Buhari Lauds Critical Role Of Quality, Competence and Skill—Not Age—In Effective Leadership

General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd)

General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) on Thursday in Ibadan asserted that quality, competence and skill in politics does not reside in one particular age group, but that the ideal is to have a mixture of experienced people who will deploy their wisdom, alongside young men and women with energy and vigor, to cooperatively run an administration.
He was making introductory remarks at the 50th anniversary lecture [of] Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall at the University of Ibadan, on the theme, “Youth and the Future of Nigerian Politics,” observing that the merits of young leaders as opposed to old ones is a favourite subject among Nigerian men of letters.
Speaking glowingly of Dr. Azikiwe, he cited various examples from all over the world to demonstrate that both old and young men have made significant impacts on their countries where they were competent and skillful.
On the greatness of Nigeria’s first generation leaders, Buhari said, “Dr Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awulowo and Alhaji Ahmadu Bello each devoted more than 40% of their regional budgets to education. We are today what we are and where we are because of their wisdom and foresight.”
The Guest Lecturer was Dr Shettima Mustapha.

Text of his address:
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR BY GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI GCFR ON THE OCCASION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY LECTURE NNAMADI AZIKIWE HALL, IBADAN MARCH 20, 2014
May I suggest, with your agreement, Ladies and Gentlemen that we observe a minute’s silence in honour of our fellow countrymen and women who died in last weeks multiple tragedies as a results of;
Terrorist Violence
Communal violence
Stampedes in stadia in search of jobs
Road accidents
May their souls rest in peace. May God bless this country with peace and prosperity.
I am immensely grateful to the university of Ibadan management through the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar for inviting me to this great occasion.
I feel honoured to be asked to chair this lecture. Firstly, since my school days I have held Dr Azikiwe in the highest regard and the greatest esteem.
To the people of my generation and the generation before us Dr Azikiwe needs no introduction. He was the most out-spoken and internationally recognized Nigerian nationalist. Ziks’ great oratory enthralled us all.
Second, as we all know he was the first Nigerian Governor-General and President of the Federation. Zik was a true Nigerian, a nationalist and an internationalist. His vision extended beyond Nigeria or West Africa: he dreamt, like his Ghanaian contemporary Dr Nkrumah, of a Continental Union, similar to what Europe is trying to do now. Zik felt, quite rightly, that only a united Africa marshalling its human and natural resources could be a force in the 20th century.
Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, former president, former Owelle of Onisha therefore deserves all the honour and accolades we can heap on him albeit posthumously.
I congratulate the University of Ibadan for still remembering and honouring one of Nigeria’s true sons.
The topic chosen for today’s lecture: “Youth and the Future of Nigerian Politics” is particularly interesting in view of the recurring public debate, favourite among Nigerian men of letters of the merits of young leaders vis-à-vis old ones.
I suppose this debate will go on and on and the protagonists will likely not accept the other side of the argument. A brief look world-wide in the 20th and 21st centuries at the success of leaders tells us that we should not hold any hard and fast views.
China and Japan post 1945 had a history of very old people managing the affairs of these two great oriental economies. Mao Zedong and Chou En-Lai in their mid-to late seventies laid the foundation for their successor, Deng Xiao Ping to bring one billion people out of poverty into self-sufficiency in food supply and an economy second only to the United States.
For several decades after World War ll, Japanese politics restricted the position of prime minister to those between 75 and 80 years old! Considering the Japanese economic miracle it wasn’t such a bad idea.
German post-war recovery and prosperity was led and guided by two old people: Konrad Adenauer who became W. German Chancellor at the age of 73 and his Economics minister, G. Erhard.
Another 70+ General Charles de Gaulle led French resurgence after the war. In Britain three old men Churchill, MacMillan and R.A. Butler managed Britain recovery through 1950s and 1960s.
In Saudi Arabia the last three kings ascended the throne in their 70s and 80s and see what transformation Saudi Arabians have enjoyed in the last 40 years. If you think that this achievement is solely due to oil resources take a look at Nigeria and consider what poor use we made of our resources.
Looking at the other side of the argument consider the remarkable achievement of Lee Kuan Yew a young man in his 30s when he assumed the premiership of Singapore.
Today Singapore is a beacon of efficiency, growth discipline and prosperity. Or the case of General Suharto of Indonesia whose administration lifted one hundred million of his people from stark poverty to reasonable level of income and employment. A miracle, if ever there was one.
Consider also the impact of another young man, John F. Kennedy. In 1961 he galvanized and kick-started American technological achievement by inspiring oratory which led to landing a man on the moon and satellite communications which has transformed the whole world.
Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, These cursory recollections from history teach us, I submit one thing. Ability, competence and skill in politics does not reside in one particular age group. The ideal is to have a mixture of experienced people who will bring their wisdom to bear and young men and women with energy and vigor to cooperatively run an administration.
A happy mixture of young and old would be the ideal, but I am anxiously waiting to hear the submission of our Guest Lecturer, today Dr Shettima Mustapha. Thank you for listening, ladies and gentlemen.
Closing remarks
The purpose of an occasion such as this one is for participant to learn something new. I have learnt a lot today.
I would like to close with a particular short by reminding ourselves about the greatness of our first generation leaders. Dr Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awulowo and Alhaji Ahmadu Bello each devoted more than 40% of their regional budgets to education. We are today what we are and where we are because of their wisdom and foresight.
General Muhammadu Buhari GCFR
 Saharareporters

