Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has advocated continuity in governance which he described as an antidote for political stability in the West African subregion. He said that such continuity is an important element in the fight against Boko Haram and insurgency. Osinbajo who spoke in Niamey, capital of the Republic of Niger at the inauguration of President Issoufou Mahamadou for a second term in office, the Vice President said the re-election of the Nigerien leader is significant for the subregional coalition against insurgents and terrorists. “As you know, Niger is an important partner, and also an important ally in the war against terrorism and we are good neighbours.” Professor Osinbajo said that Mahamadou’s investiture has great significance because first Nigeria understands President Issoufou well. “He is an old hand and Nigeria has worked well with him as a partner. So, his re-election brings continuity and is good for the fight against Boko Haram and the insurgency in general.” Professor Yemi Osinbajo who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the ceremony in Niger Republic said that Nigeria holds the Nigerien President in high esteem adding that “he is an old friend of President Buhari who is abroad attending the nuclear security summit in Washington, USA, which is why he could not attend this event.” He said that the Nigerien President’s inauguration is also an opportunity to honour a strong ally and to reinforce all our important diplomatic and military ties. In his inauguration address after he was sworn-in at the ceremony, President Mahamadou noted that current worries regarding insecurity is global, transcending boundaries. He restated Niger’s renewed commitment to join forces with Nigeria and other neighbours to fight insurgency at the sub regional level. The Nigerien President explained that defeating Boko Haram has several benefits particularly for economic integration in the region stating that it ‘ will facilitate trade between Niger and Nigeria’. About fifty two countries witnessed the ceremony including nine West African presidents. There were also several Nigerian dignitaries at the occasion including the APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and several governors especially from the Northern States. [myad]
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has lost N24 billion operational deficit as at February 2016, a far cry from its loss of N3.55 billion in January of the same year. According to the state oil firm’s Monthly Financial and Operations Report for February 2016, released at the weekend, the deficit in operations is a big setback for the NNPC, which is in a restructuring process that is targeted at catapulting the Corporation to profitability. It is gathered that the NNPC has not made profit in the past 16 years. The Corporation in the report blamed the huge deficit in the month of February to production shut-in occasioned by vandalism of the Forcados Export Line. “This situation denied NPDC (a subsidiary of NNPC) the opportunity to earn revenue from crude oil sales of about 20billion,” it said. [myad]
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi, has given assurance that President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to make Ajaokuta Steel project work. President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, he emphasized, is committed to ensuring that the Ajaokuta Steel company works, in order to boost the country’s technological development. “This will also help us in the areas of arms and ammunitions. And the defence industry will also benefit from this when we get it right.” Fayemi spoke as a guest lecturer at the National Defence College, Abuja. The minister said that part of his tasks as minister in charge of solid minerals development is to sign explosives permits for use in quarries and mining sites and that it is important to also track their use as part of efforts to curtail activities of insurgent groups and violent crimes in the country. He said that there should be a technological approach to tracking the use of explosives by those who sought and obtained permit for its use so that it does not end up in the hands of those who would use it for criminal purposes. He disclosed that part of the efforts of the ministry is to also educate security agents on how to identify these minerals. “Many of them do not recognise these minerals. So, in most cases they do not know the value of what the person is taking out illegally. “so we are partnering with security agencies, the customs, immigration, police, civil defence, to assist us. “Once we get the regulatory frame work right and create a conducive environment for investment to thrive, we shall witness huge investment in the sector, create wealth and employment opportunities.” [myad]
President Robert Mugabe has denied allegation that he fell into sleep during a Press conference he held together with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, Japan, this week. And the government warned some media houses to stop publishing what it called falsehoods that are disrespectful of the person of the President. Addressing news men in Harare, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr. Christopher Mushohwe said such kind of gutter journalism should be restricted to social media. “While Government remains committed to an agreed cordial working relationship with the media, my Ministry, as the arm of Government responsible for both the sector and as its spokesperson, would want to appeal and caution against (the) continuous, unwarranted, disrespectful and unprofessional onslaught on the person of the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, His Excellency the President, Cde R.G. Mugabe. “Government has followed with disgust a concocted malicious story that has been playing on the social media platform and on the Internet this week which suggested that His Excellency the President Cde R.G. Mugabe, had “slept” on the job during a joint Press briefing with Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo, Japan, this week. “President Mugabe was on his feet as Mr. Abe delivered his statement to the Press. Watching the said video clip, even at close range, one could see President Mugabe nodding his head in response to the message being delivered by the Japanese Prime Minister. “That is why we were never bothered to try and dignify the malicious innuendo that the President was dosing off with a rebuttal. “Any sane person watching that video clip would dismiss the propaganda story with the contempt it deserves.” Dr. Mushohwe added: “We have been forced as Government to react today (yesterday) to this malicious video story, disgusted by one of our own local tabloids, which saw it fit to attack the person of His Excellency the President in this cruel fashion by publishing the spiteful story, which they themselves know to be blatantly false. “It is clear to us that whether it was an April fools’ prank or unintended, either way, the motive was to injure and damage the reputation of our President in a big way, which is very shameful because it flies in the face of our national values and culture. We do not expect this kind of unprofessional behaviour and wilful misconduct from our journalists. “This kind of gutter journalism resides on the social media platforms and should not be allowed in the mainstream media.” Dr. Mushohwe said the mainstream media is bound by professional ethics, and fellow journalists should condemn their colleagues for bringing their profession into disrepute. Said Dr. Mushohwe: “As Government, while we uphold freedom of expression and media freedom, we strongly believe in the derogations that our Constitution prescribes in respect of these rights. “Chapter Four of our Constitution which focuses on the Bill of Rights states in Part Two, Section 61, paragraph five that: ‘freedom of expression and freedom of the media exclude incitement of violence, advocacy of hatred or hate speech, malicious injury to a person’s reputation or dignity or malicious or unwarranted breach of a person’s right to privacy’.” [myad]
