It was a bloody weekend in Benue state following the gruesome murder of 14 persons by unknown gunmen in two separate attacks on communities in Ukum and Okpokwu local government areas of the state.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has become the theatre of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Continue reading PDP Wike’s theatre, says APC at Vanguard News.
ABUJA-EVEN as the car of the missing Major General Idris Alkali was found on Saturday, in a mining pond in Du area of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, the Nigerian Army authorities have been thrown in a more confused State following the inability of the search team to uncover the whereabouts of the just recently retired military officer.
THE organised labour has suspended the ongoing strike with effect from today, Sunday.
Continue reading Breaking: Labour suspends strike at Vanguard News.
Dubai International Airport denied Yemeni Houthi rebels’ reports that the airport was attacked by drones, the Dubai government’s media office said on Sunday.
Continue reading Dubai airport denies attacks by Houthi rebels’ drones at Vanguard News.
In a bid to achieve greatness in Lagos East senatorial district, Ajao Onalapo Afeez Adetola, a Senatorial Aspirant of All Progressive Congress, has resolved to support and work together with the incumbent Senator, Gbenga Ashafa who is vying for third term in the forthcoming elections to continue his good works.
Continue reading Why I stepped down for Gbenga Ashafa- Ajah Onalapo Afeez at Vanguard News.
Five people died after a boat carrying illegal migrants capsized off Turkey’s northwestern coast on Sunday, state media reported.
The Turkish coastguard found the bodies after the rubber vessel sank off the Enez district in Edirne province, Anadolu news agency said.
Fearing the numbers on board could be higher, the coastguard continued search and rescue efforts, the agency added.
READ ALSO: APC shifts Zamfara gov primary to Monday
The cause of the incident was not yet known but a Mediterranean storm is battering Greece and brought heavy rain and wind to Turkey’s Aegean cities.
The agency did not give details of the migrants’ nationalities however Turkey hosts over three million Syrian refugees and up to 300,000 Iraqis.
It is also one of the transit countries used by those fleeing war and poverty to try and reach Europe.
The flow of refugees into Europe has slowed since the influx hit a peak in 2015 when over a million people landed in Greece from Turkey, the majority via boats.
(AFP)
The Zamfara Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has shifted its governorship primaries to Oct. 1, due to non-arrival of the election committee from the National Headquarters in Abuja.
This was contained in a statement issued to newsmen in Gusau on Sunday by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Malam Shehu Isa.
Meanwhile, the Police Command in the state has appealed to stakeholders to cooperate with security agencies and abide by security measures during the primaries.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Usman Belel made the call at a security stakeholders meeting in Gusau.
This was contained in a statement in Gusau on Sunday by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Muhammad Shehu.
Shehu said the meeting was attended by heads of security agencies in the state, officials from Independent National Electoral Commission and the APC governorship aspirants.
“The meeting was aimed at taking proactive security measures for effective security coverage before, during and after the APC governorship primaries in the state,’’ he said.
(NAN)
African nations would support Gianni Infantino for re-election as FIFA president, the head of the continental football federation Ahmad Ahmad said on Sunday.
“I feel it is my duty… to announce this support from Africa,” Ahmad said at a special meeting of the Confederation of African Football Executive Committee, which Infantino attended, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
Infantino, a former deputy head of UEFA, was first elected in 2016 to succeed Sepp Blatter, when the scandal that engulfed the governing body of world football was at its height.
The next presidential election will be held in Paris in June 2019 and Infantino has said he will stand.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Confusion trails Ogun APC gov primary
Infantino expressed his gratitude for the African backing.
“It means a lot to me,” said the Swiss. “Since long before my election, I had said, and since I have done everything, to make sure that the future really is Africa.”
Infantino is believed to have supported Ahmad when he ousted the long-time CAF president Issa Hayatou in March 2017.
Infantino described the election as a “vote of change”.
“It’s about taking football forward, it’s about making progress together,” Infantino told CAF delegates, calling for “a real impact.”
According to reports, Infantino was investigated by the FIFA ethics committee for interfering in the CAF election when he removed leading members of the committee. He later sacked the chairman and members of the ethics committee, effectively ending the probe.
Ahmad said that despite the failure of African nations during the World Cup in Russia, where none of the five African nations made it to the last 16, the continent needed “regular and increased” participation.
“Deep analysis” makes it possible to “see more clearly the various problems that undermine African football,” he said.
Ahmad said that participation (in the World Cup) “stabilises some of the national teams of our continent… and gives them experience.”
