The University of Abuja has sympathized with the family of its Chancellor, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji, Dr.vShehu Idris, who died today, September 20 at the age of 84.
In a condolence message on behalf of the institution’s Governing Council, Senate, Staff and Students, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, condoled with the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, the Zazzau Emirate Council, the people of Kaduna State and Nigerians.
“The death of the Chancellor comes to us as a rude shock, especially at this moment that we need his counsel most. “We are indeed, proud of his great and superb achievements as the first rate Emir of modern Zaria.”
In a statement by the institution’s spokesman, Dr Habib Yakoob, said that the late Emir would be remembered as a dutiful, very resourceful and committed individual, who believed in the development of education, “particularly of our dear University, the University for National Unity, the UofA of Nigeria.”
The statement recalled that during his years of service as Chancellor, he worked incredibly hard to draw federal and private supports to the University. “His total support and contributions, quality advice and superior leadership as our Chancellor of many years will remain indelible. His demonstration of unequal forthrightness, commitment and accountability, transparency and enthusiasm for the growth and development of the country should be emulated by our leaders and well-meaning Nigerians.
“We are glad that he remained a worthy and accomplished leader till his death.”
The statement said that the Vice-Chancellor has, in the spirit of this bereavement, declared mourning and ordered that flags on campus should be flown at half mast
The Vice Chancellor prayed that Allah in his infinite mercies, reward him abundantly and give the family the fortitude to bear this great loss.
Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Godwin Obaseki has been declared winner of the election in Edo State held yesterday, September 19.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) returning officer, Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh announced the total result of the election today, September 20.
According to him, PDP polled 307,955 votes while the All Progressives Congress (APC) got 223,619 votes.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Governor Obaseki, who is coming in for a second term, having won the first election about four years ago on the platform of the APC. He dumped the APC for the PDP for the purpose of securing a second term.
In a congratulatory message, President Buhari asked Obaseki to show grace in victory.
The President, who commended the election process in Edo State, assured that his commitment to free and fair elections is firm, adding that without free and fair elections, the foundation of the country’s political and moral authority will be weak.
“I have consistently advocated for free and fair elections in the country because it is the bedrock of true democratic order.
“Democracy will mean nothing if the votes of the people don’t count or if their mandate is fraudulently tampered with.”
He commended the people of Edo State, the parties, candidates and security agencies for conducting themselves responsibly.
In the past one week, those who think they own Nigeria, and their cohorts, have been making magisterial pronouncements on the state of the nation. What they couldn’t get through the ballot box in 2019, they are attempting to achieve through misinformation, disinformation, malevolence, false narrative, and outright malediction.
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, wants us to believe that the country is collapsing, and is now a basket case, with the economy and unity in tatters.
Fine. Nigeria has a lot of challenges. Insecurity. Insularity. Fallen economic fortunes. Rising costs. Huge unemployment. And many more. But are those the only things happening in the country? Not at all. It would be disingenuous, even deceitful to say so. And only the unwary, the undiscerning, would be fooled. And well, including those who choose deliberately to be fooled.
To the applause of ‘sour grapers’ in groups like Afenifere, Ohanaeze, Northern Elders Forum, PANDEF, and some others, Chief Obasanjo spoke, and called his country and its leadership all sorts of names. But am I impressed? No. These were people in the same boat before the 2019 presidential elections. They wanted President Muhammadu Buhari out of office for different personal reasons. But what did they get? A shellacking. Bloody noses, and they went away with their tails between their feet, like a beaten dog. Their boat capsized.
I remember that infamous letter of early 2018, a year before elections, from the professional letter writer. He directed the horse rider (read, President) to dismount, and allow another person to mount. The landlord of the country had spoken, and his word was law.
No sir! President Buhari politely told his former boss in the military. We went to the polls, and the people spoke in a loud voice. The landlord was ejected, thrown out into the cold. That is why anything Chief Obasanjo says about this government cannot carry weight. It is not a case of accepting the message, and ignoring the messenger, as some people canvass. The jaundice of the messenger can taint and corrode the message, and render it unreliable.
