The Hike in the Prices of Food Items in the Eastern Markets is another Call for The Easterners to look downwards. It is rather disheartening that after 50 Years of Civil War, the Igbos are yet to learn the Bitter Lesson of Food Scarcity. It is foolishness to brag that Igbos own half of Lagos, and developed the Whole of Abuja; while the shocking reality is that at the first gun shot, you would see that Igbos are empty and destitute.
How can you brag of welfare with an empty stomach? How can you count your three storey buildings with out a yam barn? How can you boast of international markets without a Plantain Plantation? It is not enough to know China and Malaysia; would you also import ginger, garlic, tomatoes, cocoyam, onions, to mention but a few- yet our lands are arable and richly fertile. Yet we are blessed with rainfall; in and out of seasons our lands produce water!
Starvation, yes, starvation would always conquer us. Which ever war we decide to embark on, be it in the battle field or on the negotiations tables, Starvation would always crumble our Storey Buildings and Loot our International Markets, if we don’t look downwards now. How many billions does the CBN release each year as agricultural grants? How many of the billions come down to the East? Why because they know we have no farms. Such money in the hands of a supposed Easterner Farmer finds its way to China the next Moment and finds its way back in 40feet Container as Processed Artificial Tin Tomatoes and Plastic Rice.
Igbos, how could you leave your kitchen affairs in the hands of your rivals? How do you wear fine clothes; live in Fine Houses; drive beautiful cars; speak good English and yet BEG for FOOD? Yet you all claim to Be Jews. Jews Don’t Eat from Gentiles, Jews Grow their Foods. Jews are not Just Military Super Power; Jews Are Food Sufficient- Agro-Gaints.
I call on every Igbo Man to look downwards.
I call on all our Igbos to look downwards.
I call on Ohaneze Ndi Igbo to truly reflect on Igbos interests and incite that.
I call on our various Market Unions in Igbo Land to *Own A Farm*. Invest in Agriculture. Invest in Being Food Sufficient. Otherwise, We All Lose the War Before the First Gun Shot even while still at Peace We Would Surrender Again to Starvation!
I wish we can pick up the challenge just as Isreal did when the Arabs were blocking food to them in 1952.The state of Isreal swore on two grounds:1. That they would turn their land which is a desert into an arable land that can feed a continent four times per day. THEY DID IT.
2. Under the leadership of Golda Meir the first female Israeli Prime Minister, they swore that any more attempt from any country or group of countries to replicate the Jewish genocide, they would pull down the temple on humanity. Those were their words which meant ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
In no long time, Isreal became the world’s biggest producer of agro products, feeding her neighbors with high taxes of agro-goods.
Our own renowned Dr. Micheal Okpara traveled to Isreal those days to tap into their knowledge and understudy the Israeli-code in agriculture, which gave birth to a lot of agro institutions and businesses in the East.
One is the Micheal Okpara Agricultural institution, Umuahia where the first mushroom grafting was carried out in the world.
Yes! We can do it. We can pick up this challenge and set a new course for ourselves as a region. Under 18 months, we can scale up our agriculture.
My people, let’s learn how to pick up challenges and run with it. That is how to outclass your enemies. You do better in the face of such brazen challenge.
This is the best time to rise above food dependency on the North. This is the best time to cripple their comparative advantage on food supply and break that maxim of “food basket of the nation” and it’s semantics.
If only we can boldly accept the North’s suddenly decision to divert their agricultural produce to the neighboring west African countries instead of the West, East and Southern part of the country, they would be bleeding in no time.
They will because the other parts of the country are the biggest buyers of their agricultural produce.
Togo, Cameroon and Ghana doesn’t have the purchasing power of even the East.
These countries have their own viable agribusinesses, so whatever the North hopes to sell to them will be priced down. Simple economics.
It will bite us temporarily, no doubt but this is a welcome development that should make us all happy if only we have visionary leaders in the other geoeconomic zones.
I won’t be surprised if the eastern governors all board a jet to the North to beg for food and the unblocking of the delivery channels. That is how stupidly unproductive they have grown.
