25102020 - Looting spree in 9 states

PAGE 24—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2020
Viewpoint
By Mai Moustapha Muhammad
It has been 40 days since we lost our
quintessential royal father, Mai Umar
Mustapha Aliyu Biu.
Death comes but once. It is inevitable and
inescapable. It is a reality that evokes sympathy
even if the dead was not a friend.
However, when the dead is not only your leader
for decades but also a pleasant and compassionate
with whom one shared some of the most cherished
moments in life, no one but you can explain the
emptiness caused by such death and the pain of
putting pen on paper while writing a tribute for
such a loved.The only solace is that while feeling
the pain for the loss of such a very distinguished
personality, who had used experience, tact and
extraordinary diplomacy and intelligence to rule
over a people so significant in the Nigerian State,
the eulogies that have continued to trail his passage
and legacies he bequeathed, are soul-lifting and
heartwarming, culminating into a force that
propels me to remember our Emir, a father, a
unifier and most importantly a bridge that
connected and fortified the bond which had glued
and kept the entire people of Biu Emirate together.
With a strong faith in Almighty Allah, the Most
Beneficent, the Most Merciful, and believing in
By Babajide Komolafe
lobally, there is quest for new and bold
Gmeasures on the part of policy makers
to reverse the adverse effects of the COVID-19
pandemic on the national economy and welfare
of the people.
This quest is reflected in the recommendations
of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its
World Economic Outlook, October 2020.
“The path ahead will require skillful domestic
policies that manage trade-offs between lifting
near-term activity and addressing medium-term
challenges.
“Besides combating the deep near-term
recession, policymakers have to address complex
challenges to place economies on a path of higher
productivity growth while ensuring that gains
are shared evenly and debt remains sustainable,”
the IMF said. This is even more urgent in Nigeria.
The nation’s economic activities as measured by
the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been
projected by the IMF to contract by 4.4 percent
in 2020. More people, about five million
Nigerians are expected to fall into poverty, due to
widespread unemployment, rising prices of goods
and services triggered by 27 percent naira
By Emmanuella Oyinkro Ibinabo
he battle for the soul of the Delta State
TGovernment House for 2023 in recent time
is leaving no one in doubt as to what the election
year holds for the oil-rich ‘Big Heart’ State and
her people as so much mudslinging are being
thrown in the air targeting just one man.
As the clock ticks, the political undercurrent is
becoming so disturbing with so many
subterranean moves are being made by the
gladiators to undo one another, some even by
those who are serving in government and are
supposedly bound by the principled position of
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, in his instruction that
none of his cabinet members must openly engage
in politicking for 2023 gubernatorial ambition,
at least for now.
When he started his consultations to party
chieftains and ardent followers of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), across the state—crisscrossing
all the local governments and wards in
a very weird manner vis-à-vis his subsequent
acceptance by the people, one may not be in
doubt that Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi’s
By Sam Vincent
he universal declaration of human rights
Tincludes the right to life, right to
privacy,health and equality. There is also the
right to freedom of expression, freedom of
speech and freedom of being discriminated
against by law or other unpleasant acts of
injustice such as violence through torture. But
most parts of Africa continue to violate human
rights.
In the case of Lesbian,Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender (LGBT) in Nigeria and other parts
of Africa, a stigma surrounds the minds of
many individuals that lesbianism or gay is a
taboo that needs cleansing.
Many people with such sexual orientation
often suffer humiliation, torture, human rights
By Cleric E. Alaowei
ingsley Otuaro embarked on several
Kpeople oriented programmes to
change the fortunes of Nigerians across
board, especially in the Niger Delta region.
He used his divine charisma and messianic
leadership qualities to douse the renewed
oil crisis in the region. At the wake of the
militants struggle being championed by the
Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) in 2016,
Otuaro put his position at risk in liaising
with all critical stakeholders in the region
for the purpose of restoring peace to the
volatile region.
