women, DFFRI and Sure P, policy somersault rendered all of these ineffective and useless in the face of institutional indiscipline, corruption and lack of patriotism for Nigeria.

Till date our attitude has never changed, but grows worse under every government despite their campaign for positive changes.

The areas of international embarrassment included the recruitment process with over bearing influences of the State Governors, Ministers, Senators, House of Representatives members and party leaders.

Since the poorest of the poor are expected to reside in the Local Governments and communities that are remote, one should expect in a sane society therefore that the responsibility of recruiting candidates should be that of the Local Government chairmen, but for their questionable autonomy. Sadly, in Nigeria the masses are only relevant during the voting period, but are inconsequential after the elections by the people who they voted into power. Is this not a costly paradox of life ?

For this project to be of any meaningful impact, the Federal Government must increase the numbers to key into satisfying at least on third of the verifiable number of people suffering from the saga of unemployment, while their remuneration must be to the least value of the minimum wage or that of the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) members. N-Power, Tradermoni and the direct labor schemes are not remedies to our state of poverty and unemployment in the face of the gruesome level of the challenges of insecurity confronting the nation.

Much as the number of universities are not sufficient enough, the number of graduates who are unemployed should be reduced drastically either by providing jobs or establishing vocational training centers under TIVET to accommodate large numbers of people who are unemployed and to justify the teaching of entrepreneurial courses in our institutions of higher learning while government must revisit the poor state of our Technical colleges for facility update in order that we are able to produce more craftsmen, whose graduates would be able to source for loans through accredited people’s banks for the purpose of becoming job creators for others to patronize and for them to be self employed.

Besides this, most of our artisans are highly unskilled, they have caused a lot of damage on projects assigned to them.

Revived Technical colleges equally come to the rescue of giving them short term courses that would improve their proficiency with some elements of rudimentary level of managerial skills.

Only such holistic approach which is youth focused and centered can solve the challenges of the dependents which every expected working class should bear to satisfy their socio-spiritual responsibilities for peace to reign.

Above all, the issue of stable and regular electricity supply is equally germane to the survival of small and medium scale industries for the realization of genuine industrialization to be realized. 

In 2004, German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, resigned the leadership of his political party, Social Democratic Party(SDP) trailed by criticisms of his welfare reforms program.

Schroeder had insisted that his administration would not change direction, following mass protests by the opposition party.

He also resigned as the party Chairman as a result of complaints to the party over freeze on pensions and the introduction of medical fees.

 Tuesday 19th May 

We are supposed to be by now better in understanding of the scripture for self realization. It is in clear terms, we should all be able to attest that sins always bring about the wrath of God. And that the best for the atonement of sins is in our determination to go and live by the culture of soul purification to refrain from evil thoughts, occultism and abuse of terrestrial and subterranean power.

 Furthermore, we need to go into body preservation from sins and crimes to sanctify the body by refraining from indulging in illicit ecente, such as fornication, adultery, bestial acts, incest, drug abuse, human trafficking and the sponsorship of clandestine gangs.

These are preconditions to live exemplary lifestyles which can satisfy the conditions for the use of the houses of God, to seek God’s favor and for ease of beneficially impacting on the society for peace and development. Let us emulate Jesus Christ and the Holy Prophet Mohammed on this. Ramadan Kareem.

Wednesday, 20th May 

Let us realize that this is a period of harvesting the fruits of the planted trees in the month of Ramadan which marks the significance of Iti’Kaf or spiritual retreat an an esoteric research into identifying the very day to meet with God during the glorious night of power, Laelaetul Quadri, for a successful exercise of this, we must totally and committedly refrain from sins and crimes as well as all forms of evil deeds. This is because according to the Bible-James 13 : 15 ‘’ When a person is been tempted, he should not say, God is tempting me, evil cannot tempt God and God himself does not tempt any person. It is the evil things a person wants that tempts that person. His own evil desire leads him away and holds him. This desire causes sins, then the sins grows and bring death’’. This should be taken as a statement of truth that is fundamental to every human life. Holiness for Allah brings about an ease of complying with the concept of the fear of God, which is the import of the whole Ramadan fasting exercise. Let us live a modest life. Ramadan Kareem.

Thursday, 21st May

This year’s Ramadan admonishes for human consistency in goodness. This demands that we must realize that there must be limit to which we van continue to indulge in sinful acts.

