Nigeria's Economy At Risk Due To Stigmatization and Discrimination From Ebola –LCCI

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has expressed fear that Nigeria’s economy may be at risk going by the stigmatisation the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, has put on the country. It also said that the current international isolation and unwarranted discrimination against the Nigerians travelling abroad might impact the economy of the country negatively.

The LCCI in a statement yesterday by the President, Alhaji Remi Bello, urged the business community to support the current efforts by governments aimed at controlling the spread of the deadly disease in the country. “There is currently the risk of international
isolation, stigmatisation and unwarranted discriminatory practices against the citizens travelling
outside our shores. This has grave consequences for the economy and the citizens,” Bello said. The chamber
has commended the governments on the measures taken so far to contain the spread of the disease.

Although it regretted the outbreak of EVD in the country, saying the incident was avoidable but for the failure of the country's system which could not stop the Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer, the carrier of the virus, from gaining entry into the country.

"Nevertheless, we note with satisfaction the measures taken so far by the federal and state governments to contain the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease in the
country,” the chamber stated.

Bello, therefore, appealed to the private sector and the citizenry to also, in demonstration of their support for nationwide initiatives being undertaking to curb the spread of the disease, comply with protective measures as advised by the health authorities.

“We urge the business community and the entire citizenry to support the current efforts at containment of the disease. Given the way it came to Nigeria, current scope of the spread and the containment strategies, we are confident that before long, the situation would be fully brought under control.

“We urge all citizens to comply with protective measures as advised by the health authorities with regard to body contacts, general hygiene and making prompt reports of suspected cases,” he said. According to him, as the containment measures progress, the imperative of discretion in information management needs to be underscored just as care should be taken not to escalate the Ebola crisis beyond the reality of its occurrence. He noted that the Ebola hype had created a disproportionate panic, anxiety and scare, projecting the country as endemic Ebola zone.

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Nigeria's First Lady - Mrs Patience Jonathan Donates Relief Materials To Boko Haram Victims

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has donated three truck loads of relief materials to displaced victims of Boko Haram in Borno and Gombe states. The Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, who represented Mrs Jonathan, visited several camps of displaced people on Saturday.

Boko Haram Will End When Federal Govt.Wants - Rotimi Amaechi, Rivers Governor

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi at the weekend said the war against Boko Haram insurgents will not stop unless the Federal Government is ready to tackle it sincerely.

Chadian Soldiers 'Rescue 85 Nigerians Abducted By Boko Haram'

Reports are emerging of the rescue by Chadian troops of some 85 Nigerian villagers abducted earlier this week by suspected Boko Haram militants.

A Nigerian security official told AFP that they had intercepted a convoy of buses transporting gunmen and the villagers in a routine security check.

Neither the Nigerian or Chadian militaries have confirmed the reports.

Boko Haram is accused of kidnapping hundreds of people in the north-east of Nigeria, and neighbouring Cameroon.

The group, which wants to create an Islamic state in the region, sparked international outcry when they abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in April in Nigeria's remote down of Chibok in Borno state.

Speedboat Escape
Dozens of men, women and children were seized from the remote fishing village of Doron Bag by boat across Lake Chad on Sunday.

Eyewitnesses said 26 people were killed in the raid.

A senior Nigerian security official told the Agence France-Presse news agency on Saturday that 85 people abducted in the attack were had been found by Chadian troops.

Nigeria imposed a state of emergency in Borno state last year to deal with the Boko Haram insurgency
"The convoy being led by six Boko Haram gunmen was stopped on the Chadian part of the border along Lake Chad for routine checks and the huge number of people in the convoy raised suspicion," the unnamed official said.

The six suspects were giving conflicting information on the hostages and their destination, he added.

Another official with the National Human Rights Commission in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, said some militants had escaped on speedboats when they saw the convoy being stopped.

He said the rescued villagers, totalling 65 men and 22 women, were still in Chadian custody but that 30 people were still being held by the militants.

News of the raid on Doron Bag took days to emerge, due to the remote region's poor communication links.

The militants burned down some of the houses in the village, and took mainly women and some boys and girls, a village elder told the BBC.

Other survivors said young men were also taken possibly to be turned into Boko Haram fighters.

A state of emergency was declared in Borno and two other north-eastern states last year to help the military crush the insurgency but the militants have stepped up attacks since then.

The schoolgirls abducted in April are thought to be held in the vast Sambisa forest, along Nigeria's border with Cameroon.

