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#Endsars Attack on Northerners -Igbo Mandate Congress Absolves Ndigbo. By Rev Obinna Akukwe Igbo Mandate Congress wishes to dissociate Ndigbo from activities of some from IPOB who hijacked the commendable #endsars protests, with intent on killing, looting, burning and sacking northerners from the South East zone. The plot includes cattle rustling, shooting of armed forces and criminal activities all aimed at deliberately attracting reprisals, increasing tension and unleashing mayhem on Igbos in the north. Details
EndSARS Protest: Matters Arising. By Muhammad Sagir Bauchi Unfortunately, the protesters has no central leadership. Having no co-ordinated leadership is one thing that can cast doubt on the veracity of the intention of the campaign. Because with a central leadership, government can easily sit down with their leaders and sought out a lasting solution to their yarning with their input. But lack of leadership hinders this golden opportunity. Details
#ENDSARS: The Next Step. By Leonard Karshima Shilgba First, let me advise the Buhari government that the #ENDSARS matter is not about President Buhari. Buhari's managers shall be making an irredeemable mistake to assume that this movement is about Buhari. It is belittling to reduce the #ENDSARS call to an Anti-Buhari Agenda. #ENDSARS is a metaphor for building a more perfect union. The clarity of vision, articulation of intent, and aggregation of like minds shall grow brighter and brighter each passing moment until the haziness associated with its inchoate shape is lifted. Details
EndSARS: Aluta continua. By Tochukwu Ezukanma In sane climes, every element of power comes with a corresponding responsibility. But in the upside-down world of our beloved country, Nigeria, every element of power comes with a corresponding irresponsibility. The Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) was specially empowered to enable its operatives to effectively combat violent crimes. But in our characteristic abuse of power, they convolved their powers into a license for impunity, brutality and murderous binge. They took illegal arrests, extortion, torture and extra-judicial killings to extents, hitherto unknown in Nigeria. Details
Matters Arising: GMO Seeds in Northern Nigeria. By Abubakar Bala Garba Muri The destructions of Northeast farmlands and driving farmers away to become international displaced persons (IDPs) was the first stage to make them lose all their natural seeds and crops, and now the second stage to replace their crops with the so-called ‘improved seeds’ used as the code name for GMOs and Hybrid seeds. Details
Study Notes on “Revolution” and “National Unity”. By Edwin Madunagu This piece, or rather, the set of propositions in it, should be seen as a memorandum to a future committee or commission of the Nigerian Left on People’s Manifesto. It is not an infallible diktat. With this understanding, we may proceed to the question of national unity. If Nigeria’s ideological spectrum is broadly divided into the Left and the non-Left, I propose that only the Nigerian Left has been consistently committed, in principle, to the just resolution of the national question which I broadly define here as the complex of problems of “national unity” that arise when two or more ethnic groups or ethnic nationalities—each of them class-divided—are brought together under one sovereign state. Details
Nigeria at 60: The Giant Shall Survive. By Garba A. Isa During his tenure as Military Head of State of Nigeria (1983-1985), President Muhammdu Buhari described the country as “A giant in chains:” He was referring to the nation’s well known image as the Giant of Africa. Given the current turn of events in terms of Security, Economic, Political, Corporate Existence and other emerging challenges, Nigeria seems to be in even tighter chains. Details
The splendor of CAMA. By Tochukwu Ezukanma Therefore, in accordance to the Word of God, irrespective of its religious make-up, the Buhari administration reserves the right to regulate Nigerian churches. As dictated by the Bible, pastors must submit to government regulation, as stipulated by CAMA. Disobedient pastors will be punished by the Buhari administration with the approval of God. Details
Sheikh Abubakar Gummi: 28 Years After. By Garba A. Isa Sheikh Mahmud Gummi was a former Nigeria's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, a former member of the Judicial Service Commission, a former Grand Khadi of the then Northern States of Nigeria (until he retired from service in 1975) and a former chairman of the defunct National Pilgrims Board which eventually transmuted into the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON. He was also the Chairman of the National Teachers Institute (NTI) Kaduna. The magnificent Sultan Bello mosque venue of the late Gummi's Da'awah programmes greatly misses the Sheikh particularly his Ramadan and regular Tafsir and Ahadith sessions. Details
Lend Your Voice. By Otive Igbuzor, PhD The book Lend Your Voice is written to inspire women to speak loud and clear on critical issues that affect their lives and well-being and to encourage members and institutions of society to support them in their bid to stop the menace of rape, violence against women and girls, sexual harassment, discrimination, violation of women’s rights, trafficking of women and so on. Details
Getting In On The Act: Early Political Awakening In Northern Nigeria. By Ajiroba Yemi Kotun NORTHERN NIGERIA’s awakening in its early political drive is mainly traceable to the involvement of some educated Northerners with the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). The party was founded in 1944 by its President, Herbert Macaulay (1864-1946), a Yoruba; together with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904-1996), an Igbo, who emerged its Secretary-General in 1946. Details