(AFP)
…as PDP holds parallel gov primary
LOKOJA-One of the affiliate of Buhari Campaign Organization, the Bus conductors Association of Nigeria, BCAN, has back the second term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari, said they are in a hurry to see him return to Aso Rock.
Continue reading We‘ll return Buhari to Aso rock in 2019 – Bus Conductors at Vanguard News.
Awka- STAKEHOLDERS of the ruling All Progressives Grand All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Anambra East local government, which is Governor Willie Obiano’s constituency, weekend accused him of fueling crisis in APGA in the area, warning that they might be forced to vote for a candidate of another political party should the governor insist on imposing an unacceptable candidate for the House of Assembly.
Continue reading Obiano’s kindred accuse him of fueling crisis in APGA at Vanguard News.
The Zamfara Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has shifted its governorship primaries to Oct. 1, due to non arrival of the election committee from the National Headquarters in Abuja.
Continue reading APC shifts Zamfara governorship primary election to Monday at Vanguard News.
ABOH - GUNMEN suspected to be sea pirates dressed in Army uniform, weekend, invaded the Aboh police divisional headquarters, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State and shot dead, police officers.
Continue reading Gunmen invades police station in Delta, kill 2 officers at Vanguard News.
No fewer than 150,000 persons have been displaced by flood in Bayelsa, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Sunday disclosed.
Continue reading 150,000 persons displaced by flood in Bayelsa- NEMA at Vanguard News.
Video: I shall meet those who want to contest against me - Buhari
Continue reading Video: I shall meet those who want to contest against me – Buhari at Vanguard News.
Some All Progressives Party (APC) card-carrying members in Bauchi on Sunday expressed their disenchantment over the late commencement of the party’ s primaries in the state.
Continue reading APC members in Bauchi decry late commencement of primaries at Vanguard News.
DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa yesterday continued with his regular visit to holding camps where those displaced by flood are housed.
Continue reading FLOOD: Okowa visits IDP camps at Vanguard News.
Some operators in the building sector say the benefits of the country’s independence have not been felt in the housing and construction industry.
A blood sucking mosquito really turned Dracula, when it lodged in a Vietnamese man’s nose for several days.
Continue reading Video: Mosquito lodges in man’s nose for days sucking blood at Vanguard News.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy Governor-elect in Ekiti, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, has denied having an anointed candidate for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1 race.
Continue reading Ekiti deputy governor-elect denies having preferred candidate at Vanguard News.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has not endorsed Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the Lagos All Progressives Congress governorship primary scheduled for Monday.
Continue reading Osinbajo neutral in APC Lagos governorship race at Vanguard News.
A prominent Boko Haram Commander, Ali Gaga has been killed by other Commanders of the terrorist group while planning to surrender to the military authorities and escape with about 300 captives from their den, a competent source disclosed.
Gov.Kashim Shettima of Borno on has endorsed Prof. Babagana Umara-Zulum, the State’s Commissioner For Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement to succeed him.
Continue reading Gov. Shettima endorses Prof. Umara-Zulum successor at Vanguard News.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency, Mustapha Maihaja, tells IFEANYI ONUBA and OKECHUKWU NNODIM that emergency management agencies in states are the weak links in disaster management
The flood in four states, among the states that are affected, has been declared as a national disaster. Please explain.
READ ALSO: I sacrificed my career for my children –Chuddy K
The 12 states are the frontline states along Rivers Niger and Benue. So, there are 12 frontline states that are really threatened by the rising level of water in the two rivers. But four states are already experiencing the devastating flood as a result of the rise in the water levels at the confluence of the two rivers in Lokoja.
The situation was declared a national disaster or emergency because of the quantum of flood in those four states. Also it means that the states cannot cope with the magnitude of devastation hence the federal government’s response is considered necessary. So declaration of national disaster means that the DG of NEMA, under the delegated authority of Mr. President, can require any federal agency to use its authority and resources to support the states. This is under coordination of NEMA as provided by the Act establishing the agency.
Eight states were put under red alert. What does this mean?
The eight states are being monitored because it is expected that if the water level continues to rise, the states will also experience very serious flooding and this may lead to disaster. So, that is why they are kept under monitoring and we are prepared to ensure that we respond very quickly. However, in the 12 states, we have deployed search and rescue personnel with rescue operations and facilities in place. Evacuation was carried out in some of them so that if the flood comes, the consequences will be reduced to the minimum.