Pensioners Rights and Protection Alliance (PPRA) has kicked against the haste with which the minister of finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun suspended the Director-General of the Pension Transition Arrangement Department (PTAD), Mrs. Nellie Mayshak. The pension group, represented by the Executive Secretary, Sule Adams labelled the suspension as “a witch-hunt.” In a statement in Abuja wondered that the suspension was carried out without first carrying out a discreet and forensic investigation into the alleged fraud. “The suspension of Mrs. Nellie Mayshak came to us as a rude shock not because she is above such disciplinary action, but because we find the process leading to it as gravely flawed and undeserving of a Nigerian who had worked hard since the establishment of PTAD to put smiles on the faces of us, Nigerian pensioners. “It is an open secret that Nigerian pensioners have borne the brunt of the pervasive corruption in the Nigerian society more than any other group after toiling all through their productive years; PTAD and by extension, Mrs. Nellie Mayshak came to reverse the situation after similar interventionist agencies contributed in worsening the situation in the past.” The group insisted that the allegations are spurious and unfounded based on the knowledge of the workings of PTAD, adding that all pensioners’ salaries are paid through the Central Bank of Nigeria to beneficiary’s accounts using the Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS). The group said that such payments are tracked through the banks to ensure that every pensioner receives their entitlement immediately they are paid, stressing that it is a known fact that PTAD prepares and submits monthly payroll of pensioners to the office of the Accountant General of the Federation in addition to issuing of payment instruction to the same office which is as adjunct of the federal ministry of finance. The group therefore wondered why the ministry could now turn around abruptly to deny the agency if there isn’t much to the suspension order than meets the ordinary eye, even as it restate the need for the president to go deeply into the matter. The group said that PTAD had saved tens of billions of Naira for the nation through the elimination of over 4,500 ghost pensioners and of recent saved another N7billion in five months that otherwise would have disappeared into the pockets of insurance companies and underwriters. The group said that PTAD has a list of 120 pension fraudsters which it had submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for investigations even as it challenged the public to cross check these assertions from the Federal Ministry of finance and the ICPC respectively. “It is therefore preposterous to say that the Director General padded the payroll when she has been in the forefront of those fighting against such group.” The group which said that it would sit back and watch pension administration in Nigeria returned to the dogs, disproved the widely reported allegations that the Director General was drawing a whopping salary of N60 million every month, saying that Mrs. Nellie Mayshak earns a little over N3million a month which was duly approved for the office by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission and which it said is about the least among its contemporaries in the public financial agencies such as CBN, FIRS, ICPC, PENCOM, NSITF and PPRA earn. “How can any civil servant allocate salary to his or herself if it is not an attempt to smear the woman by the endemic cabal of fraudsters whom she had fought relentlessly to remove their hands from the till of hapless pensioners?” [myad]
The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the results of the rerun election conducted in the state on March 19. The party said that what took place in the State on March 19 was not the expected rerun State and National Assembly elections but the mere allocation of votes to the ruling party in the State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to avoid being killed by Wike and his gang of killers. In a statement, the APC State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said the party had outrightly rejected the results so far announced by INEC. He said that the total cancellation of the process and the holding of fresh rerun polls would be acceptable to it. “We wish to put on record our total and uncompromising rejection of the results of the March 19, 2016 rerun elections so far announced by INEC as these do not in any way reflect the current political realities on ground in Rivers State. These results, which indicate a mysterious landslide victory for PDP, were allocated to the ruling party in the State following unrelenting threats by Governor Nyesom Wike to the effect that anybody coming to conduct any election that would not favour PDP should first write their wills before coming to the State. The effect of these threats and their practical demonstration as seen in how people were burnt, beheaded and buried alive during the rerun elections can clearly be seen in the shameful manner INEC is awarding victory to PDP.” The Rivers APC said that there was nothing different between what happened on March 19, 2016 and during the widely discredited elections of March 28 and April 11, 2015 that was cancelled by the courts, which also ordered the rerun elections. It said that this was not a coincidence considering that the apparatus used for both elections were basically the same. “From the Police leadership to most of the INEC officials and INEC ad-hoc staff, the characters that organised the 2015 general elections were the same characters that organised the March 19, 2016 rerun elections and it will be foolhardy to expect any different result. All these characters were set up by the former disgraced PDP administration rejected by Nigerians during the 2015 polls.” The Rivers APC berated Governor Wike for claiming that APC is not in a position to win an election in the State, and for accusing Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, of sponsoring violence to remain politically relevant. “Everyone knows that Wike is the one who has been sponsoring violence in Rivers State and not Amaechi,” the party said, adding: “If Amaechi did not employ violence as Governor of Rivers State to stop Wike from succeeding him in 2015, is it now that he is far away in Abuja as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that he would do so? Rather than the vain attempt to drag his name into the mud, Amaechi should be commended for not encouraging APC members to retaliate the wanton killing of its members by PDP, which would have turned Rivers State into another Somalia. [myad]
“Ha, my brother. Thanks for being observant. I have been trekking.”