And for the cheerleaders, the different groups Obasanjo spoke to, and who egged him on, they are no better. They all took positions before last year’s elections. They threw in their lots with Buhari’s closest challenger, Atiku Abubakar. They all got beaten together, black and blue. And for all of them, they don’t seem to realize that the elections have been won and lost. Till 2023. They remain in pre-election mode, forgetting that the train had long left the station.
Their strategy is simple. Say so much evil about Buhari and his government, paint him black, confuse and discourage Nigerians, paint the picture of a bleak future, till the people become forlorn and disconsolate. What they lost at the polls, they want to get through some other means, as if Nigerians were fools, incapable of independent reasoning.
The former President says the country is collapsing. I agree. Nigeria is collapsing forward. In diverse ways, under President Muhammadu Buhari, the collapse is in a forward trajectory, despite all the odds.
I love what Temitope Ajayi, a public affairs commentator, posted on Facebook earlier in the week. Under the title ‘When Nigeria Was Not A Failed State,’ he listed atrocious developments that occurred between 1999 and 2007, when Obasanjo was President. His Attorney General and Chief Law Officer of the country, Bola Ige, was murdered in cold blood. A serving Governor, Dr Chris Ngige, of Anambra State, was abducted, and thugs unleashed mayhem on Awka, the state capital, burning and looting for many days. Yet, not a word from the President. Nor any action to restore sanity.
Zaki Biam, in Benue State, and Odi, in Bayelsa, were leveled by soldiers on reprisal missions. Scores were murdered. In Plateau State, which had become killing fields, he called the state chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) a fool, a compound fool, adding, “CAN, my foot!” Today, that same man, Rev Yakubu Pam, has been appointed Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission by Buhari, a Muslim bigot, as they claim.
And more. In his eight years in office, roads collapsed, rail became history, Supreme Court judgments were subject to his personal interpretations, Governors were wantonly removed without due process, yet, Nigeria was not collapsing then.
Temitope Ajayi summed it up this way: “Under the man that is turning Nigeria to a failed state, as at today, work is going on at a frenetic pace on Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki-Alausa Toll Gate road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Express, Ikorodu-Sagamu, among others.
“A rail line from Lagos-Ibadan is at final stage of completion. Now that Nigeria is failing, it should be noted that all these projects are in South-West, the same place where the ‘savior’ who couldn’t save himself came from.
“I still struggle to understand the logic of this so-called failed country narrative under the leadership of a man who is doing what his predecessors failed to do, across the entire country, under the most challenging circumstances of low revenue since he took office.”
Thanks Temitope Ajayi, for being so succinct. You nailed it.
And Kurtis Adigba, lawyer, and another good Nigerian, who loves his country dearly, drove the nail further in. Also on Facebook, he posted this week: “For some people, Nigeria is good and doing well only when they are in control of things. They go about sowing seeds of discord and division, and turn round to talk about unity as if unity happens through division and not by coming together.” Very profound.
Chief Obasanjo talked about the mismanagement of our diversity, saying it is leading to collapse. True? False. Nigeria, since 1914, had been an uneasy Federation. There is hate, mistrust, unkind thoughts, ill will, among the Federating units. If you meet him, kill him. If you can’t catch up with him, poison his footsteps. That had always been the relationship. One government after the other had always done its best to promote cohesion and amity, but hateful things Obasanjo and his collaborators have been saying for months and years divide the country further. They can’t sow the wind, and not expect to reap the whirlwind. When things suddenly go bust, and there’s murder and mayhem all over the place, they are often results of evil seeds of division and hate already sown.
I have concluded that unless Nigerians want this country to work, we would just continue to labor and labor. Government after government would do their bit, but as long as divisive, vitriolic comments continue, there would be no nation in the true sense of the word. Not even after President Buhari leaves office. Adigba puts it this way:
“The next President of Nigeria will face the same problem as President Buhari, if we don’t choose to do things differently and treat the country better. Right now, we see Nigeria as an opportunity, not a country to be nourished.”
Home truth. Nigerians are the greatest problem of Nigeria. We continue to harp on the negative, deliberately closing our eyes to positives. Nigeria is collapsing. Yes it is collapsing forward. Revolution in infrastructure. Roads, rail, bridges, airports, and many others. Corruption is being fought, with verifiable results, insurgency and criminality tackled robustly. The economy is being diversified, agriculture is working, we can feed ourselves. But for the enemies, the country is collapsing. Yes, collapsing forward.
