The Sons of Futa Jalon, by Femi Fani-Kayode (Part 2)

Editor’s note: Femi Fani-Kayode continues with part two of his study on Fulani culture and their place in Nigerian history. On October 2nd 2014, Alhaji Aliyu Gwarzo, a prominent Fulani leader from Kano, said the following to Pointblanknews Magazine: “When I say that the presidency must come to the North next year, I am referring to the Hausa-Fulani core North and not any Northern Christian or Muslim minority tribe. 

“The Christians in the North, such as the Berom, the Tiv, the Kataf, the Jaba, the Zuru, the Sayyawa, the Bachama, the Jukun, the Idoma and all the others, are nothing and the Muslim minorities in the North, including the Kanuri, the Nupe, the Igbira, the Babur, the Shuwa Arabs, the Marghur and all the others, know that when we are talking about leadership in the North and in Nigeria, Allah has given it to us, the Hausa-Fulani. “They can grumble, moan and groan as much as they want, but each time they go into their bedrooms to meet their wives and each time they get on their prayer mats to begin their prayers, it is we the Fulani that they think of, that they fear, that they bow to and that they pray for. “Some of them are even ready to give us their wives and daughters for one night’s sport and pleasure. They owe us everything. This is because we gave them Islam through the great Jihad waged by our father the great Usuman Dan Fodio. “We also captured Ilorin, killed their local King and installed our Fulani Emir. We took that ancient town away from the barbarian Yoruba and their filthy pagan gods. We liberated all these places and all these people by imposing Islam on them by force. “It was either the Koran or the sword, and most of them chose the Koran. In return for the good works of our forefathers, Allah, through the British, gave us Nigeria to rule and to do with as we please. Since 1960, we have been doing that and we intend to continue. “No Goodluck or anyone else will stop us from taking back our power next year. We will kill, maim, destroy and turn this country into Africa’s biggest war zone and refugee camp if they try it. “Many say we are behind Boko Haram. My answer is, what do you expect? We do not have economic power or intellectual power. All we have is political power and they want to take even that from us. “We must fight and we will fight back in order to keep it. They have brought in the infidels from America and the pigs from Israel to help them but they will fail. The war has just begun, the Mujahedeen are more than ready, and by Allah we shall win. “If they don’t want an ISIS in Nigeria then they must give us back the presidency and our political power. Their soldiers are killing our warriors and our people every day but mark this: even if it takes one hundred years we will have our revenge. “Every Fulani man that they kill is a debt that will be repaid even if it takes 100 years. The Fulani have very long memories.” Men like Alhaji Aliyu Gwarzo have clearly become prisoners of their own vain fantasies and dark delusions. They represent the “chief whip” or “the heavy muscle” within the Fulani ruling class. They are direct, crude, threatening and vulgar, and they come across like boastful bullies and motor-park touts. Yet despite this they must be taken very seriously because they represent an increasingly powerful and strong-willed tendency within the circles of caliphate power and the Fulani ruling elite. A slightly more refined yet equally eloquent testimony of their battle-ready temperement and mindset was provided by none other than President Muhammadu Buhari himself in 2013 when he said that if what happened in 2011 during the presidential elections happens again in 2015 and he ends up losing to President Goodluck Jonathan, who happens to be a Southern Christian, “the dog and the baboon will both be soaked in blood”. His words are few yet his point was well understood. Finally, let us consider the contribution of the respected elder statesman, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, to the discourse when he said, before the presidential election in 2011, that power “must return to the North, otherwise we [meaning Northerners] would make the country ungovernable”. Jonathan went ahead to win the election and Lawal Kaita and Co. went ahead to honor their word: from 2011 till 2015, make the country ungovernable they certainly did. These are shocking and deeply troubling contributions from these Fulani leaders and the import of their insidious threats are self-evident. They need no further analysis or explanation here. In the light of all this one thing remains clear: it is time for us to do whatever it is that we must do to save our country and if those that believe that they own it refuse to be reasonable and fair to the rest of us, perhaps we should consider the possibility of redefining her. We warned the Nigerian people but they would not listen. Sadly things are bound to get far worse before they get any better. The sons and daughters of Futa Jalon will not rest until they have completely conquered and subjugated the whole of our country. The Fulani herdsmen are a standing army. They are protected by the state and there is nothing anyone can do about it. That is the new Nigeria for you. The truth is that we are under occupation. If it is not the Fulani herdsmen that are tormenting us, then it is Boko Haram. If it is not Boko Haram then it is our very own armed forces who are under orders from our oppressors. Most Nigerians are in denial about what is going on and some are just too intimidated and cowardly to acknowledge the problem let alone to speak out or to attempt to resist it. We are in a mess and our collective enemies and tormentors are evil and relentless. When it comes to the field of foreign policy, our president has jettisoned our traditional policy of non-alignment when it comes to the politics of the Middle East. He just came back from Qatar and Saudi Arabia where he declared his total and complete support for the Palestinians and literally turned his back on the State of Israel. This was a fatal mistake. Hearing him say it broke my heart just as it did the hearts of millions of other Nigerians who are friends of Israel and who are committed to her cause. In this respect, if only President Buhari understood the spiritual implications of what he has done perhaps he would have reconsidered his decision. Whatever the case, Israel is here to stay forever with Jerusalem as her eternal and undivided capital. Nothing can change that: not even a million Saudi Arabias and Qatars or all the kings and princes of the world. On March 5th in an interview which was aired on Al Jazeera television and which was conducted whilst he was in Qatar, President Buhari dropped another bombshell by saying that Nigeria would indeed join the Saudi Arabian-led coalition of 34 Muslim countries which is known as ISMAT. This represented a departure from his earlier position when he had categorically ruled this course of action out. Naturally, many Christians and Shia Muslims in our country were astonished by this u-turn given the fact that Nigeria is a multi-religious secular state with at least 50% of her population being Christian. They are also apprehensive because ISMAT is essentially a Sunni Muslim military alliance whose main purpose is to stand as a counter balance to the growing military power and influence of shia Muslim Iran. Why Nigeria should be brought into the Iran/Saudi conflict in this way and turned into a potential theater for a Middle Eastern proxy war is beyond the comprehension of most commentators given the obvious dangers attached to it. When Al Jazeera questioned him about the fact that this move has caused immense anxiety and apprehension to the Christian Association of Nigeria and to the massive Christian population in our country, President Buhari responded by asking why he should be concerned about the views of those “religious bigots” and that, instead of complaining, “the Christians should organise themselves and go and fight against terrorism and the militants in the South”. Such an insulting, abysmal and bellicose attitude and aggressive response confirms the fears of many that our government is not only interested in establishing an ethnic Fulani hegemony in our country but that they also wish to islamise our nation and put into effect the stated intention, dream and objective of the late Saurdana of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, of “dipping the Koran in the Atlantic ocean”. They wish to continue the Saurdana’s avowed march and islamise and conquer Southern Nigeria much in the same way that his great grandfather, Usman Dan Fodio, had conquered and islamised the North two hundred and six years ago. Such a reckless and dangerous course of action will undoubtedly be resisted and consequently the truth is that we are really in trouble in this country. The Nigeria of today reminds me of Yugoslavia before its civil war and before it broke up into five separate countries. I see and smell blood in the land and we are living in very dangerous times. The Fulanis are like the Serbs of old in Yugoslavia: dominating, cunning and relentless. They have their own ethnic and religious militias and they are also fully in power. The only difference is that the Serbs were Christians whilst the Fulani are Muslims. They both used their religious faith to muster support and effect their purpose. One day though their yoke shall be broken and we shall be set free. Until then we must muster our strength and courage and stand firm against violence, hate, religious intolerance, injustice, oppression, tyranny and evil. We must ensure that we do not resort to violence under any circumstances but at the same time we must be firm in our resolve that we shall never be turned into slaves in our own land. We must reach out to all those who share our vision and we must work together with all ethnic groups in this country who share our values and who seek unity and peace. As we contend with the enemy we must be courageous and firm in our resolve. We must shed all our fears and we must be ready to suffer persecution and to lose our lives or liberty if that is what is required to effect our purpose and to advance our cause. We must be prepared to pay any price in order to secure and protect our liberty and to ensure a greater and better future for our loved ones and our children. Finally as we confront our collective enemies we must do so with confidence and strength. We must invoke the words and memory of David, the greatest of all of the Kings of Israel, when he met Goliath in the field of battle. As the giant issued his famous challenge, boasted loudly and poured insults and scorn on the Jewish army and their God, young David looked him in the eye and defiantly asked “who is this uncircumcised Philistine that has chosen to defy the armies of the Living God?” He said, “Thy servant slew the lion and the bear. And so it shall be for this uncircumcised Philistine who has chosen to defy the army of the Living God”. He said, “You come against me with shield and spear but I come against you in the name of the Lord God of Hosts, the God of the Armies of Israel. Today He shall hand you over to me and I shall slay you and feed your flesh to the birds of the air”. And so it shall be for the Goliaths in our land. May the souls of all those that were cut short by the terrorists and ethnic supremacists from 1960 up until today, including all those innocent souls and little children that were murdered during our civil war, rest in peace. God bless Nigeria. Addendum: I have written this essay with every sense of caution and responsibility. I have been told that my pen is like a time-bomb so permit me to settle a couple of issues and set the record straight. I am not a racist, a tribalist or a religious bigot. I have nothing against Muslims and I have many Muslim friends and family members whom I have immense respect and affection for. I do not hate members of the Fulani tribe because one eighth of the blood that flows through my veins is Fulani. I do not seek to incite anyone to violence or to hatred against any ethnic group, against any individual, against any political party or against President Muhammadu Buhari or his government with this write-up. I do not seek to insult anyone or any group of people or to seek the break-up of Nigeria through armed struggle with this write up or any other write-up. I deplore violence and I am a man of peace. I am an essayist, an intellectual and a historian and this two-part essay is simply my contribution to my understanding of our history, national discourse and our literary archives. I believe that we live in a country that free speech is guaranteed by the constitution and this write-up is simply the expression of my opinion on a burning national issue that has become the subject of much public and private discussion in Nigeria. I have no apology to anyone for the contents of this essay though it is regrettable if anyone feels offended by it. My intention is not to offend but to state the facts and put the case. Finally the question is often asked “FFK, why do you write things like this?” The answer is simple and clear and it is as follows. I am a servant of truth and this is my calling. If I don’t write and expose these things who will speak out for the voiceless victims of these terrible atrocities and injustices and who will tell their story? Equally importantly who will challenge and expose the perpetrators? If I don’t do it who will speak truth to power? How will history, posterity and justice judge us and be served if we all keep quiet and act as if we do not recognize the fact that there is evil in the land? How can we claim to be righteous and good men and women when we close our eyes, bury the truth and pretend that we cannot see the evil? How can we sleep well at night and face our God in prayer when we know that our complicit and conspiratorial silence is borne out of nothing but cowardice and fear? That is why I write the sort of things that I have written in this essay and as long as injustice and evil reigns in the land I shall continue to do so. I look forward to rejoinders from those who do not share my views with as much joy as I look forward to reading essays from those who do. Thank you.

