A 90-year-old man, Rasaki Raji has been sentenced to 6 months imprisonment with an option of N50,000.00 fine for duping a woman of N150,000.00 with the pretext of selling a plot of land to her..
The accused was arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State, on a two-count charge of obtaining and stealing of N150,000.00.
The prosecutor, Oyebanji Oluseye told the court that the accused, in the year 2014, at Idi-Oro area of Apete, Ibadan, committed the offence by collecting the money from one Mrs. Omolara Ajani by promising her to get her half plot of land.
The Prosecutor said that the accused took the N150,000.00 and converted it to his own use, an offence which he said, contravened sections 419 and 390(9), Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.
In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Giwa Babalola sentenced the accused to 6 months imprisonment with N50,000. 00 option of fine. [myad]
Local government pensioners in Ekiti State have cried out over what they called “high mortality rate” among them, which they said was caused by the non-payment of their benefits.
At a prayer session organized by the pensioners in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, the pensioners said that many of them had died in the last one year with five dying in the last one month.
The pensioners, under the aegis of Association of Local Government Concerned Pensioners (ALGCP), called on Governor Ayo Fayose to pay their nine months arrears of pension and backlog of gratuities dating back to 2012.
The council retirees said that lack of money to buy drugs to manage their health challenges and hunger are the reasons why they are dying at the alarming rate. [myad]
A High Court in Maitama, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has discharged the former Nigeria’s Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Steve Oronsaye of the N190 million corruption charges leveled against him.
Oronsaye, who was also the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force, set up by former President Goodluck Jonathan, was docked on a seven-count charge, bordering on breach of trust and diversion of N190 million meant for the committee he chaired.
The judge, Justice Olasumbo Goodluck, in her ruling on the no-case submission filed by Oronsaye, held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Oronsaye.
“There was contradictory evidence by the prosecution witnesses on whether the defendant was still the head of service as at the time he chaired the committee.
“The court seems to discredit the evidence, suffice it to say that there is no evidence linking the accused with the statutory element and ingredients of the offence with which he is charged.
“The court of trial must as a matter of law discharge him because it has no business scanting for evidence that is nowhere to be found.
“I have looked through the case and I am unable to see any justifications for this case. The defendant is hereby discharged.“
The prosecution closed its case on November 15 last year after calling six witnesses to testify even as the defence counsel filed no-case submission on December 9, on the ground that the prosecution had no case against the defendant.
In his submission, the defence counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued that there were omissions of essential elements in the charges against his client.
He said on that account, the charges were imperfect, saying that the charge was initially 2- count, later amended to 7-count. He said that, that was a sign that something was wrong with the charge from the beginning.
He said that the prosecution did not specify the amount that was entrusted to the defendant, nor the mandate of the committee the defendant chaired.
Agabi also said that no evidence of personal use of the fund that the defendant was accused of misusing, but mere allegations.
He said that no offence proven by prosecution to warrant the defendant to enter defence and urged the court to grant his no-case submission.
Responding, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Offem Uket, told the court that the prosecution has proved its case, adding that the defendant should enter his defence.
Uket said that it was not right to bring up the issue of imperfection of charges now, as it was against the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA) 2015. He urged the court to dismiss the no- case submission.
Senators at the National Assembly, today, Tuesday, expressed shock on the content of President Muhammadu Buhari to them concerning the status of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo when he left Nigeria, on Sunday night, for medical consultation in London.
The Senators said that instead of the President to address Osinbajo as acting President, he referred to him as ‘Coordinator.’
In the letter, President Buhari had said: “I wish to inform the distinguished senate that I will be away for a scheduled medical follow-up with my doctors in London. The length of my stay will be determined by the doctors’ advice. While I am away, the vice-president will coordinate the activities of the government.”
A Senator from Abia North (PDP), Mao Ohabunwa, (PDP), said that for the sake of clarity, the letter should be sent back to the president, citing section 145 of the constitution.
