Last night the Federal Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed was on the National Television, the NTA, ostensibly to educate Nigerians on what the Buhari government has done to pacify the EndSars Nigerian Youths protesters.
Maybe due to the weight of the subject or the scare most the government people have received since the protests started, Mr. Lai Mohammed, looked pale and sickly. He was beside himself without his usual gift of sophistry. And he, of course, laboured hard to do justice to the topic.
I was not convinced in the least. I do not know about you.
During the course of the programme, Alhaji Lai kept repeating the fact that the government had granted all the requests of the protesters and yet they have refused to leave the streets and allow for a free flow of human and vehicular traffic.
He even went as far using the unfortunate incident at Osun State involving Governor Gboyega Oyetola as a case study that the protests have been hijacked by what he called, ” the enemies of the country”. And he, like other highly placed Nigerians and the beneficiaries of the lopsided system Nigeria operates, is frantically looking for the the sponsors of the EndSars Movement.
In a note of resignation, Lai Mohammed who eventually occupied a major portion of today’s Radio Nigerian news with his preachment on the futility of continuing with the protests, asked, “What do the protesters want?”
I will answer him right away.
Mr. Lai Mohammed, Nigerian Youths are tired of the system that has made Nigerians fugitives, refugees, and victims of government insensitivity, in their own country. And there are thousands of reasons for such a protest to go on and on.
While the problem did not start with the Buhari government but an objective analysis of his administration will reveal a sinister plot of the gradual *Northernization* of the Nigerian Federation.
Never in the history of this country has a President been this insensitive to the plight of Nigerians. Nor is there any comparison in our history of the kind of ethnic agenda the Buhari government is a champion of.
Follow me through the list:
1 Muhammadu Buhari, President and Minister of Petroleum *North*
2 Ahmed Lawan, Senate President *North*
3 Tanko Mohammed, Chief Justice of the Federation *North*
4 Monica Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal *North*
5 Ahmed Idris Wase, Deputy Speaker Federal House of Representatives *North*
6 Babagana Monguno, National Security Adviser *North*
7 Boss Mustapha, Secretary to Government of the Federation *North*
8 Lt. General Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Army Staff *North*
9 Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff *North*
10 Muhammed Adamu, Inspector General of Police *North*
11 Hameed Ali, Comptroller General, Nigerian Customs Service *North*
12 Ja’afaru Ahmed, Comptroller General, Nigerian Correctional Service *North*
13 Mohammed Babandede, Comptroller General, Nigerian Immigration Service *North*
14 Abdullahi Gana Mohammed, Commandant General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps *North*
15 Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi, Chairman, DSS *North*
16 AVM Muhammed Usman, Chief of Defence Intelligence *North*
17 Muhammed Mustapha Abdallah, Chairman/CEO, NDLEA *North*
18 Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, DG NYSC *North*
19 Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, DG, National Intelligence Agency *North*
20 Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance *North*
21 Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy *North*
22 Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture *North*
23 Suleiman Adamu, Minister of Water Resources, *North*
24 Mohammed Bello, FCT Minister *North*
25 Ramatu Tijjani, FCT Minister of State *North*
26 Abubakar Malami, Attorney General and Minister for Justice *North*
27 Ahmed Idris, Accountant General *North*
28 Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director, NNPC *North*
29 Garba Abari, DG National Orientation Agency *North*
30 Mohammed Nami, Chairman FIRS *North*
31 Bashir Jamoh, DG, NIMASA *North*
32 Hadiza Bala Usman, Chairman Nigerian Ports Authority *North*
33 Mansur Liman, DG, FRCN *North*
34 Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, DG, NTA *North*
35 Nasiru Ladan Argungu, DG, NDE *North*
36 Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, Executive Secretary, NUC *North*
37 Prof. Umar Dambatta, Executive Secretary, NCC *North*
38 Kashim Ibrahim Imam, Executive Secretary, TETFUND *North*
39 AVM Muhammadu Alhaji Muhammed, DG, NEMA *North*
40 Lamido Yuguda, DG, Securities and Exchange Commission *North*
41 Prof. Mohammed Sambo, Executive Secretary, NHIS *North*
42 Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, DG, Nigerian Broadcasting Commission *North*
43 Prof. Aliyu Jauro, DG, NESREA *North*
44 Nurudeen Rafindadi, MD, FERMA *North*
45 Musa Nuhu, DG, NCAA *North*
46 Rabiu Yadudu, MD, FAAN *North*
47 Garba Abubakar, Rigistrar General, CAC *North*
48 Abdulkarim Obaje, National Co-ordinator, CSDP *North*
