Sahara Reporters Latest News Thursday 18th July 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 18/07/19
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target=_blank>RUGA: Clark, Adebanjo, Nwodo Knock Ango Abdullahi Over Calls For Northerners To Leave South, Urge Buhari To Intervene
Prof Ango Abdullahi
Prof Ango Abdullahi
We are shocked that Prof Ango Abdullahi, who is a co-Chairman of the Nigerian Leaders and Elders Forum could join the call on Fulani herders to quit the South with all its implications without first consulting his colleagues on the forum. As an elder, he should know that this type of call preceded the last civil war Nigeria fought in case the exuberant youth are not aware.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has condemned a statement credited to the Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Prof Ango Abdullahi, in which he asked Fulani herders to quit southern Nigeria.
The SMBLF, in a statement signed by elder statesman, Edwin Clark; President General, Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, Nnia Nwodo; Afenifere Leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, and President General, Middle Belt Forum, Dr Pogu Bitrus, also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to put a stop to the “divisive actions” of Abdullahi and his youths because “it will be very dangerous for us to return to circumstances that created the civil war.”
In the statement titled, “Nigeria’s crisis and Northern Elders Forum descent to the fray,” the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum said it was deeply worried that Nigeria was sliding dangerously to the edge of the precipice with no clear signal of the authority in the land doing anything concrete to arrest the drift.
The statement partly read, “We must make the following observations at this critical juncture: The spate of criminalities in the country in the form of raping of women, kidnaps for ransom and killings of innocent people have reached a frightening proportion with the latest being the killing of Funke Olakunrin (Nee Fasoranti) last Friday.
“We pray for comfort for the Fasoranti family and all families who are mourning dear ones across the country due to the unhinged activities of these bandits.
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Northern Leaders To Fulani Herdsmen: Come Back To North If South Isn’t Safe, Secure To Live
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“We are saddened that at a time for national sober reflection on the tragedy befalling our country, the Coalition of Northern Groups has chosen to further inflame passion by making reckless and unguarded statements on the state of affairs. It is more depressing that the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has chosen to join the youths who issued a 30-day ultimatum to southerners to accept RUGA or face unpleasant consequences in their provocative action.
“We are shocked that Prof Ango Abdullahi, who is a co-Chairman of the Nigerian Leaders and Elders Forum, could join the call on Fulani Cattle Rearers to quit the South with all its implications without first consulting his colleagues on the forum. As an Elder, he should know that this type of call preceded the last civil war Nigeria fought in case the exuberant youth are not aware.
“The SMBLF started working with the NEF when it (NEF), under the leadership of Prof. Ango Abdullahi, invited all the leaders from the Southern and Middle Belt to a meeting at the NICON Luxury Hotel on 18th July 2018. The meeting was attended by eminent personalities, politicians and professionals from all over Nigeria, including representatives from all the northern states.
“In that meeting, we took a decision on the spate of killing, kidnapping and rape going on the country, perpetrated by criminals. the Communiqué of that meeting was published in the media, and the Federal Government reacted negatively to it.
“The list of all the attendees of that meeting is available at any time. Since then, we have held, at least, three of such meetings at the various place all working towards peace and unity of the Country.
“Another reason for the group’s meeting is to search for a credible candidate for the then forthcoming presidential election. We all agreed to interview all the presidential aspirants, and after interacting with several of them, the group endorsed Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
“Eventually, the group agreed to support Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the Presidential candidate, because we noted that of all the candidates we interviewed, he appeared to us to be the person who can unify the country.”
The SMBLF said it would have expected an elder of the status of Abdullahi to show concern for human life by sending a condolence to the bereaved at a time like this before getting into grievances that his group may have.
The group said what people had been rallying against is the terrorism which some Fulani militias who pose as herdsmen have inflicted on Middle Belt and Southern communities and which they have even openly admitted in some cases.
It added, “We expect peace-loving and rational Fulanis to join in the condemnations of these criminal elements and the enforcement of the law against them. This would have shown they believe in the unity of this country and its cohesion. But taking any attack against these people as condemning all Fulanis unwittingly gives the impression that they endorse the activities of these elements.
