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APC Holds Extraordinary National Convention October 29 To Amend Parties Constitution

Mohammed Useni
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APC Holds Extraordinary National Convention October 29 To Amend Parties Constitution

The All Progressives Congress, APC, said on Sunday that it would hold an extraordinary national convention on October 29 in Abuja, to approve amendments to the constitution of the party.

The convention, according to the party, would also adopt its manifesto for the 2015 general elections.

A statement issued in Lagos, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said that the party’s proposed amendments, when approved, would align its constitution better with the Electoral Act.

“It will also allow the APC to function more efficiently,” the party said.

It also said the convention would adopt the six-point manifesto that had been extracted from the one submitted to INEC earlier, for the purpose of the 2015 general elections.

“The manifesto to be adopted at the extraordinary convention of our party is specifically for the 2015 general elections.

“Because of shifting priorities, we do not believe that a party manifesto should be one for all time but a document that will adjust to the changing needs of the people.

“In this regard, we have conducted a survey to find out what Nigerians urgently needed at the moment to raise their standard of living and ensure their security and welfare.

“The six broad priority areas for the APC, ahead of the 2015 general elections are: National Security, Good Governance, Human Capital Development, Economic Development, Land and Natural Resources, as well as Foreign Policy.

“The issue of job creation, fight against corruption, infrastructural development, health, qualitative education and regular power supply, among others, are subsumed under the broad priority areas,” the statement said.

The party said once the manifesto had been adopted, it would be made available to all Nigerians, complete with the full details, in many languages.

“Nigeria To Conquer The World If APC Is Voted Into Power In 2015”

Mohammed Useni
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“Nigeria To Conquer The World If APC Is Voted Into Power In 2015”

Nigeria will become a world beater in so short a time if the All Progressives Congress (APC) is voted into power during next year’s presidential election, the Rivers State Chapter of the party has said. The party made the submission while reacting to the declaration of Nigeria as Ebola-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday.

“Monday, 21st October, 2014, will remain evergreen in the history of Nigeria as it was the day the World Health Organisation declared Nigeria Ebola-free and the American Broadcasting Corporation also declared Nigeria’s Ebola eradication effort as a model which the USA and other nations must emulate. Those of us in APC celebrate this feat since Lagos and Rivers, the two states that achieved this milestone, are APC States. This clearly points to where the hope lies as Nigerians prepare to vote for a new government next year. With what Lagos and Rivers states demonstrated in this regard, it simply means that with APC at the helm of affairs come 2015, Nigeria will surely be a world beater,” Rivers APC said in a statement issued Thursday in Port Harcourt.

The party in the statement signed by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, made it clear that in APC lies the hope and future of Nigeria, warning: “If we fail to take advantage of the 2015 elections to vote out the wicked and visionless PDP, we are doomed as a nation.”

Rivers APC said it was “overwhelmed with happiness”, heartily congratulating Governors Babatunde Fashola and Chibuike Amaechi of Lagos and Rivers States respectively for putting smiles and hope on the faces of Nigerians and the entire world through their robust and effective response to the Ebola challenge.

“We also congratulate all those that lost their lives in the fight against Ebola, particularly the doctors and other gallant medical staff, particularly in Lagos and Rivers States, who paid the supreme price in their determination to save the nation from catastrophe,” the party said.

It party commended the Government of USA for deciding to learn from the strategies adopted by the two APC states of Lagos and Rivers to eradicate Ebola from Nigeria.

2015 Polls: Olusegun Obasanjo Strongly Warns Against Muslim-Muslim & Christian-Christian Ticket

Mohammed Useni
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2015 Polls: Olusegun Obasanjo Strongly Warns Against Muslim-Muslim & Christian-Christian Ticket

Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has said it is dangerous for any party or a politician to toy with the idea of fielding either a muslim-muslim or christian-christian ticket, given the current happenings in the polity.

He said this on Sunday, in a statement issued to newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He called for sensitivity and vigilance on the part of the leadership.

He said, “It will be insensitive to the point of absurdity for any leader or any political party to be toying with Muslim- muslim or Christian-christian ticket at this juncture.

“Nigeria cannot at this stage raise the spectre and fear of Islamisation or Christianisation.

