Monday, 7 September 2015
Buhari’s 100 Days: Placing Nigeria On The Path To Recovery
Three months ago, the course of Nigeria’s future changed for the better. The APC won a historic election. Tired of the broken promises and damaged public institutions wrought by sixteen years of PDP misrule, the people demanded change. By virtue of the election, the people reclaimed the primacy of their sovereign will. They demanded that government should serve them before serving itself. That proclaimed that government for the people was not only possible in this land but that its establishment was overdue. The breath of hope was restored to the body politic. On that day, we all stood more proudly and more eager to walk into the new day that had come.
But change is not made simply by winning an election or ejecting a few bad seeds from office...
Change requires the careful removal of the rotted timber that has made national governance such a rickety structure. It requires the bold articulation yet wise implementation of a vision and supporting policies, programs and projects aimed at making our country better, making our people’s lives better.
Change does not tolerate the high rates of poverty and joblessness that insult our national potential and reduce the lives of too many Nigerians. The change we seek will revive this economy in a way that creates jobs and lifts Nigerians out of poverty that all may enjoy the dignified and secure life promised us.
Change is not weakening our military to the point where it is too demoralized and ill-equipped to protect our people from terrorist violence.Change is energizing that military with new leadership, better war materiel and the firm mandate to rout Boko Haram. Change is establishing peace and security so that the hundreds of thousands of displaced Nigerians may return home in contemplation of rebuilding their lives in ways better than what was before. And change means fighting corruption in all of its manifestations instead of consorting with it. No longer shall the public treasury, meant for the wellbeing of the many, be treated as the private reserve of the few.Change does not tolerate the high rates of poverty and joblessness that insult our national potential and reduce the lives of too many Nigerians. The change we seek will revive this economy in a way that creates jobs and lifts Nigerians out of poverty that all may enjoy the dignified and secure life promised us.
Nigeria is now 100 days into President Buhari’s leadership. It is clear that he has begun the change Nigeria needs. He has shown the decisiveness, the incorruptibility, security acumen and progressive vision we voted for. He has brought the leadership we desperately need. I shudder to think where we might be had the prior administration been allowed to govern even 100 days more, let alone another four years.
First, Buhari has turned the table against Boko Haram. He has not hesitated to take the fight to the terrorists, destroying their hideouts, capturing their fighters and equipment while taking the military initiative away from them. They are on their heels and on the run. To get to this better position, he dismissed general officers who had lost heart and were too hesitant to confront Boko Haram, replacing them with new military commanders selected not on regionalism or favoritism but on the strength of their military leadership and fighting spirit.
First, Buhari has turned the table against Boko Haram. He has not hesitated to take the fight to the terrorists, destroying their hideouts, capturing their fighters and equipment while taking the military initiative away from them. They are on their heels and on the run. To get to this better position, he dismissed general officers who had lost heart and were too hesitant to confront Boko Haram, replacing them with new military commanders selected not on regionalism or favoritism but on the strength of their military leadership and fighting spirit.
The president strengthened our security partnerships with Chad, Niger, Cameroon, and the United States to build a much stronger regional and international coalition to uproot the terrorists. He continues to reach out to other nations to further strengthen that coalition. We are no longer a junior partner in a fight that mostly takes place on our soil. Because of President Buhari, we are at the head of this multilateral effort, driving it forcefully to successful conclusion. We are already seeing improvements in safety across the Northeast as Boko Haram retreats and retreats. Buhari will not relent until there is no more Boko haram left to fight.
Buhari is also tackling corruption. Hehas already shown dozens of corrupt officials the exit, demonstrating that he will not tolerate corruption in his government. He is busily plugging the loopholes in the system to prevent the wholesale thievery so common under the predecessor government.The idea of a single federal government account is one such corrective measure. Moreover, he is studiously tracking where much of the stolen funds went. He is doing this that he may recover these public funds and bring to book those who purloined them.
He will return that money to the people, using the funds to build schools, roads, and hospitals that Nigeria needs.