Job Slot Demand: The Height of Political and Socio-economic inequality in Nigeria. By Manwu Samuel Starting with the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS 2018 job saga , the whole bizarre started when some unfavoured legislators at the center out of their annoyance revealed how the agency balkanized the job vacancies advertised among themselves decided to seal the mouth of the legislators by allocating some slots to principal officers of the national assembly in order to frustrate any form of investigation. Details
Jibia: Why PMB Should Call Hameed Ali to Order. By Professor Abdussamad Umar Jibia Our problem is with the decision of the President’s right hand man, Col. Hameed Ali to ban the entry of Nigerian made goods into Jibia local Government, particularly Jibia town. For the past two months, additional checkpoints have been introduced including one at the point of entry into Jibia town, with the sole purpose of stopping any vehicle carrying goods into Jibia from any part of Nigeria. Details
And so, as President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption posturing and grandstanding which have for some years now been on life-support finally breathed its last and was wheeled out for burial (without an autopsy), and the loud attempt by some shameless pretenders to clean up the cesspit of corruption called the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) degenerates into a public trial of the National Assembly, Minister of Niger Delta and the remorseless (mis)managers of affairs at the NDDC, instead of there to be a national mourning and grand coalition against graft and its perpetrators, Nigerians are all over the social media and at various points of gathering, demonstrating that they have only found in the calamitous development fresh ingredients for juicy comedy skits and colourless jokes. What a tragedy! Details
COVID-19 Pandemic and the Global Socio-Economic Turmoil: Going Beyond Capitalism. By Kola Ibrahim However, the biggest and most important lesson, that underlines all other lessons, to be learnt from the raging Coronavirus pandemic that has infected over 11.6 million and killed more than 539, 079 people globally as at the last count1, it is that the current socio-economic system, represented by global capitalism cannot take humanity forward to the next stage of civilization. Details
Reorganising Nigeria’s Left Politics. By Edwin Madunagu There is a contradiction between an enduring desire of the Nigerian Left (the aggregate of Nigerian Marxists, socialists, and fragments of radical democrats), on the one hand, and the actual history of Nigeria’s Left politics on the other. That contradiction can be stated like this: Nigerian Leftists have always hoped to found a substantial and respectable pan-Nigerian organization that is capable of permanently and continuously coordinating their revolutionary strategies and popular-democratic struggles regardless of the electoral agenda, time-tables and timelines presented to the nation by Nigeria’s ruling class and its governments. Details
Katsina Bombing: More Questions than Answers. By Prof. Abdussamad Umar Jibia Everyone knows that the bandits who operate in the Northwest and parts of North Central are not the same as Boko Haram in their ideology and methods. While Boko Haram claims to be fighting to establish an Islamic state and even chant Islamic slogans when they launch attacks, the bandits in the Northwest are completely ignorant of Religion, do not claim it and have no ideology but stealing, killing, maiming, raping and destruction. They were never reported, even once, to chant any religious slogan while attacking their victims. Details
President Buhari Reset (Part I). By Leonard Karshima Shilgba Buhari should spend his remaining 35 months as president on big ideas, resetting his strategies around providing enduring solutions instead of palliatives; giving Nigerians the opportunities to express themselves, not hand-outs; and fashioning out bold reforms without retreating in the face of opposition by labour unions. We need a Buhari reset; Buhari must work towards certain signature reforms that would wean Nigeria from foreign reliance, provide foreign trade deals for our products, bring about quality education and health care delivery, and make skilled Nigerians to stay back and build their country. Details
Surprisingly, it is a mixture of knocks and praises. Some people have a good understanding and full of commendation, while others are ill-informed and ignorant of what military service and life. Therefore, do not appreciate or understand the complexities and sacrifices of the military, let alone appreciate its noble contribution to our peace, security and national development. But the most worrisome aspect is the fact that some unpatriotic politicians, detractors and disgruntled elements who envy the successes and achievements of the leadership of the Nigerian Army, for some inexplicable reasons seems to be behind these campaigns of calumny. They are the ones fanning the embers of hatred, disinformation and false narratives about the Nigerian Army. Details
Npower Disengagement: Cons and Advice. By Manwu Samuel Though, federal government believes that the program is a two years initiative and beneficiaries will be completing the duration by the time proposed for disengagement even as some have exceeded the stipulated time, I will advise that the federal government should leave them till when the recruitment team will have concluded the incoming batch recruitment process (let say till December, 2020). Details
