THE INAUGURAL SPEECH OF PRESIDENT BUHARI AFTER HIS SWEARING On 29 May 2015.
THE INAUGURAL SPEECH OF PRESIDENT BUHARI AFTER HIS SWEARING On 29 May 2015.
Inaugural speech by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari following his swearing-in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29th May, 2015
I am immensely grateful to God Who Has preserved us to witness this day and this occasion. Today marks a triumph for Nigeria and an occasion to celebrate her freedom and cherish her democracy. Nigerians have shown their commitment to democracy and are determined to entrench its culture. Our journey has not been easy but thanks to the determination of our people and strong support from friends abroad we have today a truly democratically elected government in place.
I would like to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his display of statesmanship in setting a precedent for us that has now made our people proud to be Nigerians wherever they are. With the support and cooperation he has given to the transition process, he has made it possible for us to show the world that despite the perceived tension in the land we can be a united people capable of doing what is right for our nation. Together we co-operated to surprise the world that had come to expect only the worst from Nigeria. I hope this act of graciously accepting defeat by the outgoing President will become the standard of political conduct in the country.
I would like to thank the millions of our supporters who believed in us even when the cause seemed hopeless. I salute their resolve in waiting long hours in rain and hot sunshine to register and cast their votes and stay all night if necessary to protect and ensure their votes count and were counted. I thank those who tirelessly carried the campaign on the social media. At the same time, I thank our other countrymen and women who did not vote for us but contributed to make our democratic culture truly competitive, strong and definitive.
I thank all of you.
Having just a few minutes ago sworn on the Holy Book, I intend to keep my oath and serve as President to all Nigerians.
I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.
A few people have privately voiced fears that on coming back to office I shall go after them. These fears are groundless. There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prologue.
Our neighbours in the Sub-region and our African brethenen should rest assured that Nigeria under our administration will be ready to play any leadership role that Africa expects of it. Here I would like to thank the governments and people of Cameroon, Chad and Niger for committing their armed forces to fight Boko Haram in Nigeria.
I also wish to assure the wider international community of our readiness to cooperate and help to combat threats of cross-border terrorism, sea piracy, refugees and boat people, financial crime, cyber crime, climate change, the spread of communicable diseases and other challenges of the 21st century.
At home we face enormous challenges. Insecurity, pervasive corruption, the hitherto unending and seemingly impossible fuel and power shortages are the immediate concerns. We are going to tackle them head on. Nigerians will not regret that they have entrusted national responsibility to us. We must not succumb to hopelessness and defeatism. We can fix our problems.
In recent times Nigerian leaders appear to have misread our mission. Our founding fathers, Mr Herbert Macauley, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Malam Aminu Kano, Chief J.S. Tarka, Mr Eyo Ita, Chief Denis Osadeby, Chief Ladoke Akintola and their colleagues worked to establish certain standards of governance. They might have differed in their methods or tactics or details, but they were united in establishing a viable and progressive country. Some of their successors behaved like spoilt children breaking everything and bringing disorder to the house.
Furthermore, we as Nigerians must remind ourselves that we are heirs to great civilizations: Shehu Othman Dan fodio’s caliphate, the Kanem Borno Empire, the Oyo Empire, the Benin Empire and King Jaja’s formidable domain. The blood of those great ancestors flow in our veins. What is now required is to build on these legacies, to modernize and uplift Nigeria.
Daunting as the task may be it is by no means insurmountable. There is now a national consensus that our chosen route to national development is democracy. To achieve our objectives we must consciously work the democratic system. The Federal Executive under my watch will not seek to encroach on the duties and functions of the Legislative and Judicial arms of government. The law enforcing authorities will be charged to operate within the Constitution. We shall rebuild and reform the public service to become more effective and more serviceable. We shall charge them to apply themselves with integrity to stabilize the system.
For their part the legislative arm must keep to their brief of making laws, carrying out over-sight functions and doing so expeditiously. The judicial system needs reform to cleanse itself from its immediate past. The country now expects the judiciary to act with dispatch on all cases especially on corruption, serious financial crimes or abuse of office. It is only when the three arms act constitutionally that government will be enabled to serve the country optimally and avoid the confusion all too often bedeviling governance today.
Elsewhere relations between Abuja and the States have to be clarified if we are to serve the country better. Constitutionally there are limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments. Not least the operations of the Local Government Joint Account. While the Federal Government can not interfere in the details of its operations it will ensure that the gross corruption at the local level is checked. As far as the constitution allows me I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country. For I will not have kept my own trust with the Nigerian people if I allow others abuse theirs under my watch.
However, no matter how well organized the governments of the federation are they can not succeed without the support, understanding and cooperation of labour unions, organized private sector, the press and civil society organizations. I appeal to employers and workers alike to unite in raising productivity so that everybody will have the opportunity to share in increased prosperity. The Nigerian press is the most vibrant in Africa. My appeal to the media today – and this includes the social media – is to exercise its considerable powers with responsibility and patriotism.
My appeal for unity is predicated on the seriousness of the legacy we are getting into. With depleted foreign reserves, falling oil prices, leakages and debts the Nigerian economy is in deep trouble and will require careful management to bring it round and to tackle the immediate challenges confronting us, namely; Boko Haram, the Niger Delta situation, the power shortages and unemployment especially among young people. For the longer term we have to improve the standards of our education. We have to look at the whole field of medicare. We have to upgrade our dilapidated physical infrastructure.
The most immediate is Boko Haram’s insurgency. Progress has been made in recent weeks by our security forces but victory can not be achieved by basing the Command and Control Centre in Abuja. The command centre will be relocated to Maiduguri and remain until Boko Haram is completely subdued. But we can not claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents.
This government will do all it can to rescue them alive. Boko Haram is a typical example of small fires causing large fires. An eccentric and unorthodox preacher with a tiny following was given posthumous fame and following by his extra judicial murder at the hands of the police. Since then through official bungling, negligence, complacency or collusion Boko Haram became a terrifying force taking tens of thousands of lives and capturing several towns and villages covering swathes of Nigerian sovereign territory.