Source: https://www.naij.com/757563-sons-of-futa-jalon-2. 

This article expresses the author’s opinion only. The views and opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Naij.com or its editors.
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The Sons of Futa Jalon, by Femi Fani-Kayode part 1

Editor’s note:The former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, speaks on the Fulanis, their history and pattern of migration within Nigeria. The former minister’s essay comes at a time when the Fulani herdsmen have taken laws into their hands, killing many land owners in areas where their animals graze. The latest violent episode was the Agatu massacre in Agatu, Benue state, on Thursday, March 3. 

 

“The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the north as willing tools and the south as a conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us and never allow them to have control over their future.” — Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Saurdana of the Sokoto caliphate and premier of Northern Nigeria, Parrot Newspaper, October 12, 1960, recalled by Tribune, November 13, 2002. These are interesting words from the most reverred, prominent and powerful Fulani leader in the history of modern Nigeria. The Saurdana’s worldview, vision and intentions are well-encapsulated here and they are self-evident. They need no further explanation or analysis. To add to the Saurdana’s contribution and to butress his point, in August 2001, President Muhammadu Buhari, a proud and ascetic Fulani man whose mass appeal, popularity and following has reached cult-like proportions amongst the working class Fulani population in Nigeria, said the following: “God-willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of sharia throughout the federation”. Finally, to emphasise the point, on January 27, 2013, Mujahedeen Abubakar Shekau, the young and brash leader of the most dreaded, most powerful and most deadly Islamist terrorist organisation on the African continent called Boko Haram, said: “By Allah, we will not stop fighting until every Nigerian is living by Sharia law. If you don’t abide, we will kill you”. When one hears and reads some of these things one can only look up to heaven and say: “May the Lord deliver the people of Nigeria”. READ ALSO: Fani-Kayode on Ese Oruru, the Emir of Kano and those who choose to distort the narrative Here you have a classic case of anything and everything, including religion, being used to effect an ancient ethnic agenda of conquest and subjugation. It is not even subtle: it is brazen and real. Worse still, most Nigerians are fully aware of it but they find it difficult to voice it let alone resist it. Yet, despite our awe and trepidation, at least a few questions must be asked such as the following. Who exactly are the Fulani? Where did they come from? What is their story and what is their history? What is their purpose and what are their intentions for the rest of Nigeria? I shall attempt to answer some of these questions in this two-part essay. Futa Jalon is an area made up of beautiful plateaus and breathtaking mountains which is situated in modern-day Guinea. It is a confluence that is known as the “bitter waters” and it is the location of the vulture mountain where, up until today, thousands of vultures gather. It is also the source of no less than five major African rivers including our very own River Niger. The people that live in that area are known as the Fula Jalons, and it is from that ethnic stock that the Fulanis evolved. From there, they migrated to other parts of West Africa and settled down in what was originally known as Sakkwato but what is now referred to as Sokoto in northern Nigeria. The Fulanis were actually the product of a beautiful racial mix and generations of cross-breeding between the Arab-like and nomadic north African Berbers and Tauregs on the one hand and the local black indigenous Fula population of Futa Jalon on the other. That explains their unusually light complexion, their well-chiseled and refined visage, their height, their unusually slight frame, the soft texture of their hair and their essentially non-negroid features. Truth be told, generally speaking, they are a physically attractive people. In terms of temperament,, they are proud, patient, calculating, subtle, courageous and they have very long memories. They are capable of masking their thoughts and emotions very well but they will never forget a sleight. Most importantly, unlike most, they are capable of recognizing a common group cause and consequently they are in a better position to further the political and economic interests of their people more than any others. To a Fulani, interest of his people and their collective cause is more important than anything else. It is interesting to note that the Tutsis of central and East Africa come from the same racial root as them and they share similar physical features and characteristics. They are also both essentially nomadic in nature and traditionally, they both have an intense fascination and interest in cattle and cattle-rearing. As a matter of fact, the old-fashioned way of establishing a Fulani man’s wealth is to find out how many cows he owns. The more cows he owns, the richer he is considered to be. READ ALSO: The cancer of Islamist terror in our country and the words Of Ayo Fayose, by Femi Fani-Kayode It was after their mass migration to our shores and after they successfully infiltrated the Hausa kingdom of Gobir that Sheik Usman Dan Fodio, the father of the Fulani caliphate, unleashed his violent and very bloody jihad, established the various emirates and conquered much of what is now known as northern Nigeria in the name of his Islamic faith. That is the history. On Thursday, March 3, there was a violent clash between Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani youths in Orile, Lagos state. A number of people on both sides of the divide together with some of our security agents were killed. Homes, chattels, property and places of worship were burnt down as the fighting raged. This came just one day after a similar clash between the same two ethnic groups took place in Ikorodu, Lagos state which also resulted in the loss of life and destruction of property. Again on March 5, in Ogere on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway yet another clash took place between Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani youths which resulted in even more casualties and a terrible bloodbath. A number of days before then, over 300 Idomas were killed by well-armed Fulani herdsmen in Agatu, Benue state. At a so-called peace meeting, when asked why they did it, they told the inspector general of police that it was because some of their cows had been killed! After the meeting, instead of being arrested for genocide and ethnic cleansing there and then, they were allowed to go home quietly. Not even their AK 47s were confiscated. To make matters worse, it was later suggested that those that perpetuated the atrocity were not even Fulanis at all but rather aliens from Chad and Niger Republic. The question must be asked: who is fooling who? Sadly, there are many other examples of mass murder, genocide, official impunity and similar atrocities. Over the years, the same thing has happened in Jos, southern Kaduna, Zaria, Zangon Kataf, Kano, Bauchi and many other places. Throughout the country, Fulani militias and herdsmen are wreaking havoc and are slaughtering their compatriots for one reason or the other. Worst of all is the fact that our Fulani-led federal government and Fulani-led armed forces are killing thousands of young Igbos in the east simply because of their support for Nnamdi Kanu and their call for the establishment of the independent sovereign state of Biafra. Again a few weeks ago, the same armed forces killed over 1000 Shia Muslims and shot and abducted their leader, Sheik El Zakzaky, who has not been seen in