LET US MAKE A HISTORY NOW!! WE CAN DO THIS. YES WE CAN!!
I do not honestly know what is wrong with Eastern Governors. The Western Governors have a way of resolving issues with agitators for public interest. The Eastern Governors are mostly interested in divide and rule to please the demigods in the north. They see those clamouring for Biafra and good Governance as enemies that should be dealt with.
We have seen how the Yoruba Governors responded to food and security threats from the Caliphate. We have also seen how Benue Governor responded to the same threat from the Fulani Controlled FGN! Alas ,the Eastern Governors go about as if nothing is wrong, surrounding themselves with praise singers . This is what people get the moment they sell their votes to the highest bidder .
We must not make the same mistake in the scheduled Nov 6 Gubernatorial election. We must elect somebody who understands the politics of Nigeria and can courageously defend the interest of Igbo Nation. We are presently at Cross road and should not play politics with the future of generations to come.
Thursday 25th February 2021 marked a historical day in the political live of the Igbo Nation as critical political actors and stakeholders of Igbo Extraction converged at Owerri (Eastern Heartland) to deliberate on the Challenges and Prospects of the Igbo Nation Political Participation in the present Nigeria political system.
This 2021 Summit was the first in the series of the Summit that will be an annual event. Delegates and participants cutting across the thirty six state chapters and FCT Abuja, Europe and USA Diaspora chapters of INC were fully in attendance. Other participants and dignitaries were drawn from the Igbo Political Elites, Traditional Rulers, PGs of Town Unions, Youth Leaders, Women Leaders, Senior Clergymen, Academia etc.
The Summit after critical x-ray of the challenges and prospects of the Igbo Nation participation in the present Nigeria political system frowned on the pathetic situation the Igbo Nation found herself within the present political configuration of the Nigerian state orchestrated by the tiny Nigeria Ruling Cabal.
The theme of the historical Summit was: “Fostering Partnership for National Reintegration”. While the topic discussed was “Igbo Nation Participation in the Nigerian Political System: Challenges and Prospects”.
Consequent upon the above, the Summit resolved as follows:
1. That it is sacred obligation for the major political parties in Nigeria to cede their Presidential Ticket to the South-East Zone in the 2023 Nigeria Presidential Election and that all determinant Nigeria political kingpins and major actors should respect and adopt the permutation.
On the foregoing, the Summit posited that it is a matter of urgent necessity that Nigeria must be Liberated from the present high state of insecurity, abject poverty, economic turmoil and political backwardness Inter-alia.
The Summit furthermore wish to state unequivocally that if the aforementioned demand is treated with levity because of the satanic conspiracies against the Igbo Nation in Nigeria, the Igbo Nation will have no other option than to collectively mobilize to enforce its Rights to Self-determination as contained in the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the United Nation Declaration of Rights.
2. The Summit condemn in strong terms the wanton and reckless destruction of properties and killing of Nigerians by the rampaging Fulani Jihadists Herdsmen and Bandits.
In view of the above, we demand the immediate review and overhaul of the Nigeria Security Architecture for efficient service delivery.
3. The Summit call on Nigerians to boycott the buying and eating of cow meat as a minimum measure of economic sanctions against the killer Jihadist Herdsmen.
4. Finally, the Summit strongly demand that the Federal Government of Nigeria should declare the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) as a terrorist group for their open and brazen support and participation in terrorism in Nigeria through the Jihadist Killer Herdsmen.
The Special Adviser (SPA) to the Governor of Enugu State, on Water Resources, Hon. Anthony Dubem Onyia, has reassured residents of the state that the issue of inadequate water supply, one of the key challenges the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi inherited, will soon be history.
In statement, Onyia maintained that the present administration is doing a lot, with the lean resources at its disposal, to address the issue of water in Enugu metropolis.
Noting that some areas in Enugu metropolis, such as, Iva Valley, GRA, New Haven, Ogui/Asata, Uwani, parts of Achara Layout, Abakpa Nike, Trans Ekulu, Independence Layout and Thinkers Corner, enjoy potable water supply, Onyia reassured residents in other areas that they will soon enjoy adequate potable water supply.
