A former Military Governor of Lagos and Imo States, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (retd.), has died at the age of 77.
Kanu’s associate and ally, Mrs Joe Okei-Odumakin, confirmed this on Wednesday.
“I can confirm that he has passed on. This is very sad news. A statement will be issued soon,” she said.
The cause of his death could not be immediately confirmed.
Kanu, who was appointed into the Supreme Military Council headed by the late Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed in 1975, later became a human rights activist after leaving the military.He joined the pro-democracy movement, NADECO, and played a leading role in the agitation for the actualisation of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Moghalu punctures FG’s claim on economy recovery in Q1 2021
…says NIMC pushed CBN to introduce BVN
A former deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Kingsley Moghalu has posited that the year 2021 will be much like the past year.
He also disclosed that CBN introduced bank verification number out of frustration when National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was moving at a slow pace in registering Nigerians.
He spoke during a television programme monitored in Abuja on Tuesday, while responding to Federal Government’s optimism that the economy would rebound from recession by the end of the first quarter of this year.
Moghalu, who was presidential candidate of Young People’s Party (YPP) in the 2019 general election said “the second wave of covid-19 will bring about another lockdown in many countries of the world and it is already happening.
He said: “As those countries are locked down again, industrial capacity is not being used at full capacity; demand for Nigeria’s oil would keep dropping and in order to manage the price of oil, OPEC members have instituted production cuts that affected Nigeria.
“These things affect Nigeria’s ability to earn revenue because the country has left itself vulnerable by being a one product economy.
“All these along with the policy direction of the economy which has not been friendly will combine to create a situation where it’s going to be difficult though, not impossible for Nigeria to grow by 1.9 percent in 2021 but I doubt it can happen in the first quarter. It can happen from the second or third quarter.”
According to him, there is no question on the need for biometric data in any 21st century situation to be able to secure citizens.
“When we were at the central bank, we executed a lot of reforms in the payment system. And as deputy governor of operations, I led the team that conceptualized and introduced the bank verification number (BVN).
“Why did we do it? It was because we were frustrated with the pace of the national identity number rollout. We were not satisfied and we said ok, but we control the financial system as regulators.
“So within that space, we will do what we have to do to make financial transactions more efficient, more secure with unique identifiers.
“That was why we developed the BVN and it worked. There are 40 million people in Nigeria today who have it.
“If the same efficiency and effectiveness were used by the wider government, we would have been at a far better place by now.”
He however said it was not sensible to force millions of Nigerians to obtain NIN registration in the middle of a massive pandemic as people are massing at various centres, super spreading covid-19
He advocated a reform of the education system, which he said was not structured to drive an economy for a 200 million population country like Nigeria.
Continuing, Moghalu said: “We also need to invest in human capital and that level of investment is not taking place. We focus on the shiny bright object of infrastructure but who is going to use that infrastructure if half of your youth do not have jobs, half of them do not have skills?”
Moghalu also advocated creation of a N1 trillion venture capital fund where the government will invest N500 billion and the private sector will contribute the rest but the private sector will administer the fund.
“In Nigeria, you have government running everything and once you have that situation, politics, corruption and rent seeking will take over.
“That is why the country is not moving because government has too much control because politicians want to make money from all these so-called schemes.
“The Federal Government must create an enabling environment for private sector investors to come in and do these things on an economic basis, people would be serious, “he added
In BVI Channel 1 ,we believe in Freedom before Independence .We struggle to achieve freedom in Nigeria first before deciding on whether we desire a separate Nation.
For now we desire ;
1.Economic Freedom
2.Political Freedom.
3.Social Cultural Freedom
4.Spiritual Freedom
All of these types of freedom can be achieved in a restructured Nigeria into Regional Government running autonomously.
We all desire a just ,free ,fair and equitable society where all men are equal before the law.
The Federal Government says it has issued licences to selected private and public institutions to provide National Identification Numbers to citizens both in urban and rural communities.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami who disclosed this stated that a private company had deployed over fourteen thousand facilities nationwide for the registration of citizens who did not have National Identification Numbers.
He said all the organizations are free to establish their centres across the country and give National Identification Numbers, as the numbers are free to all citizens including legal residents in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Communications Commission has allays fears of mass disconnection from the telecommunications network.
The Nigerian Communications Commission in a statement said its attention has been drawn to numerous publications regarding fears of mass disconnection of telephone subscribers as a result of the ongoing linkage of Subscriber Identification Module, SIM, registration records with National Identification Numbers.