public since. As all this is going on our economy has ground to a halt, our people are suffering untold hardship and difficult times and the war against Boko Haram and Islamist terror is still raging. Today Nigeria has the dubious distinction of having within its borders the first and the fourth “most deadly terrorist organisations” in the world according to the Global Terror Index. According to the index, the first is Boko Haram and the fourth are the AK 47-wielding Fulani militias/herdsmen. People are being slaughtered, abducted, pillaged, kidnapped and raped all over the country on a daily basis by these heartless terrorists simply because they believe that one of their own is now in power and that they can get away with it. All this yet no-one appears to be prepared to do anything about it or to call a spade a spade. In the light of all these facts the question on everyone’s lips is, what is to be done? We all hope and pray for peace and unity in our country, but, judging by the way things are going, perhaps the first question that we have to address is whether we really have a country at all and, if we agree that we do, whether it will or can remain united and as one for much longer. If we ever needed the elders and great men of wisdom and knowledge like President Olusegun Obasanjo, General T.Y. Danjuma, General Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Maitama Sule, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Chief Alex Ekweume to pull us back from the brink and bring healing, peace and unity back to our land it is now. The rise of radical Islam and the use of terror to achieve the objectives of those who espouse and believe in it has changed the world forever. Our country cannot be exempted or left out of this. We have changed forever as well and things can never be the same in Nigeria again. Those that are in power in our country today appear to have a soft spot for the terrorists and for reasons best known to himself our president has simply refused to condemn the murderous activities of the Fulani herdsmen and militias. This is probably because he is, and has been for many years, the life patron of the Fulani Cattle Rearers Association, which is the umbrella organisation of the Fulani herdsmen and militias. To make matters worse, our president told the world, as recently as 2014, that an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on the North. One wonders what purpose that was designed to serve and why he had to say it. Then came the sad and pitiful case of Ese Oruru in which the Fulani Emir of Kano played an unspecified and unclear role in the abduction, forced islamisation, rape, torture and kidnapping of a 14-year-old southern Christian girl whilst our security agencies turned a blind eye to the whole thing and refused to rescue her for months. It has been alleged that the girl was kept against her will at the Emir’s palace and that one way or the other she was used as a sex slave and she came out pregnant. Despite all this, the police have refused to pick him up and compel him to answer the necessary questions that could have cleared the air. All this because “his” people are in power and they believe that thay can get away with anything and everything, including pedophilia, slavery and, in many cases, murder. Worse still, there are hundreds of other cases, five of which have been exposed by Miss Toyosie Ogunseye, the editor of Nigeria’s Sunday Punch Newspaper and her incredible team of investigative reporters and one by the famous high society blogger Miss Linda Ikeji on her blog in the last few days. These cases are all similar to Ese Oruru’s and they involve the abduction, Islamization, rape, sodomy and enslavement of young southern Christian girls (some as young as nine) who ended up in royal palaces and hareems all over the North. In each of these cases those that carried out the abductions have refused ro return the girls back to their families despite all pleas and efforts and the police have been unable to do anything about it. In one case in Bauchi in which the southern Christian girl was just 12 years old and in which she was abducted whilst on her way to church, her family was told that if they wanted her back they would have to “negotiate with the Sharia council”! In another case in Zamfara state, the family of a 14-year-old Christian girl who was abducted as far back as 2009 were told by her abductors that if they persisted in asking for the return of their daughter their entire family would be killed and their home would be burnt down. As a result of this threat the girl’s father and his entire family had to leave their home and flee from Zamfara for their lives. They were compelled to leave their young daughter behind in the clutches of her merciless abductors. READ ALSO: Femi Fani-Kayode on the fate of those who spilled blood in January 1966 coup Nothing reflects the degeneration to which our country and our values have been reduced to better than this. Permit me to end Part one of this contribution with the following words which I keep hearing in my spirit and which I believe shall prove to be prophetic. “O ye sons of Futa Jalon and ye daughters of the vulture mountain and bitter waters: your princes and kings shall be exposed and brought to heel, your yoke shall be broken and you shall pay a heavy price for your wickedness and many sorceries.” Many have been killed in the most hideous manner or falsely implicated and wrongly jailed in our country for sharing such knowledge and for exposing some of the things that I have chosen to expose in this write-up. Regardless of this I have no fear because I know that my Redeemer lives and I know that He shall stand with me till the end of time. As long as Jesus lives I know that He will never forsake me and that, until my work on earth is done, I cannot be cut short and neither can my enemies overwhelm or destroy me.

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This article expresses the author’s opinion only. The views and opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Naij.com or its editors.

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YOUNG DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Join YDP today @ www.ydp.ng

EZEKIEL NYA-ETOK EMERGES NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF YOUNG DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Posted by WetinHappen Magazine
Ezekiel Nya-Etok Front line politician and world renown Social Housing crusader, Architect Ezekiel Nya-Etok has emerged the National Chairman of Young Democratic Party of Nigeria, YDP.

This development comes as members and stakeholders of the Party unanimously endorsed Nya-Etok, a one time Governorship aspirant to lead the quest of the YDP to reposition and re-strategize in preparation for future elections across the nation.

In a chat with newsmen, Arc. Nya-Etok who confirmed the development, described it as an enormous challenge of which he feels humbled to accept the tremendous confidence reposed in him by members of the party across the country.

The New National Chair of YDP disclosed that, his party is poised to focus on and harness the limitless potentials in the youths of this country, who form the bulk of the Nation’s population and workforce, but who have been shortchanged and neglected over the years to chart a new course for the survival of the country.

Expressing confidence that Nigeria can be redeemed and made great again, Arc. Nya-Etok identified the vice of corruption which he described as a mega-problem and faulty leadership recruitment process as the major problems that have undermined the development, prosperity and greatness of the nation.

He argued that, YDP under his watch will work assiduously to mobilize Nigerians through advocacy and sensitization to join the new vision of the party to lift Nigeria from the abyss with a new vision founded on patriotism, equity, social justice and equal opportunities for all.

