13062021 - Amid protest , Buhari vows:: i can die for Nigeria

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PAGE 10 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 13, 2021 JUNE 12 Buhari: I can die for Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari, in his speech to mark Democracy Day, yesterday, said overcoming the present challenges facing Nigeria “is but one of a necessary process that we have to undergo as a nation so that we can come out stronger”. He added: “The day I joined the Nigerian Army I was prepared to lay down my life for Nigeria”. Full I text of the speech: join you all today to commemorate and celebrate our Democracy Day. It is a celebration of freedom and a victory for one people, one country and one Nigeria. 2. As with all democracies we will always be going through improvement processes in our desire to reach the goal of a mature democracy, a strong, evolved and integrated nation state to be reckoned with globally. 3. In the last two years we have witnessed and overcome a good number of testy challenges that would have destroyed other nations especially relating to our collective security. 4. The indefatigable CAN DO Spirit of the Nigerian has sustained us and would keep pushing us to put these challenges behind us. 5. Unfortunately some of these challenges came in the shape of violent outrages leading to the loss of lives of many of our dear compatriots and the destruction of some of our infrastructure, including those devoted to improving our democratic processes. 6. Once again, I want to render my sincere and heart-felt condolences to the families and friends of our gallant service men and women who lost their lives in the line of duty and as a sacrifice to keep Nigeria safe. 7. I extend the same condolence to the families and friends of our country men, women and children who were unfortunate victims of such senseless arsons, kidnappings and murders. 8. I also share the pains of families and direct victims of ransom-seeking, kidnaped victims who went through unimaginable trauma in the course of their forced imprisonment. 9. Let me assure my fellow citizens that every incident, however minor gives me great worry and concern and I immediately order security agencies to swiftly but safely rescue victims and bring perpetrators to justice. Fellow Nigerians, 10. When you elected me as your President in 2015, you did so knowing that I will put an end to the growing insecurity, especially the insurgency in the North East, but the unintended consequences of our scattering them in the North East pushed them further in-country which is what we are now facing and dealing with. 11. We will, by the Grace of God put an end to these challenges too. 12. Unfortunately, like in most conflict situations, some Nigerian criminals are taking undue advantage of a difficult situation and profiteering therefrom with the misguided belief that adherence to the democratic norms handicaps this Administration from frontally and decisively tackling them. 13. We are already addressing these obstacles and we will soon bring some of these culprits to justice. 14. We are, at the same time addressing the twin underlying drivers of insecurity namely poverty and youth unemployment. 15. Interventions led by Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria driving economic growth over the past 6 years are targeted mostly to the agricultural, services, infrastructure, power and health care sectors of the economy. 16. In the Agricultural sector, for instance, the Anchor Borrowers Programme resulted in sharp decline in the nation’s major food import bill from $2.23billion in 2014 to US$0.59billion by the end of 2018. 17. Rice import bill alone dropped from $1 billion to $18.5 million annually. 18. This initiative supported local production of rice, maize, cotton and cassava. Government financed 2.5 million smallholder farmers cultivating about 3.2 million hectares of farmland all over the country and created 10 million direct and indirect jobs. 19. Several other initiatives, namely AgriBusiness/Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme, the Non-oil Export stimulation Facility, the Targeted Credit Facilities operated across the 774 Local Governments. 20. In the manufacturing sector the CBN – BOI N200 billion facility financed the establishment and operations of 60 new industrial hubs across the country, creating an estimated 890,000 direct and indirect jobs. 21. The CBN’s N50 billion Textile Sector intervention Facility increased capacity utilization of ginneries from 30% to nearly 90%. 22. The Economic Sustainability Plan – our rebound plan for the COVID-19 pandemic developed in 2020 is currently being executed. The plan is primarily focused on the non-oil sector, which has recorded phenomenal growth contributing over 90% to the GDP growth in Q1 2021. 23. Though marginal we have recorded GDP growth over two quarters; Q2 2020 and Q1 2021. This is evidence of a successful execution of the ESP by the Federal Government. 24. My vision of pulling 100 million poor Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years has been put into action and can be seen in the National Social Investment Programme, a first in Africa and one of the largest in the world where over 32.6m beneficiaries are taking part. We now have a National Social register of poor and vulnerable households, identified across 708 local government areas, 8,723 wards and 86,610 communities in the 36 States and the FCT. 25. Our conditional cash transfer program has benefited over 1.6 million poor and vulnerable households comprising more than 8 million individuals. This provides a monthly stipend of N10,000 per household. 