He argued that there is no word like coordinating president or vice-president in the constitution, saying: “I come with a constitutional point of order arising from the letter you just read from the president.
“Mr. President (of the Senate), I don’t think in our constitution we have anything like coordinating president of vice-president, it’s either you are a vice-president or you are acting president.
“Any letter should be unambiguous and very clear, so I’m saying that this letter really does not convey anything because coordinating has no place in our constitution. We having been having letters like this, you tell us he is the acting president so we know who to deal with as a senate.
“I am saying that this letter for me is not right and maybe it should be sent back.
“This early warning spells serious trouble for the country, said a ranking APC senator.
“President Buhari should be well aware by now of the appropriate and necessary protocol to safeguard our nation’s democracy”.
“In unprecedented acts Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has played essential role in this administration, said a top APC chieftain from the Southeast, he has been loyal and has done everything to win the confidence of the president.”
“President Buhari’s effusive accompanying remarks on his return from the last medical vacation about the VP were even more unprecedented, and I wonder why the letter did not refer to him as acting this time around.”
Senator Obinna Ofodile, a PDP stalwart from Anambra said that Osinbajo has shaped the second office in ways beyond his contributions to the Buhari administration. [myad]
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), today, Tuesday, approved the sale of $100 million at the Wholesale Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) auction which was announced yesterday, Monday.
The CBN Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, who confirmed this today, Tuesday, said that the sales will be settled this week.
Okorafor reiterated that the CBN will continue to make every necessary intervention in the interbank market to meet all legitimate foreign exchange demands by customers.
It will be recalled that the CBN on Friday, May 5, sold a total sum of $389 million to authorized dealers in the retail sector of the market as spot and forwards. Of the sum, $87.885 was for spot sales, while $300.8 million was sold as forwards in three tenors of 30, 45 and 60 days, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Naira maintained an average exchange rate of N386 to one United States dollar on Tuesday, May 9. Street Market surveys in Abuja and Lagos revealed that the Naira exchange for between N385 and N387. [myad]
Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari has asked women to be conscious of their health status as a precondition for a successful livelihood.
Speaking during a health screening exercise at the Durumi Camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), today, Tuesday, Mrs. Buhari stressed the need for women to know their blood pressure and blood sugar, and to check themselves for malaria, sickle cell anaemia, hepatitis, cervical and breast cancers.
“I call on all women to be conscious of their health status; it is through this consciousness that a woman can live a healthy, and therefore a productive life.”
Aisha Buhar’s speech which was delivered by the National Coordinator, Future Assured Programme, Dr. Kamal Muhammad Abdurrahman, said that the organization has been involved in health screening exercises in five of the six geopolitical zones, and commissioned two mobile clinics for easier access to remote areas.
“We will visit the sixth geo-political zone, which is North Central, very soon, and begin subsequent rounds to more states across the country.”
The medical outreach is organized in partnership with Cry for Help Foundation, whose Secretary General, Dr. Alfred Sanni, commended Mrs. Buhari for the interest she is showing on the health of women and children through the exercise.
He said that 40 medical personnel participated, made up of Doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists and pharmacists.
Hundreds of the IDPs and residents of neighbouring communities benefitted from the screening exercises, while their children were checked for eye as well as Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) infections.
Future Assured had visited the camp two weeks ago to donate food and relief materials, promising to return with the health screening team.
Highlight of the event was the distribution of food, clothing, cosmetic and bedding items donated by Mrs. Buhari to the beneficiaries. [myad]
“What is that supposed to mean in plain English? You better watch your tongue. It will be politically incorrect and suicidal to start making a joke out of something that serious.”
“Where is the joke?”
“In your tone. I know you when you want to start your mischief.”
“I am a born-again Christian”
“I know. Like Stephanie Otobo telling Apostle Suleiman that she is born-again after maligning the man’s reputation. Don’t just say anything until you have confessed your sins. Confess. Confess, now.”