“Trekking?”
“I went to buy fuel at that fuel station by the Estate gate. I had to abandon the car there. On my way back home, I could not find okada or any other form of transportation.”
“No wonder you are sweating.”
“All the tricyclists and the okada people claim they have no fuel.”
“It is good for you big men to have a taste of what poor people go through. This fuel scarcity is an effective leveler. It is no respecter of persons.”
“I can’t wait for April 7 to come.”
“What’s special about April 7?”
“That’s the day we are told this scarcity will end, and there will be no more scarcity of petroleum products.”
“You mean a government official actually made such a promise?”
“Yes”
“Then, that official still has a lot to learn. In this kind of matter, you must never give a deadline because you never know. Nigerians will record the date, pretend to be optimistic and wait for you. If you don’t deliver on the said date, you will be branded an incompetent liar!”
“Really?”
“Trust me. Never set a deadline. Never say things such as we will put an end to the Boko Haram menace by June ending. We will deliver 10, 000 MW of electricity by December, and there will be fuel across the country by so-so-and-so date?”
“But I think April 7 is a sure date”
“I like your optimism. You mean by April 7, the pipeline vandals would have stopped stealing?”
“Some concerned Nigerians, particularly Pastors, I understand have been helping the Federal Government to appeal to vandals. They have been telling the vandals that it is not a good thing to steal petrol that belongs to all of us.”
“You want to stop oil theft and pipeline vandalism by preaching? Does anyone know who the vandals are?”
“You know we are a religious nation. When everything fails, we preach. I won’t be surprised to hear that any pipeline vandal who repents will be recommended for a National Honour!”
“In that case, what are you still doing here? You too should become a pipeline vandal, repent and get honoured. Or you don’t want a national honour?”
“Actually, I’d rather ask the vandals to give me fuel from their private depots, so I won’t have to face the stress of looking for fuel.”
“But I thought we were depending on the importation of refined petroleum products. Where are the major marketers?”
“They are there, but they say they can’t help because market forces are now obeying command-and-control, centralized orders which are not good for business.”
“I know. I know. The climate has changed. There is no more free money to share in the name of subsidy. Let the marketers continue to grumble. You know, sometimes I actually feel that if the NNPC can quickly get its acts together and Nigerians can endure a little, this may actually be our opportunity to free Nigerians from the threat of oil marketers.”
“What threat? The marketers are doing business. If the refineries work and fuel supply across the country is well managed, we should not be in this situation. If you frustrate the marketers, whose crime is that they feed off state inefficiency, and you have no alternative in place, this is what you get. The issue is also one of ideological confusion between capitalism and socialism.”
“It is a shame that at a time the international price of crude oil is dropping, Nigerians are having to pay an arm and a leg to get fuel. Right now, a litre of fuel is about N250”.
“It’s more. That is if you get it to buy.”
“Wait a moment. You are panting. What’s that wheezing sound? You may need to see a doctor.”
“I can’t remember when last I trekked.”
“Fuel scarcity is good for you then?”
“How can this suffering be good for anybody? Do you know how many families are now treating heat rash? Not to talk of hundreds of Nigerians who have died looking for fuel?”
“Just see a doctor. If you trek for about 1,000 metres and you are now looking like you want to pass out, then for you fuel scarcity is a major help. If you didn’t have to look for fuel, you’d be dying slowly and you may never know. I think every big man should in fact go look for fuel and trek a little, and listen to the people on the street. Good exercise.”
“You must be joking”
“Well, as it is, it is the poor who are benefitting from the crisis. Many lower class Nigerians now trek to work. They can’t afford the high cost of transportation, so they just hit the road with their feet.”
“You must be kidding me”.
“Two days ago, I saw a long stretch of trekkers, returning from work, moving from Victoria Island to the Mainland, looking like they have accepted their fate.”
“Too much trekking can kill.”
