Group Advises Fani-Kayode To Go And Complete His Rehabilitation Program In Ghana

August 22, 2017

A socio political group in Nigeria has advised the former Nigeria’s aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode to relocate to Ghana so as to complete his rehabilitation programme for psychiatric challenge he had long suffered from.
The group, Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG), in a statement reacting to ceaseless attacks on Buhari by Fani Kayode, emphasised the need to Fani Kayode to heed its advise and give give Nigerians a chance to move on as one indivisible entity.
“Time has come to advice Fani-Kayode to relocate to Ghana and complete his rehabilitation program and give Nigerians a chance to move on as one indivisible entity.”
In a statement by the Chairman, Austin Braimoh and the Secretary, Chief Cassidy Madueke, the BMSG, regretted that at a time the President just returned from a three-month medical trip and is in good health and ready to continue his service to the country, Fani-Kayode is still bent on distracting him.
“We urge Nigerians to disregard the utterances of such individuals as the President is focused on working for the generality of Nigerians.”

Insecurity, Agitations: President Buhari Gives Marching Order To Security Chiefs

Greenbarge Reporters

August 22, 2017

President Buhari Presides Over Security Meeting with Service Chiefs in State House on 22nd Aug 2017. Photos by Sunday Aghaeze and Bayo Omoboriowo

President Muhammadu Buhari has given the military and other security agencies in the country necessary directives to go all out and secured the country from all forms of threats to its security and unity.
The President, gave the directives at a meeting with service chiefs at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, today, Tuesday.
Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin said that the President insisted that the directives must be carried out swiftly in all parts of the country.
“After the meeting, he has directed on some areas we should look at so as to enhance our operations in the country.
In his address, he talked about the unity of the nation which is non-negotiable.
“We have all been fully instructed to ensure that that directive is carried out to the letter.”
General Olonisakin said that after more than three hours meeting, the President wanted a holistic treatment of all security threats, ranging from terrorism to kidnapping, herdsmen/farmers clash, to IPOB with dispatch.
“We are going to enhance our operations in all the areas we need to do that. Like I said, he (the President), has given the necessary directives which will be carried out by the military and the security agencies.
“He (the President), also directed that we must ensure that the life and property of the citizens are protected and we must make sure that we secure the whole nation and also that troops that are outside carry out their jobs effective.
On Boko Haram in particular, the Chief of Defence Staff described the fight against the insurgents as an asymmetric warfare, adding that the insurgents have merely stepped up their game of suicide bombing.
“Of course we are also working with the security agencies and the intelligence agencies to make sure that we address that menace.”

So, Buhari, The ‘Corpse’ Can walk? Asks Olalekan Waheed Adigun

Greenbarge Reporters

August 22, 2017

Buhari23 — President Muhammadu Buhari, inspecting the guard of honour during his arrival to the country after 103 medical vacation in London

So dry bones could still rise again? So corpses do walk? So “spot diagnosis” that can spot the dead from a far without medical prognosis could fail abysmally? So the one on life-support machine could still walk on his feet?
All these questions ran through my mind on Saturday morning, the 19th of August, 2017 as I woke up to read Femi Adesina’s STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE notifying the Nigerian public of the President’s arrival the next Monday.
After a long wait of over 100 days in London, President Buhari finally showed up putting to bed all doubts that he is alive after all. It was a long wait filled with speculations, doubt, disgust, anguish, tensions, and hope (in some cases, faith). It was a long period when the true natures of some those we should have called humans were revealed. It was a long period when we saw the animalism, barbarism, Satanism all combine into some of us. Truly, evil has no religion!

