An NGO's Communique On Youth Participation In Delta State's Politics

A Communique Issued at the End of a one-day Town Hall Meeting on Youth Participation in Politics in the Niger Delta held 6th September 2018, at Wellington Hotel Effurun, Warri Delta State. Preamble The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) with the support of the Ford Foundation convened a one day town hall meeting in Warri, Delta State on youth participation in politics in Delta State. The meeting which was a key milestone on the project “Capacity Building for Youth Interested in Political Office in the Niger Delta”, was organized to x-ray issues and challenges of youth participation in politics in Delta State, with the view to reaching a consensus on how best to determinately bring the youths in the state into mainstream politics ahead of the 2019 general elections and beyond. The Town Hall meeting had in attendance representatives of the National Council of Women Society (NCWS), representatives of traditional rulers, political parties, Executive chairmen of Local Governments, youth groups, CSOs and Centre LSD Trainee, and the media. Observations: Participants at the town hall meeting observed that; 1.Whereas it is a known fact that political leadership is particularly crucial for the development of nations as the progress, development and fortunes of nations are tied to the type and quality of their political leadership that they have had and continue to have, political leadership is a huge challenge in Nigeria and the challenge for the future is even greater as there is increasing marginalization of the youth in politics. 2.Whereas in other climes, youths are now being entrusted with leadership and governance of their countries, the reverse is the case in Nigeria as there is no clear cut definition of the age bracket that is classified as the youthful age. 3.There is the argument that the same youth who are being fought for to be included in the governance process are cited to be the architects of their own problems and have remained willing tools in the hands of politicians and often used against their fellow youth. The situation has increasingly become so as majority of the youths in Nigeria do not have the requisite skills and knowledge because of their intellectual laziness. 4.The forum frowned at the increasing monetization of politics in Nigeria and in Delta State, describing it as tool for alienation and a deliberate ploy to disenfranchise well-meaning individuals from contest. The monetization of politics in Nigeria has capacity to further limit youth participation in politics in Nigeria and in Delta State. The recent release of expression of interest and nomination fee by some political parties is not only offensive but capable of throwing spanners in the wheel of progress of the Nigerian youth aspiration to political offices in the country, Niger Delta and Delta State. 5. Older politicians in the country and in the Niger Delta region have perpetually been recycled and a lot of them have found politics as an arena where they retire to. 6.The zoning of political position in Delta State is a major problem affecting the chances of capable youths in Delta State. 7.Over the years, political leaders have remained unaccountable to the electorate and this explains the spate of infrastructural decay, project abandonment and none provision of requisite amenities to citizens. Recommendation/Resolutions The following recommendations were made at the town hall meeting; 1.The youths in Delta State constitute a considerable voting population and should be given the chance and encouragement to contribute their quota to the development of the state and Nigeria in general, just the way it is happening in other countries around the world. 2.In order to make the desired difference in the politics of Delta State, there is need to build the capacities of the youth and mentor and socialize them to participate actively in the political and governance process. 3.The youths must take their destiny in their hands and take concrete steps to equip themselves with the provisions of the Constitution and Electoral Act ahead of contesting election. The youth must understand that Power is not given but struggled for, and therefore must work collaboratively with their peers to strategize and gain relevance within their parties. 4.Political parties in Nigeria should consider as a matter of urgency the revision of the recently released fee for expression of interest and nomination to a level that is fair to all willing contestants in the country, region and State. The deliberate hiking of fee could slip the country into a deeper menace of corruption and thus reverse the successes the current administration has achieved in the current fight against corruption. 5.The political class should as matter of urgency take steps to mentor and hand-hold the youth who have shown determination, interest, skill and the right attitude to succeed in politics. 6. Politics should not be a profession but rather a vocation and every politician including the youths should while politicking also create alternative livelihood sources that makes them look away from public resources. 7.A level playing field for all aspirants must be guaranteed by the political parties through the practice of internal party democracy. Conclusion Stakeholders commended and appreciated the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) and Ford Foundation for their support in putting together the town hall meeting on youth participation in politics in the Niger Delta, the Delta State Chapter. The meeting called on the relevant stakeholders in Delta State to ensure that the youths are adequately supported in their aspiration for political and appointive positions by putting in place a level playing field that will facilitate their effective participation in the 2019 general election and beyond. Signed: Chief (Mrs) R. Akoyere – National Council of Women Society(ies) (NCWS) Mr. Voke Ighoroje – REEDS Centre Lawal Amodu – African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) Joy Tobele – Initiative for Peace and Stability (IPAS)