What Kind Of Democracy Do We Need In A New Nigeria? By Otive Igbuzor, Ph.D. Despite the progress that has been made since return to civil rule in 1999, there are huge challenges that are threatening democratic consolidation. The 1999 constitution still has a lot of gaps and has not been fully adapted to the federal structure of Nigeria. Experiences from the field of elections and judgements by courts indicate that there is the need for further electoral reform. Women participation in Nigeria is one of the worst in the world and fall far below the African average. There are threats to the civic space with intermittent attempts to enact laws that will restrict civil society organising and freedom of citizens. There are several examples of attempts to gag the press and punish outspoken citizens. Details
Lessons From The Murder Of George Floyd. By Anthony Akinola The typical attitude of the average Nigerian to the murder of a fellow citizen is rather casual. The type of outrage that followed the murder of George Floyd-not jungle justice-will drum it to all that life matters. No one has the right to take the life of another. Details
Now That Retired Col. Dangiwa Has Woken Up. By Ibrahim M. Attahir, Esq. I am not in a position to know whether retired Col Dangiwa was in Nigeria when Obj had no single Yoruba Muslim in his cabinet. A similar scenario was repeated during the presidency of GEJ. I can give many similar examples of lopsided appointments by the former Presidents. I cannot recall Col Dangiwa writing or otherwise calling for correction of such anomalies. Was it a design or coincidence? Details
This is why I think that as we reflect over the past twenty-one years, we must go back to the fundamentals. The first thing to look at is leadership at all levels. You cannot expect the best from any society that puts forward its worst to lead. Merit must be returned to all spheres of life. Details
Foundational Restructuring of the Nigerian State. By Anthony Akinola Nigerians are quite an intelligent and hard working people who can hold their own anywhere in a competitive world. Their nation, more than most in the world, is endowed with the attributes of greatness. The drawback to the greatness and unity of Nigeria, if one must be brutally honest, has been the historical imbalance between the North and the South. This social and economic imbalance was brought about by the dual approach to education in the former British colony. The advancement of education in the South can be credited to the Christian missionaries who established various schools, while their activities were proscribed in the North for understandable religious and opportunistic reasons. Details
Of Deregulation, Public Value and National Interest. By Abdulwarees Solanke Similarly, some public goods provision is therefore best left in the hands of the Private Sector Providers if they are not of very strategic significance, if the citizenry must be economically empowered or if the unnecessary bottlenecks must be removed. Details Almajiri: Moving Forward. By Prof Abdussamad Umar Jibia But is movement of almajirai from one state to another not against the teaching of this Hadith? Why are the scholars silent? Where is the NSCIA which quoted 1001 reasons from Quran and Sunnah to convince us to comply with social distancing and lockdown? Have we been compromised or are we afraid of some failed politicians? Details
It is as if the cancer has completely swallowed up the entire fabric of the nation. Cases involving the poor dragged on for years while those who can afford senior advocate can get quick justice. Many warned that this will sound the death knell of democracy in Nigeria. Every attempt to even build on free and fair election has been truncated by the judiciary. Details
China Dept--Trap: African Nations Must Plan Escape. By Monima Daminabo Hence, even as the Nigerian government has severally given assurances of operating within safe limits in taking Chinese loans, not many Nigerians are convinced. So dependent on China’s money is Nigeria that this column ‘Penpoint’ had once asked if this most populous African country, had become a new satellite province of the Asian giant. Details
Restating Rotimi On Regionalism And Military Rule. By Anthony Akinola On this note, Brigadier-General Rotimi deserves our respect, his views on national politics, even when we may not agree totally with them, also deserve our attention. They would be deemed to have come from the honest mind that he is. Details
Richard Akinjide In National Politics. By Anthony Akinola When Chief Akinjide became Federal Minister of Education in 1965, quite a substantial number of students from his ethnic group benefited from federal scholarship for university studies. As would be explained later, this is not to say he was tribal or nepotistic . The point one is trying to make here is that it was a departure from previous years when members of that ethnic group were discriminated against in the distribution of federal advantages. Details
Compulsory mass vaccination is now being seriously touted as the only way to close the COVID-19 season. As we shall be explaining shortly, we consider this not only unwarranted, but extremely dangerous both to public health and civil liberties; and even beyond. Based on previous precedents and current signals, it is evident that proponents of this idea would want to commence implementation in Nigeria and use their expected in route here to push the unpopular policy through in other nations where more serious resistance is envisaged. Details
Reflections on the dethronement of Muhammad Sunusi II. By Adamu Tilde This essay will attempt to discuss the rather short stint— but dramatic — days of the latter, and unburden the perplexed minds on some bewildering questions repeatedly asked: was MS-II misunderstood? Was MS-II a victim of what Chris Ngwodo called "the tyranny of tradition" Details
Crucial Role Of Big Data Analytics In The Nigerian Government. By Malik Kabir Mustapha With a population of about 200 million people and a country in desperate need of economic and social development. Nigeria needs to integrate big data into running the government. With the popularity of cloud computing and IoT (internet of things), implementation and management will not be as difficult as it would have 10 years ago. Details |