Fed Govt Laments Falling Standard Of Basic Education In States, Sets Up Committee On It

June 28, 2018

The federal government has lamented what it called ‘drastic’ fall in the standard of education at the state level, constituting a committee, made of mainly State governors to look into the problem.

Rising from its monthly meeting today, Thursday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the National Economic Council (NEC), headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, noted that the standard of basic education at the State level has fallen drastically.

The Council resolved that a Committee comprising Governors of Kano, Osun, Delta and Anambra States, as well as the Central Bank Governor and the minister of education to look into what needs to be done urgently in the education sector at the State level and report back to the Council.

The minister of education, Malam Adamu Adamu had earlier presented a Ministerial Strategy Plan (MSP) (2016 – 2019) for the Education Sector to the Council
The presentation centred on the achievements, challenges and way forward in the Education Sector.
·The Ministerial Strategy Plan (MSP) 2016 – 2019 has 10 pillars as follows:
–  Out of School Children
– Youth and Adult literacy
– Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technology, Vocation Education and Training (TVET)
– Basic Education
– Teacher Education, Capacity Building and Professional Development
– Curriculum Policy Matters
– Tertiary Education
– Education Data and Planning
– ICT in Education and
– Library Services.
· The presentation highlights the need for effective collaboration, cooperation and coordination by all stakeholders to consolidate the gains and successfully implement the reforms in the Ministerial Strategy Plan (MSP) 2016 – 2019.
· It also recognised that more investment is needed in the education sector, while emphasizing that collaboration among the Federal, States, Local Governments, Private Sector and Development Partners is very necessary.
Below are highlights of the NEC meeting:
FAAC UPDATE
The Honourable Minister of Finance briefed the Council on the reported deadlock of the Federation Allocation Account Committee, FAAC, which she chairs.
She briefed that the issue was about NNPC remittance figures which the committee found unacceptable. She, however, assured NEC that the FAAC meeting will reconvene very soon.
REPORT ON EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT (ECA)
The Honourable Minister of Finance also reported to the Council that $80.6 million has been added to the ECA, and that the balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) as at June 26, 2018 stands at $1,916, 742,289. 60
UPDATE ON STABILIZATION FUND ACCOUNT:
· Honourable Minister of Finance reported to the Council that the current balance in the Stabilization Account as at JUNE 26, 2018 stands at N18, 892,864,216.65
UPDATE ON NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT FUND
·        Honourable Minister of Finance equally reported to the Council that the current balance in the Natural Resources Development Fund as at June 28, 2018 stands at N133,715,427,387.37
Decision on Stabilization Fund
Council appointed a Committee of 4 comprising Governors of Kaduna, Kogi, Ebonyi and Lagos to review the administration and operation of the Stabilization Fund Account.
B.
PRESENTATION ON ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS OF THE NIGERIA SOVEREIGN INVESTMENT AUTHORITY (NSIA) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 2016 AND UPDATE ON 2017 ACTIVITIES
·        NSIA reported 5^th straight year of profitability in all its funds with core profits (excluding FX transaction gains) of N26.28 billion ($88 million) for the year.
·        NSIA also reported that total assets under management was about US$1.25 billion for the most part of the year, as the additional contribution of $250 million was not received until the third quarter of 2017.
·        It also reported that the return on asset was up to 6.60% in dollar terms.
·        NSIA is shifting focus to infrastructure and direct investments in Nigeria.