Conference runs into crisis as North threatens walkout

Kutigi

by: Onyedi Ojiabor and Dele Anofi, Abuja 

Signs of a huge crack in the on-going National Conference emerged yesterday, with the North’s delegates threatening a walkout over the unresolved mode of voting.

The Lamido of Adamawa, Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo Mustapha, dropped the bombshell immediately the delegates settled for the day’s business.

Dr. Mustapha was nominated for the conference on the platform of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria.

Although conference Chairman Justice Idris Kutigi called for comments on whether the conference would call for memoranda from the public on its assignment, Dr. Mustapha sidetracked the issue to deliver what some delegates described as “an attempt to frighten the South”.

Dr. Mustapha’s comment, a delegate said, “may have been rehearsed at a meeting of a group of northern delegates last night”.

The royal father warned that the North should not be pushed to the wall.

He threatened that if pushed to the wall, they would simply walkout of the conference.

To underscore the point he was making, Dr. Mustapha declared that when they walk out there would be great consequences for the country.

Some delegates attempted to shout him down, but he was not deterred.

Even when the shout of “no, no, no” persisted, Dr. Mustapha was not dissuaded.

At first, Justice Kutigi attempted to call him to order; he later urged him to continue.

The royal father made it clear that he was sounding a “note of warning” before it is too late.

He noted that it was obvious that if the country broke up many of those shouting him down would have no place to run to.

And for all he cared, the people of Adamawa and a lot more people he did not specify will be accommodated in Cameroon.

His kingdom, he said, extends to the Republic of Cameroon, especially the place called Adamawa State in Cameroon.

He said: “I just want to sound a note of warning and that is why I requested to be given time to speak before the start of business today,

“The note of warning I want to sound is that we should not take a cue from the so-called civilised people of western countries because they are always after their own interest and they can use anything – coercion, force and other means to protect their interest.

“Listening to the debates and the behaviour of some delegates here, it really beats my imagination how a gathering of people like us will behave like the way we are behaving.

“Mr. President delivered his address here and he laid down what we are supposed to discuss, but many people here, sorry to say, especially some elder statesmen who claimed to be strong loyalists of Mr. President…”

There was shout of “point of order” from those who felt belittled by what Dr. Mustapha was saying.

Justice Kutigi said: “Mr. speaker, the issue is whether you want the public to be invited to serve memoranda here.”

Dr. Mustapha responded: “Mr. Chairman,that is not my request.”

There was more shout of “no, no, no”

Justice Kutigi interjected and said “Order, order; Mr. speaker, please continue”.

Dr. Mustapha went on: “But, unfortunately, these people are in the forefront to contradict what Mr. President said. At the rate we are going, in the long run, this conference may not achieve its purpose.”

There was another bout of “no, no, Mr. Chairman, no”.

Justice Kutigi asked the delegates to allow Dr. Mustapha to conclude his speech.

“Let him land; let him land; allow the speaker to land,” the chairman said.

Dr. Mustapha continued: “In the long run, if we are not careful, this conference will flop – God forbid. And if it flops, the resultant effect can not be predicted by anyone of us here.

“If something happens and the country disintegrates – God forbid – many of those who are shouting their heads off will have nowhere to go.

“I and the people of Adamawa – and many others – have somewhere to go. I am the Lamido of Adamawa and my kingdom transcends Nigeria and Cameroon.

“A large part of my kingdom is in the Republic of Cameroon, apart from my kingdom in Adamawa.