49 Mrs Aisha Dahiru-Umar, acting DG, PENCOM *North*
50 Abdullahi Kachifu, DG, NITDA *North*
51 Abubakar Abba Bello, MD, NEXIM Bank *North*
52 Aliyu Abdulhameed, MD, NIRSAL *North*
53 Hassan Alwan, acting MD, Bank of Agriculture *North*
54 Ahmed Dangiwa, MD, FMBN *North*
56 Adamu Adaji, DG, National Boundary Commission *North*
60 Ahmed Kadi Amshi, Chairman, National Assembly Service Commission *North*
61 Hamid Bobboi, Executive Secretary, UBEC *North*
62 Abdulaziz Aliyu, DG, National Identity Management Commission *North*
63 Maimuna Yaya Abubakar, Chairman, NIPOST *North*
64 Ahmed Kuru, MD, AMCON *North*
65 Yusuf Asir Danbatta, acting Secretary, National Assembly Service Commission *North*
66 Gambo Aliyu, DG, NACA *North*
67 Mamman Ahmadu, DG, BPP *North*
68 Bukhari Bello, Chairman, FRSC *North*
69 Mohammed Jibrin, DG, National Board for Technology Incubation *North*
70 Prof. Abubakar Sharabutu, Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria *North*
71 Ibrahim Goni, Conservator General, National Parks Service *North*
72 Hassan Bello, Ex-Sec/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council *North*
73 Prof. Isah Hayatu Ciroma, DG, Nigerian Law School *North*
74 Muhammed Umar, acting EFCC Chairman *North*
75 Faisal Shuaibu, ED/CEO, Nigerian Primary Healthcare *North*
76 Umaru Ibrahim, MD, NDIC *North*
77 Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, MD/CEO, Rural Electrification Agency *North*
78 Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, acting MD, Transmission Company of Nigeria *North*
79 Saliu Buntu, MD, Federal Housing Authority *North*
80 Muhammed Umar, Director, DPP *North*
81 Saidu Malama, Chairman, Solid Mineral Fund *North*
82 Abdulkadir Saidu, Ex-Sec, PPPRA *North*
83 Dasuki Arabi, DG, Bureau of Public Service Reforms *North*
84 Prof. Adam Okene Ahmed, acting Provost, Nigerian Defence Academy *North*
85 Prof. Baba Muhammadu Aliyu, Ex-Sec, Federal Commission for Colleges of Education *North*
86 Prof. Ahmed Tijani Mora, Chairman, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria *North*
87 Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, Ex-Sec, Center for Crisis Communication *North*
88 Muheeda Farida Dankaka, Chairman, Federal Character Commission *North*
89 Fatima Shinkafi, Ex-Sec, Solid Mineral Fund *North*
90 Sen. Basheer Mohammed, Chairman, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs *North*
91 Prof. Muhammed Taofiq Ladan, DG, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) *North*
92 Bala Yabani Mohammed, acting Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly *North*
93 Dauda Ibrahim El-ladan, acting Clerk of the Senate *North*
94 John Tsoho, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court *North*
95 Major General Sarham Jamilu, Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy *North*
*Waooooooooh*
This is in conjunction with numerous Permanent Secretary and Director positions in the Civil Service. Not to talk of choice ambassadorial postings
Are you aware that both the Chairmen of the Senate and Reps committee on the Army and the Airforce are from the *North?*
We are not done yet. Look at that list again and you get the worst shock of your life.
I will help you out again.
If you look at the list once more, you will see that:
(A) Revenue Agencies
NNPC, NPA, Customs, FIRS, CAC, TCN, NCAA, FAAN, NIMASA, National Parks, Solid Mineral Fund and Immigration.
(B)ICT
NOA, NCC, FRCN, NITDA, NTA, NBC
(C) Security, Intelligence and Paramilitary
COAS, CAS, Customs, Immigration, IGP, DSS, NDLEA, NSCDC, NDA, NIA, NYSC, Correctional Service and Defence Intelligence.
(D)Education
NUC, Tetfund, Law School, NDA, NIALS, NILDS, Agric Research Council and Technology Incubation.
(E) All the Federal Govt Banks and other Financial Agency
NIRSAL, NDIC, NEXIM, AMCON, FMBN and BOA.
( F ) Interventionist Agencies
FERMA, SMEDAN, NDE, NEMA, PPPRA, NESREA, CSDP, EFCC, and REA
( H ) Judiciary
Supreme Court, Court of Apeal and Federal High Court
*are all headed by the people from the North*
Buhari has *captured* Nigeria for his people.
What Othman Danfodio could not do with his sword. What Ahmadu Bello failed to achieve despite his aristocratic posturing. What IBB never contemplated even with his guile. What Abacha never thought of with his brashness and devil may care attitude.
*But Buhari has done it.*
And will someone inform Mr. Lai Mohammed that none of the federations that were structured the way Nigeria is now ever lived to tell their stories?
Nigerian Youths want besides a holistic *Police Reform*,
*Judicial Reform*
*A People’s Constitution*
*Electoral Reform*
*Civil Service Reform*
*Access to opportunities*
*End to Quota System*
*Reduction in the Cost of Governance*
*Health Sector Reform*
*Education Sector Reform*
*End to the State of Origin Requirement*
*Transparency in Government business,*
among others.
If President Buhari cannot guarantee the fulfilment of these demands in record time, then let him resign and go home.
In the meantime, *Let the Protests go on. Nigeria belongs to the Youths!*
UgoGold N. Ofonedu