“I am not a politician. I am neutral. And I won’t reach conclusions based on circumstantial evidence.”
“It’s me you are talking to. Try another mischief.”
“But I say, e ku amojuba”
“Thank you. Politics 101: anybody that says anything other than to commend the Federal Government for rescuing the 82 Chibok girls should be condemned. Don’t forget that the Red Cross is part of this, and UNICEF is also offering help. Everything should not be partisan.”
“I am not saying anything anti-government. As a father myself, whatever the game is, if there is any, whatever political marketing is involved, I actually believe that those young ladies need support, and this may well be their opportunity in life. They have been showcased. I may have my reservations.”
“You see? What reservations?”
“I am just surprised that the whole drama appears to be professionally stage-managed. The girls even looked as if some of them were wearing costumes, I mean aso ebi.”
“Only the enemies of progress will look for things like that.”
“The girls looked as if they were actresses in a script they did not understand.”
“But they are back. So? What are you actually complaining about? The rescue, or the management of the optics?”
“Some people are saying that by 2019, just before the elections, the last batch of the Chibok girls will emerge from wherever they are.”
“Obviously, some people are weaving a conspiracy theory. I think the next time government wants to swap the girls for terrorists they should just swap supporters of the Jonathan government for the Chibok girls. That will settle this matter once and for all.”
“Why Jonathan’s people? I think they should swap Nigerian Senators who have refused to pass the 2017 budget.”
“What? Saraki’s Senators? Whoever tries that, ajekun iya ni o je, ajekun iya ni o je….”
“You dey craze. People, and these are Nigerians, are saying they have a feeling the girls have become pawns in a grand political strategy and game.”
“Can you prove that?”
“I don’t need to prove anything. In politics and political science, there is something called game theory and it is real.”
“Billy Dudley. I remember what Professor Dudley said, but you can’t reduce everything to textbook thinking. Get real. We should join government to thank God.”
“Whatever it is, whatever the truth is, and whatever the post-truth is, I want the best for those girls. And it is not a job for government alone. Take the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for example. When the girls were first abducted, CAN and the Western world did not allow us to rest. They packaged the Chibok girls’ abduction as an assault on Christianity. They maligned Moslems.”
“I remember that”
“We Christians often theatricalize our religion, posturing that we epitomize what Christ lived and died for. For me there is a metaphorical correlation between the situation of these girls, “dead” as it were for three years, resurrecting now, shortly after Easter. We love to take swipes at the other religion. Now that we have some of the girls back, what plans do the money-spinning, faith-based universities have for them?”
“How? This is not about religion.”
“These churches run educational institutions from crèche to the university. Go and look at the full list of the rescued Chibok girls. They are mostly Christians. Instead of blaming Moslems, can Covenant, Babcock, Redeemed, Salem, Benson Idahosa, Joseph Ayo Babalola, Caritas and similar institutions adopt these ladies, support government, and begin the process of healing the wounds of the past three years?”
“I am confused. I don’t really know where you stand. You talk this way. You talk that way. Can we talk about something else?”
“My stand is clear. What else, if I may ask?”
“Like #BAAD 2017. Banky W getting engaged to Adesua Etomi, and how the best way to get a wife in this digital age is to slide into DMs. Very soon, churches will start organizing seminars on the value of the DM on twitter as a tool for defeating the demon of being single. I am sure there are Bible passages that will illuminate that.”
“Congratulations to Banky W and Adesua, then. They may just have started a revolution in the marriage theatre.”
“Or we can talk about Davido and the baby shower with his Baby Mama in Atlanta.”
“How is that an important subject when we are talking about game theory and Nigerian politics?”
“It is a very hot subject among the Nigerian youth”
“Really? Okay, then, let us discuss it when Davido beats Tu Baba’s record, or when he finally decides to move from friend zone to husband zone.”
“Agba ya ni wo egbon yin ke. Wetin? Je ki awon boys je aye ori won. Okay let’s talk about the Demuren baby bump.”