Those who claim to love this country, and pretend to be the landlords, actually may love just themselves, and not the country. Otherwise, they would mind their language, knowing that things they say build up tension and animosity, which eventually boil over, leading to sorrow, tears and blood (dem regular trademark).
We must test and examine our ways, and decide whether we want our country to work or not. There are challenges, stiff ones. But they will be overcome, if we all team up, and eschew evil thoughts and words. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” (Psalm 122, verse 6).
May they prosper that love Nigeria, our own dear native land.
*Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity
I was shocked when I read what you said in the news last week that Nigeria must be restructured in order to avoid her disintegration.
I couldn’t believe my ears that our same President Olusegun Obasanjo can openly canvass for true federalism and restructuring. Waow… God is really wonderful.
Sir, is it true that you said the present Nigerian structure has turned your Yoruba race into second class citizens? Am I dreaming or what?
Sir, are you just realizing that the Yorubas are actually a conquered people within the contraption called Nigeria after you have spent over 10 years as the former president and head of state of Nigeria???
What were you thinking when you were using state forces and actors like the Nigerian army and police to kill, maim and destroy fellow Yorubas and other southerners like the people of Odi, all in the name of one Nigeria?
With all due respect sir, why are you trying to turn into a Yoruba nationalist all of a sudden after you have openly denigrated and spited your people both home and abroad for the sake of other ethnicities most especially the fulani Oligarchs and caliphate in Nigeria.
Your atrocities against the Yoruba nation are uncountable.
As far as I know you have never used your position and influence to preserve the Yoruba race or fight against injustice meted out against the Yoruba nation by other ethnic nationalities within Nigeria.
We remember that Madam funmilayo Ransome Kuti was killed during your regime as the military head of states. Chief Bola Ige was also assassinated during your regime as the civilian head of state. Till date nobody has been prosecuted for the assassination of those bright Yoruba citizens.
We still remember the hatred and bitterness you harbor against the late Sage, may his soul rest in peace. Chief Obafemi Awolowo stood, dedicated and sacrificed his life for the Yoruba nation till his death while you planned for his legacy to be permanently destroyed in Yorubaland, in Nigeria and throughout the world. Fela Anikulapo kuti was beaten and tortured by soldiers during your regime as the head of state. Fela today is one of the greatest Yoruba sons that ever graced the earth.
Pa Awolowo won the election in 1978 but you openly campaigned and rigged in Favour of a fulani candidate. You were quoted to have said that “the best candidate will not win the election.” Your hatred for MKO Abiola is also well known. After you became the president of Nigeria on the back of Yoruba agenda in 1999 and the sacrifices of MKO and Kudirat Abiola, you embarked on the campaign of whitewashing the struggle of June12. You even said that MKO Abiola is not the messiah Nigeria needs. What a shameful statement by you.
When patriotic Yoruba citizens were fighting to reclaim Kwara from Fulani hegemony, anarchy and apartheid system of government in 1999, led by Gani Adams and Mohammed Lawal, you openly unleashed the military and the police to massacre thousands of Yoruba freedom fighters. You handed over power back to the Saraki dynasty and the emirates in kwara without thinking twice while the Yoruba nation was cursing you for your treason.
Should we even mention how you used thugs, deceit and betrayal to destroy the Alliance for democracy and Afenifere group. We still remember how you refuse to give lagos state, a Yoruba state in Yorubaland monthly Federal Government allocation for 3 years because the governor of Lagos state led by Tinubu complained to you that – why should Lagos state have 20 local government while Kano state that contributes nothing to Nigeria’s revenue has 44 local government? Your response was to starve Yoruba sons and daughters living in Lagos to death by withholding their allocation for 3 good years. Tinubu wanted to build an independent power station in lagos to serve lagos state, you destroyed and frustrated the project, and yet Governor Fashola could not build the independent power station.
A national census was carried out in 2006 by your government which was declared as a fraud because of your usual commitment in favouring the hausa fulani establishment over your people.