The group has also carried out a wave of bombings and assassinations, including that of moderate Muslim leaders opposed to its ideology.

BBC

EBOLA Outbreak: Cameroon Shuts Its Border With Nigeria, Suspends Flights From Nigeria

Following the fears of spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) through international air and seaports,
including border land outposts of Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) in the Northeast sub-region of country, Cameroon has closed its borders with Nigeria and suspended all flights to and from Nigeria.

Cameroon Orders Its Military Not To Share Intelligence on Boko Haram With Nigeria

CAMEROON has instructed its armed forces not to share information on terrorist group Boko Haram with their Nigerian counterparts after indications that intelligence was finding its way into the hands of the insurgents.

Nigeria and Cameroon share a long and porous border, which Boko Haram has exploited in its campaign of terror, mounting cross-border raids and evading security forces. Of late, however, Cameroon has stepped up its fight against the terrorists, making it more difficult for its territory to be used as a base.

Unlike as is the case with Nigeria, Boko Haram does not have a political following within Cameroon and as such has not managed to infiltrate its military. Similarly, the Cameroonian military has not been infiltrated like the Nigerian Army, in which officers regularly pass information on to the terrorists who then lay ambushes for soldiers.

Aware of the dangers working with the Nigerian military authorities poses, Cameroon’s minister of territorial administration and decentralisation, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, has directed all army commanders to withhold crucial information about the insurgents from Nigeria. In a circular with Decree number G/D/MINATD, tiled Strong Message, he made it clear to the commander of Cameroon's Rapid Intervention Brigade, that the country did not want the grave security situation in Nigeria to spill over into Cameroon.

He charged the Cameroonian forces to be vigilant along the border to prevent any further spillover of Boko Haram's violence into the country. According to the minister, the Cameroonian president, Paul Biya, had charged all the units to ensure that activities of the insurgents were not allowed to get into the country.

Mr Sadi's letter read: “As you are aware of the security situation in the country and the impending turmoil/danger coming from our neighbour, Nigeria, you must keep all important information regarding the Islamic sect under your control without sharing all the information with Nigerians. We do not want the situation from our neighbouring country to spill over to our country. Information from our Western friends portrays Nigeria negatively.”

Already, Cameroon's chief of defence staff has relocated to the north of the country as the war against Boko Haram is intensified. Ahmed Ogbole-Ode, Nigeria's foreign ministry spokesman, said he was not aware of that Cameroon was not cooperating with Nigeria in the campaign against terrorism and that it had ordered its security personnel not to work with the country.

Mr Ogbole-Ode added: “I am not aware of the content of the letter, in fact, I’m hearing it from you for the first time. I cannot comment on the level of cooperation between Cameroon and Nigeria unless I get the necessary information from our mission in Yaounde.”

In another development, Chadian troops have rescued most of the 100 people recently kidnapped by Boko Haram following a successful military operation. On August 10, the terrorist group kidnapped 100 people in Doron Baga in the Kukawa area near the border with Chad but they were stopped as they crossed the Chadian border by local soldiers who engaged them in a gun battle, setting free most of the captives.

NigerianWatch

Boko Haram: Nigerian Military Clears Terrorists’ Camps in Counter Offensive

Troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in a dawn raid operation on Friday cleared a terrorists’ camp in Buduram, north of Doron Baga, where terrorists were massing up and reorganizing to carry out a reprisal attack after being routed in Doron Baga in a previous encounter last Sunday.

The defence headquarters made this disclosure in a statement on its website Saturday.
The statement said, “seventeen terrorists died in the raid operation while some who escaped into neighbouring islands in the Lake Chad Peninsula are still being pursued”.

Meanwhile, the defence headquarters say calm has been restored in Doron Baga after the Sunday attack by terrorists who infiltrated the community with some of them disguising as women in hijab.

Five of the terrorist died in the counter offensive to defend Doron Baga by troops of the MNJTF.

Many of the inhabitants of the community who had fled into nearby bushes for safety are now returning, the statement said.

Premium Times

Boko Haram - Immigration Detains Germany-Based Nigerian Suspected To Be On Wanted List

A GERMAN-based Nigerian, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, whose name rhymes with that of a terrorist on the federal government's wanted list has been allegedly brutalized by officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) attached to the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

Ahmed's Elder brother, Mr. Adam Abdullahi told newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos that Ahmed who came to Nigeria during the last Ramadan holiday was going back to Germany when he was allegedly arrested at the airport and mistaken for the wanted terrorist.