“No. Can we go back and talk about Nigeria? How for example, Nigeria can produce its own Emmanuel Macron in 2019? And in case you don’t know, Macron is the 39-year old young man who has just won the Presidential election in France, the youngest since Napoleon.”
“We can do the same thing here. How old was Gowon when he became Head of State? It is nothing new. All those people who laid the foundation for modern Nigeria were all young men in their 20s and 30s. In recent times, we have also had young men becoming Speakers of Nigerian legislatures at different levels or even Governors.”
“And what happened? Did the young men perform? What happened to the foundation and the building?”
“The law does not allow anyone below 40 to aspire to become President of Nigeria, but some people have started a Not-Too-Young-To-Run-Movement. We should be optimistic.”
“When you look at the on-going game in the country, do you see the possibility of any age-based revolution in Nigerian politics?”
“Yes. Macron started a movement of his own and the entire country bought into it.”
“So, what are you waiting for? You too can start a movement here as an independent candidate and tell Nigerians to queue up behind you.”
“I am thinking about it, why not?”
“My friend, wake up! Macron is 39. He is married to a woman who is 64 years old, his mother’s age mate. You think Nigerians will accept that? He didn’t have to share money to be accepted. He has no known Godfather. Even his opponent, Marine Le Pen does not have a Godfather. Her own father actually gave a pass mark to Macron after their last debate when he said Macron sounded more serious and more assertive.”
“Those are Oyinbo things”
“Say that to those who are saying Macron has won in France. Tell them, they can also have a French Revolution in Nigeria. But tell them to note the cultural differences, and how politics is a game in one country and how it is about the people and their future in another country. When will politics ever be about the people in Nigeria?”
“We can do it.”
“Don’t just mouth slogans. This is how you people always get Nigeria into trouble. Tell me what you intend to do about the dinosaurs who are the game makers in Nigerian politics. Nobody made an issue out of Macron’s ethnicity, religion, or age. It was all about issues. In those countries that we like to use as reference points, democracy has become a science, a social science, but in Africa – democracy is witchcraft. The more you see, the less you understand.”
“What I know is that Nigeria has a Macron out there”
“And a sick Donald Trump out there too, who will get to power because of all the games we play in this country”
“Haba!”
“Don’t get worked up. You know for me, the most beautiful thing about the French Presidential election is that after the battle was won and lost, Marine Le Pen conceded to Macron and she went to a club to dance. A few hours after losing, she was in a club singing Hip and Hop Karaoke: “I Love Rock N Roll” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and she spinned around to YMCA by the Village People. She just lost an election. For her, France is more important. Her life does not depend on political office. When we get to that level, we can start comparing our democracy with others.”
“Hmm”
“When people lose election in Nigeria, it is a kind of bereavement. Now that suicide is a popular response in Nigeria, don’t also be surprised if our politicians start committing suicide after elections.”
“I am an optimist. We will get there.”
“I am a pragmatist. In Nigeria, when something goes up, it never goes down. Take Uber taxi charges. Uber has tried to reduce its charges all over the world due to competition with its key rival, Taxify. It is only in Nigeria that Uber drivers have organized protests. They say they don’t want the 40% reduction in tariffs. They want Uber to reduce its own returns. That is Nigeria for you. The Buhari government promised to fight corruption, but Professor Tam David-West, a die-hard Buharist is now suddenly a whistle-blower. He is now lamenting that President Buhari is surrounded by corrupt persons. Aso Villa demons at work, certainly, I think.”
“God will intervene”
“Yes. God. We end up leaving everything to God and prayers…”
AIG Taiwo Lakanu: Friend, Officer and Gentleman
I am not a fan of police officers. Over the past 32 years, I have done enough character sketches, caricatures and acerbic commentaries about the Nigeria Police to fill a whole book. But in the process, I have also come in contact with and made friends with many police officers who have proven to be true professionals. Taiwo Lakanu, who has just been promoted from his post as Commissioner of Police in Imo State to Assistant Inspector General of Police in Abuja is one of such.