Happened Today!!!!&

Happened Today!!!! Photo News/News In Brief I, Comrade Okonta Emeka Okelum, actively participated and represented our Media Outfit, Asaba Post News Wire (Online), today, Thursday, at Warri, Delta State, during a townhall meeting. The townhall meeting was organized around issues of youth participation in politics within the Niger Delta Region. The event was designed to be implemented by a non government organization, African Center for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Center LSD) within the three Niger Delta States of Bayelsa, Delta and Edo States. With support from Ford Foundation, the meeting produced an opportunity for the implementation organization (Center LSD) to unveil a survey report on the level of youth participation in politics within the three project's pilot States of Bayelsa, Delta and Edo States. Participants were drawn from youth led organizations, community/traditional institutions, political parties, faith based organizations, public and organized private sector actors as well as the media. The event witnessed goodwill messages, keynote speech, panelist discussion segment as well as an interactive question and answer sessions involving all participants. Stay tuned as Asaba Post News Wire will share more detailed reportage on the key highlights of the meetings resolutions, recommendations and way forward jointly arrived at by all participants soon with you, thanks. Story by Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba For Asaba Post News Wire (ONLINE)

An NGO'S Communiqué On Abandoned Projects In Niger Delta Region

A REGIONAL CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY SOCIAL DEVLOPMENT INTEGRATED CENTRE (SOCIAL ACTION) WITH THE THEME: TRACKING TRENDS OF CORRUPTION THROUGH ABANDONED PROJECTS IN THE NIGER DELTA, HELD ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2018 AT BEST WESTERN HOTEL, PORT HARCOURT A. INTRODUCTION In a regional conference on tracking trends of corruption through abandoned projects in the Niger Delta held today, being Tuesday august 28, 2018, organized by Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) in collaboration with the African Centre for Media and Literacy (AFRICMIL); and fully participated by CSOs/NGOs and representatives of MDAs and anti-corruption agencies; and with support of MacArthur Foundation; the menace of corruption in the region was recognized as pervasive and affecting the ability of public space actors and agencies to deliver expected dividends of state performance to citizens of the entire region. Conference also noted that despite the huge inflow of funds over the years, the quantum of infrastructure deficit within the region is alarming; and management of fiscal resources that were meant for improving the welfare of the people is mismanaged, leading to the posting of persistent record-level of poverty. To that end, Conference regretted that enough is not yet done for collaborative action to reduce corruption, particularly as it affects projects execution under public funding. The Conference then concluded that corruption is a major contributor to the failures surrounding the poor state of budget performance under state agencies created entirely for developing the region; the conference also agreed that expanded action is required for reducing corruption to the barest minimum, and therefore commended Social Action and its partners for organizing this unique regional discussion engagement –and by so doing, providing a window for citizens and private sector actors to play more inclusive role in partnering with state agencies to combat corruption in all its facets in order to reduce it impacts; i.e., particularly across the public project execution domains. The Conference also featured the presentation of a study report produced by Social Action (produced under the support of MacArthur Foundation), titled: Abandoned Projects –Citizens’ Report on Budgets of Selected States of Nigeria, 2017; (this document was appropriately reviewed at the event by Dr. Sofiri Peterside –a development sociology of the University of Port Harcourt). B. OBSERVATIONS The conference, examined the situation on ground across the states of the Niger Delta region as regards the menace of corruption; this was done in respect of the negative impact of corruption on public projects execution vis-à-vis recurrent inability of state services to bring appreciable benefits to citizens; Conference therefore made the following observations: The reality of abandoned projects is pervasive, and with uncompleted projects unacceptably spotting across all the Niger Delta states –reflecting ineptitude of state effort that is only posting a character of unreliable public budget process that is largely short-changing critical benefits purported for the people of the region Budget processes of state are yet to be fully opened up for citizens’ information access, making it difficult for public space oversight monitoring and reporting to improve project execution benefits for the people; and with that seriously presenting a cover for corruption to thrive in project contracting and implementation Public participation in project contracting