During your government, Yoruba intellectuals told you and warned you that restructuring and true federalism is the only way out of the impending doom of Nigeria. What did you do? You used federal might to silence your critics and openly said you are a Nigerian nationalist not a Yoruba nationalist. Do you still remember sir?
Fast forward those years to 2020, you are all of a sudden crying and screaming of fulanisation and Islamization. You are now an apostle of true federalism and restructuring. It’s even amazing that you can attend Oodua people’s congress meeting to talk about Yoruba agenda after you openly called Oodua Peoples Congress a terrorist organization; What a shame.
With all due respect sir, you have been more of a disaster to the Yoruba nation than a blessing since 1960. You destroyed the Yoruba nation for the sake of your greed and selfishness. We will never forgive and forget your misdeeds against millions of Yoruba citizens.
In the name of Olodumare, the Yoruba nation will get out of this shithole called Nigeria and you can gladly relocate your lineage to North or eastern part of Nigeria but not in Yorubaland.
If you are actually remorseful and shameful, you should never talk about Yoruba agenda because you are the number one enemy of the Yoruba race.
May Olodumare continue to uplift the Yoruba race, Amen.
The Edo State Governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Godwin Obaseki, has begged God not to allow him win reelection in tomorrow, September 19 election if it would result in bloodbath.
He stressed that his second term ambition is not worth spilling the blood of anyone.
“If it will cost the blood of anybody, let me lose instead.”
In a statement today, September 18, Governor Obaseki was quoted as speaking after a one-day prayer and fasting session for a peaceful election, organised by the Edo Christian Community for all the governorship candidates ahead of the election.
The statement was titled, ‘My reelection not worth spilling of blood – Obaseki’, and signed by Obaseki’s Special Assistant on Media, Crusoe Osagie.
Obaseki called on eligible voters to come out en masse without fear of intimidation or harassment, adding that there is no need for any form of violence during the electioneering process.
“Ordinarily, an election is supposed to be a contest where people go to sell their ideal, and citizens in their own free will go and vote for those ideals they believe in; it shouldn’t be one where people will do anything to get power.
“Election should not be one in which we shed blood because the election will always come. If you die in an election, you will not be there in the next one to vote. So, there is no need for violence.
“It’s unfortunate that where we are today we are all afraid that there will be trouble, that there will be crisis and violence but by the grace of God, we will all come out and vote and there won’t be any bloodshed.
“There is no need for any violence and if anybody decides to act in a violent manner just walk away because our lives are very precious. I have a covenant with God; if it will cost the blood of anybody for me to get into power, he should not let me have power.”
On his part, the National President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Reverend Felix Omobude, prayed that God would make peace reign before, during, and after the election.
The Air Component of Operation Thunder Strike were believed to have destroyed bandits’ meeting venue in Kwaimbana Forest area of Kaduna State and several of them were killed in the incident.
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, who made this known in a statement today, September 18 in Abuja, said that the air raid was conducted after series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that revealed the hideout along with a building in the centre of the forest.
General Enenche said that the Air Component dispatched Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jets and helicopter gunships to attack the location accordingly to engage them.
He said that the attack aircraft took turns in engaging the target area, scoring accurate hits which resulted in the damage of the building as well as neutralisation of several bandits.
The Nigeria Police Force has advised electorate in tomorrow, Saturday, September 19 governorship election to cast their votes and return home immediately and that waiting for the counting of the ballot will not be allowed.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Research and Planning, Adeleye Oyebade, who is to coordinate election in Edo State, in an NTA enlightenment programme today, September 18, “it is better to come, do what you want to do, and go home; because some people will be kept behind bars and we will do proper investigation and diligent prosecution of offenders that we will apprehend.”
Confirming that police aides have been withdrawn for VIPs until after the poll, DIG Oyebade said that the police would remain neutral during the exercise and vowed to arrest any political thugs.
He said that movement remained restricted and advised any traveler planning to pass through Edo State to take an alternative route.
The DIG called on the candidates who signed the peace accord to make sure that they abide by the terms of the agreement.
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has distanced himself from reports that he is making moves for the 2023 presidency.