How would you rate the cooperation that you have been getting from the affected states?
The states that we have declared national disaster can only work with us because the Federal Government has taken over the disaster management activities there. We will use the apparatus of the states that are being monitored. I mean their emergency management agencies will work in collaboration with our personnel to ensure that the evacuation from the affected areas is done.
However, the fact is that in the emergency structure, the states remain a weak link in terms of funding and capacity. That is why sometimes, NEMA tends to be overstretched when such kind of emergency happens simultaneously because we, at times, had to do the work of the states.
What are the functions of the Emergency Operation Centres?
Prior to the declaration of national disaster, there were certain policies established by government. First, the National Disaster Response Plan is a policy approved by the Federal Government that guides operations under emergencies. There is the National Contingency Plan which is a policy document that also guides us in setting up formidable structures to respond to disasters and so it was activated on September 15 this year. Then the EOCs had to be created. There is the National EOC located at the headquarters and five other territorial EOCs have been activated. They work 24 hours, receiving information, data and all necessary messages required to guide us in taking certain decisions that are absolutely necessary in addressing this issue. For example, we have a number of people affected and this number can grow further. So the EOCs on the ground in any territory will send information stating that they need food supplies, water and any other thing that should be deployed.
READ ALSO: Despite huge gas reserves, power plants suffer shortages
The flood situation this year is becoming severe. Can it be compared now to what was experienced in 2012?
In reality the flood levels from September 6 to September 22 this year are more than the levels experienced in 2012. But the 2012 disaster occurred when the water level reached 12.84 metres and this happened on September 29, 2012. So expectedly, with the rate at which it is rising now, on September 29 this year it may exceed 12.84m. This means we could reach 12.84m earlier than September 29, but as of September 21, it was 11.21m, just a few metres away from 12.84m.
In 2012, the casualty figure was high. What’s the figure now?
As of September 22, 2018, we’ve recorded over 100 casualties and it was 363 in 2012. We announced 70 casualties in our previous briefings but the casualty figure has risen to 101 on September 22.
Apart from the 12 states identified, is there a likelihood that the situation may spread to other states?
No, because the states that are affected currently are located along the bank of the two rivers. In fact, the rivers pass through these 12 states.
In one of your reports, it was stated that NEMA would need about N12bn to manage the situation but what you have is about N3bn. How do you intend to raise the remaining balance of about N9bn?
This is how it is done professionally. You will consider the number of displaced people, logistics and other requirements that you need to cater for. Now, for the first one month, we need a little above N3bn. This operation will extend up to February or March (2019) and so, when you extrapolate, then you will come up with the requirement for the period that I just mentioned and this amounts to about N12bn. But right now, we are still adequately funded to take care of what we need.
What is the level of cooperation from those people that have been affected by the disaster?
The people are in distress. Imagine now that your phone is lost, how will you react to it? Those people have lost their houses, property and all the assets that they must have bought over the years. So obviously, it’s a situation that is devastating to them and so the people are very worried which is why our task is to ensure that we alleviate their sufferings.
How are responders’ requests on boats and GPS mapping being met?
We have a department on GIS here and there are international agencies such as the United Nations that we are using their facilities. We are also using that of the European Commission and so every facility required is on the ground. The structure is perfectly positioned to really respond to any emergency even beyond what we are facing now.
Are you collaborating with the ministry of agriculture considering that over 60,208 hectares of agric land have been destroyed?
At the first meeting that we convened on September 7, when we observed this situation, when it was growing at an alarming rate, when we declared national disaster, all stakeholders, such as ministries of water resources, environment and agriculture and other stakeholders and agencies of government, came together to take that decision.
We at NEMA coordinate all federal government agencies as provided by law that established the agency.
What are some of the challenges you are currently experiencing in this exercise?
One interesting thing about this government is that it has given us every support that we need to work and face the challenges being provided. However, there is the challenge of time (because sometimes, we stay awake with stakeholders up to 3am even during weekends). We are also preparing to move to site to see if the structures we put in place are actually working. The challenge mainly is that we foresee that if there are delays in funding, we could have a problem. But so far, we have started just about a week and we have enough (funds) to go up to a month. But we don’t know what will happen.
Another challenge is that the communications of operators and the GSM network that we have on the sites are not really working very well. We also have failure in satellite communications due to poor communication network.
The vehicular requirements that we need have not been supplied. What we have is not what we need to effectively carry out our operations. We have the money to buy but the process to buy is tied down with logistic constraints; not because (money) is not there but the processes take some time.