26. I have also recently approved the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy Plan that augments existing plans to further reduce poverty in Nigeria. 27. As at the end of 2020, the Development Bank of Nigeria had disbursed 324 billion Naira in loans to more than 136,000 MSMEs, through 40 participating Financial Institutions. I am to note that 57% of these beneficiaries are women while 27% are the youth. 28. We are able to do all these and still As your President I remain ever committed to upholding and defending Nigeria’s corporate existence accelerate our infrastructure development through sensible and transparent borrowing, improved capital inflow, improving and increasing revenue through capturing more tax bases and prudent management of investment proceeds in the Sovereign Wealth Fund. Fellow Nigerians, 29. Our infrastructure revolution continues with key projects attaining critical milestones under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund; The Second Niger Bridge, The Lagos- Ibadan Expressway and the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria- Kano Expressway. 30. I have also approved the establishment of Infraco Plc, a world-class infrastructure development vehicle wholly focused on Nigeria with a capital structure of N15 trillion. 31. The rail system is not left out as the Itakpe-Warri standard gauge rail was completed and commissioned 33 years after construction began. The Lagos-Ibadan double track railway line which I have just commissioned has commenced operations. 32. We are focused on ensuring that our infrastructure drive is key to economic growth and one that can be felt by every Nigerian. Building critical infrastructure in our ports is also opening up opportunities for the Nigerian economy. 33. My approval for 4 new seaports using •President Buhari a Public-Private-Partnership approach is hinged on growing the Nigerian economy. These four sea ports; Lekki Deep Sea Port, Bonny Deep Sea Port, Ibom Deep Sea Port and Warri Deep Sea port will create massive job opportunities and foreign investment inflows. 34. We have worked at deepening our Eastern ports leading to success like having three container ships berth at Calabar port, a first in 11 years. Similarly, on October 30 2019, an LPG tanker operated by NLNG berthed in Port Harcourt, the first time an LPG ship is berthing at any of the Eastern Ports. 35. As we invest in these new assets, we have also made strides in ensuring that they are secured and protected. In this regard I am also pleased to note the launch of the NIMASA Deep Blue project – which is an Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure that I recently commissioned. This initiative is designed to add to the layer of security we have to safeguard our maritime sector. Dear Nigerians, 36. I will be the first to admit that in spite of our efforts and achievements which are there for all to see, there is still much more to be done and we are doing our best in the face of scarce resources and galloping population growth rate that consistently outstrips our capacity to provide jobs for our populace. Our over-all economic target of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years is our goal notwithstanding COVID-19. 37. In the last two years we lifted 10.5 million people out of poverty – farmers, small-scale traders, artisans, market women and the like. 38. I am very convinced that this 100 million target can be met and this informed the development of a National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy. The specific details of this accelerated strategy will be unveiled shortly. 39. In the last one year, Nigeria and the whole world faced COVID-19 for which no one was fully prepared. 40. Our response to the pandemic involved making hard choices in balancing livelihoods and public health concerns. You are all living witnesses to how successful this has been due to a number of pro-active measures put in place. Our response to COVID-19 is globally acclaimed. 41. We were able to ensure that the various lockdown measures did not impact too negatively on the ability of ordinary Nigerians to continue sustaining their livelihoods. 42. During the pandemic, we disbursed N5,000 to 1 million Nigerians using a Rapid Response Register and advanced N20,000 to 750,000 beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer Progamme and provided 1.37 million Nigerians with palliatives from CACOVID. 43. At the same time the Federal Government released 109,000 metric tonnes of food reserve stocks and 70,000 metric tonnes of grains to the poor and vulnerable in all 36 states of the federation. 44. In addition, Government reduced interest rates from 9% to 5% for struggling businesses and extended credit facilities to 548,345 beneficiaries. Fellow Nigerians, 45. When this administration decided to change our Democracy Day from 29th May to June 12th in my first tenure, it was not only to honour the sacrifices of the men and women of our country who fought for the return to democracy but also to demonstrate our commitment to satisfy the aspirations of the people and creating an environment for democracy to be an accepted way of life. 46. As your President, I remain committed to providing an enabling environment for a free, fair and credible electoral system under my tenure. 47. However, you need to play your part by getting involved at any level you can supporting a democratic system that works for all and not for a section or a select few and demand accountability from your elected leaders. 48. My commitment to bequeathing a sustainable democratic culture remains resolute, my pursuit of a fair society remains unshaken and my desire to see that Nigeria remains a country for each and every one of us has never been stronger. 