To this end, the Delta State Government
led by Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa in collaboration
with the Federal Government of Nigeria
setup a Delta State Advocacy Committee
Against Vandalism of Oil and Gas Facilities
in 2016. The committee was headed by
Kingsley Otuaro who used his Godly wisdom
to bring all contending parties to a round
Mai Umar Mustapha Aliyu Biu: A Tribute
•Mai Umar Mustapha
the fact that every mortal must have a taste of
death, I remember a Royal Father, our Emir who
until a couple of weeks ago, ruled over a people
with love and compassion, a people whose history
transcends centuries but have continued to live in
peace and harmony.
Even in death, a good person still lives. One
could shed tears that he’s gone or one can smile
that he has lived. For the late Emir of Biu in Borno
State, Alhaji Mai Umar Mustapha Aliyu (1940-
2020), it’s still a mixed feeling to many. Very few
mortals were so mourned in the history of the
Emirate where he ruled for many years. An
Emirate that grew in leaps and bounds due to the
leadership style of a highly revered royal father
whose death left a people in large communities
where some are still in a numbing sense of the
irreparable loss.
For a very long while, the people of Biu Emirate
in Borno State, Nigeria, had not seen the kind of
growth and development that was witnessed
during the reign of the late emir. Despite the threats
by insurgents and their negative exploits across
neighboring communities, Biu, with help of Allah,
had remained safe and enjoyed a conducive
atmosphere in which the people have a flourishing
business climate and peaceful learning
environment. The late emir’s reign will remain in
History as an epoch which saw Biu becoming
host to a university where students, researchers
and other academic greats from across the
country, converged for higher academic pursuits.
Therefore, to reiterate that the late emir had
lived an exemplary and dignified life, would not
be out of place. He lived a life worthy of emulation,
DELTA 2023: Why we back Olorogun
personality will be attacked or banana-peel
thrown on his way in the form of distractions by
those envious of him. His political outings—
consultations and general acceptance in the
State have made him the most envied by jealous
minds within the political system.
Detractors are often too jealous to be
reasonable; they are too envious to make sense
in whatever direction they may choose and this
is the realities on ground in the Delta political
space, which also accounts for their abysmal
failures too.
If distractions do not come in the way of
Olorogun Gbagi in the course of his growing
political popularity in the State, it may be
considered a proof to the fact that he is not
making any impact in his political sojourn; it
may be seen that his politics have no teeth to
bite. But, as it stands now that is not the case; the
most competent man and front-runner for the
Office of Governor of the ‘Big Heart’ State is
being attacked.
Nonetheless, Deltans are happy to note that
Olorogun’s efforts at becoming the next Governor
of the oil-rich State is gathering momentum and
righteously too.
When the former Minister of State for
Education loaded truckloads of rice, vegetable
oil, and sundry food items and distributed same
to Deltans cushioning the effects of lock down in
their domestic economies, where were the neoactivists
today who have formed a wall
destruction round a God-made-man who of
course they cannot destroy? We know, betrayal is
as old as man.
With a giant stride, the business mogul and
entrepreneur of repute has uplifted so many
families from poverty and that, he is still doing to
the astonishment of those to whom he is a thorn
in their flesh. Olorogun Gbagi is a creator of
ideas, be it in commerce, politics, education,
business, security... and these are virtues that pitch
him against people who think the only option
left for them is to pull down the man already
a life spent in the service of Almighty Allah, for his
people, for the entire Borno State and Nigeria.
Alhaji Mai Umar Mustapha Aliyu who died
was blessed with a large family. He had four wives,
over 70 children and 200 grandchildren, which
showed that leadership and maintaining an
equitable equilibrium in his daily affairs, were
deeply entrenched right from his immediate
milieu.
The great monarch died at age 80 on Monday,
the 14th of September, 2020 at the Federal
Medical Center in Gombe after a brief illness. He
was born on 9th November, 1940 in Biu and
attended Kwaya Kusar Junior Primary School
between 1947 and 1949 and Biu Central Primary
School from 1950 to 1953. Later, he attended
Hausari Primary School in Maiduguri between
1953 and 1955.The late Emir had contributed to
the development of Borno State as he had worked
as a Veterinary attendant (1958), Member
representing Biu Emirate at the Borno State
Council of Arts and Culture, and was District Head
of Biu town from 1975 to 1989 when the Royal
stool became vacant and he ascended the throne.