From the experience of 2012, how long do you think we can wait before this flood starts to recede?
It might not go down quickly because the forecasts say the northern part will experience rains up to September 28, whereas the southern part will continue till the end of November. So unless the rains stop, this water may not recede as quickly as possible.
The rain converges on River Niger or River Benue and one cannot say when it will recede.
Where do you host the displaced population?
Before this time, the six committees that we set up went to the 12 states to identify locations in higher grounds, where we can move displaced people if the disaster continues. Those places include hostels constructed by the Presidential Committee on Flooding and Rehabilitation. There are places and any other locations that the state governments have approved for us.
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Senator Ahmed Makarfi tells JOHN ALECHENU that he has the experience needed to win the 2019 presidential election
What makes Makarfi stand out from the other PDP presidential aspirants in the 2019 election?
All members of the party aspiring to fly the flag of the party are eminently qualified to be President of this country. But then, when you have a crop of eminently-ualified Nigerians, there is somebody among them that is the most qualified because they all have their antecedents. I have been a lecturer, a banker, an accountant, commissioner, governor, senator and above all, national chairman of a major political party. Part of the problem the current government has is the lack of harmony between the parties, the legislature and the executive. I am not a stranger to the executive; I am not a stranger to the legislature; I am not a stranger to party management. In fact, I managed the PDP at a very turbulent time but, with the support of other committee members, I was able to stabilise the party to make it the beautiful bride it is today.
How do you hope to defeat others in the primaries?
To the delegates of the PDP, Makarfi has remained a loyal, committed member of the party who has never known any other identity. As far as the party is concerned, my antecedents speak for me. At the time I became governor of Kaduna State, the problems bedevilling Kaduna were not different from the problems bedevilling Nigeria today — problems of disunity, distrust among the component parts, the agitations for self-determination because people felt they were marginalised. Kaduna was divided; Kaduna is a mini Nigeria. There is no segment of Nigeria that is not represented in a substantial proportion.
Do you have faith in the PDP’s ability to conduct a free and fair primary?
Yes. We believe the PDP has turned a new leaf. This is a brand new PDP that has no impunity; one where we have decency and compliance with procedure is now the order of the day. We believe when these are in place, a free, fair and credible primary will be in place. We have always said it is not a do-or-die affair. We will be comfortable with the outcome of a credible process and we will support whoever emerges just as we expect that they will support us when we emerge.
What should Nigeria expect in the presidential election if you win the primary?
Nigerians should expect the PDP to bounce back. We hope to win the election because we believe Nigerians will trust Makarfi with the leadership of the country, having been tried and tested in the administration of a state like Kaduna which is referred to as a mini Nigeria.
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The death toll from a powerful earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia leapt to 832 Sunday, as stunned people on the stricken island of Sulawesi struggled to find food and water and looting spread.
Continue reading Death toll over 800 in Indonesia’s quake-Tsunami at Vanguard News.
Adopting digital economy would further boost Nigeria’s annual Gross Domestic Product, GDP, to N3.7 trillion by 2025.
Comrade Sunny Ofehe is human rights activist. He was a Governorship aspirant in Delta State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC until he stepped down for Chief Great Ogboru last week.
Kurds voted in a parliamentary election in their semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq on Sunday, with the two dominant parties widely expected to extend their power sharing rule despite growing discontent.
Continue reading Iraqi Kurds vote in regional election at Vanguard News.
The Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, says brain drain, improper policies and investments, inadequate facilities and health insurance are yet to be addressed in the health sector as the nation marks its 58th independence.
Continue reading Independence Day: Health sector still needs improvement, says NMA at Vanguard News.
Hundreds of thousands of women turned out for a wave of nationwide protests in Brazil on Saturday against the candidacy of the right-wing frontrunner in next week’s presidential election, Jair Bolsonaro.
The controversial Bolsonaro, who was released from hospital on Saturday after being stabbed and seriously wounded by a left-wing activist during a rally on September 6, is currently leading in opinion polls.
Marches organized by a social media campaign under the hashtag #EleNao (Not Him) began in earnest around 1800 GMT in dozens of cities including Rio de Janeiro, where thousands of women converged at vast Cinelandia square, to be joined by a column of others marching from the Avenida Rio Branco, a major thoroughfare, AFP journalists reported.
Continue reading #NotHim: Brazil’s women march against Bolsonaro at Vanguard News.
Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) says the government is grappling with the food and non-food needs of more than 12, 000 flood victims in the internally displaced camps in the state.
Continue reading Anambra govt. grapples with needs of flood victims – Official at Vanguard News.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “intensify his government crackdown on corrupt money and recovery of other illicit wealth by public officials and institutions to fund the proposed N65,000 national minimum wage by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), if he is to fulfil the needs of ordinary Nigerians who continue to struggle to make ends meet, and whom he has called his ‘constituency’.”
Gov.Kashim Shettima of Borno on has endorsed Prof. Babagana Umara-Zulum, the State’s Commissioner For Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement to succeed him.
Continue reading Gov. Shettima endorses Prof. Umara-Zulum successor at Vanguard News.
The Association of Nigerian Physicians in America (ANPA) has pledged to enlist the services of over 5,000 members to assist Nigeria to scale-up its health indices and boost healthcare delivery.
Continue reading ANPA to assist Nigeria scale-up healthcare at Vanguard News.
European Union nations may boast the world’s most stringent anti-money laundering rules, but recent scandals show that money launderers are good at exploiting the bloc’s Achilles’ heel: A patent lack of coordination.
Continue reading Money launderers turn EU banks into playground at Vanguard News.
Foreign affairs minister Geoffrey Onyeama has called on the international community to demonstrate strong commitment to policy of returning of all illicit assets and money to their countries of origin.
Continue reading Nigeria seeks global support on illicit assets at Vanguard News.
A House of Representatives hopeful for Okpe Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency, Hon. Kennedy Eyube, has charged delegates on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, to vote for him during the party’s primaries for him to emerge as the standard bearer of the party, saying he is the right person to represent his constituency in Abuja.
Continue reading APC primary: Eyube seeks Okpe Sapele/Uvwie delegates support at Vanguard News.
LEADER of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, yesterday, affirmed that the reason Deltans are voting President Muhammadu Buhari for second term in 2019 is because of his commitment to the infrastructural development of the Niger Delta.
Continue reading Why Deltans are returning Buhari as President – Emerhor, Adjogbe at Vanguard News.
Ahead of the 2019 governorship election, Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, has approved the appointment of Pam Gyang as the Director-General of his campaign organization.
Continue reading Plateau 2019: Lalong picks Gyang as Campaign DG at Vanguard News.
PORT HARCOURT - PUBLIC accountability advocacy group, Social Action, has called for a law at preventing deliberate denial of citizens participation in budget process and project delivery by governments in Nigeria.
Senator Aisha Alhassan, yesterday, dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the United Democratic Party, UDP, over what she termed as unjust treatment by the leadership of APC which, she claimed, denied her clearance for the party’s governorship primary.
Continue reading ‘Oshiomhole set to destroy party’ at Vanguard News.
WISDOM is the most desirable thing for a per-son who wants to make it in life. If a person is not wise, all the things in this world would run away from him or her.
Continue reading Desire and apply wisdom at Vanguard News.
The Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAM, Is-haq Oloyede, has revealed how the examination body was able to return a whopping N7.8billion to the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria in less than one year.
Brethren, preparing for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is the cardinal duty of every child of God. In the pre-paration we must be mindful of our first love which is to love the Lord with all our heart and give Him pre-eminence in all our doings.
Continue reading Be watchful, strengthen that which remaineth (3) at Vanguard News.
A former member of the House of Representatives and the Senate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, tells LEKE BAIYEWU about his political ambition
What do you think qualifies you to be Nigeria’s President?
I am qualified based on the fact that I have satisfied all the constitutional requirements. I have satisfied all the political requirements and social criteria. I have been a Senator of the Federal Republic and I have risen through the ranks in business and career to the point of founding a university (Baze University), serving as its Pro-Chancellor for the past eight years. I have risen through the ranks of everything that I have done. The next office for me to aspire to is the Presidency. More so, I believe that only the enormous powers of that office will help me and enable me to solve the giant problems of Nigeria and make it the country of our dreams.
READ ALSO: Court will nullify service chiefs’ appointments if challenged — Agbakoba
How do you hope to defeat other presidential aspirants in the primary?
I want to create further awareness and familiarity with the delegates and the party leaders, making them to understand who I am facing in 2019; making them to see reason why it must not be business as usual. I would make them to realise that money must not play a role but only integrity, honour and what an aspirant is all about.
Do you have faith in PDP’s ability to conduct a free and fair primary?