On the role of the party in the current dispensation, Arc. Nya-Etok declined identifying the party as an opposition party, but rather insisted that, the Party will always strive to support positive programmes of Government and constructively engage the leaders with superior arguments where they have cause to disagree with public policy.

He however revealed that, beginning with the upcoming Governorship elections in Edo State, the YDP will field a strong candidate and stressed that, come 2019 and beyond, the YPD looks to sufficiently present her manifesto and programmes with credible Nigerians for elective offices.

Until his emergence as National leader of the YDP, Arc. Nya-Etok was an active member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the platform of which he aspired to run as Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

However, on the heels of the 2015 General Election, Nya-etok announced the suspension of his membership of the PDP, explaining that, he had decided to undertake a non-partisan support and endorsement of candidates based on his personal conviction and assessment of their individual capacities to offer leadership.

This commitment saw him support Koko Abia of the APC, Udom Emmanuel of the PDP as Governor of Akwa Ibom, and some other candidates in Labour Party for the Legislature.

He was yet to lift the self-imposed suspension of his PDP membership before the YDP came calling,having identified him as a Nigerian with the requisite orientation, right vision and intellectual rigour to offer credible leadership and direction for the party

It will be recalled that, with about three weeks to the last general election, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accord full recognition to the Young Democratic Party, having been deemed registered as a political party.

Young Democratic Party had sued the INEC, and others, asking the court to declare that, INEC had no reason not to register it as a political
party.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed upheld their petition and ruled that “INEC has
not discharged its constitutional obligation of informing the plaintiff why it has not been registered as a political party, holding that, “The effect of INEC’s action as clearly spelt out in Section 78(4) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) is to deem the plaintiff as a duly registered political party.”

The court was of the view that having received the plaintiff’s application to be registered as a political party on March 17, 2014, based on the provision of Section 78(4) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), INEC had 30 days to act on the plaintiff’s application.

Instead, Justice Mohammed noted that it took INEC more than 120 days to react to series of correspondences from the plaintiff seeking to know why it had not been registered.

Accordingly, the court ruled that, the time lag on the side of INEC and its inability to inform the Young Democratic Party of its status meant that the plaintiff’s application had no defect.

For more than 120 days outside the 30 days required by law, INEC did not come out to say that the plaintiff had not met the requirements.

The court held that INEC had no reason whatsoever to refuse to issue the plaintiff with its certificate of registration since the plaintiff was
deemed registered as a political party by virtue of the provisions of the Electoral Act particularly Section 78(4), and also considering the letter of submission of application dated March 17, 2014. INEC was therefore compelled by the court order to duly register YDP as a political party.

By this elevation, Arc. Nya-Etok makes history as the third Akwa Ibom citizen to lead a National. Political party.

The others are Atuekong Don Etiebet who founded and led the defunct National Centre Party of Nigeria, NCPN, and later led the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, as National Chairman and Engr. Larry Esin who was a erstwhile National Chairman of Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA.

By Osondu Ahirika.

Join YDP today @ www.ydp.ng

EZEKIEL NYA-ETOK EMERGES NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF YOUNG DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Posted by WetinHappen Magazine
Ezekiel Nya-Etok Front line politician and world renown Social Housing crusader, Architect Ezekiel Nya-Etok has emerged the National Chairman of Young Democratic Party of Nigeria, YDP.

This development comes as members and stakeholders of the Party unanimously endorsed Nya-Etok, a one time Governorship aspirant to lead the quest of the YDP to reposition and re-strategize in preparation for future elections across the nation.

In a chat with newsmen, Arc. Nya-Etok who confirmed the development, described it as an enormous challenge of which he feels humbled to accept the tremendous confidence reposed in him by members of the party across the country.

The New National Chair of YDP disclosed that, his party is poised to focus on and harness the limitless potentials in the youths of this country, who form the bulk of the Nation’s population and workforce, but who have been shortchanged and neglected over the years to chart a new course for the survival of the country.

Expressing confidence that Nigeria can be redeemed and made great again, Arc. Nya-Etok identified the vice of corruption which he described as a mega-problem and faulty leadership recruitment process as the major problems that have undermined the development, prosperity and greatness of the nation.

He argued that, YDP under his watch will work assiduously to mobilize Nigerians through advocacy and sensitization to join the new vision of the party to lift Nigeria from the abyss with a new vision founded on patriotism, equity, social justice and equal opportunities for all.

On the role of the party in the current dispensation, Arc. Nya-Etok declined identifying the party as an opposition party, but rather insisted that, the Party will always strive to support positive programmes of Government and constructively engage the leaders with superior arguments where they have cause to disagree with public policy.

He however revealed that, beginning with the upcoming Governorship elections in Edo State, the YDP will field a strong candidate and stressed that, come 2019 and beyond, the YPD looks to sufficiently present her manifesto and programmes with credible Nigerians for elective offices.

Until his emergence as National leader of the YDP, Arc. Nya-Etok was an active member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the platform of which he aspired to run as Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

However, on the heels of the 2015 General Election, Nya-etok announced the suspension of his membership of the PDP, explaining that, he had decided to undertake a non-partisan support and endorsement of candidates based on his personal conviction and assessment of their individual capacities to offer leadership.

This commitment saw him support Koko Abia of the APC, Udom Emmanuel of the PDP as Governor of Akwa Ibom, and some other candidates in Labour Party for the Legislature.

He was yet to lift the self-imposed suspension of his PDP membership before the YDP came calling,having identified him as a Nigerian with the requisite orientation, right vision and intellectual rigour to offer credible leadership and direction for the party

It will be recalled that, with about three weeks to the last general election, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accord full recognition to the Young Democratic Party, having been deemed registered as a political party.

Young Democratic Party had sued the INEC, and others, asking the court to declare that, INEC had no reason not to register it as a political
party.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed upheld their petition and ruled that “INEC has
not discharged its constitutional obligation of informing the plaintiff why it has not been registered as a political party, holding that, “The effect of INEC’s action as clearly spelt out in Section 78(4) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) is to deem the plaintiff as a duly registered political party.”

The court was of the view that having received the plaintiff’s application to be registered as a political party on March 17, 2014, based on the provision of Section 78(4) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), INEC had 30 days to act on the plaintiff’s application.

Instead, Justice Mohammed noted that it took INEC more than 120 days to react to series of correspondences from the plaintiff seeking to know why it had not been registered.

Accordingly, the court ruled that, the time lag on the side of INEC and its inability to inform the Young Democratic Party of its status meant that the plaintiff’s application had no defect.

For more than 120 days outside the 30 days required by law, INEC did not come out to say that the plaintiff had not met the requirements.

The court held that INEC had no reason whatsoever to refuse to issue the plaintiff with its certificate of registration since the plaintiff was
deemed registered as a political party by virtue of the provisions of the Electoral Act particularly Section 78(4), and also considering the letter of submission of application dated March 17, 2014. INEC was therefore compelled by the court order to duly register YDP as a political party.

By this elevation, Arc. Nya-Etok makes history as the third Akwa Ibom citizen to lead a National. Political party.

The others are Atuekong Don Etiebet who founded and led the defunct National Centre Party of Nigeria, NCPN, and later led the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, as National Chairman and Engr. Larry Esin who was a erstwhile National Chairman of Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA.

By Osondu Ahirika.



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MAY DAY! MAY DAY!! MAY DAY!!! PRESIDENT MUHAMADU BUHARI

MAY DAY! MAY DAY!! MAY DAY!!! PRESIDENT MUHAMADU BUHARI; that our ship of state may not end like the Titanic, Icebergs lie head
- Orkuma Hembe Former NANS President

Our universe is so carefully created and through evolution; man has perfected the art of reading times and seasons. As we carefully study our environment it becomes easier to forecast the weather and predict if it will be a sunny or rainy day.