The President is also taking steps to pull our economy from the dangerous brink where the PDP left it and then to strengthen and diversify the economy that it may provide jobs and prosperity to all who are willing to work to improve their lot. He has fought and already cured much of the indiscipline and subterfuge that plagued the operation of our refineries and power system. Just in the first hundred days, refinery production has increased reasonably, lowering the cost of fuel importation and thus spurring greater economic activity. He also has improved electricity production by holding the power companies accountable.
By approving a package of emergency fiscal and financial relief, he has stopped the slide of numerous states into economic depression and imminent bankruptcy. By enabling the payment of back salaries to state government civil servants, he has saved millions of Nigerians from sinking into the hunger and poverty. Moreover, the funds paid to these people will be used to purchase goods and services thus energizing local economies that were becoming flaccid due to lack of aggregate consumer demand. The former government should have taken this step months ago, even before the election.
Buhari is also tackling corruption. Hehas already shown dozens of corrupt officials the exit, demonstrating that he will not tolerate corruption in his government. He is busily plugging the loopholes in the system to prevent the wholesale thievery so common under the predecessor government.The idea of a single federal government account is one such corrective measure. Moreover, he is studiously tracking where much of the stolen funds went. He is doing this that he may recover these public funds and bring to book those who purloined them.
He will return that money to the people, using the funds to build schools, roads, and hospitals that Nigeria needs.
The President is also taking steps to pull our economy from the dangerous brink where the PDP left it and then to strengthen and diversify the economy that it may provide jobs and prosperity to all who are willing to work to improve their lot. He has fought and already cured much of the indiscipline and subterfuge that plagued the operation of our refineries and power system. Just in the first hundred days, refinery production has increased reasonably, lowering the cost of fuel importation and thus spurring greater economic activity. He also has improved electricity production by holding the power companies accountable.
By approving a package of emergency fiscal and financial relief, he has stopped the slide of numerous states into economic depression and imminent bankruptcy. By enabling the payment of back salaries to state government civil servants, he has saved millions of Nigerians from sinking into the hunger and poverty. Moreover, the funds paid to these people will be used to purchase goods and services thus energizing local economies that were becoming flaccid due to lack of aggregate consumer demand. The former government should have taken this step months ago, even before the election.
However, it let a bad situation fester into impending calamity. Had that government remained in office, it would have allowed the states to slide into bankruptcy, triggering a financial crisis that would have engulfed the banking system if not the entire economy. In his first 100 days, President Buhari staved the financial paralysis of the states and, as such, may have prevented a sudden and crippling financial crisis. Gone are the days of rebasing falsehood and brazen theft from our treasury.
In coming weeks, he will reveal his budget. The budget will go far toward honoring his campaign promises to boost domestic industries, improve our schools to prepare our children for the jobs of tomorrow, and invest in infrastructure that will make Nigeria a better place to run a farm, build a factory, drive your car, drink the water, construct a home, and create jobs.
We have still a lot of work to do. While reeling, Boko Haram is not completely defeated. Ourstolen girls are not back, and too many from the North East are still unable to return home. With regard to corruption, we must not only recoup stolen money, we must rediscover lost public ethics. We need to establish the mindset that corruption is criminal and evil and do away with the mentality that has treated it as correct public etiquette. While actions have been taken to thwart imminent crisis, much needs to be done to place the economy on solid footing over the longer haul. I look forward with great optimism and enthusiasm to the government coming forward with plans to create jobs, modernize our infrastructure and diversify the economy so that our industrial sector may attain greater prominence.
I salute and accept the deliberate painstaking slow fix of this government which is meant to set a stronger foundation for quick economic recovery. The effort to stem the primitive pilferation of our commonwealth must attain national priority. The Buhari administration is committed to building a new country.
Looking at the fragile vehicle they inherited and at the harsh terrain they have been able to navigate, I could not be prouder of what the President, the Vice President and their team have done thus far. If they continue in this manner, they would have done more than justify the people’s faith in them. They would have placed Nigeria on the path to its better self. We cannot ask any more from them than that.