Atiku said he was currently working with the PDP to ensure victory in all upcoming elections in Edo, Ondo and Anambra States respectively.
Reacting to report he had appointed 18 people in preparation for the 2023 presidential election, Atiku, speaking through his Media Aide, Paul Ibe, said that he would make everything public if he decides to run for the Presidency in 2023.
“We have to be very careful with social media, it can do good and a lot of bad.
“On the issue of the 2023 presidency, we have said it over and over again that we have not gotten there yet. We have said it over and over again that we are not there now.
“Where his Excellency is right now is to help his party, the PDP become victorious in all upcoming elections like Edo, Ondo and Anambra is also on the radar for next year. These are the things he is preoccupied with at this point in time.
“These issues of Atiku running for Presidency or not should not be an issue of social media; it would be made public if it gets to that point.
“But that is not where Atiku is right now, there is work to be done, he’s currently working with PDP stakeholders so that they would put themselves in a position of advantage and reorganise the party for the task ahead, so I can’t confirm if he has made any appointments. But you are aware that his support groups remain very vital and active and I think they are the ones organizing themselves.”
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has alerted leaders and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to brace up and win the governorship election in the tomorrow, Saturday, September 19 election or prepare to face danger.
He said: “let me tell you, God forbid that APC wins; if they do, all of you here would have failed because your political life will be in jeopardy.”
Governor Wike, who spoke at a meeting organized for leaders and elected representatives of the PDP in Benin, the Edo State capital, called on them not fear the threats of violence in the electoral processes, saying: “the electoral battle may not be easy. But God is with us. With the people also on the ground, we will win.
“They will come with federal might, but do not fear because we have the electorate on our side. They did the same in Rivers State; the people resisted them by protecting their votes.
“This is an opportunity for you to fight for the liberation of Edo State. You must all say enough is enough. One man should not be allowed to continue to insult Edo people. The godfather thinks what he says will always be. This is the time to stop him.”
Kogi State government has reacted to the statement credited to the United States of America Placing visa restriction on un-named politicians against the backdrop of the governorship election in the state in November last year.
In a 16-paragraph letter with reference, KGS/GO/ADM/25/II/XXX, dated 16 September 2020, the state government accused the US of being a merchant of fake news.
The letter, which was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Mrs. Folashade Arike Ayoade, also accused the US of undermining Nigeria’s judiciary.
It was addressed to the Ambassador Of The United States of America Embassy at number
1075, Diplomatic Drive Central Business District, Abuja.
The state government made it clear that it found the visa restrictions and reasons given unacceptable, “and we protest your presumption. The least you could have done, if indeed this is about democracy and human rights as claimed, is create room, no matter how slim, for fair hearing. As it is now, partisan speculation as to who is indicted, who is not and for what, has become cudgels, furiously swung in the media space by all comers. Your action has therefore added abundant grist to the rumour mills and electrified the merchants of fake news.”
The state said that its concern is not the prerogative of the United States of America to impose entry restrictions on anyone, for any or no reason at all, which prerogative remains unfettered, “but the room for atrocious misinformation which the timing of your Press Statement and the mention of the Kogi elections therein has created in our state.”
It recalled that for the February and March 2019 General elections, the US advisory came out in July 2019, long before the Supreme Court delivered her judgments in the petitions against those elections, including challenges to President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection, adding that the presumption is that in spite of the US intervention, the Supreme Court still discovered no merit in the petitions and dismissed them accordingly.
“In our case, i.e, Kogi State, you made the tactical decision to release the update shortly after the Supreme Court delivered judgments in the 4 petitions which made it before her. Amongst a plethora of well-reasoned pronouncements the Apex Court dismissed the said petitions for failing to prove their allegations and for having no ‘scintilla of merit’. The inference from your timing is that the judgment is somehow tainted and did not meet the justice of the case, thereby casting aspersions, not only on the Nigerian Judiciary, but on the second term mandate freely bestowed on His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello by the good people of Kogi State.”
Full text of the protest letter is hereby reproduced:
I have been so directed by His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and I hereby make and forward this Letter of Protest to you in respect of the matters contained in it.