Justice Kutigi interjected again: “Speaker, please answer the question on memoranda and stop wasting our time. Carry on.”

Dr. Mustapha continued: “Part of that kingdom in Cameroon is called Adamawa State, in Cameroon. So, you see, if I run to that place, I can easily assimilate but I want to plead with us to adhere to laid down rules by Mr. President in his address, which include issue of voting.

“Unless you want to disobey the President, then you can do whatever you want and if we are pushed to the wall, we will easily walk out of this conference.

“Jingoism is not a preclusive of anyone; everyone here is a potential jingoist.’

When Dr. Mustapha said “if we are pushed to the wall, we will easily walkout of this conference”, there was a sustained “no, no, no”, which apparently forced him to sit down.

The conference adjourned plenary to tackle the controversial mode of voting.

Deputy Chairman Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi announced a long list of delegates who had been selected to resolve the problem.

The list, Akinyemi said, was the product of painstaking selection that lasted till the early hours of yesterday.

The list contained mostly names of leaders of delegation and elder statesmen from various states, geo-political zones and groups.

On the 49-member list are Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, Chief Edwin Clark, Gen. Alani Akinrinade, Awwulu Yadudu, Olu Falae, Justice Hassan Gummi, Iyorcha Ayu, Senator Ita Giwa, Atedo Peterside, Nduka Obaigbena, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Mallam Tanko Yakassai, Chief Mike Ahamba, Prof Jibril Aminu, Prof. Jerry Gana among others.

It was, however, apparent that some delegates were not comfortable with the list.

A delegate simply said: “We are waiting and watching how the issue will be resolved.”

Before adjournment on Tuesday, the delegates mandated the chairman to consult with leaders of delegations to reach a consensus on the thorny question of whether the conference would decide issues by three-quarters majority or two-thirds majority, if consensus on an issue fails.

For two days, the conference could not agree on the issue.

The controversy threw up a North/South divide.

Northern delegates are rooting for three-quarters majority. Southern delegates want two-thirds majority as the mode of voting.

As at the time of filing this report, the behind-the-door meeting to resolve the voting pattern was still on.

Shortly after the announcement by Akinyemi, Justice Kutigi adjourned the session and announced that delegates were to resume by 4pm.

TheNation

Abuja Park-and-Pay Policy A Fraud – Reps

Edegbe Odemwingie And Adesuwa Tsan

Federal lawmakers yesterday stated that the ‘park-and-pay’ policy in Abuja metropolis “has since metamorphosed into an avenue for exploitation, fraud and other forms of sharp practices”.
This was a fallout of a motion sponsored by Hon. Bitrus Kaze to investigate the concession of the “Park-And-Pay Policy” introduced in 2012.
To this end, the House of Representatives detailed its Committee on FCT to conduct a public hearing to investigate the processes leading to the concession, award and operation of the scheme and make recommendations to the House within three weeks.
LEADERSHIP Friday recalls that in early 2012, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) introduced a ‘park-and-pay’ policy which requires the motoring public in Abuja metropolis to pay fees ranging from N50 too N100 to park their vehicles on designated streets for periods ranging from 30 minutes upwards between the hours of 7am and 6pm.
Kaze, in his lead debate, noted that the implementation of the policy was contracted out to privately-owned companies, such as Integrated Parking Systems Ltd and Automaten Technik Haumann Nigeria Ltd, which have no previous experience in electronic ticketing and parking system.
He informed lawmakers of allegations that although the companies do not maintain any infrastructure or provide professional services, they remit only between 10 per cent and 40 per cent of generated revenues and keep the rest (between 90 and 60 percent).
“The policy is being carried out without a clearly defined law to regulate the concession, management and operation of the electronic ticketing and parking regime, qualification of prospective bidders, the designated areas as well as specific times for ticketing, the percentage of funds to be remitted too government and penalties for defaulters,” he said.
The Plateau lawmaker decried the “harassment” and “unruly” conduct of agents of the companies.
“They (agents) prefer to indiscriminately clamp and tow cars which have to be reclaimed from their premises with huge sums of money ranging from N5,000 to N20,000, thereby subjecting many motorists to harrowing experiences often resulting in physical combat and assault contrary to the norms of decency and respect for fundamental human rights and dignity of persons.
He said the FCT minister, Sen Bala Mohammad, based on “ceaseless petitions” against agents of the companies pledged to review the policy, but the review has not been made till date.
Leadership

Billionaire Dangote, Gov. Fashola Accused Of Using Police To Snatch Disputed Land

Fashola and Dangote conspiring at a town meeting some weeks back

Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote and Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola are using ruthless police officers to evacuate residents of the Idasho community in order to facilitate the billionaire’s take-over of a huge parcel of land.
Police officers from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) today invaded the Idasho community to force the residents out of their land which Mr. Dangote, a billionaire businessman, wants to acquire. Eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that the policemen arrived at about noon (Nigerian time) and arrested any residents who protested their invasion. Two eyewitnesses also reported that the officers began shooting in the air and lobbing teargas at Panseke, one of the villages in the community.