Abdullahi said the 32-year-old Kwara State-born indegin claimed that three NIS officers assaulted him physically adding that one of them hit his head with a rod and left him with a deep cut.

He said all effort to secure Ibrahim's release and claim of innocence were futile as one of the officers simply identified as Alaje insisted on transferring the suspect to the NIS headquarters in Abuja.

Abdullahi also said the intervention of a lawmaker from the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Egberongbe Mufutau who represents Apapa Constituency 1, could not secure the release of the suspect.

"Ahmed called us on Saturday night after we had seen him off that his passport has been seized by immigration officers who claimed that his name was on the list of persons wanted by the federal government. We ran back to the airport and were told by Alaje and Umar who were on duty that the case must be taken to Abuja for clearance. They asked us to return on Monday with a return ticket for our brother and one immigration officer who will accompany him.

"He was made to sleep on the floor of one of the offices and was told that he would need clearance from the presidency to leave the country as his name tallies with that of a terrorist on the wanted list of the Nigerian government.

"But by Sunday night he called again to say he was being beaten by the NIS officers on duty. We went back to the airport only to meet him in the cell. His cloth was soaked in blood while his head was bandaged. He said one of the officers hit him with a rod.

"Ahmed was later taken to Abuja on Tuesday where he was detained. His mobile phone and other valuables were confiscated. Right now he is in Abuja awaiting his bail," said Abdullahi.

An NIS officer at the airport who craved anonymity confirmed the incident and said Ahmed's name appeared on the suspect index of the Service with the instruction 'refer to the comptroller of immigration'. But he said they needed to take the suspect to a detention cell because it was already late.

"The suspect refused to go into the cell. We had to apply minimum force to subdue him," he said.

Source:
allafrica.com

Boko Haram: Soldiers Intercept Convoy of Youth Moving From Borno to Abuja

The Nigerian military on Thursday said it had intercepted about 51 youth moving from Maiduguri, Borno State, to Abuja.

This was disclosed via an unsigned statement on its website.
The military said the convoy was intercepted around 3 a.m. along Babale, Plateau State on Wednesday.

The youth, travelling in three 18-seater transit buses, were led by a woman, it said.
It added that officers of the Special Task Force were currently trying to unravel the motive of the youth movement.

The statement also disclosed that during an interrogation, the youth claimed they were being conveyed to Abuja on the order of a Borno State Government official, to meet their relatives for assistance in an economic empowerment programme. It also said the youth had made contradictory statements regarding sponsorship of their mission to Abuja.

The military, however, added that efforts to reach the official, to verify the claims, were not responded, adding that the issue was being investigated to ascertain the genuine mission of the young people.

It said the investigation had become necessary in the light of the security situation and the suspicious claims by the youth.

Source:
Premium Times

Boko Haram Now Confined To Fringes of North-East Nigeria - Pres. Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan says his government has reduced the Boko Haram insurgency in the country to the Northeast alone, down from about 12 States.

President Jonathan said this on Thursday in remarks made by a special adviser, Dr. Doyin Okupe.

Okupe was reacting to the comments made by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who had criticized the government during a lecture marking the 50th birthday of former Governor Timpriye Sylva.

Okupe said Mr. Jonathan did not lie to Nigerians concerning the insurgency, stressing that terrorism is a global phenomenon which has only recently plagued the country.

"At its peak, it ravaged some 12 States in the North including Abuja. Today, because of the courage, resilience and capability of our armed forces and security agencies, we have pushed them to the fringes of the North Eastern parts of the country.”

He admitted that there are still obvious challenges but that the government is giving them the best attention and considerations possible.

"Recently, Foreign Allies including Britain, USA, France, Israel, China and Australia have arrived Nigeria soil and are co-operating with our military to resolve especially the issue of the kidnap of the Chibok girls,” Okupe said.

"These are the best global players and they have been with us for about six weeks. If the releasing of the girls was a tea-party, definitely, it should have been over by now. We have said it before and we will say it again, “yes, we know where the girls are but our approach at releasing them must be carefully weighed against their overall safety.

"It is a matter of national disgrace and shame that highly placed, and highly net worth individuals in the country will continue to politicise the nation’s misfortunes and challenges not minding the deleterious and untoward demoralising effects this attitude have on our military especially, the widows and innocent children of our military heroes who die daily on the fields, defending their country”.