Lakanu is essentially an operations man. From DPO to anti-armed robbery squad, to IGP aide, to commissioner of police, and now AIG, he has managed over the years, to build a network of contacts at all levels of the Nigerian society. He is the archetypal police as your friend, he reaches out to the community, he has a forever listening ear and he is fiercely loyal to his bosses. When it comes to his job, he is extremely stubborn and unyielding. A lawyer and a trained officer, he does not joke with his job.
He once told me the story of how a certain notorious herbalist-armed robber taken into custody became a chief informant to the station, and who helped the Special Anti-Armed Robbery Squad in Lagos to nail many armed robbers. When the fellow suddenly died as he had himself predicted, Lakanu said he wept. The man had become an asset to the Nigerian state. When Lakanu told me other stories of face-to-face encounters with hoodlums during operations, I often wondered how he has managed to survive. Police work is tough work.
Lakanu’s elevation is certainly a reward for hardwork, diligence and professionalism. I congratulate him on his achievement. He has not served as Police PRO but he is probably the most influential police officer of his grade among Nigerian journalists.
I am not surprised that he recently excelled as CP, Imo State where he proved to be an asset to all and sundry by ridding the communities of established crime. Upon his departure, dances were organized to celebrate him.
The Governor named a street in his honour. He was also offered a plot of land which he was told he could choose as his retirement base in the future, in addition to a sum of N5 million as “fuel money.” He may have rejected the land and the fuel money, but in truth, it is not always that Nigerian police officers are so honoured. Oftentimes, they are chased away by the same people they are asked to protect. Lakanu’s example is instructive. The Akogun of Lagos, thank you for living true to your traditional title. Hearty congratulations. [myad]
The Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) has made it clear that no price is too high to get the abducted Chibo school girls freed from the Boko Haram captors, describing what it called disparaging comment by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the swap strategy adopted by the Muhammadu Buhari government as insensitive.
In a statement today, Monday in Abuja, the group expressed displeasure at the comment of the party on ground that the strategy would not promote insecurity in the country as claimed by the PDP.
The statement which was signed by BMSG Acting Coordinator, Austin Braimoh and its Secretary, Chief Cassidy Madueke observed that the swap strategy has been used by the USA, Israel and other developed countries in exchange for their soldiers and that the strategy has almost become a norm globally.
“We are sure that the Federal Government must have done the needful to ensure that the Boko Haram operatives exchanged for the 82 girls will not pose any security threat to the nation,
“The position of the PDP is insensitive and uncalled for. No price is too high to get the over traumatized girls released from the den of dangerous terrorists who have no human feeling, coupled with international outcry that trailed their abduction since 2014.
“Let us suppose that members of the opposition have daughters among those kidnapped, none of them will raise a finger on the price paid to release them. They would rather be rejoicing and thanking the government for living up to its promise.
“It is indeed good to remind the PDP that the government it presided over for 16 years foisted Armageddon on Nigeria in terms of phenomenal corruption, economic down turn and the ever-growing strength of terrorists. The Buhari’s government has been relentless in putting a stop to all these,’’ the statement said.
The group advised Nigerians to appreciate all efforts by the present government to correct the mistakes made by past administrations, adding that “President Buhari is giving the nation a new lease of life as evidenced by consistent economic growth, fight against corruption and terrorism.”
The group described the release of the 82 Chibok girls as a major milestone of the President Buhari administration and a proof that better things will happen to Nigeria and Nigerians in the nearest future.
“The release of the girls is a testimony that President Buhari is not into the business of playing to the gallery, but into the business of getting things done as well as delivering the dividends of democracy as he promised.” [myad]
Former governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido, is once again in the news for the perceived incorrectness of his political gambit ahead of the scheduled July 1 local government election in the state. Lamido, who ruled the state for eight years (2007 to 2015), has his eyes on the position of president in 2019. And he is single-mindedly pursuing the aspiration, despite perceived moves by the powers-that-be to scuttle it.