“The Southern and Middle Belt communities have not said fellow Nigerians from the North cannot do business in their areas. This is why we endorsed ranching for cattle business and that those who are interested should purchase land from the states and be ready to live under the laws of the states. What we are opposed to is creating Federal Cattle Territories in States in the name of RUGA.
“We call on leaders to embrace responsible conduct in this season in Nigeria so as not to give the impression that they are war-thirsty. We want to re-emphasis that at no time did the governors and leaders of Southern Nigeria object or declared war against the Northern Fulani herdsmen who have lived with us for many years. As I speak and write, there are a large number of them, living in and around my village, and doing their legitimate business. What we are against is the Fulani herders who are armed with AK47 and other weapons and ammunition, killing, raping, destroying and causing mayhem.
“Even President Muhammadu Buhari has himself admitted that the Fulanis who carry these arms are not the legitimate herders, but those from other countries and these are the ones the RUGA settlement is being planned for, and we say no to it, and will resist it. Prof Ango Abdullahi should not think that the North can do it alone.
“The Northern youths, under the leadership of Prof. Ango Abdullahi, had about two years ago, given a 30-day ultimatum for Igbo to leave the North. And now, again, under his leadership, the NEF has called on the Fulanis in the southern parts of the country to return to the north. This spells doom. We strongly call on President Muhammadu Buhari to put a stop to the divisive actions of Prof. Ango Abdullahi and his youths because it will be very dangerous for us to return to circumstances that created the Civil War which took place in this country from 1967 to 1970 whereby many Nigerians lost their lives and property.
“The nation is yet to recover fully from that incident. Finally, we appeal to the international community not to watch arms akimbo the dangerous events that are playing out in Nigeria. It is cheaper to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the contradictions that have been deliberately orchestrated in the country as it would be more expensive for them to handle an implosion in Nigeria.”
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target=_blank>EFCC Hands Over Property Seized From Badeh To Voice of Nigeria
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has handed over a property seized from Alex Badeh, a former Chief of Defence Staff, to the Voice of Nigeria (VON).
This was revealed in a statement signed by Tony Orilade, the Head of Media and Publicity, on Wednesday.
The property is located at Plot 1386, Uda Crescent, off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2 Abuja.
The statement partly read: “The edifice is one of the properties seized from and finally forfeited to the Federal Government by the late Chief of Air Staff, Alex Badeh.
“According to the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, who was represented on the occasion by the Secretary to the Commission, Barrister Ola Olukoyede, the handover is a testament that the fight against corruption is real.
“If we can fight corruption in Nigeria concertedly, we would have fought 70 per cent of Nigeria’s problem.”
The Chairman of the Board of VON, Ibrahim Buba and Director General of VON, Osita Okechukwu, led other management staff of VON at the handover ceremony.
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E2%80%99t-succumb-arewa-youths-30-day-ultimatum-ipob target=_blank>RUGA: We Won’t Succumb To Arewa Youths’ 30-day Ultimatum-IPOB
The Indigenous People of Biafra has warned all groups threatening indigenes of South-East states over the RUGA settlement program of the Nigerian government, saying that it would not succumb to threats to change its stance on the policy.
The group said it was ready for physical confrontation at the expiration of an ultimatum issued by the youth wing of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) which was billed to end in 30 days.
Emma Powerful, secretary, media and publicity for IPOB, in a statement on Thursday, said, “IPOB is a peaceful movement and must remain so but we cannot allow anybody to trample on us, by forcing our people to release their ancestral land to them.
“We are aware that cattle business remains personal business in Nigeria and cannot change today. The community’s ancestral lands are gifts from God, handed over to us to dwell, which must not be taken over under any guise by the government or Fulani.
“We challenge Fulani Islamists terrorists including their Arewa youths to do their worst after the expiration of the so-called 30-day ultimatum as was widely reported in every national and international media.
“We are anxiously and eagerly waiting for them in whatever shape they may want it.”
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target=_blank>SPONSORED POST: Connect T.Pumpy Real Estates Set To Reward Loyal Marketers, Customers With Honda Crosstour, Cash
Interesting times are here again as T.Pumpy Concept, owners of T.Pumpy Real Estates is set to reward its loyal marketers and customers.
The promo tagged Connect or Buy and Win Promo, is expected to kick off on July 15 and end in September 30, 2019.