The Holy Quaran 4 : 137 refers ‘’ Those who believe reject faith and go ion increasing in unbelief. All will neither forgive them nor guide them on the way’’. This is because in another verse of this chapter states clearly, ‘’Allah accept the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards, to them Allah turn in mercy for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom’’. 

The scripture continues to emphasize on consistency in goodness in the follow up of this verse of the Holy Quaran, where unmistakable affirmation is made.

 Quaran 4 : 18 sates ‘’of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil, until death faces one of them, and he says’’ now have I repented indeed’’, nor of those who die rejecting Faith ; for them have we prepared chastisement most grievous. Let us use this to rebuild our character into discipline and morality to Path find the lost glorious value of integrity’’. Ramadan Kareem.

Friday, 22nd May

The essence of the content of Ramadan is to ensure that we are less passionate about the world of materialism, but to build self and community with high level of spiritual state of piety based on holiness for God. Like in the electromotive force for system energisation or latent heat of energy increases human immunity against life hazards.

This is the essence of religion in every society.

Unfortunately, where sufficient heat is not supplied, we can’t realize the latent heat of energy; hence water would remain liquid without going into vapor or remain solid without going into liquid form.

The inability of our faith based house of God to be scripture compliant in teaching and learning makes the adherents and the society to remain morally decayed because Jesus Christ said that man shall not live by bread alone. People’s lives depends on what God has in stock for them. This is why the Holy Quaran 91 : 7–10 says ‘’ by the soul and proportion and order given to it and its inspiration as to its wrong and its right, truly he succeeds that purify it and he fails that corrupts it’’. Let us be spiritually rejuvenated to goodness. Ramadan Mubarak.

Saturday, 23rd May

After Ramadan what are the expectations to justify the rigors of the exercise, I have the joy to declare the death of the coronavirus pandemic, most especially in Nigeria. Much as we appreciate government’s efforts in stopping curtailing the spread, religious people must be joyous enough that divine intervention has justified our claim that the solution rests with God, the houses of God are expected to be open for use, but with caution against waywardness and frivolities because we are expected to be scripture compliant and refrain from evil deeds, thoughts, words and acts, with clear mind full of love for our fellow human being. The sanctity and sacredness of the Churches and Mosques are germane, not to further attract the wrath and anger of God.

The Holy Quaran 10 : 21 admonished all on this ‘’when we make mankind taste on some mercy, after adversity has touched them, behold they take to plotting against Our signs say : ‘’swifter to plan is Allah verily, Our messengers record all the plots that he make’’.

While going out of the training sessions offered by Ramadan please reflect on this practically : ‘’come, I will rehearse what Allah has really prohibited you from’’; Join not anything with him : be good to your parents; kill not your children on a plea of want; and-will provide sustenance for you and them;-come not nigh to indecent deeds, whether open or secret; take not life which Allah has made sacred except by way of justice and the law : thus doth he command you, that you may learn wisdom and come not nigh to orphan’s property except to improve it, until he attains the age of full strength; give measure and wait with full justice ;- no burden do we place on any soul but that which it can bear;-whenever you speak, speak justly even if a near relative is concerned; and fulfill the covenant of Allah : thus doth he command you that he may remember’’.

This is a standard form of exemplary lifestyle. Ramadan Mubarak.

Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria

Thursday 14th May 2020

The Ramadan agenda on I’’Itikaf or spiritual retreat into the mosque generally when Jumat services are observed is equally a very good point of study for human rumination. Three things are expected to happen while spending the last 10 days in and around the premises of the mosque.

Pondering over sermons and reading to a comprehension level the verses of the Holy Quaran for ease of application to the real life situation and for necessary attitudinal adjustment.

This is reminiscent of the power therein contained in the sermon as explained in narrative in the Quaran 10 : 57. ‘’ O mankind there art come to you an admonition from your Lord, and a healing for the diseases in your hearts, and for those who believe in Guidance and Mercy’’.

While observing this at home, because of the lock down, let us all strive to get spiritually elevated to the height of this Quaranic verse. Ramadan Kareem.

Friday 15th May

 The injunctions God on the sacredness of Friday can equally be observed at your home before and after the afternoon Solat-Zhuur.