So with deep emotions, the President’s supporters trooped out to welcome him. I saw the unemployed, the poor, the less privileged, though whose hopes are damping since voting him two years ago, their faith remains resolute of the man seen as an epitome of integrity. Even though he has not made their lives better, strangely, their love for him remains unshaken. This I saw with my eyes on Saturday.
Why will anyone that calls himself or herself a human being with human blood wishes his fellow dead? I have watched the documentary of elephants who will starve themselves to death simply because a fellow elephant died. I have seen lions fought each other to death but the victorious one immediately remains sober for being responsible for the death of his fellow lion. If animals have the “animalism” in them, why can’t humans have “humanism” in them? To find an answer to this question, I have to reread Dr. Scott Peck’s best-selling book, People of the Lie.
In the book, the famous psychiatrist wrote about the tendency for people to do evil. He writes.
“In addition to the abrogation of responsibility that characterizes all personality disorder, this one would specifically be distinguished by: (a) consistent destructive, scapegoating behavior, which may often be quite subtle. (b) Excessive, albeit usually covert, intolerance to criticism and other forms of narcissistic injury. (c) Pronounced concern with a public image and self-image of respectability, contributing to a stability of life-style but also to pretentiousness and denial of hateful feelings or vengeful motives. (d) Intellectual deviousness, with an increased likelihood of a mild schizophrenic like disturbance of thinking at times of stress.”
I do not necessarily agree with Dr. Peck’s description of “evil” as the opposite of “good” as such. But, looking at his views about why people do evil or people become “people of the lie”, one will see the clear manifestations among those who pronounced him dead.
In July this year, a certain Femi Fani-Kayode, who is ordinarily supposed to be referred to as a statesman threw caution into the air by going out to “announce” the death of his imaginary president.
In analysing Fani-Kayode’s manifest “personality disorder” one is reminded of a chronic drug addict. Living on the “ghetto side” of Mushin, Lagos I have seen the negative effects of drugs manifest of abusers. I have seen them deny everything, including themselves. I have seen some of them deny the integrity of their mental faculties and processes. Some of them are on record to have denied their families even their own existence. They deny everything even when the evidence stares them in the face.
There was nothing anyone will tell Femi about Buhari apart from “he’s dead” that will make any sense to him. Not even the picture of the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury to Buhari was enough. Buhari cannot recognise people; he cannot talk; he cannot think; he even immobile; he is morally and clinically dead as far as he was concerned.
Even when people like Governors Nyesome Wike and Ayo Fayose have since welcomed the President, our friend, whose last known job was a spokesman for a failed presidential campaign is yet to recover from the fact that the President is back to his seat to continue his duties. Every of his antic has failed abysmally since Nigerians will never become a People of the Lie!

Olalekan Waheed Adigun, a political analyst wrote in from Lagos and can be reached on +2348136502040, +2347081901080
Email:olalekan@olalekanadigun.com, adgorwell@gmail.com[myad]

Saudi Apologises To Nigerian Pilgrims Manhandled By Security Agents At Madina Airport

Greenbarge Reporters

August 22, 2017

The Saudi Arabian Government has apologised to two Nigerian pilgrims who were manhandled by security personnel at the Madina Airport.
The Deputy Governor of Madina region, Sheikh Mohammad Albijawi who tendered the apology during a visit to the victims in their hotel, gave assurance that appropriate punishment would be meted on security officials involved.
He advised Nigerian pilgrims to be of good conduct and perform the annual spiritual pilgrimage based on the religious guidelines and instructions.
He said that the Saudi authorities have put facilities in place to ensure a hitch free Hajj this year.
The Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Umaru Salisu Zainabu also commended the Saudi Arabia authorities for a swift response over the incident.
Responding, the tortured pilgrims Audu Damina Muhammad and Ibrahim Nani Godi expressed their gratitude to the Saudi authorities and the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) for responding to their plight promptly.
Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad had recently announced that 79,000 intending Pilgrims are performing this year’s Hajj. This comprised 60,000 under state government quota and 19,000 under private tour operators.
The first airlift from Nigeria took off from the Abuja International Airport on July 30, 2017 and would be concluded by August 26, 2017 when the Jeddah International Airport will be closed.
The return of Nigerian pilgrims will commence on September 6 and the last flight will be on October 8. [myad]