Boko Haram is a mindless, godless group who are as far away from Islam as one can think of. At the end of the hostilities when the group is subdued the Government intends to commission a sociological study to determine its origins, remote and immediate causes of the movement, its sponsors, the international connexions to ensure that measures are taken to prevent a reccurrence of this evil. For now the Armed Forces will be fully charged with prosecuting the fight against Boko haram. We shall overhaul the rules of engagement to avoid human rights violations in operations. We shall improve operational and legal mechanisms so that disciplinary steps are taken against proven human right violations by the Armed Forces.
Boko Haram is not only the security issue bedeviling our country. The spate of kidnappings, armed robberies, herdsmen/farmers clashes, cattle rustlings all help to add to the general air of insecurity in our land. We are going to erect and maintain an efficient, disciplined people – friendly and well – compensated security forces within an over – all security architecture.
The amnesty programme in the Niger Delta is due to end in December, but the Government intends to invest heavily in the projects, and programmes currently in place. I call on the leadership and people in these areas to cooperate with the State and Federal Government in the rehabilitation programmes which will be streamlined and made more effective. As ever, I am ready to listen to grievances of my fellow Nigerians. I extend my hand of fellowship to them so that we can bring peace and build prosperity for our people.
No single cause can be identified to explain Nigerian’s poor economic performance over the years than the power situation. It is a national shame that an economy of 180 million generates only 4,000MW, and distributes even less. Continuous tinkering with the structures of power supply and distribution and close on $20b expanded since 1999 have only brought darkness, frustration, misery, and resignation among Nigerians. We will not allow this to go on. Careful studies are under way during this transition to identify the quickest, safest and most cost-effective way to bring light and relief to Nigerians.
Unemployment, notably youth un-employment features strongly in our Party’s Manifesto. We intend to attack the problem frontally through revival of agriculture, solid minerals mining as well as credits to small and medium size businesses to kick – start these enterprises. We shall quickly examine the best way to revive major industries and accelerate the revival and development of our railways, roads and general infrastructure.
Your Excellencies, My fellow Nigerians I can not recall when Nigeria enjoyed so much goodwill abroad as now. The messages I received from East and West, from powerful and small countries are indicative of international expectations on us. At home the newly elected government is basking in a reservoir of goodwill and high expectations. Nigeria therefore has a window of opportunity to fulfill our long – standing potential of pulling ourselves together and realizing our mission as a great nation.
Our situation somehow reminds one of a passage in Shakespeare’s Julius Ceasar
There is a tide in the affairs of men which,
taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life,
Is bound in shallows and miseries.
We have an opportunity. Let us take it.
Thank you
How APC governors facilitated Buhari’s election By nRAZAQ BAMIDELE
How APC governors facilitated Buhari’s election
By RAZAQ BAMIDELE (Page 50/ Sun Newspaper, May 26, 2015).
As Nigerians look forward to the inauguration of an opposition-led Federal Government for the first time in the country, it would not be out of place to trace the genesis of the events that culminated in that feat.
In retrospect, the roles played by governors under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot be over-emphasised. It is on record that the APC governors played a prominent role in the merger that led to the formation of the mega party–APC. As a matter of fact, the merger arrangement were muted and promoted by the governors using their networks through the famous Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), to reach out to other colleagues in the other parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in late 2011.
In addition to that, the formation of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), a platform for opposition governors played a significant role in strengthening the alliance. It is an open secret that the seed that germinated and grew to form the PGF was sown by the trio of Abdulaziz Yari, of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) from Zamfara State; Alhaji Tanko Almakura of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), from Nassarawa State and Dr John Kayode Fayemi (JKF), of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Ekiti State.
The trio, no doubt, were the arrowheads of the PGF in their respective political parties then and with time, the alliance was solidified to become a fertile ground for the new alliance to germinate.
It is on record that the PGF’s first meeting was held in Lagos on February 5, 2013 and hosted by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Raji fashola (SAN). By extension, the PGF as a power bloc in the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) played a significant role in strengthening the Forum as a formidable force capable of challenging the ruling PDP. It was through their growing influence that they were able to determine the direction of the NGF’s last election where Governor Amaechi of Rivers State defeated Jonah Jang of Plateau State who was the Presidency’s adopted candidate for the position. Although the Jang faction later formed a parallel NGF, it was obvious that 
the PGF had used that singular election to test its strength and make a statement.
Kayode Fayemi’s managerial ability was brought to the fore when he served as Amaechi’s Canpaign Manager at the election. And in the bid to canvass for Ameachi’s re-election as NGF chair, the campaign team entered into alliance with some PDP governors, especially the G7.
Two events were remarkable in the conduct of the NGF election: The use of telephone jammer, a device which was installed in the venue of the election and which jammed every telephone line within 50 meters radius at the venue. Through this the Presidency could not get in touch with the governors and as such could not influence their decision. None of the governors could be reached on phone once they entered the premises of the election. And the recording of the proceedings of the election and the leakage of the video to the public also helped the pro-Amaechi governors.
Interestingly however, one of the governors who did the recording with his telephone’s camera device did so just to catch fun. But immediately the pro-Jang governors left the venue and started granting interviews that the election never took place, the video footings became handy as a major tool. The video was downloaded by the governor and made available to the public. The revelation from the video helped to debunk claims by Governor Olusegun Mimiko and other pro-Jang governors that the election never held. The video showed the process of the election, the counting and the eventual declaration of Amaechi as winner. The decision of the then President Jonathan to back the Jang-led faction also boomeranged because of the revelation of the video. The video also helped some governors to openly identify with Amaechi once it was realised that their position had been captured in the video.
The fallout of the election paved the way for the G7 to declare its romance with opposition publicly. Within weeks of intense lobbying and the failure of the PDP leadership, five of the G7 governors defected to the opposition and thus gave APC16 states governors at formation.
The APC governors, who were so resolute and determined to wrest power from the PDP played leading roles in the consolidation of the merger plans. It was the APC governors under the umbrella of the PGF that chose the name, APC, which was later approved and adopted by the merger committee.
The PGF meetings in Maiduguri later harmonised the logos of the three merging parties, ACN, ANPP and CPC, while the meeting in Nassarawa state recommended the slogan – CHANGE!