Let us wait and see. I am reasonably comfortable but we wait to see how the whole exercise would play out.
What should Nigeria expect in the election if you win the primary?
If I win at the primary, I will be surprised if President Muhammadu Buhari still agrees to fly the ticket of the All Progressives Congress. He will most probably quit the race. Nigerians should expect APC to be heavily defeated in the 2019 elections. With me as the PDP candidate, there is no chance for Buhari. Absolutely! I am the antidote to Buhari. I am his complete opposite. Buhari is about the old, I am about the new. Buhari is about incapacity, I am about capacity. Buhari is about the past, I am about now and the future. Buhari is about arresting and detaining people, I am about solving systemic problems. Buhari is about agriculture, I am about education, empowerment, industry, technology. So, we are completely different. Buhari is about religious bigotry. I am about gender sensitivity, ethnic and religious balance. Mark my words: ethnic and religious balance. I am the complete opposite of Buhari and he stands absolutely no chance against me.
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Chief Frank Kokori, former General Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, who played a significant role to actualise the June 12, 1993 election, expresses his disappointment with the present state of the nation in this interview with SUNDAY ABORISADE
Nigeria will be 58 years old as an independent nation on Monday. Do you think the occasion is worth celebrating?
I was already in secondary school during the nation’s independence. We thought that immediately after independence, Nigeria will move and soar in terms of social, political and economic development within 20 years. When I was growing up in Warri, (Delta State), there was pipe borne water everywhere and electricity was constant. They were provided by the Public Works Department. When I moved to Lagos in the early 60s to complete my secondary school education, all social infrastructure was working perfectly. Unfortunately, the situation is deteriorating by the day. I had the opportunity of travelling to Europe, America and other parts of the world as a young worker, a unionist in the 1970s. I saw the standard of living of residents of those countries. They were far below that of Nigeria. When I went to China and I saw their people riding bicycles as means of transportation, I was shocked because we already had municipal buses and taxis conveying passengers to their various destinations in Lagos. I particularly saw the Indians to be very low people in terms of development. I also remembered that it was difficult for me to see a colour-television when I travelled to the UK in 1978 whereas, I already owned one in my apartment in Lagos as a young worker with NUPENG.
How did we get it wrong?
Nigeria’s problem is that of leadership failure. We don’t have men of character, or patriotic individuals in positions of authority. That is why our leaders, over the years, failed to drive this nation to where we ought to be. I always weep each time I see pictures and videos of young Nigerians passing through the worst inhuman treatment while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of greener pasture. The problem actually affects the entire African continent and I wonder why it is so. I will say it is peculiar to the black people. Apart from one or two countries in Africa where leaders have shown courage, capacity and high level of sincerity, I am not aware of other countries that had had an opportunity to be led by visionary leaders. In my early days, when Nigerians go to Europe, he goes to study, not to do menial jobs. When you see young Nigerians abroad in those days, you will be proud of them because they were either studying in the university or polytechnic.
But our leaders who governed the country at independence actually did well. Is it that the institutions they put in place were not sustainable?
I remembered a protest that happened while I was at the Eko Boys High School in the Mushin-Oloosa area of Lagos. It was a violent situation with people burning houses because there was an election malpractice somewhere. People were politically conscious and they were interested in those who would manage their affairs. That was why social amenities were working. I could remember vividly then that there were functioning general hospitals all over the places, including LUTH, that people could just walk into and get free treatment. The situation is deteriorating now and the nation is retrogressing instead of progressing. Many Asian countries that we saw in terrible backward state in the 1970s, are well ahead of us now, in terms of scientific and technological development. While those Asian countries that were using bicycles while Nigerians rode in brand new municipal buses and taxes, are now using the latest means of transportation. In fact, we now use the vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles and bicycles made by them.
What do you think of the roles played by the military who claimed they seized power to restore sanity into the system by clearing the mess created by politicians then?
In fact, the military contributed immensely to the rot which we have in the system now. The soldiers took over the system and became lords with no one to challenge them. They constituted themselves into the Supreme Military Council where about 20 young military officers would sit down and determine the fate of a great country like Nigeria. They did what they liked and destroyed all the institution, the economy and of course, our political structures that could drive development. They contributed greatly to the downgrading of the standard of living of Nigerians. Today, poverty level in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world, no thanks to the military. Rather than developing human capital and creating jobs, the military rulers made some people multi-billionaires. We have very wealthy people in Nigeria flaunting their wealth in the faces of poverty-stricken, helpless citizens in their millions.