“The idea of proselytisation in any form is a grave danger that must not be contemplated by any serious-minded politician at this delicate situation in Nigeria, as this time is different from any other time.”

According to him, sensitivity is a necessary ingredient for enhancement of peace, security and stability at this point in the political discourse and arrangement for Nigeria and for encouraging confidence and trust.

He explained that disregarding the fact that there were fears that needed to be allayed at this point would amount not only to insensitivity of the highest order but would also amount to very bad politics indeed.

Northern Youths Donate N2m To Jonathan For Nomination Form

Mohammed Useni
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Northern Youths Donate N2m To Jonathan For Nomination Form

The Northern Youth Forum on Saturday donated a sum of N2m to President Goodluck Jonathan to purchase his Presidential nomination form from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

The Coordinator of the forum, Engr Bello Bichi, who announced the donation at a rally in support of President Jonathan in Kano State, said the donation was their way of showing the President their support for his re-election bid.

“We decided to support Mr President with this token amount to enable him purchase the nomination form for the presidency.

“The youths in the north believe that President Jonathan has the country and youth at heart in view of his commitment toward transforming the country,” he said.

In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, charged youths in the country to avoid acts capable of causing chaos during the forthcoming general election in the country.

“Gone are the days when we should take up dangerous weapons during the election. As youths, you are expected to conduct your affairs peacefully, especially during election in order to ensure peace in our state and the country.

“We have a herculean task ahead of us, so you have to come out en masse and vote so as to ensure the success of the party at all levels in 2015.”

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Youth Development, Mr Boni Haruna, said the donation was a clear indication that Northern youths were in support of President Jonathan’s bid to re-contest the presidency in 2015.

The occasion was attended by prominent personalities including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Aminu Wali and the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof Rufa’i Alkali, among others.

TUC Gives Senate One-Week Ultimatum To Clarify Position OnRemoval Of Minimum Wage Laws From Exclusive List

Mohammed Useni
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TUC Gives Senate One-Week Ultimatum To Clarify Position OnRemoval Of Minimum Wage Laws From Exclusive List

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Saturday gave the Senate a one-week ultimatum to clarify its position on the removal of Minimum Wages Laws from the Exclusive Legislative List in the ongoing constitutional amendment.

Should minimum wage be removed from the exclusive list, states would be able to legislate and determine their different minimum wage. The House of Representatives has chosen to retain the minimum wage in the Exclusive List and the TUC wants the Senate to do same.

In a communiqué jointly signed by the President of the union, Mr Bobboi Kaigam, and the National Secretary, Mr Musa Lawal,  after its Central Working Committee(CWC) meeting in Lagos, the Congress said the ultimatum was necessary before a follow-up action.

“The CWC observed that there are conflicting reports as to the true state of affairs.

“ So, the leadership of the National Assembly should clarify the true position of the amendment within one week from today.

“We say `NO’ to the minimum wage deregulation and we resist the attempt with our capacity.

“The CWC-in-session mandated the leadership of TUC to relate with the NLC and allies in civil society organisations to mobilise without further delay for a follow-up action.’’

It said the amendment would create a chaotic and potentially destabilising industrial relations environment in the country.

“Politics will be introduced into wage determination, in particular during elections, as was the case in the First Republic among Regional Governments.

“Minimum wage which is a product of collective bargaining should not be made a state law, because both the private and public sectors are involved,’’ the communique read.

It also added that the amendments would negate the spirit and practice of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 131 which the nation domesticated in the 1979 Constitution.

“While we give them one week, our mobilisation has commenced. Immediately after the expiration of the one week, there will be follow-up action and nothing more.

“We will not get back to them anymore. We want the Senate to be very explicit,’’ the TUC said.

Hisham Habib: Attempt To Forcefully Sideline General Buhari Will Render APC Merger Fruitless

Mohammed Useni
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Hisham Habib: Attempt To Forcefully Sideline General Buhari Will Render APC Merger Fruitless

General Muhammadu Buhari should contest the 2015 general elections because all those calling on him not to, have failed to convince us in a reasonable and rational way. I am not believe age should become paramount over credibility and virtue. The so called young generation of politicians we have produced have not proved that their strength and vigour is something to rely on, we have seen the Alamiesieghas, the Iboris, the Saminu Turakis and a host of others who seem to send a signal that being younger is being hopeless at least in our midst.