49. In responding to the challenges that this period imposes on us, Government also recognises the need to acknowledge notions of marginalisation and agitations for constitutional amendments among various segments of our population. 50. While this government is not averse to constitutional reform as part of our nation building process, everyone must understand that the primary responsibility for constitutional amendments lies with the National Assembly. 51. This body which, as I said, is the arm of government responsible for constitutional changes has concluded the preliminary stages of amending and improving our constitution in a way that the majority of Nigerians will be happy with. 52. Government is, however, willing to play a critical role in the constitutional amendment process without usurping the powers of the National Assembly in this regard. 53. As a nation we have come very far from where we started and we are getting incrementally closer to where we ought to be. 54. Overcoming the present challenges is but one of a necessary process that we have to undergo as a nation so that we can come out stronger. The day I joined the Nigerian Army I was prepared to lay down my life for Nigeria. 55. As your President I remain ever committed to upholding and defending Nigeria’s corporate existence. 56. In adhering to the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy notably section 14(2)(b) I shall do all within my power to ensure that the Security and welfare of the people remain the primary purpose of government. 57. I have, throughout my tenure, provided the security agencies with all they require relative to available resources and will be providing more as the dynamics unfold to put an end to our security problems. 58. My strong belief in the Nigerian spirit gives me comfort that we are facing these challenges with renewed commitment to keep our country one. 59. I thank you for your patience and attention and more importantly your resolve to join hands in making Nigeria the country of our dream. Happy Democracy Day! God Bless us All, God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Email:biolasobowale@yahoo.com Phone Number: 07081372829 Twitter:@DrDeleSobowale Instagram:delesobowalefranklyspeaking Website: www.delesobowale.com Milititians’ promises and the unmasking of terrorists “Zamfara abduction’ll be the last” - President Buhari, March 1, 2021. “As you all know, we in the present government in Nigeria are committed to ensuring that there is speedy and unimpeded transition to civic democratic rule in which we shall not be participants” - General Sani Abacha, during the inauguration of National Constitutional Conference, Monday, June 27, 1994. There is a link between the two statements by Nigeria’s generals which will be revealed soon. Let me start with the second. Until Abacha made that statement, I wrote for VANGUARD only on Mondays. Suddenly, one day in August 1994, Uncle Sam, the Publisher, opened my office door and asked: “Dele, why don’t you write something for us on Sunday?” It was totally unexpected and my first impulse was to refuse. But, you can’t say “No” to your employer, can you? He also wanted the article in about two hours. Just then a June copy of our paper was lying on my table with Abacha’s promise highlighted. I cannot quite lay my hands on the title of the article published in August 1994 anymore. But, I remember my major Chief Michael Adiotomre,is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and a member of the Delta State Advisory Council. In this interview with Sunday Vanguard, the Chief Adiotomre, bares his mind on some political matters bothering on the governorship rotation and other salient issues. Excerpts On the issue of Delta State PDP zoning formula that has raised a lot of dust after Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's recent quarterly briefing, as one of the founding members of the party, what is your take on this? The controversies surrounding the zoning formula in the state is unnecessary. I feel that the Governor was misquoted or misinterpreted when he said there is no written document on the issue of rotation. One of the governor's aides, Comrade Norbert Chiazor has in his writeup to correct that impression. What I think is that the governor was only trying to explain that there was never a written document and some persons who have also spoken on the issue, like Prof. Sam Oyovbaire spoke my mind. There was no written document but there was understanding. I also want to use this me- comment. “If you believe that [Abacha’s promise] then you will believe anything.” I then proceeded to explain why nobody should believe Abacha. I was convinced that the man was buying time with the Constitutional Conference, dubbed CONFAB by the media. He would renege on his promise once the reins of power were firmly in his grip. That first article was more momentous than anybody could have foreseen. It also almost ended my life. I was saved by the fact that I was not yet on the regime’s radar among columnists regarded as dangerous. The official reaction was delayed for two weeks. Then on a Friday, as I was getting close to the office, somebody waved to me to stop. I did. Less than two minutes after, I was in the back seat of a car heading for my first detention under Abacha for calling the Head of State a liar. I survived that ordeal with a warning; but, I lived long enough to witness Abacha’s efforts aimed at selfsuccession. I also re-learnt a lesson about “milititians” – soldiers who take on political roles. “Every government is run by liars, and nothing they say should be believed” - I.F. Stone, 1907-1989, dium to clear this fact that the rotation or zoning