Political observers and social analysts believe that the outstanding performances and landmarks achievements of many of the governors in their respective states also contributed immensely to the acceptability of the new party.
The governors also played a significant roles at the party’s convention and in the emergence of its national leaders. They were particular on the kind of leadership the party should have at the national level and worked assiduously towards realising that the right candidates emerged.
The story would not be complete without mentioning their significant roles in the funding of the new party, especially the convention as well as the presidential primaries where they were responsible for the expenses of their respective state delegates.
The litmus test for the party was the presidential convention which was expertly handled, once again by the former Governor of Ekiti State, John Kayode Fayemi, who was the convention’s committee chairman. The convention, which remains the talk of the town till date, was regarded as the best organised convention in the country. And it is not a gaingsaying that, the success of the election assisted to give the APC campaign a great deal of credibility. It must be noted that the convention was well supported by the government of Lagos state as Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF), deployed massive logistics, resources and personnel to ensure the success of the convention which took place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Sirulere, Lagos.
Even when some of the presidential aspirants of the party were sceptical about the choice of Lagos, the governors encouraged them to accept its choice because of the massive support promised them by the Lagos state government which they may not enjoy in other state. And truly, delegates and other stakeholders present had no cause to coplain as the state offered them unequalled form of hospitality.
The convention committee, under the able leadership of Fayemi, also assured the aspirants of level-playing field and got all of them to nominate a representative each to the convention committee so that they would have first hand information on the activities of the committee and also report back to them. This proved a master stroke and it increased the aspirants’ confidence in the process adopted by the Fayemi-led committee.
Despite the fact that two of the governors contested the presidential primaries against General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB), majority of the governors supported GMB candidacy. After GMB’s emergence as flag bearer of the party, the governors wanted one of them as running mate to GMB. The prominent names were Amaechi, Fayemi, Fashola and Adams Oshiomhole. But when the lot fell on Professor Yemi Osinbajo (PYO), they bowed to party supremacy and supported the GMB/PYO ticket.
While Amaechi emerged the Director General (DG), of the presidential campaign and ran an excellent and well structured campaign, Fashola was head of directorate for finance while Fayemi was head of Policy, Research and Strategy directorate.
And not a few political observers admitted that, the emergence of Buhari through a transparent convention handled by Fayemi, solid campaign directed by Amaechi and crucial logistic support from Fashola as well as overwhelming determination and dedication to the APC mantra ‘CHANGE,’ by the party’s governors that led to the sweeping away the sitting government, first in the anal of the 55 years old Nigeria.
As Nigerians look forward to the inauguration of an opposition-led Federal Government for the first time in the country, it would not be out of place to trace the genesis of the events that culminated in that feat.
In retrospect, the roles played by governors under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot be over-emphasised. It is on record that the APC governors played a prominent role in the merger that led to the formation of the mega party–APC. As a matter of fact, the merger arrangement were muted and promoted by the governors using their networks through the famous Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), to reach out to other colleagues in the other parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in late 2011.
In addition to that, the formation of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), a platform for opposition governors played a significant role in strengthening the alliance. It is an open secret that the seed that germinated and grew to form the PGF was sown by the trio of Abdulaziz Yari, of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) from Zamfara State; Alhaji Tanko Almakura of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), from Nassarawa State and Dr John Kayode Fayemi (JKF), of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Ekiti State.
The trio, no doubt, were the arrowheads of the PGF in their respective political parties then and with time, the alliance was solidified to become a fertile ground for the new alliance to germinate.
It is on record that the PGF’s first meeting was held in Lagos on February 5, 2013 and hosted by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Raji fashola (SAN). By extension, the PGF as a power bloc in the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) played a significant role in strengthening the Forum as a formidable force capable of challenging the ruling PDP. It was through their growing influence that they were able to determine the direction of the NGF’s last election where Governor Amaechi of Rivers State defeated Jonah Jang of Plateau State who was the Presidency’s adopted candidate for the position. Although the Jang faction later formed a parallel NGF, it was obvious that the PGF had used that singular election to test its strength and make a statement.
Kayode Fayemi’s managerial ability was brought to the fore when he served as Amaechi’s Canpaign Manager at the election. And in the bid to canvass for Ameachi’s re-election as NGF chair, the campaign team entered into alliance with some PDP governors, especially the G7.
Two events were remarkable in the conduct of the NGF election: The use of telephone jammer, a device which was installed in the venue of the election and which jammed every telephone line within 50 meters radius at the venue. Through this the Presidency could not get in touch with the governors and as such could not influence their decision. None of the governors could be reached on phone once they entered the premises of the election. And the recording of the proceedings of the election and the leakage of the video to the public also helped the pro-Amaechi governors.
Interestingly however, one of the governors who did the recording with his telephone’s camera device did so just to catch fun. But immediately the pro-Jang governors left the venue and started granting interviews that the election never took place, the video footings became handy as a major tool. The video was downloaded by the governor and made available to the public. The revelation from the video helped to debunk claims by Governor Olusegun Mimiko and other pro-Jang governors that the election never held. The video showed the process of the election, the counting and the eventual declaration of Amaechi as winner. The decision of the then President Jonathan to back the Jang-led faction also boomeranged because of the revelation of the video. The video also helped some governors to openly identify with Amaechi once it was realised that their position had been captured in the video.
The fallout of the election paved the way for the G7 to declare its romance with opposition publicly. Within weeks of intense lobbying and the failure of the PDP leadership, five of the G7 governors defected to the opposition and thus gave APC16 states governors at formation.
The APC governors, who were so resolute and determined to wrest power from the PDP played leading roles in the consolidation of the merger plans. It was the APC governors under the umbrella of the PGF that chose the name, APC, which was later approved and adopted by the merger committee.
The PGF meetings in Maiduguri later harmonised the logos of the three merging parties, ACN, ANPP and CPC, while the meeting in Nassarawa state recommended the slogan – CHANGE!
Political observers and social analysts believe that the outstanding performances and landmarks achievements of many of the governors in their respective states also contributed immensely to the acceptability of the new party.
The governors also played a significant roles at the party’s convention and in the emergence of its national leaders. They were particular on the kind of leadership the party should have at the national level and worked assiduously towards realising that the right candidates emerged.