The fact that Buhari is older than other ccontestants does not discredit him from exercising the moral duty and constitutional right he has in Nigeria and it is not enough in any advanced thinking to blacklist someone simply for having more years; more ironic is the fact that in Africa we see age as a blessing but some morons have decided to turn wisdom up side down for their own interests to prosper more than that of the ordinary Nigerian.

Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest leaders Africa has produced became the president of South Africa at the age of 76 neither was Ronald Reagan a young man when he ruled a much bigger and stronger nation: the United States?

If for the sake of promoting others we use some clumsy excuses to brush aside competent people like the former head of state and bring sentiments in the polity, the desired change may occur but the people’s will cannot be suppressed,Nigerians from the east, West and the North have voted for Buhari in the past without him giving them bags of rice, or sending them recharge cards because well meaning people know who he is and what he can do.

Some envious among the perpetrators of progress even go to the extent of condemning the effort of the general in bringing the opposition on a united stand, if I humbly ask who went to the courts consistently to challenge irregularities in the past election and for the sake of unity and the rule of law publicly accepted the verdicts of the courts at various times from 2003 to date?
An irrational argument postulated by enemies of real change is that new crops of politicians with records of embezzlement and misappropriation are better sold to Nigerians than honest and sincere citizens simply because our electoral system has become hopeless and our electorates are mockingly used to justifying failures in the past. Buhari cannot be the scapegoat others will use to say the opposition cannot bring down PDP when late Umaru Musa Yar adua admitted that the 2007 elections were marred by irregularities.

A more licentious and self centred thought by such kind of unpatriotic citizens is the belief that the PDP led government would easily suppress a Buhari candidature when in reality the General has always been its nightmare and many who took to the press to challenge the wish of the down trodden are mere boot lickers eager to impress masters they hope will give them tickets without really getting the views from the grassroot.

If Buhari or any other person feels he is eligible to contest and his or her supporters want that, why should another person or some sponsored groups try and suppress that wish or is it that fear which unnecessarily keeps lingering in some minds that his presidency would oppress some? This wont stop the quest for better leadership from Nigerians from all walks of life even as the disgruntled politicians insist on having their own way.

As a democrat who contested election for three consecutive times and having the faith in a country which had been passing through turbulent times characterized by insecurity, corruption we cannot afford to allow sentiments over ride patriotism.
Many in the past have used Buhari’s popularity in achieving selfish goals but the populace have watched and bear witness to the fact that if such a personality can be used to attain goals , why wont he be given the chance to prove his worth, certainly we await Buhari’s critics to deny all facts about him.

Buhari should contest and still win the election if APC as a party wants to get it right for the first time and any attempt to forcefully sideline Buhari will render the merger of the opposition a fruitless and a wasted effort , let me say if the opposition is all about new breeds then the merger is of no use, Goodluck Jonathan is from the new breeds!

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Article written By Hisham Habib

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Simon Kolawole: Jonathan And The 2015 Calculations

Mohammed Useni
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Simon Kolawole: Jonathan And The 2015 Calculations

I have been listening to comments and reading analyses on the 2015 presidential election with rapt attention. There is nothing unanimous in the predictions and projections, but I am sensing a trend in the analyses: that if the All Progressives Congress (APC) fields Maj. General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) against President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), then it will be a piece of cake for the former head of state. A Buhari supporter, in a recent newspaper interview, said Buhari’s votes in the North plus Bola Tinubu’s votes in the south-west equal automatic victory for APC.

Slow down a bit, guys. I have no intention of raining on anyone’s parade or pouring cold water on exciting calculations, but analyses do not have to be this simplistic. If the history and politics of elections in Nigeria are to be of any use in these postulations, the safest bet will be to say there are still many rivers to cross. My intention today is to draw attention to several facts and factors that will be at play during the elections. Many things are still taking shape; opportunities and threats still exist for the PDP and the APC. It is too early in the day to arrive at definite conclusions.

Let us look into some of the assumptions one by one. The first is that Buhari will clear the votes in the core North and Tinubu will deliver the South-west votes in one basket. That Buhari will win in the core North has never been in dispute ─ he has done so consistently since 2003. It is unthinkable that he will not win there. However, I’m not sure Tinubu can clear the South-west the same way Buhari could do in the core North. It appears many commentators have not been monitoring recent developments in the South-west. To start with, two of the six states ─ Ekiti and Ondo ─ are now in the hands of PDP. That is important to note.

Meanwhile, the APC is getting weaker in Oyo state. The three APC senators have left the party; the death of Alhaji Alao Arisekola has dealt some body blow on Governor Abiola Ajimobi; former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala (PDP) is on a rebound; former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, who controls large portions of Ibadan, is complicating things for APC. In Ogun, Governor Ibikunle Amosun is under fire from within and without. Chief Olusegun Osoba, in whose camp the Ogun APC senators and house members are, is playing hard ball with Amosun. The PDP, meanwhile, is bringing back its break-up groups and rebuilding in the state.

In simple words, Oyo and Ogun have become very shaky and it is a bit tenuous to assume the South-west will vote en bloc for APC in 2015. I may well be wrong, but I am seeing a split of the zone’s 13.5 million votes. The South-west, in my opinion, is neither here nor there yet. No assumptions should be made and no conclusions should be reached yet, certainly not in October 2014. Of course, the APC is not sleeping and is also hoping to gain from the fall-outs from PDP’s possible slips in the coming weeks. But South-west does not look like one-way traffic as at today.

Meanwhile, there is also this assumption that Buhari ─ or APC ─ does not need the South-east and South-south (SESS). That is ridiculous. First, it is not good for Buhari’s CV that he has never won in any Southern state since he launched his presidential bid in 2003. Not one state. And it is also not good political strategy to downplay SESS. There are 11 states in these two geo-political zones. The APC calculation may be that the South-south would rather have a “son of the soil” as president. The South-east, it seems, is fully joined in matrimony to South-south under Jonathan’s presidency. But does that mean giving up without a fight?

Let us now reverse the case. Jonathan, despite knowing that the core North will be a difficult hunting ground for him, is putting up a decent fight. He is working to secure as many votes as possible in Buhari’s territory. The president has gathered many strong politicians to his side. Now let us do some basic calculations. SESS has 17 million votes combined. Buhari’s home zone, North-west, has 18.7 million registered voters. If Jonathan bites off as much as 30-40% of the votes in the North-west (which he did in 2011) while Buhari does poorly in SESS (like before), Jonathan would clearly gain more than Buhari in the candidates’ home zones.

Jonathan’s chances, in the meantime, are also bright among the Northern minorities. It could be minority solidarity, I can’t say. The North-central has 11 million names on the voter register. Jonathan’s reconciliation with former military, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, and the governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, could help him in Niger state. Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue would ordinarily back Jonathan. But Kwara, which supported him in 2011, is now uncertain, with the godfather, Bukola Saraki, relocating to APC. Buhari will fancy his chances in Kwara, that is if Saraki can ward off his PDP foes, who look very formidable. In truth, Kwara now looks more like a tight corner for both parties.

The North-east, boasting of 11 million registered voters, could be a mixed bag. Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno have always gone to Buhari, while Taraba and Adamawa seem to have a thing for Jonathan. But something significant has changed in Borno: Ali Modu Sheriff is now in PDP. Since 1999, Borno has always faced any direction Sheriff pointed to, and his defection must be considered a loss to APC. I was not surprised at APC’s reaction when Sheriff left: Borno’s 2.5 million votes are the nation’s fifth largest after Lagos (5.4m), Kano (4.7m), Kaduna (3.7m) and Katsina (2.9m). Being Buhari’s familiar hunting ground, however, Borno could still be game for him.

Before I shut down my computer, I would like to maintain that unlike many observers and analysts, I foresee a very competitive election. And, I think, four months to the polls, we should avoid jumping into certain conclusions. One of the major failings of the opposition is that they underrated Jonathan’s ability to respond to the momentum they gained last year. Before they could settle down to savour the heavyweight defections from PDP to APC, the Jonathan camp had launched a counter offensive, in addition to benefitting from crises arising from the consolidation process of APC.

Therefore, dear readers, with what I have seen in Nigeria in the last few months, and what I understand about the dynamics of our electoral politics, I would conclude that the day is still young. For the two leading parties, there are still many hurdles to clear. Let the game begin!

And Four Other Things…

EBOLA-FREE INDEED
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has certified Nigeria Ebola-free and this is fantastic news. But so were we before Patrick Sawyer sneaked in from Liberia with the agent of death. It takes just one case to get us back in it, so vigilance is key. A two-year-old Guinean girl has just infected Mali, having been taken by road transport abroad after the death of her mother from Ebola. I think we’re doing well checking body temperatures at the airports, but for as long as we maintain road links with the rest of West Africa, we remain at high risk. Caution.
CEASEFIRE BY FORCE
With the state of my mind now, I don’t want to hear anything but ceasefire in the North-east ─ and the release of the Chibok girls. Claims that the Nigerian government is holding talks with genuine representatives of Boko Haram had better be true. The continuous attacks on Borno villages and the fresh abduction of 60 women and girls are so depressing that any form of positive news is welcome at this time. I eagerly await the sect’s “promise” to release the girls again this week. It just has to be true. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick. Anxiety.
BBOG AND APC
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Audu Ogbeh, recently spoke of his party’s political links with the Bring Back Our Girls movement. “We commend the Bring Back Our Girls movement led by members of our party for their commitment,” he said. To supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan, this was the final confirmation of their allegation all the while that BBOG was an APC political gathering. Ogbeh clearly committed a Freudian slip, but we should not allow that to becloud the fact that BBOG is a worthy cause. I think we should just keep politics out of this traumatic experience. Decency.
GOWON AT 80
I am always happy when someone is making the 70th birthday and beyond. That is a sign of long life in this age of all kinds of illnesses and diseases killing people. I therefore celebrate with former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, on his 80th birthday. I was expecting a birthday present to Nigerians from Gowon ─ his memoirs on the Nigerian civil war ─ but we may have to wait in vain. Dim Emeka Ojukwu died with his memoirs unwritten, denying us a first-hand account of his experience. Gowon is following the same path. Unfair.

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Article written By Simon Kolawole, and Culled from Thisday Newspaper.. Email: [email protected]

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It is the policy of NewsWireNGR not to endorse or oppose any opinion expressed by a User or Content provided by a User, Contributor, or other independent party.
Opinion pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of NewsWireNGR

 

Adekoya Boladale: 2015, Core Attention Must Be Given To The North; Policy Of ‘Certified Proof Of Age’

Mohammed Useni
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Adekoya Boladale: 2015, Core Attention Must Be Given To The North; Policy Of ‘Certified Proof Of Age’

With the recent declaration of President Jonathan to run for a second term, the political atmosphere of Nigeria is now fully charged. While the major opposition party continues the foot dragging on who to present against the president come 2015, it is important to say that the 2015 race maybe the fiercest political battle in the history of Nigeria.

Everyone has something to lose. Mr. Jonathan is determined not to go down in history as the first democratic president of Nigeria to lose reelection in office. The All Progressive Congress (APC) on the other hand has given everything to stage a formidable opposition against the president albeit a conglomeration of various individuals with heterogenous ideology.

In light of the current political propaganda playing out and the race to swing public opinion against each other coupled with the surreptitious planting of the seed of hatred and deceit positioned to activate the divide and rule mechanism, there is only one word for this psycho-social wafare; desperation!

As it appears, every one of the contenders will do anything to emerge victorious in the election. While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until recently have been accused of rigging its way into power with serial allegations (some of which were upturned in the court of law) of electoral fraud leaves so many questions unanswered. The All Progressive Congress (APC) on the other hand isn’t a saint in this field either. The miraculous victories recorded in Lagos during the council election and the magical change in numbers in Ogun State council poll, with same gesture in Kano among others are pointers to the might of the rigging machinery of the opposition.

The 2011 election has been adjudged one of the freest election in Nigeria. However it is far from Uhuru. Democracy can only be said to have been fully practiced when the legal provisions for a free and fair election has been met.

The recently concluded election in Ekiti and Osun state shows clearly that power in Nigeria isn’t about the decision of the electorate but one either stolen or bought. Observers of both elections can testify to the open inducement of voters with money. In fact the case in Osun State was more pathetic as the bid on votes was already public knowledge a night before the election. While the PDP were offering between 5000-7000 naira, APC on the other hand was paying 8000-10000 naira for a single vote! It is more alarming that these unholy transactions took place right under the watchful eyes of the security forces.

But while financial inducement is the bane of free and fair election in the South of Nigeria, Northern Nigeria too isn’t free electoral malpractise. The major bane of the electoral system in the north is gross under age voting. As an electoral officer in Sokoto in the 2011 elections, lots of my colleagues and I had to register kids for election even when we were quite sure they weren’t up to eighteen. The truth is there is no mechanism in place to determine the actual age of voters and it becomes more cumbersome when they come with their parent who insist they are above eighteen and are merrily been cheated by nature and when some of us resist such actions we get orders from a superior officer to register them as such.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the other hand isn’t entirely independent. The mode of appointing officials of the electoral commission in Nigeria negates the principle of nemo iudex in causa sua. It is morally inappropriate for an aspirant to appoint the umpire of his/her own game. Such process already beats fairness and transparency.

The term ‘rigging’ doesn’t mean fixing election results via ballot box snatching alone; it connotes the assassination of the core principle of fairness and uninfluenced freedom during election. Indeed it may be impossible to record 100% fairness in election but such errors must be minimal.

Electorates on the other hand must make up their mind on what they really desire. Making a choice between getting some thousands and voting ones will may be difficult under the present socio-economic hardship, however if we choose to take this path then we must learn to keep quiet and allow such politician make profit from the investment he/she has made. As the saying goes, you can’t eat your cake and have it.

To ensure a fairer election in 2015 the electoral commission must ensure only those eligible are registered to vote. Core attention must be given to the North and a policy of ‘certified proof of age’ should be adopted as against the usual verbal confirmation
Until elections are held without glaring vices such as the ones highlighted, then our elective positions including that of the president will remain nothing other than a commodity waiting to be stolen.

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Adekoya Boladale wrote via [email protected]. Please engage on twitter @adekoyabee and Facebook www.facebook.com/adekoyabee. Boladale is a political scientist and scholar on good governance, a social commentator and consultant on political and intra governmental affairs. He is the Convener, Advocacy for Better Leadership (ABEL), Nigeria.

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It is the policy of NewsWireNGR not to endorse or oppose any opinion expressed by a User or Content provided by a User, Contributor, or other independent party. Opinion pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of NewsWireNGR

Alkasim Abdulkadir: Nigeria, Redressing The 1 Teacher To 350 Students Dismal Ratio

Mohammed Useni
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Alkasim Abdulkadir: Nigeria, Redressing The 1 Teacher To 350 Students Dismal Ratio

It is no longer news that approximately 10.5 million kids are out of school in Nigeria, in proper context 1 out of 7 school children are out of school at the moment. This is one of the highest out of school figures globally; however, the odds are still greater against the girl child in Nigeria, especially in Northern Nigeria where cultural norms and religion has been misconstrued to be against some forms of education. At the behest of Toyin Olakanpo’s The Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility and Children Rights which organized the 2ndBusiness Forum on Children’s rights and hosted by KPMG Headquarters in London –the pertinent question was asked The Girl Dividend in Nigeria why should CEOs care?

Pauline Rose, professor of International Education at Cambridge University set the stage, stating dismal statistics on the state of the education of the Nigerian girl child. The most stunning of the numbers is Nigeria’s annual appropriation for education which comes to a rather bleak 1.5 percent of our GDP while in other African countries not as endowed as Nigeria, like Tanzania are spending up to 6 percent. Prof. Rose also stated that there is approximately the teacher to student ratio in some states was 1 teacher to 350 students. These statistics makes it almost impossible to bequeath quality education to Nigerian children.