remains glaringly lacking, with that presenting much difficulty for citizens’ effective demand for improved services under constitutionally stipulated state obligations/responsibility Huge funds inflow into the Niger Delta region did not result into any corresponding outcome of improved governance performance and benefiting services to citizens, leaving the people under unending poverty over the years Spending of public funds in the region has consistently failed to reflect fiscal transparency and accountability performance, with officials responsible for such expenditures mismanaging state resources with outright impunity State budgeting and expenditures remain sadly characterized with a record of award of spurious projects that only left the result of the budget process ever recording regrettable state of abandoned projects year to year across the region The double character of poor release of funds to state agencies who also end up paradoxically with poor utilization of even the little they got has continued to increase the rate at which projects are abandoned in the region There is no appreciable compliance with  federal funding accountability and transparency legal and policy rules over the whole business of public budget processes and project execution Civil society interest in playing oversight role over budget accountability is yet to become widespread across segments of society; that is, to an extent that it will spur expanded campaign for guaranteeing social accountability. C. CONCLUSION The Conference applauded the organizing of the event and also appreciated the related oversight process of monitoring and reporting state sector performance toward combating the abandoned projects menace and its underlying problem of corruption; that is, for improving the benefits and services of public space performance in the various states of the Niger Delta. Accordingly, Conference made relevant recommendations for effort sustainability toward realizing the goal/objectives of the process that Social Action and partners have commenced. D. RECOMMENDATIONS Anti-corruption citizens groups need to intensify campaigns toward bringing the menace of corruption to an end –and thereby contribute to achievement of governance best practice whereby citizens get better services /benefits from public expenditure Citizens participation in budget planning and implementation for better result must be improved to ensure expanded collaborative engagement that would assure sustainable nation building Various stakeholder actors should take advantage of ever opening space for monitoring, reporting and following up with public development process to ensure best practices prevail with assured improvement of services and benefits Anti-corruption ambassadors must be promoted to add to the milieu of effective tools championing a crusade to combat corruption in the society The school curricula must be considered for infusing anti-corruption study into formal education process right from primary school level The use of youth gangs to induce violence and insecurity as contributing factors to the problem of abandoned project must be discouraged The overbearing influence of the oil and gas sector must be made to contribute to prudent contracting processes in order to improve anti-corruption practice, and to also enhance contract related benefits and services to affected communities There should be an oversight committee comprising of state and CSOs representatives to be over the task of ensuring budget compliance to ensure social accountability on project selection, budgeting and implementation for better services to the public Audit service commission can be established to bring about audit staff recruitment prudence and sectoral service discipline into public auditing processes –especially as this improve independence in funds sourcing and procurement approaches in line with accountability/transparency objectives Parliamentary independence and oversight role must be fully utilized to improve the prospects of realizing better dividends from transparency and accountability practices around public procurement processes in the region There is need for the state at all level to implement the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) All sectors and stakeholders should be involved at the beginning of the planning process to give all a sense of ownership to trigger implementation success for publicly funded projects There should be more effort towards improving mass media performance in addressing public procurement processes toward meeting transparency and accountability global objectives Open governance partnership should be adopted to strengthen CSOs input into budgeting and project implementing Awareness creation and sensitization of the masses should be utilized to mobilize grassroots participation in combating corruption State legislators should be more proactive in championing the effort of combating corruption Open budget process should be vigorously pursued to enhance information access around public spending Electoral process should be improved to achieve peaceful, free and fair balloting towards enhancing prospects of combating corruption.