The consciousness of the the heart and mind while the period of Jumat is approaching is equally a process of achieving the fear of God. It is equally with Godly reward-studying the Quaran needs to preoccupy one before observing the afternoon Solat and after it, one is allowed to venture into serious supplications for God’s intervention. The gains of the reward of observing Jumat service , virtually, through the mind and basically by the four Rakats of Zhuur will make one achieve the first fundamentals of sermon which would have been enjoyed by Khutbat of the Jumat service, if there had not been a lock down. All these are implied as embedded in the verses of the Holy Quaran on the significance of the Jumat service. Quaran 62 : 9–10, states ‘’ O ye who believe ! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday, the day of assembly hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah and leave off business and traffic that is best for you, but if ye but knew ! And when the prayer is finished then may ye disperse through the land and seek for the bounty of Allah-and remember All frequently that you may prosper’’.

It is imperative for any human being not to be carried away by the distractions of the situation, most especially when it comes to matters concerning our relationships and duties with and towards God.

May the almighty Allah continue to protect us from the harshness of the COVID 19 pandemic. Ramadan Kareem

Saturday 16th May

Let us remember that religion is a school of life for socio-spiritual rejuvenation of the adherents to have tranquility of the mind and a secured environment, in order that an individual would be able to maintain and sustain man/God perfect relation. But this is only achievable through imbibing the culture of the fear of God, as socially translated by Jesus Christ in John 4 : 34, ‘’Jesus said ‘’My food is to do what the one, God sent me and wants me to do. My food is to finish the work that he gave me to do’’. This is an exemplary lifestyle. recommended for all human beings most especially the Muslims as contained in the Holy Quaran 2 : 208–209. ‘’O ye how believe enter into Islam wholeheartedly, and follow not the footsteps of satan for he is to you an avowed enemy. If ye backslide after the clear signs have come to you, then know that Allah is exulted in Power, Wise.’’ Let us be an example to others. Ramadan Kareem.

Sunday 17th May

Salam, three things are germane to meet up with the goal of Ramadan fast in establishing for mankind the culture of doing things aright without transgressing and according to respect for ethical values, the demand for societal development through transparency and accountability, minding the fact that apart from human auditing, the almighty Allah is always fast without fatigue in bringing every individual to pay for the account of his deeds or misdeeds, actions and inactions. Three important articles of faith are fundamental to develop the ability deliver without deceit and destruction.

1. The practical use to which we put the teachings received from the scripture.
2. The processes of actualizing our desired status, aims and objectives. The bottom line revolves on , are they through illegitimate means ? Haram or legitimate means-Halal ?
3. The unconscious evaluation of us through our character by our neighbors-bad or good ?

Sermon offers us the opportunity to SWOT analyse ourselves and make amends.

Meditation in isolation or retreat would help us esoterically into the hidden treasures of life for us to have a close contact with the almighty Allah, while our concern through counseling others for good would bring about divine favor and the authority to live by what we profess.

However, the almighty Allah does not want us to be bags of deceit and disbelief, otherwise our prayer request would not be entertained.

Quaran 17 : 82 refers ‘’we send down stage by stage of the Quaran that which is a Healing and a Mercy to those who believe : to the unjust it causes nothing but lose after lose’’.

 let us be modest and moderate in our affairs. Ramadan Kareem.

Monday 18th May

From time immemorial till date, Muslims have been going to Mecca, and Christians have been going to Jerusalem for spiritual rejuvenation because they consider the places clean fit for prayer efficacy. Muslims in addition, go for Umrah or lesser hajj.

However, we must all be warned that spiritual tour of such dimension must never be likened to tourism. Even though they would be opportuned to visit many places of historical importance.

Since the almighty Allah is everywhere, spiritual retreat in Mecca-I’’Itikaf is not supposed to be different from the one observed in the local mosque, in one’s own country because God does not appreciate humankind based on the differences i their social status and degree of affluence.

However, the status of may local mosques and other spiritual centers are devil controlled, making them to be highly unsuitable for nay spiritual retreat.

A return from Mecca or Jerusalem therefore, demands that we should work on the spiritual status of sacredness for our worship centers. Quaran 9 : 17–18 refers ‘’it is not for such as join gods with Allah, to maintain the mosques of Allah, while the weakness against their own souls, to infidelity, the works of such bear no fruit, in Fire shall they dwell. The mosque of Allah shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah and the last day, establish regular prayers and pay Zakat. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance’’. Say not to profanity but uphold sacredness.

Examine yourself through correct assessment and evaluation to measure the degree of the state of your piety.

Make necessary amends today. Ramadan Kareem.

Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria

The National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) scheme has been weighed down by several challenges over the years. The scheme seeks to promote unity and integration among the diverse peoples of Nigeria. However, a cross section of Nigerians insist that the scheme has outlived its relevance while stressing that efforts should be geared towards repositioning the scheme. In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke says that the management of the NYSC must be above board, for the scheme to serve the purpose for which it was established.

Is the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) still functioning to provide for the the unity and integration needs of Nigerians ?

The National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) scheme was established in 1973 as an aftermath effect of sanity restoration into Nigeria after the harrowing experience of the fratricidal war of Nigeria/Biafra of 1967/70, as part of the follow up of reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation. One of the aims therefore is to foster unity among Nigerians of different tongues and tribes. The hope was to integrate people through their children, most especially the youth into different communities that constitute Nigeria.

Above all, the curriculum expectation is to inculcate in Nigerian graduates, a sense of discipline and integrity to become assets for development rather than been liabilities. The assessment of the NYSC scheme as programs and projects for Nigeria based on the above set of objectives, shall therefore be the criteria through which our assessment and evaluation shall be based.

Postings are influenced arbitrarily without considering the set of objectives for which the NYSC was established. When this happens, affected candidates are denied their rights of familiarity to areas of opportunity to learn different things like culture, tradition and languages that would have made them to understand better, the different nationalities that constitute Nigeria; for the purpose of of knowing the reasons why we must allow peaceful co-existence.

Presently, the South-South and the South East to me are still alien, if not for some opportunities of attending conferences of professional importance around the areas. The same thing happens to many of us having myopic views about regions beyond the areas of our race forcing ourselves to consume the lies and the truth about people from the races. For example, the Middle Belt and the North in general. On the security point of view, the NYSC has been badly affected. There are several cases of violence involving Corps members. The phenomenal cases of kidnapping and road hazards also contribute enormously to parental fear, making them to prefer their wards serving in near by states and in some cases their states of origin.

One expects the Federal Government to pay particular attention to the security needs of the nation and the safety of the Corps members while on service in any part of the country. The scheme is supposed to enjoy some level of immunity and privileges which could be appreciated in the Military services. When this kind of environment is guaranteed for the NYSC scheme, parents and their wards will have no alternative option to official posting procedure to be followed to the letter without any excuses or need for any influence.

Progressively, in terms of the NYSC at 10, during my own time, it paid us 200 Naira as monthly allowance, although then, the purchasing power of the Naira was equal to the Dollar and even then, jobs after the scheme were guaranteed.

However, graduates going for national service are already wallowing in an environment of poverty, inflation and unemployment, making them to live in a state of uncertainty for economic survival. Under this condition the tendency to misbehave to a state of indiscipline is very high, unless they are truly religious with very good upbringing. The NYSC scheme is therefore faced with how to regulate and control the exercise, effectively manage the incoming graduates as well as as how best to sustain the exercise not to lose track of the set objectives.The issue at stake therefore, revolve on the huge management cost for the scheme with the ever increasing number of graduates every year.

The remuneration for the NYSC participants is another issue of great economic interest. For example, we are in an era of the need for a living wage. Th status of corps members is highly above $98. Government must therefore live above rhetoric, but pay as appropriate with immediate effect, the corps members remuneration that is attractive and sustaining . If Corps members take home is about 50,000 Naira, nobody will thank the Federal Government for this. These graduates in the active service of the nation need motivation because the government forced them into the entrepreneurship scheme while they were in school most especially during their final year.

Instead of making them roam about the streets, government ought to create a saving scheme for them whereby they manage N25,000 monthly and save the remaining N25,000 for the 12 months they are to serve the nation for them to be able to establish a vocation of their choice based on the entrepreneurship scheme already acquired while they were in school. In the spirit of TIVET, such graduates must be made to have easy access to loans to complement the amount already saved. Such loans must attract very low interest rates with single digits, to be able to meet up with the agreed pay back period. An environment of this kind of hope would make the scheme continue to be relevant, while parents and their wards would be ready to accept any area of offer for the service. 