The story would not be complete without mentioning their significant roles in the funding of the new party, especially the convention as well as the presidential primaries where they were responsible for the expenses of their respective state delegates.
The litmus test for the party was the presidential convention which was expertly handled, once again by the former Governor of Ekiti State, John Kayode Fayemi, who was the convention’s committee chairman. The convention, which remains the talk of the town till date, was regarded as the best organised convention in the country. And it is not a gaingsaying that, the success of the election assisted to give the APC campaign a great deal of credibility. It must be noted that the convention was well supported by the government of Lagos state as Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF), deployed massive logistics, resources and personnel to ensure the success of the convention which took place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Sirulere, Lagos.
Even when some of the presidential aspirants of the party were sceptical about the choice of Lagos, the governors encouraged them to accept its choice because of the massive support promised them by the Lagos state government which they may not enjoy in other state. And truly, delegates and other stakeholders present had no cause to coplain as the state offered them unequalled form of hospitality.
The convention committee, under the able leadership of Fayemi, also assured the aspirants of level-playing field and got all of them to nominate a representative each to the convention committee so that they would have first hand information on the activities of the committee and also report back to them. This proved a master stroke and it increased the aspirants’ confidence in the process adopted by the Fayemi-led committee.
Despite the fact that two of the governors contested the presidential primaries against General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB), majority of the governors supported GMB candidacy. After GMB’s emergence as flag bearer of the party, the governors wanted one of them as running mate to GMB. The prominent names were Amaechi, Fayemi, Fashola and Adams Oshiomhole. But when the lot fell on Professor Yemi Osinbajo (PYO), they bowed to party supremacy and supported the GMB/PYO ticket.
While Amaechi emerged the Director General (DG), of the presidential campaign and ran an excellent and well structured campaign, Fashola was head of directorate for finance while Fayemi was head of Policy, Research and Strategy directorate.
And not a few political observers admitted that, the emergence of Buhari through a transparent convention handled by Fayemi, solid campaign directed by Amaechi and crucial logistic support from Fashola as well as overwhelming determination and dedication to the APC mantra ‘CHANGE,’ by the party’s governors that led to the sweeping away the sitting government, first in the anal of the 55 years old Nigeria.
Ekiti: Of Hakeem Adisa’s hand and Segun Ayobolu’s voice By Hakeem Jamiu
Ekiti: Of Hakeem Adisa’s hand and Segun Ayobolu’s voice
By
Hakeem Jamiu
After reading Segun Ayobolu’s column entitled “Ekiti Fiasco: Who Is To Blame?”, published on the back page of the Nation Newspaper, May 16, 2015 edition, my immediate reaction was to fetch a similar article written by a faceless writer- Hakeem Adisa, published in The Sun Newspaper of May 11, 2015 edition with the title “What Does Kayode Fayemi Want?”, and placed it side by side with a previous article by Ayobolu written in his Nation Newspaper column on July 5, 2014 titled: “Further Thoughts On Ekiti Polls”. After a textual analysis of these articles, my suspicions were confirmed- Hakeem Adisa’s diatribe, recently published in The Sun Newspaper was a rehash of Ayobolu’s July 5, 2014 article in The Nation which I responded to on July 12, 2014 and Ayobolu’s May 16, 2015 article is nothing but a sickening regurgitation of Hakeem Adisa’s most recent article to which a rejoinder by Fayemi’s media aide, Olayinka Oyebode, published in The Sun of May 12, 2015 had sought to correct.
As a matter of clarification of identity, I remain Hakeem Jamiu and I am not as anonymous as Hakeem Adisa.
Quite paradoxically, both Hakeem Adisa and Ayobolu seem to have more than a passing interest in Ekiti politics and its principal actors. While this is not a sin, what is baffling however, is their near maniacal penchant for distorting facts, their unbridled hatred for the person of Dr Kayode Fayemi, immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, and the youthful gusto with which they peddle their lies against him with the intent to pull him down while at the same time labouring so much to promote some poorly masked parochial agenda.
One cannot but wonder whether Hakeem Adisa usually has a glimpse of Segun Ayobolu’s write-ups or the duo usually hold a conference where they decide their next line of attack in their avowed move to pull down, assassinate character and sow the seed of discord. Or how does one explain the situation where the only thing that flows from the pen of a columnist like Ayobolu are discredited tunes that have emanated (or billed to emanate) from a certified faceless writer- Hakeem Adisa? Or do we simply conclude that with Segun Ayobolu no one needs to bother about the true identity of the masquerade called Hakeem Adisa? Or simply put, is Ayobolu the same as Hakeem Adisa and vice versa?
While Ayobolu at his diplomatic best maintained that Fayemi failed to fulfil his promises to Governor Ayo Fayose following his support for his party during the rerun elections on 2009, Hakeem Adisa was more daring. He stated that Fayemi erred by not yielding the Ekiti Central Senatorial ticket to Fayose to contest the 2011 senatorial election adding that Fayose would have been appeased with the senatorial ticket (which was won by Senator Femi Ojudu). The question begging for an answer is how would Fayemi, a governor elected on the platform of the then ACN, have ceded the senatorial seat to Fayose who was contesting on the platform of Labour Party (LP). Or how would he have neglected the candidate of his party to support another party’s candidate?
It was Fayose who broke his own promise of not contesting for the governorship seat of Ekiti until the Court of Appeal decided Fayemi/Oni’s case, but Fayose went ahead to declare his governorship ambition while the case was still in court in September 2010, believing that Fayemi would lose at the Appeal Court.
While Ayobolu declared that Fayose could no longer reach Fayemi after he became governor, Adisa said Fayemi no longer picked Fayose’s calls. One wonders how the duo got to know who picks whose calls and how that affected the delivery of democratic dividends to the people.