In my submission I outlined the reasons of the dismal figures, which even predates the armed insurgency, socio-cultural reasons still continue to play huge roles in the inadequate enrolment and retention of females in primary and secondary schools. With the rate of early marriage and VVF infections coupled with other reasons of penury, poor educational infrastructure and access to qualified teachers, all these have conspired to further compound the issues confronting the girl child in Nigeria.

In recent times, the biggest threat facing school children has been the insurgency in Northern Nigeria with as much as 500,000 children out of school in Borno State. In Buni Yadi, Yobe State a massacre by insurgents left school children dead, leaving their parents in perpetual grief. Then came the Chibok incidence, where the abducted girls are yet to regain their freedom since April 14, 2014. On the heels of this came the Safe Schools Initiative being spearheaded by the likes of Gordon Brown. At the end, I shared the story of Nafisa Ibrahim Madako, the nomadic girl attending the Maizube Nomadic School, owned by Gen.

Abdulsalami Abubakar who came third in a mathematics Olympiad contest organized by the National Mathematics Centre, showing that irrespective of background, the right investment will bring about the right dividends. As regards socio-cultural norms MP Diane Abbot is confident, that time will obliterate such practices as even in the UK a 100 years ago they didn’t believe in the education of women.

For Cecilia Akintomide, the Vice President of the African Development Bank who delivered the key note address opined that CEOs must take a stronger interest in the girl child in Nigeria, because this is primarily where their future workforce will come from. In the future she said 41% of Africa’s workforce will come out of Africa. As such we should invest in their future or end up contributing to the factory line of terrorism. She challenged not only business leaders to build infrastructure or provide frameworks but for individuals to also take out time to mentor girls.

Lord Hastings who is KPMG’s International Global Head of Corporate Citizenship pledged KMPG’s support in galvanizing business leaders in Nigeria to support girl child education; he also shared their experiences in taking over a school in the UK and has seen its failure rate change over time.

Other speakers at the event like Kola Karim of Shoreline group reflected on government’s inertia and uncooperativeness when private sector initiatives approach them.

At the end of the day, the business leaders in the room made a commitment to girl child education, in an initiative called 100 CEOs for girls. More than a bouquet of hope for the likes of Nafisa Ibrahim Madako.

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Article written by Alkasim Abdulkadir

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It is the policy of NewsWireNGR not to endorse or oppose any opinion expressed by a User or Content provided by a User, Contributor, or other independent party. Opinion pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of NewsWireNGR

Atiku Abubakar Promises To Take N1 Salary If Elected President

Mohammed Useni
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Atiku Abubakar Promises To Take N1 Salary If Elected President

Ahead of the Policy Retreat Review at the Obasanjo Presidential Library which gets underway on Monday, there are indications that former Vice President and presidential aspirant of All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku may be mulling the idea of accepting to earn a token salary of one Naira (N1) per annum.

Our Correspondent gathered from sources at Atiku Campaign Organisation that the former Vice President may have accepted in principle the recommendations of a memo on the subject.

According to the source, Atiku Abubakar accepted to take a flat rate of N1 per annum for the duration of his tenure if he eventually emerges victorious in the 2015 presidential election.

It was gathered that this decision is predicated on the avowed commitment of the leading APC presidential to “give back to Nigeria for all that the country has done for him.” Atiku had at the declaration of his intent to contest the 2015 presidential election said he will continue to give back to Nigeria for as long as he is able and capable.

The source disclosed that the balance of the salary that would have accrued to Atiku Abubakar should he emerge as President will be deployed to people-oriented charities of his choice.

“I believe that Turaki may be considering taking a token salary of N1 not because he is endowed like so many others but to underscore his preparedness to make personal sacrifices in the quest to rebuild and reinvent our dear country and by so doing engender a culture of sacrifice in his envisaged administration,” the source said.

But when contacted Mallam Garba Shehu, Coordinator of Atiku Media Office said he was unaware of this development. He, however, said that nothing is off the table at the policy review retreat.

Meanwhile, the Policy Review Retreat promised by Atiku at the unveiling of his economic policy in Abuja October 15 kicks off on Monday at the Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta the Ogun State capital.

The policy retreat is expected to bring together 50 experts drawn from diverse backgrounds and competences to analyse and review the policy document that will deliver on Atiku’s commitment of making Nigeria work again for all.