The Kogi State Government became aware of a United States Government list of individuals who received US visa restrictions for alleged electoral malpractices via a Press Statement to that effect posted on your Embassy website at https://bit.ly/32vD96M. In your own words, the still unnamed individuals are cited as guilty of ‘acts of violence, intimidation, or corruption that harmed Nigerians and undermined the democratic process.’ They are also alleged to ‘have operated with impunity at the expense of the Nigerian people and undermined democratic principles and human rights.’
You also noted in the Statement that the sanctions are derived from unspecified misconducts by the said individuals which extend from the February/March 2019 General Elections in Nigeria through the off-cycle November 2019 gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa to the as yet unheld governorship contests in Edo and Ondo States. Please note that for the purposes of this protest letter we are only interested in the citations to the extent that they are referable to Kogi State and her citizens.
For the most part, we concede that elections in Nigeria are complex affairs which will continue to require improvements for the foreseeable future. The 2019 Kogi State Gubernatorial Election was also not without its challenges. However, it is also crystal clear from critical and composite analyses of the records (official, media, observers, etc) of the November 16, 2020 polls that regrettable incidents were limited to a few polling units, while the overwhelmingly larger portions of the ballot were free, fair and credible.
Further, and in line with Nigerian law, the few political parties and individuals who alleged widespread electoral malpractices had free rein to contest the outcome in court. They vigorously litigated their claims over a grueling 9-month period, through a 3-step hierarchy of courts, to the inescapable conclusion at the Supreme Court of Nigeria that the said elections satisfactorily complied with the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.
Our concern right now is not the prerogative of the United States of America to impose entry restrictions on anyone, for any or no reason at all, which prerogative remains unfettered, but the room for atrocious misinformation which the timing of your Press Statement and the mention of the Kogi elections therein has created in our state.
For the February and March 2019 General elections, your advisory came out in July 2019, long before the Supreme Court delivered her judgments in the petitions against those elections, including challenges to President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection. The presumption is that in spite of your intervention, the Supreme Court still discovered no merit in the petitions and dismissed them accordingly.
In our case, ie, Kogi State, you made the tactical decision to release the update shortly after the Supreme Court delivered judgments in the 4 petitions which made it before her. Amongst a plethora of well-reasoned pronouncements the Apex Court dismissed the said petitions for failing to prove their allegations and for having no ‘scintilla of merit’. The inference from your timing is that the judgment is somehow tainted and did not meet the justice of the case, thereby casting aspersions, not only on the Nigerian Judiciary, but on the second term mandate freely bestowed on His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello by the good people of Kogi State.
We find this unacceptable, and we protest your presumption. The least you could have done, if indeed this is about democracy and human rights as claimed, is create room, no matter how slim, for fair hearing. As it is now, partisan speculation as to who is indicted, who is not and for what, has become cudgels, furiously swung in the media space by all comers. Your action has therefore added abundant grist to the rumour mills and electrified the merchants of fake news.
For instance, a United States based blog, saharareporters.com, has made inflammatory publications in which they named His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, among others, as a definite recipient of your visa restriction. Though you have named no names, accuracy is of no moment to them, just base political expediency, and they quote unnamed US State Department sources to give credibility to what is otherwise unproven.
Also, other players in the Kogi political space, including candidates and officials of opposition political parties which lost the elections and could not prove their allegations in court as aforesaid have now latched onto this action, holding media conferences and making press releases, claiming that the United States has justified their wild allegations and conspiracy theories where the courts and the administrative quarters failed. This is utterly regrettable.
Let it be noted that we are not challenging your visa bans in any way, whoever they may affect and for how long, but we do register the strongest protest possible as a State to the collateral and unwarranted interference in our political and social processes which it represents. You have reignited already dying embers of discord around the February/March General Elections and the November 16 Kogi State Gubernatorial Elections of 2019. This has invariably made our usual post-election duty of reconciliation with fair-minded political opponents all the more harder. We are hurt and disappointed.
Digressing a little beyond Kogi State to our contiguous states of Edo and Ondo, we wish to advice generally that by so preemptively interfering in their elections, both of which are yet to hold, events on ground since your publication indicate that the United States has foisted on our political process, not the expected caution or good behaviour by politicians which may have been your intent, but further calcification of hardened attitudes, more violent polemics, and increased sabre-rattling.