An NGO Communique On Abandoned Projects In Niger Delta

A REGIONAL CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY SOCIAL DEVLOPMENT INTEGRATED CENTRE (SOCIAL ACTION) WITH THE THEME: TRACKING TRENDS OF CORRUPTION THROUGH ABANDONED PROJECTS IN THE NIGER DELTA, HELD ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2018 AT BEST WESTERN HOTEL, PORT HARCOURT A. INTRODUCTION In a regional conference on tracking trends of corruption through abandoned projects in the Niger Delta held today, being Tuesday august 28, 2018, organized by Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) in collaboration with the African Centre for Media and Literacy (AFRICMIL); and fully participated by CSOs/NGOs and representatives of MDAs and anti-corruption agencies; and with support of MacArthur Foundation; the menace of corruption in the region was recognized as pervasive and affecting the ability of public space actors and agencies to deliver expected dividends of state performance to citizens of the entire region. Conference also noted that despite the huge inflow of funds over the years, the quantum of infrastructure deficit within the region is alarming; and management of fiscal resources that were meant for improving the welfare of the people is mismanaged, leading to the posting of persistent record-level of poverty. To that end, Conference regretted that enough is not yet done for collaborative action to reduce corruption, particularly as it affects projects execution under public funding. The Conference then concluded that corruption is a major contributor to the failures surrounding the poor state of budget performance under state agencies created entirely for developing the region; the conference also agreed that expanded action is required for reducing corruption to the barest minimum, and therefore commended Social Action and its partners for organizing this unique regional discussion engagement –and by so doing, providing a window for citizens and private sector actors to play more inclusive role in partnering with state agencies to combat corruption in all its facets in order to reduce it impacts; i.e., particularly across the public project execution domains. The Conference also featured the presentation of a study report produced by Social Action (produced under the support of MacArthur Foundation), titled: Abandoned Projects –Citizens’ Report on Budgets of Selected States of Nigeria, 2017; (this document was appropriately reviewed at the event by Dr. Sofiri Peterside –a development sociology of the University of Port Harcourt). B. OBSERVATIONS The conference, examined the situation on ground across the states of the Niger Delta region as regards the menace of corruption; this was done in respect of the negative impact of corruption on public projects execution vis-à-vis recurrent inability of state services to bring appreciable benefits to citizens; Conference therefore made the following observations: The reality of abandoned projects is pervasive, and with uncompleted projects unacceptably spotting across all the Niger Delta states –reflecting ineptitude of state effort that is only posting a character of unreliable public budget process that is largely short-changing critical benefits purported for the people of the region. Budget processes of state are yet to be fully opened up for citizens’ information access, making it difficult for public space oversight monitoring and reporting to improve project execution benefits for the people; and with that seriously presenting a cover for corruption to thrive in project contracting and implementation. Public participation in project contracting remains glaringly lacking, with that presenting much difficulty for citizens’ effective demand for improved services under constitutionally stipulated state obligations/responsibility Huge funds inflow into the Niger Delta region did not result into any corresponding outcome of improved governance performance and benefiting services to citizens, leaving the people under unending poverty over the years. Spending of public funds in the region has consistently failed to reflect fiscal transparency and accountability performance, with officials responsible for such expenditures mismanaging state resources with outright impunity. State budgeting and expenditures remain sadly characterized with a record of award of spurious projects that only left the result of the budget process ever recording regrettable state of abandoned projects year to year across the region. The double character of poor release of funds to state agencies who also end up paradoxically with poor utilization of even the little they got has continued to increase the rate at which projects are abandoned in the region. There is no appreciable compliance with  federal funding accountability and transparency legal and policy rules over the whole business of public budget processes and project execution. Civil society interest in playing oversight role over budget accountability is yet to become widespread across segments of society; that is, to an extent that it will spur expanded campaign for guaranteeing social accountability. C. CONCLUSION The Conference applauded the organizing of the event and also appreciated the related oversight process of monitoring and reporting state sector performance toward combating the abandoned projects menace and its underlying problem of corruption; that is, for improving the benefits and services of public space performance in the various states of the Niger Delta. Accordingly, Conference made relevant recommendations for effort sustainability toward realizing the goal/objectives of the process that Social Action and partners have commenced. D. RECOMMENDATIONS Anti-corruption citizens groups need to intensify campaigns toward bringing the menace of corruption to an end –and thereby contribute to achievement of governance best practice whereby citizens get better services /benefits from public expenditure. Citizens participation in budget planning and implementation for better result must be improved to ensure expanded collaborative engagement that would assure sustainable nation building. Various stakeholder actors should take advantage of ever opening space for monitoring, reporting and following up with public development process to ensure best practices prevail with assured improvement of services and benefits Anti-corruption ambassadors must be promoted to add to the milieu of effective tools championing a crusade to combat corruption in the society. The school curricula must be considered for infusing anti-corruption study into formal education process right from primary school level. The use of youth gangs to induce violence and insecurity as contributing factors to the problem of abandoned project must be discouraged. The overbearing influence of the oil and gas sector must be made to contribute to prudent contracting processes in order to improve anti-corruption practice, and to also enhance contract related benefits and services to affected communities. There should be an oversight committee comprising of state and CSOs representatives to be over the task of ensuring budget compliance to ensure social accountability on project selection, budgeting and implementation for better services to the public Audit service commission can be established to bring about audit staff recruitment prudence and sectoral service discipline into public auditing processes –especially as this improve independence in funds sourcing and procurement approaches in line with accountability/transparency objectives. Parliamentary independence and oversight role must be fully utilized to improve the prospects of realizing better dividends from transparency and accountability practices around public procurement processes in the region. There is need for the state at all level to implement the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) All sectors and stakeholders should be involved at the beginning of the planning process to give all a sense of ownership to trigger implementation success for publicly funded projects . There should be more effort towards improving mass media performance in addressing public procurement processes toward meeting transparency and accountability global objectives. Open governance partnership should be adopted to strengthen CSOs input into budgeting and project implementing. Awareness creation and sensitization of the masses should be utilized to mobilize grassroots participation in combating corruption. State legislators should be more proactive in championing the effort of combating corruption. Open budget process should be vigorously pursued to enhance information access around public spending Electoral process should be improved to achieve peaceful, free and fair balloting towards enhancing prospects of combating corruption. SOURCE: ASABA POST NEWS WIRE (ONLINE)