In coming weeks, he will reveal his budget. The budget will go far toward honoring his campaign promises to boost domestic industries, improve our schools to prepare our children for the jobs of tomorrow, and invest in infrastructure that will make Nigeria a better place to run a farm, build a factory, drive your car, drink the water, construct a home, and create jobs.
We have still a lot of work to do. While reeling, Boko Haram is not completely defeated. Ourstolen girls are not back, and too many from the North East are still unable to return home. With regard to corruption, we must not only recoup stolen money, we must rediscover lost public ethics. We need to establish the mindset that corruption is criminal and evil and do away with the mentality that has treated it as correct public etiquette. While actions have been taken to thwart imminent crisis, much needs to be done to place the economy on solid footing over the longer haul. I look forward with great optimism and enthusiasm to the government coming forward with plans to create jobs, modernize our infrastructure and diversify the economy so that our industrial sector may attain greater prominence.
I salute and accept the deliberate painstaking slow fix of this government which is meant to set a stronger foundation for quick economic recovery. The effort to stem the primitive pilferation of our commonwealth must attain national priority. The Buhari administration is committed to building a new country.
Looking at the fragile vehicle they inherited and at the harsh terrain they have been able to navigate, I could not be prouder of what the President, the Vice President and their team have done thus far. If they continue in this manner, they would have done more than justify the people’s faith in them. They would have placed Nigeria on the path to its better self. We cannot ask any more from them than that.
- Asiwaju Bola Tinubu
Naija Babe Faints after Boyfriend of many years Propose to Her
See photo of the emotional moment below...
#SweetLove
Bad Guys Invade Hospital, Rape Patients and Nurses
Ogun State Police Command has arrested suspected armed robbers, who allegedly robbed and r*ped patients and nurses at a private hospital in the Ijebu-Ode area of the state.
Police also said the suspects were responsible for the killing of one Alayande Oladipupo after dispossessing him of his belongings in the same area.
“Police operatives attached to Igbeba Division of the command swung into action immediately the information got to them and rushed to the said area where the suspected armed robbers opened fire on the police operatives, who responded with heavy fire power before eight of them were arrested.
“These suspects have been identified as the killers of one Alayande Oladipo, who was shot dead in Ijebu-Ode on August 25 and those responsible for the robbery and rape cases at a hospital in Ijebu-Ode.
“The suspects had robbed patients and staff of the said hospital and raped some of them during their operation at the hospital.”
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement. According to him, the state police command made the arrest while acting on a tip-off that the armed men, who had been terrorizing area were sighted at Molipa-Ikanga area in Ijebu-Ode about 5:30pm on Saturday.
Police also said the suspects were responsible for the killing of one Alayande Oladipupo after dispossessing him of his belongings in the same area.
“Police operatives attached to Igbeba Division of the command swung into action immediately the information got to them and rushed to the said area where the suspected armed robbers opened fire on the police operatives, who responded with heavy fire power before eight of them were arrested.
“These suspects have been identified as the killers of one Alayande Oladipo, who was shot dead in Ijebu-Ode on August 25 and those responsible for the robbery and rape cases at a hospital in Ijebu-Ode.
“The suspects had robbed patients and staff of the said hospital and raped some of them during their operation at the hospital.”
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement. According to him, the state police command made the arrest while acting on a tip-off that the armed men, who had been terrorizing area were sighted at Molipa-Ikanga area in Ijebu-Ode about 5:30pm on Saturday.
Buhari's New Ministers List: Serious Tension In APC
Strong indications emerged at the weekend that President Muhammadu Buhari has sealed his ministerial list just as technocrats, including university lecturers, dominated the list.
Sources in different quarters revealed that there was mild tension within the rank and file of the ruling APC over the proposed list, which may soon be announced by the Presidency to form a full cabinet.
Buhari had already quietly appointed
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and Chief of Staff, among others, which brought some controversies over alleged lopsidedness in his choices.