SR

Boko Haram Abducts, Conscripts 100 Young Men in Borno

The deadly Boko Haram sect may have forcefully conscripted 100 persons in Doron Baga, a Borno community.

It was gathered that about 100 persons were abducted during a Sunday attack on the lowly village where over 10 persons were allegedly killed.

A source, who spoke to journalists in Maiduguri, said the insurgents attacked the lowly town on Sunday evening and took away some boys and young men.

It was gathered that 10 were killed by the insurgents.

Some of those that fled the area that were sighted in Maiduguri on Thursday, said they had to flee the area because of the constant attacks by the insurgents.

One of the displaced persons, Halima Alhaji Adamu, said six members of Hadejia community in Doron Baga were killed and about 100 young men were abducted on Sunday when the members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram launched an attack on their community displacing thousands who are now seeking refuge in some parts of Borno and Yobe states.

She lamented that she also lost her husband in the attack. She claimed that the insurgents are believed to have abducted the young men in order to forcefully conscript them.

According to her, several other communities within Doron Baga and around have also lost many as well as others who were abducted by the insurgents.

She said, “The attack was on Sunday, in my family they killed six people, I don’t know about the other families but the Hadaijawa community which I belong also had 100 of the abducted by the insurgents.”

Speaking on why she and the rest of her family could not take advantage of the refugee camps established in Maiduguri, she said “we are going to our family members in Gashua.”

“I think it is better to go and live with family members than opting for camps. We lost everything we have worked for, and I don’t think the camp will be a better place for us. With family members, we can have the courage to face life again but the camp will continue to make us reflect on our predicament because there is no care as such no focus for one to engage himself or herself into doing something meaningful,” She added.

Source:
Punch Newspaper

Nigerian Military Well-Equipped, Motivated To Dislodge Boko Haram Terrorists In Gwosa

The Armed Forces is working to set Gwoza town in Borno state free of terrorist elements and will leave no
portion of the country for terrorist occupation Defence spokesman Major General Chris Olukolade said
yesterday.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday at an event organised by the I-Nigerian Initiative, a non-governmental organization working to change the negative perception of Nigerians, Olukolade said “all we can say is that we are still working and we are not leaving that community or any part of Nigeria for terrorist to occupy.”

He said: “No portion of this country is available for terrorist to occupy, if they appear to be doing so, it’s just a joke and with respect to these locations, everything is being done to ensure that everywhere in Nigeria is secured enough.”

General Olukolade dismissed allegations that the Nigeria military is not motivated or equipped to fight the insurgents.
“The Nigerian military is well trained for the kind of war that it is presently engaged. Even before the advent of
terrorism, our training doctrine has factored in counter terrorism right from the beginning.”

On military weapons and equipment, the defense spokesman said: “Be sure that it is incremental but you would see them when they are in action,” while denying allegations of corruption in the military. He noted that such claims only demoralizes the military.

Speaking on reports of the operational capabilities of the insurgents, the Defence spokesman said, “It is not likely that the level of freedom of action attributed to these guys is as potent as it is made to believe,” adding that, “the whole of the current recent trouble is that they are being attacked where they thought they could settle.”

He also said the probe over the Amnesty International report alleging extra judicial killings by soldiers is
ongoing.

General Olukolade explained that soldiers complaining about rotation from posting in the northeastern part of the country are being mischievous, noting that the military has no place for troop rotation when posted within the country.

“If you are in foreign mission yes there is rotation, and let me tell you the same people making this complains, when they go on foreign missions and they say it is time for rotation they will be asking for extension because they are looking for dollars,” he said.

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DailyTrust

Divisional Police Officer (DPO) In Anambra Resigns Over Posting To Crises-torn Chibok

Confusion and tension ensued in the Anambra State command of the Nigeria Police on Wednesday, as some policemen from the Command were transferred to the crisis-torn North-East.

Police officers who were transferred to Borno and Adamawa threatened resignation, while a Dvisional Police Officer (DPO) from Anaku Division, in Ayemelum Local Government Area (names withheld), resigned.

The DPO was said to be due for retirement February 2015, but was posted to Chibok in Borno State as DPO and was heard saying it would be better for him to go home in peace than in pieces since his retirement was at hand.

The move shocked the state police command, as many who were transferred to Sokoto and Bauchi states  were considering the option of resignation.