Buhari announces modality, names dignitaries for conferment of national honours on Abiola, others

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, has just released the statement below to announce modalities for the conferment of national honours on late multibillionaire businessman cum politician, Moshood Abiola; late prominent lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi and politician, Babagana Kingibe. Read full statement below. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HONOURS JUNE 12 PRO-DEMOCRACY HEROES Following the historic designation of June 12 as DEMOCRACY DAY and NATIONAL HOLIDAY, Muhammadu Buhari, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, will confer Post-Humous national honours on Chief M.K.O. Abiola as Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), Chief Gani Fawehinmi as the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). He will also decorate Ambassador Babagana Kingibe with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), at an investiture scheduled to take place as follows:- DATE: Tuesday, June 12 2018 VENUE: Conference Hall, State House, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja TIME: 10.00 am 2. Accordingly, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe , the family of the late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola and that of Chief Gani Fawehinmi , along with the underlisted key players of June 12 struggle are cordially invited: · Members of the National Executive Committee of the SDP including States Chairmen and Secretaries at the time of June 12, 1993 · Governors elected under SDP platform · Former Senate Presidents – Iyorchia Ayu and Ameh Ebute and Speaker Agunwa Anekwe along with Principal Officers of the National Assembly elected under SDP platform · Speakers of the States Assembly elected under SDP platform · All Chairmen of the States Traditional Councils from the six South-Western States · Prof. Wole Soyinka · Mr. Femi Falana, SAN · Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu · Chief Bisi Akande · Ms. Ayo Obe · Bayo Onanuga – The News · Kunle Ajibade – Tempo · Nosa Igiebor – Tell · Kayode Komolafe – Media Hope 93 · Senator Janathan Zwingina – DG Hope 93 · Comrade Frank Ovie Kokori · Prof. Humphrey Nwosu 3. Also invited are Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogora, Principal Officers of the National Assembly, Members of the Federal Executive Council and all State Governors. 4. Accommodation has been reserved for all invitees at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Tafawa Balewa Way, area 11, Garki, Abuja from Monday, 11th June 2018. For further inquiries please contact William Alo, Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation 5. Invitation letters have been despatched. However, should the invitation arrive late, this publication serves as a formal invitation.