The anti-graft agency is prosecuting him in court for alleged corruption and money laundering offences committed while in the saddle as governor. Two of his sons have been charged along with him. That matter is pending before a Federal High Court in Abuja. He is innocent until proven guilty. However, recently, Lamido set the stage for another confrontation with the administration and he is being taken on a voyage of legal remonstration in a magistrate court in Jigawa.
The issue this time round was that he offended the sensibilities of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled government in the state with his utterances on the forthcoming local government council poll. The state government became panicky over Lamido’s alleged call on his supporters to cause trouble during the local government election if the party in power tried to manipulate the process and its outcome.
The government reportedly petitioned the police, which invited Lamido to its Kano zonal office where he was shown the video clip of his inciting statements while addressing his teeming followers in a meeting. The police kept him in their custody on Sunday, April 30 and charged him before a magistrate court on May 2, 2017 with criminal intimidation, incitement of the public to disrupt the peace and criminal defamation.
Although, he has since been granted bail on self recognition while commencement of his trial for the offences has been fixed for July 5, this year, the truth of the matter is that Lamido’s travails are all about 2019. Those who are after Lamido are committed to taking the winds off his presidential sail. They have ample opportunities to achieve their predetermined objective.
Indeed, it would appear that Lamido is, himself, playing into their hands, providing them with the arsenal to bring him down. But that appreciation is only superficial. Appreciated much more deeply, his actions could be measured and strategic. Those who are versed in the politics of northern Nigeria know how strong the cord of the kindred spirit is. There is a sociocultural dialectic that underpins political interactions in the north, which produces a passionate support for any identified leader who relates with the needs of the people.
The people are long suffering. They are always ready to accept promissory notes once they believe in any leader either on his merit or on regional representation and/or offering. President Muhammadu Buhari enjoyed a cult-like following in the far north. This worked well for him in his election. His people’s belief in his capacity to take care of their yearnings and aspirations as a people was imperative.
Now that they are not getting returns from the optimism they invested in Buhari, whose ill-health has largely distracted him from governance, the people have become forlorn and appear ready to re-invest the same optimism and support in the presidential aspiration of another of their own, not inclined to look southward. What the leader needs to do is to show proclivity to the wellbeing of the talakawas– the poor masses – who account for the huge voting population in the north and who are also used to promote political violence in the event that reasonable expectations are not met after the election.
And this is where Lamido kicks in. He is a progressive politician whose philosophy of governance finds ideological anchorage in the accommodation of the talakawas in the primary focus of government- welfare of the people. It is moot if fidelity to this ideological leaning resonated in his offerings as Jigawa governor. This philosophical model particularly enjoys sociopolitical ferment in Kano-Jigawa axis, where historically politically, the late Aminu Kano, the father of talakawa politics, defined his eon.
Lamido’s political trajectory has portrayed a politician who is at home with his people. Some of those who relate with him closely say that he is not disconnected from the people in spite of his participation in party administration and government at very elevated level- whether as national secretary of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), minister of foreign affairs or governor in the current fourth republic.
Validation: he reportedly built his house in a popular area of Kano, not the Government Reserved Area (GRA) where the rich build their houses and live in – far away from the people. They claim that people’s access to the house is not restricted. This is said to have endeared him the more to them. This disposition to his people’s longing for identification has broken the barriers to strategic communal relationship, which is what excites them.
Thus, Lamido finds it easier to mobilise the people for popular action. The powers-that-be are understandably uncomfortable with his politics, growing popularity and acceptability in the north, particularly the north-west, which is the zone of President Buhari. Interestingly, he is also of the Fulani stock with Buhari.
This certainly makes it a win-win situation for the influential ethnic nationality, which, together with the Hausa, has enjoyed a primacy of place in the nation’s hegemonic configuration since independence in 1960. It is therefore clear to the power brokers in the country that a challenge by Lamido to Buhari or any other candidate the APC produces in 2019 will be a tough one for the ruling party to contend with.
There is even an argument that the outcome of the 2015 presidential election would have been different had the PDP presented Lamido as its candidate. The search for Goodluck Jonathan’s replacement, spearheaded by the like of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had actually narrowed down to him.
What informed the endorsement of Lamido’s presidential aspiration in 2015 by Obasanjo and some prominent political figures in the country may not have changed approaching 2019. Rather than interrogate the factors, the panicky measures being taken by the ruling party to encumber Lamido are now proving to be counter-productive. They seem to be producing a domino effect for him.
While attempts are being made to demonise him, his people in the far north are becoming more sentimentally attached to him. That is the sociocultural nature of northern politics – the inherent inclination to identify with any leader that is hounded and oppressed by the powers-that-be. It is particularly so with Kano-Jigawa axis which does not shy away from oppositional politics. If the powers-that-be were intelligent, they should review their strategy of demonising him.
As it is, the people are no longer concerned about the nitty-gritty of the legal issues woven around Lamido. The sentiment is that he is being intimidated to drop his presidential aspiration. And, this is what will likely fuel a greater support and more passionate identification with his aspiration. Before long, his political effects would have spread throughout the north.. This, I believe.
Mr Ojeifo, an Abuja-based journalist, contributed this piece via ojwonderngr@yahoo.com [myad]
The six Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), together with other stakeholders, have received the sum of the sum of 2.12 billion from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), as their share of statutory allocation for the month of March.
FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye who made this known at the Joint Area Councils Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting held on Thursday in his office gave the breakdown of the allocation as Primary School Teachers getting N998,912,759.14 while the 15 percent Pension Funds got N95,040,159.75, one percent Training Fund got N18,886,323.78 and 10 percent Employer Pension Contribution(15th installment of 23 months), got N73,917,439.85.
Abaji Area Council got N123,966,348.63; AMAC received N158,055,434.72 and Bwari Area Council got N121, 395, 216.57. Also, Gwagwalada went home with N149,941,776.30; Kuje received N125,324,331.04 and Kwali got N127,192,588.45.
Included in the disbursement for the month of March is 10 percent share of the FCT Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) accruable to the Area Councils for February.
Dr.Ajakaiye charged the council henchmen to ensure that workers’ salaries are given top priorities. [myad]
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Demonizing Sule Lamido, By Sufuyan Ojeifo
Former governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido, is once again in the news for the perceived incorrectness of his political gambit ahead of the scheduled July 1 local government election in the state. Lamido, who ruled the state for eight years (2007 to 2015), has his eyes on the position of president in 2019. And he is single-mindedly pursuing the aspiration, despite perceived moves by the powers-that-be to scuttle it.
The anti-graft agency is prosecuting him in court for alleged corruption and money laundering offences committed while in the saddle as governor. Two of his sons have been charged along with him. That matter is pending before a Federal High Court in Abuja. He is innocent until proven guilty. However, recently, Lamido set the stage for another confrontation with the administration and he is being taken on a voyage of legal remonstration in a magistrate court in Jigawa.
The issue this time round was that he offended the sensibilities of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled government in the state with his utterances on the forthcoming local government council poll. The state government became panicky over Lamido’s alleged call on his supporters to cause trouble during the local government election if the party in power tried to manipulate the process and its outcome.
The government reportedly petitioned the police, which invited Lamido to its Kano zonal office where he was shown the video clip of his inciting statements while addressing his teeming followers in a meeting. The police kept him in their custody on Sunday, April 30 and charged him before a magistrate court on May 2, 2017 with criminal intimidation, incitement of the public to disrupt the peace and criminal defamation.
Although, he has since been granted bail on self recognition while commencement of his trial for the offences has been fixed for July 5, this year, the truth of the matter is that Lamido’s travails are all about 2019. Those who are after Lamido are committed to taking the winds off his presidential sail. They have ample opportunities to achieve their predetermined objective.