The allegation of aloofness and disconnection from the grassroots which were vigorously canvassed against Fayemi in the writings of the duo followed the same pattern as their veiled but vain glorification of Fayose as the man the Ekiti people love, citing the outcome of the just concluded March 28 and April 11 presidential and Assembly elections in the state as reference. Ayobolu however shot himself in the foot by trying to justify the fact that the heavy militarisation of Ekiti ahead of the June 21 governorship election, the attendant revelation of the questionable involvement of some serving ministers and other PDP politicians as well as the military in the election was not sufficient ground to lose the election. In other words, Ayobolu was of the opinion that in spite of the emasculation of APC chieftains, massive deployment of soldiers, Policemen and SSS operatives with a clear mandate to win the Ekiti governorship (at all costs) as a befitting trophy for President Jonathan’s planned invasion of the South West, the APC should still have won the election. Adisa’s script put it in a cruder manner when he alleged that Fayemi lost “mercilessly” because of his aloofness”, without a mention of the war waged against the APC by the PDP’s federal might in the isolated election where movements of even serving governors were brazenly curtailed. While I have debunked the theory of aloofness and losing touch with grassroots in my reaction to Ayobolu’s article on July 12 2014, and on many fora, I wish to let Ayobolu and his ilks know that Ekiti is the sacrificial lamb for the success of the APC in the March general elections.
Strangely, both Ayobolu and Adisa found it convenient to blame Fayemi solely for the Ekiti governorship election loss, but are quick to praise APC and some leaders of the party for the victory recorded in some states and in the Presidential election! The fact is that the APC lost in Ekiti owing to some inherent internal contradictions within the state chapter of the party and the onslaught of the Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government. Outgoing President Jonathan and his cohort won the Ekiti governorship election and Fayose was simply the beneficiary.
As pointed out by Engr. Segun Oni, a former Governor of the state and National Deputy Chairman of the party, the PDP victory at the National Assembly election and the Presidential elections of March 28 and April 11 respectively were not essentially because of Fayose’s popularity, but as a result of bandwagon effect (for the party in government), a development that has become a recurrent decimal in the electoral history in Ekiti State. Apart from the bandwagon effect syndrome, it was PDP’s consolidation of the June 21 electoral heist but people like Ayobolu would not hear any of these because of the operation pull Fayemi down at all costs.
Ayobolu’s main purpose of writing the article came out towards the end when he concluded advisedly, however, that the leadership of APC should look beyond Fayemi, Opeyemi Bamidele and Femi Ojudu in the choice of who becomes the ministerial nominee from Ekiti State for what he described as the “unresolved feud” among the three. He, however failed to mention the fact that Bamidele who was governorship candidate of the LP in the June 21 election was yet to be fully re-admitted into APC.
According to Ayobolu, the state’s slot in the Federal Executive Council should be given to “a brilliant technocrat who is also an astute and seasoned politician, a person who is detached from the current intra-party APC politics of intrigues in Ekiti….”
Ayobolu, like an experienced poker player, had kept the ace-identity of his preferred ministerial nominee- to his chest. Not so for Adisa who boldly identified former Lagos Commissioner for Information, Dele Alake, as one of most qualified for the ministerial slot in Ekiti for his contributions to the success of General Buhari’s election. Ayobolu slyly left out former Governor Segun Oni out of his list, even though the former Governor was identified as a viable candidate by Adisa. Instead, he deliberately made a mince meat of the character of the first civilian governor of the state, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, with the hope of removing the highly respected politician out of the equation.
This crude attack on the person and political credentials of Adebayo-who is fondly called “Omoluabi” in Ekiti APC circle and the deliberate sidelining of Engr Oni from his list, while calling for the disqualification of Fayemi, Ojudu and Bamidele (who is still in Labour Party), thus reduced his choice to Dele Alake- a name he probably would like to unveil in his subsequent articles but which Hakeem Adisa has unwittingly announced on his behalf.
Is it not strange that Ayobolu recommended his “brilliant technocrat” who is completely detached from Ekiti as the one who will bring all the factions together only when he has been given the Ministerial slot? A man that has never visited Ekiti for once since he lost senatorial primaries in 2011? Why can’t the technocrat put his wizardry into use now by bringing the factions together before he is given ministerial appointment? Fayemi is not in contest with anyone over appointment just as he did not contest to be made the chairman of the Presidential primaries which he conducted to the admiration of the whole world. The transparency of that exercise was responsible for holding the party together after the primaries and contributed in no small measure to the success of the APC at the 2015 March and April elections. Very soon, Ekiti APC will bounce back to the chagrin of detractors.
While fairness is a major hallmark of the journalism profession, Ayobolu is fast becoming a perfect example of how not to be a responsible journalist, dabbling into details of Ekiti local politics he has scant knowledge of. His penchant for being used to set ignoble agenda and assassinate character is legendary. At best his submissions are cheap and petty Read more
The Lies About President Jonathan Being A Christian President By Pastor Gabriel Olalekan Popoola | Sahara Reporters
The Lies About President Jonathan Being A Christian President By Pastor Gabriel Olalekan Popoola
Politicians’ desperate appeal to religion as a resort of last line of hope when confronted with firm failure is at once ubiquitous in nature and repetitive historically. Ordinarily, politicians ought not to be thugs and rogues; they ought to be leaders chosen by the larger society to administer the land on behalf of all members of the given society. The constitution and other extant laws of the land make that otherwise difficult administrative job a very easy one.
Politicians’ desperate appeal to religion as a resort of last line of hope when confronted with firm failure is at once ubiquitous in nature and repetitive historically. Ordinarily, politicians ought not to be thugs and rogues; they ought to be leaders chosen by the larger society to administer the land on behalf of all members of the given society. The constitution and other extant laws of the land make that otherwise difficult administrative job a very easy one. Unfortunately, as events have revealed over the years, particularly in our nation Nigeria, politicians, because of their materialism and acquisitiveness, are more of problem-creators than problem-solvers.
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and others pray for President Goodluck Jonathan during a pilgrimage to Isreal in 2013
State House Photo
They fail again and again where they should have succeeded; they steal where they should not have stolen; they lie where simple truth should have been told; and they deceive where acting in a straightforward manner would have sufficed. This is the tragic situation of our shameless and dishonourable politicians in Nigeria. Then, when it becomes certain that the failed leader is about to be thrown out of office, having incurred the justifiable anger of the electorates, he suddenly begins to appeal to religion. He claims that he is a Christian or Muslim; he openly identifies with some religious leaders of his proclaimed faith, and in turn, expects all adherents of the faith he bogusly lays claim to, to support him. And this just for political benefit.