Do you agree that the discovery of oil in the early 70s made us lazy as a people and our leaders who were supposed to manage other natural resources and agriculture, neglected them because of the free oil money?
That is absolutely correct and it is the wickedness of the leaders that made them to neglect critical revenue-yielding sectors simply because a lot of oil revenue was coming in. They are just talking about diversification when they had destroyed the entire system, 58 years after our independence. It is a shame. The situation we have now is what I call failure of leadership, the type of leadership is without foresight. For instance the discovery of oil was supposed to be a blessing rather than being a curse. Oil is a commodity that has an expiry time. After some time, we won’t get it any longer and by the time we have wasted the wealth, we would have nothing to fall back on. Look at a country like Norway which has some quantity of oil but investing heavily with the proceeds they are getting from it. The Norwegian government established its own oil company and used the proceeds to invest heavily in properties all over the world. Their thinking is that the oil would dry up one day and their people must have something to fall back on. Norway can never recede into recession in the next 100 years because they have investment all over the world. The money they get from oil is too much that a worker, apart from having a good car, also has a yacht which he or she uses to enjoy with his or her family. I am always ashamed when our country is ranked among the poorest nations in the world despite our abundant oil and gas deposit that was discovered in commercial quantities several decades ago. The middle class in Nigeria today cannot buy a good car not to talk of people in the junior working class category. Norway is a classic example of a country that has made life so easy for its people.
Nigerians had so much hope in the ability of President muhammadu Buhari to right the wrongs by voting for him in 2015 but many people believe that nothing has really changed after three years. What is your reaction?
We elected President Buhari because we wanted him to fight corruption but he keeps on saying that corruption is fighting back. A country where the judiciary and the police are corrupt is in a very serious problem. The police and the judiciary, as a result of corruption, are finding it difficult to successfully investigate and prosecute corrupt leaders within six months and jail them. These days, police and military officers extort money from people especially motorists in broad daylight with nobody doing anything about it. The civil society and labour unions that are supposed to act as monitors of government officials and their activities have also been compromised. I don’t think we have good labour leaders any longer in this country. Even if there are, they may not be up to five per cent. A country without a strict judiciary, without strong law enforcement agencies will just sink.
Do you agree with President Buhari that he is unable to do much as regards fixing the economy because the Peoples Democratic Party’s government destroyed the system for 16 years?
People might say I am biased because I am an All Progressives Congress leader but the PDP actually contributed to the mess in the land. However, the APC is also too slow with the implementation of its change agenda. Personally, I never accepted the type of slow system that the APC government is running in the last three years. From the Federal Government down to the local levels, the system has been considerably slowed down.
Is that why some APC leaders are now defecting to the PDP?
Definitely, the PDP is not the alternative to the APC because we can’t go back to Egypt. That is my opinion; it’s not because I am an APC person. Nigerians should not be blaming the Federal Government; people should ask their governors and local government chairmen for accountability. For instance, flood is taking over the whole place and the state could not do anything about it. Buhari is still the only alternative that we have. He is the only person who would not steal the nation’s money.
But many Nigerians are accusing him of not being in charge and that a powerful cabal has hijacked his government.
Yes, President Buhari should shine his eyes and watch the people he puts in various positions. He should devise a means of monitoring them through an effective and feedback mechanism. I know he has some limitations and challenges but I think President Buhari is too slow in taking critical actions and many people, including those working with him that he appointed into offices, have abused democracy under his watch. So, we need some toughness from Mr. President.
What is actually happening on the NSITF board, where you are named the chairman? It has yet to be inaugurated more than a year after President Buhari appointed you and others?
I was appointed the Chairman, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, for over a year now and I have not been inaugurated because one minister and some people in government said the fear of Kokori is the beginning of wisdom. Is it now a sin to have people of integrity in positions of authority? What type of situation is that? So many countries would celebrate me at least they would have that assurance that I will take care of the health of the workers, pay their emoluments and even pay pension benefit to people who have health problems. For now, they have decided to keep me off bay, giving me one reason or another to delay the inauguration.
Are you saying that the reason being offered to delay your inauguration was not tenable?