This reality is also true for politics and politicians. The most honest political predictions usually come from people with little or no vested interests in the resulting circumstances.

Towards the end of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration, they were clear indicators that he had become irreparably unpopular and was woefully on the path to lose the 2015 general elections.

A series of miscalculations on his part took centre stage; chief among them was his fallout with his erstwhile political godfather Chief Olusegun Mathew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo who he later referred to as a garage tout.

GEJ went on to annex the PDP ticket through tactical coercion and followed this grave miscalculation up with his outright refusal to replace his laughably unpopular Vice President, whose entire political weight could not deliver a local government in his home State; Kaduna. Not to mention the reckless statements his wife, cronies and allies were reeling out at will, insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians.

The signals of GEJ’s impending loss at the polls were clear enough for the blind to see, and perhaps audible enough for the deaf to hear, one just wonders why he or none of his close associates ever saw their defeat coming, even after Chief Obasanjo documented his watch, in “MY WATCH”.

I was surprised that the PDP and GEJ expressed shock at their loss in the elections. Were they taken unawares? All the parameters of failure lay bare before everyone. Anyway my people often say “dog wen wan loss, no dey hear him oga whistle again”; it is also said, when God wants to destroy a king; He hardens his heart, just like he did to the Egyptian pharaoh of ancient history. These truths finally explained a lot to me.

I am an APC core sympathiser; in fact I campaigned tirelessly for the party and its candidates in the last general election, committing my time and resources to its success at every level. This I did out of my honest desire to save the Nigerian nation from a failing government whose mental disposition was founded on parochial, sectional and regional sentiments, with an unfortunate mind set of “na our turn to chop, na our oil money”.

This rather irritating orientation and mind set had become more like an epidemic within the system and it needed to be curtailed just like we did with the EBOLA virus and Lassa fever today.

Muhamadu Buhari seemed a more formidable alternative to confront such an incumbent that accommodated within its ranks, a bunch of low level of thinking individuals, with vicious ex militants as opinion leaders/ stalwarts, whose predominant feature in character was violence and empty threats.

Buhari’s anti-corruption credentials and track record of a disciplined and fearless General couldn’t have presented a better option and beacon of hope for Nigeria at such a time in his entire political career and our history as a nation.

Nigerians, who were in search for a messiah-like personality that would bring our dear nation out of the woods, found one in PMB and desperately rallied around him in their numbers closing their ears to all manner of cheap blackmails of race, tribe, region and bigotry. All who came in support were accommodated.

Different people supported PMB for many and different reasons, some of which include but are not limited to, sentiments of region, religion, tribe, personality, character, integrity and honesty. Others (mostly politicians) hid behind his blooming personality to access power using his hard won identity of a glowing and glittering integrity. A good number also were true believers in the possibilities of a better future for Nigeria.

In spite of all this, PMB on his inaugural speech made it clear and in very simple words that Nigeria was above any of these myopic and selfish interests and he took sides with the last category of his supporter base when he said “I belong to everybody, I belong to nobody”. What confidence that statement had reposed in me about the pleasant future that awaited us as a people, I cannot quantify in words.

A month into this new administration, our dear President was perceived by many as studying the situation. During this time, I read an analysis by an APC sympathiser in one of the national dailies that had identified six thousand job openings for APC members that were to come from mass sack and retrenchment of PDP members heading boards and parastatals alone. Party chieftains close to PMB wallowed in a daily euphoria of lobbyists trooping into their residences seeking favours and keeping tabs on their phone lines.

Then, two months passed, then three, four, five and in the sixth month after so many hopes for quick fix solutions had been dashed; Ministers were finally unveiled.
At first I tried to criticise the calibre of people on the list but after listening to their individual defence at the senate I was relaxed and convinced about the formidability of this team.

The nation then took to another toll of the waiting game, trying to figure out which individual occupied which portfolio; while fuel scarcity lingered within same time, the naira took a nose dive and went into hiding as the dollar continued to punch it to a near state of comatose with only a few breaths left on the parallel market and the months went by.

Christmas was celebrated at half current last year with Nigerians either bitterly complaining or trying to figure out through a comparative analysis, what difference this change government represented compared to what obtained under the PDP. Some states could not even pay staff salaries.

In all these, the presidential chat of New Year’s Day once again rekindled my hope and belief in PMB’s ability to provide a deserving leadership for our dear nation. Even though his comments on the economy were not as convincing and holistic as I had expected.

PMB spoke passionately about his commitment to nip corruption in the bud and his administration’s desire to diversify the economy to contain the shock experienced from the unprecedented dwindling oil revenues. Job creation for our teeming youth as well as fighting insecurity also enjoyed a pride of place in his speech on the day; nothing could be more reassuring.

It has been two months since then and the waiting game continues. What benefits, such wait tend to generate is what I am yet to reconcile. Because in spite of such careful planning, our hitherto celebrated cabinet ministers have become timid and too careful so not to make mistakes.

During this careful wait the Nigerian government suffered embarrassments recently with the unfortunate news of the padding of 2016 budget.
During this wait fuel scarcity has resurfaced and black marketers have resumed business in full scale on our streets.

During this wait former government officials alleged of corruption are yet to be convicted, we see a daily drama of charge and bail without a corresponding design to strengthen government institutions to avert future occurrences.

During this wait, the Five Thousand Naira hitherto promised the unemployed Nigerian youth was abolished.

During this wait electricity tariffs have hit an all-time high without any significant improvement in power supply.

During this wait, departments and agencies of government have been given warrants of payment yet no cash backing to commence government operations.

We read in the news how the new custom boss has remitted trillions of Naira into government coffers; we hear how looted funds have been recovered to appreciable tunes yet no cash backing to run government. Ok oh my knowledge of economics is quite poor so I may need a little more tutelage on how the economy works.

The Honourable Minister of Information will do us a lot of good if he can shed more light on these concerns rather than the almost daily release of fresh lists of persons who allegedly looted the states treasury dry.
The honourable Minister should please be reminded that Nigerians had a fair grasp of the looting and impunity that went on under the watch of the PDP and that was exactly why we voted them out of office to give way for a more credible PMB administration.

I remember with enthusiasm, when Lai Muhamed took a swipe at Olisa Metuh the former PDP spokesman, saying Metuh need some tutelage on how to run an opposition party. I beg to ask sir; don’t you think it will also be appropriate us to get some kind of lecture of how to run government too? Please don’t take this personal, I am only being curious.

Nigerians are crying, there is poverty, pain and penury in the land; the positive commentary is gradually disappearing. If this hardship were accompanied with a clearly defined and well outlined plan of action or perhaps an expected destination, then Nigerians would endure in a joyful hope of holding the promise someday.

The literature available from the silence and body language of the change leadership tilts to the contrary, that’s why I am compelled to shout May Day! I see icebergs ahead though they may appear quite small from a distance; they have a great mass hidden beneath the waters.

My beloved President Muhamadu Buhari, no doubt, you are an epitome of humility, honesty and integrity. I know you mean well for Nigeria and Nigerians but please heed to this lone voice in the wilderness. May Day…May Day…May Day

pdp again

Embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has promised to quit the leadership of the party once his tenure expires in March 2015. Modu Sheriff is serving the remainder of the tenure of Adamu Muazu which expires in March 2015. Muazu resigned as the National Chairman of PDP in May 2015. Sheriff spoke when he received forum of former PDP members in the House of Representatives, who paid him a courtesy visit at the party’s national headquarters. The former Borno Governor who vowed to eliminate imposition of candidates within the PDP, said in a few days time, after consultations with the National Working Committee, NWS, programs for the Party’s convention will be released “I, Ali Modu Sheriff, a man of character and integrity, one who would live up to expectation and his promises, hereby announce to the world that under no circumstances would I stay in office beyond the period prescribed by the Constitution of our party, the PDP.