Our hope to have true integration of the people to accept other people’s culture in the spirit of one nation, lies in the success of the NYSC because only the youth filled with love for togetherness and service can achieve at sustainable level the set objective for which the NYSC was established. Finally, a scheme aims at promoting unity, system integration and production of assets rather than liabilities like the NYSC must be managed without fraud, while it must not equally be underfunded. In the spirit of Democracy that stands on justice and equity principles, the NYSC management must be above board hence people with impeccable character are expected to be saddled with the responsibility of ensuring peace and sustainable development in an environment of high respect for the fundamental human rights of the people. The youth constitute the NYSC, knowledgeable as they are, the nation must rely on them because apart from serving the nation through the primary and secondary duties assigned them, they equally promote friendship and intermarriages which Nigeria needs to be truly united.

Residents of several communities in Nigeria have expressed worries over the criminality, lawlessness and disorderliness which now characterize daily living in these communities.

Sadly, owners of houses in these communities have repeatedly failed to thoroughly screen prospective tenants before accommodating them. In the process of residing in the rented apartments, criminals of sorts ply their trade.

Indeed, community leaders and the executive and members of Landlords and Tenants Associations have by design been unsuccessful in reversing this ugly trend, in addition to the proliferation of beer parlours, ‘’Ogogoro’’ joints and hotels in residential areas.

In a sizable number of communities, the critical stakeholders have been repeatedly accused of sponsoring criminals and crime.

In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Gran Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opinest that Landlords, tenants, the police, religious leaders all have roles to play to reverse the ugly trend.

What do you think can be done to curtail criminality, lawlessness and disorderliness in communities in Nigeria ?

Nigeria is made up of units or sub-systems bound by ethical principles to promote sanity in the society for ease of interpersonal and social interactions based upon the concept of peaceful co-existence. Each unity or sub-system can be regarded as a community with peculiar characteristics that may feature as a tribe, ethnic grouping, language and some traditions that show the kind of social entertainments, peculiar works as well as dressing modes and dress codes. Customs have varieties of religious undertones that maybe originally cultural or metamorphosis of assimilated foreign religion mixed with their beliefs.

Each of these are based on some value system which keep the community peaceful safe and secured for human sustenance in their struggle to entrench sustainable development. At the national level, regionalization of communities with similar traits keep up the Geography. Fortunately, this is the basis upon which Nigeria was built through several nationalities.

It should therefore not come as a surprise that agitations based on access, equity and development do emerge, but with different causative factors. For example, various agitations leading to militancy through youth restiveness in the South-South is basically environmental and ecological devastation. That of the South-East maybe based on issues of erosion, while that of the South-West is on fall in the standard of education and setback in development.

Generally, the North suffers from desert encroachment, educational backwardness and issues of poverty in the midst of plenty leading to the increasing insecurity as exemplified in the religious fracas of the likes of Maitasine and Boko-Haram issues fueled by poverty stricken youths in the wicked environment of begging for alms for sustenance.

The question now is the relevance of our Town and Gown philosophy on the impact of the expected socio-economic impact, value laden with the light of civility expected of rural integration programs into city urbanization effect.

However, community or village primitive nature dominates the Ivory Tower civilization because the ideal and substance of the value of education is always grossly abused through unwarranted under funding, with graduates preferring to be Personal Assistants to mediocre s, other than even searching for any job which in reality will fetch them less money for sustenance, rather than the ones to earn from the corruption ridden elite, who may not necessarily have a diploma certificate.

Other questions on the roles of all stakeholders in the scheme of nation building and community service on the issue of the core values of integrity that are supposed to make the people to be law abiding and measure up to become responsible citizens.

The Obas, Emirs and Obis were the custodians of the community’s cultural values those days, only credible people with a high level of integrity were usually put into the revered positions of power through divination that would enhance them to be people oriented on matters of justice and equity. They were expected not to run foul of the law they make and monitor, to ensure that people comply.

Unfortunately, some of them sold their people out during the colonial era on a platter of token sum or gift from their foreign colonial masters, thereby throwing most of their people to the jungle of enslavement. Since then, these revered positions neither seriously respect the oracles on the matter of choice, but rather receive blood money to enthrone the worms against the wishes of the gods and goddesses. The choice is now based on who can corruptly enrich the purse of the kingmakers.

This is why customs and traditions are now mere paper tigers and nasty objects of funfair of ceremonial importance.

On the religious scene, sacredness has been torn into shreds of profanity and religious substance has been sacrificed on the platter of commerce and deceit, rendering the scripture to a poor second of mere literature books of poetic importance. It is more of an entertainment program for people’s relaxation or mere opium.

This is the very reason why religion is only been used deceptively to choose our leaders, who will never apply, even by intuition, the concept of religious lessons or application of the scripture on the issues of management and administration in governance.