All efforts to speak with the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Usman Gwarry was not successful and the Police Pubic Relations Officer (PPRO), who would have spoken on his behalf was said to have been transferred to Sokoto and was running around.

Tribune Newspaper

Massive Shake-Up, Redeployment In The Nigerian Air Force

THE Nigerian Air Force has effected a massive shake up and redeployment of some of its senior officers.

In the shake-up, some of the air officers exchanged commands with their colleagues.

Amongst them are  Air Vice Marshal MC Ilonyosi, former Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command is the new Air Officer Commanding Tactical Command, while his predecessor, Air Vice Marshal U.A. Omeiza moves to Mobility Command as the Air Officer Commanding, Air Vice Marshal O.T. Oguntoyinbo takes charge as the new Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command, while Air Vice Marshal A.O. Odunlade takes charge as the Chief of Training and Operations at the headquarters, Nigerian Air Force.

In a statement signed by the Air Force Director of Public Relations, Air Commodore D.J. Alonge, Air Vice Marshal I. Umar is the new Chief of Aircraft Engineering, headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, while Air Vice Marshal E.N. Nzokala moves to Air Warfare Centre as the Commandant. Air Vice Marshals EC Akogu, S.A. Dambo and T.L. Danbaki are posted as Senior Air Staff Officers at Mobility Command, Tactical Air Command and Training Command, while Air Vice Marshal M.A. Muhhammed is the chairman of Air Exposition/International and Liaison.

Also affected are Air Vice Marshals E.E. Agwungu, R.A. Ojuawo and S.I. Onuh take charge of Directorates of Policy, Operations and Nigerian Air Force Transformation, while Air Commodore J.B. Adigun is the Chief of Accounts and Budget, Air Commodore J.N. Igboneme is the new Commander 33 Logistics Group.

Other newly appointed directors at the Air Force Headquarters include Air Commodore E.A. Johnson, C.O. Usoh, N.A. Kolofo, S Naiya, S.O. Akpassa and E.O. Akinbayo, who are to take charge of Directorates of Air Traffic Service, Production, Materials and System Management, Education, Plans and Administration.

The posting also includes Air Commodore I. Bukar is the new Hanger Director Aeronautical Technical Service Limited, while Air Commodore O.O. Akinsanya is the Air Provost Marshal.

Some of the newly appointed commanders include Air Commodore H.E.O. Eze, Commander 401 Aircraft Maintenance Depot, Air Commodore A.M. Sadique, Commander 407 Equipment Supply Depot, Air Commodore L.U. Mshelia, Commander Quick Response Force, Air Commodore E.F. Golit, Commander 335 Base Services Group and Group, Captain M.C. Nnaji, Commander 403 Electronics Maintenance Depot.

According to force spokesperson, the posting and appointments which were approved by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu are with immediate effect in line with the transformation agenda of the present administration.

Tribune Newspaper

Insurgency Has Become Big Business in Nigeria – Ubani

Excerpts of an interview that Barrister Monday     Onyekachi Ubani granted Daily Independent Newspaper

How would you assess Nigeria's journey of nationhood in over 53 years?

Monday Onyekachi Ubani:
The journey has been very rough; it has not been very smooth. The fact that it is not smooth stems from the fact that we have had leadership that has not been very favourable to the citizenry. We have not had it right with our leadership. It started a bit well in the 60's , we had a little problem here and there. The leadership couldn't’ manage it well and before we knew it the military came and messed up everything, destroyed everything , that it will take nothing less than 100 years to rebuild this country, given the
destruction that was carried out by the military.

They sowed seed of discord, disunity and mismanaged the resources. There is nothing they put right. The census was manipulated. The creation of states and local governments was manipulated by the military. They did more damage and the politicians also came back; they
did not depart from the path of destruction set by the military. They almost followed the same path and have not been able to rise above some of the mediocrities in order to really entrench good governance and set Nigeria on the right path of development. It has been one step forward, several steps backward. Obasanjo had the greatest opportunity: he had the muscle, he had the capacity, he had everything going for him to right the wrong and put Nigeria on the right direction just like it happened in some of the Asian countries like Singapore. In our ethics on democracy, sometimes you’d step on toes in order to put Nigeria on the right path.

You said the rot created by the military will take almost 100 years to clear. Is that the reason why the ruling party in Nigeria has been unable to deliver the gains of democracy since 1999?