Read more at: http://www.zubbyblog.com/pdp-crisis-i-promises-to-quit-this-month-as-pdp-chairman-ali-sheriff/

Senate fixes N2, 500 for UTME, extends validity period to 3yrs

The Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution reducing the registration fee of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to N2, 500 from N5,650 that was paid this year by students.

The resolution was taken following the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund on the inquiry into the new admission policy of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The Senators also recommended for the extension of the validity period of the UTME to three academic year.

They also resolved to amend the Act establishing JAMB to reflect the extension of the validity period which is at the moment a year.

The Senate also adopted the recommendation of the Committee chaired by Senator Binta Masi Garba (APC, Adamawa North) that the change of institution, course form and other incidental activities around the exam should be free.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (APC, Kano Central) said stressed the need for government to look into the revenue being generated by JAMB.

Also yesterday, the Senate condemned the non- payment of allowances of Nigerian students studying abroad who are beneficiaries of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) and other scholarships of the federal government.

The condemnation was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator David Umaru (APC, Niger East) and seven others.

The Senators also urged the Federal government to take immediate steps to ensure prompt payment of all outstanding allowances of students who under its scholarship scheme abroad.
Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/senate-fixes-n2-500-for-utme-extends-validity-period-to-3yrs
Sources: Dailytrust

President Buhari Orders Investigation into Benue clashes, Express Deep Shock

President Buhari expressed "deep shock" at the past week's violence between herdsmen from the Fulani ethnic group and local farmers, an official statement said.

Several thousand people have been displaced, according to local media.

Benue has a history of violent attacks and reprisals between semi-nomadic herdsmen and farmers.

The clashes are often linked to cattle raiding.

President Buhari called for unity among Nigerians, saying: "There should not be any reason why Nigerians of any group or tongue cannot now reside with one another."

Different groups of Fulani militants killed a total of more than 1,200 people in 2014, meaning that if taken together they would be the world's fourth deadliest militant group, according to the most recent Global Terrorism Index.

The scope of their attacks is now enough to "pose a serious threat to stability", the report said.

The communal violence in central Nigeria is not connected to the six-year insurgency by Islamist militant group Boko Haram in the country's north-east.

Boko Haram was the world's most deadly militant group, according to the report.

Elite out to discredit Buhari’s administration – Senate leader

The Leader of the Senate, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, on Monday disclosed that the bourgeois are on the move to militate against President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration saying their intention is to set masses against this administration.

Ndume in a chat with Journalists on the economic situation in the country explained there is deliberate attempt by elite to set this government against the masses since they have discovered the support base of this administration.

The Senator wondered what the price of dollars had to do with gari, maize and tomatoes that are produced locally in Nigeria.

According to him, the elite are deliberately sabotaging the Buhari administration ‎in order to make the All Progressive Congress (APC) government unpopular.

He explained that the Buhari’s administration has made significant achievement in the area of war against insurgency, war against Corruption and infrastructure decadence in Nigeria.


Senate Leader said,” if not for the saboteurs, Nigerians would have been reaping the dividend of electing President Buhari. Otherwise, what has the fall of Naira to do with millet, tomatoes and other local produced commodities?

“We are working hard on the 2016. Budget and in it President has included things that would enhance the living ‎conditions of Nigerians. We will pass the budget in March.”

i-created-over-125000-jobs-within-9-months-and-buhari-created-none-in-8-months-el-rufai

 

Governor Nasir El-Rufai,of Kaduna State yesterday said he has created over 125,000 direct jobs in the state within the past nine months. El-Rufai stated this during his sixth town hall meeting with the people in Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of the state. He said the state school feeding programme which he introduced created at least 85,000 jobs for food vendors, their staff and supervisors. “The job impact of ongoing interventions is over 125,000 direct jobs in Kaduna State within less than one year of the APC being in office. The estimates of these include: School feeding programme: at least 85,000 jobs, including the vendors, their staff and supervisors. School uniforms:11,100 jobs, rehabilitation of schools:7,542 jobs, construction of toilets:6,285 jobs, solar boreholes:5,028 jobs, KASTELEA:2,550 jobs,waste collection:6,700 jobs, Science and Maths teachers: 2,300 jobs,” he said. The governor added that the state government is in talks with Dangote and Olam for integrated tomato agro-industrial projects around Galma Dam. He said Olam has also decided to build the largest poultry and feed-mill facility in Sub- Saharan Africa in the state.

El-Rufai, who was accompanied by the senator representing Kaduna-North senatorial district, Alhaji Suleiman Hunkuyi and other top government officials on a police helicopter for aerial view of the state, said operations against cattle-rustlers, kidnappers and other criminal gangs are continuing in the affected areas. “Our security agencies have better vehicles and improved communication infrastructure to respond to threats. Our internal security team, Operation Yaki, has been active in raiding black spots and preventing crimes, while responding more rapidly to robberies and other threats to lives and property.

While thanking security agencies for their efforts and service to our state, we ask our religious and community leaders to continue to preach peace and unity, promote tolerance, discourage hate speech and renew calls for increased vigilance in all our communities, “he said. He said Stallion Group will build a 10,000-hectare rice farm and mill in Kaduna to reduce the dependence on imported rice. “Other rice farm and mill projects are being implemented by many firms to utilize our zero-interest loans around the CBN rice anchor lending programme,” he added

CBN announce new N203 black market rate to Dollar

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is targeting a N200 to dollar exchange rate in the parallel market as early as next week, according to The Nation

The Naira which on Friday traded at N330 to a dollar in the parallel market is expected to appreciate speedily, as impact of the CBN’s measures to stabilize the currency volatility in the parallel market begin to materialize.

President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), said the N330 rate in the parallel market is an improvement from last week’s rate when the naira exchanged for N391 to dollar.

The strident calls by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and some foreign interest for Nigeria to devalue its currency and the artificial spike in forex rate created by Bureau De Change operators appears to have tanked. This has been linked to a complex and integrated currency management approaches deployed by the CBN.


According to a top source in the apex Bank, “The aim of CBN is to ensure that the divergence between the official and parallel rate does not exceed N3, so we are looking at a parallel market rate of N200/$ because the downward trend in the pressure on the naira will be sustained.”

“The CBN has the capacity to sustain the downward pressure and will deploy further currency management initiatives, while capitalising on fiscal policies of the federal government to remain in support of non-devaluation of the Naira. The current stand of the federal government on Nigeria’s legal tender is Non-Devaluation. It will be unwise for anybody to be hoarding dollars because we can assure you that Naira appreciation is going to trend upwards going forward.”

So far, the CBN in a bid to manage the pressure on supply has deployed over $11.7billion to support Agricultural Sector, SMEs, manufacturers and others. This has reduced patronage of black market by end-users and has forced rent seekers to dump the greenback thereby creating a dollar-glut in the black-market.

The source noted that it has been observed that most of the imports that were draining forex resources have since found local substitutes with attendant savings in forex and shortage of demand for the greenback, which was fuelling the pressure, this is also coming on the heels of the CBN instruction to commercial banks to publish allocation of forex to end-users, this has in recent times ensure that real sector of the economy and genuine users for education and medicals have been able to access forex at official rate.

Seven Principles of an eagle to live by

(1) Eagles fly alone and at high altitudes. They don't fly with sparrows or other small birds.

Stay away from sparrows and ravens, those that bring you down. Eagles fly with Eagles. Keep good company.


(2) Eagles have an accurate vision. They have the ability to focus on something as far as 5km. No matter the obstacles, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it.

Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacle and you will succeed.