Shehu disclosed that the retreat will afford Atiku Abubakar the much-needed opportunity to have experts from diverse fields review and make inputs into the formulation of a road map that will encapsulate his blueprint and vision for Nigeria.

“Our country is tired of unprepared leaders in the saddle, and now requires experienced and able hand capable of retooling and re-engineering our economy to generate massive jobs for our teeming unemployed youths. It is about the effective implementation of the Power sector reforms, institution of a people-oriented health and education system for a sustainable and productive manpower base,’’ Shehu said.

He quoted the former Vice President and convener of the retreat as having urged the 50 International and local policy experts who will be attending the two-day session to use the opportunity to make meaningful input into his vision to make Nigeria work again for all.

I Won’t Mind A Muslim Running Mate But Nigerians Are Too Sensitive With Religion – Buhari

Mohammed Useni
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I Won’t Mind A Muslim Running Mate But Nigerians Are Too Sensitive With Religion – Buhari

Former Head of State and Presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari has said that he is keeping an open mind about the possibility of picking a Muslim as his running mate if he gets the presidential nomination of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In an interview with TheCable, Buhari said he has shown times and again that he is not a fundamentalist as his opponent always accuse “there is nothing more I can do. Nigerians will always uncover impossible room for manoeuvre for politicians. I had to face one of the governors during one of our party’s meetings [over the issue of religion].

“In 2003, I chose Chuba Okadigbo as my running mate. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. In 2007, I picked Edwin Ume-Ezeoke. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. And in 2010, I chose even a pastor. Tunde Bakare. “Honestly, what do Nigerians want me to do? If they don’t believe I’m not a fundamentalist, what else can I do?”

He likened his situation to that of Moshood Abiola, a southern Muslim, who picked Babagana Kingibe, a northern Muslim, as running mate in the 1993 presidential election. The Muslim-Muslim ticket went on to win an election that is still considered by many as the most credible in Nigeria’s history.

“I have not absolutely closed my mind to picking a Christian or Muslim as running mate if I get the ticket. Because I firmly believe that Nigerians, having gone through what they have gone through, realise it is not a matter of religion, but a matter of Nigeria.

“And the main religions, Christianity and Islam, they know and they believe in the almighty God. The question of stealing and short-changing people in the name of religion should stop,” he said.

He said that the new religious opposition is one that is brought about by political confusionists and, not that the people are opposed to the idea.

“This new phenomenon of religion is another blackmail political confusionists in Nigeria are bringing to the fore,” he said.

“For goodness sake, the children of these political leaders were bred and brought up by Christian mothers. You think those people, wherever they participate, they will bring a religious issue? What kind of people are we? Nigerians will always bring something to cause confusion while we are trying to stabilise the system,” he said.

The party hierarchy would have preferred to field Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola as Buhari’s running mate but are skeptical about Nigerian Christians’ acceptance of such and have decided on Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state.

 

FG May Ban Commercial Motorcycles Nationwide

Mohammed Useni
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FG May Ban Commercial Motorcycles Nationwide

The Federal Government may soon ban the use of commercial motorcycles poupularly called ‘okada’ and ‘Achaba’ as a means of public transportation. This was the proposal of the Nigerian Council on Transport at its annual meeting in Enugu.

The proposal has also received the endorsement of the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar.

The use of Okada has been banned in some states in Nigeria either wholly or for some restricted areas.

A statement from the Federal Ministry of Transport on Saturday evening stated that the ban of commercial motorcycle was one of the measures proposed towards adequate provision of safety and secure transportation in Nigeria.

It said the recommendation was contained in a statement of the week long meeting which had in attendance all the state commissioners of transport, permanent secretaries, directors and officials in the federal and state ministries of transport across the country.

The council advised all states in the federation to henceforth discourage the use of commercial motorcycles as a means of public transportation.

“All states and the Federal Capital Territory have therefore been advised to establish a public transport system that ensure strict regulation of the operation of public passenger transportation system through a well-articulated management system for enhanced safety, security, effective and efficient service delivery,” the statement said.

“The states are to also develop master plans for the development of intelligent transport system to facilitate the development and management of their transport operations in line with emerging trends and global best practices.”

 

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