• NewsRescue-When Dangote Comes For Your Land by Peregrino Brimah

One resident said the policemen were irked when some members of the community accosted them and served them a notice indicating that the land is a subject of an ongoing lawsuit. The invading officers defied the notice of court process. They arrested and took away residents, including women, who informed them that they were in court over the land.
“Who born you?” one of the police officers reportedly said, waving off the residents.
A few weeks ago, Governor Fashola had told community leaders in the affected area that their land would be used as the site of a petrochemical plant proposed by Mr. Dangote. The community leaders had protested the move, demanding to be duly resettled and fully compensated.
A community spokesman who asked for anonymity accused the Lagos State government, in collaboration with the handlers of the Lekki Free Zone Project and Mr. Dangote, of being determined to force the residents out without any form of compensation or resettlement.
Mr. Fashola had earlier used policemen from nearby local police stations to terrorize the residents of the community. A resident claimed that the governor and Mr. Dangote decided to call in officers from a dreaded anti-robbery unit because the local police officers, on learning that the case was in court, had declined to continue harassing the residents.

• NewsRescue-The 10 Real Tips to Becoming a Billionaire like Dangote by Dr. Peregrino Brimah

A police officer at the Akodo Police Station near the community told SaharaReporters that they had shown reluctance to heed Governor Fashola’s deployment requests to the community, stating that they were aware the disputed land was in court.
A community member accused Mr. Dangote of using his wealth to manipulate policemen from the SARS to “clear” the area of residents in order to move forward with his refinery project.
Several residents also asserted that, two weeks ago, the Lagos State Government had used police officers to frame up residents by accusing them of stealing tools from the site. They said officials of the Free Zone management raised a false alarm that some equipment was missing from the site they proposed for Mr. Dangote’s petrochemical plant. “Police just came here and arrested people,” one of the residents disclosed.
A member of the staff of the Free Zone confirmed to our correspondent that no tools were missing or stolen. Even so, the arrested residents were arraigned in court on trumped-up theft charges.
“This is a vicious attack on us by Governor Fashola. He desperately wants to give our land to Dangote without doing the proper thing,” one community leader said.
One resident said he called his sister, arrested by the invading police, to know her whereabouts, but a police officer answered her phone. The man said the officer warned him that they were on a mission to “clear the land for Alhaji Dangote.”

NewsRescue

Court Nullifies Collection Of Toll On Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge

By SaharaReporters, New York

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State has nullified the collection of any toll or tariff on the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge.
Ruling on the suit, which was filed by human rights lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, presiding judge, Justice Saidu, J. held that the power of control over all navigable waterways in Nigeria resides in the Federal Government, and not any state government.
He held that from all the documents made available to the court, the only justification for the toll fee on the bridge by Lagos State is the private partnership law.
However, he noted that the law could not apply to the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge since it was built with the money of the Lagos State Government, without the involvement of any private partnership.
“Thus, since there is no law supporting the toll fee, it is illegal and should be stopped forthwith”, Justice Saidu said.
Responding to the ruling, Adegboruwa commended the courage of the judge, especially against the background of the impunity that citizens are being subjected to all over country.
“Coming a day after the same court nullified the imposition of new number plates, this judgment should be an elixir to all Nigerians to challenge in the court, all illegal taxes and arbitrary charges in the name of road tax, PHCN metre maintenance charge, estimate bills without electricity, and so on”, he said.
Saharareporters

N12m National Conference Allowance Is Scandalous, Totally Unacceptable – Bishop Kukah