Explaining the idea behind the promo, the MD/CEO of the company, Mr. Aderelegbe Tayo, said it was one of the avenues to fight unemployment in the society and as well encourage our marketers and customers.
He said, “Sometimes, if I come to the office here, the requests I get from friends, family and associates for financial help is overwhelming. Normally, if you are able to bring a buyer, we’ll give you commission. So, I decided to come up with this idea on what with motivate them to do more.
“Apart from getting percentage, this can establish one for life. That is exactly what we are trying to do. Engage the people so as to reduce social vices.
In this new promo, just recommend or market any of our verifiable, certified bungalow or duple and penthouse plots of land and stand the chance to win the following: A rand new Honda Crosstour, all expenses paid trip to Dubai and $500 basic transport allowance.
“Also, every buyer goes home with a life ram or three bags of rice after a successful purchase,” he said.
The MD/CEO added that all payments must be made directly to T.Pumpy Concepts Limited and not to any individual.
T. Pumpy Concept is a registered company that deals majorly in the sales of lands and estate plots. The company has been in existence since 2009, and it’s totally committed to making its utmost contribution in the development process of our environment in the aforementioned area, for the betterment of all Nigerians.
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target=_blank>Whistleblower George Uboh Laments Detention In Kuje Prison, Exposes Confessional Letters Emefiele Wrote Police Admitting Missing N500bn
George Uboh
George Uboh
George Uboh, who heads the nongovernmental George Uboh Whistleblowers Network, has released more details about the N500bn Central Bank of Nigeria scandal.
Uboh is in Kuje prison where is held for exposing financial misappropriation by Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“I was arraigned on Friday July 5. The judge heard the bail application and ordered I be brought on July 10th for ruling. He again ordered I be remanded at Kuje prison thereafter. Still, he did not sit for the hearing. Now there is no court date. I am here detained perpetually,” he told SaharaReporters.
In the new documents released by Uboh, Emefiele wrote to the Nigerian Police admitting an exclusive audio conversation obtained by SaharaReporters in which he and other top officials of the apex bank detailed how to cover up N500bn they stole from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In a new letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Emefiele said, “It is apparent from the audio clips that my telephones, including mobile and those of top officials of the bank must have been bugged. This is no doubt a very disturbing development of monumental proportions.”
Emefiele begged the IGP to “use his good offices” to “unravel the circumstances surrounding the bugging and wiretapping of the bank’s telephone and the release of my private/confidential telephone conversations with other top officials of the CBN to Sahara Reporters.”
George Uboh, on April 2, 2019, wrote Emefiele in a letter titled, “Request to remit over $2,564,000,000 Federal Government funds missing under your watch to TSA.”
The letter partly reads, “Uboh consequently filed a suit against Emefiele in the Federal High Court suit No FHC/ABJ/419/2019. The suit was amended two weeks ago and there are more evidence than this.
The amount missing has increased to over $2.8 billion.
“The Nigeria Police, through the DIG investigations, Tony Michael, had filed a two-count charge against Uboh, alleging that Uboh furnished false information when he wrote Emefiele that Uboh defamed Emefiele when the letter was published.
“As required by law, Emefiele is mandated to file a complaint to the Police alleging that Uboh provided false information and defamed him.This is a condition precedent.
“Someone must complain to the public for the police to act. In this case, the letter Emefiele wrote the IGP with reference No GUD/GOV/CON/DGC/164/046, dated May 14, 2019, captioned Security Breach at the Central Bank of Nigeria-Request for Investigation, and had no bearing with the subject matter— missing at the CBN.”
Emefiele is asking the IGP in his letter to investigate the audio tape published by Sahara Reporters on May 12, 2019 in which Emefiele and some CBN staff were discussing and panicking over missing N500bn.
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CAUGHT ON TAPE: How Central Bank Governor Emefiele, Deputy Adamu And Top Officials Discussed How To Cover-Up N500bn Which They Stole From The CBN
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target=_blank>Court To Hear El-Zakzaky’s Application For Medical Trip To India Thursday
Ibrahim El-Zazaky the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, has applied for a court leave to travel to India for medical treatment.
The application would be heard before a Kaduna State High Court on Thursday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
The IMN leader is standing trial over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace among other charges.