Presidential Broadcast And Other Stories, By Reuben Abati

Greenbarge Reporters

August 22, 2017

“Baba don come oh. Baba o yo yo, Baba Bubu o yo yo”
“What is that?”
“Eh, o yo yo”
“If you are this excited about President Buhari’s return, then why didn’t you go to Abuja to welcome him when he arrived from England on Saturday.” “I didn’t have to”
“After 104 days on medical vacation in London. You should have been there to show your loyalty, and your commitment to change.”
“There were other people there. They serenaded Baba all the way from the airport to the Villa. That is how you know a popular leader.”
“Don’t get over-excited, my friend. Those people were paid N2, 000 each. They shared money the same way the pro-Buhari protesters who challenged the Charly Boy group shared money. You should know when a crowd has been rented.”
“Whatever. We thank God that Baba is back. We are just waiting for those people who threatened to commit suicide if the President returns home alive to go straight ahead and do so.” “Nobody said that.”
“But you know some people didn’t want him back.”
“On the contrary, everybody wanted him back. The resume or resign protesters wanted him back. They put him and his doctors under pressure. The President’s return is a kind of triumph for civil society. We can see that the people still have power. Once the Charly Boy group began to protest and the whole thing almost resulted in ethnic riots, I knew something was going to give.”
“Nothing gave. The President had said he would return whenever his doctors ordered him to do so and that was what happened”
“How naïve? Let me tell you. You will recall that when the #Ourmumudondo movement…” “Those mumus. Baba will show them. Very irresponsible elements”
“I like their kind of irresponsibility because when the Buhari police decided to shut them down, with rented counter-protesters, and police brutality, they simply moved their protest to the UK, and North America. The people you call Mumus went straight to Abuja House in London and set up shop directly in front of President Buhari’s bedroom. One night vigil and shouts of Baba, resume or resign, the President had to suspend his medical vacation and leave London. He didn’t wait for another night vigil. People power. I salute the Mumus. Their Mumu don do, true true.”
“You are beginning to sound irresponsible. The President obeyed only doctor’s orders.”
“Okay, may be you are right. It is just that we don’t even know what the President is being treated for. He and his handlers won’t tell us. But they probably figured it out that if Nigerians in the UK are allowed to hold night vigil under the President bedroom in London, their noise-making will not allow him to sleep, and that could cause other problems. The noise could even affect his ears. Nigerians are very good at shouting, and in London, nobody will allow that kind of ethnic conflict that happened at Wuse market.”
“I hope you know Baba has promised to deal with political mischief-makers. You better be careful”.
“What have I said that is wrong? I am just saying that Baba’s London doctors gave him marching orders to resume because they know there is something called medical politics, or political medicine.” “There is no such thing.”
“Where the health of a national leader is involved, there is always politics involved, international politics in this case. What if I tell you that President Buhari’s departure from London probably had the hands of the MI6 in it? What if the actual order to go and resume and return came from British Intelligence, through his doctors?”
“What is important is that Baba is well and all his detractors have been put to shame. Insha Allah, Baba will lead us in good health to the promised land of change. And if you want to be honest, you will agree with me that Baba’s return has stabilized the polity.”
“I agree with that. I am a honest man. In fact, I always prayed for the President to get well. It is in our collective best interest for President Buhari to be well, and for him to complete his tenure. We need him more than we think, if we want Nigeria to remain one and in peace till 2019.” “Nothing will happen to Baba, insha Allah.”
“Amin”
“And now that the lion is back, every rodent, hyena and jackal in the forest had better beware. That much was made clear in the President’s broadcast. Let those who have ears listen and listen carefully.” “I don’t like that speech.”
“What don’t you like about it?”
“It sounded like a speech written by an ex-soldier for an ex-soldier. “ “It reflects President Buhari’s style, how is that a problem?”
“The President’s return after 3 months on medical vacation is a great moment. But that national broadcast was underwhelming. The President failed to seize the moment. That speech was a routine speech. No literary flourish, too short, too cryptic, too contemptuous.”
“The President is back to the country to provide leadership, not to compete with Wole Soyinka in literature.”
“The speech is full of illogicalities, platitudes and non-sequiturs. Nobody will remember it.”
“The speech shows the President taking charge and warning all mischief-makers and irresponsible elements to beware. And that includes people who go to the social media and cross national red lines with useless comments, questioning our existence as a nation”.
“Is the President accusing some people of treasonable felony, because when he says national red lines, I don’t know what that means? Is it treasonable to ask for the restructuring of Nigeria?”
“Don’t rewrite the speech. The President says Nigeria’s unity is settled and it is non-negotiable.”
“Very wrong statement. Nigeria’s unity is not settled. It is certainly not settled. Since 1914, Nigeria has been a subject of continuous negotiation.”
“Baba has said his own. Terrorists and criminals who don’t want Nigeria to have peace will be destroyed.”
“Destroyed. That again is the problem with that speech. Too aggressive. Wrong message. Wrong timing. He goes on medical vacation for 3 months and the first thing he does is to issue threats.”