Bishop Hassan Kukah

The Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has described the N12 million allowances for the delegates to the National Conference as scandalous and unacceptable.
He was speaking exclusively to Saharareporters at the Nigeria Summit 2014 in Lagos, where he noted that the National Conference is being held at a time of great anxiety, a time of frustration, a time of great polarity, a time of ideological disorders.
“The writing of a new constitution should not be a decision of gathering 400 or 500 people and if you must gather them there’s absolutely nowhere in the world where you can talk about gathering people that otherwise ought to be ready to make a patriotic commitment and sacrifice and you say you are giving people N12 million,” he said, expressing the hope that the report is not true.
He recalled that when he served as the Secretary of the National Political Reform Conference every member received N20,000 per month.  “I am not talking about whether it was enough or not, that is not the issue, but I know the sacrifices that people had to make because this is about our country.”
He noted that the opposition party says that the decision to take 12 million is a political decision and that people are making political statements and that there was going to be a lot of grandstanding, but at what expense.
He further observed that many people may see the success of the conference as a Jonathan thing and its failure, on the other hand, as a way of weakening the President.
On the security situation, he recalled a report the other day that 130 people have died in his part of the country, and that the numbers continues to rise by the day in other parts of the country.
On the rise of the Boko Haram insurgency, Bishop Kukay said, “The real source of this crisis if you remember it’s that after the killing of Yusuf people went to court and they say the court awarded 100 billion to both families and people who lost their lives and lost thousands.  The government didn’t react to that; what happens is that when you think about what you could amid the debris.”
In that regard, he said, “People who have lost loved ones with no government interventions all you are doing is just recruiting more members for Boko Haram for the future.”
Saharareporters

This Nigerian Government Is Inherently Wicked And Innately Evil By Ayo Oyalowo

The government is so out of control. It is so bloated and infested with fraud and deceit and corruption and abuse of power. – Ted Nugent