Dari Bayero, the State Director of Public Prosecution, said the IMN leader, who is standing trial before the state High Court, brought the application seeking the court’s permission to travel outside the country.
According to the official, the IMN leader and his wife had applied to be granted permission to travel to Metanta Hospital, New Delhi, India and return to Nigeria for the continuation of the trial as soon as they are discharged.
Bayero said that Justice D.H Khobo would preside over the hearing on the application on July 18.
Justice Gideon Kurada, who was handling the case, on April 25 adjourned the trial of the IMN leader indefinitely.
The indefinite adjournment was to enable the judge serve on the panel of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal in Yobe.
Femi Falana (SAN), the lead counsel to the defendants had told newsmen after the adjournment his clients, El-Zakzaky and wife Zinat, were in dire need of medical attention, the reason why they could not appear in court at the time.
Falana had said that his clients had not been given adequate medical care since their detention on December 14, 2015.
Before the indefinite adjournment, the court had on Tuesday, Jan. 22, ordered the Kaduna State Government to avail the IMN leader and his wife Zinat, access to medical care.
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target=_blank>BREAKING: Suspected Herdsmen Launch Fresh Attack On Plateau Village Just After Burial Of Victims
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Suspected herdsmen have, again, attacked Hukke village in Miango, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
An eyewitness, Ishaya, told SaharaReporters on the phone on Wednesday.
He said: “It is like a war scene right now, they just came to attack and they came in large numbers. They emerged from Yingi axis, around Rukuba. They have been coming to attack our village almost every day.
“This has been going on for about two years now. The Fulani and the Rukuba people join hands together to take the land of the Irigwe people, so they are trying get it by all means because the land is fertile and it is good for grazing for their animals.
“The attack today started immediately after a burial. We went to bury the victims of last night’s attack and after the burial, as we were about to return home, we saw them running towards our village to attack.”
When SaharaReporters reached out to Matthias Terna Tyopev, Police Public Relations Officer in Plateau State, he said, “I will call the Divisional Police Officer in the area to confirm and call you back.”
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target=_blank>Senate Extends Panel Investigation Of Senator Abbo For Seven Days
The Nigerian Senate has given the panel investigating Senator Elisha Abbo for assaulting a woman in a s** toy shop extra seven days to conclude its investigation.
The panel has also been asked to submit the conclusion of its investigation on or before the expiration of the seven days.
The Senate had earlier set up a committee to probe the senator who was seen in a video assaulting a nursing mother.
The committee was given two weeks to do its findings and submit its report.
At the expiration of the initial two weeks today, head of the panel, Senator Sam Egwu, informed the upper chamber of the National Assembly that the people involved refused to appear before it because the matter was before the court.
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He said the victim, the owner of the shop, and the police stated that their appearance before the panel to speak on the matter could amount to subjudice.
Egwu said, “We set out to do the investigation as mandated by the senate and we have invited all those involved. In the course of the investigation, most of those invited appeared but said the matter is before the court, fearing the contempt of the Court.
“We invited our colleague, Sen. Ishiaku Abbo and he appeared before the panel but he told us that he was arrested and detained for 24 hours by the police.
“We also invited the lawyers to the victim and the commissioner of police in the FCT, they told us about their caution on the contempt of the Court.
“As a committee, we hereby request for additional time of one week to further work and report back to this senate.”
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UPDATED: Senator Abbo Takes Selfies As Police Arraign Him For Assaulting Woman In S** Toy Shop
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President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, frowned on the feedback of Senator Egwu stating that the panel was investigating an action of one of its member not the criminality of the action.
He asked the panel to go ahead with its finding, adding that the investigation could not be stopped because the matter is in court.
He said, “We are not investigating criminal activities; we are investigating an issue related to conduct. The senator who raised the point of order which led to the constitution of this committee did so under privilege.
“He did this as a senator and on our behalf as an institution, so you can go ahead and have additional time. It is not our concern. We are not investigating criminal activities. We are investigating misconduct. The senate is not investigating what the police are investigating.”
“We can give you more time but we can’t stop our activities because the matter is in court.”