principle is an idea of the national body of the party and it all started from the presidency to the state and the local government areas and all these were gentleman arrangement or understanding without any written document. The first president coming from North, West, later to East and South of Nigeria and same applies to state and local government. The leaders of the party at then, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Tony Anene, Chief Awoniyi and Ahmadu Ali and others resolved on this understanding and the principle of zoning and rotation, hence if a governor comes from a particular senatorial zone, when he or she had completed his or her two terms of eight years, it moves to another senatorial district. In the case of Delta state on the issue of rotation, that was why a lot of people wanted Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege to take over from Chief James Ibori. They made all efforts that Omo-Agege could take over from Ibori but they couldn’t succeed because Ibori is from Delta Central, so it couldn’t work. And am aware that the leaders in Abuja gave Ibori the option to either zone the governorship to the Delta South or Delta North. That was how the governorship left Delta VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p 80. Abacha went further to reassure the delegates to what I later called THE SHIP OF FOOLS, by saying: “We are aware that it is neither in our personal interest, nor that of the nation to perpetuate ourselves in power.” The delegates gave him a standing ovation lasting ten full minutes. On June 9, 1998, Chief Ebenezer Babatope was scheduled to advance a proposal at a gathering convened by Chief Arthur Nzeribe. Our dear Ebino Topsy, a former strong Awoist turned Abacha- collaborator, was picked to ask all the elected members of the National Assembly, NASS, under Abacha’s fraudulent transition programme, to declare Abacha the ONLY presidential candidate in the 1998 election. But, evil men proposed; God disposed. On June 8, 1998, a day before his coronation, Abacha dropped dead. I doubt if Babatope will ever release the original text of his proposal. Later, we learnt that the man was a world class kleptomaniac – among his other vices. ‘60 Women, children abducted in fresh Zamfara attack’ - News, March 5, 2021. From Abacha to Buhari is only one short mental step. When President Buhari declared the abduction of over 300 schoolgirls in Zamfara the last, the statement had a familiar ring There is no ethnic group in Nigeria whose peoples’ investments are not more in Lagos than in their own state to it. Something told me we were being set up for a promise that might not be delivered. I wrote a short rejoinder to it last week; making clear that it is another politician’s promise unlikely to be delivered. Less than a week after the President’s promise, bandits struck again in the same Zamfara. Ordinarily, that should be the end of the story. But, there is more. THE THREE MUSKETEERS OF NORTHERN TERRORISTS “The West does not want to accommodate other tribes, but we accommodate your tribe in Bauchi…” - Governor Bala Mohammed. ‘Nigerians ’ll be shocked by those behind schoolgirls’ abduction’ - Matawalle “What I want you people to understand is, soldiers that are involved in most of the criminalities are not Muslims. You know soldiers have Muslims and non-Muslims. The non-Muslims are the ones causing confusion just to ignite crisis” - Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, Muslim cleric leader. If anybody is in search of people actively promoting terrorists in this country today, he can start with these three Northern Muslim leaders whose explosive utterances in recent times need to be exposed for what they are. I just hope their kith and kin in the Muslim North will remember that they spoke first. These rejoinders have become necessary because silence often means consent. Together, they represent good examples of why the North SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 13, 2021, PAGE 11 will not catch up with the South – even if the South stands still for 100 years. The first things they share in common are deception and deliberate falsehood. Let me start with Bala’s outrageous lie. Is Lagos part of the West or not? At least 30 per cent of all properties in Lagos are owned by other tribes apart from Yoruba people. Surely Bala has visited Lagos several times. Very few of the trailers and tankers causing gridlock at Apapa-Oshodi expressway for more than six years are owned by Yoruba people. The truth is, there is no ethnic group in Nigeria whose peoples’ investments are not more in Lagos than in their own state. Can Bala say the same of Bauchi? But maybe I should stop being polite. At 76+, I grew up in Lagos knowing about three beggars’ abodes – Cow Lane in Lagos Island, Kano Street at Ebute Meta, Obalende and Agege. All the beggars were Northerners. My mother was born in 1906 in the same Lagos and she found the beggars there. My grandmother was born in the same Lagos in 1874 and she told me that Bala’s forerunners were already there begging. My children and now some grandchildren today still patronise beggars from the deep North. At least a dozen Northern beggars troop past my front gate everyday and they never fail to collect money from Yoruba people. Can Bala point to any place in Bauchi (or for that matter in the entire North) where Yoruba beggars gather? We all know who the workers are making contributions wherever they live. And, we know who the parasites and beggars are hanging on trailers; transported with cattle to Kara in Lagos. Bala is the last person to utter that sort of nonsense. Even the state he governs depends more on the sweats and labour of the South-West