“Looks like that former Minister who once recommended that Nigerians should use the bicycle is about to be vindicated at last. The bicycle will be our best bet under the circumstances.”
“Stop being funny. Families will use the bicycle to take children to school? Or Madam will go to the market riding a bicycle?”
“Nigerians must learn to embrace change. Our problem is that we don’t always see the good sides of everything. Are you aware that this fuel scarcity crisis has created many jobs?”
“You mean it has resulted in many job losses. With the rise in the cost of goods and services, many companies have had to lay off staff. If you spend half of your profit on generating electricity and buying fuel at cut-throat rates, you’d have sooner or later to cut costs. The first casualties are the workers. Even big companies can no longer pay salaries. Small and medium scale enterprises are folding up.”
“In your estate?”
“What do you mean in my estate?”
“Because you see in this life, when some people are crying, some people are smiling. All those boys selling black market fuel in jerry cans by the roadside, I hear they are praying that there should always be fuel scarcity. Many of them are now multi-millionaires.”
“Profiting from other people’s agony. Is that your understanding of how a proper economy works?”
“I am an optimist. Those boys selling fuel are very happy. If there is regular supply of fuel tomorrow, they wont’ be happy.”
“Please stop this cynicism.”
“Cynicism? Look, if this thing continues beyond April 7, don’t be surprised if you see me by the roadside also hawking fuel in jerry cans. I will add some swag to my own; organize the jerry cans nicely and put up a visible sign-board with the inscription: NNPC Mega Station! I have been making enquiries.”
“Your mates are aspiring to own fuel stations, become major marketers, or even own oil fields, your ambition is to sell fuel in jerry cans.”
“Some of those boys selling fuel in jerry cans are university graduates. I did my research. You do yours.”
“You are exaggerating”
“No, I am not. You mean you have not seen Ph.D holders in this country who are working as drivers or running pepper soup joints or selling pure water? You better change your mentality. My friend, try and change.”
“It is not that bad, please.”
“Okay. Are you aware that many graduates are ready to join the Nigeria Police as constables? And they will be glad to be posted to checkpoints where they can check vehicle particulars, and the pockets of motorists.”
“Pockets?”
“Yes. Why do you think there has been such a massive rush for jobs in the Nigeria Police. The Police recently placed an advert asking for applications. The two websites for online application crashed within 4 hours.”
“Wonderful.”
“They are looking for just 10, 000 new recruits. They received more than 8, 000 applications within one hour. If the portals did not crash, there would have been over a million applications.”
“Na wa o”
“Na wa ya o. We really need a miracle to happen.”
“No fuel. No electricity. No rainfall, either, as if God is holding on to the rains. Everywhere is so hot. I hardly sleep at night.”
“I still think you should see the doctor. And luckily for you, you may not have to pay the hospital.”
“How do you mean?”
“The Minister of Health has just directed all teaching hospitals and government-owned hospitals to treat patients free of charge.”
“Indigent patients or every patient?”
“We are all indigent, my friend.”
“But I don’t know why you take the Minister serious. You and I know he is just talking. No hospital will listen to him. And by the way, is he in a position to give such directives to state-owned hospitals? Even the ones owned by the Federal Government, do they have enough funds to embark on free healthcare? Government officials just must talk.”
“You can’t say that until you find out.”
“No. I don’t need to find out. I know.”
“Just take care of your health. I don’t want it said that you slumped while looking for fuel.”
“I’ll be fine”.
“Nigeria too will be fine. You remember that baby girl who was shown looking malnourished, and emaciated four months ago. Adacheka. And the boy now called Hope who was found in Akwa Ibom, left for dead, emaciated and sickly, in January. When I see the pictures of both children and how they have been saved, I think of our country, Nigeria. Miracles still happen.”
“I don’t believe in miracles any more.”
“Why not? Nigeria will soon start operating on nuclear energy level.”
“Really? People look for miracles when they are desperate or losing hope. In football, for example, Nigerians are looking for miracles right now. The Super Eagles have disappointed the nation. Indigenous coaches have failed us. From Stephen Keshi, to Austin Eguavoen, Samson Siasia and Sunday Oliseh, no hits, back to back, all na failure.”
“You don’t become a successful coach and manager just because you once captained a team. You need technical skills. You need the right people.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians in Washington DC that his government is working hard to correct the mistakes made in the past as a nation.
“We are working diligently to correct our mistakes as a nation. We will rehabilitate and expand national infrastructure, and move forward as quickly as possible.”
Speaking at an audience with a group of Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various professions in the United States, President Buhari said that the present administration is fully committed to correcting the errors that have hindered Nigeria’s progress as a nation.
“We are determined to get things done properly this time and God willing, we shall succeed.
President Buhari said that his administration will maintain contacts with Nigerian professionals in the Diaspora and see how they can be best placed to contribute effectively to national development if they choose to come back home.
The President congratulated the five Nigerians he met with for their exceptional accomplishments, saying that he was very proud of them all.