This is an era of fake news . Fraudsters are everywhere on the internet . Nigerians are desperate .People are too busy with activities that would put food on their tables.
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This message is very important as many have fallen victim to fraudulent activities because of Government failure to give people credible information.
‘You can’t address structural problems with knee-jerk approaches’
A development Economist, Dr. Chiwuike Uba, has picked holes in the proposed 2021 national budget, saying the estimates and sectoral allocations do not align with the theme of the budget.
He said the proposal lacks the potential to drive economic recovery and resilience.
He stated in Enugu on Sunday that the decision by the National Assembly to increase the budget from N13.08 trillion to N13.58 trillion has exposed the weaknesses of Nigeria’s fiscal framework.
Uba, who consults for the World Bank, noted: “The passage of the 2021 proposed national budget, after 74 days of ‘intensive’ deliberations and lobbying, is commendable. However, the allocations to key social and economic sectors are too poor to jumpstart or reposition the economy for recovery.
“The deficit of 3.64 per cent of GDP is also above the three per cent threshold set by the Fiscal Responsibility Law. In addition to the weaknesses occasioned by the non-specificity of the power of the legislature to increase the budget presented by the executive, the principle of transparency and accountability in governance are impaired.
“This is even more worrisome when the citizens are rarely and/or inadequately consulted and/or engaged in budget planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. In most cases, the national and subnational budgets do not adequately reflect the expectations and aspirations of the citizens.
“Some of the budget parameters are realistic, while a greater percentage of the parameters/ estimates are overtly too ambitious and unrealistic. The oil price benchmark and oil production output are realizable. The inflation rate of 11.95 per cent, the exchange rate of N379/$1, a growth rate of three per cent, revenue and fiscal deficits projection appear very unrealistic, given the available data and trends.
“In fact, pegging the exchange at N379/$1 creates room for the black market, round-tripping, and multiple exchange rate regimes. More so, given the increasing cost of goods and services, the current inflation rate of over 14.89 per cent is expected to be on the rise till sometime June 2021. Therefore, even before the implementation commences, the 2021 budget is already showing signs of credibility issues.
“The revenue projection of N8.3 trillion is unrealistic given the previous years’ performances. Since 2015, the actual revenue of the Federal Government has only increased from N3.24 trillion in 2015 to N3.86tn as of 2019, representing an increase of less than 20 per cent. On the other hand, public debts and unfunded deficits have witnessed a steady increase.
“The budget deficit increased from N1.52 trillion in 2015 to N5.2 trillion in 2021, and public debt of less than N10 trillion as of June 2015 to N25.2 trillion as of June 2020. In the same vein, the debt service increased from N624 billion in 2014 to N3.3 trillion in 2021. Painfully, the budgeted 2021 fiscal deficit will increase at the end of 2021, with its attendant implications on debt servicing. Nigeria, therefore, is gradually heading towards a fiscal cliff with debt service to revenue ratio hitting over 90 per cent.
“This situation is worsened by the increasing cost of governance. The recurrent expenditure has continued to increase despite the hardship many Nigerians are subjected to by the government. Almost 50 per cent of Nigeria’s 2021 budget will be spent by less than 0.2 per cent of the population. When subjected to further scrutiny and analysis, the amount for recurrent expenditure may even be more, due to classification issues, or, administrative budget manipulations, or smartly inserted frivolous items as part of capital expenditures.
“In addition to over N200 billion frivolous items in the initial budget presented by the President to NASS, items such as the purchase of catering materials, computers, purchase of office buildings among others are still included in the 2021 budget. Unfortunately, some of the items classified as capital expenditures do not have any direct impact on the citizens. Economic recovery and resilience cannot happen in such an environment.
“The proposed sale of some of the national assets is not the solution to the revenue challenges facing the country. What happens when all the national assets are completed sold? Nobody solves fundamental and structural problems with a knee-jerk approach. It is the same reason the increase in budgetary allocations to defense and security has not solved Nigeria’s security challenges. In fact, evidence shows that the more money expended on defense, the more insecurity in Nigeria. Obviously, we misconstrue spending as budget performance. Nigeria’s annual real budget performance is less than 30 per cent when it is evaluated on the basis of value for money and cost-benefit analysis (including outcome and impact).
“Achieving the objectives of the 2021 budget of economic recovery and resilience requires real investment in key infrastructure – health, education, and other key economic and social sectors. Infrastructure financing through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) vehicle as well as CBN’s funding to targeted sectors needs to be deepened. Instead of giving small amounts of money as grants/loans to millions of Nigerians, it is important to identify, at least, two key businesses/ entrepreneurs, with the capacity to scale up and employ more people in each State and fund their businesses, accordingly.
“Seventy-two big and solid corporations in each state are better than the millions of businesses funded by the CBN without any impact on the economy. Economic recovery and resilience require big and bold decisions. Economic recovery and resilience can only be guaranteed when there are enough good jobs to provide and maintain a standard of living.”
Sometime in 2014 I was on a private visit at the Asaba home of the late Biafran warlord,the Hannibal,the Air Raid, Joe Achuzia. In the midst of our discussion,he had asked a questions: ”who is an Igbo? Is it someone with an Igbo name? Or one occupying one position or another mearnt for Ndigbo?”
Recently,a new political deception has hit the so-called South-East,Nigeria: politicians with 2023 eyeballs are emerging from every nook and cranny claiming to say what they are saying.do what they are doing,share what they are sharing, jump where they are jumping,organize what they are organizing,think what they want,FOR THE LOVE OF NDIGBO!!! Hahahaha!
Many of them imagine we have abandoned our memories at obsolete,moribund and archaic museums. They think we have forgotten how they have treated us in the past 2 decades. Those who have kept quiet till the 3 arms of government in Nigeria became (for the first time) hijacked by on small tribe are claiming to love Ndigbo. Those who kept silent as all the security architecture in Nigeria became the exclusive preserve of one part of the country.now say they love us. Love nwa ntinti.
How can those who have stolen us dry, destroyed our educational system(while they send their children to school abroad), kept our healthcare in decay (while they take their dogs abroad to access cure – before COVID-19) say they love the Igbo?
Consider this example as an example of Igbo-love.On May 27,2017,as part of my 50th birthday celebration, I organized an intellectual discourse titled ’50 YEARS AFTER BIAFRA:WHICH WAY NDIGBO?’ I hired a public hall,WDC,Abakaliki and paid 85,000 naira for it. I cooked food for about 500 guests,printed invitation cards and invited responsible and patriotic Nigerians to come and discuss their own issues! Then the unbelievable happend! A Governor sent about 30 druged and drunken youths early on that day to assault us out of the hall,with my guests from within and outside the state already on their way. i was humiliated, assaulted, injured,traumatized and terrorized! what was my offence? Daring to discuss Biafra! In Alaigbo? Well,that’s the way the cookies crumbled! I lost my money,my plans to provide a platform for Ndigbo to talk, and also an opportunity for young people to get counsel from their elders! But who would tell our leaders,nay dealers,that although not every Biafran is Igbo,every Igbo is Biafran? How can men and women driven by selfish interest claim to love us? How can politicians with rapacious and kleptomaniac mind-set suddenly begin to bandy and brandish Igbo-interest because of the lure for (Vice)Presidency?
Does it mean that the restructuring that is at the front-burner in the polity does not mean anything to them? Although I have no problem with nor anything against having a Nigerian President of Igbo extration,are we assuming that such a person is all that Ndigbo need to be free from the systemic and brazen injustice that has been institutionalized in Nigeria. This beggarly demand to have an ‘Igbo President’ under the current structure,would only benefit that person and his or her cronnies and booth-lickers! Anyone who wants to be President should go ahead but let the person not use love-for-ndigbo as a bargaining chip. Where has such love been in the past when such people where Governors, Senators,Chairmen,etc? God is not deceived. Whatever is sown is what shall be reaped! As Bob Marley sang ‘you fool some people sometimes,but you cant fool all the people all the times. Now you seen the light,you better stand up for your rights’!!! Abi our mumu never do? Majority of the current politicians in South-East are the greatest haters of Ndigbo! By the way,if it is about IGBO PRESIDENT and not SOUTH-EAST PRESIDENT,I hope that Ndigbo in RIVERS and DELTA would not be excluded or de-Igbolized??? It does not matter if it is Papa Deceive Pikin (PDP) or Anti People’s Confraternity(APC)
The global economy has taken a downward surge. Nations are getting into recessions, with the possibility of others slipping deeper into depression.
Businesses have closed down. And many people are out of job. No country has been spared of this near ‘economic Holocaust” engendered by one single pandemic
The world needs new breed of leaders who can think out of the box. And perhaps, throw the ‘box’ away!
Leaders who have the uncanny gift to see tomorrow. Visionary leaders with a discerning eyes for the future
Leaders who are knowledgeable, imbued with strong character,
swift in thinking and daring in action!
This is where Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo comes in. A man with a legacy of distinctions! A reservoir of knowledge and ideas. Firm, bold and forward-looking!
Prof Charles Soludo has proved from time to time that he is a man with “an eye ahead of time”
His banking consolidation, his setting up of the African Finance Corporation, (AFC) are a few pointers to a great mind that is ahead of its time
Even as he is yet to declare to run for Anambra state governorship election, thousands of Ndi Anambra are already rooting for him.
As at the last counts more than 18 support groups scattered all over the 21 LGAs in the state have queued up behind him.
The support has been massive and unprecedented. It has assumed a dimension never witnessed before in the political history of the state. Soludo himself is in awe and shock with what is going on!
Though, on his part, Soludo has never shied away from responsibilities.
Soludo has quite a lot of plans up his sleeves for Ndi-Anambra.
His vision for Anambra state is large. One of such vision is the Anambra Smart Megacity which is already gaining ground with the people of the state.
Soludo envisages a state of Anambra where things will work. A livable state that will be the safest, secured, happiest and most prosperous in Africa.
The Soludo Promoters Forum (SPF), one of the several groups urging Soludo to run for Anambra state governorship election has been in the fore-front propagating the ‘good news’ about the Anambra Smart Megacity vision of Soludo.
Under the dogged leadership of Joe Anatune ( a propelling, non-stop human engine) and his dynamic team, the group has been educating and enlightening the people in the 21 LGAs of Anambra state of the massive economic benefits accruable from the project that will positively impact their lives
Soludo believes in the vision of one state, one people and one agenda for Ndi-Anambra
In several fora he has had the opportunity to speak, Prof Soludo has always praised the indefatigable business spirit of Anambra people. A people so endowed with great talents and skills.
Soludo has often asserted with so much confidence that “When Ndi-Anambra is organised and mobilised, the people creative-energy knows no bounds”
This is Soludo’s affirmation of his deep belief and unwavering confidence in his people.
His slogans has always been from time past on the need for Ndi-Anambra to come together and collectively build the state
” Collectively let’s put Anambra on the world map by working together as one united family”
He believes everyone has a role to play by making his or her talents and time available towards building a virile and better Anambra state that will accommodate all.
With the new world economy, and the fast dwindling global oil revenues, and the devastating impact of COVID-19 pandemic, a new world order is certainly here with us. We either live with it or perish with it, if we refuse to do the needful.
ALSO READ Photos From The Birthday Celebration Of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
The 2021 Anambra Governorship election due to hold later in the year is a beacon of hope for Ndi Anambra to redefine history and change the trajectory of the political firmanent in the state.
This, they can achieve, by electing their most distinguished son, Prof Charles Soludo, to lead Anambra state into the new world order
Making this a reality shouldn’t be a difficult task, because the fate of the people is in their hands!
Therefore, Ndi-Anambra must not bungle this great opportunity, let them rise with one voice, one spirit and one purpose by ensuring Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo emerges the governor-elect in a landslide victory come November this year!
This is the best New Year gift the people can give to themselves!
Happy New Year!
Christian Aburime
Writes from Ewu, Esan Central Local Government, Edo State
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has felicitated the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor.
Obiozor, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Israel and Cyprus, became the leader of the Igbo socio-cultural group after an election held at Dan Anyim Stadium in Owerri, the Imo state capital, on Sunday.
Reacting to the news, Atiku who spoke with Obiozor yesterday said he was elated that the process of the election was concluded in line with established democratic tenets.
He said by the outcome of the election, Igbos have not only proved pundits wrong but have shown that they are real democrats
He said this in a statement titled, ‘Atiku felicitates with Obiozor on election as President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo; urges cooperation with other ethno-social groups.’
He said, “Yesterday, I spoke with Prof. George Obiozor, newly elected President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. I congratulated him on his election.
“I am elated that the process that led to his election and that of the new executive was concluded in line with established democratic tenets.
“Like many, who have followed with keen interest the goings-on, I had wondered how the group will pull through the process of the election and still come out unscathed and still remain a cohesive and strong force with its integrity intact.
“By the outcome of this election, Ndigbo have not only proved the pundits wrong but have shown that they are real democrats.
“I have known Prof Obiozor since his days as Director-General of Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, and a one-time Ambassador of Nigeria to the United States of America, Israel and Cyprus.“I can attest to his brilliance, wisdom and experience, qualities that I am confident will come to bear as he pilots the affairs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