What are they probing again? The EFCC had concluded the probe of the former board. Why should I not be inaugurated? President Buhari has passed instruction for my inauguration about four or five times, yet the minister refused to heed the president’s directive. The party (APC) through the Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, gave instruction, yet they ignored it too. Rather, they resorted to blackmail against Oshiomhole. If appointees of the President could ignore his directive and oppress me like this, what is the hope of the common man in this country? They know that I have integrity and that I won’t compromise; that is why they are treating me like this. The whole place has been destroyed yet you don’t want to bring in somebody who will restore sanity. Rather, they are setting up fake enquiries to probe an already concluded investigation. The minister of Labour and Productivity (Chris Ngige) is just going forth and back on the issue and I wonder why Nigerians, especially labour unions, who would benefit more from the services of NSITF, has not staged any protest against the minister’s action.
Have you complained to the President personally?
I have complained to the President. I have also complained to leaders of the APC but they keep on assuring me that they will soon inaugurate me; however, nothing is being done in that regard. All other federal boards, approved by the President, had been inaugurated except that of the NSITF. Many people hailed my appointment, describing it as a round peg in a round hole to safeguard and protect a world-class pension emolument which people just steal and walk away. We have people around the President who have become lords unto themselves that is why I say he should shine his eyes more on people around him – the so-called advisers and other appointees because they are making his jobs more difficult for him. He has a little asset but people around the President are dropping his name and making so much money. Here I am, an elder statesman, being punished unnecessarily and humiliated. I cried to him, I cried to the party but nothing has happened. We have a Board of Trustees that had been appointed since 2015; up till now, it has not been inaugurated. If the board is in place, all these rubbish won’t happen. At least, the board will caution them.
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FRIDAY OLOKOR
Seven months after the abduction of her daughter by Boko Haram insurgents, Rebecca Sharibu broke down in tears on Saturday as she recalled the October deadline given to the Federal Government of Nigeria to act to save Leah Sharibu’s life.
Leah was one of the 110 female students of Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, abducted by Boko Haram on February 19. While others were released, she was the only one held captive on account of her Christian faith.
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Rebecca, who spoke during a press conference held at the national headquarters of the Nigeria Fellowship of Evangelical Students, pleaded with the international community to put pressure on the Federal Government to accede to the demands of Boko Haram in exchange for Leah’s release.
In attendance were the Executive Secretary, Nigeria National Missions Movement, Rev. Gideon Para-Mallam; Executive Secretary, Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association, Mike Adegbile; an indigene of Borno State and Co-founder, Education Must Continue Initiative, Beckie Paul Gadzama; and Head of Berom Outreach Ministry, an organisation coordinating ethnic nationalities in the Middle Belt, Chris Bature.
The breadwinner of the family, Nathan Sharibu, in a telephone interview with journalists, restated the threat by the insurgents to kill his daughter if the Federal Government did not implement their demands by October.
As she spoke about the expiration of the October ultimatum handed down by Boko Haram within which the Federal Government should implement their demands or they would kill Leah Sharibu, tears rolled down the cheeks of the embattled mother.
Rebecca said, “I am here on behalf of my family, particularly me and my husband to plead with the entire world, most especially the Federal Government, President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to please do whatever they can to ensure that Leah is released.
“A threat has been sent out that with effect from October 2018, Leah Sharibu would be next in line to be killed. I am pleading with the Federal Government to do whatever they feel should be done to release Leah before the expiration of the ultimatum.
“Monday (tomorrow) will be October 1. It is our desire that anybody that can do anything to free Leah should do that. We thank the entire world, most especially Nigerians for standing with the family and for their prayers on our behalf.”
She also distanced the family from the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos by Daniel David Kadzai and a United States-based non-governmental organisation, Lift-Up-Now Incorporation, which sought, among other reliefs, N500m as compensation for the indignities and human deprivations suffered by Leah since her abduction in February 2018.
“We heard that some persons have taken the Federal Government to court, but we are not aware and have not taken the Federal Government to court. My family didn’t take the Federal Government to court. I’m not aware of it and I did not send them. I am not after money; all I want is my daughter to be released,” she stated.
When asked if he knew about the agreement between Boko Haram and the Federal Government, Nathan said the family was not privy to the discussions.
He said, “They (Boko Haram) said if the Federal Government did not respond to their demands (although they did not mention it), they will kill my daughter.
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“They said the Federal Government did not respond to their demand; but we didn’t know what it is all about. Since this thing happened, the Federal Government has not listened to them. So, we don’t know what they mean about that one.
“I am pleading, on behalf of the family, with the Federal Government to act fast; I am pleading with the international community and the whole world to put pressure on the Federal Government of Nigeria and ensure that my daughter is released.”
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All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: theeditor@punchng.com