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BREAKING: Senate Begins Probe Of Senator Elisha Abbo Over Assault Against Woman
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target=_blank>Nigeria: Divided Nation, Breakup Inevitable By Bayo Oluwasanmi
The possible breakup of Nigeria brings on the bone-shaking shivers doctors call rigors. Many writers have detailed how Nigeria is bursting at the seams with ethno-religious, political and economic problems waiting to explode. However, the apostles of one Nigeria have repeatedly denied or dismissed the notion and tried to nudge us out of that zone.
By definition, a failed state is one that has simply ceased to function. Going by this definition, Nigeria is a failed state. Nigeria is a divided nation. Nigeria is a collapsed state and her breakup is imminent. The signs are all over the place.
The historic rivalries between east and west, south and north, oil states and non-oil states, Christian and Muslim communities, democrats and autocrats, and soldiers and citizens that have bedeviled Nigeria since its founding are pulling us apart to the extreme. We’re closer to the breaking point.
The elements of traditional prejudice of the three major tribes – Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba – continue to ignite enmity, distrust, and hatred. The three tribes have remained incontestably hostile – forever. Today, there is more animosity than there is collegiality. The three tribes are full of expression of self-hate, suspicion, and intolerant of each other.
Our history proves that ethnic unity is more of a dusty artifact of ancient political arrangement than the outcome of genuine political incorporation or enhanced cohesion among the different ethnic groups. The fragile state of affairs has been held together by tsunami of lies and misrepresentations in whose wake the country is reeling perpetually.
Successive governments were dominated by evil and murderous perpetrators of crimes. Ethnic fragmentation and persistent hotbeds of political criminality were encouraged and sponsored by the rulers. As a result, we were submerged in ethnic hatred, and rabid nationalism that swept throughout the nation like a disease. The absence of a true democracy to ensure devolution of the federal power is a powerful incentive against unity and cooperation.
Nigeria is convulsed by internal violence. It can no longer deliver positive political goods to her citizens. The government is fast loosing legitimacy. The government has become illegitimate in the eyes and hearts of a growing plurality of 170 million Nigerians.
Nigeria sinks deeper and deeper into chaos and calamity. The north-south divide remains the greatest obstacle to a strengthened democracy and a workable union. We’re battling economic confusion, continued corruption, and mismanagement.
The scale of corruption dwarfs any brazen robbery of public treasury in recent memory. Our world has been turned into a medieval hellscape. Corruption flourishes on unusually destructive scale. Our corrupt ruling elites mostly invest their loots overseas, not at home, making the economic failure of the country much more acute.
Our rulers siphon funds from the state coffers. They dip directly into the coffers of the shrinking state to pay for lavish residences and palaces, extensive overseas travel, and privileges and perquisites that feed their greed. Nigeria has failed to grow economically and its citizens have failed to flourish. For many years, Nigerians have been trapped in irreversible debilitating cycle of poverty and hopelessness.
The paralysis of our democratic structures have illuminated further the mockery and the failure of our democracy. The twice forgotten man in Nigeria has always been the poor. The government response to the abject poverty that has defined the lives of the poor is zero. Our political leaders are not chosen on the merit of mass support. Most are selected by god fathers, elevated to position, supplied with resources and as expected subjected to the king maker’s control.
The Presidency and the National Assembly are inarticulate giants with uneasy gait, subjected to abuse and confuse in their responses to national issues. Checks and balances that are part of a healthy democracy have been deleted in our system. It’s no surprise that our representative democracy is nothing but a disguise in name. It is no exaggeration to say that there are no legislatures in Nigeria. If they exist at all, they are rubber-stamp machines. Our judiciary is a derivative of the executive rather than being independent. Nigerians know that they cannot rely on the court system for redress or remedy.
The mass poor of our people nurtures a healthy suspicion toward these manufactured leaders. It’s an open secret that money is the chief argument these leaders are offering to induce and buy loyalty. These manufactured leaders lack personal integrity, commitment, and ability. Tragically, they’re not fighters for a new life for our people but figureheads of the old.
They are not impressive or illustrious to their constituents. We’re all too familiar with their impotence and remoteness from the problems that have made life unlivable for the people they profess to represent. Many in their constituencies are among the legions of the lost and have been crushed by the weight of many years of poverty. These leaders do not evoke affection, respect, and emulation.