Even now every camp is trying to spin your action as evidence of US support for themselves and hostility to their opponents. Everyone involved in those elections is now stoked with an aura of invincibility and hellbent on displaying all manners of outrageousness on election day to prove their opponents the aggressors. After all, with sanctions looming over everyone like the Sword of Damocles, every stakeholder, including the security agencies are on tenterhooks and less likely to be lively. We fear you may have done our democracy more harm than good with this action, and we consider it most unfortunate indeed.
In conclusion, we believe that if the United States of America, despite her commanding heights and much longer experience as the acclaimed Bastion of Democracy in the world, is still locked in a fight to defend the integrity of her own electoral processes to this very day, then she ought to accord greater empathy, more civility and much less disruption, to nascent democracies.
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The University of Abuja has sympathized with the family of its Chancellor, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji, Dr.vShehu Idris, who died today, September 20 at the age of 84.
Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Godwin Obaseki has been declared winner of the election in Edo State held yesterday, September 19.
The Edo State Governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Godwin Obaseki, has begged God not to allow him win reelection in tomorrow, September 19 election if it would result in bloodbath.
The Air Component of Operation Thunder Strike were believed to have destroyed bandits’ meeting venue in Kwaimbana Forest area of Kaduna State and several of them were killed in the incident.
Kogi State government has reacted to the statement credited to the United States of America Placing visa restriction on un-named politicians against the backdrop of the governorship election in the state in November last year.
Obasanjo, The Landlord, Blows Hate Again, By Femi Adesina
In the past one week, those who think they own Nigeria, and their cohorts, have been making magisterial pronouncements on the state of the nation. What they couldn’t get through the ballot box in 2019, they are attempting to achieve through misinformation, disinformation, malevolence, false narrative, and outright malediction.
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, wants us to believe that the country is collapsing, and is now a basket case, with the economy and unity in tatters.
Fine. Nigeria has a lot of challenges. Insecurity. Insularity. Fallen economic fortunes. Rising costs. Huge unemployment. And many more. But are those the only things happening in the country? Not at all. It would be disingenuous, even deceitful to say so. And only the unwary, the undiscerning, would be fooled. And well, including those who choose deliberately to be fooled.
To the applause of ‘sour grapers’ in groups like Afenifere, Ohanaeze, Northern Elders Forum, PANDEF, and some others, Chief Obasanjo spoke, and called his country and its leadership all sorts of names. But am I impressed? No. These were people in the same boat before the 2019 presidential elections. They wanted President Muhammadu Buhari out of office for different personal reasons. But what did they get? A shellacking. Bloody noses, and they went away with their tails between their feet, like a beaten dog. Their boat capsized.
I remember that infamous letter of early 2018, a year before elections, from the professional letter writer. He directed the horse rider (read, President) to dismount, and allow another person to mount. The landlord of the country had spoken, and his word was law.
No sir! President Buhari politely told his former boss in the military. We went to the polls, and the people spoke in a loud voice. The landlord was ejected, thrown out into the cold.
That is why anything Chief Obasanjo says about this government cannot carry weight. It is not a case of accepting the message, and ignoring the messenger, as some people canvass. The jaundice of the messenger can taint and corrode the message, and render it unreliable.
And for the cheerleaders, the different groups Obasanjo spoke to, and who egged him on, they are no better. They all took positions before last year’s elections. They threw in their lots with Buhari’s closest challenger, Atiku Abubakar. They all got beaten together, black and blue. And for all of them, they don’t seem to realize that the elections have been won and lost. Till 2023. They remain in pre-election mode, forgetting that the train had long left the station.
Their strategy is simple. Say so much evil about Buhari and his government, paint him black, confuse and discourage Nigerians, paint the picture of a bleak future, till the people become forlorn and disconsolate. What they lost at the polls, they want to get through some other means, as if Nigerians were fools, incapable of independent reasoning.
The former President says the country is collapsing. I agree. Nigeria is collapsing forward. In diverse ways, under President Muhammadu Buhari, the collapse is in a forward trajectory, despite all the odds.