*Mai Moustapha, Executive Director, FCMB
PENSIONS and former Chairman of Biu
Forum, writes from Abuja.
Continues on www.vanguardngr.com
Lagos Economic Summit 2020: Leveraging Partnership for Post-Covid growth, devt
devaluation. Meanwhile governments at every
level are contending with steep fall in revenue
prompted by the sharp decline in crude oil prices
caused by the impact of the pandemic on global
crude oil demand.
The need to reduce the negative impact of these
development and revive economic growth has
led to rapid deployment of some policy measures
by the Federal Government and some state
governments. However, most of these measures,
especially at the state level are short term in nature,
whilst what is required is new set of policy
framework that will provide the impetus for
economic growth and development in the new
digitally driven world expected to emerge in the
post Covid-19 era.
The Lagos Economic Summit initiative
This prompted the Lagos State Government
to revive its annual economic summit, which was
last held in 2015.
Tagged ‘Ehingbeti,’ the summit which started
in 2000, is acknowledged as the first
institutionalised economic forum by any state in
Nigeria. Ehingbeti is a public-private sector
roundtable that started as a collaborative effort
between the Lagos State Government and
Business Club Ikeja.
Ehigbeti 2020 is scheduled to hold virtually
from November 10 to 12, with the theme ‘For a
Greater Lagos: Setting the Tone for The Next
Decade’.
Speaking on timeliness of the 2020 summit in
the light of the challenges of the COVID-19
pandemic, Chairman of Citi Bank Nigeria, Yemi
Cadoso, who is also a Co-Chair of Ehingbeti
2020, Ehingbeti 2020, said: “It is timely that this
happening and I say that because Covid-19 and
its aftermath has wreaked havoc in economies
around the world and we are no exception to that
and when it going to end nobody knows.
“All we know is that countries around the world,
pay dearly from being on lockdown and for any
lockdown, you have a corresponding loss in Gross
Domestic Product (GDP). With the challenges
ahead and Lagos being the economic nerve
center of the country, there is a large responsibility
to ensure that they protect the citizens of the state
and this is something that can’t happen unless it
The case against LGBT in Nigeria
violation and risk 14 years jail sentence or
face mob justice if arrested.Some of the victims
are killed. The Nigerian law against LGBT
clearly provides punishment in form of prison
sentence. In this light, people of such orientation
do not come out for fear of being humiliated.
The general public also frowns and metes out
jungle justice on LGBT if caught. Some victims
are beaten to death. It is high time this law is
revisited to align with what obtains in the
western world. So many of our youth out there
are running away to the western world where
they are free to choose sex partners.
Lately, LGBT issues have been making
headlines in Nigeria. In 2018, the police
stormed a birthday party, believing it to be an
LGBT night and arrested 57 people. The case
is still on trial. It is unclear how many of them
were released, but few could not justify their
sexual orientation due to their position at the
time of arrest.
The likes of Austin Igbinovia, Juliana Isedor
are on the run. The case of Juliana Isedor was
reopened as it was alleged that she escaped
police detention in Aba, Abia State after being
caught in a scenario that led to the death of
her partner, Jennifer Nosa. She was arrested
by a police patrol team at Umuodi Street, off
Ohanku road, and was being detained in an
Aba police station. On October 15, 2017, she
is planned for.
“So, it is a great opportunity for we in the
private sector to come together with the
government again to show what Lagos is truly
made off and show what Lagos can truly do in
the most difficult and challenging circumstances
of which we are in.”
Roadmap for More Prosperity
Noting that the Lagos Economic summit, was
birthed and has always been driven by
partnership between the Lagos State
Government and the private sector, Mr. Sam
Egube, the Lagos State Commissioner for
Economic Planning and Budget, said that the
goal of the 2020 summit is to design a resilient
roadmap to more prosperity for Lagos state and
then to facilitate the spirit of sharing and cocreation
that can happen when people work
together. “What Lagos state government is trying
to do is stimulate contribution from the private
sector, get them interested in the governance of
the state and lead the way in terms of the
outcomes”, he said.