This is President Goodluck Jonathan’s situation at the moment as he faces a more than cloudy presidential election in 2015. It is clear that Nigeria, a not so fortunate country with regard to qualitative leadership, is terribly divided along politically created religious fracture lines. The fact remains that no President, in the history of this nation, has succeeded, through complicit actions and inactions, in polarising the nation as much as President Goodluck Jonathan. This fact is already in the public domain. My concern however, is to expose the underbelly motivation of Mr. President’s handlers’ religious hoodwinking of Christians in Nigeria. Christians need to know that they need not rush to give support to just any leader who mouths Christianity, without carrying out diagnostic examination of such a leader. The Bible enjoins us to “prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
To begin with, there’s nothing wrong with Christians in Nigeria giving wholehearted support to another Christian who aspires to any political office in the land, provided that the said Christian is a Christian indeed, and that he possesses leadership qualities to move the nation in the right direction. As a matter of fact, in our pluralistic nation, just anyone who, irrespective of religious affiliation and inclination, has character, wit, insight, generous spirit, self-control, resolve, honesty and a clear picture of where the nation ought to be, as well as the understanding of how to get there, can aspire to be anything in the country and get the support of the electorates.
In President Jonathan’s case, the undeclared reason for his appeal to religion is simply to take advantage of the numerical strength of Christians among the Nigerian electorates. This is sad. The rush and push currently going on in certain quarters within Christian circles in Nigeria today is totally political and shameful; and all is being done to give undue support to a non-performing president because he is supposedly a Christian. This is not the Bible. The God of the Bible, in actual sense, hounours only responsible people. He demands that leaders be accountable and faithful (1Cor.4:2). Therefore, Christian leaders ought to help Mr. President become more accountable, and rescue him from terribly political pettiness being displayed at the moment.
Let’s consider this important question: should we even consider President Jonathan a President with Christian character? I think not! But wait a minute; am I in a position to determine whether or not an individual is a Christian? Scripturally speaking, the simple answer is yes. In Matthew 7:21, the Lord Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven”. The implication of this passage is that open declaration of one’s religious standing, church membership, hobnobbing with credible and influential Christian leaders, as well as financial donations to churches does not confer Christianity on anyone. In fact, the above is totally useless without the heart and attributes of Christianity. To know who a Christian is, the Bible recommends that you look at what he does, and how he does it; check his character.
And then, the Holy Scripture also tells us that we know people – genuine Christians, fake Christians, genuine leaders, not-so-genuine leaders, totally corrupt leaders etc. – by their fruits. The Lord Jesus said, “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:18 & 20). The Lord Jesus simply said, just look critically at people, see what they do, how they do it, check the fruits they produce, and you will easily understand where they belong. They may claim they are God’s, but when you check the fruits of their lives, you will understand to whom they belong.
The word of God then explains how a Christian – and this, all the more, applies to a leader – should conduct himself. The first of these points to be considered here is that a Christian is expected to keep his word. His word should be his bound. He should keep his promises and not be given to frivolities. This is how the Bible puts it: “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty” (James 2:12). This is God’s standard. Do what you say or promise with your own mouth. Now does Mr. President keep his word? I’m sure he does not! I’ll give some examples shortly. But before the examples, please understand that he can still be supported by those who still wish to support him; however, that support should not be based on the fact that he says he is a Christian. Not at all! This is so because he’s not a man who keeps his word, and Christians, real Christians, do keep their words.
In 2011, while going around begging for votes, these were the words of Mr. President: “I do not make empty promises in my campaign because whatever I promise to do, I had already carried out adequate study to make sure I can accomplish it in the next four years.” This was on the 27th of February in Onitsha, Anambra State. But the truth, as available to us all, is that he did promise, but then he failed to fulfill his promises.
On the 12th of March, 2011 in Abeokuta, he promised to revive ailing oil refineries and build new ones. The available fact, as at today, is that Mr. President merely deceived people into voting for him with that empty promise, because as we all know, no ailing oil refinery has been revived, not to talk of building new ones. I know his supporters can come up with a million and one reasons why he didn’t fulfill that promise; but the fact still remains that he did not fulfill his promise. Then on the 31st of March, the same year in Abuja, he promised to expand and develop the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry to provide about one million jobs. Today, we are still waiting for these jobs in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry.
Earlier, in Awka on February 26, he said he would construct all the major roads which link Anambra with its neighbors; complete the ongoing aero-dynamic survey of gas in the Anambra River basin; complete the second Niger Bridge; and complete the Onitsha Inland Port. Nigerians would not be talking about generators by the time his four years in office would have ended, he guaranteed. It is about four years since these promises were made; however, if a Nigerian today does not have his own generator, it is because he is financially incapable to procure one. The promises were largely unfulfilled. Did Mr. President lack anything he needed in fulfilling these promises? Did he lack money, hands, time or occasion? None that I know. He just won’t do what he said he would do.
The above are few of the many unfulfilled promises, pledges and vows of Mr. President. I want to say that no Christian in Nigeria should be deceived into voting for Mr. President in 2015 because he lays claim to Christianity; he should simply be judged by his performance in office. He should be seen as a person – the current President of the country, who made several promises in 2011 while campaigning, and who failed to fulfill those promises – and be treated as such. This is the foundation upon which his re-election or rejection in 2015 should be based, not some useless religious mawkishness.
But then, there are other two important points we need to consider in this discourse: integrity and skillfulness. As far as God is concerned, these two qualities are central to leadership, and without them, no one in any leadership position, in the eyes of the Almighty God, could be considered successful. Hear the Bible: “He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: from following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands” (Psalm 78:70-72).
That’s the Bible talking about David. In this passage, David’s background as well as his emergence to leadership was examined. God took David from following animals and made him a King. He named him His servant and empowered him for just a reason: to feed His (God’s) people, the Israelites. Now this is one important purpose of leadership: feeding, supporting, sustaining, nourishing, nurturing, encouraging, maintaining, strengthening and bolstering the led. Can we say this is what is currently obtainable in the nation under President Goodluck Jonathan? I think not. With the very basic requirement for meaningful living in the 21st century – electricity – almost totally missing in most homes, it is clear that the major focus of this administration is not to feed the poor, but to feed on the poor.