I love what Temitope Ajayi, a public affairs commentator, posted on Facebook earlier in the week. Under the title ‘When Nigeria Was Not A Failed State,’ he listed atrocious developments that occurred between 1999 and 2007, when Obasanjo was President. His Attorney General and Chief Law Officer of the country, Bola Ige, was murdered in cold blood. A serving Governor, Dr Chris Ngige, of Anambra State, was abducted, and thugs unleashed mayhem on Awka, the state capital, burning and looting for many days. Yet, not a word from the President. Nor any action to restore sanity.
Zaki Biam, in Benue State, and Odi, in Bayelsa, were leveled by soldiers on reprisal missions. Scores were murdered. In Plateau State, which had become killing fields, he called the state chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) a fool, a compound fool, adding, “CAN, my foot!” Today, that same man, Rev Yakubu Pam, has been appointed Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission by Buhari, a Muslim bigot, as they claim.
And more. In his eight years in office, roads collapsed, rail became history, Supreme Court judgments were subject to his personal interpretations, Governors were wantonly removed without due process, yet, Nigeria was not collapsing then.
Temitope Ajayi summed it up this way: “Under the man that is turning Nigeria to a failed state, as at today, work is going on at a frenetic pace on Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki-Alausa Toll Gate road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Express, Ikorodu-Sagamu, among others.
“A rail line from Lagos-Ibadan is at final stage of completion. Now that Nigeria is failing, it should be noted that all these projects are in South-West, the same place where the ‘savior’ who couldn’t save himself came from.
“I still struggle to understand the logic of this so-called failed country narrative under the leadership of a man who is doing what his predecessors failed to do, across the entire country, under the most challenging circumstances of low revenue since he took office.”
Thanks Temitope Ajayi, for being so succinct. You nailed it.
And Kurtis Adigba, lawyer, and another good Nigerian, who loves his country dearly, drove the nail further in. Also on Facebook, he posted this week: “For some people, Nigeria is good and doing well only when they are in control of things. They go about sowing seeds of discord and division, and turn round to talk about unity as if unity happens through division and not by coming together.” Very profound.
Chief Obasanjo talked about the mismanagement of our diversity, saying it is leading to collapse. True? False. Nigeria, since 1914, had been an uneasy Federation. There is hate, mistrust, unkind thoughts, ill will, among the Federating units. If you meet him, kill him. If you can’t catch up with him, poison his footsteps. That had always been the relationship. One government after the other had always done its best to promote cohesion and amity, but hateful things Obasanjo and his collaborators have been saying for months and years divide the country further. They can’t sow the wind, and not expect to reap the whirlwind. When things suddenly go bust, and there’s murder and mayhem all over the place, they are often results of evil seeds of division and hate already sown.
I have concluded that unless Nigerians want this country to work, we would just continue to labor and labor. Government after government would do their bit, but as long as divisive, vitriolic comments continue, there would be no nation in the true sense of the word. Not even after President Buhari leaves office. Adigba puts it this way:
“The next President of Nigeria will face the same problem as President Buhari, if we don’t choose to do things differently and treat the country better. Right now, we see Nigeria as an opportunity, not a country to be nourished.”
Home truth. Nigerians are the greatest problem of Nigeria. We continue to harp on the negative, deliberately closing our eyes to positives. Nigeria is collapsing. Yes it is collapsing forward. Revolution in infrastructure. Roads, rail, bridges, airports, and many others. Corruption is being fought, with verifiable results, insurgency and criminality tackled robustly. The economy is being diversified, agriculture is working, we can feed ourselves. But for the enemies, the country is collapsing. Yes, collapsing forward.
Those who claim to love this country, and pretend to be the landlords, actually may love just themselves, and not the country. Otherwise, they would mind their language, knowing that things they say build up tension and animosity, which eventually boil over, leading to sorrow, tears and blood (dem regular trademark).
We must test and examine our ways, and decide whether we want our country to work or not. There are challenges, stiff ones. But they will be overcome, if we all team up, and eschew evil thoughts and words. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” (Psalm 122, verse 6).
May they prosper that love Nigeria, our own dear native land.
*Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity