Wednesday 1 July 2015
What is the status of Shiroro LGA's Internally Generated Revenue?
By Usman Baba
It is an eyesore that success leaders of our LGA have always shared selfishly between themselves, the revenue generated weekly in our LGA to the detriment of the masses.
It is estimated that more than 500, 000 naira is generated weekly as revenue from our markets. When you calculate other sources like tournament rate by Shiroro Hydro-electric Power Station, revenues from other sources like shop owners, collection of indigine letters, etc you will end up having not less than 1000,000 naira weekly. That's about 4 million naira per month. This amount should have been more than this, but endemic corruption has affected over the years.
The revenue collectors, the administrators, and even the council heads have connived to robe the LGA of this revenue. They collected the monies from our poor market women, our poor farmers and shop owners only to pocket same for their personal use.
The revenue system must be rejig, retooled and rid of corruption to save the LGA from relying on Federal Allocations that are usually hijacked by the State Governor. With this revenue, we can provide portable drinking water, quality education, employment etc that will bring a new lease of life for our people.
Yes, we can!
Tuesday 30 June 2015
Breaking away from business as usual in electing our Public Officers
By Engr. Usman Baba
Most Nigerians look at Public Service as an opportunity to get rich. People placed their interest above national interest and that is un-patriotism. You hardly see a person who is vying for a public office having an agenda, vision or mission.
They are agenda-less, the only item on their order paper is how to amass wealth by looting public money; they intend, without the fear of God and lack of conscience to steal money meant for provision of portable drinking water, primary health care, building of schools, development of agriculture and provision of employment.
An aspirant to a particular public office MUST have a plan on how he or she intends to add value to the society he intends to represent. Competence must always be the watch word.
If you have never for one day stopped to wonder and get worried about toddlers hawking pure water, ground nut and kola in the market or street at a time that child should either be in the school or attending additional lesson, then you are not fit to aspire to Public Office.
If you have never get worried as our people mostly in the vilkages still uses stream/river water to wash, cook and drink, then you are not qualified to aspire.
If you have never thought on how to get our teeming youths employed both in formal and informal sector, then your certainly do not have it.
We need to join hands and resist such sets of people from occupying our public offices. Evil can only prevail when the people of goodwill fold their arms o watch!
Yes, we can!
Wednesday 25 March 2015
Governor Shema in the Eyes of History
Governor Shema in the Eyes of History
By Usman Baba Ahmed
Twenty-Seven years after it was created by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. Katsina State has become one of Nigeria’s accountable and developing states, arising from the heritage of resourceful leadership that has seen Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema as one of Nigeria’s most prudent managers of resources. Katsina state, although a non-oil producing state, has not taken any loan since 2007 in spite of the massive development that abounds across the state; yet no contractor is owed; and its workforce gets paid on time (i.e. on 22nd of every month).
Undeniably, governor Shema has proven to be an achiever of unprecedented feats. This of course, is achievable from various enviable foundations that have been laid by different distinguished military and civilian administrators that have had privilege to lead the state before him.
Colonel Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar (rtd) was the first Governor of the State (September, 1987 to July 1988) and was succeeded in the following order by Colonel Lawrence Onoja (July 1988 December, 1989); Colonel John Yahaya Madaki (December 1989 to January 1992); Alhaji Saidu Barda, the first civilian governor (January 1992 to November 1993); Navy Capt. Emmanuel Acholonu (9th December 1993 – 22nd August 1996); Colonel Samaila Bature Chamah (22nd August, 1996 to August 1998); Lt. Colonel Joseph Akaagerger (August 1998 to May 1999); and Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (29th May 1999 to 29th May 2007); and then Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema (May 2007 to date). The first civilian governor was Alhaji Saidu Barda, while Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema took over the mantle of leadership in May, 2007 from Late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Katsina is home to two past Presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, namely: Major-General Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Other Katsina dignitaries include late General Hassan Usman Katsina, Major-General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, former Chief Justice of the Federation Alhaji Muhammad Bello, two past Inspectors General of Police Alhaji Muhammed Dikko Yusuf and Alhaji Ibrahim Commassie, and pioneer Chairman of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Alhaji Hamza Rafindadi Zayyad amongst others. Katsina is indeed home to some of the best and brightest Nigerian public servants, politicians and military top brass.
Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema thus became the third democratically elected Governor of Katsina State whose 7-year-tenure can aptly be summarized as the leadership of performance. He came in with unequalled drive to swiftly position the state along the veritable path of immediate and excellent infrastructural renewal. Overwhelmed by deep understanding of where the state was coming from, he wasted no time in offering the state an impressive infrastructural transformation through massive and all-encompassing developmental projects, either completed by his administration or started by him.
As a governor who shares nelson Mandela’s thought that “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”, Governor Shema in 2007 initiated a complete overhaul of the educational sector in the state. He declared a free and compulsory education from primary to senior secondary school level for all Nigerian children resident in the State, irrespective of tribe, ethnic affiliation or religion. The free education policy was well thought out and adequately funded. With attendant availability of instructional materials as well as teaching aids; many schools were renovated, in addition to 200 newly constructed secondary schools. 34 new girl-child schools were built while 38 blocks of one-storey building new primary schools were constructed, among others.
The governor, who adores education, settles WAEC, NECO and NABTEB Examination fees for all SS3 students irrespective of tribe, religion or ethnicity. About 17, 157 teachers were offered in-service training and a backlog of 2, 560 Secondary School Teachers were promoted. Over 2000 Katsina State students were sponsored to Sudan, Jordan, USA etc to study various degree programmes including Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Arabic Calligraphy, Engineering, etc.
Dr. Shema’s administration committed over 2 billion Naira to the newly established Federal University in Dutsin-ma which saw the early take-off of the institution. As if not done, he expended over 11 billion Naira for the completion of the state owned University – Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University. The structural evidence on the ground in the state owned university is a clear proof that the Katsina State government is committed to building a citadel of learning. He introduced a Teachers Award Scheme in which selected hardworking and outstanding teachers are given Hajj seat yearly (amongst so many other incentives introduced by the Governor) to ginger their performance in the state.
In demonstration of Dr. Shema administration’s determination to ensure that every child in Katsina state has access to education, 70 Allo Model Schools were built across the 34 LGAs of the state to support Almajiri education. Presently, the Allo schools have a total student population of about 17, 091. Feeding, learning materials and clothing are provided for all these pupils and their teachers by the government. It could be observed therefore, that the education sector has witnessed a total overhaul within the last 7 years, with target specific projects aimed at advancing the quality of pupils education in the State.
The health sector in Katsina has experienced an unprecedented revolution since the advent of the administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema. The government has invested enormous financial resources through the Ministry of Health to revamp and restructure the sector in order to make health care delivery not only accessible for the citizenry, but also to ensure that nobody dies from preventable disease.
Like the free and compulsory education which has impacted positively on the people, the administration’s free medical care for children, pregnant women and the elderly has resulted in the elimination and reduction of notorious killer diseases like polio, measles, tuberculosis, malaria etc among vulnerable groups in the society.
The governor who believed in the maxim that health is wealth, completed work on the 169-bed Turai Yar’Adua Maternal and Children Hospital, Katsina. He improved the condition of all the existing general hospitals through renovation, upgrading and procurement of modern hospital equipment across the state. The Shema administration provides free treatment for all antenatal care including delivery and caesarean section; all cases of malaria, psychiatry, accidents within the 48 hours and renal dialysis. The Babbar Ruga General Hospital has been providing prompt care to patients of VVF, Tuberculosis and leprosy diseases. It is the largest centre providing highest number of VVF surgery in the whole world; and he constructed a 250-bed space othorpaedic Hospital in the state. The government has provided the Katsina Eye Hospital in Gambarawa with modern equipment and staff, and is jointly run together with the Tulsi-chainrai Foundation with very good results. As at now, the hospital has achieved 100% post surgery restoration of sight. To remove obstacles hindering access to health care for people living in the rural areas, Governor Shema introduced the Mobile Ambulance Scheme. 34 equipped Mobile Ambulances were procured and deployed to provide health services to rural communities lacking health facilities.
Agriculture, till date, remains the major occupation of more than 75 % of the population of Katsina state. The tilling of the soil for the cultivation of the vast agricultural land in the state was still on subsistence basis when Shema came to power, and this results in the production of food virtually for consumption. The governor has explored every avenue to boost the agricultural yield of the state.
Analysts believe that Shema administration and boosting of agriculture are like Siamese twins, and this undoubtedly is changing the state into another food basket of the nation. The Shema government envisioned and boosted Garhi, Sabke, Jibia, Zobe, Mairuwa, Kusa and Kusada irrigation projects to sustain cultivation of crops throughout the year.
In furtherance to its commitment in boosting the agricultural sector, Governor Shema’s government signed an agreement, known as Katsina – Songhai Initiative, in which the government plans to spend the sum of 3.4 billion naira to actualize the agreement. So far over 3 billion naira has been spent on this project, operated in 3 sites across the 3 Senatorial Zones of the State.
The government also purchased 340 tractors to boost mechanized farming with each Local Government getting not less than 10 tractors at 40% subsidized rate, whereas the farmers were asked to deposit 10% of the total cost and pay the balance in 15 years.
In the area of livestock development, the administration attached importance to the sub-sector because the country depends largely on it for the supply of meat and for export. The government also in collaboration with the Federal Government set up a Neem Tree Processing Company in Katsina. Since 2007, the administration has continued to procure and distribute fertilizers on regular basis to farmers at subsidized rates. The fertilizers get to the farmers directly by delivering it to the polling units, thereby eliminating middlemen.
In furtherance of its agricultural objectives, the government also engaged agricultural specialists from Porto Novo, Benin republic and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and invested heavily on the training of youths in modern agriculture.
On roads, the Sarkin Yakin Hausa’s administration has constructed 32 different road projects covering about 500 kilometers. Twenty four of these roads were initiated by the new administration, while eight others were inherited and completed. The total cost of the projects stands at more than N36.76 billion, out of which that of the inherited projects amounted to over N11.28 billion, while those initiated by Shema administration gulped about N26 billion. The administration constructed a 40 kilometers 6-lane ring road round the state capital which has opened up the City’s rapid development and expansion. This singular ring road project, as hugely futuristic as it is, has thus set the corner-stone foundation for the State’s future socio-economic transformation.
It will amaze you to know that the entire lengths where these roads traversed were completely asphalted, hence the people will eternally be grateful to the Shema administration.
In a complementary manner, the governor established the Katsina State Roads Maintenance Agency which has the responsibility of maintaining state owned roads, repairs and maintenance of street lights, construction of solar traffic lights as well as intervention in the repairs and maintenance of other roads, such as rural roads that are under the jurisdiction of local government areas. The Agency has so far recorded positive achievements with more than 50 projects to its credit since inception.
It is actually true, that the seat of government that houses the leadership of any administration the world over is a reflection of the signature of the administration, since this is very often the first port of call for visitors to such a place. Governor Shema has constructed a befitting state of the art government house for the state as the old Government House was the residence of the District officer during the colonial period. Although some renovations were carried out by successive administrations to improve the status of the old Government House, there is a limit to which you can however renovate a building even on account of safety.
Constructed at a cost of over 8 billion naira, the list of the projects in the brand new Government House include: The Governor’s office; Banquet Hall; Clinic, Deputy Governor’s office; Security control gate; Press centre; Canteen; Energy/Central workshop; Presidential aides quarters; three mosques; Stewards quarters; Sports court; Governor’s lodge; Juma’at mosque; Landscaped environment; Internal roads network; First Lady’s office; three Governor’s guest chalets; and Presidential lodge, etc.
As you read this article, you are likely going to be carried away by the sheer magnitude of the Shema revolution that you may fail to notice the economics of it which is the very essence of “Shemanomics”. It is a principle that enables Katsina accomplish both modest and big projects without recourse to borrowings. It explains why with a combined monthly federal allocation and internally generated revenue earnings of less than 3 billion naira, Katsina state has accomplished landmark achievements without recourse to borrowing. In Katsina, Governor Shema never started any project without the 100% money needed for it at hand. After the contractor is paid his mobilization, the balance of the money to be paid on completion is put in a fixed deposit. That way, no contractor is owed after completing his work. But that’s not all. In three years, interest accruing to such deposits came to an unbelievable 8 billion Naira. It is with this seeming bonus that the Governor has put up a befitting Governor’s Lodge in Abuja and a brand New Government House in Katsina which was commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan in March 2014.
Who could have believed that this Lawyer from Dutsin-ma – who hails from a humble background, has not only held his own, but has held everybody spell bound, and in the process, inextricably wrote his name on virtually every good thing that has to be said of modern Katsina state and surpassing all successive administrations in the State’s transformation.
For Governor Shema, provision of Shelter to Katsina people is not a matter of privilege but a right. With that in mind, the Governor constructed: 500 houses at Barhim village; 1, 020 houses across the 34 Local Governments; 250 houses-Kabakawa housing estate in Katsina; and is presently constructing another 510 housing estate in the state. In the last seven years, the Governor has constructed over 5, 000 housing units across the state to improve shelter to the ordinary man in the state. The Governor upgraded Katsina Motel to a three star hotel (3 Suites, 47 Chalets, 30 single rooms, and a swimming pool etc). It is worthy of note that the Motel was established in 1975 and was last renovated in 2000.
To the Governor, electricity is an essential requirement for all facets of our life and it has been recognized as a basic human need. It is the key to accelerating economic growth, generation of employment, elimination of poverty and a catalyst for human development in both urban and rural areas. The administration procured more than 100 transformers to upgrade power supply across the state; constructed 30MW solar power plant in Kankia; established bio-gas electrification projects; and paid 81.5 million naira as compensation to farm owners for Windmill power project at Lambar Rimi. As if not done, 91 other communities have been provided with electricity and connected to the national grid.
Water they say, is life. Safe drinking water and sanitation are indispensable to sustain life and health, and thus fundamental to human dignity. The Administration has completed 22 semi-urban water supply projects and billions of naira spent on different projects executed by the administration to boost and provide water supply for the populace. Over 1000 communities now have access to portable water through the massive drilling of boreholes in all the nooks and crannies of the state; over 300 solar-powered water pumps installed; and over 1,000 rural water supply programmes were executed through Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA).
Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema has improved the welfare and physical health of young people through empowerment for self actualization as well as in promoting and popularizing sports in all its ramifications while providing instructors, coaches, and role models to develop sportsmanship for character building, competitions, and tournaments.
Since assumption of office the Governor has continued to vigorously tackle the issues of youths and sports development in the state. To buttress this, the Governor upgraded Dutsin-ma, Kankia, Funtua and Mani stadia; the Governor for the first time since the creation of the state in 1987 established a state football club, the Katsina Spotlights FC, which made its debut in the 2009/2010 National Professional League. The Administration has constructed a millennium size modern stadium in Katsina. The stadium – known as Karkanda Stadium –is among the best in the country and Katsina people can watch national and international matches organized by either FIFA or NFF.
On youth empowerment, His Excellency, Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema has established the Youth Crafts Village in 2009. The Crafts Village is located within the vicinity of the State National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Camp located in Barhim village. The centre is a one Stop-Shop for youth skills acquisition in a broad variety of areas including computer and GSM phone repairs; pottery; woodwork; tie and dye; wrought iron welding; auto repairs; electric vulcanizing; blacksmithing; photography; and film production. The facility is equipped to train 2000 youths in different trades per annum.
The Youth Crafts Village enrolls 48 youths from each of the 34 local governments in Katsina State to train in their respective fields of interest. The youths are resident, fed and given allowance for the duration of their respective programs which is either 6 months or 1 year depending on the type of the training programme. As at last count, the Centre has turned out over 7000 youths. The beauty of this Centre is that it is producing job Creators instead of job seekers and due to the successes recorded, the Governor plans to replicate the Centres at Funtua and Daura Senatorial zones with the cost of the projects captured in the state’s current budget.
The Governor is presently constructing an ICT and Business Institute in Katsina. The work has reached an advanced stage, and the project is expected to be completed by mid-2015. The Governor has equally set up 28 Paint and 20 Chalk Cottage Industries where youth are trained. Fertilizer Blending Plants have also been constructed at Batsari, Maiadua, Safana and Bakori; and government has distributed over 100 Million Naira as soft loans to about 6000 traders and artisans under the Small Trades Special Credit Scheme; over 106 Million Naira was distributed under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises Loan Schemes; whereas over 200 people, including women, benefited from the Quarry Operations Support Program; and 50 youths were trained on high-tech welding at Nigeria Naval Engineering Training College, Sapele, Delta state at a cost of over 301 million.
Public transport in Katsina state is another area in which Governor Shema’s administration has written its name in gold. The Katsina State Transport Authority can now boast of a modern functional transport system, with enhanced welfare for the common man. The Authority has over 120 vehicles that are of different brands, sizes and specifications. The fact that KTSTA is being utilized on daily basis (regardless of high cost of spare-parts, petroleum hike, etc.), transport fares have nevertheless remained the same. Governor Shema also completed the construction of an airport to an international standard in the State, where aircrafts conveniently land and take off on domestic and international flights
On the socio-cultural front, Governor Shema constructed new mosques in all the local governments of the state while the Central (Juma’at) Mosques in all the old seven local governments were rehabilitated and upgraded.
The Administration is presently constructing an ultra-modern shopping mall and an ultra-modern international market. The contracts for these projects were awarded to Messrs Mother Cat and Cops Engineering Services respectively, and the progress of work at both sites is well over 75%.
An attempt to summarize the achievements of the Katsina State Government under the leadership of this enterprising, energetic and exemplary visioner poses serious challenges considering the scope of overwhelming evidences that buttress the truth that politics could be played differently and purposefully. Governor Shema has therefore undeniably proven that the whole essence of good governance is the turn-over of worthwhile projects that have positive bearing on the needs and well-being of the citizens through the instrumentality of government.
A man of immense intelligence and an astute manager of men and resources; thinker and champion of idea-based politics, Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema has exemplified politics of performance by setting Katsina state on the hills, as a measurement for development in politics.
As those who left their footprints on the sand of time are not easily forgotten, history will judge and acknowledge Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema as the father of modern Katsina State even long after his tenure would have been over. In recognition of his enviable achievements, his humility, accessibility and prudence in the management of state resources, he has been turbaned Sarkin Yakin Hausa, Attah Ojah of Igala Land, Sarkin Fulanin Katsina and Lamido Fulben Gusau by the Emir of Daura, Attah of Igala, Emir of Katsina and Emir of Gusau respectively. He has received so many garlands and awards in and outside the country, amongst which is the Best Primary School Performance Governor in Nigeria at Ukraine, and the Niger Republic’s second highest national honour to mention but few.
Usman Baba Ahmed, a Public Commentator Wrote in from Minna, Niger State.
Follow me on twitter @Usman4reall
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Email: usmanbaba.ahmed@gmail.com
Monday 7 July 2014
Sunday 1 June 2014
Kalabalge II: My People Perish For Lack Of Security And The Right To Bear Arms
By Drm Peregrino Brimah
Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. (Luke 22: 36, KJV)
In today’s world, a sword is a gun. And our people perish in Borno, for the lack of it; not because Nigerians and Nigeria’s friends all over the world are not waiting anxiously to contribute to supplying them adequate guns; not because they are not willing to buy it from their purse, or money belt or sell their clothes to buy it, but because the Borno state government and federal government will not allow them. And so, it is; Boko Haram, the bad people who freely acquire not just guns, but top quality Nigerian military armored tanks and APC’s, flow in every day, every blessed day and slaughter the farmers of Nigeria, abducting their children, both male and female and burning down their markets and homes.
It is a sad weekend. The brave people of Kala-Balge who heroically fought off over 400 Boko Haram terrorists earlier this month, killing hundreds in a communal effort and capturing over 50; were this weekend decimated in the much expected Boko Haram retaliation. Though this revenge was legibly anticipated, there was no military to defend them. The people of Kala-Balge were expecting the Boko revenge and they waged a brave battle, but according to the report, over 500 Boko Haram terrorists came this time, well armed and prepared to avenge their earlier defeat in the hands of the brave local warriors.
The question to ask the governor of Borno and the president of Nigeria along with his security chiefs is: how can terrorists in Nigerian territory drive in convoys of over 20 hilux trucks, with APC’s and light weight tanks, and fight against resistance for hours then continue to pilfer and engage in their campaigns of incendiarism, all taking several hours and then drive comfortably back to their ‘hide-outs,’ without Nigeria’s air force and army being scrambled to defend the people and at least counter them on their retreat? Do we have an army? When will Jonathan’s ‘total war’ begin? We have waited for four years. First he admitted in Namibia that he was using kid gloves to deal with Boko Haram all along and that he would up it a little notch. We begged for the Tyson gloves. Civilians asked for the right and support to bear arms so we can engage and rat out the terrorists with the Tyson gloves needed; but the government ignored our pleas, not giving us the right to defend ourselves and not stepping up the war on their part. This democracy day, Nigeria’s president said he will advance to total war. Thank God. The abduction of 200+ girls and the international attention has yielded some useful results in a crisis that has consumed up to 80,000 lives and displaced over 3 million. But when will we see this total war?
It is with heavy hearts that we empathize with and condone the people of Kala-Balge who did their best but lost to a superiorly armed – thanks to government facilitation and enhancement – group of blood thirsty hoodlums.
Though we pushed for the State of Emergency at a time when we believed in the patriotism of the army and the intention of the service chiefs and government at its helm; today the people of Borno and Nigeria as a whole say – you can call off your state of emergency and take your army out. It can well be debated that the army has now begun to do more harm than good. Where do Boko Haram get their guns? From the Nigerian army when they easily overrun their barracks’. Where do Boko Haram get their APC’s and light Cobra tanks from? Again it is from the Nigerian army. So the army presence is actually invariably sustaining a steady supply of dangerous weaponry to Boko Haram; and the army never bombs these terrorists and their tanks form the air or land, so what is overall advantage of the army presence in the north east? Farmer genocide facilitatory and supervisory? But let us people bear arms and Boko Haram ‘were not born well enough,’ to dispossess us of our arms. Nigerian vigilante’s and patriotic Nigerian youth from across the nation have pleaded for the government to allow us defend ourselves and engage these useless, fraidy cat’s, fire for fire, once and for all. The Nigerian government can return that quarter of the budget designated for the so-called war against Boko Haram. Simply give us the right o bear arms – sophisticated arms as Boko Haram and Tompolo have.
The government continuously denying to authorize our right to bear arms to defend ourselves is a serious crime against humanity; and God be true, God is always true, one day we will require it of those who left us the people in direct harm’s way of terror they sponsor and allow, protecting ‘each-other’s heads from rolling,’ that they refuse to defend us from and refuse to permit us to bear the appropriate arms to defend ourselves of. By God, one day we will get our justice for this government supervised genocide of the poor farmers of Nigeria. The government fails to defend us and ties our hands behind our backs to be slaughtered by terror they sponsor. By God, we will get our day of justice, for God is a just God.
Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. (Luke 22: 36, KJV)
In today’s world, a sword is a gun. And our people perish in Borno, for the lack of it; not because Nigerians and Nigeria’s friends all over the world are not waiting anxiously to contribute to supplying them adequate guns; not because they are not willing to buy it from their purse, or money belt or sell their clothes to buy it, but because the Borno state government and federal government will not allow them. And so, it is; Boko Haram, the bad people who freely acquire not just guns, but top quality Nigerian military armored tanks and APC’s, flow in every day, every blessed day and slaughter the farmers of Nigeria, abducting their children, both male and female and burning down their markets and homes.
It is a sad weekend. The brave people of Kala-Balge who heroically fought off over 400 Boko Haram terrorists earlier this month, killing hundreds in a communal effort and capturing over 50; were this weekend decimated in the much expected Boko Haram retaliation. Though this revenge was legibly anticipated, there was no military to defend them. The people of Kala-Balge were expecting the Boko revenge and they waged a brave battle, but according to the report, over 500 Boko Haram terrorists came this time, well armed and prepared to avenge their earlier defeat in the hands of the brave local warriors.
The question to ask the governor of Borno and the president of Nigeria along with his security chiefs is: how can terrorists in Nigerian territory drive in convoys of over 20 hilux trucks, with APC’s and light weight tanks, and fight against resistance for hours then continue to pilfer and engage in their campaigns of incendiarism, all taking several hours and then drive comfortably back to their ‘hide-outs,’ without Nigeria’s air force and army being scrambled to defend the people and at least counter them on their retreat? Do we have an army? When will Jonathan’s ‘total war’ begin? We have waited for four years. First he admitted in Namibia that he was using kid gloves to deal with Boko Haram all along and that he would up it a little notch. We begged for the Tyson gloves. Civilians asked for the right and support to bear arms so we can engage and rat out the terrorists with the Tyson gloves needed; but the government ignored our pleas, not giving us the right to defend ourselves and not stepping up the war on their part. This democracy day, Nigeria’s president said he will advance to total war. Thank God. The abduction of 200+ girls and the international attention has yielded some useful results in a crisis that has consumed up to 80,000 lives and displaced over 3 million. But when will we see this total war?
It is with heavy hearts that we empathize with and condone the people of Kala-Balge who did their best but lost to a superiorly armed – thanks to government facilitation and enhancement – group of blood thirsty hoodlums.
Though we pushed for the State of Emergency at a time when we believed in the patriotism of the army and the intention of the service chiefs and government at its helm; today the people of Borno and Nigeria as a whole say – you can call off your state of emergency and take your army out. It can well be debated that the army has now begun to do more harm than good. Where do Boko Haram get their guns? From the Nigerian army when they easily overrun their barracks’. Where do Boko Haram get their APC’s and light Cobra tanks from? Again it is from the Nigerian army. So the army presence is actually invariably sustaining a steady supply of dangerous weaponry to Boko Haram; and the army never bombs these terrorists and their tanks form the air or land, so what is overall advantage of the army presence in the north east? Farmer genocide facilitatory and supervisory? But let us people bear arms and Boko Haram ‘were not born well enough,’ to dispossess us of our arms. Nigerian vigilante’s and patriotic Nigerian youth from across the nation have pleaded for the government to allow us defend ourselves and engage these useless, fraidy cat’s, fire for fire, once and for all. The Nigerian government can return that quarter of the budget designated for the so-called war against Boko Haram. Simply give us the right o bear arms – sophisticated arms as Boko Haram and Tompolo have.
The government continuously denying to authorize our right to bear arms to defend ourselves is a serious crime against humanity; and God be true, God is always true, one day we will require it of those who left us the people in direct harm’s way of terror they sponsor and allow, protecting ‘each-other’s heads from rolling,’ that they refuse to defend us from and refuse to permit us to bear the appropriate arms to defend ourselves of. By God, one day we will get our justice for this government supervised genocide of the poor farmers of Nigeria. The government fails to defend us and ties our hands behind our backs to be slaughtered by terror they sponsor. By God, we will get our day of justice, for God is a just God.
One Year to 2015: Jonathan’s 15 Major Headaches
his tenure, but there are many issues that gnaw at him, many of which would make or mar his re-election chances in 2015.
1. Chibok schoogirls abduction
Perhaps, the most daunting challenge before President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 election is the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls at Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State by the Boko Haram insurgents 48 days ago. Certainly Jonathan is racing against time on the rescuing students. The incident, which occurred on April 14, has attracted national and international condemnation thereby drawing global focus on the country, especially with respect to rescue efforts. The United States of America led in the promise to help the girls, followed by Britain, China and Israel. They have sent teams of counter-terrorism officials and other specialists to Nigeria. In spite of all these, the schoolgirls remain in the grips of the insurgents who have threatened to sell them off if their demand for swapping them with their detained members was not met. This has certainly posed a serious challenge to the presidents especially with the groundswell of protests and campaigns from rights groups and others for the safe rescue of the girls.
For observers, therefore, it is incumbent on President Jonathan to deploy all efforts at rescuing the abducted girls as anything short of this would adversely affect the performance rating of his government, especially in securing the lives and property of Nigerians. By extension, this would be an issue over his re-election fortune, should he decide to seek another term in 2015. This is because analysts believe it is not enough that the insecurity challenge generally would be a campaign issue in the 2015 presidential election. The freedom of the abducted girls is sure to assume a major campaign point for or against the president.
2. Boko Haram insurgency
Linked with the need to secure the release of the young girls from the clutches of the Boko Haram sect is the seemingly intractable insurgency. What started like a political campaign to destabilize the Jonathan administration has festered for four years on, with no solution in sight. As the president said in Paris three weeks ago, over 12,000 Nigerians have been killed in this insurgency. Unfortunately, the declarations of a state of emergency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, and the massive deployment of some 20,000 soldiers have not brought an end to the insurgency. In the last three years of this administration, some N4.1 trillion has been voted for the military, ostensibly in an attempt to tackle the insecurity. But not much progress has been made.
As the president begins his last year of his tenure, the insurgency issue would be a nagging headache. Apart from tainting his achievements in the last three years, if he seeks re-election for the 2015, the insurgency would be a veritable campaign instrument in the hands of the opposition. It is believed that the president miscalculated when he accepted the conspiracy theory that the sect was sponsored to destabilize his government. Now, he may have to change his approach by taking the path of dialogue and related schemes, else the insurgency could make or mar his records and 2015 ambition.
3. Herders/farmers conflict
Another serious challenge before President Jonathan as he ends his tenure year is the incessant clashes between Fulani cattle grazers and farmers in many parts of the country. Despite peace-mending efforts and professed security measures, killings have continued in the affected states unabated, leading to loss of lives and property.
Resolving the Fulani herders/farmers question is, therefore, an issue that President Jonathan cannot ignore if his perceived ambition to seek another mandate from the people in 2015 is anything to go by. Although Jonathan inherited the problem, he would certainly derive electoral benefit from it if he succeeds in nipping it in the bud. The North-Central zone, for instance, constitutes a strong factor in his electoral fortunes and leaving it in the mire of communal conflagration would certainly not do him well if he decides to seek re-election.
4. Choice of Jonathan’s running mate
There has been the controversy over whether or not President Jonathan would retain his vice, Namadi Sambo as his running mate, should he decide to seek re-election in 2015 or opt for a new one. Consequently there has been a reported plot by Jonathan to dump Sambo.
The plot is said to be the brainchild of some political heavyweights who believe that for the PDP to make the desired impact in the forthcoming election, it must have a presidential running mate that is widely acceptable across the regions. In their view, therefore, Sambo, is too far removed from the realities of the politics of the North and is incapable of either addressing the issues or galvanising support for Jonathan ahead of the 2015 election.
Those who are reportedly behind the plot to drop Sambo are said to be political heavyweights that include some retired but influential Army generals from the region, emirs and an ex-president who is pushing for Lamido.
Those being touted as possible replacement for Sambo are Aliyu Babangida of Niger State, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi and Ibrahim Shema of Katsina. Although Jonathan is yet to make a pronouncement over this, analysts believe that how he resolves the issue of his running mate would either make or mar his chances of re-election in 2015, as it could determine the level of support he would get from loyal northern states in the forthcoming election.
5. Diezani’s N10 billion chartered Jet scandal
This is one scandalous affair involving the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke that is inevitably rubbing off on President Jonathan because of what has been widely accepted as the president’s protective umbrella over the embattled minister.
Since the oil subsidy protests in early 2012, there has been intense focus on alleged corrupt practices in the petroleum sector and calls for the president to sack Mrs Madueke. The calls remain unabated, and have now been heightened, as the president goes into the 2015 election year, by allegations that she had spent not less than N10 billion on chartered jets on international trips.
The House of Representatives has stated its intention to probe the alleged N10 billion maintenance crew allowances and hanger costs of the minister’s private jet issue within the last two years. The House alleged the minister had incurred not less than N3 billion cost on maintenance of the jet, “which is used solely for her personal needs and those of her immediate family.”
Mrs. Madueke’s efforts to use the court to stop the probe efforts have been in futility so far as the court has directed the legislators to go on with the probe. The embattled minister was reported to have said only an approval by President Jonathan can make her appear before the legislators. Would that approval come as the president battles his image and credibility problem ahead of 2015?
6. The power sector problem
From today, electricity consumers are expected to start paying higher tariffs, plus the compulsory monthly fixed charge of between N700 and N800 that they must pay the new private power suppliers that just bought the new power generating companies (GENCOs), whether those companies supply electricity or not.
Bodies like the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have kicked against the new tariffs, saying it was exploitative and oppressive since power supply has become more erratic rather than improve in the hands of the GENCOs. As has always been the case, the Jonathan administration, critics say, is compelling consumers to pay for a service not being rendered.
Power supply has always been a campaign issue during elections, but the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has always got away with subduing the opposition despite its inability to fix the problem since 1999 that it has been in control at the centre. With the opposition more threatening than ever going into the 2015 elections and power supply below the rhetoric, President Jonathan will have the power supply problem to contend with in the next one year. Can he effect any remarkable improvement in power supply before the election?
7. Missing $20 billion oil money
There was a somewhat positive development last week in the president, Alison-Madueke and the NNPC’s favour on the lingering allegation of a missing sum of $20 billion oil money from the coffers of the Federation Account. Suspended Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had raised dust last September alleging the NNPC didn’t remit $49.8 billion oil proceeds between January 2012 and July 2013. The amount was further reconciled down to $20 billion.
The Senate committee chairman on Finance, Ahmed Makarfi was reported as saying last Wednesday that the committee’s investigations confirmed no money was missing and cleared the NNPC of any guilt. But a member of the committee, Senator Bukola Saraki was quick to say the committee had done no such clearance.
The alleged huge missing money remains an albatross for President Jonathan, whose administration is battling condemnation from local critics, and international leaders and media as ‘corrupt’. This is one ‘headache’ the president would have to resolve fast before campaigns for the 2015 elections start and it becomes a possible effective weapon in the hands of his political opponents. The Federal Government has promised a forensic audit into NNPC accounts. Perhaps, a clean bill from the foreign forensic experts would give the president a breather.
8. Dwindling foreign reserves
President Jonathan may also have to worry about the falling fortunes of Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves. The reserves further declined from $38.14bn in April to $37.14bn to last month. A year ago, the reserves were $48.41 billion, an $11.27 billion (23.28%) fall.
There is widespread fear that as the reserves and the equally receding Excess Crude Account dwindle, the Central Bank of Nigeria may be forced to devalue the Naira. For an economy that is majorly import-independent, the effects on inflation are not unexpected. This will be a challenge for the president to confront in an election period. How he handles it so the opposition doesn’t manipulate it to its disadvantage remains to be seen.
9. Lagos/Ibadan expressway
Like other major projects embarked upon by the Federal Government in the geopolitical zones of the country, the Lagos/Ibadan expressway project promises to be a major campaign issue either in favour or against the ruling PDP in 2015 elections in the South-West. Earlier this year, the Federal Government summoned the necessary political will to award the N167 billion Lagos-Ibadan Expressway contracts to Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) Limited. It had earlier entered into concession agreement with Messrs Bi-Courtney in 2009. The 127.6-kilometre expressway traverses three South-Western states of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo.
President Jonathan, during the contract award ceremony, said the reconstruction of the road was to accelerate economic development of the South-West and Nigeria.
“Let me appreciate Nigerians, especially more than the 50 per cent users of the key economic players in the South-West from Lagos to Oyo State that use this road for the pains witnessed over this period,” he said.
The pains would only be assuaged if the President keeps to his promise and by extension this would certainly have an impact on his re-election bid.
10. Ekiti/Osun elections
As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prepares to conduct the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun, the cases of violence and killings which have shrouded political rallies for the election slated for June 21 and August 9 respectively in the two states have become a major cause of worry for many Nigerians and the international communities. The United States two weeks ago said the conduct of the governorship elections in the two states would set the standard for the 2015 general elections in the country.
The US Consular General, Jeffrey Hawkins, who was in Ado-Ekiti to attend a sensitization workshop for political parties, candidates and stakeholders ahead of the governorship election in Ekiti State, said “the world is watching this election just like the world will be watching in 2015.”
Hawkins said that Nigerian electoral process is as good as Nigeria makes it, adding that Nigerians want and desire peaceful and credible election in Ekiti and Osun. “Please, do everything in your powers to meet these expectations,” he said. He said his country was troubled by reports of violence, threats and intimidation at political rallies in the states.
The recent statement attributed to Vice-President Namadi Sambo makes it therefore very urgent to warn President Goodluck Jonathan against making a grave mistake that will undoubtedly prove fatal to his prospects for re-election next year.
11. APC’s growing influence
The growing influence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) might be causing a source of discomfort for the ruling PDP. Since its formation from the merging parties, the party has benefited from a wave of mass defections of PDP lawmakers in both House of Representatives and the Senate shortly after five of its governors left to join APC. The defection at a point made the PDP to lose its majority in the House of Representatives to the APC but it was not long before it regained control of the House when some of its defected lawmakers returned to its fold.
With recent happenings in the country, particularly the growing issue of insurgency which seems to have overwhelmed the ruling party, the APC might have an edge over the PDP in the political equation of the country. A chieftain of PDP and its former National Treasurer, Engineer Bala Muhammed Kaoje in an exclusive interview attested to this. He told Sunday Trust that except the president addressed some of the hanging issues on security, insurgency, the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, corruption and others his political fortunes and that of the party might suffer. “Definitely, this will affect our party. I think the president and the party have to respond to these things quickly if we want to win election next year”, he said.
12. Foreign Intervention
The abduction of over 200 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State has led to international concerns over the safety and the possible freedom of the missing girls. This led to the international superpowers like USA, Britain, France, China, Israel, and of recent African countries like Cameroon, Niger and Ghana saying they were on red alert in the case of the spread of the Boko Haram to their countries.
USA sent seven personnel and said they will only assist with intelligence gathering and not in combat operations. Britain experts are being expected, while France, China and Israel are not to be involved in field operations.
However, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda said it is sad for Nigeria and Africans to run to France for their internal conflicts saying: “We must take responsibility and accept our failures in dealing with the matters. Why should anybody wait for that, what image does it give to Africa? It does not make sense that our leaders cannot get themselves together to address the problem affecting our people. It is the responsibilities of leaders to resolve their problems but if they cannot resolve it they can call on their neighbors to assist in resolving the issue. We do not need to be invited anywhere to go and address our problems”, he said.
Beyond this, how the foreign powers would operate in the country matters a lot. The fear has been expressed that it will be too risky to allow foreign troops in the country, as previous examples have proved that these troops, for economic reason, may not leave our shores quickly. Whatever happens, therefore, in the next few weeks or months in this regard could affect the president’s rating.
13. Image Question:
It was reported recently that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration signed a contract of $800 million dollars with a foreign Public Relations firm to shore up its perception. Though this has been denied by Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati, the fact that the issue came up at all indicated that this government has an image problem. The United States officials have variously slammed the Jonathan administration for being very corrupt. But beyond corruption, the mishandling of the insurgency gave the impression that the leadership is inept. The fight against corruption has been lost, no thanks to low budgetary allocation to the EFCC and ICPC. Ministers in this administration have been openly accused of corruption, but the president seems to treat the issue with kid gloves. For this perception to change, the president needs to take drastic steps, like jailing ministers in government and tackling the insurgency with tact to achieve results. But this may not be achieved, believe the Ethiopian cannot change his skin.
14. Kidnapping:
The number of Nigerians being kidnapped from North to South has been on the increase, to the point that only recently three Dutch nationals on a humanitarian visit to Nigeria were kidnapped in Bayelsa State. The situation is very severe, especially in the Niger Delta and South-East region, but the Boko Haram insurgency seems to have overshadowed its gravity. In these regions, kidnapping has become a trade. The trend has crept into the North Central States. At the weekend, the Registrar of the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State was kidnapped. The rate of unemployment may have contributed to this trend, and as long as government has continued to pay lip service to the issue of employment for youths, it could thrive. The president would need to come up with an appropriate scheme to deal with the situation, else it would dovetail into the next dispensation.
15.What Jonathan does with confab report
The ongoing National Conference convened with the aim of addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic and political challenges, especially as they pose a threat to the corporate existence of the country, presents another litmus test for President Jonathan ahead of the 2015 general elections.
While inaugurating the confab which had been long anticipated, Jonathan urged the 492 delegates to focus on innovative ideas that will make the nation move forward by concentrating on issues that will make the nation stronger, emphasising that the focus of discussion should be on sustaining the progress already made and what will make the nation stronger.
Not a few skeptics have expressed their reservations on the implementation of the conference recommendations especially against the backdrop of the fact that similar outcomes arising from previous conferences were not allowed to see the light of day. There have also been arguments as to whether or not the outcome of the conference should be subjected to a national referendum or be subject to endorsement of the National Assembly.
Whichever the case may be, Nigerians would be waiting with bated breath for President Jonathan’s political will to implement the recommendations arising from the confab. This will certainly impact on his chances at re-election in 2015 as it will definitely form an issue for campaign even from the opposition who are also skeptical of the conference.
1. Chibok schoogirls abduction
Perhaps, the most daunting challenge before President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 election is the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls at Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State by the Boko Haram insurgents 48 days ago. Certainly Jonathan is racing against time on the rescuing students. The incident, which occurred on April 14, has attracted national and international condemnation thereby drawing global focus on the country, especially with respect to rescue efforts. The United States of America led in the promise to help the girls, followed by Britain, China and Israel. They have sent teams of counter-terrorism officials and other specialists to Nigeria. In spite of all these, the schoolgirls remain in the grips of the insurgents who have threatened to sell them off if their demand for swapping them with their detained members was not met. This has certainly posed a serious challenge to the presidents especially with the groundswell of protests and campaigns from rights groups and others for the safe rescue of the girls.
For observers, therefore, it is incumbent on President Jonathan to deploy all efforts at rescuing the abducted girls as anything short of this would adversely affect the performance rating of his government, especially in securing the lives and property of Nigerians. By extension, this would be an issue over his re-election fortune, should he decide to seek another term in 2015. This is because analysts believe it is not enough that the insecurity challenge generally would be a campaign issue in the 2015 presidential election. The freedom of the abducted girls is sure to assume a major campaign point for or against the president.
2. Boko Haram insurgency
Linked with the need to secure the release of the young girls from the clutches of the Boko Haram sect is the seemingly intractable insurgency. What started like a political campaign to destabilize the Jonathan administration has festered for four years on, with no solution in sight. As the president said in Paris three weeks ago, over 12,000 Nigerians have been killed in this insurgency. Unfortunately, the declarations of a state of emergency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, and the massive deployment of some 20,000 soldiers have not brought an end to the insurgency. In the last three years of this administration, some N4.1 trillion has been voted for the military, ostensibly in an attempt to tackle the insecurity. But not much progress has been made.
As the president begins his last year of his tenure, the insurgency issue would be a nagging headache. Apart from tainting his achievements in the last three years, if he seeks re-election for the 2015, the insurgency would be a veritable campaign instrument in the hands of the opposition. It is believed that the president miscalculated when he accepted the conspiracy theory that the sect was sponsored to destabilize his government. Now, he may have to change his approach by taking the path of dialogue and related schemes, else the insurgency could make or mar his records and 2015 ambition.
3. Herders/farmers conflict
Another serious challenge before President Jonathan as he ends his tenure year is the incessant clashes between Fulani cattle grazers and farmers in many parts of the country. Despite peace-mending efforts and professed security measures, killings have continued in the affected states unabated, leading to loss of lives and property.
Resolving the Fulani herders/farmers question is, therefore, an issue that President Jonathan cannot ignore if his perceived ambition to seek another mandate from the people in 2015 is anything to go by. Although Jonathan inherited the problem, he would certainly derive electoral benefit from it if he succeeds in nipping it in the bud. The North-Central zone, for instance, constitutes a strong factor in his electoral fortunes and leaving it in the mire of communal conflagration would certainly not do him well if he decides to seek re-election.
4. Choice of Jonathan’s running mate
There has been the controversy over whether or not President Jonathan would retain his vice, Namadi Sambo as his running mate, should he decide to seek re-election in 2015 or opt for a new one. Consequently there has been a reported plot by Jonathan to dump Sambo.
The plot is said to be the brainchild of some political heavyweights who believe that for the PDP to make the desired impact in the forthcoming election, it must have a presidential running mate that is widely acceptable across the regions. In their view, therefore, Sambo, is too far removed from the realities of the politics of the North and is incapable of either addressing the issues or galvanising support for Jonathan ahead of the 2015 election.
Those who are reportedly behind the plot to drop Sambo are said to be political heavyweights that include some retired but influential Army generals from the region, emirs and an ex-president who is pushing for Lamido.
Those being touted as possible replacement for Sambo are Aliyu Babangida of Niger State, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi and Ibrahim Shema of Katsina. Although Jonathan is yet to make a pronouncement over this, analysts believe that how he resolves the issue of his running mate would either make or mar his chances of re-election in 2015, as it could determine the level of support he would get from loyal northern states in the forthcoming election.
5. Diezani’s N10 billion chartered Jet scandal
This is one scandalous affair involving the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke that is inevitably rubbing off on President Jonathan because of what has been widely accepted as the president’s protective umbrella over the embattled minister.
Since the oil subsidy protests in early 2012, there has been intense focus on alleged corrupt practices in the petroleum sector and calls for the president to sack Mrs Madueke. The calls remain unabated, and have now been heightened, as the president goes into the 2015 election year, by allegations that she had spent not less than N10 billion on chartered jets on international trips.
The House of Representatives has stated its intention to probe the alleged N10 billion maintenance crew allowances and hanger costs of the minister’s private jet issue within the last two years. The House alleged the minister had incurred not less than N3 billion cost on maintenance of the jet, “which is used solely for her personal needs and those of her immediate family.”
Mrs. Madueke’s efforts to use the court to stop the probe efforts have been in futility so far as the court has directed the legislators to go on with the probe. The embattled minister was reported to have said only an approval by President Jonathan can make her appear before the legislators. Would that approval come as the president battles his image and credibility problem ahead of 2015?
6. The power sector problem
From today, electricity consumers are expected to start paying higher tariffs, plus the compulsory monthly fixed charge of between N700 and N800 that they must pay the new private power suppliers that just bought the new power generating companies (GENCOs), whether those companies supply electricity or not.
Bodies like the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have kicked against the new tariffs, saying it was exploitative and oppressive since power supply has become more erratic rather than improve in the hands of the GENCOs. As has always been the case, the Jonathan administration, critics say, is compelling consumers to pay for a service not being rendered.
Power supply has always been a campaign issue during elections, but the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has always got away with subduing the opposition despite its inability to fix the problem since 1999 that it has been in control at the centre. With the opposition more threatening than ever going into the 2015 elections and power supply below the rhetoric, President Jonathan will have the power supply problem to contend with in the next one year. Can he effect any remarkable improvement in power supply before the election?
7. Missing $20 billion oil money
There was a somewhat positive development last week in the president, Alison-Madueke and the NNPC’s favour on the lingering allegation of a missing sum of $20 billion oil money from the coffers of the Federation Account. Suspended Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had raised dust last September alleging the NNPC didn’t remit $49.8 billion oil proceeds between January 2012 and July 2013. The amount was further reconciled down to $20 billion.
The Senate committee chairman on Finance, Ahmed Makarfi was reported as saying last Wednesday that the committee’s investigations confirmed no money was missing and cleared the NNPC of any guilt. But a member of the committee, Senator Bukola Saraki was quick to say the committee had done no such clearance.
The alleged huge missing money remains an albatross for President Jonathan, whose administration is battling condemnation from local critics, and international leaders and media as ‘corrupt’. This is one ‘headache’ the president would have to resolve fast before campaigns for the 2015 elections start and it becomes a possible effective weapon in the hands of his political opponents. The Federal Government has promised a forensic audit into NNPC accounts. Perhaps, a clean bill from the foreign forensic experts would give the president a breather.
8. Dwindling foreign reserves
President Jonathan may also have to worry about the falling fortunes of Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves. The reserves further declined from $38.14bn in April to $37.14bn to last month. A year ago, the reserves were $48.41 billion, an $11.27 billion (23.28%) fall.
There is widespread fear that as the reserves and the equally receding Excess Crude Account dwindle, the Central Bank of Nigeria may be forced to devalue the Naira. For an economy that is majorly import-independent, the effects on inflation are not unexpected. This will be a challenge for the president to confront in an election period. How he handles it so the opposition doesn’t manipulate it to its disadvantage remains to be seen.
9. Lagos/Ibadan expressway
Like other major projects embarked upon by the Federal Government in the geopolitical zones of the country, the Lagos/Ibadan expressway project promises to be a major campaign issue either in favour or against the ruling PDP in 2015 elections in the South-West. Earlier this year, the Federal Government summoned the necessary political will to award the N167 billion Lagos-Ibadan Expressway contracts to Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) Limited. It had earlier entered into concession agreement with Messrs Bi-Courtney in 2009. The 127.6-kilometre expressway traverses three South-Western states of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo.
President Jonathan, during the contract award ceremony, said the reconstruction of the road was to accelerate economic development of the South-West and Nigeria.
“Let me appreciate Nigerians, especially more than the 50 per cent users of the key economic players in the South-West from Lagos to Oyo State that use this road for the pains witnessed over this period,” he said.
The pains would only be assuaged if the President keeps to his promise and by extension this would certainly have an impact on his re-election bid.
10. Ekiti/Osun elections
As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prepares to conduct the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun, the cases of violence and killings which have shrouded political rallies for the election slated for June 21 and August 9 respectively in the two states have become a major cause of worry for many Nigerians and the international communities. The United States two weeks ago said the conduct of the governorship elections in the two states would set the standard for the 2015 general elections in the country.
The US Consular General, Jeffrey Hawkins, who was in Ado-Ekiti to attend a sensitization workshop for political parties, candidates and stakeholders ahead of the governorship election in Ekiti State, said “the world is watching this election just like the world will be watching in 2015.”
Hawkins said that Nigerian electoral process is as good as Nigeria makes it, adding that Nigerians want and desire peaceful and credible election in Ekiti and Osun. “Please, do everything in your powers to meet these expectations,” he said. He said his country was troubled by reports of violence, threats and intimidation at political rallies in the states.
The recent statement attributed to Vice-President Namadi Sambo makes it therefore very urgent to warn President Goodluck Jonathan against making a grave mistake that will undoubtedly prove fatal to his prospects for re-election next year.
11. APC’s growing influence
The growing influence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) might be causing a source of discomfort for the ruling PDP. Since its formation from the merging parties, the party has benefited from a wave of mass defections of PDP lawmakers in both House of Representatives and the Senate shortly after five of its governors left to join APC. The defection at a point made the PDP to lose its majority in the House of Representatives to the APC but it was not long before it regained control of the House when some of its defected lawmakers returned to its fold.
With recent happenings in the country, particularly the growing issue of insurgency which seems to have overwhelmed the ruling party, the APC might have an edge over the PDP in the political equation of the country. A chieftain of PDP and its former National Treasurer, Engineer Bala Muhammed Kaoje in an exclusive interview attested to this. He told Sunday Trust that except the president addressed some of the hanging issues on security, insurgency, the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, corruption and others his political fortunes and that of the party might suffer. “Definitely, this will affect our party. I think the president and the party have to respond to these things quickly if we want to win election next year”, he said.
12. Foreign Intervention
The abduction of over 200 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State has led to international concerns over the safety and the possible freedom of the missing girls. This led to the international superpowers like USA, Britain, France, China, Israel, and of recent African countries like Cameroon, Niger and Ghana saying they were on red alert in the case of the spread of the Boko Haram to their countries.
USA sent seven personnel and said they will only assist with intelligence gathering and not in combat operations. Britain experts are being expected, while France, China and Israel are not to be involved in field operations.
However, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda said it is sad for Nigeria and Africans to run to France for their internal conflicts saying: “We must take responsibility and accept our failures in dealing with the matters. Why should anybody wait for that, what image does it give to Africa? It does not make sense that our leaders cannot get themselves together to address the problem affecting our people. It is the responsibilities of leaders to resolve their problems but if they cannot resolve it they can call on their neighbors to assist in resolving the issue. We do not need to be invited anywhere to go and address our problems”, he said.
Beyond this, how the foreign powers would operate in the country matters a lot. The fear has been expressed that it will be too risky to allow foreign troops in the country, as previous examples have proved that these troops, for economic reason, may not leave our shores quickly. Whatever happens, therefore, in the next few weeks or months in this regard could affect the president’s rating.
13. Image Question:
It was reported recently that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration signed a contract of $800 million dollars with a foreign Public Relations firm to shore up its perception. Though this has been denied by Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati, the fact that the issue came up at all indicated that this government has an image problem. The United States officials have variously slammed the Jonathan administration for being very corrupt. But beyond corruption, the mishandling of the insurgency gave the impression that the leadership is inept. The fight against corruption has been lost, no thanks to low budgetary allocation to the EFCC and ICPC. Ministers in this administration have been openly accused of corruption, but the president seems to treat the issue with kid gloves. For this perception to change, the president needs to take drastic steps, like jailing ministers in government and tackling the insurgency with tact to achieve results. But this may not be achieved, believe the Ethiopian cannot change his skin.
14. Kidnapping:
The number of Nigerians being kidnapped from North to South has been on the increase, to the point that only recently three Dutch nationals on a humanitarian visit to Nigeria were kidnapped in Bayelsa State. The situation is very severe, especially in the Niger Delta and South-East region, but the Boko Haram insurgency seems to have overshadowed its gravity. In these regions, kidnapping has become a trade. The trend has crept into the North Central States. At the weekend, the Registrar of the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State was kidnapped. The rate of unemployment may have contributed to this trend, and as long as government has continued to pay lip service to the issue of employment for youths, it could thrive. The president would need to come up with an appropriate scheme to deal with the situation, else it would dovetail into the next dispensation.
15.What Jonathan does with confab report
The ongoing National Conference convened with the aim of addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic and political challenges, especially as they pose a threat to the corporate existence of the country, presents another litmus test for President Jonathan ahead of the 2015 general elections.
While inaugurating the confab which had been long anticipated, Jonathan urged the 492 delegates to focus on innovative ideas that will make the nation move forward by concentrating on issues that will make the nation stronger, emphasising that the focus of discussion should be on sustaining the progress already made and what will make the nation stronger.
Not a few skeptics have expressed their reservations on the implementation of the conference recommendations especially against the backdrop of the fact that similar outcomes arising from previous conferences were not allowed to see the light of day. There have also been arguments as to whether or not the outcome of the conference should be subjected to a national referendum or be subject to endorsement of the National Assembly.
Whichever the case may be, Nigerians would be waiting with bated breath for President Jonathan’s political will to implement the recommendations arising from the confab. This will certainly impact on his chances at re-election in 2015 as it will definitely form an issue for campaign even from the opposition who are also skeptical of the conference.
Saturday 31 May 2014
Jonathan lived in denial, acted slowly to #BringBackOurGirls – Obasanjo
“The president did not believe that those girls were abducted for almost 18 days,” — Mr. Obasanjo.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan lived in denial about the abducted Chibok schoolgirls for more than two weeks, withholding valuable decisions that would have led to the rescue of the girls, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said.
The former president said this in an interview with Bloomberg TV Africa, aired on Saturday.
“The president did not believe that those girls were abducted for almost 18 days,” Mr. Obasanjo said in the interview. “If the president got the information within 12 hours of the act and he reacted immediately, I believe those girls would have been rescued within 24 hours, maximum 48 hours.”
Mr. Obasanjo said that rather than spring into action after receiving briefings about the abduction, “the president had doubts.”
He said the president’s initial action was to ask: “‘Is this true, or is it a ploy by people who don’t want me to be president again?’”
President Jonathan’s lethargic approach to the kidnapping was the “most unfortunate aspect of the whole issue,” the former president said.
The insurgent group, Boko Haram, kidnapped over 250 schoolgirls from their hostels in Government Secondary School Chibok, in the early hours of April 14, but President Jonathan only acknowledged it 20 days later, after international pressures mounted, ahead of the World Economic Forum for Africa.
The president first spoke about the abduction in a media chat where he blamed the parents of the schoolgirls for not volunteering information about the victims and the incident.
Mr. Obasanjo, who is currently in talks with mediators to help free the victims, said an equal lethargy by President Jonathan greeted his earlier efforts to end the insurgency three years ago.
Boko Haram, whose name means “western education is sin,” is thought to be waging a violent campaign to impose Islamic law in most of Northern Nigeria.
More than 4,000 people have been killed in the campaign since it started in 2009, with the highest number of killings occurring this year alone.
The Boko Haram insurgency has also been explained as political, especially by members of the President Jonathan administration, who often argue the group was set up to “destabilize” the regime, even though the group’s history pre-dates the current government.
In his Democracy Day speech, the president said he has ordered security forces to “launch a full-scale operation” and use any lawful means to defeat the group.
Mr. Obasanjo’s criticism of President Jonathan’s style is the second in less than one year.
In December, he wrote the president an 18-page letter where he accused Mr. Jonathan of serving the ethnic interests of his native Ijaw people and fostering divisions between the largely Muslim north and the Christian south in a bid to win re-election in 2015.
“I don’t believe he has performed to the expectations of many Nigerians, not just me,” Mr. Obasanjo said in the Bloomberg interview.
Watch the interview here: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9fkAKQf1O5k
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan lived in denial about the abducted Chibok schoolgirls for more than two weeks, withholding valuable decisions that would have led to the rescue of the girls, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said.
The former president said this in an interview with Bloomberg TV Africa, aired on Saturday.
“The president did not believe that those girls were abducted for almost 18 days,” Mr. Obasanjo said in the interview. “If the president got the information within 12 hours of the act and he reacted immediately, I believe those girls would have been rescued within 24 hours, maximum 48 hours.”
Mr. Obasanjo said that rather than spring into action after receiving briefings about the abduction, “the president had doubts.”
He said the president’s initial action was to ask: “‘Is this true, or is it a ploy by people who don’t want me to be president again?’”
President Jonathan’s lethargic approach to the kidnapping was the “most unfortunate aspect of the whole issue,” the former president said.
The insurgent group, Boko Haram, kidnapped over 250 schoolgirls from their hostels in Government Secondary School Chibok, in the early hours of April 14, but President Jonathan only acknowledged it 20 days later, after international pressures mounted, ahead of the World Economic Forum for Africa.
The president first spoke about the abduction in a media chat where he blamed the parents of the schoolgirls for not volunteering information about the victims and the incident.
Mr. Obasanjo, who is currently in talks with mediators to help free the victims, said an equal lethargy by President Jonathan greeted his earlier efforts to end the insurgency three years ago.
Boko Haram, whose name means “western education is sin,” is thought to be waging a violent campaign to impose Islamic law in most of Northern Nigeria.
More than 4,000 people have been killed in the campaign since it started in 2009, with the highest number of killings occurring this year alone.
The Boko Haram insurgency has also been explained as political, especially by members of the President Jonathan administration, who often argue the group was set up to “destabilize” the regime, even though the group’s history pre-dates the current government.
In his Democracy Day speech, the president said he has ordered security forces to “launch a full-scale operation” and use any lawful means to defeat the group.
Mr. Obasanjo’s criticism of President Jonathan’s style is the second in less than one year.
In December, he wrote the president an 18-page letter where he accused Mr. Jonathan of serving the ethnic interests of his native Ijaw people and fostering divisions between the largely Muslim north and the Christian south in a bid to win re-election in 2015.
“I don’t believe he has performed to the expectations of many Nigerians, not just me,” Mr. Obasanjo said in the Bloomberg interview.
Watch the interview here: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9fkAKQf1O5k
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