The Nigerian government as led by President Goodluck Jonathan is extremely wicked and inhuman. This terrible character trait is consistently manifested in several forms. From a lukewarm and an “I don’t give a damn attitude” to bloody harvests of untimely mass deaths in the North Eastern part of the country, to massive looting and hemorrhaging of the treasury by various individuals serving in this government, it has been one sad tale of woe for poor citizens of Nigeria to another. This government doesn’t care about Nigerians and it is showing it in various ways and manners.
Two days before the jamboree dubbed “Centenary Celebration”, 59 Nigerian children were slaughtered in a callous and barbaric fashion by bloodthirsty demons of Boko Haram. The president of Nigeria meanwhile led a jamboree of dancing and drinking in Abuja, in the guise of centenary celebration. No thoughts were spared as to what agony the families of those children were going through. As I write, almost a month after, the president is yet to acknowledge; let alone visit/commiserate with families who lost their children. Indeed he doesn’t give a damn, does he?
Just recently, it came to light that over $20billion had been stolen from the State run oil corporation, the NNPC, through connivance with the minister of petroleum. But up until today, not one person has been suspended; neither is there any serious effort made to unearth what went wrong. The president rather surreptitiously suspended the man who alerted the nation to such crude and naked rape of the public treasury. And to divert the attention of Nigerians, the government and her cohorts created a severe artificial fuel scarcity situation which is still on, two months after. By so doing, Nigerians were kept busy and engaged so that the noise generated by the stealing of public funds by the Jonathan appointed officials will be drowned. But is this the right way to treat the citizens?
In India, the Jamnagar Refinery was commissioned in 36 months, housing the world’s largest refining complex with an aggregate refining capacity of 1.24 million barrels (197,000 m3) of oil per day, more than any other single location in the world. The total cost was around $10billion.
The Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric dam that spans the Yangtze River by the town of Sandouping, located in Yiling District, Yichang, Hubei province, China. The Three Gorges Dam is the world’s largest power station in terms of installed capacity (22,500 MW). This dam was constructed at the cost of $22.5billion.
Nigeria on the other hand imports refined fuel. Nigeria is the ONLY OPEC member country that wholly imports refined PMS for domestic use. In 15 years of PDP misrule, rather than fix local refineries and if possible build more, the federal government led by the PDP handed fuel importation licenses to their friends and cronies to continue to cheat poor Nigerians and make them suffer in the midst of plenty.
Imagine if the NNPC and the minister of petroleum had not stolen $20 billion, we could have built enough refineries to refine crude for domestic use and even export some. Nigeria would have made more money that way, but why should they do that when they could steal and buy exotic homes in Vienna and other places or buy private jets?
Imagine if they hadn’t stolen that $20billion, like China, we could have fixed our power problems. But why should they fix it when their friends are the ones importing diesel and generators? The clowns running Nigeria don’t care about Nigerians in general. All that matter to them is to steal more and get richer. Any wonder they deliberately destroyed the educational system? They’d rather send their children to schools abroad while ensuring the children of other Nigerians are barely educated to distinguish between right and wrong. The plan is to keep a large number of barely educated goons at home to serve their own children in the future. And their plan is working. If you doubt me, read the comment section after this write up. Some barely literate youths will be paid a pittance to engage in mudslinging and vitriolic abuse of the writer and others who are not afflicted by their apparent Stockholm Syndrome.
Few days ago, the minister of petroleum, was bold enough to declare that subsidy MUST be removed from PMS as the government can no longer sustain it. IMPUNITY of the highest order! Meanwhile she promised Nigerians that she will ensure a Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of all the four refineries in Nigeria within 9 months. That was in January 2012. Maybe 9 months means something else to her. Billions were spent by her ministry, yet we continue to import PMS and NOBODY is asking her any questions.
Meanwhile, the AIT writes on the report on the House of Reps investigation to Minister Diezani thus: “The petroleum minister Alison is allegedly committing the sum of N130million monthly to the minister’s Challenger 850 aircraft and in two years has expended about 3.12 billion naira towards the upkeep of the private jet used solely for her personal needs and those of her family. Till date, the lease of the aircraft is said to have gulped about 10billion naira. Huge sums have said to have been used to fly the leased jet all over the world for leisure… all allegedly from public funds.”
According to the motion mover, Samuel Adejare: “This has been going on for two years and a lot of money has been committed–N10 billion. When I read this on the pages of that paper, that was on the 9th of march, what happened about one weekend ago where youths of this country gathered to look for 4,500 jobs, came to mind. Somebody serving this government is wasting that amount of money to hire a plane”.
That is the same woman who wants poor Nigerians on N18,000 monthly wage to pay more for petroleum products. Sadly, nothing will come out of the so called investigation as we all know she’s a co-president and Jonathan cannot fire her because they are in cahoots; illegally milking Nigerians while asking the poor, about 120 million of whom earn less than $2 daily, to cooperate with government and sacrifice by paying more for fuel.
The Nigerian government as currently constituted is led by inept, unconscionable and wicked individuals who have all failed to grasp the simple notion of patriotism and nationhood. They live in obscene opulence using public funds, while impoverishing Nigerians daily with their ill thought out actions and inaction.
As I write, another N20billion has been reported missing from the police pension fund. Add that to the initial N151billion allegedly stolen by Maina, who incidentally is still roaming free, from the same police pension fund.
Yet our “humble” president still believes corruption is overrated in Nigeria? Well, Mr. Jonathan may be right. Corruption is not much of a problem as the impunity displayed by the president and those whom he surrounds himself with. Stealing in this government is free for all. Their creed seems to be: “steal as much as possible so that you can guarantee a slap on the wrist as punishment”. Indeed only a fool steals millions in Nigeria because a small thief ends up in prison while the big ones get national honours and are now the Jonathanian branded “elder statesmen”, most of whom were also nominated by our “amiable” president to represent “us” at the national conference and chart a course for our future. What a future that is turning out to be!
The same impunity was at work on Saturday 15th March, 2014. when the NIS out of wickedness and unbridled greed invited over 500,000 applicants for an interview, knowing that the slots available were a mere 4,000. But they went ahead, collected the sum of N1000 from each applicant made up of mostly unemployed or underemployed youths. In their usual ill-preparedness, there was a stampede that killed about 19 young Nigerians. It is a week today, yet not one official or the greedy minister, Abba Moro has been fired. Governor Christie of New Jersey, in Jan 2014, fired his top aides who orchestrated a mere traffic jam. But here in Nigeria, President Jonathan merely warned a minister who killed 19 Nigerians out of criminal negligence. You be the judge.
While impunity and wickedness characterize the present government, they will do well to pay heed to James Madison and I quote: “Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power.” The danger now is that when power is abused, it leads to chaos and chaos is such that may sweep the abusers away.
In conclusion, Nigerians are no fools and if subsidy in PMS is no longer sustainable, then those in authority must not only tell us the ill of subsidy, but they also must tell us why we cannot REFINE fuel for domestic use and even export refined PMS. If Singapore, a small nation without crude oil, has 3 excellent refineries in good condition and even exports PMS to Nigeria, then we have no excuse to continue to import PMS for domestic/local consumption.
Sadly, those at the helm of affairs in Nigeria are a greedy lot without shame; neither are their various policies made with altruism. Their belly is the god they worship. But as the saying goes “one day go be one day, monkey go go market…”

Oyalowo tweets via @Ayourb
Saharareporters