2017 Activities – NSIA activities among others:
·        NSIA implemented the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) in 2017.
·        Commenced construction of first three healthcare projects in Lagos, Kano and Umuahia respectively.
·        Continued work on Second Niger Bridge Projects.
·        Invested in and own 13% of Bridge International Academics Ltd – a network of Schools which delivers affordable high-quality Primary education to lower-income families.
·        Invested in Babbar-Gona – an agricultural franchise that empowers smallholder farmers.
·        NSIA in 2018, will focus on executing infrastructure investments strategy in its core focus areas of Power, Toll Roads, Agriculture and Healthcare etc., in addition to exploring opportunities in other sectors of investment such as refining, transport infrastructure and industrial real estate.
Decision
Council resolved that account of NSIA be approved.
C.
EDUCATION MINISTERIAL STRATEGIC PLAN
PRESENTATION ON THE NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY- PROSPECTS, CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD BY THE HON MINISTER OF EDUCATION:
·        Minister of Education presented a Ministerial Strategy Plan (MSP) (2016 – 2019) for the Education Sector to the Council
·        The presentation centred on the achievements, challenges and way forward in the Education Sector.
·        The Ministerial Strategy Plan (MSP) 2016 – 2019 has 10 pillars as follows:
–      Out of School Children
–      Youth and Adult literacy
–      Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technology, Vocation Education and Training (TVET)
–      Basic Education
–      Teacher Education, Capacity Building and Professional Development
–      Curriculum Policy Matters
–      Tertiary Education
–      Education Data and Planning
–      ICT in Education and
–      Library Services.
·        The presentation highlights the need for effective collaboration, cooperation and coordination by all stakeholders to consolidate the gains and successfully implement the reforms in the Ministerial Strategy Plan (MSP) 2016 – 2019.
·        It also recognised that more investment is needed in the education sector, while emphasizing that collaboration among the Federal, States, Local Governments, Private Sector and Development Partners is very necessary.
Decision
Council noted that the standard of basic education at the State level has fallen drastically and resolved that a Committee comprising Governors of Kano, Osun, Delta, Anambra, CBN Governor and the Honourable Minister of Education should look into what needs to be done urgently in the education sector at the State level and report back to the Council.
D.
UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL ADDRESSING SYSTEM BY THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
Highlights of the Presentation:
·        The National Addressing Policy (NAP) was developed by the Ministry of Communication Technology in conjunction with the Stakeholders and was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on November 27^th, 2013
·        The policy provided the governance structure and membership in the National Addressing System Council, NAS Committee, NAS Secretariat; as well as list of strategic stakeholders
·        NAP Governance Structure has the Vice President as its Chairman and 18 other members, and among its function is to make guidelines and provide strategic direction for the National Addressing System
·        NAS Committee is headed by the Honourable Minister of Communication as Chairman, with 16 other members cutting across multi-discipline, inter-agency and inter-sect oral, which function among others is to develop the implementation framework for NAS programme.
Objectives of NAP:  Objectives of the NAP Policy include;
·        To harness physical development in LGs to ensure orderliness through spatial development strategies and processes
·        To facilitate increase of the proportion of Nigerians to be formally assigned street addresses that can be authenticated in local govts’ databases where they reside
·        To develop a standardized and globally acceptable addressing infrastructure that support; Easy identification of locations on Geographic Information System platform, National development and enhanced socio-economic activities
Funding: NAS funding will be provided by the FG, States and LGs. Other sources are; Levies, Tariff, MDG, Donations from private/public Corporate Organizations
Update on Implementation of NAS:
·        Nigerian National Addressing Standards and Guidelines (NNAS&G) was developed and approved by NAS Council in October 2017 in line with the provisions of the policy
Prayer:
Council invited to:
·        Consider and approve the proposed National Addressing Data Ecosystem Architecture for the implementation of the National Addressing System (NAS).
·        Consider and accord high priority status for the implementation of the NAS program, and
·        Support the full implementation of the NAS programs with adequate funds.
Decision
Council approved the prayers and sample of organising address format.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS (AOB)
Council also condoned with the Plateau State Government over the recent tragedy on the state and prayed God to comfort those affected by the conflict.

PDP’s Crocodile Tears On Plateau Killings, By Femi Adesina

Greenbarge Reporters

June 28, 2018

The sad and unfortunate killings in Plateau State over the weekend have been turned to opportunity to once again play irresponsible politics, particularly by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which says it is declaring seven days of mourning.

These are dolorous times that call for deep introspection on how cheap human lives have become, and the proffering of actionable ideas on how to get out of the bind. But the PDP would rather dance on the graves of the dead, playing cheap, infantile politics.

The comatose and prostrate party is declaring seven days of mourning, during which flags in its offices would be flown at half mast nationwide. But unknown to the party, those flags had been forcefully lowered since its 2015 loss at the polls, and may remain so for a long time to come, because Nigerians are politically discerning, and cannot be hoodwinked by cheap antics.

A quick checklist of some savage and brutal killings in Nigeria during PDP rule, between 1999 and 2015, for which no national mourning was declared:

– November 20, 1999. Odi, in Bayelsa State, was invaded on orders of a PDP President. About 2,500 people killed. No national mourning.

– Between February and May, 2000, about 5,000 people were killed during riots over Sharia law in different parts of the North. No national mourning.

– In 2001, hundreds of people, including the old, infirm, women and children were killed in Zaki Biam. No crocodile tears.

– Between September 7-12, 2001, Jos, Plateau State, erupted in internecine killings. Between 500 and 1,000 people were killed. Flags were not flown at half mast.

– In February, 2004, at least 975 people were killed in Yelwa-Shendam, Plateau State. No mourning by the then ruling PDP.

– Between November 28 and 29, 2008, Jos was in flames again, with 381 deaths. No mourning.

– In 2010, 992 people killed in Jos. Mum was the word.

– In 2014 alone, according to Global Terrorism Index, at least 1,229 people were killed in the Middle Belt. No mourning.

– Boko Haram killings in PDP years were over 10,000. PDP flags were still fluttering proudly in the sky.

Those who take pleasure in twisting statements from the Presidency may claim we are saying that many more people were killed under PDP than under President Muhammadu Buhari. It would be unconscionable to do so. The intendment of this statement is to show that wanton killings had been with us for awhile; this government is working towards enduring solutions; and should be given the opportunity to do so.

Even a single soul is precious, and no man should take a life, which he cannot create. But when tragic situations as had happened in Plateau State occur, such should never be used to play crude politics. Those who are wont to do so should have change of hearts, or lose their very humanity.

FEMI ADESINA, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity wrote in from Abuja.

Ex Super Eagles Star “Mathematical” Segun Odegbami Eyes Governorship Of Ogun

Greenbarge Reporters

June 27, 2018

Ex-Nigerian Super Eagles super star and sports administrator, popular ly named ‘Mathematical’ Segun Odegbami has made it known that he would be contesting in the Ogun state governorship election soon.

Odegbami, in a Facebook post today, Wednesday, said: “I am going to stay around for a little while longer, still watch and report any interesting events around here, and properly think through my next project.

“Now more than ever before, I know for sure why I want to contest for the office of governor of my State. The thought of a Footballer in government house excites many who have heard the rumour here. It will surely attract all manner of reactions back in my State,” he wrote.

Odegbami added: “Politics in the most sophisticated environment in Nigeria, for all things progressive, may never be the same again. I am looking forward to the challenge in faith and with hope.” [myad]

South Korea Cancels Out Defending Champion, Germany From 2018 World Cup, With 2-0 Win

Greenbarge Reporters

June 27, 2018

South Korea today, Wednesday, edged out by 2-0 from the ongoing World Cup tournament, German, which is the current defending champion.

Nothing captures the implausibility more than one simple fact: Germany, the defending champion, took its earliest exit from the tournament since 1938, when only 15 teams participated.

Germany, perceived as a dynamic soccer machine that rarely sputters, broke down in an inglorious way, losing, 2-0, to South Korea and leaving Russia about three weeks before anyone expected it to.

Toni Kroos, Germany’s star midfielder, looked stunned, nonetheless: standing all but motionless just outside the center circle and staring into space with a hand on each hip as South Korean players celebrated one of the bigger upsets in this tournament’s 88-year history.

On Saturday, Kroos had given Germany, the defending champion, what looked like a reprieve, with his curving marvel of a free kick to beat Sweden at the last minute.

Germany always finds a way, said those in the know as Kroos’s shot curled into the Swedish net as if guided by GPS. But that rush of pure adrenaline turned out to be a false dawn instead of the cathartic boost this talented but ultimately ineffectual team required.

With stars like Kroos, Mesut Özil and Mats Hummels, Germany won every match in qualifying for this World Cup, the first German team to do so. But it could not even make it out of the group phase in Russia.

It failed to score in its 1-0 upset loss to Mexico and failed to score again in its 2-0 defeat to South Korea.

It appeared the Germans would need just one goal in the closing minutes on Wednesday to win and secure their place in the round of 16. Instead, they surrendered two goals in added time, to Kim Young-gwon and Son Heung-min, and lost.

Instead, Sweden and Mexico were the teams to qualify for the knockout phase from Group F. With Sweden defeating Mexico 3-0, in Yekaterinburg, each finished with six points to Germany and South Korea’s three.

There seems to be a World Cup curse at work. Since the 1998 edition, the defending champion has been eliminated in the group phase on four occasions: France in 2002, Italy in 2010, Spain in 2014 and now Germany.

But this team’s early exit was still an undeniable shock, and Joachim Löw, the German coach since 2006, used that same word — “schock,” in his own language — to describe the experience on Wednesday.

“The disappointment of being eliminated is just huge,” said Löw, who said the team deserved to go out early. “It turned sour. I must take responsibility for this.”

The surprise was visible on the painted faces of the German fans in the late-afternoon light in Kazan. Above all, it was etched on the features of the German players as they cried on the field or hunched forward, hands on their knees, trying to absorb the blow.

“Of course, we had high expectations for ourselves, but I don’t think we could fulfill it any of the three games,” said Hummels, the central defender who missed the Sweden game with an injury but returned to the lineup on Wednesday. “There was no game where we can say, ‘Yeah, we played the style we used to play and we expect ourselves to play.’ So we have to be disappointed in ourselves after such a tournament.”

A four-time World Cup winner, Germany was a finalist in 2002, third in 2006 and 2010 and the champion in 2014 after dealing the host nation of Brazil a 7-1 defeat in the semifinals, the memory of which still leaves many Brazilians wincing.

But Brazil will be the team going deeper in this World Cup after qualifying for the knockout round later on Wednesday. Germans themselves now have reason to grimace at the memory of 2018 after their own team scored just two goals and allowed four in three matches.

“Football is a simple game,” once said Gary Lineker, the former English player. “Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.”

On Wednesday, Lineker, now a BBC pundit, updated his old quip, tweeting: “Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans no longer always win. Previous version is confined to history.”

The Germans certainly have historical company, however. The list of defending champions to crash out in the group stage is an unmistakable sign of how difficult it is to maintain momentum and focus with national teams whose players practice and play together much less frequently than they do with their clubs.

Asked if this was the end of an era of German domination, Hummels shook his head and referred to the team’s loss in the 2016 European Championship after winning the World Cup.

“We didn’t dominate; we won one tournament,” he said. “You have to be honest. It was no domination. We’ve always been one of the strongest national teams. We wanted to prove that once again when we came back together again in September, but this tournament we haven’t been on the level we have to be at a World Cup. I think many teams have big problems, but somehow they survived. We did the same against Sweden when it was almost over for us, but we didn’t make it a second time.”

The recent struggles of defending champions also reflects the increasingly global nature of the sport, where talent now finds its way to the highest level of the club game.

Son, the South Korean forward who scored the second goal on Wednesday, plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. Midfielder Koo Ja-cheol plays for F.C. Augsburg in Germany’s Bundesliga, where many of Germany’s stars make their excellent livings.

The intimidation factor is not what it was, but Germany was still a rightful favorite coming into this World Cup. Löw, at least in public on Wednesday, was grasping for answers, but did suggest self-satisfaction had played a role.

“It was a bit of overconfidence ahead of Mexico,” he said. “That we can press the button and win.”

Löw tried to press a few of his own in Russia. He benched Özil and midfielder Sami Khedira for the second game against Sweden and then, after noting publicly that they had shown a good reaction in practice, reinserted them in the lineup on Wednesday while leaving out Thomas Müller, a longtime national team fixture who had struggled to find his form in the first two games.

But the lineup shuffling could not solve the team’s attacking issues. The Germans certainly had opportunities. They repeatedly struck at the South Korean goal on Wednesday afternoon, just as they had done against Mexico in the second half last week.

They took 26 shots to the South Koreans’ 11, but the finishing touch was lacking.

There was a low and dangerous shot from Kroos that was saved by the diving Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, who was excellent on Wednesday.

“Our coach told us that Germany probably wouldn’t think the Koreans are very strong,” Jo said. “I just tried to relax during the game and enjoy the experience.”

There were also unchallenged headers from Hummels and the substitute Mario Gómez that missed their target late in the game.

“We had enough chances to score,” Hummels said. “I had a big chance in the 87th minute. I have to score this one. This chance will haunt me for a few weeks.”

Müller, who had been sent on to replace Leon Goretzka in the 63rd minute, could not change the equation. But unlike the previous defending champion to be eliminated this early, there was a modern twist to the German exit.

This is the first World Cup in which the video assistant referee system, or V.A.R., is being used, and in the third minute of added time, the South Koreans took a corner kick that the Germans struggled to clear. Amid the crowd, Kroos, one of the sport’s most accurate passers, flicked the ball back toward his teammate Niklas Süle, who, surprised, let the ball go through his legs.

It rolled on to Kim, deep in the box. He had time to control it and then score into the upper right corner past the charging German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

The celebration was cut short when the line judge raised his flag to indicate offside, but referee Mark Geiger of the United States reviewed the sequence on a video screen after consulting via his earpiece with V.A.R. officials in Moscow. He ruled that Kim’s goal was valid.

Son celebrated after scoring South Korea’s second goal against Germany, into an empty net in the sixth minute of added time. Credit Michael Probst/Associated Press

The celebration resumed, and when it ended, Germany pushed forward in desperation, with Neuer abandoning his goal altogether and turning himself into an extra midfielder. He soon lost possession of the ball in the South Korean half, and Ju Se-jong lofted a long pass toward the empty German goal.

Son ran it down ahead of Süle and made it 2-0 with a flick of his left foot in the sixth and final minute of stoppage time.

Germany, as it turns out, does not always find a way, something that Kroos and his teammates will now have four years to reflect upon.

As the minutes ticked by after the defeat, Kroos remained with his hands on his hips until he was the last German player on the field. When he finally decided it was time, he walked slowly, very slowly, toward the tunnel.

Plateau Crisis Started During My Tenure But Not This Big, Obasanjo Admits

Greenbarge Reporters

June 27, 2018

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has admitted that the crisis in Plateau State and other security problems began during his tenure as President but that they were not in the magnitude as they are today.

He said: “even in my time, we had problems but not in this magnitude. We thought we were dealing with them as at that time but the earlier we deal with them, the better. I believe we can find solution; we must find solution.”

Obasanjo, who visited Jos today, Wednesday, to commiserate with the Governor and people of the State over the recent killings in the State advised the Federal and State governments to identity the root cause of insecurity that has been dodging the country.

“What happened is very sad, that in this day and age this type of barbaric act is taking place in our country. I have suggested and I will say it again that we should find out the root cause of this problem and deal with it.

“There must be remote and immediate cause, if we deal with it, we are not going to be multiplying condolence visits.

“I believe that any human problem has human solution, I do hope and plead with government at the Federal level, those of you in States and even local government level to join hands even at the community level to find the causes and deal with them permanently.

“We offer our condolences to the bereaved families, all we can say is that God knows the best.”

Responding, Governor Lalong appreciated his coming, but noted that a phone call would have sufficed.

“Insecurity is not new to me; we thought we could handle it. When we came in, we quickly put up a team including Berom and Fulani. They came out with a roadmap to proffer solutions. We adopted the recommendations and have implemented some and was in the process of implementing the remaining ones.

“We have done our best. We have learnt our lessons. We will be very firm.” [myad]

Nigeria Must Not Lose The Fight Against Violent Attacks, Speaker Dogara Cautions

Greenbarge Reporters

June 27, 2018

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has cautioned against losing the fight on violent attacks that have been dogging Nigeria, especially the Plateau State and Northeast.

Answering reporters’questions today, Wednesday shortly after his visit on President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Dogara said: “whatever it is, we must not lose the fight against violence because we can’t lose that fight and still keep our civilization.”
He saw the danger in allowing the repeat in Plateau State, of what happened in the Northeast where Boko Haram had destroyed virtually everything that is important to the people.

If you go to the Northeast you can see the level of devastation caused by Boko Haram: everything resembling progress, from schools to hospitals to government institutions, everything has been pulled down. And we don’t want a replication of this all over the country.”

Speaker Dogara said that Nigeria is now in what he called ‘very sober moments,’ saying that people in hundreds are continued to be killed “and we can no longer tolerate this kind of situation as a government.”

He said that President Buhari has taken enough steps on these security issues, adding: “he has told us what he is doing; the reorganization that he plans to put in place to ensure that this doesn’t.

“My advice to our people, not just Plateau State, Benue, Zamfara, Taraba virtually some communities faced with this situation, especially in the north, I think the issue of securing our communities, living in peace must be taken as a project. It is something each and every one of us must invest in whether as traditional rulers, as community leaders, councilors, chairmen, all strata of society must invest in peace building.

“That is the only way we can live in a secure community and ensure that we progress as a country.”

APC Won 2015 Taraba Governorship Election But Was Maneouvered Out – Oshiomhole

Greenbarge Reporters

June 27, 2018

National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole has said that the party won the 2015 governorship election in Taraba State but was maneouvred out by the power that be at that time.

Oshiomhole, who received two delegations of Taraba State party leaders, one of which was led by the minister for Women Affairs, Senator Aisha Alhassan, on a solidarity visit following his election at the Party’s National Convention last Sunday in Abuja said: “we (APC) won the Taraba governorship election in 2015, but were manoeuvred out. In 2019, those manipulation instruments will not be at their disposal.”

Another delegation from the same State was led by and Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf at the Party’s National Secretariat.

Oshiomhole appealed to members of the party to commit themselves to the unity and supremacy of the party, stressing: “we must work to present a united front ahead of the 2019 general elections. Wherever we have a crack, we will mend it as soon as possible. On our part, we will be guided by principle of fairness and justice.

The national chairman insisted that members must go into the 2019 election united, even as he assured the delegations that one of his top priorities would be to address disputes arising from the party’s recently held congresses and the national convention.

Oshiomhole said that he is now awaiting the report of the National Convention Committee, chaired by the Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, whom he said made commitments to some of the aggrieved parties which the National Working Committee (NWC) will urgently consider upon receipt of the Convention Committee’s report.

Speaking on behalf of one of the delegations, Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf expressed confidence in the Oshiomhole-led NWC to resolve disputes within the Party, particularly in Taraba State.

“We have witnessed with great excitement your flawless and overwhelming affirmation as the APC National Chairman. This unprecedented show of love and respect attest to your long standing reputation as a honest, fearless and dispassionate leader

“As dedicated party members, we are not unaware of the internal problems dogging our great party but are fully convinced and confident that as the right man for the job, you will bring your well-known competence and impartiality to bear on all the contentious issues awaiting your attention, especially as they affect Taraba State.”

Legislature, Presidency’ll Work Together To Restore Sanity In Plateau – Senate President

Greenbarge Reporters

June 27, 2018

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has assured Nigerians that the National Assembly will work with the Presidency to restore sanity to the country, especially, the troubled Plateau States and the Northeast.

Saraki, who, together with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, met with President Muhammadu Buhari today, Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said that they commiserated with the President over the recent killing in Plateau State.

He said that part of the briefing which the President gave was steps that are being taken to forestall reoccurrence and restore sanity in that part of the country.

Saying that the killing in Plateau is a great concern to the President and members of the National Assembly also, the Senate President said that the two arms of the government will work towards seeing what can be done with NEMA and security agencies for the affected people.

“We will all work towards it. Nobody is happy with it and we will all come together to ensure that we restore sanity.

“We commiserate with all families. It is our own intention to also go and pay our own condolence visit to the people of Plateau.

“Our general appeal at the end of the day is that we all live together in peace and harmony and we will continue to do our best to see that this kind of thing does not happen again.”

APC, nPDP And The Doctrine Of Good Faith, By Sufuyan Ojeifo

Sufuyan Ojeifo

June 27, 2018

The question of whether Karl Marx was right or not in his contemplation that capitalism contains the seed of its own destruction is subject either way to the dialectics of conversation, logic and ramification, especially against the backdrop of a writ large summation that underpins the global expansionist tendency of the capitalist governance ideology.