For the non-performance of government that has created the environment of poverty, religious issues are now shrouded in mysteries of magical wands by many self-acclaimed religious leaders to facilitate miracles to hoodwink the innocent, gullible and unsuspecting souls.

In all these processes, the community or the nation becomes fraught with anti-social and anti-divine activities, all in the name of survival of the fittest.

Unfortunately, poverty has also affected the fabric of every home that are either further impoverished or getting richer through the soiled hands of self enrichment or corruption.

Poor parenting, a situation where responsible Fathers are absent , creates an atmosphere of single parenting or separation and even divorce. This situation has only succeeded in putting children and the youth at the risk of poor peer group, most especially when they have the opportunity of mixing in schools with others from equally poor parenting homes.

Unfortunately for us, Nigeria is bedeviled with almost 13.9 million out-of-school children, with the possibilities of joining bad company in an environment of impunity.

Education is meant for all, to the secondary school level, hence must be free and made compulsory by government.

The community service must be directed towards having grassroots harmony. this is why all stakeholders starting from the Obas, Emirs and Obis, must shun self, but uphold the principle of altruism in discharging their divine and traditional responsibilities. Parents must equally direct their energy towards the God given assignment for them to ensure good parenting that would uphold the principles of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs on psychological and sociological needs, safety and security, self esteem and self actualization for the growth and development of their children.

Taking the golden path of assured safe and good child custody, sexuality education to manage the crisis ridden regime of puberty/adolescence stage of life as well as keeping close contact with the nature nurturing needs of the children to adulthood stage of independence.

For the security of the community, every home must participate effectively in the Landlords/Tenants Association’s activities, monitoring and controlling the inflow and outflow of tenants.

The community must be sensitive on the issue of the lifestyles of all Landlords, tenants and their children, while there must be good Police/Community relations.

It is now the trend to have Police stations at the ward level. This is important just as there are Medical centers for grassroots welfare and development.

Above all, parents and religious leaders must teach and implement the provisions of the scripture to be good role models by living exemplary lifestyles, that are worthy of emulation by the children and the youth.

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.

​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.

Governments by popular choice all over the world abide and obey court orders made by those in the Judiciary.

These governments do not, however, manipulate the Judiciary to promote and perpetrate illegality.

In Nigeria, the former National Security Adviser, to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim Yaqoub El Zakzaky and several others have been held in detention for years, despite a number of court orders directing the Federal Government to release them.

This has to a large extent, resulted in the avoidable crises occasioned by their continued detention, which is in line with the motives of fifth columnists within government.

In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that President Muhammadu Buhari as a good adherent of Islam must always be guided by the voice of God through the Holy Quran, to do what is just and right to all. Excerpts :

In your views what is the way out of the imbroglio between the Federal Government and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria ?

The Shiite Muslims in Nigeria led by Ibrahim Elzakzaky had been living with us since the emergence of the Iranian revolution in 1979.

The Shiite Muslims have a record of discrimination and persecution, since the days of Ali the fourth Caliph of Islam, the son-in-law of Prophet Mohammed in Medieval time.

Islam had been broadly segregated into the world of Shiites and Sunnis.

Muslims have always been in conflict based on the antecedents of History and ideological differences.

By acts of commission or omission, where we have the Shiite Muslims, they have always been in the minority and have always wanted to be relevant in the control of power.

However, in the case of Ibrahim El zakzaky led Shiite Muslims, they have been increasing in population, in their struggles, through the conversion of many Muslims and their children in the North, most of whom happen to belong to the majority Sunni Muslims.

It is therefore, unfortunate for the Shiite Muslims, to have run into their present predicament, which was brought about by their clash with the Nigerian Army. And worse still, the clash involved the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, this is the major reason why the Shiite Muslims suffered several casualties, which led to the mass burial of over 300 of their members.

Ever since this incident, El zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat have been in detention.

''Mr. President as a good Islamic adherent must always be guided by the voice of God through the Holy Quran, in resolving matters without been unnecessarily and humanly passionate, if this voice of the Holy Quran is anything to go by :''

Quran 5 : 8

8‘‘O ye who believe ! Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity, and let not hatred of any people seduce you that ye deal not justly. Deal justly that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Allah. Lo ! Allah is informed of what ye do’’.

This resulted in struggles and agitations by his followers to press home their demands for the release of their leader and his wife.