“The President took an oath to defend the Nigerian Constitution. Terrorists and criminals are enemies of the Constitution. If anyone is in doubt, one of the first meetings the President held was with the Security Chiefs. He has returned from London to restore order and discipline. Kidnappers, violent farmers and pastoralists, Boko Haram, ethnic gladiators, social media children of anger, Baba don come oh, Baba o yo yo.”
“Baba says “destroy relentlessly, reinforce, reinvigorate.” He says there is a national consensus that it is better for us to live together than to live apart. Apparently, someone must have been lying to the President, misinforming him. There can’t be any consensus when Nnamdi Kanu and other Biafrans want to secede, Afenifere is talking about Oduduwa Republic and Arewa Youths have given Igbos an October 1 ultimatum to ship out of the North.”
“Those are exactly the irresponsible elements the President is talking about. That’s why he also reassured Nigerians that they are free to live anywhere without let or hindrance.”
“The President spoke for six minutes and he was talking tough throughout. I don’t think those he calls irresponsible elements are going to stop talking because he says government is ready to destroy. The President missed the opportunity to use that speech to full effect. If I had been asked to edit it, I would have written it differently. I would have made it the speech of a statesman, promoting and encouraging dialogue and patriotism. I would have commended Osinbajo and the security agencies. I would have inserted some statements about the achievements of the administration. I would have included a major policy move: like dissolve the cabinet and send a list of new Ministers to the National Assembly. The whole world was waiting for that speech!” “You like to dream.”
“The President could have given the speech some historic weight and value. He failed to do so. He could have in fact, dissolved the cabinet.” “I don’t think so.”
“But one of your people, Okorocha, the Governor of Imo state, even said something similar. He wanted the Cabinet dissolved.”
“You expect the President to sack all the Ministers who came to receive him at the airport and who visited him in London, organized prayers and supporters, the first day he resumes office? You are an irresponsible element. The President is a wise man. I stand with Buhari.”
“Keep standing. One of these days, your legs will start paining you. I hope you know that irresponsible sycophancy can give someone arthritis.”
“I am not a sycophant. I am a teller of truths. And I believe the President used exactly the kind of words Nigerians will understand.”
“My only response is that you are at least better than that self-seeking sycophant who is Governor of Kogi state. What’s that his name again? Can you believe the fellow declared a work-free day to welcome President Buhari back to Nigeria? What nonsense!”
“What’s your own? The people of Kogi and the state House of Assembly members are not complaining.“
“It is the height of irresponsibility. In case you are from Kogi state, you better tell that your Governor to get his acts together. When he is not quarreling with other politicians, he is building personal houses on public spaces, and now, he is declaring an irresponsible public holiday. I won’t be surprised if he declares a one-week holiday in Kogi state when he gets to hear that President Buhari has also resumed duties fully in za ozza room.”
“You always like to talk about the President’s other room. Your interest in that room will get you into trouble one of these days, and you would have used your mouth to declare yourself an irresponsible element. You could even receive punishment worse than that of terrorists and criminals.” “I am exercising my right to free speech.”
“Free speech. Leave that thing. Those who engaged in free speech before you went behind secretly to go and apologise. Even Ojukwu recanted and went to Daura to apologise. He led the Biafran secession in the First Republic but in 2003, he went to visit Baba in Daura and agreed with him that Nigeria must remain one and united. Just watch what you say.”
“I don’t believe that Ojukwu tale in the President’s broadcast. It sounds like a tale by the moonlight.”
“Are you trying to say that the President is lying? Hmm. You know you are my friend, stop saying irresponsible things. I sincerely don’t want you to be destroyed. Even Nnamdi Kanu is beginning to lie low. He no longer wants to disrupt the Anambra elections in November and he has just been told that even his hero, Ojukwu later became an apostle of national integration.”
“Ojukwu is not alive to defend himself. It is always easy to say anything about the dead. The President could have made his point without dragging Ojukwu into his speech.”
“The way this speech is peppering you, you sound like you are looking for a speech writing job.”
“By the way, I thought I also heard the President saying the National Assembly and the National Council of State are the legitimate and appropriate bodies for national discourse. What exactly is he saying? Please educate me.” “The President does not owe you an explanation.”
“Are you the President?”
“Anything Baba says or does is okay by me.”
“This is the thing. There is some kind of mass hypnotism eating people up.”
“Baba is back. Every irresponsible element will be dealt with and destroyed relentlessly.”
“You are evading my question. If you care to know, legitimacy is derived from the people, not from the National Assembly and certainly not from the Council of State, which in any case, is just an advisory body. The country’s sovereignty is in the hands of the people not their representatives and it is important to allow open dialogue and the freedom of expression. That is why the Constitution says “We, the people…” and not “We, the National Assembly and the National Council of State.” “You know what?”
“What?”
“I think you should just calm down and not have hypertension. The President spoke for just six minutes. You have been squeaking and rumbling like a Chinco fan for more than 15 minutes. Easy, man.”
“I hope and pray that Baba will resume work fully, and not announce, after a few weeks, that his doctors have again ordered him back to London.”
“If he has to see his doctors, you can’t sweat over that. So, stop grumbling, my friend.” [myad]