(3) Eagles do not eat dead things. They feed only on fresh prey.

Do not rely on your past success, keep looking for new frontiers to conquer. Leave your past where it belongs, in the past.

(4) Eagles love the storm. When clouds gather, the eagles get excited. The eagle uses the storm’s wind to lift it higher. Once it finds the wind of the storm, the eagles uses the raging storm to lift him above the clouds. This gives the eagle an opportunity to glide and rest its wings. In the meantime, all the other birds hide in the leaves and branches of the trees.

Face your challenges knowing that these will make you emerge stronger and better than you were. We can use the storms of life to rise to greater heights. Achievers are not afraid of challenges rather they relish them and use them profitably.

(5) When a female eagle meets a male and they want to mate, she flies down to earth with the male pursing her and she picks a twig. She flies back into the air with the male pursuing her.
Once she has reached a height high enough for her, she lets the twig fall to the ground and watches it as it falls. The male chases after the twig. The faster it falls, the faster he chases until he reaches it and has to catch it before it falls to the ground, then bring it back to the female eagle.

The female eagle grabs the twig and flies to a much higher altitude, and then drops the twig for the male to chase.
This goes on for hours, with the height increasing until the female eagle is assured that the male eagle has mastered the art of picking the twig which shows commitment, then and only then, will she allow him to mate with her!

Whether in private life or in business, one should test commitment of people intended for partnership.

(6) Eagles prepare for training. They remove the feathers and soft grass in the nest so that the young get uncomfortable in preparation for flying.

Leave your comfort zone, there is no growth there.

(7) When the Eagle grows old, his feathers become weak and cannot take him as fast as he should. When he feels weak and about to die, he retires to a place far away in the rocks. While there, he plucks out every feather on his body until he is completely bare. He stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers, then he can come out.

We occasionally need to shed off old habits, things that burden us, or add no value to our lives.

Best wishes.
Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait on The Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Buhari to implement Jonathan’s FDI industrial revolution plan

The President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has announced plans to implement the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) initiated by the immediate past administration led by Goodluck Jonathan.

Proactively designed to salvage Nigeria’s economy from its monolithic status, the NIRP was launched in 2014 to transform the country from commodity export nation into an industrial economy.

While launching the programme, former President Jonathan described it as the most ambitious and comprehensive roadmap that would transform the nation’s industrial landscape, boost skills development, enhance job creation and conserve foreign exchange.

Speaking at his inaugural press briefing in Lagos, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, said that manufacturing currently contributes only a tenth to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is much lower than it does in other emerging market economies.

The minister said that the industrialisation ambition of the nation was hinged on the NIRP, adding that it was now time to move the comprehensive document from plan to action.

His words: “It is now our duty to implement that plan in light of current realities, taking into consideration the lessons learnt in the two years since it was unveiled.

“We are focusing on identifying and supporting a select number of industrial sectors in which Nigeria has comparative advantage. We have seen success in our backward integration policies in the cement industry; and sugar is currently trying to replicate that success.

“In the automotive, cotton, textile and garment (CTG) industries, we are continuing discussions with players and stakeholders to see how we can better implement an industrial policy that creates jobs, profits and prosperity.”
SEE ALSO: N10bn fraud: EFCC to demand full repayment of what PDP delegates recieved

While describing the current economic situation as extraordinary times for Nigeria as a country, its citizens and for the government, he lamented that oil price, on which the nation depended for 75 per cent of government revenues and 90 per cent of foreign exchange earnings, has been down by 70 per cent since mid-2014.

He explained that the development was coupled with the knock-on effects from changing conditions in the world’s two largest economies, from the end of the era of quantitative easing in the United States and availability of higher returns to investors, and the slowdown in China.

“These are also accompanied by a net outflow of investment from emerging markets. The negative impact of all these on our economy, everything from government’s finances to investment flows to currency valuation has been significantThe President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has announced plans to implement the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) initiated by the immediate past administration led by Goodluck Jonathan.”
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Proactively designed to salvage Nigeria’s economy from its monolithic status, the NIRP was launched in 2014 to transform the country from commodity export nation into an industrial economy.

While launching the programme, former President Jonathan described it as the most ambitious and comprehensive roadmap that would transform the nation’s industrial landscape, boost skills development, enhance job creation and conserve foreign exchange.

Speaking at his inaugural press briefing in Lagos, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, said that manufacturing currently contributes only a tenth to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is much lower than it does in other emerging market economies.
SEE ALSO: Tompolo: Withdraw troops from Niger Delta – Ann-Kio Briggs warns Buhari

The minister said that the industrialisation ambition of the nation was hinged on the NIRP, adding that it was now time to move the comprehensive document from plan to action.

His words: “It is now our duty to implement that plan in light of current realities, taking into consideration the lessons learnt in the two years since it was unveiled.

“We are focusing on identifying and supporting a select number of industrial sectors in which Nigeria has comparative advantage. We have seen success in our backward integration policies in the cement industry; and sugar is currently trying to replicate that success.

“In the automotive, cotton, textile and garment (CTG) industries, we are continuing discussions with players and stakeholders to see how we can better implement an industrial policy that creates jobs, profits and prosperity.”

While describing the current economic situation as extraordinary times for Nigeria as a country, its citizens and for the government, he lamented that oil price, on which the nation depended for 75 per cent of government revenues and 90 per cent of foreign exchange earnings, has been down by 70 per cent since mid-2014.

He explained that the development was coupled with the knock-on effects from changing conditions in the world’s two largest economies, from the end of the era of quantitative easing in the United States and availability of higher returns to investors, and the slowdown in China.

“These are also accompanied by a net outflow of investment from emerging markets. The negative impact of all these on our economy, everything from government’s finances to investment flows to currency valuation has been significant.”

HOPE FOR NAIRA AS IT FIRMED UP AGAINST DOLLAR

Naira Appreciates Against Dollar After Buhari's Bold Statement

The Nigeria's naira on Monday firmed sharply on the parallel market following President Muhammadu Buhari's defiant stance over the country's currency.

President Buhari had on Saturday again rejected the idea of devaluing the West African nation's currency, despite a hammering of the naira on the secondary market last week.

The naira appreciated to 375 against the dollar, as importers started to reduce demand for dollars after Buhari's statement.

The naira firmed 4 percent from Friday's close of 390 to the dollar, while the official interbank rate remained at 199.50 to the dollar at the close of trading on Monday.

Aminu Gwadabe, the head of Nigeria's bureaux de change association said retail currency operators were working to introduce a single quote across the parallel market and maintain a bid-ask spread of 3.5 percent for trades.

"We have set up a unit to monitor compliance with the new measures," he told Reuters, adding that the central bank has been informed of the measures," he said.


Reuters 

APC CONSPIRACY FOR SINGLE TERM

APC ON THE VERGE OF BECOMING A SINGLE TERM PARTY; as a new ideology sets to establish its authority, a new political party beckons

-Orkuma Hembe former NANS President

The twilight of the 16 year rule of the PDP administration, climaxed in Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s five year administration when he held sway as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. A better part of those PDP 16 years was described by watchers and political analysts alike, as a period of a nascent democracy, another school of thought often argued that politics was an evolutionary process but I always begged to disagree.
Then our mistakes as a nation or deliberate attempts by politicians to swindle, arm-twist or manipulate the electorate/ people were often down played under the blackmail of a the popular mantra; “our country’s democracy is only so far experimental and an evolving democratic experience”.
Incumbent leaderships at that time had the power to do and undo, in fact I once eaves dropped on a highly placed politician telling his friend that after God, government might is next in line in terms of authority and power.
A President or Governor –elect had his second term automatically guaranteed as soon as he wore that toga of incumbency. The general public as well as public office holders were all at the mercy of these incumbent individuals whose enormous powers new no bounds.
I remember in 2003, when Obasanjo presented himself for a second tenure re- run election against the then General Muhamadu Buhari. A good number of Nigerians opposed his re-election bid so vehemently; I was one of them. In fact, I together with other student leaders mobilised to Abuja to protest against the pronouncement of his re-election victory by the controversial the Maurice Iwuh led INEC. We were arrested, molested and ended up detained at the Zone 3 Police station for several days on the orders of the former inspector General of Police Chief Tafa Balogun. The news of our arrest didn’t even make it to the cartoon (omoba) page of any national daily, just as our execution or death sentence wouldn’t have meant so much.
The use of states instruments of coercion to manipulate our electoral system was the order of the day and this saw to the smooth RE-SELECTION even of the most unpopular government officials in various states and local Governments, all to the disadvantage, disenfranchisement and disagreement of the opposition and electorate.
At that time, all a politician need to do to be relevant within the polity had nothing to do with his popularity amongst his people or his performance while in office; instead, all that mattered was your ability to remain in the good books of the incumbents, especially the President of the Federal republic so he could hand you the states instruments of coercion during the electioneering process.
In all this political calculations, the electorate/common man was completely ignored helpless and relegated. Whether he chose to vote or not, it did not matter because his opinion or civic duty could not alter the final results of the electoral process anyway.
In every crisis situation they say, great opportunities lie. A plethora of litigations followed the post-election era and instantly bestowed a new status of “the beautiful bride” to the bar and the bench. Lawyers and law practice became one of Nigeria’s most lucrative professions.
These political power supremacy battles would then shift from the ballot boxes to the law courts (which are also run by humans who are Nigerian). Politicians would then resort to approaching the courts in company of high political power backing, allied with the popular Nigerian Ghana-must –go bags. They fought and got victory at all cost, leaving behind Senior Advocates and Judges heading to the banks with smiles as wide as if they could eat a banana sideways. Leaving the judiciary with very little to admire or desire.
In all these the electorate, the common man, the ordinary voter, was either relegated ignored or completely helpless.
The People Democratic Party remained one united party whose defeat or voluntary exit from power was not in sight. I believe it was not even contemplated within the following century; power seemed completely of the reach of the opposition parties.
As the years went by and more events unfolded, I began to gradually align my thoughts with the idea that politics is truly evolutionary, with no permanent friends or foes only permanent interests. Just about when I would conclude that no opposition party had the nerve to unseat the PDP, a doctrine of the holy Bible came to pass; “a house divided against its self will not stand”.
This doctrine set itself upon the path fulfilment in 2003, when Alhaji Atiku Abubakar stepped up to challenge his principal Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in the race for the almighty PDP Presidential ticket. This singular act initiated the journey to what we enjoy today as voters, whose votes count.
The rofo rofo between Obasanjo and Atiku consciously or unconsciously set the stage for a consideration of the common man but rather fortunately or unfortunately, the Governors forum ambushed the electorate and once again took authority (which originally was that of the common man) to decide who got what and how. The Governors became what Obasanjo described recently as emperors in their states and the nation at large. Their word was law and their states were held hostage under their careful watch.
As the internal wrangling within the PDP continued, it caused Obasanjo to begin a search for his successor whose credentials and public image would appeal to the electorate/common voter on the street as well as meet the condition of the Governors forum that such a candidate must be from within their fold. This led to the emergence of Alhaji Umaru Musa YarAdua, a man whose character was unquestionable.
At the time had far more appealing credentials than any of his colleagues; I stand to be corrected. YarAdua stepped in more like a neutral personality, a meeting point for the trio of an incumbent President the Governors forum and a bit of the Nigerian electorate.
Chief Obasanjo and the PDP would later allocate/impose Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as running mate to YarAdua. The duo was then brought the forth to be challenged once again by Muhamadu Buhari, who to me was gradually becoming a career aspirant of the opposition party.
The battle for supremacy between king makers, king, subjects and nights of the palace continued fiercely within the PDP and the Presidency after YarAdua’s victory and this fuelled our national political evolutionary process in no small measure.
Providence would later play a major role, I will not want to bore you with the politics that led to the emergence of Gooluck Ebele Jonathan; but I must mention as a matter of fact, from a mortal man’s perspective that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo single handedly made it possible for GEJ to become President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Another rofo rofo fight soon set in between Obasanjo and his benefactor GEJ, which in my opinion also added a shoulder to our continuously evolving democracy. I want to believe that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was providentially designed to be Nigeria’s President at a time such as when he became. He surely had his weaknesses that mainly stemmed from lack of experience and a relatively low self-esteem (I mention this respectfully).
The rofo rofo this time had prompted Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to unseat Goodluck Jonathan at all cost and he needed an alternative candidate and a platform outside the PDP. It was time to once again search for a candidate with a good public appeal. This time not exclusively to the incumbent President and Governors forum alone but to the general public; it was time to empower the neglected electorate/ordinary voter and return his original franchise and mandate to him.
Aggrieved and disgruntled members of the PDP and the opposition began to regroup, strange bed fellows began a romance of the absurd, sentiments of religion and regional politics occupied the media space, politicians that were hitherto beneficiaries of the PDP largesse and impunity, who had cross carpeted to the opposition were baptised and given a new image of freedom fighters and change ambassadors. But the search for men of integrity who would appeal to the electorate would not stop and this saw Chief Oyegun emerge as the APC party chairman and later General Muhamadu Buhari was given the party’s flag to fly.
In 2015 for the first time in our recent history, the electorate voted and our votes counted, sitting incumbents from the local government to Aso Rock were voted out of office and it stood. Some erroneously give credit to GEJ for conceding defeat and handing over power, but I will never succumb to such cheap attempt to give glory to an undeserving personality.
GEJ had earlier in a cowardly attempt tried to throw Nigeria into a civil war situation when his lieutenants, Chief Fadile and Godswill Orubebe attempted to scuttle our electoral process in his popular “we will not take it” episode. GEJ conceded defeat out of a fear of the unknown as far as I am concerned.
As it stands today, we have become beneficiaries of an evolving democracy; it will get better as we progress. Power now rests in the hands of the electorate, we now have the ability to vote in and vote out anybody at will, the incumbency magic has been demystified and dismantled; this was the victory I celebrated when I added my voice to the “change” mantra. I did not celebrate PMB’s victory as President or Governor Ortom’s victory in my home state as much as I celebrated the victory for our evolving democratic and electoral processes.
Before someone misunderstands me, I make bold to say I have no regret as an individual joining forces to vote our GEJ. A man whose numerous short comings one could excuse, save for the irritating fact that he elevated hoodlums and common criminals to statutes of states men. Nonentities like Asari Dokubo, Tompolo and their likes were given such authority to make unguarded statements and take our dear country for a ride.

The wind of change I believe will gradually restore Nigeria to its factory settings. Only last weekend, Senator David Mark and Daniel Onjeh subjected themselves to a keenly contested electoral process and the electorate decided their fate. That is the change we voted, prayed and fought for, let the people enjoy their exclusive right to decide who leads them.
Today I am proud to be a Nigerian more than ever; I can now conveniently become an official card carrying member of a political party but definitely not the APC or PDP, I see an emerging political party with a strong ideological foundation made up of men of high integrity; this is evident in the recent punching and kicking within the PDP that greeted the emergence of Senator Ali Modu Sherif and the new party chairman. That new ideology, that new shift, that new political party, that’s where I will pitch my tent, that’s where I shall belong.
As for PMB and serving Governors (Mostly APC) please always be mindful of this fact “our card reader still dey oh”. As some of you have chosen to do anyhow, I know the electorate MUST make you see anyhow by the next general election... (Will R share my honest thoughts on the Buhari, Ortom and APC administration in due time )