The general opinion, is that Ibrahim El zakzaky and his wife must not be allowed to die in detention, so that Nigeria would not again, run into the sad experience of the extrajudicial saga that resulted in the death of the leader of the Boko Haram Sect, Mohammed Yusuf. The consequence of this is with us till today, with causalities spreading from the North East to almost the entire space of the Northern region.

The issue now, is the controversy surrounding the release of Elzakzaky.

Elzakzaky and his wife were charged to court by the Federal Government, perhaps, to have a legal justification to deal with the movement.

The several court orders, directing the release of Elazakzaky and his wife, has not been obeyed by the Federal Government.

However, we must take note of :

1. The fact that the issue must not be made personal by the President Muhammadu Buhari led government, who people believe may have a soft spot for the Sunni Muslims, while also respecting the Government of Saudi Arabia, that may detest the Shiite Muslims’ inclination because of some of their doctrines that negates the normal Islamic tenets upon which the Sunni Muslims claim to stand on.

The Iranian Government’s interest in the Shiites’ plight in Nigeria may further complicate the case of El zakzaky for the fear of possibly been sponsored, with readiness to strengthen the movement for possible reprisal attacks.

The major discussion is that El zakzaky must not be allowed to die in detention because of the fear of the fifth columnists in government, who may take advantage of the situation to kill the leader of the movement to make the environment very ungovernable for this administration.

The challenge before all Nigerians and our government, is now on the perceived sub-standard state of our health sector, the medical services in particular, whereby any sickly member of the elite is rather flown abroad for treatment, instead of receiving treatment locally.

Government should do all that is possible to address this all important aspect, to serve as a bequeath able legacy to the coming generation.

Our health care services must guarantee patients’ safety and security.

When this is the situation, then Elzakzaky’s and his wife’s release could be done in such a way that they are treated locally.

Another lesson, is that government ought to have learnt that leadership ability is better measured in times of crises.

The management of any crisis in future, including the present ones, must be through the experts in the family of conflict resolution.

This is because most problems snowballing into violence and insurgence are preventable, so therefore, Sociological, Psychological and Medical as well as spiritually religious experts in these realms of Peace and Conflict Resolution, are better challenged to proffer solutions to the problems for government’s implementation, rather than hurriedly making use of military solution which is supposed to be the last resort.

Finally, Mr. President as a good Islamic adherent must always be guided by the voice of God through the Holy Quran, in resolving matters without been unnecessarily and humanly passionate, if this voice of the Holy Quran is anything to go by :

Quran 5 : 8

8‘‘O ye who believe ! Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity, and let not hatred of any people seduce you that ye deal not justly. Deal justly that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Allah. Lo ! Allah is informed of what ye do’’.

The Federal Government recently disclosed that 9.9 million pupils in 56, 000 Primary schools in Nigeria have benefited from the School Feeding Program , suggesting  that this achievement, to a great extent, has impacted positively on the worrisome standard of education in the country. 

Nigerians dispute this claim, while stressing that government has done little or nothing to overhaul dilapidated school infrastructure, replace damaged desks and  chairs, recruit qualified teachers, ensure prompt payment of teachers'  salaries and  provide relevant teaching aids.

This is made more problematic with the appointment of those who are not technically fit to oversee the education sector.

In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Gran Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that the lack of proper monitoring mechanism of the program has made saboteurs to use it to enrich themselves. Excerpts :

Do you think the school feeding program of the Federal Government has  made a positive impact on the standard of education at the Primary school level ?

 We need to appreciate the Federal Government's efforts under President Muhammadu Buhari for venturing into the feeding of pupils in our primary schools because the government before him never heeded to the clarion call for  free mid-day meal for our children at their formative age, whereby balanced diet would ever have direct impact on their growth and their reasoning faculties.

However, as good as the policy is, the program has suffered a lot; because of  its poor implementation .

In the first, place it does not cut across board, considering the number of public schools in Nigeria.

If the figure the government claims to have attained, is to be reckoned with, we have more than 9.9 million children  in our public primary schools and the number of schools is more than 56,000.

Apart from these lapses, the Federal Government does not have any serious monitoring mechanism, giving way for saboteurs to enrich themselves through the program.

The connivance between some fraudulent education officials, some Head Teachers and the food vendors, has made it possible to shortchange the children because there  are cases of some schools where one egg is usually shared into 16 places while the  the quality of food is poor in most cases.