King David, having understood his assignment, settled down to lead his people, employing two important qualities in the process. First, he led his country with the integrity of his heart. He was a man in possession of very firm principles; wholly dedicated to his business, and displayed uncommon veracity in his dealings with his followers. Integrity requires that a leader be open and truthful. Integrity drives a worthy leader to eschew corruption and fight it. It equally demands that the leader be true to the laws of the land and not try to circumvent any aspect of it. A leader with integrity has nothing to hide from his followers, and he constantly fights and punishes, according the laws of the land, those engaged in sleaze. Can we say this is the situation in our nation under President Jonathan? Again, I think not.
Nigerians have not forgotten the recent stinking revelation of how the current Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, squandered 10 billion naira while junketing around. In the revelation, which the House of Representatives later passed a resolution to probe, it was alleged that the minister spent the amount to charter and maintain a jet for her personal use. As shocking as the embarrassing news was, the President has not found any reason to reprimand the minister for spending 130 million naira per month to maintain the aircraft in just two years. Were we blessed with a President who understands integrity and deals with us in the integrity of his heart, this reckless act would have been thoroughly dealt with. There won’t be any reason to bother you with other well-known corruption issues and cases around this government. But what is plain and obvious to all is that this is one administration that lacks integrity.
Now if President Jonathan willingly and consciously flouts important scriptural requirements and recommendations; if he chooses to scoff at the divine principle of integrity, should I then blindly follow him, simply because he claims he is a Christian just like me? This is my point. No Christian anywhere in the nation should allow himself to be sold a dummy. We should not be herded into wrongdoing simply because we have a “professing”, but in actual sense, a scripture-breaking Christian as our president. However, if an individual Christian, given his own conviction of the president’s performance and integrity, decides to vote for him next year, fine. The issue being that the Christian is voting, not because he is glad that the aspiring leader is a “Christian” and not a Muslim, but because the would-be leader is worthy and owns integrity.
The second virtue employed by David in his leadership adventure was skillfulness. Political and administrative skillfulness is possessing competence, adeptness, dexterity and proficiency in handling issues and situations in a way that avoids sloppiness, clumsiness and wastage. It is the hallmark of very capable leaders. It is a virtue that a nation like Nigeria needs in her leaders because of the inherent ability of this singular virtue to clean up built-up political muddle and clutter. Where unfortunately this quality is lacking in a leadership endeavour, as is currently the case with President Jonathan, disorder, disarray and chaos ensue. It is lack of skillfulness that causes a president to confer unconstitutional powers on ex-militants, freeing them to move around in convoys with security men, while reputable men are being hounded for saying their mind.
Imagine the one big ball of mess the nation has suddenly become, all because political and administrative skillfulness in missing. The way political issues and other sundry happenings in Nigeria have been handle by this administration really puts mud on the faces of Nigerians. It is the case of continual falling into one scandal after another, with the most recent one usually being more potent than the previous. Consider the latest in the series of misadventures of an administration void of political dexterity and steeped in error – the invasion of the National Assembly by security men.
While this act has been roundly condemned by people of wit and imagination in the country, the President is yet to see anything wrong with that assault and insult. And why would he? The unfortunate blitz obviously serves hisF purpose. It makes one to wonder whether the President have people who advise him at all. After all, even when a president is not particularly skillful, he still can tap into the skillfulness of brilliant and able souls within the country. With the way things stand at the moment, it is clear that the nation is being ruled by someone with shortage of political and administrative skillfulness, and Christians need to be reminded that God demands skillfulness in leaders that must deliver.
As a function of the above, the important question all Christians, indeed all Nigerians, need to ask before being goaded into voting based on religious or political sentiment is whether we are ready to withstand and stomach another four years of unproductive, completely messy political space dominated by shoddiness, corruption, unresponsiveness and a sense of despair never known to Nigerians since the end of the civil war. The crucial question is whether we are willing to endure President Goodluck Jonathan till 2019!
That idea, that thought alone, for me, is frightening! A president who doesn’t keep his own words, fights dirty, institutes and promotes ethnic racketeering, unable to manage rather commonplace and uncomplicated situations is, undoubtedly, not the person Nigerians need for the next four years of our national life.
Pastor Gabriel Olalekan Popoola, a former University of Port Harcourt Students’ Union Leader, worships with Living Faith Church and can be reached at gabrolap@gmail.com
Osinbajo: Nigerian Economy In Worst Moment In Its History | Sahara Reporters
Osinbajo: Nigerian Economy In Worst Moment In Its History | Sahara Reporters.
Osinbajo: Nigerian Economy In Worst Moment In Its History
The federal government’s inability to pay wages to workers, coupled with the extreme poverty that is prevalent in a large portion of Nigerian society caused him paint such a gloom picture of Nigeria’s economic state.
On Wednesday, Vice President-elect, Yemi Osinbajo, said that the Nigerian economy has reached its worst moment in history. He said Nigeria’s local and foreign debts now stand at $60 billion.
These statements came after a two-day Policy Dialogue on the Agenda for Change organised by the Policy, Research and Strategy Directorate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.
Osinbajo talked extensively on the state of Nigeria’s weak economy citing that worker salaries across the country have not been paid for months because of a lack of resources.
The federal government’s inability to pay wages to workers, coupled with the extreme poverty that is prevalent in a large portion of Nigerian society caused him paint such a gloom picture of Nigeria’s economic state.
He said, “The figures of extreme poverty in our society- 110 million by current estimates- makes it clear that our biggest national problem is the extreme poverty of the majority. Thus, no analysis is required to conclude that dealing with poverty and its implications is a priority. We are concerned that our economy is currently in perhaps its worst moment in history.
“Local and international debt stands at US$60 billion. Our Debt servicing bill for 2015 is N953.6 billion, 21 per cent of our Budget. On account of severely dwindled resources, over two-thirds of the states in Nigeria owe salaries. Federal institutions are not in much better shape. Today, the nation borrows to fund recurrent expenditure.