President Buhari had spent time in Kaduna and Daura last week on a private visits.
Some of the APC stalwarts who pleaded anonymity said Buhari’s private visit was to consult with some of his close associates preparatory to the announcement of ministerial nominees.
However, one of the close allies of Buhari said the president who kept the nominees close to his chest would give All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftains final shock when the list is finally announced.
He added that those who lost in previous appointments would be disappointed again.
His words: “Mr. President will again disappoint many APC chieftains who are confident of being appointed ministers. As I am talking to you, even though we learnt the list is kept close to his chest, Buhari will bring technocrats and corruption-free Nigerians on board as ministers. Many who held big offices before may not be appointed too.
"Nigerians will be shocked as big names you are hearing will not make the list. What I am sure is that, university lecturers, serious activists with few APC members will make the list.”
President Buhari had spent time in Kaduna and Daura last week on a private visits.
Some of the APC stalwarts who pleaded anonymity said Buhari’s private visit was to consult with some of his close associates preparatory to the announcement of ministerial nominees.
However, one of the close allies of Buhari said the president who kept the nominees close to his chest would give All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftains final shock when the list is finally announced.
He added that those who lost in previous appointments would be disappointed again.
His words: “Mr. President will again disappoint many APC chieftains who are confident of being appointed ministers. As I am talking to you, even though we learnt the list is kept close to his chest, Buhari will bring technocrats and corruption-free Nigerians on board as ministers. Many who held big offices before may not be appointed too.
"Nigerians will be shocked as big names you are hearing will not make the list. What I am sure is that, university lecturers, serious activists with few APC members will make the list.”
See Why Many Ladies Are Having It Rough In Marriage
Thousands of them can be found in churches praying for life partners.
Many of them are quite amiable but have never had men say a word to them about marriage, or when they have men come their way, things will just turn upside down...
My decision to write on this piece is reinforced by a testimony read by Pastor Oso at Laughter Foundation and a testimony which Pastor Adeboye has repeated several times and has now documented it.
In his daily devotion manual, Open Heavens, of August 15, 2015, Pastor Adeboye stated, “In the journey of life, the enemy can place obstacles in the way of a man to prevent the actualization of his destiny”.
He made reference to Haggai 1:1-2, Zechariah 4:9 and Ezra2: 1-2 in respect of God’s choice of Zerubbabel to build a house for him. Pastor Adeboye noted: “ Inspite of these facts, the enemy still put difficulties along his way to prevent him from fulfilling God’s divine destiny for his life”.
The point here is that some human beings derive pleasure is seeing others in sorrow.
Those who can stop you are usually those referred to as “ unfriendly friends “ by Pastor Kalejaiye or even relations as stated in the testimony shared by Pastor Adeboye.
They could even be your parents. This reminds me of Pastor Oso’s popular statement that it is a grave mistake to assume that “all siblings are friendly”. He often refers to the story of Joseph and his brothers.
Did I hear you say that was a polygamous home? You are wrong.
One was privileged to witness a deliverance service at Laughter Foundation where an evil spirit spoke through a sister who was being delivered.
It was the voice of her sister who asked, “Why should she be the most successful among us”. In other words, her siblings were envious of her progress and decided to do something to stop her.
For years, this lady remained unmarried while the siblings got married and had children.
It got so bad that they attacked her spiritually...
If you think an attack can only come from siblings or other relations, what about mothers who, for their selfish needs, want to keep their daughters permanently out of wedlock.
Pastor Adeboye, in the Open Heavens of August 15, 2015, again referred to a testimony in which he stated that a word of knowledge came that there was a lady whose mother was obstructing her marriage and that, if she didn’t repent, she would die within a week. The daughter repeated this when she got home and a furious mother went to meet the pastor accusing him of teaching children bad things.
Of course, according to Pastor Adeboye, he asked the daughter, ‘did I mention anybody’s name?’ She replied in the negative.