The major objective of the program is not only to serve the children with balanced diet, but to enable children of the poor to equally attend school as well as to increase  the number of children who attend classes; courtesy of the relief the mid-day meal must have brought about for the poor parents, whose children had earlier been denied access to basic education.

In terms of statistics, therefore, for class attendance there has not been a remarkable increase.

Worse still, the government officials and elite sponsoring this program of mid-day meals have failed totally to patronize public schools, but instead send their children and wards to either  expensive  choice private schools, ignorantly assessed to befit their status or rather send them overseas or to neighboring countries considered to be functional education friendly.

If their children or grand children attend these schools, government would never be at the mercy of relying on false information, regarding the fairness of the program and correctness of the impact, the program must have had on pupils, school performance and the needed improvement in class attendance.

Government needs to establish an independent body, saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the implementation of the program, with adequate transparency and accountability.

This would enable the barriers of project implementation with impunity to be broken, for government's efforts to yield the desired results.

Generally, therefore, government must equally charge the mass media, most especially the electronics, to embark on sensitization and assessment reports through the peoples' parliament for it to have accurate  and reliable data through the pulse of the nation. This would bring offenders to book and would serve as deterrence to  those who might have such intentions.

The program is laudable but implementation and the low involvement of the children of the elite, serves to weaken the expected effectiveness of the program as well as serving as threats because it is very hard for the people to feel the impact due to the various listed barriers and acts of sabotage that are yet to be addressed.

The All Workers Convergence has expressed disappointment over President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise to ensure the implementation of the N30,000 new national minimum wage very soon.

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

‘’We the Nigerian workers are disappointed in Mr. President and we urge him to correct himself by ensuring that in the next seven days all the dust surrounding the payment of the new national minimum wage is settled, if actually he is serious with his promises. What we have been hearing from President Buhari is that very soon it shall become a reality. Workers are forced to ask how soon is very soon ?’’

‘’It should also be stated that how much is N30,000 that governments across the federation are expressing reluctance to pay, money that is not worth a living wage is what they are delaying. We the Nigerian workers can no longer trust Mr. President in the issue of the new minimum wage. He is playing on our collective intelligence, he is not ready to make workers smile’’, Comrade Emelieze lamented.

The All Workers Convergence(AWC) has advised married couples not to allow negative happenings in the society today to disintegrate their homes.

The AWC gave this advice recently,  through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

''The AWC  advises maaried couples and families, most especially the young ones not to allow mounting negative happenings in society to erode family bond, unity and togetherness  to the extent of destroying their marriages.''

''However, even if we have to do otherwise, partners should recognize that they both have the right tom seek redress through legitimate means, not through extrajudicial means, so that the marriage would not result in self destruction because it is better to go one's way than to go through the path of destruction, when marrigaes are not working'', Comrade Emelieze concluded.

The All Workers Convergence(AWC) has declared that the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration has lost the goodwill of past leaders and Nigerians as a whole.

The AWC made this declaration through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, in a chat with Poverty Line.

''Former Nigerian Heads of  State and Presidents no longer believe in the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration. President Buhari has lost the goodwill of past leaders and Nigerians as a whole. Nigerians no longer trust him.''

Nigerians are only hoping and praying for God's intervention, while the socially conscious ones have concluded that the problem with the country is President Buhari and the ruling class'', Comrade Emelieze noted

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the recently concluded Presidential elections in Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has raised the alarm over  the Federal Government's plot to implicate him in a phantom coup.

According to a statement issued  by the Media Aide of Alhaji Abubakar, Paul Ibe, the plot was to prevent the exposure of the irregularities that characterizede the elections.

“We want to know why the desperation on the part of the Muhammadu Buhari government to rope in the PDP and its Presidential candidate in phantom plots? Obviously, President Buhari wants to replay the phantom coup plot saga of his now deceased mentor, who threw former President Olusegun Obasanjo in jail after falsely accusing him of treason in order to perpetuate himself in power.''

 

“Could it be that they are now aware that the electoral fraud they perpetrated during the last presidential election is about to be exposed beyond a shadow of a doubt? 

 

“For the avoidance of doubt, Atiku Abubakar resisted the Abacha dictatorship, of which President Muhammadu Buhari was a prominent member, and it is his resistance and the sacrifice of his co-travellers, like Chief MKO Abiola and Alex Ekwueme, amongst others, that gave rise to the democracy that the current government is now trampling on'', the statement concluded.