President Buhari Addressed Ordinary Nigerians In His Broadcast- APC Chairman

Greenbarge Reporters

August 21, 2017

APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has said that President Muhamadu Buhari took the interest of ordiary Nigerians into consideration in his nation-wide broadcast today, Monday.

Speaking to news men after inaugurating a seven-member reconciliation committee for the Party’s Kogi State Chapter at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, the chairman said that the President was able to discern that the stability, unity, peace and security of the nation and the ordinary Nigerian are the key issues at this material time.

“He addressed them (ordinary Nigerians) and went straight to the core of the issues. He left nobody in any doubt that any Nigerian is entitled as a matter of right to live, work and operate in any part of this country.

“He made it clear and left no one in any doubt that yes, while people can discuss issues and the relationship in the nation, the National Assembly is there to handle such issues. But he drew one red line that the only thing that is not on the table is that this nation can be divided. He made it clear that the unity of the Nigerian nation is not up for negotiation of any type.

Below are excerpts of the interview.

On the President’s return from the United Kingdom

I am very very elated that he has come back. He has not only come back, he has come back very strong and he has come back to the very warm adulation, spontaneous reception by the ordinary people of this country. I was very glad and I think I will repeat what I had said earlier that it is a clear indication that the ordinary Nigerian is more discerning and knowledgeable than perhaps we give him credit for. That inspite of all the vile and vicious propaganda, he knew, his heart, soul was always in empathy with our President. Thank God, he has been healed, he is back to continue from where he left off. Happily, the Vice President did a yeoman’s job in his absence. But two is a team, one is one. So the team is now back in full fighting force.

On the President’s Monday morning broadcast to Nigerians

The speech was absolutely outstanding. You see, he is the President of this nation. He has been away for quite a bit of time. Agents of destabilisation have been very much at work because they thought his absence created a gap and a weakness within the polity which they tried to exploit.