DANCING ON THE GRAVE OF ABIOLA

Inside Stuff With MARTINS OLOJA “The Guardian”Sunday JUNE 10, 2018, P.13 Our leaders and the power elite know how to develop and execute political strategy for enlightened self-interest. But they do not know how to develop politics for nation building. And that is why we are a prominent but not a significant nation. We, the people, too always doze off after telling some social media tales, which are full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. And so, our do-nothing leaders know us quite well. They know we like exciting political stories. They haul a lot of them on the front pages and prime time every day for us to debate. Instead of chasing significant issues such as killers in the Middle Belt and North East zones, they chase the prominent but insignificant suspects in the senate. They know how to engage our attention all the time. Give it to them. Our leaders appear to have taken some anointing from Charles Dickens character, Jack Dawkins known as the “Artful Dodger” in the classic, “Oliver Twist”. They are Artful Dodgers indeed. They dodge questions on policy issues and their manifestoes. They dodge questions on their stewardships. They evade questions on their running costs. They don’t want to answer any questions on their security votes. They parry questions on their responsibilities to the people on welfare and security. They don’t want any questions on their assaults on the rule of law and disobedience to court orders. Our leaders are very clever. They always give us opium, which appeases the ‘gods of the belly’. Yes, they have given us another one, a 25-year-old opium called June 12 – a justice once delayed and denied – to the acclaimed ‘most sophisticated’ nation, the Yoruba in Nigeria. Now we are debating. We are wailing and hailing. We had thought that the lanky General of Fulani extraction was not artful, not sophisticated enough to run our affairs. But he has artfully put in our mouths a messy opium garnished with honey that we cannot swallow immediately, nor can we spew out. Behold, the magic of June 12 nurturing the majesty of the law and democracy simultaneously. Before our very eyes, the poor and unknown footballer of yesterday has become today’s soccer maestro, a Lionel Messi, a Christiano Ronaldo even in the media, the iconic Odia Ofeimun once called the ‘Ngbati press’. But who can deny the mastery of the art of politics in this game someone has called scoring of an unexpected ‘hat trick’. A friend of mine (in a long letter to me) noted that in the June 12 Ring, ‘It is a June 12 masterstroke and they are sulking…a single uppercut has left a multitude of knockouts. Ouch!...’ That is the new spirit in town. The lanky, taciturn leader from Daura has indeed stolen some thunder – from Minna, though Otueke to Abeokuta. Yes, the June 12 music might have ended at the Eagle Square on May 29, 1999. But at the moment, a diplomat with a baritone voice inside the powerhouse is saying, the melody is not yet over. We are gathered again at the Abiola’s graveside where we can once again dance the Yoruba’s organic ‘owambe’. There, they can remember the chorus from Lanny Wolfe’s classic, ‘Dancing on the Grave of My Enemies’. “Now I'm dancing on the graves of my enemies; Dancing on the trouble that's been troubling me; I did not know what else to do; But J*.C*, He brought me through” I've come through the fire; I've come through the flood It's nothing else but the blood...; And if you're wondering what I'm dancing about Hallelujah! He brought me out…” Of all the groundswell of views I have read, I have found the one credited to my brother at the “TVC Journalists’ Hangout,” Kolade Babajide Otitoju’s very significant. For whatever it is worth, the June 12 resurrection story is indeed a masterstroke that cannot be denied at this moment. Babajide says, ‘PMB knows how to use his office very well…”That says it all. I would like to add that no one can fault his (President Buhari’s) loan from “the Children of Issachar who the word of God tells me, “had understanding of the times and knew what Israel ought to do”. The declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day and National Honour for M.K.O Abiola does not automatically lead to swinging of so many votes from the Yoruba to the General as being touted. There are still so many rivers to cross in Western Nigeria before this can be an added advantage. First, he has to show federal government projects that can be commissioned anytime soon. The two viable Ports located at Apapa are in Lagos, the commercial capital of Western Nigeria. PMB has to show commitments that General Murtala Mohammed promised the people in a national broadcast to the nation on February 3, 1976 when he proclaimed Abuja as the nation’s new capital. In his broadcast to the nation on February 3, 1976, Murtala had promised that Lagos would not only be designated a “Special Area”, it would be Nigeria’s commercial capital and the deal would be incorporated into the 1979 Constitution then in the works. His words: “…Lagos will, in the foreseeable future, remain the nation’s commercial capital and one of its nerve centres. But in terms of servicing the present infrastructure alone, the committed amount of money and effort required will be such that Lagos State will not be ready to cope. It will even be unfair to expect the state to bear this heavy burden on its own. It is, therefore, necessary for the federal government to continue to sustain the substantial investment in the area. The port facilities and other economic activities in the Lagos area have to be expanded. There is need in the circumstance for the federal government to maintain a special defence and security arrangement in Lagos, which will henceforth be designated a SPECIAL AREA. These arrangements will be carefully worked out and written into the constitution. Kaduna and Port-Harcourt are to be accorded similar status and designated special areas under the constitution...” This promise has to be fulfilled now. There are other weightier matters of infrastructure too in the area. The people would like to celebrate