The Nigerians received by President Buhari included Professor Austin Esogbue, the only African to have served on the board of the United States’ National Aeronautical Space Agency.
Others were Jelani Aliyu, a leading car designer with General Motors, Prof. Nwadiuto Esiobu, a renowned Microbiologist and Biochemist, Dr. Yemi Badero, an Assistant Professor of Medicine and 13-year old Muriel Oduwole who has interviewed 18 world leaders. [myad]
Vicki Marsha Uniforms, a California-based school uniforms company has donated school uniforms, worth $48,000 to the disadvantaged young girls in the Yola-Jimeta community attending the literacy scheme of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), tagged ‘Feed and Read Program.’ The University confirmed in a statement today that it had taken delivery of the school uniforms, worth $48,000 in wholesale value, at the Yola campus. The clothing was said have been freighted free of charge by FedEx international couriers. FedEx’s in-kind donation is valued at $11,000. “We appreciate being included in this incredible effort to help fellow humans and to make our world a better place for those so in need,” said Mrs. Diane Cologne, whose husband, Tim, co-owns the Huntington Beach-based clothier. The donated items include new high-quality trousers, short pants, skirts, sweaters, shirts and dresses. The uniforms will be available for use in other AUN programs. AUN President, Margee Ensign said while receiving the donation: “this generous gift from the other side of the world will make such a huge difference to the children we are seeking to educate here in Nigeria. “All of us, and particularly the girls and their families, are enormously grateful to the Colognes.” The new literacy program was launched on February 11 with a financial donation by the Irish government. It targets at-risk, out-of-school girls and orphans ages of 6 to 17. Some of the beneficiaries were orphaned by the Boko Haram insurgency. AUN’s Feed and Read program, which kicked off with 70 girls, has seen the number already double. The program’s Coordinator, Executive Director of AUN Schools Mrs. Nkem Uzowulu, reported that the number increases daily as parents are encouraged by their children’s improved performance and tell their neighbors about it. The literacy program provides basic literacy and numeracy skills to the girls, with a feeding component that provides one meal per day. The meals are cooked by local vendors. Besides education, the program has a local economic impact as it is a source of livelihood for community women serving as volunteers or facilitators in the program, as well as for the food vendors. At the launch of new program, AUN President Dr. Ensign stressed the need for Nigeria to educate girls, noting that when girls are educated, everything in the country changes, from infant mortality to decline in infectious diseases and family size. AUN also has a literacy program that targets Almajiri boys. Both programs follow the same fundamental pedagogy and include a free meal for participants. The new uniforms are also available for the boys. AUN also runs a USAID-sponsored literacy and numeracy program Technology Enhanced Learning for All (TELA) which is exposes 22,000 vulnerable boys and girls in the local community using radio and tablets. [myad]
Things were going wrong under the watch of a Christian President. So, I asked myself, ‘Are we really praying well? Are we praying right? Is it that there were things God was telling us that we were not willing to listen to’? So, that changed my perspectives and I started balancing things. I came to the conclusion that we needed someone that will be able to deliver the dividends of democracy. Leading a nation is not running a church. Church has the Bible as its constitution but in a nation, you have heathens, Christians, Muslims and you have to carry everyone along. You have to protect the interests of everybody. You have homosexuals. So, I must not want a President to impose his religious views on everybody. No, no, no. He has to be able to protect the interests of everyone. And to be able to do that, the only way is to deliver the dividends of democracy. Nigeria belongs to everyone and everyone is entitled to practise whatever he or she wants without fear of molestation. I started advocating them but my views were not popular. I stuck to my guns anyway. I kept insisting that in our very eyes, we have seen the failure of a Christian presidency and we should have a rethink. To me, Christianity should be sincere enough to admit when something is not working and not to play to the gallery, becoming sentimental that we must support a Christian. Doing that will mean the nation will continue to be in limbo.” These were part of the remarks by the presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo, when he granted an interview to SUNDAY OGUNTOLA of THE NATION recently. Excerpts: You have been labeled a supporter of the government of change… (Cuts in)… But everyone should love change. Everyone should work for change. For me, my interest politically is whoever will deliver dividends of democracy for the nation. Regardless of that person’s religious persuasion, as long as he can deliver, he has my vote. Even if he is a heathen, I will vote for such a person. But people are asking ‘is this is the change we voted for’? That is the issue I keep talking about. Nigerians are naturally impatient and we chicken out once there is a little pressure. We will say we don’t want again. I read somewhere in the social media a young man who said we should go back to corruption since things appear not to be working out well. I said so we should go back to the vicious cycle? I replied the young man and said he was talking nonsense. Yes, things are not too stable but that is to tell you the rot the nation has degenerated to. You see, we are not fighting corruption. Nigeria is corruption. Everywhere you turn, every sector you turn, you find corruption. From the messenger to driver to the boss, everyone is involved. Corruption has become a second nature to us. The truth is you hardly find anyone that has not been dragged into the industry of corruption. It is as bad as that. Corruption has become the biggest industry in the nation. Now that Buhari is there, it will be foolhardy to say things will change overnight. Buhari will not completely eradication corruption because it’s been with us for decades. If anyone is expecting Buhari to change this even if he stays for 15 years, the person is not being sincere. I believe the current administration is fighting so hard to put things in place. The things we are seeing is corruption fighting back. We have saboteurs in the system that will take time to be detected and flushed out. There are people enjoying where we were. They were making it with the situation we had then. They have a lot of money in their hands so they can do anything; they can create problems. But if we endure a lot, I believe things will be better. Do you believe this administration will deliver? I believe so with all my heart. I believe the current crop of leaders will fix this nation. That is why some people are fighting them back. It is because they know within themselves that they can deliver. What is the basis of that belief? Why not? They have wonderful programmes. The budget has just been passed. So, let’s watch between now and end of the year for things to start taking shape. Do you share the belief that government should declare amnesty for all corrupt Nigerians? I believe that we should but with stringent conditions. If you have stolen money and you are willing to willingly refund, you can access amnesty. But amnesty does not mean we should not run after all the looters of our treasuries. They have been able to accumulate too much, even more than the nation. The government has recovered so much of the loots and they should go even after more looters. But we haven’t felt the impact of the loots reportedly recovered… …That is because government has not declared how much was recovered. Besides, they cannot spend monies without passage of the budget. I know that a lot of these monies will be channelled towards projects that have been outlined. But there is the concern that this government seems only interested in spending the next three years chasing thieves. Will that be a good direction to face? Government is not chasing thieves. It is EFCC that is chasing looters; it has just been suddenly awoken. The government is working; the ministers have just been appointed and things are running. It is not Buhari that is running after thieves. The system in place will pursue the looters. We cannot leave them to enjoy our commonwealth. I mean, they have stolen monies meant for us and must vomit them by force. In few weeks, this administration will be one.
How do you assess its performance so far? My performance appraisal is that at least people are running away who stole money. There is an awareness that impunity cannot continue. If nothing, that is a great step forward. I agree there are certain indices that are still expected but I believe that we have gone passed the period where people just did anything and got away with everything. That was what happened with the last administration. The nation just got to a point where it was more or less a banana republic. People could do anything and government cared less. But now, there is a little bit of sanity. There is restraint that you cannot get away with illegalities. I don’t want to run into troubles but that is a good thing for us. In an atmosphere where there is no impunity, you can move the nation forward within a year. In an atmosphere of peace with people aligning and you put structures in place you can get results in six months that should have taken three years. So, I believe in the next one year, we will see results that will shock us. So, Nigerians should be patient? Yes, we should be patient. I mean we have no option at this state. We have to allow the government put things in place that will last and deliver dividends. There is no Nigerian that does not believe that the President and his Vice mean well. We know they won’t steal and want to change the nation. So, we should just be patient. We should bear the little inconveniences that will lead us to the Promised Land. You were one of the few men of God that supported this administration during the electioneering campaign. Many of your colleagues are still angry you supported a Muslim against a Christian. Why did you do that? Two or three years before the elections, I got completely disgruntled and dissatisfied with what was going on. I mean, we had a sitting Christian President yet more Christians had been killed. More churches had been destroyed, yet no compensations for anybody. Things were going wrong under the watch of a Christian President. So, I asked myself, ‘Are we really praying well? Are we praying right? Is it that there were things God was telling us that we were not willing to listen to’? So, that changed my perspectives and I started balancing things. I came to the conclusion that we needed someone that will be able to deliver the dividends of democracy. Leading a nation is not running a church. Church has the Bible as its constitution but in a nation, you have heathens, Christians, Muslims and you have to carry everyone along. You have to protect the interests of everybody. You have homosexuals. So, I must not want a President to impose his religious views on everybody. No, no, no. He has to be able to protect the interests of everyone. And to be able to do that, the only way is to deliver the dividends of democracy. Nigeria belongs to everyone and everyone is entitled to practise whatever he or she wants without fear of molestation. So, you mentioned these to fellow church leaders? I didn’t just mention; I started advocating them but my views were not popular. I stuck to my guns anyway. I kept insisting that in our very eyes, we have seen the failure of a Christian presidency and we should have a rethink. To me, Christianity should be sincere enough to admit when something is not working and not to play to the gallery, becoming sentimental that we must support a Christian. Doing that will mean the nation will continue to be in limbo. So you have no regrets at all? I have none at all. I was glad when Buhari came on board. I mean I could have said we should support a fellow Christian but the interest of the nation should supersede all other considerations. Are you bothered you are called a Buhari apologist and an APC supporter? Why should I? It is my personal opinion, which