So Mr. President in his wisdom discerned that the stability, unity, peace and security of this nation and the ordinary Nigerian are the key issues at this material time. He addressed them and went straight to the core of the issues. He left nobody in any doubt that any Nigerian is entitled as a matter of right to live, work and operate in any part of this country. He made it clear and left no one in any doubt that yes, while people can discuss issues and the relationship in the nation, the National Assembly is there to handle such issues. But he drew one red line that the only thing that is not on the table is that this nation can be divided. He made it clear that the unity of the Nigerian nation is not up for negotiation of any type.

Mr. President picked on the core issue that was creating a lot of disquiet in the nation today and he made his views crisp and clear. Any leader must be able to set priorities. He set a very clear and unambiguous priority. The others he will deal with in the course of time.

On the issue of restructuring

He said quite clearly that you can discuss. The only issue that is out of bounds is the unity of this nation. That as the situation is today, the institutions of state that can legitimately deal with any changes in the relativity within the nation is the National Assembly and the National Council of State. It is the National Assembly that makes laws. So the situation is so clear and unambiguous. He did not say you can’t discuss but the only issue that was not on the table is the unity of the Nigerian nation.

Courtesy: NTA. [myad]

Nigerian Banks Sack 340 Staff Every Week, Bureau Of Statistics Reveals

Greenbarge Reporters

August 21, 2017

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that banks in Nigeria sacked no fewer than 340 workers every week between January and June this year

In its latest data analysis on banks in Nigeria, the NBS said that 8,663 people lost their jobs in the first half of 2017, saying that the figure means that an average of 340 people were sacked every week from January to June 2017.

The statistics is contained in a report today, Monday, titled: “Selected Banking Sector Data: Sectorial Breakdown of Credit, ePayment Channels and Staff Strength.”

The report said that in the first quarter of 2017, 174 top executive staff were gainfully employed but that the figure reduced to 161 in the second quarter. Figures for senior level staff showed that 20,483 were on payroll in the first quarter, dropping to 19,826 in the second quarter.

It said that in junior staff category, 33,783 were employed as at the second quarter which was less than the 36,202 that had jobs in the first quarter.

The report said that the number of contract staff increased from 20,237 in the first quarter to 21,837 in the second quarter.[myad]

Those Asking Buhari To Resign Are Mad, Gov Ortom Swears

Greenbarge Reporters

August 21, 2017

Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has said that those who are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign are ‘elements’ that needed to have their heads examined for insanity.

He that God has heard the prayers of most Nigerians and restored his health, wondering where the adversaries would put their faces.

The governor, who has been away in China to meet with investors for the industrialization of the agrarian state, spoke to newsmen at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja upon his return.

He said that the enemies of the President who are making a fuss out of his ill-health, are ignorant of the fact that they too can fall sick except if they want to say that they were super humans.

“Those calling for Buhari’s resignation should have their heads examined. There is nothing special about a human being getting sick. They should rather pray for him. The good thing is that God has answered Nigerians’ prayers and restored him.”

Governor Ortom also accused his opponents of issuing an ultimatum to Fulani herdsmen to quit the state so as to destabilize his administration and plunge the state into turmoil.

“There is no reason for any group to give any ultimatum to anybody or group in my state. The law on grazing is not meant to give anyone breeding cattle in any part of my state any ultimatum to leave the state. What we want is for people to ranch their cattle and nothing more.”

“Nigerians are free to live and work in any parts of Benue State and we have no given anyone the authority to threaten any other person under any guise whatsoever and the police should go after those who issued the threat and bring them to book. There is no ultimatum in Benue State.”

Source: Daily Post[myad]

As Yoruba Convoke In Ibadan In Sept On Restructuring, By Folu Olamiti

Greenbarge Reporters

August 21, 2017

One of the most debated issues in the Nigerian public space at the moment is the clamour for the political restructuring of the country. It has now become a singsong across the length and breadth of the country. But the debate has attracted diverse views and demands such that there appears to be no clearly defined understanding among Nigerians on what restructuring means and whether it will move the nation forward or disintegrate it.