Yes. This is because the system is defective. Even if somebody that is righteous comes in, with the way that Nigeria is structured, he may not even make effective change. He may not effect very sufficient changes . President Jonathan may want to do certain good things , but there are contending forces . There are people that come with many things and tell him not to go ahead, even if they know that this the right way. Now look at the appointment of the IGP , look at the reason they advance for his selection , and they had the upper hand. So , even if you know that that is the wrong thing but because of those sentiments and because of the fact that he too knew that he could not retain power if this people are not supporting him, because if these people are against you, you will lose power and you want to remain in power. So , sometimes you go against the interest of the country for your own selfish interest. That is the kind of argument that goes on in our country. Look at what took place in the confab , where some people said ‘ no, we will not allow any region to go higher than us or advance higher than us, every region must advance at the same stage, even if we are going backward, all regions must go backward and wait for everyone to catch up. That doesn't happen anywhere and that is an argument someone was putting up, that if you allow the regions to start developing independently, especially with natural resources that are within their geographical entity, they will just one day wake up and say they are no longer part of Nigeria, because of that, we must all stay together and every resource must be put together and shared. The beneficiaries must come cap in hand, begging for what comes from their land then you now make them remain underdeveloped until all of us catch up. That is the argument
they were putting up and they feel that the argument is very, very sound.

Funny enough, all the regions all the states they have several quantities of mineral resources that if they allow
listen to what those who have foresight are saying , everyone will be a beneficiary because whatever comes from your land, you will now begin to enjoy the competition and will want to add to your own . All those things that have hitherto remained untapped because of oil you are depending upon, you now forget them and begin to act.

In fact, the Americans say that
Nigeria's economy is not dependent on oil, that Nigeria’s economy is depending on agriculture and other mineral resources that are planted all over the land. There are some states in Nigeria that have up to 15 minerals under their soil, that if they explore, they will be one of the richest states in Africa, if not in the world. But because of their short- sightedness , they have resolved to depend on oil.

Is it possible for us to have such a leader like you have mentioned who is ready to step on toes and be decisive so that Nigeria can return to the path of greatness?

It is possible but that person will have to be brutal. If you want to achieve , you come in and tell everyone irrespective of their status in the society that ‘ this is the way to go and you know that this is the way to go for everyone, both for the Hausa , the Yoruba , the Igbo and for all the minorities, and that is if you want to better the lot of everyone. And somebody wants to say, no for their own selfish interest, you have to hit and when you clear them, you have to step on toes and if possible render them irrelevant. When people now begin to see the result, they will align with you. And also, you must be genuine, because if they are thinking you are a thief, a corrupt person , and you don’t have the locus , they will not respect you. And everyone must see you as somebody that is very genuine, that you are not after your selfish interest but national interest. I did it during my tenure as Chairman of Ikeja branch and the result is there for everyone to see. Nigeria is such a complex country that if you don't do it that way, Nigeria will be tattered.

We are scattered, we don’t know what is ideal, what we glorify are those things that are animalistic, that are devilish, we don’t have morality, national ethos. So somebody like that must be a perfectionist, urbane, righteous and straightforward. Someone that is a nationalistic leader that has a vision. He must not even be interested in his national life and have a time frame to achieve his goals. We have such leaders in abundance in this country but for them to emerge, it involves the hand of God.

Some of the recommendations at the ongoing national conference has been hailed by many Nigerians , like the one on part -time legislature, do you think these decisions will be implemented at the end of the day?

The problem is that the Jonathan administration did not set out with a clear- cut understanding of what the confab should stand for. There must
have been an enabling law in the first place that will set up the modalities , the membership and the outcome , that we should go for plebiscite, that people should vote for; rather, he left it
inchoate. You are now planning to take all those resolutions that were reached at the confab to the national assembly and most of the decisions you have taken affect them , so they will not agree with you. They (the resolutions) will be thrown out. Already, the northern region is saying there won’t be creation of any additional state in the East and the confab has agreed that states should be created . And then you are now taking it back to them; definitely, they won’t accept that.

The President recently requested for $1bn to fight insurgency. Don’t you think some people are benefiting from this insecurity situation in the country?

Insurgency has become a big business in Nigeria. Anything that Nigerians see – that is lucrative –they would create a myth around it in order to elongate it; to create more money for them. If we say we are rich and have money, why are we going to borrow one billion? The ones you have spent 3 trillion on, what have you achieved with it? I think they are looking for money for their personal interest and to prosecute the election and also to enrich their pockets .

Source:
Daily Independent