Whilst historical developments have, so far, confirmed the increasing domination of the ideological system, thus resolving the question in the negative, there is a profound sense in which it can be surmised that laissez-faire approach by operatives at the commanding heights of the capitalist system, which vitiates the elite consensus to gradually admit revolutionary leaders into its fold, can destabilize the polity and actuate the process of revolution, that will conversely answer the question in the positive.

Writing in a preface to “The Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy” Marx posited: “no social order ever disappears before all the productive forces for which there is room in it have been developed; and new higher relations of production never appear before the material conditions of their existence have matured in the womb of the old society itself. Therefore, mankind always sets itself only such tasks as it can solve; since looking at the matter more closely, we always find that the task itself arises only when the material conditions necessary for its solution already exist, or are at least in the process of formation.”

It is in the context of the analogy supra that the tension of the problematic demand by the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) within the bigger and larger legacy party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), for fairness and justice in political accommodation and appointments, is hereby interrogated. The Yoruba have a proverb that says: “bi ina ko ba tan li ori, eje ki itan li eekan”, transliterated: “if lice are still in the hair on the head, blood stains will be a common feature on the finger nails.” The nPDP members are lice in the hair on APC’s head. The group constitutes, as it were, the potential seed of APC’s destruction if its capacity for good is not properly nurtured, managed and harvested for utilitarian political benefits.

Some leaders of the APC are more likely to disagree with this assessment. It is within their right to do so. There is no doubt that the proposition is contentious. Former governor of Nasarawa state and senator representing Nasarawa West senatorial zone, Abdullahi Adamu, believes that the nPDP is a shadow of its old self, shorn of weight, strength and gravitas. A clearer understanding of his position will most probably encourage supporters of President Buhari in the party to see the nPDP as no longer being a monolithic, cohesive, strong and single-minded group as it was when it staged the 2014 sensational pullout from the PDP to join in the formation of the APC.

As north central zonal coordinator of the Buhari campaign organisation, Adamu leads a critical bloc in the senate and in the party. He is also in a position to assess the membership of the resurrected nPDP and what those who are promoting it count for in President Buhari’s re-election bid. Perhaps, his assessment accounts for his consistent anti-nPDP pronouncements. He recently called on the APC leadership to ignore what he described as the antics of the group essentially as they were aimed at intimidating and blackmailing President Buhari.

But there seems to be a fresh direction, attitude and rapprochement in the offing. New National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, in his acceptance speech after his emergence at the party’s national convention in Abuja said that the nPDP would be accommodated within the emergent party-government configuration. Oshiomhole spoke magisterially to the issue of hard work and reward being commensurate. He assured that his leadership would engage with all stakeholders for equitable rewards. That is the way to go in any political party that craves the enduring legacies of unity and amity.

Oshiomhole knew what he was talking about. The nPDP issue has lingered, rendering the party and the presidency tentative. The Chief John Odigie-Oyegun leadership, working in concert with the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, had already begun the process of engaging the group. However, there have been indications of lack of good faith (bona fides) by both sides. There has been arrogant posturing by both sides. Oshiomhole advised against arrogance in his speech. Whereas, what is needed is forgiveness; it is the understanding of the need to forgive, put the acrimonious past behind and forge a new common front on the basis of equitable political accommodation that can lead to the success of Oshiomhole’s engagement with the Kawu Baraje-led nPDP.

The new APC chairman, judging by his speech to the delegates, including President Buhari, and the APC as a political family, appeared committed. Since he would not want to preside over the disintegration or liquidation of the party under his leadership, one can reasonably surmise that his intentions going forward with the engagement are genuine. It is with great pains that his good faith would be discounted or faulted. This then leaves the nPDP as the beautiful bride that must be mollycoddled and pacified. It then means that the group should, in the present circumstance, bear the burden of questionable good faith.