Among the various views and demands anchored on restructuring is the agitation by some people for a return to regionalism as in the first republic arrangement of the federation. Others say what is needed is the devolution of some of the powers and roles of the federal government to the states, to shed the current unitary-like political structure and return to the practice of true federalism. Yet, for some, it is about a restructuring that would allow communities greater control over the resources in their domains. The issue has been further complicated by the rise of separatist groups agitating for a reconfiguration that will allow the breakaway of any part of the country desiring to do so, to chart its own destiny.

Against this background and the resultant mounting tension in the land, a policy advocacy group known as the Yoruba Leadership and Peace Initiative (YLPI), organized a non partisan retreat of Yoruba leaders from the South-West region of the country in Ibadan on Thursday, 29th of June at the Lead City University Conference Centre to brainstorm on the issue and proffer the way forward for the nation. Tagged the Yoruba Unity Retreat, the forum was attended by distinguished and experienced statesmen, leaders of thought and eminent professionals from the South-West.

At the retreat, the state of the nation address of the group delivered by its convener, Otunba Deji Osibogun, gave an insightful background to the deliberations. In the address, he noted that the struggle for restructuring had come a long way, from the days when Nigerians wrangled over how to convene a national dialogue on it, whether sovereign or non sovereign conference, to the actual bold steps taken by the Obasanjo as well as Jonathan administrations to bring the people together to dialogue and fashion the way forward. He noted that the 2014 National Conference convened by Jonathan was a major breakthrough in the struggle as it was in that conference that participants representing various ethnic nationalities, groups and institutions, agreed on the major outcomes expected from the proposed restructuring.

Among the agreed expectations are the return of the nation to the practice of true federalism with the states as federating units and the concomitant devolution of powers, roles and resources from the centre accordingly. Otunba Osibogun therefore called for the implementation of the 2014 National Conference recommendations before the next general elections in 2019. After a serious brainstorming session by participants, a communiqué was issued on the resolutions and decisions of the retreat.

The communiqué affirmed the unity of the Yoruba people in the South-West states namely Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti as well as Kogi, Kwara, Edo and Delta states. and pledged the commitment of the Yoruba Leadership and Peace Initiative and the Yoruba race in general to the unity and continued territorial integrity of Nigeria. The communiqué, however, strongly stated that the Yoruba people insist that in view of the economic and political challenges facing the Nigerian nation, the political restructuring of the nation had become imperative and overdue, requiring a return to the practice of true federalism, devolution of power, more resources to states and local governments with a view to maximizing the advantages of each constituent unit of the federation.

It is significant that the position adopted by Yoruba leaders at the retreat has become the popular stance of numerous leaders and groups across the country including the Afenifere from the South-West, Ohanaeze Ndigbo leaders from the South -East, leaders from the South-South as well as the Southern leaders Forum and also the Southern and Middle belt Forum. Although the whole of the north is yet to take a formal a position as it awaits the report of an advisory committee, some of its notable leaders such as former President Ibrahim Babangida and former Vice President Abubakar Atiku have strongly endorsed restructuring.

In fact, Atiku insists that not only is restructuring necessary, it is feasible and some aspects of it such as the devolution of some roles and responsibilities of the federal government to the state governments can be achieved without constitutional amendments. From all indications, a national consensus already points to the necessity for a political restructuring of the country and it appears that the easiest way to go about it is to implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference. But as of now, that option is still elusive given the reluctance or cautious approach of the present Buhari administration to the issue. Another set back is the rejection of devolution of power by the upper chamber of the national assembly while voting recently on constitutional amendments.

It is not yet clear whether the committee set up by the ruling All Progressives Congress on restructuring will be able to recognize the demand as a very serious concern of the people of Nigeria at the moment and therefore convince the administration to address it accordingly. What is however clear that is the struggle for restructuring can no longer be wished away, nor suppressed nor ignored. The earlier it was addressed, the better.

Ahead of the proposed restructuring, Yoruba leaders, in the communiqué released, also urged the states of the federation to realize that for the devolution of power and resources to translate to positive change in the lives of the people, state governors must invent new initiatives of providing better governance, management of resources and service delivery. In this regard, the leaders urged the governors of the South-West states to set up think-tanks and develop achievable programmes tailored to the developmental needs of their states while also integrating with their counterparts within the region to effectively address matters of common interest and concern.

The governors of the South-West states were also advised to begin to harness the various potentials of their states, especially in agriculture, including reviving the Awolowo – era Farm Settlements, to boost food and cash crop production towards achieving food sufficiency, sustainable foreign earnings from cash crop produce and mass employment opportunities for the youths. It will be recalled that agriculture was once the major sustainer of the economy of the region during the first republic. As of today, agriculture is still a major sustainer of the economies of many countries, including the United States despite its technological advancement.

For example, Ohio state in the United States accounts for a large volume of trade between the country and China with a single crop soybeans, which it exports in millions of tonnes to the hugely populated Asian country for the production of animal feed. It is the belief of the Yoruba Leadership and Peace Initiative that the South-West states do not need to depend on federal allocations for their sustenance. For instance, they can develop their vast agricultural potentials such as cocoa, rice, cassava and even yam (which is used to produce pharmaceutical starch) as well as natural and other resources to sustainably develop their states.

In actual fact, no part of the country is poor. Every part has various agricultural, natural and other potentials that can be exploited to sustain its development. The practice of true federalism empowers the federating states to harness these resources and apply them to the areas of need which may vary from state to state. This is what the nation needs now.

In carrying this agitation for restructuring forward over 100 Yoruba groups have decided for a summit at Adamasingba Stadium , Ibadan on 7 September 2017 at 10 am to work out a common front to address the issue. To me the (YLPI) summit communiqué of 29th June 2017 should be taken as a template at this rally- there is little or nothing to add to it.

Folu Olamiti, a Media Consultant, writes from Abuja.[myad]

JAMB Fine-Tunes Admission Policy Into Universities, Others

Greenbarge Reporters

August 21, 2017

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB is currently fine-tuning formula for admission into Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions at a meeting of the stakeholders which began today, Monday, at the National Judicial Institute in Abuja, and is expected end tomorrow, Tuesday.

The stakeholders are expected to run through issue of the introduction of Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) to ensure quality control, transparency and credibility of the admission process.

The new policy is expected to make provision for a ‘market place’ in the JAMB portal where institutions can go and ‘request for students in Nigeria who score their cut off points.’

The institutions will write to JAMB to request for the students and also give them (students) three days to respond. Also, only three universities can request for a candidate if the policy is adopted.

The new policy is also expected to allow institutions in Nigeria peg their cut off point after meeting with their respective senates.

The new policy will also give the academic board or senate of an institution the power to ‘allocate percentages to JAMB, the school and O’level results as these will be calculated to get the students’ cut off marks for post-UTME.’

It was also learnt that JAMB wants to ensure there is a unified time for closing admission in all universities.

If the policy sails through, there will be a portal for admission which will be based on cut off points, quota system and catchment areas.

“The new system is such that institutions can only admit those who meet their cut off points,” an admission officer for a tertiary institution who was at the meeting told PREMIUM TIMRS. “If a candidate does not meet the cut off, no matter whom he or she knows, such person cannot be admitted.”

The official said that the system was demonstrated to all the attendees at Monday’s meeting, most of whom expressed satisfaction with it.

Also, the policy intends to make provisions for candidates to accept and reject any admission being offered to them.

The intended policy also looks out for candidates who are unable to go for National Youth Service, NYSC, because they do not have JAMB admission letters. This set of students could be asked to pay a fee, about N10,000 for regularisation and would be able to go for the youth service.

JAMB is expected to formally brief journalists on these new policies on Tuesday afternoon.

Source: PREMIUM TIMES[myad]

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