After the daughter stepped out, the mother asked the pastor if it was true the person obstructing the daughter’s marriage would die. Her confession was that she was responsible for this because she would have no one to care for her when her daughter marries and goes to live with her husband permanently.
What do you call that? Selfish interest?
So, the pastor promised that he would tell the lady and her husband to continue to take care of mama after marriage. It was only then that she left her daughter off her spiritual hook. Within a short period, the daughter got married.
One also had the opportunity to witness a deliverance service conducted by Pastor Oso in which a lady had been stopped from getting married by a spirit of vengeance.
While the service was on, and this happens every Sunday, a voice spoke from a lady saying: "Don’t rescue this lady from me, she has offended". Of course, the deliverance service continued with the pastor using the word of God to rebuke the evil spirit.
The good news is that the lady was set free and she later got married.
However, let me borrow the words of men of God that every challenge commenced one day and would end one day. May you not experience loneliness. Those who go through it know what it means.
The sad truth is that most times these attacks are from household enemies, who are very close to you.
Written by Funmi Komolafe
Igbos Now Have the Best Appointment from President Buhari
You are from the South-South. Why have you come out to defend President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments which are largely in favour of the North?
For me, no government position is different from the other and that is the ideal situation. We should not classify some positions as more beneficial than others because that is a euphemism for corruption. It is a euphemism to say that some positions are better than others. People were clamouring for the position of Secretary to the Government of Federation and Chief of Staff because in the past, the Peoples Democratic Party turned those positions into money-making machines. Nigerians have seen the ostentatious lifestyles that others who have occupied these positions have lived. And the nation allowed them to get away with those crimes. And yet we say we want a change.
We must begin to change our orientation. So, we are saying that we cannot make a holistic assessment until the President fills all these positions. For those positions he has filled, they are supposed to be occupied by those who are personally loyal to the President. I do not expect him to leave those positions to be filled by his political party. For example, you cannot say the chief of staff should be someone that is loyal to a power bloc in his party. That kind of person would close everyday from work, pick his telephone, and report all the activities of the President to his political camp. That would not be fair because that kind of person would not be loyal to the President but by the person who nominated him for that office. There are many positions that the political party can fill that will not have direct access to the itinerary and activities of the President. That is why I said people should be calm. There are ministerial positions to be filled, heads of agencies and many others.
We must change our orientation such that any appointment given to anybody from any part of the country must be accepted with dignity and pride and patriotism. The argument is that certain ethnic groups have seen some positions as being exclusive to them. They argue that since the presidency has gone to the North and some positions have gone to some other geopolitical zones, the next one must come to them. The clamour is because they see these as hierarchies of juicy positions and I say no.
Is it coincidental that the South-East, where Buhari got low number of votes, has not received any political appointment?
Buhari got the lowest number of votes from the South-South. But as I said, the appointments are not yet complete. You say he has not appointed any Igbo but the biggest position so far has gone to an Igbo man: Emmanuel Kachikwu who is the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. It is just by modern political divide that the man falls within Delta State but he is a Delta Igbo. They speak Igbo. It is only by political delineation that he falls within Delta State but there are Igbo speaking Deltans. He is an Igbo man but only on the other side of the Niger. He is not an Urhobo man. What language does he speak? Is it not Igbo? So what are we talking about? That is the biggest position and they have it already. So, you can see that all this noise is being made by frustrated and jobless politicians who just want to use ethnicity to get juicy positions. It is orchestrated.
We the elite should not be moved by this noise and selfish agenda. Imagine a whole ethnic group campaigning for a position! Initially, they said chief of staff, then SGF. Now, with all the noise they have been making since May 29, imagine if one person from that region is appointed to that position. That person will then see himself as a champion of his ethnic group and his kinsmen will descend on that office in the area of contracts and gifts. He will destroy the sanctity of that office and turn it into a political chessboard because that person will see himself as representing a region in that position. It removes professionalism from that position. So, we should not campaign for offices on the basis of representing an ethnic bloc. Yes, every region will get appointments but once he is appointed, he should not see himself as representing that ethnic group but the whole country.
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