I am entitled to. Everyone is entitled to his or her political ideology. I want somebody who can deliver dividends of democracy. The other person had tried for six years and didn’t deliver. Why shouldn’t we have someone else? You just started a full-fledged Mike Okonkwo academy. Is that because you love football? Many of your colleagues will say football is not a spiritual activity. Why should a man of God be involved in such ‘carnal’ venture? You see, it is important that you put your ears to the grounds and know what interests people. Football is like a rallying point for millions around the globe. It is an area of interest to many. You see, there are people who will never go to universities. I always have it in me that life is not just about going to schools and acquiring certificates. Many people have other interests in life that will take them to the top. So, the academy is about looking for young people with potentials in football and nurturing them to greatness with the fear of God. The scholarship scheme keeps getting bigger. Are you getting overwhelmed? I cannot because there are many people who wouldn’t have gone to schools without assistance from others. That is the truth of life. Many are stranded but brilliant. It gives me joy to be able to lift somebody up to become what he or she can be. It is always a joy in my heart. I remember a young man, a good musician with vast knowledge of the keyboard. He had been trying to improve his skills in schools to no avail. I met him one day and asked what he was doing. He said he was trying to get into a music school in South Africa. They were asking him to send some of his works to him and I asked what was delaying him. He said he didn’t have money to pursue the admission. So, I said, ‘You concentrate on your works, while you let me know how much everything will cost’. To cut the long story short, the young man is graduating this year. I didn’t do it for anything but because someone has been helped. It is not about training him so that he can play instrument for me. But he could become a mighty instrument in the hands of God and our nation because of his gift. It gives me joy to be able to do all of these.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has advocated continuity in governance which he described as an antidote for political stability in the West African subregion. He said that such continuity is an important element in the fight against Boko Haram and insurgency.
A Country In Search Of A Miracle, By Reuben Abati
“You look tired”
“Ha, my brother. Thanks for being observant. I have been trekking.”
“Trekking?”
“I went to buy fuel at that fuel station by the Estate gate. I had to abandon the car there. On my way back home, I could not find okada or any other form of transportation.”
“No wonder you are sweating.”
“All the tricyclists and the okada people claim they have no fuel.”
“It is good for you big men to have a taste of what poor people go through. This fuel scarcity is an effective leveler. It is no respecter of persons.”
“I can’t wait for April 7 to come.”
“What’s special about April 7?”
“That’s the day we are told this scarcity will end, and there will be no more scarcity of petroleum products.”
“You mean a government official actually made such a promise?”
“Yes”
“Then, that official still has a lot to learn. In this kind of matter, you must never give a deadline because you never know. Nigerians will record the date, pretend to be optimistic and wait for you. If you don’t deliver on the said date, you will be branded an incompetent liar!”
“Really?”
“Trust me. Never set a deadline. Never say things such as we will put an end to the Boko Haram menace by June ending. We will deliver 10, 000 MW of electricity by December, and there will be fuel across the country by so-so-and-so date?”
“But I think April 7 is a sure date”
“I like your optimism. You mean by April 7, the pipeline vandals would have stopped stealing?”
“Some concerned Nigerians, particularly Pastors, I understand have been helping the Federal Government to appeal to vandals. They have been telling the vandals that it is not a good thing to steal petrol that belongs to all of us.”
“You want to stop oil theft and pipeline vandalism by preaching? Does anyone know who the vandals are?”
“You know we are a religious nation. When everything fails, we preach. I won’t be surprised to hear that any pipeline vandal who repents will be recommended for a National Honour!”
“In that case, what are you still doing here? You too should become a pipeline vandal, repent and get honoured. Or you don’t want a national honour?”
“Actually, I’d rather ask the vandals to give me fuel from their private depots, so I won’t have to face the stress of looking for fuel.”
“But I thought we were depending on the importation of refined petroleum products. Where are the major marketers?”
“They are there, but they say they can’t help because market forces are now obeying command-and-control, centralized orders which are not good for business.”
“I know. I know. The climate has changed. There is no more free money to share in the name of subsidy. Let the marketers continue to grumble. You know, sometimes I actually feel that if the NNPC can quickly get its acts together and Nigerians can endure a little, this may actually be our opportunity to free Nigerians from the threat of oil marketers.”
“What threat? The marketers are doing business. If the refineries work and fuel supply across the country is well managed, we should not be in this situation. If you frustrate the marketers, whose crime is that they feed off state inefficiency, and you have no alternative in place, this is what you get. The issue is also one of ideological confusion between capitalism and socialism.”
“It is a shame that at a time the international price of crude oil is dropping, Nigerians are having to pay an arm and a leg to get fuel. Right now, a litre of fuel is about N250”.
“It’s more. That is if you get it to buy.”
“Wait a moment. You are panting. What’s that wheezing sound? You may need to see a doctor.”
“I can’t remember when last I trekked.”
“Fuel scarcity is good for you then?”
“How can this suffering be good for anybody? Do you know how many families are now treating heat rash? Not to talk of hundreds of Nigerians who have died looking for fuel?”
“Just see a doctor. If you trek for about 1,000 metres and you are now looking like you want to pass out, then for you fuel scarcity is a major help. If you didn’t have to look for fuel, you’d be dying slowly and you may never know. I think every big man should in fact go look for fuel and trek a little, and listen to the people on the street. Good exercise.”
“You must be joking”
“Well, as it is, it is the poor who are benefitting from the crisis. Many lower class Nigerians now trek to work. They can’t afford the high cost of transportation, so they just hit the road with their feet.”
“You must be kidding me”.
“Two days ago, I saw a long stretch of trekkers, returning from work, moving from Victoria Island to the Mainland, looking like they have accepted their fate.”
“Too much trekking can kill.”
“Looks like that former Minister who once recommended that Nigerians should use the bicycle is about to be vindicated at last. The bicycle will be our best bet under the circumstances.”
“Stop being funny. Families will use the bicycle to take children to school? Or Madam will go to the market riding a bicycle?”
“Nigerians must learn to embrace change. Our problem is that we don’t always see the good sides of everything. Are you aware that this fuel scarcity crisis has created many jobs?”
“You mean it has resulted in many job losses. With the rise in the cost of goods and services, many companies have had to lay off staff. If you spend half of your profit on generating electricity and buying fuel at cut-throat rates, you’d have sooner or later to cut costs. The first casualties are the workers. Even big companies can no longer pay salaries. Small and medium scale enterprises are folding up.”
“In your estate?”
“What do you mean in my estate?”
“Because you see in this life, when some people are crying, some people are smiling. All those boys selling black market fuel in jerry cans by the roadside, I hear they are praying that there should always be fuel scarcity. Many of them are now multi-millionaires.”
“Profiting from other people’s agony. Is that your understanding of how a proper economy works?”
“I am an optimist. Those boys selling fuel are very happy. If there is regular supply of fuel tomorrow, they wont’ be happy.”
“Please stop this cynicism.”
“Cynicism? Look, if this thing continues beyond April 7, don’t be surprised if you see me by the roadside also hawking fuel in jerry cans. I will add some swag to my own; organize the jerry cans nicely and put up a visible sign-board with the inscription: NNPC Mega Station! I have been making enquiries.”
“Your mates are aspiring to own fuel stations, become major marketers, or even own oil fields, your ambition is to sell fuel in jerry cans.”
“Some of those boys selling fuel in jerry cans are university graduates. I did my research. You do yours.”
“You are exaggerating”
“No, I am not. You mean you have not seen Ph.D holders in this country who are working as drivers or running pepper soup joints or selling pure water? You better change your mentality. My friend, try and change.”
“It is not that bad, please.”
“Okay. Are you aware that many graduates are ready to join the Nigeria Police as constables? And they will be glad to be posted to checkpoints where they can check vehicle particulars, and the pockets of motorists.”
“Pockets?”
“Yes. Why do you think there has been such a massive rush for jobs in the Nigeria Police. The Police recently placed an advert asking for applications. The two websites for online application crashed within 4 hours.”
“Wonderful.”
“They are looking for just 10, 000 new recruits. They received more than 8, 000 applications within one hour. If the portals did not crash, there would have been over a million applications.”
“Na wa o”
“Na wa ya o. We really need a miracle to happen.”
“No fuel. No electricity. No rainfall, either, as if God is holding on to the rains. Everywhere is so hot. I hardly sleep at night.”
“I still think you should see the doctor. And luckily for you, you may not have to pay the hospital.”
“How do you mean?”
“The Minister of Health has just directed all teaching hospitals and government-owned hospitals to treat patients free of charge.”
“Indigent patients or every patient?”
“We are all indigent, my friend.”
“But I don’t know why you take the Minister serious. You and I know he is just talking. No hospital will listen to him. And by the way, is he in a position to give such directives to state-owned hospitals? Even the ones owned by the Federal Government, do they have enough funds to embark on free healthcare? Government officials just must talk.”
“You can’t say that until you find out.”
“No. I don’t need to find out. I know.”
“Just take care of your health. I don’t want it said that you slumped while looking for fuel.”
“I’ll be fine”.
“Nigeria too will be fine. You remember that baby girl who was shown looking malnourished, and emaciated four months ago. Adacheka. And the boy now called Hope who was found in Akwa Ibom, left for dead, emaciated and sickly, in January. When I see the pictures of both children and how they have been saved, I think of our country, Nigeria. Miracles still happen.”
“I don’t believe in miracles any more.”
“Why not? Nigeria will soon start operating on nuclear energy level.”
“Really? People look for miracles when they are desperate or losing hope. In football, for example, Nigerians are looking for miracles right now. The Super Eagles have disappointed the nation. Indigenous coaches have failed us. From Stephen Keshi, to Austin Eguavoen, Samson Siasia and Sunday Oliseh, no hits, back to back, all na failure.”
“You don’t become a successful coach and manager just because you once captained a team. You need technical skills. You need the right people.”
“That-is-the-point!” [myad]