Our democracy have slid towards autocracy, maintaining the outward appearance of democracy through elections, but without the rights and institutions that are equally important aspects of a functioning democratic system. Our constitution is not robust enough to promote long-term stability, reduce discontent from minorities against the government, and bolster the fight against corruption.
Our democratic system is based on economic coercion. People are forced to do what they don’t want to do. The effect of this is lack of innovationBO1 and technological progress. Our bureaucracy has long ago lost its sense of professional responsibility and exists solely to carry out the order of the executive, and in many ways oppress Nigerians.
We have deteriorated or destroyed infrastructures. Our education and health systems and other public facilities are decrepit or neglected. Civil servants are paid late or not at all. Economic opportunity is only for a privileged few. Those around the president or around the governors grow richer while the rest of us starve.
Our economic insecurity is engineered by our rulers in order to maximize their own fortunes and their own political and economic power. Unemployment is dangerously high and persistent. Regional inequalities remain the rule. Economic decline is accompanied by a diminished confidence in the federal system. Our currency falls out of favor.
It is common knowledge that nations don’t breakup overnight. The seeds of their destruction are sown deep within their political institutions. Some nations fall as a result of total collapse of institutions. Examples abound: In Afghanistan, after the Soviet withdrawal and hanging of President Mohammed Najibullah from a lamppost. In Sierra Leone, the long Civil War erased all traces of existence of government. This form of slow death of institutional failure is responsible for the sub-living standards in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America in contrast to what obtains in the western world.Nigeria is not going to fall or explode as a result of war and violence, but the refusal or failure to capitalize on the enormous potential for growth and for pursuing a policy that condemned their citizens to a lifetime of poverty.
In the case of Nigeria and like any other failed state, the failure is by design. The institutions are designed to fail by the elites who are the beneficiaries of such design. As we have seen in Nigeria, such elites benefit from rigged political institutions. The system is built on exploitation. And any system propped on exploitation is doomed to fail leading to immeasurable suffering of its citizens.
Nigeria is operating on a tilted plain field. The big men get greedy. The elites control the economy. They use their powers to create monopolies and block the entry of new comers. A good example is Dangote cement and salt. The privatized industries end up in the hands of the elites. The privatized power sector is a case in point. These elites with their fraudulent companies received protection from the state, got government contracts, and large bank loans without needing to put up collateral.
The greedy big men and their businesses could be described as “whales.” Their stranglehold on our economy had created huge windfalls for them and blocked opportunities for the vast mass of Nigerians to move out of poverty.
A successful economy must have effective government. Law and order and the mechanisms for resolving disputes are possible and applicable in a truly democratic system with apparatus of enforcing the laws. Nigeria is yet to create or operate on a set of nationally respected laws or rules.
The absence of the central government is felt throughout the 36 states. The federal government is unable or unwilling to exert control over the whole country. With Boko Haram on the offensive, territories have been federated and annexed. The absence leads not only to lack of public services such as roads, healthcare, electricity, jobs, safety, but also to lack of well-defined institutionalized structures. Without a responsible and responsive central government, there can be no law and order. Without law and order, there can be no real economy. And without a real economy, a country is doomed to fail. Competition in the coming 2015 presidential election could break the already tattered ties that keep Nigeria whole.
With stagnant economy, Nigerian quagmire, Boko Haram terrorism, ethnic fragmentation, local nationalism, lack of economic incentives, incendiary nationalism, bleak future, and leadership vacuum, the breakup of Nigeria is assured.
bjoluwasanmi@gmail.com
Article was first published by SaharaReporters December 01, 2014.
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El-Rufai Submits N81bn Supplementary Budget
Nasir El-Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State, has submitted N81bn supplementary budget to the state House of Assembly for ratification.
The house was notified through a letter read by Aminu Shagali, Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, on Wednesday.
The speaker said this would be the first supplementary budget for 2019.
“The first supplementary budget for 2019 has been brought to the house by the governor and it will be forwarded to the House Committee on Appropriation for consideration,” he said.
The Speaker said the ad hoc committee on appropriation, which would look at the supplementary budget, would be chaired by the immediate past Chairman on Appropriation, Ahmad Mohammed, and other members of the committee.
He said they were expected to submit their report on Thursday.
Samuel Ubankato, a member representing Kajuru constituency, lauded the development, stating that the state is in dire need of infrastructural development.
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