Indeed, it would appear that Lamido is, himself, playing into their hands, providing them with the arsenal to bring him down. But that appreciation is only superficial. Appreciated much more deeply, his actions could be measured and strategic. Those who are versed in the politics of northern Nigeria know how strong the cord of the kindred spirit is. There is a sociocultural dialectic that underpins political interactions in the north, which produces a passionate support for any identified leader who relates with the needs of the people.
The people are long suffering. They are always ready to accept promissory notes once they believe in any leader either on his merit or on regional representation and/or offering. President Muhammadu Buhari enjoyed a cult-like following in the far north. This worked well for him in his election. His people’s belief in his capacity to take care of their yearnings and aspirations as a people was imperative.
Now that they are not getting returns from the optimism they invested in Buhari, whose ill-health has largely distracted him from governance, the people have become forlorn and appear ready to re-invest the same optimism and support in the presidential aspiration of another of their own, not inclined to look southward. What the leader needs to do is to show proclivity to the wellbeing of the talakawas– the poor masses – who account for the huge voting population in the north and who are also used to promote political violence in the event that reasonable expectations are not met after the election.
And this is where Lamido kicks in. He is a progressive politician whose philosophy of governance finds ideological anchorage in the accommodation of the talakawas in the primary focus of government- welfare of the people. It is moot if fidelity to this ideological leaning resonated in his offerings as Jigawa governor. This philosophical model particularly enjoys sociopolitical ferment in Kano-Jigawa axis, where historically politically, the late Aminu Kano, the father of talakawa politics, defined his eon.
Lamido’s political trajectory has portrayed a politician who is at home with his people. Some of those who relate with him closely say that he is not disconnected from the people in spite of his participation in party administration and government at very elevated level- whether as national secretary of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), minister of foreign affairs or governor in the current fourth republic.
Validation: he reportedly built his house in a popular area of Kano, not the Government Reserved Area (GRA) where the rich build their houses and live in – far away from the people. They claim that people’s access to the house is not restricted. This is said to have endeared him the more to them. This disposition to his people’s longing for identification has broken the barriers to strategic communal relationship, which is what excites them.
Thus, Lamido finds it easier to mobilise the people for popular action. The powers-that-be are understandably uncomfortable with his politics, growing popularity and acceptability in the north, particularly the north-west, which is the zone of President Buhari. Interestingly, he is also of the Fulani stock with Buhari.
This certainly makes it a win-win situation for the influential ethnic nationality, which, together with the Hausa, has enjoyed a primacy of place in the nation’s hegemonic configuration since independence in 1960. It is therefore clear to the power brokers in the country that a challenge by Lamido to Buhari or any other candidate the APC produces in 2019 will be a tough one for the ruling party to contend with.
There is even an argument that the outcome of the 2015 presidential election would have been different had the PDP presented Lamido as its candidate. The search for Goodluck Jonathan’s replacement, spearheaded by the like of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had actually narrowed down to him.
What informed the endorsement of Lamido’s presidential aspiration in 2015 by Obasanjo and some prominent political figures in the country may not have changed approaching 2019. Rather than interrogate the factors, the panicky measures being taken by the ruling party to encumber Lamido are now proving to be counter-productive. They seem to be producing a domino effect for him.
While attempts are being made to demonise him, his people in the far north are becoming more sentimentally attached to him. That is the sociocultural nature of northern politics – the inherent inclination to identify with any leader that is hounded and oppressed by the powers-that-be. It is particularly so with Kano-Jigawa axis which does not shy away from oppositional politics. If the powers-that-be were intelligent, they should review their strategy of demonising him.
As it is, the people are no longer concerned about the nitty-gritty of the legal issues woven around Lamido. The sentiment is that he is being intimidated to drop his presidential aspiration. And, this is what will likely fuel a greater support and more passionate identification with his aspiration. Before long, his political effects would have spread throughout the north.. This, I believe.