special attention to the Lagos-Ibadan, Shagamu- Ore-Benin Expressway, which is part of the Apapa- related commercial routes. June 12 is politics settled. But the people shall not live by politics alone. Governance after politics will create values for the people. Good road infrastructure will improve security and welfare of the people, the primary purpose of government. It is indeed some leprosy on the people that nineteen years of democracy or civil rule has not affected Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and other critical roads in Western Nigeria. What is more, the President’s commitment to “restructuring of the federation” should also make some way for him in the hearts of the people of Western Nigeria. Don’t believe a report that they are “sophisticated morons” as a political journalist called them on this June 12 revival story at the weekend. They are not. President Buhari should have noted how one good action can be a masterstroke, a big issue that you don’t need to push in the mainstream media. Your good deeds can make a way for you. The June 12 ‘wonder goal’ has been one of such actions. But that is not all. It is risky to dance on the grave of M.K.O Abiola without connecting with the right tunes from the sophisticated orchestra from Western Nigeria. President Buhari should not lose the momentum. He should solidify this with an uncommon commitment to restructuring. There is a little that can be achieved in economic management at this time. The president’s war on corruption has been controversial and meretricious. Even the anti-corruption agencies need restructuring of some sort. The document the Nasir el-Rufai Committee has submitted on this serious thing called restructuring, has been widely hailed. Another ‘hat trick’ can be scored from this, if the president can renew his mind about federalism this week. This is not just for the purpose of re-election. It is about nation building. The 2019 election can be won and the nation can be lost in the process. What then will it profit a president if he wins an election and loses his nation? The foundation of Nigeria has to be revisited for nation building to be meaningful at the moment. It is not about the Western Nigeria. It is about the fate of the most populous black nation on earth. The other thing needful while the symphony is being managed on the grave of Abiola is overhaul of the public service appointments. The President needs to retouch appointments of his security and intelligence chiefs. They have been largely parochial and lopsided. You can’t re-build a fractured nation with this lopsidedness. The president needs to be audacious as he has been with this June 12 redemption song on the grave of Abiola. Whenever people are gathered on this June 12 revival story, event managers in Abuja should pay tributes to heroes of democracy, especially civil society activists and journalists who worked hard with others to deliver this democracy in 1999. People may have forgotten about numerous guerilla journalists who lost their freedom and even lives. Bagauda Kaltho and others paid the supreme sacrifice. “Tell”, “The News”, “The African Guardian” “Tempo”, “Abuja Newsday”, etc suffered in the hand of state terrorists at the time. Some never survived. It is true that Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo(1999-2007) Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (2007-2010) and Goodluck Jonathan (2010-2015) failed to remember the political backgrounds, yes June 12 that set the tone for this democracy they have enjoyed. Most of the beneficiaries and political office holders who have failed to remember this aspect of our political history deserve to be enrolled in a Hall of Shame for “Pissing on the Grave of Abiola” before President Buhari seized the moment. Verily, verily we can say this: Former President Obasanjo should not be disturbed by security agencies at this time. He should be allowed to receive his ‘Medal of Shame’ for ‘Pissing on the Grave of Abiola’. The Prince of the Niger, General IBB who annulled the June 12 1993 election result that would have deepened our nation building and democracy in the country should be given a monument in a good corner of the Eagle Square, Abuja for “Digging the Grave of the President-elect” then. And for failing to go beyond rejection of the naming of the University of Lagos after Abiola, former President Jonathan should also receive his ‘Medal of Shame’ for ‘Dancing Sluggishly on the Grave of Abiola’. That is why PMB should be enrolled in a “Hall of Fame” on June 12. ***There are other nominees for the enrollment into the “Hall of Shame” next week.

Buhari’s award of GCFR to M.K.O Abiola illegal.......Ex-CJN- Belgore

The award of N igeria’s highest national honour on late Moshood Abiola is illegal, a former Chief Justice of Nigeria has told this to newsmen. President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday evening named Mr Abiola, winner of 1993 presidential election that was annulled by former dictator Ibrahim Babangida, a holder of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR, 20 years after his death in 1998. Alfa Belgore, CJN from 2006-2007, said the national honours cannot be awarded posthumously, much less the GCFR, which is the highest honour in the land. “It is not done,” Mr Belgore said. “It is for people living.” “The only thing they could do is to name a place after him, but national honours award, no,” he added. Mr Belgore, chairman of the 2016 national honours committee, also said he “was not consulted” by the Buhari administration before the decision was taken. Mr Belgore said under the 1963 National Honours Act, only soldiers or other servicemen could be awarded posthumous medals for their bravery. The president also declared that Democracy Day would be celebrated on June 12 to further honour the memory of Mr Abiola. The move has received mixed feelings, with supporters of the government seeing it as a welcomed move while critics dismissed it as a desperate political calculation ahead of 2019 elections in which Mr Buhari has declared he would run for second term.