The Special Adviser disclosed that the state government has commenced comprehensive rehabilitation of the 9th Mile Crash Programme, with solar powered boreholes to ensure adequate supply of potable water from Oji River, Ajali and Iva Water schemes to Enugu metropolis.
Onyia revealed that a contract of N600 million was recently awarded to FordMarx Nigeria Limited, for the rehabilitation of the 9th Mile Crash Programme, adding that the company has mobilized to site.
The Special Adviser explained that the contract which will be solar powered, to address the peculiar challenges of power failure, will boost the volume of water being reticulated from the ageing water schemes to Enugu metropolis.
He revealed that the state government has commenced the bid opening and evaluation meeting for new Okwojo Ngwo boreholes augmentation to Enugu metropolis.
Onyia said that the Okwojo Ngwo boreholes augmentation to Enugu metropolis, which is a network of 10 solar powered boreholes, is a newly conceived design which will help boost water production for the newly awarded 9th Mile Crash Programme.
“It will equally augment the existing water schemes in order to effectively manage and meet the demand of the growing population of Enugu metropolis”, he said.
At the managerial level, Onyia pointed out that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration, in its determination to address the issue of water in the state, recently constituted the Board of Enugu State Water Corporation, headed by a foremost consultant in the water industry and the first Managing Director of the corporation, Engr. Innocent O. Diyoke, to vigorously drive the state government’s sustained programmes towards ensuring adequate supply of potable water in the state.
The governor’s aide further disclosed that the state government, in February 2021, advertised for the post of Managing Director of the State Water Corporation Board, to join the team for effective implementation its agenda in the sector.
He further explained that the state government has also committed funds to the actualization of FG Adada Dam Water Project in Nsukka, to guarantee its speedy actualization, stressing that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration is not relenting in its bid to increase the sources of potable water supply, and to continue to maintain existing facilities.
EFCC has requested Bola Tinubu’s asset declaration documents from the Code of Conduct Bureau in a politically-charged inquiry that could see the former Lagos governor and ruling party chieftain arrested and prosecuted before 2023.
The anti-graft office in November 2020 asked the asset fraud investigation office to supply details of Mr. Tinubu’s asset documents as part of an ongoing probe of the politician, according to a copy of the request obtained by the Gazette. The request, dated November 6, was a follow-up to previous demands made with respect to Mr. Tinubu’s asset filings.
In the letter, the EFCC referred to its previous letter of September 4, 2020, and CCB’s response of October 9, 2020, asking the bureau to supply “outstanding requested information of Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu.” It was not immediately clear whether or not the CCB has obliged the EFCC’s request for additional information ever since, or the nature and scope of information provided if applicable.
The EFCC’s November 6 memo also included another high-profile politician and Buhari administration official, but the Gazette’s lawyers advised that his identity should be protected until our reporters and editors have established why he was being investigated.
Respective spokespersons for the EFCC and CCB did not return requests seeking comments about Mr. Tinubu’s investigation as led by Abdulrasheed Bawa when he was the head of Lagos zonal office. Mr. Bawa was confirmed as the chairman of EFCC last week despite being a subject of a smothered corruption probe, and officials said he is now fully in charge of Mr. Tinubu’s case.
A spokesman for Mr. Tinubu did not return calls and messages seeking comments, but two associates strategising for the former governor told our Reporter that he had already learnt of the probe and sent messages to President Muhammadu Buhari for mercy.
“Ashiwaju Tinubu contacted the president some weeks ago to protest that his hands are clean of any dubious practices,” the source said under anonymity to avoid damaging his relationship with the Lagos heavyweight.
“He told the president that if the EFCC must proceed with its probe, then it has to do so with compassion and fear of God.”
“But what Ashiwaju really wants is for the investigation to stop because we all know it was instigated by Abubakar Malami to harass and persecute the party leader and destabilise him before 2023,” the source said.
Another source close to Mr. Tinubu said he recently heard the politician complaining about the influence of the attorney-general on the Buhari administration.
“We were together and I heard it when he said Malami wanted to become the kingmaker in the APC,” the source said. “He also said Malami does not have the intellectual strength to direct the affairs of a ruling party and will not be allowed to kill the party.”
A senior EFCC official familiar with Mr. Tinubu’s investigation said the agency was aided in part by Nigeria’s adoption of a financial system driven by modern surveillance infrastructure. Mr. Tinubu was already arraigned in 2011 for asset declaration fraud, but the matter was dismissed due to the failure of prosecutors to find enough evidence to substantiate their claim that he operated foreign bank accounts while governor between 1999-2007.
But the EFCC has now found additional information and believed it would successfully nail Mr. Tinubu using the same set of asset documents but with advanced layers of verification. Nigeria has adopted the bank verification number and strengthened its financial intelligence departments since 2011.
“The EFCC has travelled a long distance from 2011 when Tinubu was first prosecuted,” an anti-graft chief said. “Now we are carrying out a tech-driven anti-corruption war.”
The official also said Mr. Tinubu’s alleged asset fraud is only an aspect of multiple counts to be instituted against him by the EFCC.
“We have petitions from a group in Abuja that we should investigate the source of those bullion vans that were driven into his house in 2019,” the official said. “We are also investigating his use of several proxies to collude with governors in Lagos and syphon money from the state.”
In November, the Gazette published bank documents that showed how Mr. Tinubu’ Alpha-Beta was moving the questionable funds it received from Lagos State into other companies linked to Mr. Tinubu, including broadcaster TVC and Lagos metro bus providers.
But EFCC’s ability to prove its case against Mr. Tinubu’s this time could still prove more challenging than officials boasted, especially as he was said to have tucked his deals and assets in complex layers of financial manoeuvring
Officials could not immediately comment on what Mr. Buhari knew about Mr. Tinubu’s probe, but they expressed confidence that the president would be reluctant to stand in the way of a criminal investigation.
Mr. Tinubu has long been considered untouchable because of the role he played in bringing Mr. Buhari to power, but his influence has waned since 2015 when Mr. Buhari shut him out of his inner circles after being sworn in as president.
An arrest and prosecution of Mr. Tinubu could blight his 2023 chances for president. The former Lagos governor opened a campaign office in Abuja last year, although he has yet to publicly declared his presidential run.
One of Mr. Tinubu’s associates who spoke with the Gazette said his ambition clashed with some other interests within the ruling APC, especially those of Mr. Malami.
I am constrained to write to you this open letter. I decided to make it an open letter because the issue is very weighty and must be greatly worrisome to all concerned Nigerians and that means all right-thinking Nigerians and those resident in Nigeria. Since the issue is of momentous concern to all well-meaning and all right-thinking Nigerians, it must be of great concern to you, and collective thinking and dialoguing is the best way of finding an appropriate and adequate solution to the problem. The contents of this letter, therefore, should be available to all those who can help in proffering effective solutions for the problem of insecurity in the land.
One of the spinoffs and accelerants is the misinformation and disinformation through the use of fake news. A number of articles, in recent days, have been attributed to me by some people who I believe may be seeking added credence and an attentive audience for their opinions and view-points. As you know very well, I will always boldly own what I say and disown what is put into my mouth. But the issue I am addressing here is very serious; it is the issue of life and death for all of us and for our dear country, Nigeria. This issue can no longer be ignored, treated with nonchalance, swept under the carpet or treated with cuddling glove. The issue is hitting at the foundation of our existence as Nigerians and fast eroding the root of our Nigerian community. I am very much worried and afraid that we are on the precipice and dangerously reaching a tipping point where it may no longer be possible to hold danger at bay. Without being immodest, as a Nigerian who still bears the scar of the Nigerian civil war on my body and with a son who bears the scar of fighting Boko Haram on his body, you can understand, I hope, why I am so concerned. When people are desperate and feel that they cannot have confidence in the ability of government to provide security for their lives and properties, they will take recourse to anything and everything that can guarantee their security individually and collectively.
For over ten years, for four of which you have been the captain of the ship, Boko Haram has menacingly ravaged the land and in spite of government’s claim of victory over Boko Haram, the potency and the activities of Boko Haram, where they are active, remain undiminished, putting lie to government’s claim. The recent explanation of the Chief of Army Staff for non-victory due to lack of commitment and lack of motivation on the part of troops bordering on sabotage speaks for itself. Say what you will, Boko Haram is still a daily issue of insecurity for those who are victimised, killed, maimed, kidnapped, raped, sold into slavery and forced into marriage and for children forcibly recruited into carrying bombs on them to detonate among crowds of people to cause maximum destructions and damage. And Boko Haram will not go away on the basis of sticks alone, carrots must overweigh sticks. How else do you deal with issues such as only about 50% literacy in North-East with over 70% unemployment?
Herdsmen/farmers crises and menace started with government treating the issue with cuddling glove instead of hammer. It has festered and spread. Today, it has developed into banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and killings all over the country. The unfortunate situation is that the criminality is being perceived as a ‘Fulani’ menace unleashed by Fulani elite in the different parts of the country for a number of reasons but even more unfortunately, many Nigerians and non-Nigerians who are friends of Nigeria attach vicarious responsibility to you as a Fulani elite and the current captain of the Nigeria ship. Perception may be as potent as reality at times. Whatever may be the grievances of Fulanis, if any, they need to be put out in the open and their grievances, if legitimate, be addressed; and if other ethnic groups have grievances, let them also be brought out in the open and addressed through debate and dialogue.
The main issue, if I may dare say, is poor management or mismanagement of diversity which, on the other hand, is one of our greatest and most important assets. As a result, very onerous cloud is gathering. And rain of destruction, violence, disaster and disunity can only be the outcome. Nothing should be taken for granted, the clock is ticking with the cacophony of dissatisfaction and disaffection everywhere in and outside the country. The Presidency and the Congress in the US have signalled to us to put our house in order. The House of Lords in the UK had debated the Nigerian security situation. We must understand and appreciate the significance, implication and likely consequences of such concerns and deliberations.
No one can stop hate speech, violent agitation and smouldering violent agitation if he fans the embers of hatred, disaffection and violence. It will continue to snowball until it is out of control. A stich in time saves nine, goes the old wise saying.
With the death of Funke, Chief Fasoranti’s daughter, some sympathetic Nigerian groups are saying “enough is enough”. Prof. Anya, a distinguished Nigerian merit Laureate, has this to say “We can no longer say with certainty that we have a nation”. Niger-Delta leaders, South-Eastern leaders, Middle-Belt leaders and Northern Elders Forum have not remained quiet. Different ordinary Nigerians at home and abroad are calling for different measures to address or ameliorate the situation. All the calls and cries can only continue to be ignored at the expense of Nigerian unity, if not its continued existence.
To be explicit and without equivocation, Mr. President and General, I am deeply worried about four avoidable calamities:
1. abandoning Nigeria into the hands of criminals who are all being suspected, rightly or wrongly, as Fulanis and terrorists of Boko Haram type;
2. spontaneous or planned reprisal attacks against Fulanis which may inadvertently or advertently mushroom into pogrom or Rwanda-type genocide that we did not believe could happen and yet it happened.
3. similar attacks against any other tribe or ethnic group anywhere in the country initiated by rumours, fears, intimidation and revenge capable of leading to pogrom;
4. violent uprising beginning from one section of the country and spreading quickly to other areas and leading to dismemberment of the country.
It happened to Yugoslavia not too long ago. If we do not act now, one or all of these scenarios may happen. We must pray and take effective actions at the same time. The initiative is in the hands of the President of the nation, but he cannot do it alone. In my part of the world, if you are sharpening your cutlass and a mad man comes from behind to take the cutlass from you, you need other people’s assistance to have your cutlass back without being harmed. The mad men with serious criminal intent and terrorism as core value have taken cutlass of security. The need for assistance to regain control is obviously compelling and must be embraced now.
A couple of weeks ago at a public lecture, I had said, among other things, that:
“In all these issues of mobilisation for national unity, stability, security, cooperation, development, growth and progress, there is no consensus. Like in the issue of security, government should open up discussion, debate and dialogue as part of consultation at different levels and the outcome of such deliberations should be collated to form inputs into a national conference to come up with the solution that will effectively deal with the issues and lead to rapid development, growth and progress which will give us a wholesome society and enhanced living standard and livelihood in an inclusive and shared society. It will be a national programme. We need unity of purpose and nationally accepted strategic roadmap that will not change with whims and caprices of any government. It must be owned by the citizens, people’s policy and strategy implemented by the government no matter its colour and leaning.
Some of the groups that I will suggest to be contacted are: traditional rulers, past heads of service (no matter how competent or incompetent they have been and how much they have contributed to the mess we are in), past heads of para-military organisations, private sector, civil society, community leaders particularly in the most affected areas, present and past governors, present and past local government leaders, religious leaders, past Heads of State, past intelligence chiefs, past Heads of Civil Service and relevant current and retired diplomats, members of opposition and any groups that may be deemed relevant.”
The President must be seen to be addressing this issue with utmost seriousness and with maximum dispatch and getting all hands on deck to help. If there is failure, the principal responsibility will be that of the President and no one else. We need cohesion and concentration of effort and maximum force – political, economic, social, psychological and military – to deal successfully with the menace of criminality and terrorism separately and together. Blame game among own forces must be avoided. It is debilitating and only helpful to our adversary. We cannot dither anymore. It is time to confront this threat headlong and in a manner that is holistic, inclusive and purposeful.
For the sake of Nigeria and Nigerians, I pray that God may grant you, as our President, the wisdom, the understanding, the political will and the courage to do what is right when it is right and without fear or favour. May God save, secure, protect and bless Nigeria. May He open to us a window of opportunity that we can still use to prevent the worst happening. As we say in my village, “May God forbid bad thing”.
Nigeria’s allocation of the first batch of about four million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX has touched down in Abuja.
COVAX is a global scheme to procure and distribute vaccine for free as the world races to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
Nigeria is the third Weat African country to receive the vaccines after Ghana and Cote d’voire from the COVAX facility.
Recall the COVAX was launched in April 2020, to help ensure a fairer distribution of coronavirus vaccines between rich and poor nations, said it would deliver two billion doses to its members by the end of 2021.
The about four million (3.92 million doses) would be given to frontline workers, high profile Nigerians, support staff, strategic leaders among others.
The 3.92 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine was licensed by the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India, were part of an initial tranche of deliveries headed to several low and middle-income countries, which Nigeria is part of.
The 3.92 million was also said to be part of the 16 million doses initially expected in the country.
Earlier, Dr Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said: ‘We have been Informed that four million out of the 16 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines will arrive in the first batch of supplies to the country.
Shuaib also informed that the agency have established a national COVID-19 operations room to track planned activities at all levels and report on state of preparedness using a dash board to also identify and address gaps promptly.
According to him, an additional 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines donated by telecom giant, MTN, will also be delivered to the country by the end of February.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF), on COVID-19 and also Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha said: ‘The PTF has been assured that Nigeria shall receive the initial four million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines very soon and Nigerians will be adequately informed on developments.
‘The multisectoral machinery will be deployed to enhance the logistics to the ‘last-mile administration’ processes that have been put in place. This will involve community mobilization, training, transportation, storage, operations, among others. The real work involves every sub-national entities, the communities, the citizens, and the civil societies.’
Mustapha also said: ‘The issue of vaccines continues to dominate discussions and major policy and financial decisions by various countries of the world. As you are aware, NAFDAC in the course of the week granted emergency use authorization for the use of AstraZeneca vaccines in Nigeria. This decision was reached after due process by the regulatory body.