Continues on www.vanguardngr.com
accepted generally by the people of Delta State
to be their next Governor. Because with him, the
people see a greater, better, more fulfilling and
more promising future.
There is a barefooted conspiracy to pull down
the man generally described as a pillar of support
for well-meaning Nigerians particularly Deltans
by those who he has helped in the past. But
incidentally, not even a string of Gbagi’s hair
they can pull because he is the God’s chosen one
for the seat and nobody can destroy him. And
surely, the insurrection of the wicked has been
defeated.
For those of us in the riverine area of Delta
State, otherwise known as Delta South
Senatorial District, it is either Gbagi for 2023 or
nobody. He is the most qualified out of the legion
of contenders be it in or outside of Government
and should be allowed to achieve what he has
set for himself. Before the people of Delta State,
nobody can pull down the former Minister of
State for Education because God has structured
him to be indestructible over the years.
•Ibinabo writes from Port Harcourt
was said to have attacked a female police
officer and escaped.Isedor escaped from police
detention three weeks before court hearing in
her case. Many residents of Umuodi Street,
including Ejike Emmanuel said they had been
suspicious of the two ladies since they came to
live in the area, stressing that they have never
seen them associate with men.
They were afraid that the ladies may have
introduced other girls in the area to LGBT.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO)
in Abia State, Superintendent Geoffrey
Ogbonna, was unavailable for comments as
of the time of writing this report. However, a
senior police officer who spoke on the
condition of anonymity, confirmed the
incident.
OTUARO, PEACE AMBASSADOR: Why he is crowned best Niger Delta deputy governor?
table for the purpose of resolving the
skirmishes.
Other members of the Committee are:
Dr. Chris Ekiyor (Secretary), Hon. Asupa
Forteta (Member), Barr. Bosin Ebikeme
(Member), Hon. Kelly Pinawou (Member),
Chief Boro Opudu (Member), Hon. Mofe
Pirah (Member), Hon. David Tonwe
(Member), Chief Dan Ekpebide (Co-Opted
Member) and Mr. Smart Asekutu (Co-
Opted Member).
In line with some of the demands of the
aggrieved youths in the region, he
recommended to the Federal Government
for the award of the oil pipeline contract to
the indigenes of the oil producing
communities as well as employments of
youths from the host communities as Oil
Pipeline Surveillance Guards. Not only has
the Federal Government considered and
approved his recommendations in addition
with other sundry demands of the Niger Delta
people, it has also collapsed its (Federal
Government) delegation headed by the
Minister for State of Petroleum, Mr. Ibe
Kachikwu to the region in the Otuaro’s led
Advocacy Committee.
In a similar vein, the Delta State
Advocacy Committee also work in
consonant with the Pan Niger Delta Forum
(PANDEF) for the latter to present its
historic 16-point demand bothering on true
federalism, resource control, ownership of
oil blocks, immediate commencement for
academic activities of the Nigerian
Maritime University, Okerenkoko e.t.c to
the Federal Government of Nigeria in
November 1st, 2016.
In commending Otuaro’s effort in
bringing peace to the region through the
Advocacy Committee, Okowa said, the effort
also brought peace to the entire nation. :
“Fortunately, in the past six (6) months, I
must say that resources have improved due
to the peace achieved. With more resources,
we can touch more lives”, Okowa had said
Otuaro also used his office and his divine
wisdom to resolve the militants crisis in
Ondo, Ogun and Lagos States. While at the
peak of insecurity in these affected states
through the activities of armed youth at the
river belt, some of the armed youth invaded
a Model College at Igbonla, Epe in Lagos
State and kidnapped six (6) final year
students.
•Alaowei, a public affairs analyst, writes
from Eseimogbene
Continues on www.vanguardngr.com