“This is also against the backdrop of a highly unequal society in which, by some reckoning, the largest chunk of the benefits of our national wealth accrues to a small percentage of our population. Our manifesto offered a vision of shared prosperity and socio-economic inclusion for all Nigerians that leaves no one behind in the pursuit of a prosperous and fulfilling life.
Osinbajo also said that an essential aspect of dealing with the country’s economy is upholding a dialogue that continually exemplifies a consultative approach to policy making.
He also said that the new administration will focus keenly on education. Citing that methods of teaching should be a big focus of the change agenda. He expressed that the administration would make training teachers a priority in the ongoing effort increase the quality of Nigerian education.
Osinbajo believes that the new Buhari led administration will focus much more on the improvement of the lives of the electorate.
“Our approach focused on the electorate as being worthy of serious and sincere engagement and sought to bring clarity to the issues at stake.
Osinbajo and President-Elect Muhammadu Buhari will be taking the helm of the federal government on May 29th after the inauguration in Abuja.
Petition To Yale University About Okonjo-Iweala’s Award Gaining Traction | Sahara Reporters
Petition To Yale University About Okonjo-Iweala’s Award Gaining Traction | Sahara Reporters.
Petition To Yale University About Okonjo-Iweala’s Award Gaining Traction
BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK.
A petition by a Nigerian calling on Yale University to withdraw the honorary doctorate degree given to Nigeria’s Finance Minister Ngozi Iweala, is gaining serious traction on the Internet.
A petition by a Nigerian calling on Yale University to withdraw the honorary doctorate degree given to Nigeria’s Finance Minister Ngozi Iweala, is gaining serious traction on the Internet.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Shortly after SaharaReporters posted the link on its Facebook page, the petition swiftly garnered a lot of signature nearly meeting its goal of 2000 signatures. The petitioner has increased the signature request to 2,500 as at the time of publishing this report
The petitioner, Mr. Sunday Iwalaiye, it might be recalled, is the same person who a few months ago in the heat of Nigeria’s presidential electoral campaign wrote a letter to the United States War College about Buhari’s attendance of the college which had been challenged by operatives of the Peoples Democratic Party. The college confirmed he did graduate from the institution.
He challenged the citation of Yale University for the award to Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, stating that it neither reflects nor represents everything that has happened under the watch and the supervision of the Nigerian economy by the Minister.
“There is no tangible evidence of any economic development in Nigeria under the leadership of Ngozi Iweala in all reality. Nigeria’s economy is still an oil-dependent economy that is debt and borrowing ridden as well as 100% consuming and importing in nature. Nigeria’s debt profile has risen rapidly under Ngozi Iweala and Nigeria has borrowed over $2 billion in the last four months alone to pay salaries of the federal and state civil servants.”
He also drew attention to the heavy depletion of Nigeria’s foreign reserves and excess crude oil accounts under the watch of the former Managing Director of the World Bank, as well as the menace of official corruption and financial scandals during her tenure.
Full text of the letter:
“YALE UNIVERSITY GAVE ITS PRESTIGIOUS HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE TO AN UNDESERVING NIGERIAN”:Ngozi Iweala, the outgoing Nigeria’s finance minister was awarded a honorary doctorate degree by Yale University on May 15, 2015. The citation from the Yale University reads:”Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Doctor of Humane Letters. You are a citizen of your country, your continent, and the world. Shaped by challenging experiences during your childhood in Nigeria, you have made social and economic reform your mission. As Nigeria’s coordinating minister of economic development and minister of finance, you have tackled corruption, created a vision and path to long-term economic stability, and worked to build a culture of transparency. At the World Bank, you made food security a priority and provided policy advice and capital for the world’s poorest countries. With wisdom, a fierce dedication to doing what is right, and unflagging energy, you have transformed the economic landscape of your nation. We are proud to name you Doctor of Humane Letter”
This citation from the Yale University does not reflect nor represent everything that has happened under the watch and the supervision of the Nigerian economy by Ngozi Iweala as the nation’s finance minister. There is no tangible evidence of any economic development in Nigeria under the leadership of Ngozi Iweala in all reality. Nigeria’s economy is still an oil-dependent economy that is debt and borrowing ridden as well as 100% consuming and importing in nature. Nigeria’s debt profile has risen rapidly under Ngozi Iweala and Nigeria has borrowed over $2 billion in the last four months alone to pay salaries of the federal and state civil servants.
Our foreign reserves and excess crude oil accounts have both depleted heavily under Ngozi Iweala. The recurrent expenditures in the federal budgets reached the highest levels which made capital development practically impossible in Nigeria under Ngozi Iweala. The board of regents of this ivy league school missed it completely by awarding their prestigious honorary doctorate degree to an undeserving Nigerian in all truth, honesty and reality. The Nigeria’s economy has remained the same under Ngozi Iweala without any evidence of its diversity from oil. The Nigerian Naira crashed to its lowest value in its history under Ngozi Iweala. The true picture that Yale University missed is the fact that the economy of Nigeria has almost grounded to its final halt today which will makes its a daunting task for the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari to meet its campaign promises.
The menace of official corruption and financial scandals have both reached their peaks in Nigeria under Ngozi Iweala. A central bank governor was fired for disclosing that $20 billion was missing from the federal coffers and this allegation was investigated in a shady and questionable manner. The oil subsidy scam that cheated Nigeria’s tax payers of trillions of Naira was coordinated and supervised by Ngozi Iweala. The culture of official corruption and state resource mismanagement were both honored, celebrated, protected and defended under the leadership of Ngozi Iweala as the supervising coordinator of the Nigerian economy. To give a honorary doctorate degree to an undeserving Nigerian by this world’s reknown university is the biggest slap on the faces of the 180 million Nigerians in 2015. I am using this social medium to appeal to the board of regents of this prestigious university to withdraw this honorary degree that they awarded to this Nigerian immediately and without any further delay for the sake of posterity.
LETTER TO
Yale University
Withdraw the honorary doctorate degree given to Ngozi Iweala of Nigeria
APC Holds Policy Dialogue Focusing On Economy, Corruption Others – Channels Television
APC Holds Policy Dialogue Focusing On Economy, Corruption Others – Channels Television.
‘He said they should start with tackling corruption which is the highest challenge facing Nigeria, with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation a first focus in the oil and gas sector’.
eaglepacks 