Given the prejudices and negative sentiments that the leadership of the nPDP and its back-end sponsors suffer from as well as the problem of mutual distrust between them and the Buhari/APC leadership, the likely atmosphere that will prevail will be that of mutual suspicion and possible backstabbing. Can Oshiomhole moderate tempers and cause a shift of grounds for amicable resolution of the contending issues? It will take a mind reader to know what the stakeholders are contemplating as their final plans.

The strategic moves to halt the pullout of the nPDP by the Oshiomhole leadership require the assurance and good faith of the president. The president will need to support Oshiomhole, as he did for him to emerge as national chairman, to succeed in this critical endeavour. The success of the engagement will be salutary to his presidential re-election enterprise. Therefore, whatever the terms of the settlement are, good faith requires that both parties should show fidelity to them. It should not be a case of the president reneging once he has achieved his political and electoral objective.

And as for the nPDP, this process is delicate. The group needs prudence in decision taking. If it has confidence in the capacity of the new APC leadership to pull it through without reprisals, it may consider staying put in the APC and staking its destiny in the emerging topsy-turvy on the political terrain in the build-up to the 2019 general election, especially the presidential battle. Feelers from the APC indicate that Oshiomhole is sincere in his moves to engage with the nPDP. The concern is however with the presidency and the nPDP who may insert their wedges in the process and render it convoluted and complicated. If the process eventually falls through, it will not be that Oshiomhole did not try his best; it will then be that the other critical elements approached the reconciliation process with bad faith (mala fides). And that will be sad and counter-productive to APC’s electoral fortunes.

Ojeifo, an Abuja-based journalist, writes via ojwonderngr@yahoo.com

It Is Injustice To Accuse Me Of Looking Other Way While Herdsmen Strike, Buhari Protests

Greenbarge Reporters

June 26, 2018

President Muhammadu Buhari has protested against media insinuations that he has not been active in addressing the farmers/herdsmen clashes that result into several deaths ‘because I look like them.’

The President who spoke when he visited Jos, the Plateau State capital today, Tuesday, said: ‘whatever is being given to the media, we have to be very responsible about it.

“People are even blaming me for not talking to them because maybe (they say) I look like one of them. There is some injustice in these aspersions.”

The President still wondered that herders are carrying AK47, saying that in Benue, for instance, “subsistence farmer knows that the Nigerian cattle herder that he knows doesn’t carry nothing more than a stick, occasionally sometimes something to cut grass to feed his cattle.‘But the present herder, I am told, carries AK47.”

At an interactive session with stakeholders in the state, the President asked traditional and community leaders to complement government efforts by persuading their constituencies to tolerate one another for peace and unity.

‘‘I will continue to pressurize members of the law enforcement agencies directly under me by the Constitution as the Commander-in Chief. About eight days ago, we had five hours security meeting of the service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police.

‘‘What happened here in Jos is very bad. The question of leadership, from your household to whatever you are, is justice. The bottom line is justice.

‘‘That is why wherever I go, I will always appeal to the leadership of the communities, the law enforcement agencies, to always have control of their constituencies.”

The President condemned the latest clashes in the state, which left scores dead, even as he condoled with the affected families, the Government and people of the State, and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

He used the occasion of the interactive session attended by traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, representatives of youth, women and trade union groups, security chiefs and some top government officials to appeal to Nigerians to avoid inflammatory utterances that endanger peace or promote conflicts.

Earlier, Governor Lalong had blamed parties in the conflict in the State for reneging on their agreement to maintain peace, leading to the recent upsurge in violence, after nearly three years of calm and normalcy in the State.

‘‘We are concerned as a State that the sophisticated weapons used in these attacks, from the evidences on the ground and the narrations of victims, are not those conventional to our environment for self-defence but reflective of a terrorist invasion.

‘‘It, therefore, demands a justified response like that which was undertaken to address the Boko Haram insurgency.”

The governor requested that given the number of villages completely ravaged in the violence, the Federal Government should establish an Emergency Special Intervention Fund to help reconstruct the destroyed communities.

President Buhari also carefully listened to the presentations and recommendations made by Alhaji Nura Abdullahi, State Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Mrs. Florence Jambol, a representative of the Berom community in Plateau State, on engendering peace in the communities.

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