people; and he knows it. Being governor is no licence to tell lies. “Every time you negotiate with terrorists, you become their accomplice” - Israeli counter-terrorism official, VBQ p 244. Governor Matawalle’s latest statement, like all the others on banditry and kidnapping, remind me of a story told in New York City in 1968 by Mrs. Golda Meir, 1898-1978, the first and only female Prime Minister of Israel, who led her tiny country to victory over 100 million AK- 47 wielding Arabs. Born in Kiev, Russia, she recollected the story of a man who could predict when horses were going to be stolen – until it was discovered that his friends were the horse thieves. Matawalle had consistently gone against the global principle concerning ransom paid to terrorists and vowed not to stop. The obvious question is: “why?” Just as clear is the answer. “Matawalle must derive some benefit from this losing strategy.” Now, he has told us more than he realised. He knows the chief bandits and he is not ready to reveal their identities because to do so is to put an end to undisclosed amounts being taken out of state coffers ostensibly to pay bandits. Who will be shocked? Count me out. I already have a short profile of some of the bandits. Just wait a while. “Nobody stands all day in the rain for nothing” - Chief MKO Abiola, 1937-1998. A Sheikh in Islam is the equivalent of an Archbishop, Prelate or General Overseer of a Christian movement. They are Men of God when they stick to the tenets of their faith. They become Satan’s disciples when they radically deviate from the creed Gov Okowa misquoted on zoning formula — Adiotomre •Chief Adiotomre Central to Delta South before coming to Delta North where it is presently with Gov. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa rounding up his second term in office. So, you can know see that if not for the rotational or zoning system Omo-Agege would have gone as governor from the same Central. Let me say some of these people talking about this rotation today may not even be aware of a crucial meeting convened by Chief James Ibori, to his Oghara residence were a few of us, about fourteen leaders attended to decide. How would you describe Sen. Nwanboshi's comments to Okowa on the rotational issue and his claim that the rotational formula was his brainchild? Sen. Nwaboshi was at a time The spirit and understanding of rotation is the one working in this state the pioneer state Secretary of the party, and it is expected that when he speaks there should be a high level of respect to the person of the governor, Sen. Nwaboshi didn’t show respect with the manner he addressed the rotational issue and that is what l have always advised against, he is our governor and he must be respected and that was what l expected of Nwaboshi. It is not expected that Okowa who is a product of zoning should say only God knows who will emerge as governor of the state come 2023 when he knows it is the turn of central, what is your take? That is a true statement of fact, the governor cannot say Mr. A or B will be the governor, it's only God that can determine who will be. Even though the spirit of zoning and rotation is being maintained as at today from Delta Central to Delta South and now Delta North, it is coming back to where it started again which is central and certainly, you cannot, only God knows. What central people had wanted was for Okowa to nail it on the head that it is the turn of Delta Central, what do your take? He is the governor of the state, you do not expect him to have made such statement in a public briefing and that should not be misconstrued for something that should be causing issues everywhere. There was a time some of the party leaders not from central had also said after North it is coming to Delta central, is that not enough. The governor has said there must be equity, justice and fairplay among the senatorial districts, what else do you need from the governor. The spirit and understanding of rotation is the one working in this state. The actors in South, North know it. It is unfortunate that some actors in Delta South recently came out with publication that Delta central has produced governors and they made reference to late Chief Felix Ibru, late Chief Marierie when we are talking about PDP as a party, these people you referring to were not in PDP, so it is uncalled for. This zoning and rotation is a child of PDP. We are talking of zoning, if it is not limited to PDP, is APC talking about zoning in Delta State? No. Are all the other political parties talking about zoning? The answer is no. So, it is a child of PDP. People should limit their augment to PDP. May advice to political leaders in Delta State is that they should maintain peace. They should not allow their personal interest to kill the house that PDP had built in Delta State. PDP has used the zooming system effectively in Delta State to promote the party in Delta State and l hope PDP will use it to win the next elections come 2923 and we should not destroy the party. The only thing I don’t like is the agitation for ethnic rotation. It is not very good for the Nigeria politics to start talking of ethnicity. You cannot build a nation on ethnicity, that the one that central produce belongs to Ughelli, the one of Delta South produce belongs to ltsekiri and the one that Delta North produce belong to Ika, this is not good, it is wrong, in other words, what they are saying is that they are promoting ethnicity that the next governor should come to Ijaw ethnic group. Continues on www.vanguardngr.com
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13062021 - Amid protest , Buhari vows:: i can die for Nigeria

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